JP2014001033A - Sheet feeding device, manuscript feeding device, image reading device and manuscript reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that time to wait a predetermined time goes to waste when alignment is completed soon and the jam and skew of a manuscript occur because the feeding of the manuscript starts in the middle of alignment when aligning time is long in a manuscript feeding device to feed the manuscript after the predetermined time after detecting the manuscript on a manuscript table.SOLUTION: A sheet feeding device comprises: manuscript detecting means to detect whether the manuscript is placed or not on manuscript placing means; manuscript feeding means to feed the placed manuscript; working state detecting means to detect whether the placed manuscript is in a working state or not; and controlling means to order the starting of the feeding of the placed manuscript on the manuscript placing means to the manuscript feeding means. The controlling means does not order the starting of the feeding of the manuscript to the manuscript feeding means when the working state detecting means detects the manuscript in a working state.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device, a document feeding device, an image reading device, and a document reading device.

  A document feeding device that feeds a document placed on a document table by a pickup roller requires an operation by a user when starting document feeding, which is troublesome for the user.

  In order to reduce this time and effort, there is an operation mode in which feeding is automatically started when document placement is detected on the platen. In this operation mode, feeding is automatically started when document placement is detected on the platen, and after all the documents on the platen are fed, it waits until the document is placed on the platen again. .

  However, in the above operation mode, when the document is placed on the document table, feeding of the document starts immediately. For example, after the document is placed on the document table, the user has not released his / her hand from the document yet. Sometimes feeding starts. As a result, the user and the pickup roller pull the document, and inconveniences such as skewing, double feeding, and jamming of the document easily occur.

  In order to solve this inconvenience, there is a method of delaying the timing of starting the feeding of the document for a certain time when the placement of the document is detected on the document table (see Patent Document 1). By this method, stable feeding can be performed by delaying the feeding start by a sufficient time after the user places the document on the document table and releases the hand from the document. The delay time may be changeable by the user. If you want to start feeding as soon as a document is loaded on the platen, set a short delay time. If you do not want to feed the document immediately after loading the document on the document table for a while, such as document alignment, set a longer delay time.

Japanese Patent No. 2924058

  However, there are various types of originals, such as types that are easy to align and those that are not, and the number of sheets to be stacked varies depending on the situation. If you set a short delay time to start feeding, it took a long time to load documents that are difficult to line up. Feeding will start. On the other hand, if the delay time is set long, useless waiting time may occur.

  The present invention makes it possible to stably feed a document while minimizing a wasteful waiting time until the transport of a stacked document is started.

  The present invention includes a sheet stacking unit for stacking sheets, a sheet detecting unit for detecting whether or not a sheet exists on the sheet stacking unit, and a sheet feeding unit for feeding the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit. A sheet feeding unit; an object detection unit that detects a movement of an object on the sheet stacking unit; and a control unit that controls an operation of the sheet feeding unit. When the movement of the object is detected by the object detection means on the means, the control means prohibits the sheet feeding operation by the sheet feeding means.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document feeder, a document stacking unit on which a document is stacked, a document detection unit that detects whether or not a document is stacked on the document stacking unit, Document feeding means for feeding a document stacked on the document stacking means, working state detecting means for detecting whether or not the document loaded on the document stacking means is working, and stacking on the document stacking means Control means for instructing the document feeding means to start feeding the prepared document, and the control means is configured to detect the document when the working state detecting means detects the working state of the document. The start of feeding is not instructed to the document feeding means.

  As another form, the present invention relates to a document feeder, a document stacking unit on which a document is stacked, a document detection unit for detecting whether or not a document is stacked on the document stacking unit, and the document stacking A document feeding means for feeding a document loaded on the means, a first work state detecting means for detecting whether or not the document loaded on the document loading means is in operation, and the first work A second work state detection unit for detecting whether or not the stacked document is being worked in a range including at least an upstream side in the document transport direction from a range that can be detected by the state detection unit; Control means for instructing the document feeding means to start feeding a document stacked on the means, and the control means includes at least one of the first work state detection means and the second work state detection means. Any one working on the original When it is detected as being is characterized in that it does not instruct the start of document feeding in the document feeding means.

  As another form, the present invention is a document reading apparatus, in which a document stacking unit on which a document is stacked, a document detection unit that detects whether or not a document is stacked on the document stacking unit, and the document stacking unit A document feeding unit that feeds the document loaded on the document, a working state detection unit that detects whether or not the document loaded on the document loading unit is working, and a document loaded on the document loading unit Control means for instructing the document feeding means to start the feeding of the document, and when the working state detecting means detects the working state of the document, the control means There is provided a document feeding device characterized by not instructing the document feeding means to start.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to stably feed a document while minimizing a wasteful waiting time until the transport of a stacked document is started.

1 is an overview diagram schematically showing an image reading apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a main part of an image reading apparatus. FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining a state of a document generated when a document is supplied. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for determining a document feed start timing according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is an overview diagram schematically illustrating an image reading apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for determining a document feed start timing according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described here, a document feeding device that is a sheet feeding device and a document reading device (image reading device) provided with the document feeding device as a part of the device (feeding mechanism) will be described. Do.

  Note that the document feeding apparatus described below can also be used as a recording material feeding apparatus that feeds a recording material on which an image is not formed instead of a document to an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus. In addition, the document feeder is not limited to be provided in the document reading apparatus main body, and is provided in the apparatus main body of a post-processing apparatus that binds or punches a document, for example, and supplies the document to the post-processing apparatus. You may make it send.

<Example 1>
[Device configuration]
First, a document reading device provided with a document feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the document reading device 100 includes a document feeding device 300. A plurality of documents can be stacked on the document table 1 as the document stacking table (sheet stacking means). A pair of document regulating plates 2 a and 2 b are provided on the side of the document table 1. The document regulating plates 2a and 2b are movable in the main scanning direction of the document in conjunction with each other, and are configured to position and align the stacked documents at the center of the document table 1.

  The document detection sensor 3 detects a document stacked on the document table 1. The document detection sensor 3 functions as a sheet detection unit for the document table 1. The pickup roller 4 (capturing means) captures a document loaded on the document table 1 from the document table 1 and sends it out to the document reading apparatus. The pickup roller 4 is rotated by a drive motor (not shown).

  The feed roller 6 is driven by a feed motor (not shown) so as to rotate in a direction in which the document is fed downstream in the transport direction. The separation roller 7 constantly receives a rotational force that rotates in a direction to push back the document upstream in the conveyance direction from a drive motor (not shown) via a torque limiter (slip clutch) not shown. The torque that the torque limiter transmits to the separation roller 7 in the direction that pushes back the document to the upstream side in the transport direction exceeds the rotational force in the direction that the feed roller 6 feeds the document downstream in the transport direction. As a result, when there is one document between the feeding roller 6 and the separation roller 7, the separation roller 7 rotates in a direction to follow the feeding roller 6. On the other hand, when there are a plurality of documents between the feeding roller 6 and the separation roller 7, the separation roller 7 rotates in a direction to push the document back to the upstream side in the conveyance direction, so that the documents other than the document stacked on the top are rotated. Push the original back.

  When a plurality of documents are overlapped and fed into the nip portion between the feed roller 6 and the separation roller 7 by the action of feeding the document by the feeding roller 6 and the action of the separation roller 7 pushing back the document. Only the document loaded on top is fed, and the other documents are pushed back. As a result, the overlapped originals are separated and fed. Therefore, the feeding roller 6 and the separation roller 7 constitute a pair of separation rollers (separation feeding means). In this embodiment, a pair of rollers is used as the separating and feeding means. However, a pair of separating belts in which either the separating roller or the feeding roller is a belt may be used.

  The transport rollers 10a, 11a, 12a, and 13a are rotated by driving a transport motor (not shown). The conveyance rollers 10b, 11b, 12b, and 13b nip the conveyance rollers 10a, 11a, 12a, and 13a in a rotatable state, and rotate in accordance with the conveyance rollers 10a, 11a, 12a, and 13a, respectively. These transport rollers transport the separated and fed original along the transport path from the original reading position to the discharge position. Then, the discharged document is stacked on the discharge stacking table 9.

  The conveyance rollers 10a, 11a, 12a, and 13a are driven so that the conveyance speed can be changed to an optimum conveyance speed for reading a document according to the settings such as the resolution of the document.

  The document reading apparatus 100 includes document reading sensors 14 and 15 that read a document, and is controlled to change a line scanning interval based on settings of a document reading speed and resolution.

  The pre-registration sensor S3 is disposed on the upstream side of the conveyance roller pair 10 in the conveyance direction, and detects conveyance of the original separated into one sheet. The post-registration sensor S4 is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport roller pair 10 and detects the transported document.

  In the present embodiment, the document abnormality detection sensor S1 is used as a means for detecting a work state and a document abnormality, which is an example of an object detection unit that detects the state of an object moving on the document table 1. That is, the original abnormality detection sensor S1 here is a sensor that detects the movement of the original as the movement of the object. The document abnormality detection sensor S1 functions as a sensor that detects that the user is currently performing some work on the document, such as arranging and stacking the documents before starting the document feeding. .

  Here, the document abnormality detection sensor S1 has been described as a sensor that detects that work is being performed. However, this means that detection of motion of the document is regarded as being performed and is detected. Thus, the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, the present invention prohibits the start of the subsequent feeding operation under a certain condition when the movement of the object on the document table 1 occurs before the feeding operation is started. In addition, even when the movement of the operator's hand or arm is detected, it is similarly detected. The document abnormality detection sensor S1 functions as a sensor that detects abnormal conveyance of a document during separation feeding of the document (after the start of feeding). By detecting this abnormal conveyance, the document can be prevented from being damaged. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively use the sensors having different roles before and after feeding the document using one sensor.

  The document abnormality detection sensor S1 includes a light emitting unit S1a and a light receiving unit S1b. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of the document abnormality detection sensor S1 in FIG. Arrows indicate the document transport direction. The document bundle F is a bundle of documents stacked on the document table 1. The document F1 is a document stacked on the uppermost surface of the document bundle F.

  In FIG. 2, the light emitting unit S1a is configured by a light emitting element such as an LED, and the light receiving unit S1b is configured by a light receiving element such as a phototransistor. Both the light emitting unit S1a and the light receiving unit S1b are connected to the control unit 45. The light emitting unit S1a is disposed in a portion of the apparatus main body that is in the vicinity of one side of the document table 1. On the other hand, the light receiving portion S1b is disposed in the portion of the apparatus body corresponding to the vicinity of the other side portion of the document table 1. In order to reliably detect abnormal conveyance of the sheet, it is desirable that the optical path passes near the pickup roller 4. Accordingly, the light emitting unit S1a emits light so as to pass through the vicinity of the side surface of the pickup roller 4.

  In the document abnormality detection sensor S1, the light emitted from the light emitting unit S1a passes near the upstream side of the pickup roller 4 in the transport direction and proceeds to the light receiving unit S1b disposed on the opposite side. In the document abnormality detection sensor S1, the optical path of the light emitted from the light emitting unit S1a is substantially parallel to the document stacking surface of the document table 1 and substantially orthogonal to the feeding direction (conveyance direction) of the document F1. To do.

  Using the document abnormality detection sensor S1, the abnormal conveyance of the document is detected as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the corner of the document F1 is fixed to the document bundle F by the staple SP1, the document F1 passes between the feeding roller 6 and the separation roller 7. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, a part starts to jump up. This jumping up is due to distortion that occurs because the pickup roller 4 and the feeding roller 6 feed the paper while the document F1 is fixed by the staple SP1.

  A part of the jumped document F1 blocks the light of the document abnormality detection sensor S1, so that the abnormal conveyance of the document is detected by the control unit 45. The control unit 45 stops the rotation of the motors driving the pickup roller 4, the feeding roller 6, and the separation roller 7 in accordance with a change in the light reception signal from the document abnormality detection sensor S <b> 1. Note that a plurality of document abnormality detection sensors S1 may be arranged in the height direction so as to detect the shape change of the document F1 that has jumped up with high accuracy.

  As described above, when the document abnormality detection sensor S1 is used, the amount of light received when the light path from the light emitted from the light emitting unit S1a to the light receiving unit S1b is blocked by the document is reduced during separation and feeding. Therefore, it is possible to detect the jumping of the document. Then, the control unit 45 controls to stop feeding the document based on the detection result.

  The document reading apparatus 100 receives an image reading instruction from a host computer (not shown) or the like. In this case, the document reading apparatus 100 detects the loading of the document on the document table 1 by the document detection sensor 3, and after the document abnormality detection sensor S1 no longer detects the working state of the document, the document feeding device 100 described above. Start sending operation.

[Processing flow]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operations from when the document reading apparatus 100 receives an image reading instruction to when the feeding operation is started. This processing flow may be realized by, for example, being configured to be controlled on an electric circuit, or the control unit 45 provided in the document reading apparatus 100 reads and executes a program stored in the storage unit. It may be realized.

  After receiving the image reading instruction, the document reading apparatus 100 determines whether or not a loading waiting cancel instruction (not shown) is received while waiting for the document to be stacked on the document table 1 (S101). If an instruction for canceling the stacking waiting instruction is received (YES in S101), document reading apparatus 100 proceeds to S110. Here, the instruction for canceling the waiting for loading means an instruction for immediately starting the feeding of the document after the loading of the document has been completed.

  If there is no instruction for canceling the stacking waiting (NO in S101), the document reading apparatus 100 confirms whether the document is loaded on the document table 1 by the document detection sensor 3 (S102). If the original detection sensor 3 cannot detect the original (No in S102), the process returns to S101, and the original reading apparatus 100 waits until the original can be detected or until the instruction to cancel the stacking wait is instructed. If the document can be detected (Yes in S102), the process proceeds to S103.

  From now on, processing when working on a document by alignment or the like will be described. In this embodiment, the document reading apparatus 100 does not start feeding a document immediately after detecting a document, but temporarily prohibits (standby) for a predetermined time using a stacking waiting counter. As described above, a grace time for performing work such as alignment with respect to the original is provided. First, the document reading apparatus 100 sets T1 in the stacking waiting counter (S103). Further, the document reading apparatus 100 sets the abnormality determination level of the document abnormality detection sensor S1 used for detecting the work on the document to A1 (S104). In this embodiment, the light reception value is increased if the light reception amount of the light receiving portion S1b of the document abnormality detection sensor S1 is large, and conversely, if the light reception amount is small, the light reception value is decreased. The abnormality determination level A1 means a threshold value for a light reception value received by the light receiving unit S1b.

  Then, the document reading apparatus 100 starts counting down the stacking waiting counter (S105). Here, in the countdown of the stacking waiting counter, the document reading apparatus 100 decrements by 1 every time a fixed time elapses, and stops counting down when the counter reaches 0. Here, T1 set to the stacking waiting counter is set to a value at which the counter becomes 0 after 2 seconds. This value may be arbitrarily set by the user. For example, after a document is loaded on the document table 1, a necessary and sufficient time for the document operation is set according to whether or not the document alignment operation is necessary.

  Next, in order to determine whether or not the user is working on the document, the document reading apparatus 100 compares the light reception value of the light receiving unit S1b with the abnormality determination level A1 (S106). If the light reception value is smaller than the abnormality determination level A1 (Yes in S106), the optical path between the light emitting unit S1a and the light receiving unit S1b is blocked by some object, and the document reading apparatus 100 determines that the document is being worked on. To do. In this case, if the separation and feeding of the document starts immediately, the document cannot be stably fed, so the document reading apparatus 100 extends the standby time. For this purpose, the document reading apparatus 100 sets T1 in the stacking waiting counter again and continues the countdown (S107). Then, the process returns to S106.

  If the received light value is equal to or higher than abnormality determination level A1 (No in S106), document reading apparatus 100 determines that the user is not working on the document and does not change the stacking waiting counter. Here, if the state in which the operation on the original is not detected continues, the stacking waiting counter will eventually become zero. When the stacking waiting counter becomes 0 (Yes in S108), the document reading apparatus 100 determines that the operation on the document is completed. At this time, it can be considered that the loading of the original is completed and the original is removed. Therefore, the document reading apparatus 100 confirms again by the document detection sensor 3 whether or not a document is stacked on the document table 1 (S109). If the document cannot be detected (No in S109), document reading apparatus 100 determines that the document has been removed, returns to S101, and waits until the document is stacked. When the document can be detected (Yes in S109), the document reading apparatus 100 changes the abnormality determination level of the document abnormality detection sensor S1 to A2 (S110).

  Note that the abnormality determination level A1 in S104 is set to a value suitable for detecting the user's hand and the like in order to detect the user's work on the document. On the other hand, the abnormality determination level A2 in S110 is set to a value suitable for detecting the jumping of the document being fed. Note that the value to be set may be changed depending on the characteristics and type of the document.

  As a result of the operations up to this point, preparation for feeding the document is completed, and the document reading apparatus 100 starts feeding the document (S111).

  As described above, in the document feeder that automatically feeds a document, the user's work on the document is detected and the start of feeding is controlled. As a result, it is possible to stably feed the document while minimizing a wasteful waiting time until the transport of the loaded document is started.

  In this embodiment, the document abnormality detection sensor is used to detect the working state for the document. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration as long as the working state for the document can be detected. For example, when an operation on any part of the document feeding device used when loading a document is detected, the working state of the document may be detected.

  Further, it is also possible to detect an operation on a document using the document detection sensor 3 on the document table. If a document is removed immediately after it has been loaded once while waiting for document loading, the document abnormality detection sensor may not be able to detect the operation depending on how the user loads the document. In this case, when waiting for document stacking (within the loop processing of S104 to S108 in FIG. 4), when the document detection sensor 3 once detects the absence of a document and then detects the presence of a document again, a predetermined value is set in the stacking waiting counter. You may make it do.

  In this embodiment, the document is not fed while waiting for document loading. However, when the total waiting time for document loading exceeds a predetermined time, feeding of the document is started even when an operation on the document is detected. You may do it. For example, it is conceivable to start feeding a document when a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving a document reading instruction.

  In this embodiment, the document table elevating means is not provided, but a document feeding device provided with the document table elevating means may be used. If the working state detection means determines that the document is being worked, the raising operation of the document table may be stopped, or the raising speed may be slowed or controlled. After that, when it is determined again that the document is not being worked on, it may be controlled to resume the raising operation of the document table. Further, when the operation on the original is continuously detected for a long time, the raising of the original may be stopped and the original table may be lowered. By controlling the raising / lowering operation of the document table in this way, in the apparatus having the document table raising / lowering means, a hand or the like is not caught in the sheet feeding device during the operation on the document, thereby improving safety. Can do.

<Example 2>
In the first embodiment, the document abnormality detection sensor S1 is used as means for detecting the work state. In this embodiment, a movement detection sensor for the original restriction plate is newly provided, and both the original abnormality detection sensor and the restriction plate movement detection sensor are used as work state detection means. The document feeder is provided with means capable of detecting the position of the document restricting plate provided on the document table. If the position of the document restricting plate is moving, it is determined that the document is in operation. On the other hand, if the position of the document restricting plate continues to stop, it is determined that the document stacking is finished.

[Equipment configuration]
FIG. 5 shows an overview of the document reading apparatus 400 according to this embodiment. In the present embodiment, only different portions from those of the first embodiment will be described, and overlapping portions will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

  In this embodiment, the document platen 401 is provided with a document restriction plate 402 and a restriction plate movement detection sensor S2, and the movement of the document restriction plate 402 is detected by the restriction plate movement detection sensor S2. After the document is stacked on the document table 401 by the user, the document restriction plate 402 is moved toward the center line of the document table 401 in the main scanning direction, thereby aligning the stacked documents and further supplying the document being fed. Tilt can be regulated.

  The restriction plate movement detection sensor S2 not only detects the state in which the document is being worked by the movement of the document restriction plate 402, but also the document read by the document reading sensors 14 and 15 during the document feeding operation. It may be used to set a reading range in the main scanning direction at the time of reading. By detecting the positions of the document restricting plates 402a and 402b by the restricting plate movement detection sensor S2 and reading only the range from the position of the document restricting plate 402a to the position of 402b, the load of image processing is reduced, and the high-speed document Reading is possible.

  The document abnormality detection sensor S1 is disposed in the vicinity of the pickup roller 4, whereas the document restriction plate 402 is disposed upstream of the pickup roller 4 in the transport direction. By disposing the document abnormality detection sensor S1 and the document restriction plate 402 at different positions, various working states can be detected depending on how the documents are aligned. When a document is first stacked on the document table 401, the document restriction plate 402 is expanded in the main scanning direction so as to be spaced more than the document width. In this case, it is suitable to detect the working state with the document abnormality detection sensor S1. After the stacked originals are aligned by hand, the original alignment is completed by adjusting the original regulating plate 402 to the original width. The restriction plate movement detection sensor S2 is suitable for detecting the completion of the alignment.

  Here, for convenience, the document abnormality detection sensor S1 is also referred to as a first work state detection unit, and the restriction plate movement detection sensor S2 is also referred to as a second work state detection unit.

  Further, in this embodiment, the timing of starting the feeding of the document is controlled depending on which of the document abnormality detection sensor S1 and the regulation plate movement detection sensor S2 detects the working state of the document. In this case, when the work state is not detected for a first predetermined time (corresponding to T1 below) after the document abnormality detection sensor S1 no longer detects the work state of the document, a document feeding instruction is issued. Alternatively, even when the working state is not detected for a second predetermined time (corresponding to T2 below) after the restriction plate movement detection sensor S2 no longer detects the working state of the document, the document feeding instruction is also given.

[Processing flow]
Hereinafter, the document abnormality detection sensor S1 and the restriction plate movement detection sensor S2 are used as two types of work detection means. A method for detecting work on a document will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 6, only different steps will be described with respect to the flowchart of FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, and overlapping steps are denoted by the same step numbers and description thereof is omitted. Further, this processing flow may be realized by, for example, being configured to be controlled on an electric circuit, or the control unit 45 provided in the document reading apparatus 100 reads a program stored in the storage unit, It may be realized by executing.

  The processing of S101 to S107 is the same as that of the first embodiment. If it is determined in S106 that the document abnormality detection sensor S1 is not in the working state (No in S106), the document reading apparatus 100 determines whether the restriction plate movement detection sensor S2 has detected the working state. If the restriction plate movement detection sensor S2 detects the movement of the original restriction plate 402, it is determined to be in a working state (Yes in S201), and the original reading apparatus 100 sets T2 in the stacking waiting counter and continues the countdown. (S202). At this time, the value of T2 is set to be a time equal to or shorter than the value of T1. Here, the value of T2 is set so that the time until the load waiting counter becomes 0 is 1 second. The value of T1 is the same as in Example 1.

  On the other hand, if the movement of the document restricting plate 402 is not detected, it is determined that the working state is not reached (No in S201), and the document reading apparatus 100 has the stacking waiting counter set in any of S104, S107, and S202 set to 0. Continue to check whether or not work has been done on the manuscript. The processing of S108 to S111 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, regarding the set value for the stacking waiting counter, T1 is set when the work state is detected by the document abnormality detection sensor S1, T2 is set when the detection state is detected by the restriction plate movement detection sensor S2, and T1 ≧ T2. It is set. In many cases, the work is detected by the restriction plate movement detection sensor S2 after the work is detected by the document abnormality detection sensor S1. Therefore, by increasing the counter value by the document abnormality detection sensor S1 that detects the work first, and by decreasing the counter value by the restriction plate movement detection sensor S2 that detects the work later, wasteful waiting time is minimized. Can do.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, from the detection of the placement of the document on the document table until the document is automatically fed while the working state of the document loaded on the document table is detected by the plurality of sensors. The waiting time is changed according to the detection state. As a result, the document can be fed stably.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Document reading apparatus 300 Document feeding apparatus 1 Document stand 2 Document restriction plate 3 Document detection sensor 4 Pickup roller 6 Feeding roller 7 Separating roller 9 Discharge stack 14 and 15 Document reading sensor S3 Pre-registration sensor S4 Post-registration sensor S1 Document abnormality detection sensor S1a Light emitting unit S1b Light receiving unit 45 Control unit F1 Document S2 Regulation plate movement detection sensor

Claims (13)

Sheet stacking means on which sheets are stacked;
Sheet detecting means for detecting whether or not a sheet exists on the sheet stacking means;
Sheet feeding means for feeding sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means;
Object detection means for detecting movement of an object on the sheet stacking means;
Control means for controlling the operation of the sheet feeding means,
When the movement of an object is detected on the sheet stacking unit by the object detection unit in a state before starting sheet feeding, the control unit prohibits the sheet feeding operation by the sheet feeding unit. A sheet feeding device characterized by the above.   2. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object detecting unit further serves as a unit for detecting a change in the shape of the sheet after the sheet feeding starts on the sheet stacking unit. A document loading means for loading a document;
Document detection means for detecting whether or not a document is stacked on the document stacking means;
Document feeding means for feeding a document stacked on the document stacking means;
Working state detecting means for detecting whether or not the original loaded on the original stacking means is working;
Control means for instructing the document feeding means to start feeding a document stacked on the document stacking means,
The document feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the control means does not instruct the document feeding means to start document feeding when the work state detecting means detects a working state of the document.   The control means determines the start of document feeding when the working status detection means does not detect the working status of the document and the working status of the document is not detected for a predetermined time. The document feeder according to claim 3, wherein an instruction is given to a feeding unit. The working state detecting means includes a light emitting section that emits light that is substantially parallel to a document stacking surface of the document stacking means and that is substantially perpendicular to a document feeding direction, and a light receiving section that receives light emitted from the light emitting section. And
5. The document feeding according to claim 3, wherein the document feeding operation is detected by detecting that the optical path between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit is blocked. 6. apparatus. The working state detecting means includes
Used to detect whether or not the document feeding means is working when the document feeding means is not feeding the document;
When the original feeding means is feeding an original, detecting a state where there is an abnormality in the conveyance of the original by detecting that the optical path between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit is blocked. The document feeder according to claim 5.   The threshold of the amount of light received by the light receiving unit used when the work state detection unit detects that the optical path is blocked is when the document feeding unit is feeding a document and when not feeding the document. The document feeder according to claim 6, wherein the document feeder is different. The document stacking means has a document restricting plate movable so as to align the stacked documents,
The document according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the work state detection means further detects whether or not the document is being worked by detecting movement of the document restriction plate. Feeding device. A document loading means for loading a document;
Document detection means for detecting whether or not a document is stacked on the document stacking means;
Document feeding means for feeding a document stacked on the document stacking means;
First working state detecting means for detecting whether or not the original loaded on the original stacking means is working;
Second work state detection means for detecting whether or not work is being performed on the stacked originals in a range including at least the upstream side in the transport direction of the originals from a range that can be detected by the first work state detection means. When,
Control means for instructing the document feeding means to start feeding a document stacked on the document stacking means,
When the control unit detects that at least one of the first work state detection unit and the second work state detection unit is working on the document, the document feeding starts. Is not instructed to the document feeding means. The control means includes
After the first working state detection means no longer detects the working state of the document, if the working state of the document is not detected for a first predetermined time, the document feeding start is detected. Instruct the sending means, or
After the second working state detection unit no longer detects the working state of the document, if the working state of the document is not detected for a second predetermined time, the document feeding start is indicated. Instruct the sending means,
The document feeder according to claim 9, wherein a value of the first predetermined time is equal to or less than a value of the second predetermined time. The first work state detection means includes a light emitting section that emits light that is substantially parallel to a document stacking surface of the document stacking means and that is substantially orthogonal to the document feeding direction, and light emitted from the light emitting section. A light receiving portion for receiving light,
The first working state detection means detects a working state with respect to the document by detecting that an optical path between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit is blocked.
The document stacking means has a document restricting plate movable so as to align the stacked documents,
11. The document feeding device according to claim 9, wherein the second working state detection unit detects a working state of the document by detecting movement of the document restricting plate.   The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 or 2 is used as a document feeding mechanism, and includes a conveying unit that conveys a fed document and an image reading unit that reads an image of the conveyed document. A characteristic image reading apparatus.   An original reading apparatus comprising the original feeding apparatus according to claim 3.

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