JP2013162316A - Image reader, image forming apparatus including the same, and control method of image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove dirt adhering to a document reading position reliably.SOLUTION: The image reader includes an SPF reading unit for reading an image, and a document is read by the SPF reading unit while being conveyed thereon by an automatic document conveyance device. The image reader is further provided with a lighting unit for irradiating a plurality of regions on the SPF reading unit, in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of document, with light, a lighting control unit 177 for controlling the lighting of the lighting unit, and a dirt detection unit 173 for determining whether or not there is a dirt on the SPF reading unit and detecting the dirt. The lighting control unit 177 controls lighting of the lighting unit so as to irradiate a region corresponding to a position, where a dirt is detected by the dirt detection unit 173, with light.

Description

  In particular, the present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that detects dust, dirt, and the like attached to an original table, an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus, and a control method for the image reading apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an image reading apparatus that makes it easy to specify a position to be cleaned when dust or dirt adhering to a document table is detected. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an image reading apparatus that executes a glass cleaning mode and controls lighting of an illumination unit for illuminating a document on the document reading glass when dirt is detected on the document reading glass. ing.

JP 2006-129162 A (published May 18, 2006)

  However, the conventional technology as described above can easily check the stain on the document reading glass by irradiating the document reading glass with the illumination means. It is difficult to confirm. For this reason, there exists a problem that the position of dirt cannot be specified reliably.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus capable of reliably removing dirt adhering to a document reading position, and an image forming apparatus having the image reading apparatus. And a method for controlling an image reading apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an image reading apparatus of the present invention includes a reading unit that reads an image, and reads an original by the reading unit while the original is conveyed on the reading unit by an automatic document feeder. An illuminating unit that irradiates light to a plurality of regions on the reading unit along a direction orthogonal to a document conveyance direction, a lighting control unit that controls lighting of the illuminating unit, and the reading unit Soil detection means for determining the presence or absence of dirt on the upper surface and detecting the dirt, and the lighting control means irradiates the area corresponding to the position where the dirt is detected by the dirt detection means. The lighting of the illumination means is controlled.

  According to the above configuration, the presence or absence of dirt on the reading unit is determined, the dirt is detected, and light is irradiated to the area corresponding to the position where the dirt is detected. For this reason, the user can identify the position of the stain on the reading unit by confirming the lighting means that is lit. Therefore, the dirt attached to the reading unit can be reliably removed by cleaning. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image reading apparatus capable of reliably removing dirt adhering to the document reading position.

  In the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the stain detection unit detects a stain based on the image data read by the reading unit when there is no document on the reading unit.

  According to the above configuration, since the image data obtained does not include characters and the like, there is no need to distinguish between characters and dirt. As a result, it is possible to speed up the process of detecting dirt.

  Further, in the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the stain detection unit monitors reflected light of the light emitted from the illumination unit, and if the luminance value at the detected stain position is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, And a dirt position monitoring means for detecting that there is cleaning.

  At the time of cleaning, for example, the position of the dirt is wiped off by using a white-colored cleaning tool, so that the light of the illumination means is reflected on the cleaning tool. Thereby, the change of the brightness value at the position of the dirt is large. On the other hand, when the stain position on the reading unit is blocked by a reflecting member such as paper, the change in brightness value is small. Therefore, according to the above configuration, it is possible to increase the accuracy of detecting that there is cleaning at the dirt position.

  Further, in the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the dirt detecting unit determines again whether there is dirt on the reading unit when the dirt position monitoring unit detects the presence of cleaning. Further, standby control means is provided for waiting for the conveyance of the document by the automatic document conveyance device while the contamination detection stage detects the contamination.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the possibility of streaking in a document image obtained by reading by the reading unit.

  Further, in the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the lighting control unit may emit a light amount more than when reading by the reading unit when the illumination unit lights the area corresponding to the position where the stain is detected by the stain detection unit. Control low.

  According to said structure, the glare at the time of confirming the illumination means with which the user is lighting can be reduced. Further, power consumption can be suppressed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the control method of the present invention includes an image reading device that reads an image, and reads an original by the reading unit while the original is conveyed on the reading unit by an automatic document conveying device. A lighting control step for controlling lighting of illumination means for irradiating a plurality of regions on the reading unit along a direction perpendicular to the document conveyance direction, and a stain on the reading unit. And a lighting detection step for detecting dirt, wherein the lighting control step is configured to irradiate light to the region corresponding to the position where the dirt is detected by the dirt detection step. Control lighting.

  According to said structure, the control method of the image reading apparatus which can remove reliably the stain | pollution | contamination adhering to a document reading position can be provided.

  The present invention has an effect that dirt attached to a document reading position can be surely removed.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an image forming apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of an image reading part. It is a figure which shows the structure of a document stand. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function of the control part with which an image forming apparatus is provided. It is a graph which shows an example of the monitoring result by a dirt position monitoring part. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of document reading processing by a document moving method.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

(Configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 has an image reading function, a copying function, a facsimile function, and the like, and includes an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, and a paper discharging unit 5. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image reading unit. The configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The image reading unit 2 includes a document table 11 including transparent glass, an automatic document feeder (SPF) 12 for automatically supplying a document onto the document table 11, and a document image for scanning and reading a document image. A reading unit, that is, a scanner unit 13 is provided.

  The automatic document feeder 12 is disposed on the apparatus main body, and the scanner unit 13 is fixedly disposed above the apparatus main body. The automatic document feeder 12 and the scanner unit 13 are connected by a hinge (not shown), and the automatic document feeder 12 can be opened and closed with respect to the scanner unit 13 by the rotation of the hinge.

  The automatic document feeder 12 automatically feeds a plurality of documents set on a document tray (document setting table) 51 one by one onto the document table 11 of the scanner unit 13 as the document feeding roller 53 rotates. To send. The automatic document feeder 12 has a conveyance path for a single-sided document, a conveyance path for a double-sided document, and a conveyance path switching unit so that the scanner unit 13 can read one or both sides of the document according to a user's selection. Etc.

  The scanner unit 13 includes an illumination device that exposes a document surface, a first scanning unit 14 that includes a first reflecting mirror, a second scanning unit 15 that includes second and third reflecting mirrors, and an optical lens body 16. And a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements (CCD) 17.

  The plurality of CCDs 17 form a line sensor arranged in a line, and convert a reflected light image from the original into an electrical signal, that is, an image signal. The first scanning unit 14 and the second scanning unit 15 guide the reflected light image from the document to the plurality of CCDs 17 by the first to third reflecting mirrors. Specifically, in the first scanning unit 14, the illumination device irradiates the document surface via the document table 11. As a result, the reflected light of the light irradiated on the document surface enters the first scanning unit 14 via the document table 11. The light incident on the first scanning unit 14 is guided to the plurality of CCDs 17 by the first to third reflection mirrors provided in the first scanning unit 14 and the second scanning unit 15. The optical lens body 16 forms a reflected light image from the original on each CCD 17.

  The scanner unit 13 reads an image by a document fixing method in which a user places a document on the document table 11 and reads a document image, and moves a document to read a document image while automatically feeding the document by the automatic document feeder 12. Both methods are supported. As shown in FIG. 3, the document table 11 includes an OC reading unit 57 corresponding to the document fixing method and an SPF reading unit 55 corresponding to the document moving method.

  When reading an original image by the original fixing method, the scanner unit 13 moves at a constant speed while irradiating the original placed on the OC reading unit 57 to scan the original image. The lower surface of the automatic document feeder 12 serves as a pressing plate for pressing the read document placed on the OC reading unit 57 of the scanner unit 13 from above.

  When the scanner unit 13 reads a document image by the document movement method, the automatic document feeder 12 passes the SPF reading unit 55 while the first scanning unit 14 remains stationary at the SPF reading position below the SPF reading unit 55. In this manner, the image is scanned by irradiating light onto the conveyed document. Thereby, one side of the document can be read. When reading both sides of a document, the other side is read by a reading device provided inside the automatic document feeder 12.

  Image data obtained by reading a document image by the scanner unit 13 is subjected to predetermined image processing, and then output to the image forming unit 3 in accordance with an output instruction, and is visible on the photosensitive drum 22 as a toner image. It is imaged. Thereafter, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 22 is transferred onto a sheet and fixed on the sheet.

  In order to perform the above processing, the image forming unit 3 includes a laser writing unit (LSU) 21 and an electrophotographic process unit 18.

  The laser writing unit 21 includes a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, an f-θ lens, and the like. The semiconductor laser emits laser light in accordance with image data after image processing or image data transferred from an external device such as a personal computer. The polygon mirror deflects laser light at an equal angular velocity. The f-θ lens corrects so that the laser beam deflected at a constant angular velocity scans on the photosensitive drum 22 at a constant velocity.

  In the electrophotographic process unit 18, a charging device 23, a developing device 24, a transfer device 25, a peeling device 26, a cleaning device 27, and a charge eliminating device are disposed around the photosensitive drum 22, and further on the downstream side of the photosensitive drum 22. The fixing device 28 is arranged.

  The paper feed unit 4 includes first to third cassettes 31 to 33 and a manual feed tray 35. Further, a large-capacity cassette 34 is added as appropriate. The first cassette 31 is a tandem tray that accommodates the first tray and the second tray, and both trays can be simultaneously pulled out from the apparatus main body.

  The second cassette 32 and the third cassette 33 accommodate a third tray and a fourth tray, respectively. That is, four trays are accommodated in the three cassettes 31 to 33. The sheet feeding and conveying sections 37 and 38 convey the sheet of the sheet feeding section 4 to a transfer position between the photosensitive drum 22 and the transfer device 25. For this purpose, a paper feed roller, a transport roller, and a registration roller are provided.

  In the four trays of the first to third cassettes 31 to 33 in the sheet feeding unit 4, sheets are stacked and stored for each size. When one of the trays is selected by the user, the sheet feeding unit 4 feeds the sheets in the selected tray one by one from the top. These sheets are sequentially conveyed toward the electrophotographic process unit 18 via the sheet feeding / conveying unit 37 or the sheet feeding / conveying unit 38.

  A paper discharge path 29 is provided downstream of the fixing device 28 in the paper transport direction. The paper discharge path 29 is branched into a paper discharge transport path 41 of the paper discharge section 5 and a transport section 42 for duplex copying.

  In the image forming unit 3, the image data after image processing is formed as an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 22 when the laser writing unit 21 scans the laser beam. The electrostatic latent image is developed with the toner of the developing device 24, and the obtained toner image is transferred onto the paper conveyed from the paper feeding unit 4 by the transfer device 25 and fixed on the paper by the fixing device 28. Is done. The developing device 24 is appropriately supplied with toner from the toner supply device 20.

  The sheet on which the image is formed in this way is selectively conveyed from the fixing device 28 to the paper discharge unit 5 or to the conveyance unit 42 for duplex copying. The paper sent to the paper discharge unit 5 is subjected to predetermined processing such as sorting or stapling as necessary, and is stacked on the first discharge tray 43 or the second discharge tray 44. Further, the sheet sent to the conveyance unit 42 for duplex copying is reversed here and conveyed again to the electrophotographic process unit 18 to form an image on the back side of the sheet, and is discharged through the fixing device 28.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 101, a scanner unit 110, an image processing unit 120, an image forming unit 3, a storage device 130, a paper feeding unit 4, and an operation panel 140. And a data communication control unit 150 and an SPF open / close detection sensor 160.

  The control unit 101 is connected to the scanner unit 110, the image processing unit 120, the image forming unit 3, the storage device 130, the paper feeding unit 4, the operation panel 140, the data communication control unit 150, and the SPF open / close detection sensor 160. The whole of 100 is controlled.

  The operation panel 140 is provided on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 100 and includes a display unit 141 and an operation unit 143. The display unit 141 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic ELD, and displays an instruction menu for the user, information about acquired image data, and the like. The operation unit 143 includes a plurality of keys, and accepts input of various instructions, data such as characters and numbers by user operations corresponding to the keys. Operation unit 143 further includes a touch panel provided on display unit 141.

  The data communication control unit 150 has a LAN terminal that is an interface for communicating with a communication protocol such as TCP or UDP. The data communication control unit 150 transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected to the LAN terminal in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 101.

  The scanner unit 110 includes an image reading unit 2, a plurality of lighting units 111 constituting an illuminating device (illuminating unit), and a drive system for conveying an original by the automatic document conveying device 12. The lighting unit 111 is an illumination device such as an LED. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, they are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction (a direction orthogonal to the document transport direction), and light up in response to an instruction from the control unit 101. For this reason, a plurality of regions to be irradiated with light are formed in the region on the SPF reading unit 55 facing each of the plurality of lighting units 111.

  3 shows an example in which the area of the SPF reading unit 55 is divided into seven equal parts by arranging seven lighting units 111 in parallel, but the SPF reading unit 55 is used by using two or more lighting units 111. May be equally divided into two or more regions.

  The image processing unit 120 executes predetermined image processing on the image data read by the scanner unit 13 or converts the image data into image data for printing or image data for data transfer. The image processing unit 120 stores the image data after the image processing in the storage device 130. Further, when the image processing unit 120 converts the image data to print or transfer image data, the image processing unit 120 outputs the image data to an external device via the data communication control unit 150. Examples of the external device include a printing apparatus 200 such as a laser printer or an inkjet printer, and a data transmission / reception apparatus 300 such as a PC or FAX.

  The storage device 130 is a recording medium such as an HDD, and stores a program executed by the control unit 101, data necessary for executing the program, and image data after image processing.

  The image forming unit 3 acquires image data read by the scanner unit 13 from the storage device 130, and forms an image on a sheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit 4 based on the image data.

  The SPF open / close detection sensor 160 is a sensor that detects whether the automatic document feeder 12 is opened or closed, and is embedded in a position on the lower surface of the automatic document feeder 12 facing a portion other than the transparent glass of the document table 11. The SPF open / close detection sensor 160 has a rod-shaped actuator that appears and disappears on the lower surface of the automatic document feeder 12.

  The actuator is pressed and immersed when the automatic document feeder 12 is closed. When the automatic document feeder 12 is opened, the actuator is released from the press and protrudes. The SPF open / close detection sensor 160 outputs an off signal to the control unit 101 when the internal contact is turned off while the actuator protrudes from the automatic document feeder 12, and the actuator is immersed in the automatic document feeder 12. When the internal contact is turned on, an ON signal is output to the control unit 101.

(Function of control unit)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a control unit included in the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 101 includes an open / close detection unit 171, a dirt detection unit (dirt detection unit) 173, a cleaning request screen display unit 175, and a lighting control unit (lighting control unit) 177. .

  The open / close detection unit 171 detects an open state and a closed state of the automatic document feeder 12 based on a signal output from the SPF open / close detection sensor 160. Specifically, when an off signal is input from the SPF open / close detection sensor 160, the open state of the automatic document feeder 12 is detected, and when an on signal is input from the SPF open / close detection sensor 160, the automatic document feeder 12 is detected. The closed state of is detected.

  The open / close detection unit 171 outputs an open state detection signal to the dirt detection unit 173 and the lighting control unit 177 when detecting the open state of the automatic document conveyance device 12, and detects the closed state when the automatic document conveyance device 12 is closed. The detection signal is output to the dirt detection unit 173 and the lighting control unit 177. Note that the SPF reading unit 55 can read a document when the automatic document feeder 12 is in a closed state.

  The dirt detection unit 173 detects the presence or absence of dirt in the SPF reading unit 55 based on the data read by the scanner unit 13 when there is no document in the SPF reading unit 55. When a document reading instruction from the automatic document feeder 12 is input to the operation unit 143, the image forming apparatus 100 moves the first scanning unit 14 included in the scanner unit 13 to the SPF reading position and supplies the SPF reading unit 55 with the first scanning unit 14. Wait for the document to be transported.

  Whether or not the document reading instruction input to the operation unit 143 is a document reading instruction from the automatic document feeder 12 depends on whether the document reading instruction is input to the operation unit 143 while the document is set on the document tray 51. It may be determined whether or not. The detection of whether or not a document is set on the document tray 51 is a well-known technique, and therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  In a state where the document is waiting to be conveyed to the SPF reading unit 55, the scanner unit 13 generates data read in the absence of the document in the SPF reading unit 55 prior to reading the document. The data is stored in the storage device 130 after predetermined image processing is executed by the image processing unit 120.

  Here, when the SPF reading unit 55 is contaminated, black streaks or the like occur in an image read without a document. The stain detection unit 173 reads data read by the scanner unit 13 without a document from the storage device 130, and when the read data includes black pixels, the stain detection unit 173 performs processing on the SPF reading unit 55 corresponding to the black pixel portion. Is set as a monitoring target position, and the SPF reading unit 55 detects that there is contamination. When a plurality of black pixels are included, a plurality of monitoring target positions are set. The position on the SPF reading unit 55 corresponding to the black pixel portion may be specified by the assigned position in the line sensor of the CCD 17 that detects the black pixel. When the black data is not included in the data read from the storage device 130, the stain detection unit 173 detects that there is no stain in the SPF reading unit 55.

  When the SPF reading unit 55 detects that there is contamination, the contamination detection unit 173 outputs a contamination detection signal including the monitoring target position to the cleaning request screen display unit 175 and the lighting control unit 177.

  In addition, when the stain detection unit 173 detects that the SPF reading unit 55 detects that there is contamination, the stain detection unit 173 detects the cleaning of the position of the stain in the SPF reading unit 55, and outputs a cleaning detection signal to the cleaning request screen display unit 175 and the lighting control unit To 177. The cleaning detection signal will be described later.

  When the SPF reading unit 55 detects that there is no dirt, the dirt detection unit 173 starts conveying the document that has been waiting, and instructs the scanner unit 13 to start reading the document.

  The cleaning request screen display unit 175 displays a cleaning request screen on the display unit 141 when the contamination detection signal is input by the contamination detection unit 173. The cleaning request screen is a screen including a message indicating that the SPF reading unit 55 has detected dirt, a message prompting the user to clean, and the like. For this reason, it is possible to prompt the user who views the cleaning request screen displayed on the display unit 141 to clean the SPF reading unit 55.

  Further, when the signal input from the dirt detection unit 173 changes from the dirt detection signal to the cleaning detection signal, the cleaning request screen display unit 175 ends the display of the cleaning request screen.

  The lighting control unit 177 lights up the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the position of the dirt detected by the dirt detection unit 173. Here, while the user starts cleaning according to the cleaning request screen displayed by the cleaning request screen display unit 175 and finishes the cleaning (hereinafter referred to as “cleaning period”), the automatic document feeder 12 is started by the user with the start of cleaning. Is opened, and the automatic document feeder 12 is closed upon completion of cleaning in order to start reading the document. For this reason, during the cleaning period, the signal input to the lighting control unit 177 by the open / close detection unit 171 changes from the open state detection signal to the closed state detection signal.

  The lighting control unit 177 lights up the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the monitoring target position included in the dirt detection signal until the signal input from the dirt detection unit 173 changes from the dirt detection signal to the cleaning detection signal. However, lighting by the lighting control unit 177 is from when the open state detection signal is input from the open / close detection unit 171 to when the closed state detection signal is input.

  Note that the lighting control unit 177 controls the lighting amount of the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the position of the dirt detected by the dirt detection unit 173 to be lower (darker) than when reading the document. Thereby, it is possible to reduce glare when the user opens the automatic document feeder (original plate cover) 12 during cleaning, and it is possible to reduce power consumption.

  In FIG. 3, it is shaded that the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the position of the dirt is lit. For this reason, the position of the dirt which should be cleaned can be easily specified by the user confirming the position of the lighting part 111 which is lit. Further, when the dirt position is cleaned, the lighting of the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the position ends, so that the user can clean the dirt position in the SPF reading unit 55 from turning on the lighting unit 111 to turning off. It can be confirmed by the change of.

  The dirt detection unit 173 includes a dirt position monitoring unit (dirt position monitoring unit) 181. The dirt position monitoring unit 181 increases or decreases the brightness value of the CCD 17 that receives light emitted from the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the monitoring target position in a state where the open state of the automatic document feeder 12 is detected by the open / close detection unit 171. Monitor changes.

  In the cleaning period, the cleaning tool used by the user for cleaning is, for example, a cleaning tool colored in a white color. In the SPF reading unit 55, when the position corresponding to the lighting unit 111 that is lit is wiped off by the user, the light emitted from the lighting unit 111 is reflected to the cleaning tool, and the light is incident on the CCD 17 from the CCD reading port. The As a result, the light received by the CCD 17 has a higher luminance value than when the cleaning tool is not in a dirty position. Further, the time during which the luminance value is high corresponds to the time during which the dirt position is wiped off by the user.

  The dirt position monitoring unit 181 determines that the monitoring target position has been cleaned if the sum of the luminance values at the monitoring target position changes to be higher than a predetermined threshold S for a predetermined time, but is not cleaned otherwise. Judge.

  When determining that the monitoring target position has been cleaned, the dirt position monitoring unit 181 ends the monitoring of the luminance value at the monitoring target position and generates a cleaning detection signal. When it is determined that the monitoring target position is not cleaned, the luminance value monitoring at the monitoring target position is maintained.

  FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating an example of a monitoring result by the dirt position monitoring unit. The horizontal axis of the graph indicates time, and the vertical axis of the graph indicates luminance. The graph shows the sum of luminance values of the CCD 17 that has received light emitted from the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the monitoring target position before and after cleaning of the dirt detected by the SPF reading unit 55.

  At time T1, cleaning is started by the user. At this time, the user opens the automatic document feeder 12 in accordance with the cleaning request screen displayed when the SPF reading unit 55 detects dirt. At this time, the sum of the luminance values at the monitoring target position is smaller than the threshold value S.

  Since the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the dirty position is turned on during cleaning, the user can easily specify the position of the dirt. When the user cleans the position of the dirt by the operation of wiping at time T <b> 2, the light of the lighting unit 111 that is lit is reflected on the cleaning tool used for cleaning and is incident on the CCD 17. As a result, the luminance value of the light received by the CCD 17 is higher than when the cleaning tool is not in a dirty position. Therefore, it is possible to detect whether or not the user has cleaned the brightness value by monitoring the change in the brightness value at the monitoring target position within a predetermined time.

(Document reading process flow)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of document reading processing. The document reading process is a process executed when the control unit 101 executes a document reading program stored in the storage device 130. As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 101 determines whether or not a document reading instruction has been issued (step S01). If the original reading instruction is an original reading instruction, the process proceeds to step S09. If the original reading instruction is an original movement instruction, the process proceeds to step S02.

  In step S02, the control unit (standby control unit) 101 waits for the document to be transported by the automatic document transport device 12, and the stain detection unit 173 is read by the scanner unit 13 in the absence of a document in the SPF reading unit 55. Get the data.

  In the next step S03, the dirt detection unit 173 determines the presence or absence of dirt in the SPF reading unit 55 based on the data acquired in step S02. Specifically, it is determined whether or not black data is included in data read without a document. If black data is included in the data read without a document, it is determined that there is contamination, and the process proceeds to step S04. Otherwise, it is determined that there is no contamination, and the process proceeds to step S09.

  If black data is included in the data read without a document (YES in step S03), the pixel portion is set as a monitoring target position, and monitoring of the luminance value of the CCD 17 corresponding to the monitoring target position is started. To do.

  In step S04, the cleaning request screen display unit 175 displays the cleaning request screen on the display unit 141, and the process proceeds to step S05.

  In step S05, the open / close detection unit 171 determines whether or not the open state of the automatic document feeder 12 is detected. Specifically, the open state is detected by an off signal output from the SPF open / close detection sensor 160. If the open state of automatic document feeder 12 is detected, the process proceeds to step S06.

  When the open / close detection unit 171 detects the open state in step S05, the control unit 101 moves the first scanning unit 14 included in the scanner unit 13 to the SPF reading position.

  In step S06, the lighting control unit 177 lights the dirt position. Specifically, the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the monitoring target position set in step S03 is turned on. Accordingly, the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the monitoring target position is turned on in a state where the first scanning unit 14 included in the scanner unit 13 is located at the SPF reading position, so that the user can set the position to be cleaned in the SPF reading unit 55. It can be known from the lighting position.

  In cleaning, a cleaning tool colored in a white color is used, and the light emitted from the lighting unit 111 is reflected by the cleaning tool used for wiping the dirt position, and the CCD 17 is discharged from the CCD reading port. Light is incident on. For this reason, during cleaning, the luminance value of the CCD 17 that has received the light emitted from the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the monitoring target position is higher than when the cleaning tool is not in a dirty position. The time during which the luminance value is high corresponds to the time during which dirt is wiped off by the user.

  In the next step S07, the dirt position monitoring unit 181 determines whether or not cleaning at the dirt position detected in step S03 has been detected. The dirt position monitoring unit 181 monitors the luminance value at the monitoring target position set in step S03, and determines whether or not the luminance value at the monitoring target position has changed over the threshold value S for a predetermined time. If the luminance value at the monitoring target position has changed to the threshold value S or more for a predetermined time, it is determined that there is cleaning, and the process proceeds to step S08. Otherwise, it is determined that there is no cleaning, and the process returns to step S04. .

  If it is determined that the cleaning has been performed (YES in step S07), the monitoring of the luminance value at the monitoring target position is terminated. If it is determined that the cleaning has not been performed (NO in step S07), the luminance value is monitored at the monitoring target position. To maintain.

  In step S08, the cleaning request screen display unit 175 ends the display of the cleaning request screen, and the lighting control unit 177 ends the lighting of the lighting unit 111 corresponding to the position where the cleaning is detected in step S07. To step S02.

  Here, by returning the processing from step S08 to step S02, the dirt detection unit 173 newly reads data with the scanner unit 13 in the SPF reading unit 55 in the absence of a document, and acquires the read data. . Thereby, in step S03, it is possible to confirm whether or not the dirt has disappeared.

  In step S09, the control unit 101 instructs the scanner unit 13 to read a document, and ends the document reading process. When the document reading instruction in step S01 is a document reading instruction by the document fixing method, the control unit 101 instructs the scanner unit 13 to read the document by the document fixing method. When the original reading instruction in step S01 is an original reading instruction by the original moving method, the control unit (standby control unit) 101 instructs the automatic original conveying apparatus 12 that has been waiting in step S02 to start conveying the original. The dirt detection unit 173 instructs the scanner unit 13 to read a document by the document movement method.

  Note that, here, the case where the process is returned from step S08 to step S02 in order to confirm whether or not the dirt is eliminated has been described as an example, but the process may be advanced from step S08 to step S09.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the image forming apparatus 100 has both the image reading function and the image forming function has been described, but these may be provided in separate apparatuses. Specifically, an apparatus including the scanner unit 110, the SPF open / close detection sensor 160, and the control unit 101 may be configured as an image reading apparatus, and an apparatus including the image forming unit 2 may be configured as an image forming apparatus.

(Summary)
As described above, the image reading apparatus of the present invention includes the SPF reading unit 55 that reads an image, and an image that reads an original by the SPF reading unit 55 while the original is conveyed on the SPF reading unit 55 by the automatic document feeder 12. A reading device that illuminates a plurality of areas in the SPF reading unit 55 along a direction orthogonal to the document conveyance direction, a lighting control unit 177 that controls lighting of the lighting unit 111, and The SPF reading unit 55 includes a stain detection unit 173 that determines the presence or absence of stains and detects the stains. The lighting control unit 177 irradiates light to a region corresponding to the position where the stains are detected by the stain detection unit 173. Thus, lighting of the lighting part 111 is controlled.

  For this reason, the user can identify the position of the dirt in the SPF reading unit 55 by checking the lighting unit 111 that is lit. Therefore, the dirt attached to the SPF reading unit 55 can be surely removed by cleaning.

  In addition, in this Embodiment, although it was set as the structure provided with the some lighting part 111, it is not limited to this form. For example, you may provide only the one lighting part 111 which can move along the main scanning direction. In this case, the control unit 101 may move the lighting unit 111 to the position detected by the dirt detection unit 173 and light it.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Finally, each block of the image forming apparatus 100, in particular, the control unit 101 may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

  That is, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) that executes instructions of a control program that implements each function, a read only memory (ROM) that stores the program, and a random access memory (RAM) that expands the program. And a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. An object of the present invention is a recording medium on which a program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a control program of the image forming apparatus 100, which is software that realizes the functions described above, is recorded so as to be readable by a computer. This can also be achieved by supplying the image forming apparatus 100 and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 100 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

2 Image reading unit 11 Document table 12 Automatic document feeder 13 Scanner unit 55 SPF reading unit 57 OC reading unit 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Control unit 110 Scanner unit 111 Lighting unit 120 Image processing unit 130 Storage device 160 SPF open / close detection sensor 171 Open / close Detection unit 173 Dirt detection unit (dirt detection means)
175 Cleaning request screen display unit 177 Lighting control unit (lighting control means)
181 Dirt position monitoring unit (dirt position monitoring means)

Claims (8)

It has a reading unit that reads images,
An image reading apparatus for reading a document by the reading unit while conveying the document on the reading unit by an automatic document conveying device,
Illuminating means for irradiating a plurality of regions on the reading unit along a direction orthogonal to the document conveying direction;
Lighting control means for controlling lighting of the illumination means;
A stain detecting means for determining the presence or absence of dirt on the reading unit and detecting the dirt,
The image reading apparatus, wherein the lighting control unit controls lighting of the illuminating unit so as to irradiate light to the region corresponding to the position where the dirt is detected by the dirt detecting unit.   2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stain detection unit detects a stain based on image data read by the reading unit in a state where there is no document on the reading unit.   The dirt detection means monitors the reflected light of the light emitted from the illumination means, and when the detected brightness value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the dirt position monitoring means detects that there is cleaning at the position. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the contamination detection unit determines again whether there is contamination on the reading unit when the contamination position monitoring unit detects that there is cleaning. 5.   5. The image according to claim 1, further comprising a standby control unit that waits for the conveyance of the document by the automatic document conveyance device while the contamination detection unit detects the contamination. 6. Reader.   The lighting control unit is configured to control the light amount to be lower than that at the time of reading by the reading unit when the illumination unit lights the area corresponding to the position where the dirt is detected by the dirt detecting unit. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1. A control method for an image reading apparatus, comprising: a reading unit that reads an image; and reading an original by the reading unit while conveying the original on the reading unit by an automatic document conveying device;
A lighting control step for controlling lighting of illumination means for irradiating a plurality of regions on the reading unit along a direction orthogonal to the document conveyance direction;
A stain detection step of determining the presence or absence of dirt on the reading unit and detecting the dirt,
The method for controlling an image reading apparatus, wherein the lighting control step controls lighting of the illumination unit so as to irradiate the region corresponding to the position where the stain is detected by the stain detection step. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit.

Images