JP2017118255A - Image reader and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader that is able to inform a user of a left document, even if an operation of shifting to a power-saving mode is immediately performed after fixed reading, and to provide an image forming apparatus having the same.SOLUTION: An image reading unit 100 comprises: an ADF 10; a CCD line sensor 58 that reads an image from a document D on a platen glass; an ADF opening/closing sensor 61 that detects presence or absence of a document left unintentionally; warning means (a message display part and a loudspeaker) that warns that a document is left unintentionally; and power-saving mode execution means (a power-saving mode switch button and a CPU) that is able to execute a power-saving mode. Additionally, the image reading unit 100 has control means (CPU) that shifts to the power-saving mode by the power-saving mode execution means after warning is provided by the warning means if a signal indicating to execute the power-saving mode is transmitted while the ADF opening/closing sensor 61 detects a left document after a document image is read.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that reads image information from a sheet such as a document, and an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, as a reading method of an installed image reading device, a method in which a single document is placed on a platen glass and pressed by a pressure plate (opening / closing means) (hereinafter referred to as “fixed”). Reading method) is known. Also known is a method of loading a plurality of document bundles on a document tray and reading the document while conveying it with an automatic document feeder (ADF: Auto Document Feeder) (hereinafter referred to as “flow-reading method”).

  In the fixed reading method, reading is performed in a state in which the flatness of the original is ensured. Therefore, the original on the platen glass is read from above by a pressure plate that opens and closes against the platen glass. In this case, since the document is hidden by the pressure plate and cannot be seen, the user (operator) may forget to leave the document on the platen glass after use of the apparatus (forget to leave it).

  To solve this problem, when the opening / closing operation of the pressure plate is monitored by a sensor and the original is set on the platen glass without opening / closing the pressure plate after the fixed reading is finished, the original is set on the ADF. There has been proposed an image forming apparatus configured to warn that there is a document to forget. In this image forming apparatus, the presence / absence of a forgotten document is determined by determining whether there is a forgotten document left on the platen glass based on the opening / closing of the pressure plate and displaying a warning display on the operation unit. Can be clearly transmitted to the user (see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-6-102733

  However, according to the technique for determining the presence / absence of a document based on opening / closing of a pressure plate as described in Patent Document 1, the following problems may occur in an image forming apparatus having a power saving mode (sleep mode). . In other words, after reading by the fixed reading method, if the device enters the power saving mode without opening and closing the pressure plate, the power is turned off without displaying the warning to forget to remove the document, and the document is placed on the platen glass. May remain in place.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image reading apparatus that can warn a user that he / she has forgotten to take a document even when an operation for shifting to a power saving mode is performed immediately after fixed reading, and an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus. The purpose is that.

  According to the present invention, in an image reading apparatus, an original placing unit on which an original is placed, and an openable / closable support with respect to the original placing unit, and an original placed on the original placing unit can be pressed An opening / closing means, an image reading means for reading an image from a document on the document placement means with the opening / closing means closed, and a forgotten document detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a forgotten document on the document placement means; Warning means for warning that there is a forgotten document by detection of the forgotten document detection means, power saving mode execution means capable of executing a power saving mode for stopping power supply to a portion other than the part that controls the control, and the image reading After the reading of the document image by the means, when the forgotten document detection means detects the forgotten document, when a signal to execute the power saving mode is transmitted from the power saving mode execution means, And control means for shifting from the serial warning means to the power saving mode by the power-saving mode execution means after warned, characterized in that it comprises a.

  According to the present invention, even if an operation for shifting to the power saving mode is performed immediately after fixed reading, it is possible to warn the user that the user has forgotten to take a document.

1A is an external view showing an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an image reading unit provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram illustrating a control system such as an image reading unit according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing processing on the image reading unit side for detection of forgetting to remove a document according to the first embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process of the forgetting detection at the time of power saving mode transfer which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating power saving mode transition processing in the image reading unit according to the first embodiment. The flowchart which shows the power saving mode transfer process in the controller part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the setting operation part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the control in the controller part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the control at the time of power saving mode transfer which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus 20 including an image reading unit (image reading apparatus) 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A is an external view illustrating the image forming apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B schematically illustrates the image reading unit 100 provided in FIG. It is sectional drawing shown.

[Image forming apparatus]
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the image forming apparatus 20 includes an image reading unit 100, a printer unit (image forming unit) 500, and a sheet processing unit (sheet processing device) that performs predetermined post-processing. ) 510. The image reading unit 100 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder) 10 having a discharge tray 25 and a reader unit 50 in which a setting operation unit 210 having a display unit 64 at one end is arranged. The discharge tray 25 has a holding plate member 26 having elasticity at the lower part thereof.

  The printer unit 500 forms an image on a sheet based on an image electrical signal and image data. In addition, a discharge tray 21 is provided in the discharge space Sp between the printer unit 500 and the reader unit 50, and a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) paper feed cassettes 19 are provided below the printer unit 500. Are arranged so that they can be mounted and pulled out. In addition, the sheet processing unit 510 includes a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) discharge trays 22 on which sheets that are subjected to predetermined processing and then discharged after an image is formed by the printer unit 500 are arranged. ing. The printer unit 500 constitutes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on image information read from an original by an image reading unit (image reading device) 100.

  In the image forming apparatus 20, after an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum (not shown) built in the printer unit 500 by a laser scanner (not shown), toner is supplied from a developing device (not shown). By being supplied, toner images of a plurality of colors (four colors) charged to negative polarity are formed. These toner images are sequentially transferred to an intermediate transfer belt (not shown) at each primary transfer portion (not shown) by applying a positive transfer bias voltage to a primary transfer roller (not shown). (Primary transfer) and a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt.

  In parallel with such a toner image forming process, a sheet fed from a sheet feeding unit (not shown) built in the printer unit 500 is conveyed to a registration roller pair (not shown) and registered. Skew correction is performed by the pair of ration rollers. The registration roller pair conveys the sheet to the secondary transfer unit at a timing that matches the transfer timing of the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt. The toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt is secondarily transferred to a sheet at a secondary transfer portion (not shown) by applying a positive transfer bias voltage to a secondary transfer roller (not shown). . The sheet to which the toner image has been transferred is heated and pressurized in a fixing unit (not shown), and the color image is fixed to the sheet. The sheet on which the image is fixed is discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 21 by a discharge roller pair (not shown).

  Here, the setting operation unit 210 having the display unit 64 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows an image of a screen displayed on the setting operation unit 210 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the setting operation unit 210 has a display unit 64 that displays various types of information at the center. Further, the setting operation unit 210 has a power saving mode switching button 65, a speaker 67, and a start button 66 on the right side of the display unit 64. The power saving mode switching button 65 is pressed to switch from the normal mode to the power saving mode (sleep mode). The speaker 67 as a warning sound generating unit can notify the warning sound that there is a document to be left on the platen glass 52. The start button 66 is pressed when performing image formation (printing) by flow reading performed by placing the document D on the document tray 31 or fixed reading performed by placing the document D on the platen glass 52. The

  The display unit 64 includes a message display unit 64a that displays a message such as “There is a document on the platen glass” at the bottom. In addition, a message display section 64b for displaying a message such as “Ready to copy” indicating a printable state by operating the start button 66 is provided at the top. The platen glass 52 constitutes a document placing unit on which a document is placed. The ADF 10 is supported to be openable and closable with respect to the platen glass 52, and constitutes an opening / closing means capable of pressing an original placed on the platen glass 52.

[Image reading unit]
As shown in FIG. 1B, the ADF 10 is supported to be openable and closable via a hinge device (not shown) so as to be openable and closable with respect to the platen glass 52 at the upper part of the apparatus main body 20a. The document D placed on 52 can be pressed. The ADF 10 includes a document tray 31 on which a document bundle (D) composed of one or more documents D is stacked, and a feed roller 32 that feeds a document on the uppermost surface of the document bundle into the apparatus.

  The reader unit 50 disposed on the upper side of the apparatus main body 20a reads an image of the sheet-like document D, converts the image into an electrical signal, and forms image data based on the electrical signal. The reader unit 50 is configured to guide the reflected light reflected from the document D to the light emitted from the LED 53 to the CCD line sensor 58 via the mirrors 54, 55, 56 and the lens 57. The LED 53 and the mirror 54 are attached to the reading unit 59, and the mirrors 55 and 56 are attached to the reading unit 60.

  The reading units 59 and 60 are coupled to a motor (not shown) by a wire (not shown), and are controlled to move in parallel with the platen glass 52 as a document table by the rotational drive of the motor. The reading units 59 and 60 move when the motor is rotated forward or backward with reference to a position detected by a position sensor (not shown), and optically scans the document D placed on the platen glass 52. To do. Reflected light from the document D is guided to the lens 57 via the mirrors 54, 55, and 56, and condensed on the CCD line sensor 58 via the lens 57. The CCD line sensor 58 photoelectrically converts the reflected light from the original D reflecting the original information and outputs it as an electronic image signal. The CCD line sensor 58 constitutes an image reading unit that reads an image from a document on the platen glass (on the document placing unit) with the ADF (opening / closing unit) 10 closed.

  In the above configuration, the reader unit 50 is configured to be able to read document information in the flow reading mode and the fixed reading mode under the control of the CPU 201 (see FIG. 2). A reference white plate 63 and a flow-reading glass 51 are installed at a position adjacent to the platen glass 52 in the upper part of the reader unit 50. Inside the reader unit 50, a carriage HP (home position) sensor 62 used for alignment of the reading unit 59 is installed. Note that the CPU 201 constitutes a power saving mode executing means capable of executing a power saving mode for stopping power supply to a portion other than a portion that performs control by a power saving mode switching button 65 described later.

  An ADF open / close sensor 61 that detects the open / closed state of the ADF (opening / closing means) 10 is disposed at the rightmost end of the platen glass 52 in the reader unit 50. The ADF 10 is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 20a so as to open from the near side to the far side in the figure by a hinge device (not shown) on the far side in the near-back direction in FIG. 1B. The ADF opening / closing sensor 61 can be configured by a proximity sensor or the like, and is configured to be able to detect that the opening angle of the ADF 10 is opened by a predetermined value (for example, 25 °) or more. The ADF open / close sensor 61 constitutes a missing document detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a missing document on the platen glass 52 after the reading of the document image by the CCD line sensor (image reading unit) 58 is completed.

  In the flow-reading mode, the original reading position on the flow-reading glass 51 while the original D is conveyed by the closed ADF 10 in a state where the reading unit 59 is stopped at the original reading position (position shown in FIG. 1B). Read the document information with. On the other hand, in the fixed reading mode, the document D is fixedly placed on the platen glass 52, and the document information is read while moving the reading unit 59 in the sub-scanning direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1B).

  Next, a detailed configuration of the ADF 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, the document tray 31 in the ADF 10 is placed in the width direction (front-back direction in FIG. 1B) perpendicular to the feeding direction of the document D (direction of arrow B). A pair of width direction regulating plates 28 (the front side is not shown) arranged so as to be relatively movable are arranged. A document detection sensor 27 that detects the document D fed from the document tray by the feed roller 32 is disposed below the document tray 31. The document D loaded on the document tray 31 is regulated in the width direction by the pair of width direction regulating plates 28, thereby ensuring the conveyance stability during feeding.

  The ADF 10 has an automatic document feeder 29 as an automatic document feeder that automatically sends the document D to the reader unit 50. A feeding roller 32 that feeds the uppermost document D of the document bundle so as to be fed into the apparatus is disposed at an upper part of the document tray 31 on the downstream side in the document feeding direction (arrow B direction). The feeding roller 32 rotates in conjunction with the rotational driving of the separation and conveyance roller pair 48 including the conveyance roller 34 and the separation roller 35 disposed on the downstream side, and sends out the document D from the document tray 31. The separating and conveying roller pair 48 conveys the document D sent out by the feeding roller 32 downstream while conveying the original D one by one.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the feeding roller 32 is normally retracted to an upper position (a broken line position in the figure) which is a home position so as not to impair the document setting operation. When the feeding operation is started, the feeding roller 32 is lowered to a solid line position in the drawing and comes into contact with the upper surface of the document D. The feed roller 32 is supported by the feed holder 30 so as to be rotatable around the axis of the transport roller 34 of the pair of separation transport rollers 48, and is moved up and down by swinging the feed holder 30. .

  A drawing roller pair 36, a conveyance roller pair 13, and a registration roller pair 15 are disposed downstream of the separation conveyance roller pair 48 in the sheet feeding direction. Further, downstream of the registration roller pair 15 are a platen upstream roller pair 16, a platen roller 17 located above the flow reading glass 51, a platen downstream roller pair 18, a transport roller pair 33, and a discharge roller pair 24 in this order. Is arranged. Between the separation conveyance roller pair 48 and the drawing roller pair 36, a post-separation sensor 11 that detects the document D separated and conveyed by the separation conveyance roller pair 48 is disposed.

[Control system]
Next, a control system such as the image reading unit 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing a control system such as the image reading unit 100 according to this embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 20 includes an image reading unit 100, a controller unit 200, a printer unit 500, and a sheet processing unit (sheet processing device) 510. The image reading unit 100 is provided with a CPU (control means) 12 that is a central processing unit. A read only memory (ROM) 80 and a random access memory (RAM) 90 are connected to the CPU 12. Yes. The ROM 80 stores a control program, and the RAM 90 stores input data and work data. A document detection sensor 27, a post-separation sensor 11, a pre-registration sensor 14, and a sheet discharge sensor 23 are connected to the CPU 12.

  When the CPU 12 serving as the control means, after the reading of the original image by the CCD line sensor 58 is completed, a signal to execute the power saving mode is transmitted from the power saving mode switching button 65 and the CPU 201 as the power saving mode executing means as follows. Control. That is, when the ADF open / close sensor 61 detects a document to be removed, a power saving mode by the power saving mode switching button 65 and the CPU 201 (power saving mode execution means) after issuing a warning by the message display section 64a and the speaker 67 as warning means. Is executed.

  Further, the image reading unit 100 includes a conveyance motor 37 that moves the LED 53 (FIG. 1B), conveyance motors 38 and 39 that drive corresponding rollers for conveyance, and a reading unit 59 (FIG. 1B). And an optical motor 40 for driving the motor. The image reading unit 100 further includes an image processing unit 70. The image processing unit 70 includes an ADF opening / closing sensor 61, a carriage HP (home position) sensor 62 for positioning the reading unit 59, and a CCD line. A sensor 58 is connected. The CCD line sensor 58 (FIG. 1B) transfers the read image data to the controller unit 200 via the image processing unit 70.

  The controller unit 200 includes a CPU 201, a setting operation unit 210, a card reader 300, an image processing unit 202, and an image memory 203. The CPU 201 is connected to the CPU 501 of the printer unit 500, and is connected to the setting operation unit 210, the speaker 67, and the card reader 300, respectively. The CPU 201 is connected to the image processing unit 202, and the image processing unit 202 is connected to the image memory 203. A CPU 501 of the printer unit 500 is connected to a CPU 511 provided in the sheet processing unit 510. The message display unit 64a and the speaker 67 constitute warning means for warning that there is a document to leave behind on the platen glass 52 (on the document placement means). Needless to say, this warning means can be configured by only one of the message display section 64a and the speaker 67.

  The CPU 201 can execute interface control with the user via the setting operation unit 210, and exchanges data related to image reading control via a communication line with the CPU 12 of the image reading unit 100. Image data is exchanged via an image line between the image processing unit 70 and the image processing unit 202, and the image processing unit 202 stores the image data received from the image reading unit 100 in the image memory 203.

[Operation of image reader]
Next, the operation of the image reading unit 100 at the time of fixed reading in the fixed reading mode and the flow reading in the flow reading mode according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, when performing a fixed reading, the user rotates the ADF 10 around the rotation fulcrum in a direction to open from the reader unit 50 before the start of scanning, so that a predetermined position of the platen glass 52 (in this embodiment, FIG. The original D is placed on the left rear side abutting reference). In this state, the ADF 10 is rotated and closed with respect to the reader unit 50 to press the document D.

  When fixed reading is started, the CPU (control means) 12 drives the optical motor 40 so that the reading unit 59 reads the document D from below the platen glass 52 in the sub-scanning direction (the right direction in FIG. 1B). ). In the reader unit 50, when the lower surface of the document D placed on the platen glass 52 is irradiated by the LED 53, the reflected light is reflected by the mirrors 54, 55, and 56, and passes through the lens 57 to the CCD line sensor 58. Is read. When the fixed reading is completed, the user opens the ADF 10 from the reader unit 50, removes the document D placed on the platen glass 52, and then closes the ADF 10 with respect to the reader unit 50.

  Before starting the conveyance of the document D, the conveyance motor 37 (see FIG. 2) is driven to rotate the conveyance roller 34 of the pair of separation conveyance rollers 48 slightly in the clockwise direction in FIG. Then, the feeding roller 32 is lowered and brought into contact with the document D on the document tray 31.

  When the feeding operation of the document D is started, the document D fed by the feeding roller 32 rotating in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1B is separated one by one by the separating and conveying roller pair 48. Is done. The document D separated and sent out is conveyed while being detected by the sensor 11 after separation, and is further conveyed by the drawing roller pair 36 and the conveyance roller pair 13.

  Then, the document D is aligned so that the leading edge follows the nip portion by forming a loop by abutting the leading edge against the nip portion of the stationary registration roller pair 15 via the pre-registration sensor 14. The skew correction is applied. The skew-corrected document D is conveyed toward the flow reading glass 51 in the reader unit 50 by the platen upstream roller pair 16. Further, the document D is conveyed downstream by the platen downstream roller pair 18 via the platen roller 17.

  The platen roller 17 is in contact with the flow reading glass 51, and the surface of the document D passing between the platen roller 17 and the flow reading glass 51 is irradiated by the LED 53. The reflected light is detected by the CCD line sensor 58 via the mirrors 54, 55, 56 and the lens 57, whereby the image information of the document D is read. Then, the document D subjected to image reading by the reading unit 59 is discharged to the discharge tray 25 via the sheet discharge sensor 23 via the conveyance roller pair 33 and via the discharge roller pair 24. Prior to the fixed reading operation and the flow reading operation, the reference white plate 63 is read by the CCD line sensor 58 and image correction data by shading is generated, so that an image having a uniform density in the main scanning direction can be obtained.

[Preventing forgetting manuscript control]
Next, the process for preventing document take-out prevention in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of control for preventing document take-out in the image reading unit 100 when a fixed reading job is input.

The RAM 90 in the image reading unit 100 has the following variables (A) and (B) as control information.
(A) While the forgetting detection enable (EN) is set to “1”, it is set to “valid”, and forgetting to remove the original on the platen glass 52 is detected. When the detection enable (EN) is “0”, it is set to “invalid” and the forgetting detection process is not performed.
(B) When the forgetting status (ST) is “0”, it indicates that there is no forgetting document.
When a forgotten document is detected, it is set to “1”, and when it is determined that the document has been removed, it is cleared to “0”.

  When the process starting with the label for detection of forgetting to remove the ADF document (normal time) is started, the CPU 12 determines whether or not a request for starting a fixed reading job is input in step S301. As a result, when a request for starting a fixed reading job is input from the controller unit 200 (S301: Yes), the CPU 12 initializes variables held as control information in step S302. That is, the forgetting status (ST) is initialized to “0” for no original, the forgetting detection enable (EN) is set to “1” and set to “valid”, and forgetting detection is enabled (S302). ).

  From the beginning to the end of the fixed reading job, the CPU 12 performs the following control. That is, it is monitored whether the ADF 10 is opened at the start of the job or during the job (S303). As a result, when the ADF 10 is opened (S303: Yes), it is not known when the document is removed, so the detection enable (EN) is set to 0 (invalid) (S304). The detection enable (EN) once “invalid” does not return even if the ADF 10 is closed again during the job.

  The monitoring process (S300) in the series of fixed reading jobs is executed in a cycle of 500 msec in this embodiment until the end of the fixed reading job (S301: Yes, S302, S303: No, S305: No, S306). .

  When the fixed reading job ends (S305: Yes), the CPU 12 performs the following control. First, it is confirmed whether or not the detection enable (EN) becomes “invalid” during the fixed reading job or the monitoring operation (S307). If the detection enable (EN) is still 1 (valid) (S307: Yes), the ADF opening monitoring operation after the fixed reading job is executed, and it is monitored whether the ADF 10 is released after the fixed reading job is completed. (S308). As a result, when the ADF 10 is opened (S308: Yes), it is determined that the document has been removed by the user, the forgetting status (ST) is set to “0”, and the detection enable (EN) is set to 0 (invalid). ) (S312).

  If the next fixed reading job is input without the ADF 10 being opened in step S308 (S309: Yes), it is determined that the user intentionally reads the same document again, and the forgetting status (ST ) Is set to "0" (S312). If none of the above applies, that is, if the ADF 10 cannot be opened and the fixed reading job is not submitted, the period of 500 msec is elapsed until 3 seconds elapse after the fixed reading job ends in step S305. Perform the above monitoring. (S310: No, S311, S307)

  Then, when 3 seconds have passed without satisfying any of steps S308 and S309 (S308: No, S309: No, S310: Yes), the CPU 12 determines that the user has forgotten to remove the document, and the forgetting status (ST ) Is set to "1" (S313). The CPU 12 notifies the controller unit 200 of the forgetting status (ST) set by the monitoring operation (S314).

  If the forgetting status (ST) is set to “0”, that is, the document is removed (S304, S312) during the fixed reading job or the ADF opening monitoring operation, the monitoring operation loop is exited. (S307: No). Then, detection of forgetting to remove the ADF document (normal time) is ended.

[Notification when requesting power saving mode]
Next, the process of detecting forgetting to remove the ADF document (during the power saving mode after the fixed reading job) in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of “detection of forgetting ADF document” when the user operates the power saving mode switching button 65 and inputs a shift to the power saving mode immediately after the fixed reading job is finished.

  The power saving mode (sleep mode) described below means an energy saving mode in which power supply to devices other than devices such as the CPU 12 that controls various devices is stopped. At the end of the monitoring (S300) during the fixed reading job described with reference to FIG. 3, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the detection enable (EN) is 1 (valid) (S401). When the opening operation of the ADF 10 is executed during the fixed reading job and the detection enable (EN) is 0 (invalid) (S401: No), the subsequent monitoring mode is not entered, and the forgetting status (ST) Is set to “0” (S403), and the process proceeds to step S407.

  On the other hand, when the detection enable (EN) is 1 (valid) (S401: Yes), the CPU 12 enters a power saving mode pre-forgetting monitoring operation. In step S402, the CPU 12 monitors whether or not the ADF 10 has been opened (opened) (S402). If the opening operation is performed in step S402 (S402: Yes), as in step S401: No, the forgetting status (ST) is set to “0” in step S403, and detection is performed. Enable (EN) is set to 0 (invalid). On the other hand, when the opening operation is not performed in step S402 (S402: No), the CPU 12 proceeds to step S404 and determines whether or not a power saving mode request is received from the controller unit 200.

  In step S404, if the power saving mode request has not been received (S404: No), monitoring is continued for 3 seconds as in the case of the normal "ADF document take-off detection" control described in FIG. 3 (S405). ). In step S <b> 402, the ADF open / close sensor 61 detects the presence or absence of a missing document based on detecting whether or not the ADF 10 is released from the platen glass 52 after the reading of the document image by the CCD line sensor 58 is completed. For this reason, it is possible to reliably detect the presence or absence of a forgotten document.

  Even when the ADF open / close sensor 61 detects a forgotten document (S402: No), the CPU 12 loses the forgotten document before three seconds have passed (before warning output) (S404, S405, S401, S402: Yes). Then, the warning mode is not issued and the mode is shifted to the power saving mode. As a result, if the user notices that he or she forgot to remove the document before the warning is output, the warning can be avoided.

  On the other hand, when the power saving mode request is received in step S404 (S404: Yes), or when the ADF opening operation is not performed even after the monitoring time of 3 seconds has ended (S405: Yes), the CPU 12 Control. That is, without moving to the next monitoring, the forgetting status (ST) is set to “1”, that is, “forgetting to leave document exists” (S406).

  When the forgetting to monitor operation is terminated under any of the above conditions, the CPU 12 notifies the controller unit 200 of the result of the forgetting status (ST) set above (S407). That is, a warning sound from the speaker (warning sound generating unit) 67 informs that there is a forgotten document on the platen glass 52, and also displays a message indicating that there is a forgotten document in the message display unit (display unit) of the setting operation unit 210. ) 64a. Thus, even when an operation for entering the power saving mode is performed immediately after the fixed reading, it is possible to warn (notify) the user that he / she has forgotten to take the document.

  Thereafter, a power saving mode transition process described later is executed (S408), the controller unit 200 is notified that the power saving mode is entered (S409), and the process ends.

  Next, the power saving mode transition process of the image reading unit 100 and the power saving mode transition process of the controller unit 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. 5 is a flowchart showing a power saving mode transition process of the image reading unit 100, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process when the controller unit 200 issues a power saving mode instruction to the image reading unit 100.

  In FIG. 5, when the image reading unit 100 receives a power saving mode request from the controller unit 200 (S801: Yes), the CPU 12 of the image reading unit 100 turns off the current of the optical motor 40 that holds the position with the normal hold current. The drive is stopped (S802). If fan rotation monitoring (not shown) is being executed, rotation monitoring is stopped to prevent fan error detection (S803). When the preparation on the apparatus side is completed, the CPU 12 of the image reading unit 100 transmits a power saving mode transition notification indicating the completion of preparation to the controller unit 200, and ends the sleep transition process (S804).

  In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the shift to the power saving mode is instructed by the system timer setting or the user operation. At this time, the CPU 201 of the controller unit 200 transmits a power saving mode request to the image reading unit 100 (S901). Until the power saving mode transition notification is returned from the image reading unit 100 (S902: No), the controller unit 200 continues the normal operation and performs processing such as a forgetting notification process described later.

  When a power saving mode shift notification is returned from the image reading unit 100 (S902: Yes), the CPU 201 of the controller unit 200 turns off the power supplied to the image reading unit 100 and shifts the image reading unit 100 to the power saving state. (S903). Thereafter, the entire apparatus is shifted to the power saving mode via a known power saving mode transition process S904 for the entire apparatus. Here, the transition to the power saving mode does not necessarily mean that the entire image forming apparatus 20 is in the power saving state. For example, when a large number of print jobs are used and image reading is not used, only the image reading unit 100 may be shifted to the power saving mode, and other parts of the image forming apparatus 20 may remain in a normal state.

[Notification for forgetting to return from power saving mode]
In the above description, it is assumed that the RAM (storage unit) 90 storing the forgetting status (ST) can be backed up. In this case, when the image reading unit 100 returns from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the CPU (control unit) 12 reads the forgetting status (ST) before shifting to the power saving mode and notifies the controller unit 200 of the status again. Is possible. As described above, the CPU 12 executes the power saving mode by the power saving mode execution means (65, 201), and then returns to the normal mode, and then the CPU 12 stores on the platen glass 52 stored in the RAM (storage unit) 90. It is possible to read the presence or absence of a forgotten document.

  However, there are various factors for returning from the power saving mode. For example, there are cases where the ADF 10 is restored by opening and closing. At this time, it is necessary to assume that the ADF 10 is released from the reader unit 50 (apparatus body 20a) and notices that the user has forgotten to take the document. In order to cope with this, the CPU 12 monitors the cause of the image reading unit 100 returning from the power saving mode. When the ADF 10 is returned by an opening operation (opening operation), the forgetting removal status (ST) is updated to “0”, that is, a state in which the document has been removed, so that an erroneous “removal” is given to the controller unit 200 after the returning. Do not send “Forgot Status Notification”.

[Flowchart of control in controller section]
Next, the ADF document take-off display control process according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the ADF document forgetting display control process in the controller unit 200.

  When the control starts with the label for forgetting to remove the ADF document, the CPU 201 of the controller unit 200 determines whether or not the image reading unit 100 is in the power saving mode (S700). As a result, if the image reading unit 100 is not in the power saving mode (S700: No), the process ends. If the image reading unit 100 is in the power saving mode (S700: Yes), the process proceeds to S701.

  In step S701, the CPU 201 determines that a fixed reading job from the user has been submitted by pressing the start button 66 (S701: Yes). In step S <b> 702, the CPU 201 initializes “forgotten display information” stored in the controller unit 200 to “0”. At the same time, the “forgetting to display” for informing the user that the document has been forgotten is cleared, and the warning sound that is sounded is cleared. Subsequently, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the fixed reading job has ended (S703). If the CPU 201 determines that the fixed reading job has ended (S703: Yes), a “warning sound timer” that measures the time for sounding the warning sound is set. Start (S704).

  On the other hand, in step S701, when the fixed reading job is not input (S701: No), forgetting to display display control is executed. That is, the forgetting status (ST) notified from the CPU 12 of the image reading unit 100 is acquired, and the forgetting-for-missing display information held inside is updated (S706).

  In step S707, when the image reading unit 100 notifies that “there is no forgotten document” and the forgetting to display information becomes 0 (S707: No), the CPU 201 clears the forgetting to display and the warning sound (S708). Stop the warning sound. On the other hand, in step S707, it is notified that there is a document to forget to remove, and if it is determined that the forget to remove display information = 1 (S707: Yes), the CPU 201 performs the following control. That is, the status display “! There is a document on the platen glass (document table)!” Is displayed on the message display unit 64a (FIG. 7), and the user is notified that the document remains on the platen glass 52. Notification is made (S709).

  Furthermore, when the setting for sounding the warning sound is made by the user (S710: Yes), the CPU 201 performs the following control. That is, the CPU 201 sounds a warning sound to notify that it is left unattended until the “warning sound timer” started in step S704 reaches a predetermined time-up value (2 seconds in this example) (S711: No). (S712). On the other hand, when it is not set to sound the warning sound in step S710 (S710: No), or when the warning sound timer has passed for 2 seconds or longer (S711: Yes), the CPU 201 displays “not forgotten” shown in FIG. The warning sound is stopped without changing the “display” (S714).

  The “forgotten information update operation” from step S706 to S714 described above is executed without change even after requesting the power saving mode to the image reading unit 100. According to the above control, after the image reading unit 100 enters the power saving mode, it becomes possible to display a “forgetting warning” or “to sound a warning sound” based on the final notification result.

  According to the present embodiment, the CPU 12 executes the power saving mode from the power saving mode execution means (65, 201) when the ADF open / close sensor 61 detects a document to be left out after the reading of the original image by the CCD line sensor 58 is completed. When a signal to this effect is transmitted, the following control is performed. That is, as shown in (S404: Yes), waiting for a predetermined time is skipped, a warning is issued from the warning means (64a, 67), and then the power saving mode is executed by the power saving mode execution means (65, 201). As a result, even when an operation for entering the power saving mode is performed immediately after fixed reading, the user can be notified of forgetting to take a document. Therefore, even when the mode is immediately shifted to the power saving mode after executing the scanning by the fixed reading method, it can be notified that the user has forgotten to take the document.

  In addition, when the ADF open / close sensor 61 detects a document to be left behind after the reading of the document image by the CCD line sensor 58, the CPU 12 receives a signal to execute the power saving mode from the power saving mode execution means (65, 201). When the call is not sent, the following control is performed. That is, the CPU 12 waits for a predetermined time (S405), and if there are no more forgotten documents due to detection by the ADF open / close sensor 61 during this predetermined time (S402: Yes), a warning is issued from the warning means (64a, 67). Do not send. Accordingly, when the user removes a forgotten document within a predetermined time, a warning can be prevented from being issued, so that a warning can be prevented from being transmitted more than necessary.

  Further, the CPU 12 sends a signal to execute the power saving mode from the power saving mode execution means (65, 201) when the ADF open / close sensor 61 detects the document to forget after the reading of the original image by the CCD line sensor 58. If not, the following control is performed. That is, the CPU 12 waits for a predetermined time, and when there is no missing document due to detection by the ADF open / close sensor 61 during this predetermined time (S405: Yes), a warning is issued from the warning means (64a, 67). Therefore, when the user does not notice and the forgotten document cannot be removed within a predetermined time, a warning can be surely issued.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a sleep process (power saving mode transition process) after a fixed reading job of the image reading unit 100 executed by the CPU 12 when the power saving mode is shifted according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of components having the same configuration and function are omitted.

  In the first embodiment described above, detection of forgetting is performed in the ADF open / closed state at the time when the power saving mode request is received, but before or after the user presses the power saving mode switching button 65 before 3 seconds elapses. It may be possible to remove the manuscript immediately. In this case, there is a possibility that the user feels troublesome because the forgetting warning is too early. Therefore, in this embodiment, in the power saving mode after the fixed reading job, for example, waiting for 3 seconds without entering the power saving mode after detecting forgetting, and entering the power saving mode after notification, after a time that is considered to have been misplaced. It is possible to issue a “forgetting warning”.

In this embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the RAM 90 has the following variable (i) as control information.
(I) Power saving mode flag (sleep flag) FLG: Set to “1” when a power saving mode request is received from the controller unit 200. Cleared to “0” when the power is turned on when returning from sleep.

  That is, when the process starts with the label of the power saving mode transition process after the fixed reading job, after executing the fixed reading job in step S601, the controller unit 200 notifies the request for the power saving mode (sleep request) (S602: Yes). Then, the CPU 12 of the image reading unit 100 sets the power saving mode flag FLG for storing the request for the power saving mode to “1” (S603), and enters the following “power saving mode pre-forgotten detection operation”. On the other hand, if the power saving mode request has not been received from the controller unit 200 (S602: No), the CPU 12 of the image reading unit 100 executes “normally forgotten detection control” described in FIG.

  Here, the difference between the “power saving mode pre-forgotten detection operation” in the second embodiment and the “normal forgetting detection control in the normal mode” described above is as follows.

  That is, in “normally forgetting detection control”, the CPU 12 sets the forgetting status (ST) once to “1”, that is, the forgetting state. Thereafter, the forgotten status (ST) is continuously detected until the forgotten status (ST) is set to “0” when the ADF is opened or the fixed reading job is started.

  On the other hand, in the “power-saving mode pre-forgetting detection operation” of the present embodiment, the forgotten-to-be-lost status (ST) is set to “1” forgotten state. Thereafter, the controller unit 200 continues the detection of forgetting only for a time necessary for sounding the forgetting warning sound (in this example, a maximum of 2 seconds). Then, the forgetting-to-remove detection is terminated with the forgetting-to-get status (ST) being backed up.

  Hereinafter, the flow of the “power saving mode forgetting to detect before taking” will be described. That is, after the power saving mode flag FLG is set to “1” in step S603, the CPU 12 of the image reading unit 100 determines whether the detection enable is “valid” as in the first embodiment (S604), and the ADF is opened. Monitoring (S605) is continued for 3 seconds (S606). When the ADF 10 is in the open state (S605: Yes), the CPU 12 sets the forgetting detection enable (EN) to “invalid” as if it has not been forgotten and exits from the loop (S607).

  When 3 seconds elapse without being in the open state, the CPU 12 sets the forgetting status (ST) to “1”, that is, the forgetting state (S608). As described above, the CPU (control unit) 12 waits for a predetermined time (elapsed 3 seconds) when the ADF open / close sensor (forgetting document detecting unit) 61 detects a document to forget, and then warns (64a, The warning output according to 67) can be performed. For this reason, it becomes possible to issue a “forgetting warning” after a time when it is considered that the manuscript has been really forgotten.

  The CPU 12 of the image reading unit 100 transmits the “forgotten status (ST)” set as described above to the controller unit 200 (S609). Thereafter, the CPU 12 waits for a time (in this example, 2 seconds) required for the controller unit 200 to notify the user that the user has forgotten to take it with a screen or a warning sound (S610). After the elapse of the predetermined time, the CPU 12 executes the above-described power saving mode transition process (S611), transmits a power saving mode transition notification to the controller unit 200 (S612), and enters a sleep state.

  In this example, the CPU 12 does not release the forgetting status before setting the forgetting status (ST) once and then before the power saving mode (before sleep), but the operation is not limited to this. When the ADF 10 of the image reading unit 100 is opened by the user within 2 seconds while the controller unit 200 is sounding a warning or displaying a message, the “forgotten status (ST)” is set to “0”. To do. It is also possible to notify the controller unit 200 again and clear the warning sound and the message.

  On the controller unit 200 side, the “forgetting information update operation” in steps S706 to S714 detects that the image reading unit 100 is in the power saving mode in step S700 (Yes) or fixed reading in step S701 (Yes). Continue until the job starts. Therefore, as in step S <b> 901 in FIG. 6, even after the power saving mode request is transmitted from the CPU 201 of the controller unit 200 to the image reading unit 100, the controller unit 200 continues until the image reading unit 100 returns a power saving mode notification. Don't enter. Therefore, when the image reading unit 100 performs the control of the present embodiment, the controller unit 200 can display a forgetting warning or sound a warning sound until the image reading unit 100 returns a power saving mode notification. it can. Also in the present embodiment described above, it is possible to warn that the user has forgotten to take a document even when the operation for entering the power saving mode is performed immediately after the fixed reading.

  In this embodiment, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus has been described, but instead, for example, an ink jet image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet by ejecting ink liquid from a nozzle. It is also possible to use it.

  10 ... ADF (opening / closing means) / 12 ... CPU (control means) / 20 ... image forming apparatus / 52 ... platen glass (document placing means) / 58 ... CCD line sensor (image reading means) / 61 ... ADF opening / closing sensor ( Forgotten document detection means) / 64... Display section / 64a... Message display section (warning means) / 65, 201... Power saving mode switching button, CPU (power saving mode execution means) / 67. ) / 90 ... RAM (storage unit) / 100 ... Image reading unit (image reading apparatus) / 210 ... Setting operation unit / 500 ... Printer unit (image forming means) / D ... Original

Claims (9)

A document placing means for placing a document;
An opening / closing means supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the document placing means and capable of pressing the document placed on the document placing means;
Image reading means for reading an image from a document on the document placing means in a state where the opening / closing means is closed;
Forgetting document detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a forgetting document on the document placing means;
Warning means for warning that there is a forgotten document by detection of the forgotten document detection means;
A power saving mode execution means capable of executing a power saving mode for stopping power supply to a part other than the part that controls the control;
After the reading of the document image by the image reading unit, when the forgotten document detection unit detects a forgotten document, a signal to execute the power saving mode is transmitted from the power saving mode execution unit. Comprises a control means for causing the power saving mode execution means to shift to the power saving mode after issuing a warning from the warning means,
An image reading apparatus. When the forgoing document detection unit detects the forgotten document after the reading of the document image by the image reading unit, the control unit outputs a signal from the power saving mode execution unit to execute the power saving mode. If not sent, wait for a predetermined time, do not send a warning from the warning means when the forgotten document detection by the forgotten document detection means disappears during this predetermined time,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1. When the forgoing document detection unit detects the forgotten document after the reading of the document image by the image reading unit, the control unit outputs a signal from the power saving mode execution unit to execute the power saving mode. If not transmitted, wait for a predetermined time, and when the forgotten original document detected by the forgotten original detection means does not disappear during this predetermined time, a warning from the warning means is transmitted,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1. When the forgoing document detection unit detects the forgotten document after the reading of the document image by the image reading unit, the control unit outputs a signal from the power saving mode execution unit to execute the power saving mode. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when transmitted, the warning from the warning unit is transmitted without waiting for a predetermined time. The control means reads the presence / absence of a missing document on the document placement means stored in the storage unit when the power saving mode is executed by the power saving mode execution means and then returns to the normal mode again.
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is an image reading apparatus. The forgotten document detection means detects the presence or absence of a forgotten document based on detecting whether the opening / closing means is released from the document placement means after the reading of the document image by the image reading means;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is an image reading apparatus. The warning means includes a warning sound generating unit that notifies a warning sound that there is a document to be left on the document placing means.
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is an image reading apparatus. It has a display that can display messages,
The warning unit displays a message on the display unit that there is a document to be left on the document placement unit;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is an image reading apparatus. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on image information read from a document by the image reading device;
An image forming apparatus.

Images