JP2013145946A - Image reader and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect a manuscript size with the use of an inexpensive method for reducing an operation load on a user.SOLUTION: When a platen is closed, a control part allows a scanner part to detect the main scanning directional width of a manuscript on a placement table. A manuscript size selection part extracts a paper size whose vertical or horizontal dimension coincides with the main scanning directional width of a manuscript, that has been detected by the scanner part, from a paper size storage part. A display control part allows a display part to display the extracted paper size. In this case, the display control part reads the use frequencies of the extracted paper size from a use frequency storage part and allows the buttons of paper sizes to be placed in descending order of use frequencies beginning at the top of the display part. When a user selects the button of the corresponding paper size, the manuscript size selection part determines the selected size as a manuscript size.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus including a contact optical system image sensor and an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus.

  There are various methods for detecting a document size in an image reading apparatus using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) which is a reduction optical system image sensor. For example, in Patent Document 1, a document detection sensor is disposed at a position that is a predetermined length away from the reference position of the mounting table in the sub-scanning direction, and the paper width and document detection of the document scanned by the CCD in the main scanning direction are disclosed. A method for determining a document size by combining sensor detection results is described. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a method of determining a document size by arranging a plurality of document detection sensors.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-282049 JP-A-8-30148

  In recent image reading apparatuses for emerging countries, the cost reduction of the apparatus and the downsizing of the apparatus are further advanced, so that an image reading apparatus using a contact image sensor (CIS) is widely used. I am doing. By using CIS, it is possible to reduce the thickness and reduce cost and power consumption.

  However, when the apparatus becomes thin, it is difficult to arrange the original document detection sensor in the apparatus. Many document detection sensors require a detection distance (distance between the document detection sensor and the document) of about 50 mm to 80 mm. Therefore, when the document detection sensor is arranged in the image reading apparatus using the CIS, only the arrangement position of the document detection sensor is projected outward from the apparatus housing in order to secure the detection distance. In particular, in the case of an image forming apparatus configured to place an image reading device on the upper side of a discharge tray for discharging printed paper, the protruding portion not only causes damage to the appearance of the apparatus, but also the user can remove the paper in the discharge tray. There was a possibility of hitting the protruding part of the hand when the hand was inserted.

  Furthermore, since the document detection sensor is expensive, it hinders cost reduction of the apparatus due to the use of CIS.

  Further, if the document detection sensor is abolished, it is necessary for the user to determine the document size every time the image is read, which is troublesome.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in an image reading apparatus using a CIS, an image reading apparatus that detects a document size by a method that does not cost much and reduces a user's operation burden. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

  An image reading apparatus according to the present invention detects a width in a main scanning direction of a document placed on the placement table by using a placement table on which the document is placed and a contact optical system image sensor, and also displays an image of the document. Reading means for reading, paper size storage means for storing a plurality of paper sizes and the vertical and horizontal dimensions of each paper size in association with each other, and the vertical or horizontal dimensions are read from the paper size storage means. Selecting means for selecting all paper sizes that are the same as the width of the original read by the means, display control means for displaying the paper size selected by the selecting means on the display section, and among the paper sizes displayed on the display section Document size receiving means for receiving a selection input of a paper size that matches the size of the document placed on the mounting table.

  Conventionally, the document size is detected by a document detection sensor. However, the document detection sensor needs to secure a detection distance from the document, and the arrangement of the document detection sensor hinders thinning of the device, which is a feature of the contact optical system image sensor. However, with the above configuration, it is possible to determine the document size without using the document detection sensor while suppressing the operation burden on the user, and it is possible to reduce the thickness and cost of the apparatus.

  Further, in the above configuration, the apparatus further includes a use number storage unit that stores, for each sheet size, the number of times the document size receiving unit has received a selection input, and the display control unit uses the sheet size selected by the selection unit. It is desirable to read the number of times from the use number storage means and display the paper sizes in order in descending order of the number of uses.

  According to this configuration, since the display control means displays the paper sizes selected by the selection means in order of frequency of use, the user can easily select a desired size and the operability can be improved.

  Furthermore, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention detects a width of a document placed on the placement table using a placement table on which the document is placed and a contact optical system image sensor in the main scanning direction. Reading means for reading an image, width in the main scanning direction of the paper when the paper is placed on the mounting table with the longitudinal direction of the paper facing the main scanning direction, and sub-scanning in which the longitudinal direction of the paper is orthogonal to the main scanning direction Paper size storage means for storing the width in the main scanning direction of the paper when it is placed on the mounting table in the direction toward the direction in association with each paper size, and the longitudinal direction of the document placed on the mounting table Is a main scanning direction, and a document size receiving unit that receives a selection input as to whether the original scanning direction is a main scanning direction or a sub-scanning direction. Mainly the longitudinal direction of the paper A paper size having the same width as the width of the original read by the reading unit is selected from the width of the paper in the main scanning direction when placed on the table in the scanning direction, and the original direction receiving unit receives the paper size. When the direction is the sub-scanning direction, the reading unit determines from the width of the paper in the main scanning direction when the paper size storage unit stores the paper in the main scanning direction with the longitudinal direction of the paper facing the sub-scanning direction. Selecting means for selecting a paper size having the same width as the width of the read original.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to determine the document size without using the document detection sensor while suppressing the operation burden on the user, and to reduce the thickness and cost of the apparatus.

  An image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes an image reading apparatus that reads an image from a document, and an image forming unit that forms an image read by the image reading apparatus on a sheet, and the image reading apparatus has the above-described configuration. .

  According to this configuration, the same effect as the above configuration can be achieved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine the document size without using the document detection sensor while suppressing the operation burden on the user, and to reduce the thickness and cost of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. The figure which showed the content which a paper size memory | storage part memorize | stores. The perspective view for demonstrating the inside of the conventional image reading part. The lower perspective view of the conventional image reading part. Sectional drawing of an image reading part when cut | disconnected in the position of a document detection sensor. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of document size detection processing in the first embodiment. The figure which showed an example of the screen displayed on a display part. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. The figure which showed the content which a paper size memory | storage part memorize | stores. The figure for demonstrating the direction of a document. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of document size detection processing in the second embodiment. The figure which showed an example of the screen displayed on a display part. The figure which showed an example of the screen displayed on a display part.

  Hereinafter, an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The image forming apparatus 1 has functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body 2, a stack tray 3 disposed on the left side of the main body 2, and a main body 2. An image reading unit 4 (image reading device) disposed in the upper part is provided.

  The present invention is also applicable to a single machine having only a scanner function. The image forming apparatus 1 may be any apparatus that has at least a scanner function, and may be, for example, a facsimile apparatus.

  An input operation unit 6 is provided on the front part of the image forming apparatus 1. The input operation unit 6 includes a start key 7 for a user to input a print execution instruction, a numeric keypad 8 for inputting the number of copies to be printed, a liquid crystal display, and the like. Unit 9, which is configured integrally with the display unit 9 and outputs an operation signal in response to a user's pressing to a control unit which will be described later, and the setting contents set on the display unit 9 A reset key 10 for resetting the operation, a stop key 11 for stopping the operation being executed, a function switching key 12 for switching the copy function, the printer function, the scanner function, and the transmission function.

  The image reading unit 4 includes a scanner unit 13 (reading unit) including a CIS, an exposure lamp, and the like, and a mounting table 14 made of a transparent member such as glass. The scanner unit 13 is configured to be movable by a drive unit (not shown). When reading a document placed on the table 14, the scanner unit 13 is moved along the document surface at a position facing the table 14 to scan the document. The read image data is output to the control unit.

  The platen 5 is disposed so as to cover the entire upper surface of the image reading unit 4, and is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the image reading unit 4 so that the front side thereof can be moved upward. By moving the front side of the platen 5 upward to open the mounting table 14, it is possible to place a document, such as a book in a spread state, on the mounting table 14.

  The main body 2 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 19, a paper feed roller 20 that feeds the paper from the paper feed cassette 19 one by one and transports it to the image forming unit 21, and an image on the paper transported from the paper feed cassette 19. And an image forming unit 21 for forming the image.

  The image forming unit 21 outputs a laser beam or the like based on the image data acquired by the scanner unit 13 to expose the photosensitive drum 22, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 22. A developing unit 24 that forms a toner image by attaching toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 22 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed; a transfer unit 25 that transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 22 to a sheet; A fixing device 28 having a fixing roller 26 and a pressure roller 27 for fixing the toner image to the paper by heating the paper on which the toner image is transferred, and a paper conveyance path in the image forming unit 21, A pair of transport rollers 30 and 31 that transport the stack tray 3 or the discharge tray 29 are provided.

  When images are formed on both sides of a sheet, the image forming unit 21 forms an image on one side of the sheet, and then the sheet is nipped between the pair of transport rollers 30 on the discharge tray 29 side. In this state, the conveyance roller pair 30 is reversed to switch back the sheet, and the sheet is sent to the sheet conveyance path 32 to be conveyed again to the upstream area of the image forming unit 21. The image forming unit 21 forms an image on the other surface. After that, the paper is discharged to the stack tray 3 or the discharge tray 29.

  The discharge tray 29 is provided below the image reading unit 4. That is, a part of the bottom of the image reading unit 4 is exposed to the discharge tray 29 side.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 71, a storage unit 72, an image reading unit 4, an image memory 73, an image processing unit 74, an image forming unit 21, an input operation unit 6, and a network I / F unit 75. Yes. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component as demonstrated using FIG. 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The storage unit 72 stores programs, data, and the like for realizing various functions provided in the image forming apparatus 1, and includes a sheet size storage unit 721 (paper size storage unit) and a use count storage unit 722 (use count). Storage means).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents stored in the paper size storage unit 721. The paper size storage unit 721 stores various types of paper dimensions. For example, A column defined by ISO216, JISB column defined by JIS, DFS such as USA and Canada, photographic printing paper, and the like can be mentioned. In addition, the predetermined size includes an envelope size, a canvas size, and the like, and the contents shown in FIG. 3 do not limit the contents stored in the paper size storage unit 721, but are merely examples.

  The use count storage unit 722 stores the number of document sizes selected by the user (the document size selection unit 711 is confirmed) for each sheet size.

  The image reading unit 4 includes an open / close sensor 41 that detects the open / close state of the platen 5. The open / close sensor 41 detects the open / closed state of the platen 5 and outputs the detection result to the control unit 71.

  The image memory 73 temporarily stores image data acquired by the scanner unit 13 and image data transmitted from an external device via the network I / F unit 75. The image processing unit 74 performs image processing such as image correction and enlargement / reduction on the image data stored in the image memory 73.

  The network I / F unit 75 is a communication interface circuit that performs communication with a terminal device connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network).

  The control unit 71 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, reads a program stored in the storage unit 72 and executes processing, and outputs an instruction signal to each functional unit, data transfer, and the like. The image forming apparatus 1 is comprehensively controlled to have a document size selection unit 711 (selection unit) and a display control unit 712 (display control unit).

  The display control unit 712 performs control for causing the display unit 9 to display a setting screen, a message for the user, and the like. The document size selection unit 711 determines the document size from the paper width in the main scanning direction of the document on the mounting table 14 read by the scanner unit 13.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the inside of the conventional image reading unit 400. The image reading unit 400 includes at least a scanner unit 91 and a document detection sensor 92 in a housing 90. The document detection sensor 92 detects the width of the document in the sub-scanning direction. A mounting table such as glass is disposed above the scanner unit 91 and the document detection sensor 92 (not shown).

  The opening / closing sensor 93 is a sensor for detecting opening / closing of the lid. A platen (not shown) for opening and closing the mounting table is rotatably attached to the image reading unit 400, and the platen itself applies a pressing force to the opening / closing sensor 93 when the platen is closed. As a result, the open / close sensor 93 outputs a signal to the control unit, and the control unit determines that the platen is in the closed state.

  FIG. 5 is a lower perspective view of the conventional image reading unit 400, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the image reading unit 400 when cut at the position of the document detection sensor 92. In FIG. 6, P is a document, and 94 is a mounting table. The document detection sensor 92 requires a detection distance of 50 mm to 80 mm between the document and the document in order to accurately detect the document placed on the placement table. In order to secure this detection distance, a convex portion 921 that protrudes outward from the casing 90 is provided at the bottom of the casing 90, and the document detection sensor 92 is disposed on the convex portion 921. That is, the image reading unit 400 using the CIS can be configured to be very thin, but in order to secure the detection distance of the document detection sensor 92, it is necessary to provide the convex portion 921, which hinders the thinning of the apparatus.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when the discharge tray 29 is below the image reading unit 4, the convex portion 921 protrudes toward the discharge tray 29, and the presence of the convex portion 921 may impair the appearance of the apparatus. is there. Further, when the user puts his / her hand into the discharge tray 29 in order to take out the discharged paper, there is a possibility of hitting the hand on the convex portion 921.

  In view of this, the image reading unit 4 according to the present embodiment eliminates the document detection sensor 92 and uses the width of the document in the main scanning direction read by the scanner unit 13 and the dimensions of various paper sizes stored in the paper size storage unit 721. A document size selection unit 711 selects a document size. By eliminating the document detection sensor 92, the convex portion 921 secured for the arrangement of the document detection sensor 92 can be eliminated, and the cost can be further reduced.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of document size detection processing in the first embodiment. When the open / close sensor 41 detects that the platen 5 is closed (step S11; YES), the control unit 71 causes the scanner unit 13 to detect the width of the document on the mounting table 14 in the main scanning direction (step S12). .

  Then, the document size selection unit 711 extracts, from the sheet size storage unit 721, a sheet size in which the width in the main scanning direction of the document detected by the scanner unit 13 matches the vertical or horizontal dimension (step S13). The display control unit 712 displays the paper size on the display unit 9 (step S14). At this time, the display control unit 712 reads out the usage count of the extracted paper size from the usage count storage unit 722, and displays the paper size in order of increasing usage count from the upper side of the display unit 9.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 9 in step S14. For example, when the paper sizes extracted by the document size selection unit 711 are A3 and A4, the display control unit 712 reads the number of times of use of each size stored in the number-of-uses storage unit 722, and increases the number of times of use. The size buttons 51 and 52 indicating the paper size are displayed side by side. Here, it is assumed that A4 has a larger number of past uses than A3, and a size button 51, which is a selection button for A4, is displayed above. When the display control unit 712 displays the size buttons in the order of the most frequently used times, the user can easily find a desired paper size.

  Then, the user selects the size button of the corresponding document size (step S15; YES). For example, when the document size is A4, the user selects the size button 51. FIG. 8 shows that the size button 51 is in a selected state because the user has pressed the size button 51. When the user presses the OK button 54 in this state, the document size selection unit 711 determines the document size as A4. Further, the control unit 71 adds 1 to the number of uses of A4 stored in the use number storage unit 722 (step S16).

  The reread button 53 is a button that is selected when there is no size button indicating the corresponding paper size. When the reread button 53 is pressed (step S15; NO, step S17; YES), the control unit 71 performs the process from step S12 to cause the scanner unit 13 to read the width of the original in the main scanning direction again. To do. If the cancel button 55 is pressed (step S17; NO), the control unit 71 ends the process without detecting the document size.

  As described above, the cost can be reduced by eliminating the document detection sensor 92 that has been conventionally used for detecting the document size, and the convex portion 921 necessary for securing the detection distance becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the image reading unit 4 can be thinned. Then, it is possible to determine the document size in a form that minimizes the operation burden on the user.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the scanner unit 13 detects the width of the document in the main scanning direction, and based on the detection result, the document size selection unit 711 extracts the corresponding paper size from the paper size storage unit 721 and extracts it. The method of determining the document size by the user selecting a corresponding size from the paper sizes that have been described has been described.

  In the second embodiment, the user inputs the orientation of the document placed on the mounting table 14, and the document size selection unit 711 displays the input content of the user and the width of the document in the main scanning direction detected by the scanner unit 13. A method for determining the document size will also be described. The side view of the image forming apparatus 1 is the same as that shown in FIG. Further, the touch panel 19 in the second embodiment corresponds to a document direction accepting unit.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment. The same components as those described in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The storage unit 72 includes a paper size storage unit 723. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the contents stored in the paper size storage unit 723. The paper size storage unit 723 stores vertical and horizontal dimensions of various types of paper. Here, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction will be described with reference to FIG. An arrow X indicates a main scanning direction, and an arrow Y indicates a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. A document P1 indicated by a solid line is arranged with its longitudinal direction oriented in the main scanning direction. At this time, since the document is arranged vertically when viewed from the user side (the lower side of the drawing), the orientation of the document when the longitudinal direction is arranged in the main scanning direction is “vertical”.

  On the other hand, the document P2 indicated by a dotted line is arranged with the longitudinal direction thereof in the sub-scanning direction. At this time, since the document is arranged horizontally when viewed from the user side, the orientation of the document when the longitudinal direction is arranged in the sub-scanning direction is “landscape”.

  Returning to FIG. The paper size storage unit 723 stores the width in the main scanning direction when the paper is placed on the mounting table 14 in the vertical direction and the width in the main scanning direction when the paper is placed in the horizontal direction. Note that the contents shown in FIG. 10 do not limit the contents stored in the paper size storage unit 723, but are merely examples.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of document size detection processing in the second embodiment. When the open / close sensor 41 detects that the platen 5 is closed (step S21; YES), the display control unit 712 displays a screen for inputting the orientation of the document on the display unit 9 (step S22).

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 9 in step S22. The display control unit 712 displays the vertical button 61 and the horizontal button 62. FIG. 13 shows that the vertical button 61 is in a selected state when the user presses the vertical button 61. When the user presses the OK button 63 in this state, the document size selection unit 711 determines that the direction selected by the user is the vertical direction.

  While the document orientation is not input by the user (step S23; NO), the control unit 71 repeats the process of step S22. When the user inputs the orientation of the document (step S23; YES), the control unit 71 causes the scanner unit 13 to detect the width of the document in the main scanning direction (step S24). Then, the document size selection unit 711 extracts a matching sheet size from the sheet size storage unit 721 based on the document orientation input in step S23 and the width of the document detected by the scanner unit 13 in the main scanning direction ( Step S25).

  For example, if the user selects the vertical button 61 in step S23 and the width of the document detected by the scanner unit 13 in step S24 is 297 mm, the document size selection unit 711 sets the document size storage unit 721 in the vertical direction. The same dimension as “297 mm” is retrieved from the dimension stored in the item “A4”, and “A4” is extracted. On the other hand, when the user selects the horizontal button 62 and the width in the main scanning direction of the document detected by the scanner unit 13 is 182 mm, the document size selection unit 711 is stored in the horizontal item of the paper size storage unit 721. The same dimension as “182 mm” is searched from the existing dimension, and “B5” is extracted.

  Then, the display control unit 712 displays the extracted paper size on the display unit 9, and the paper size selection unit 711 determines the paper size extracted in step S25 as the document size (step S26). FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 9 in step S25. The display control unit 712 displays the paper size extracted by the document size selection unit 711 for user confirmation.

  The display control unit 712 may further display an OK button 65 and a reload button 66. If the displayed document size is correct, the user presses the OK button 65. On the other hand, if the displayed document size is incorrect, the user presses the reread button 66. When the reread button 66 is pressed, the control unit 71 shifts the process to step S22 or step S24, and detects the document size again.

  In response to the closed state of the platen 5, the display control unit 712 displays a screen for inputting the document arrangement direction on the display unit 9. However, when the platen 5 is closed, the scanner unit 13 receives the document. Any time before reading the width in the main scanning direction may be used, and the order of steps S21 and S22 may be switched.

  As described above, the cost can be reduced by eliminating the document detection sensor 92 that has been conventionally used for detecting the document size, and the convex portion 921 necessary for securing the detection distance becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the image reading unit 4 can be thinned. Then, it is possible to determine the document size in a form that minimizes the operation burden on the user.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 4 Image reading part 41 Opening / closing sensor 5 Platen 6 Input operation part 9 Display part 13 Scanner part 71 Control part 711 Original size selection part 712 Display control part 72 Storage part 721,723 Paper size storage part 722 Use frequency storage part

Claims (4)

A mounting table on which a document is placed;
A reading unit that detects the width of the document placed on the table using the contact optical system image sensor in the main scanning direction and reads an image of the document;
Paper size storage means for storing a plurality of paper sizes in association with the vertical and horizontal dimensions of each paper size;
Selecting means for selecting all paper sizes having the same vertical or horizontal dimensions as the width of the original read by the reading means from the paper size storage means;
Display control means for displaying a paper size selected by the selection means on a display unit;
A document size receiving unit that receives a selection input of a paper size that matches a size of a document placed on the mounting table from among the paper sizes displayed on the display unit;
An image reading apparatus comprising: A number-of-uses storage unit that stores the number of times the document size receiving unit has received a selection input for each paper size;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit reads the number of times of use of the paper size selected by the selection unit from the use number storage unit, and displays the paper sizes side by side in descending order of the number of times of use. A mounting table on which a document is placed;
A reading unit that detects the width of the document placed on the table using the contact optical system image sensor in the main scanning direction and reads an image of the document;
The width of the paper in the main scanning direction when placed on the mounting table with the longitudinal direction of the paper facing the main scanning direction, and the mounting table with the longitudinal direction of the paper facing the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction Paper size storage means for storing the width in the main scanning direction of the paper when placed on the paper in association with each paper size;
Document direction receiving means for receiving a selection input as to whether the longitudinal direction of the document placed on the mounting table is the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction;
When the direction received by the original direction receiving unit is the main scanning direction, the main scanning of the paper when the paper size storage unit stores the paper on the mounting table with the longitudinal direction of the paper facing the main scanning direction. When the paper size having the same width as the original read by the reading unit is selected from the width of the direction, and the direction received by the original direction receiving unit is the sub-scanning direction, the paper size storing unit stores the paper size. Selecting means for selecting a paper size having the same width as the width of the original read by the reading means from the width in the main scanning direction of the paper when the paper is placed on the mounting table with the longitudinal direction of the paper facing the sub-scanning direction; ,
An image reading apparatus comprising: An image reading device for reading an image from a document;
An image forming unit that forms an image read by the image reading device on a sheet;
The image reading apparatus is an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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