JP4571528B2 - Image reading method of image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading method of an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus uses a size detection sensor for identifying the document size. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of size detection sensors in the image forming apparatus. Line 11 is the center line of the document table. The detection sensor 12 is a detection sensor that detects the A4 width. The detection sensor 13 is a detection sensor that detects the A3 width. The detection sensor 14 is a detection sensor that detects the A2 width. The detection sensor 15 is a detection sensor that detects the A1 width. The detection sensor 16 is a detection sensor that detects the A0 width. As shown in the figure, the detection sensor is arranged at a position corresponding to the document width so that each document width can be detected.

  However, when the paper size is out of the standard, there is a problem that a defect occurs in the reading range. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the problem. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a standard paper and a non-standard paper. The standard paper 31 is a standard size A4 size paper. The non-standard paper 32 is a paper that is slightly larger than the A4 size, which is a standard size. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing that an unreadable range of the document occurs when a non-standard paper is set on the document table. Line 33 is the center line of the document table. The detection sensor 34 is a detection sensor that detects the A4 width. The detection sensor 35 is a detection sensor that detects the A3 width. As shown in the figure, when the non-standard paper 32 is set, the reading range is within the standard range of the paper. In the case of the figure, since the set paper is detected as the A4 plate, it is read as the A4 plate. As a result, there is a problem that the portion 37 that protrudes beyond the standard specification becomes unreadable, and the image in the unreadable range 37 area is lost.

Therefore, as a conventional technique for solving this problem, based on the document size information obtained from the detection sensor, an image forming magnification suitable for the paper standard of the paper standard closest to the original paper size is provided with a calculation calculation unit. There is a method of preventing image loss even if the document size is irregular (see Reference 1).
JP 2002-244500 A

  However, in the prior art, since the image is formed at an image forming magnification adapted to the paper size of the paper standard closest to the original paper size, when the original size is an atypical size, the formed image is enlarged or larger than the original image. There is a problem that the image is reduced, and an image with the same magnification cannot be obtained.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. An image of an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a document image from being lost and reading a document image at a magnification equal to that of the document even when the document size is other than a prescribed size. An object is to provide a reading method and an image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a size detection sensor for detecting the size of a document, and a document size of a standardized size based on an output of the size detection sensor. An image reading method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a sheet determining unit for determining; a setting unit for setting a reading step number for reading the document; and a reading unit for reading the document. A standardized size larger than the standardized size of the original determined by the determining means is selected according to the number of reading steps set by the setting means , and the original is selected according to the selected standardized size. Can be configured to read.

  In order to achieve the above object, the document is read by enlarging the reading main scanning width and the reading sub-scanning width in accordance with the standardized size of the document determined by the sheet determining means. Can be configured.

In order to achieve the above object, a size detection sensor for detecting the size of a document and an output of the size detection sensor determine which size of the standardized size the document is. and a sheet discrimination means, and setting means for setting the number of read steps for reading the original, the large size standardized size than standardized size of the document is determined by the sheet discrimination unit, the setting selected according to the read phase number set by the means it can be by normalizing the selected size, configured to have a reading means for reading the original.

  According to the present invention, there are provided an image reading method and an image forming apparatus for an image forming apparatus that prevent a document image from being lost even when the document size is other than a prescribed size, and that can read a document image having the same magnification as the document. Is possible.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on the following embodiments with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of the present invention. The non-standard paper 32 is a paper that is slightly larger than the A4 size, which is a standard size. Line 33 is the center line of the document table.
The detection sensor 34 is a detection sensor that detects the A4 width. The detection sensor 35 is a detection sensor that detects the A3 width. The non-standard paper 32 is set as shown in the figure. Since the document width is larger than the A4 width, the detection sensor 34 detects that the size is equal to or larger than the A4 width. On the other hand, since the detection sensor 35 is a detection sensor that detects the A3 width, the non-standard paper 32 that is slightly larger than the A4 width is not detected as the A3 width. From this, it can be recognized that the non-standard paper 32 has a width between the A4 width and the A3 width. Therefore, the non-standard paper 32 is read as an A3 width that is one paper standard larger than the A4 width. By doing so, since the entire document area of the atypical paper 32 is included, it is possible to read all the images of the atypical paper 32, and the conventional image defect defect can be solved.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The exposure lamp 42 illuminates the document. The reflector 43 condenses the light from the exposure lamp on the document. The mirror 47 reflects the reflected light and guides the reflected light from the document in a predetermined direction. The lens 44 images the reflected light at a predetermined magnification. The CCD sensor 45 converts the reflected light into an electrical signal, that is, image data.

  The operation will be described. The document 32 set in the image forming apparatus is irradiated with light by an exposure lamp 42. Reflected light from the document is incident on the CCD sensor 45 via the mirror 47 and the lens 44. The CCD sensor 45 converts the reflected light into an electrical signal, that is, image data.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus. The detection sensor 75 is a sensor for detecting a standard paper size. A main controller (MCU) 71 controls the entire image forming apparatus and includes a sheet determination unit 76. The paper discriminating unit 76 discriminates the document size to be read based on the document size detected by the detection sensor 75. The operation unit 73 has an input function for operating the image forming apparatus and a display function indicating an operation state. The reading unit 74 reads a document based on the reading size determined by the sheet determining unit 76.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the operation unit. The operation unit includes an input unit for operating the image forming apparatus and a display unit indicating an operation state. The liquid crystal touch panel 51 has a display function such as the number of copies and a copy magnification, and an operation input function such as a copy density and a variable magnification. Further, as this operation input function, the liquid crystal touch panel 51 has a read width enlargement 54 which is an input key for enlarging a read size and a read width enlargement setting 55 which is an input key for a read width enlargement setting mode.

  The operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Assume that the original of the non-standard paper 32 is set as shown in FIG. The left end of the non-standard paper 32 is located between a detection sensor 34 that detects the A4 width and a detection sensor 35 that detects the A3 width. Therefore, the detection sensor 34 that detects the A4 width detects the presence of the paper, and the detection sensor 35 that detects the A3 width does not detect the presence of the paper. The sheet discriminating unit 76 in FIG. 5 recognizes that the document size is between the A4 width and the A3 width based on the detection information, and determines that the document size to be read is the A3 width corresponding to the larger one of the two. Based on the determination result, the reading unit 74 causes the exposure lamp 42 in FIG. 4 to scan an area corresponding to the A3 width. The CCD sensor 45 captures an image of the scanned area. By doing this, an atypical paper that is slightly larger than the A4 standard is read as an A3 width that is one paper standard larger than the A4 width. Therefore, since the reading range includes the entire original area of the atypical paper 32, it is possible to read all the images on the atypical paper 32, and the conventional image missing problem can be solved. .

  Next, a modified example of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the read width expansion mode. First, in step S901, a document is set. In step S902, ON / OFF of the reading width expansion mode is set. When the reading width expansion mode is OFF, the process proceeds to the processing of the reading width automatic expansion mode in FIG. On the other hand, if the reading width expansion mode is ON, it is detected in step S903 whether the width is A4 or more. If it is not detected that the width is A4 or more, in step S908, if the read width enlargement setting is “1”, read as A4 width, and if the read width enlargement setting is “2”, read as A3 width. On the other hand, if it is detected that the width is A4 width or more, it is detected in step S904 whether the width is A3 width or more. If it is not detected that the width is greater than or equal to A3 width, in step S909, if the read width enlargement setting is “1”, read as A3 width, and if the read width enlargement setting is “2”, read as A2 width. On the other hand, if it is detected that the width is A3 or more, it is detected in step S905 whether the width is A2 or more. If it is not detected that the width is greater than or equal to A2, in step S910, if the read width enlargement setting is “1”, read as A2 width, and if the read width enlargement setting is “2”, read as A1 width. On the other hand, if it is detected that the width is A2 or more, it is detected in step S906 whether the width is A1 or more. If it is not detected that the width is greater than or equal to the A1 width, in step S911, if the reading width enlargement setting is “1”, reading is performed as the A1 width, while if the reading width enlargement setting is “2”, reading is performed as the A0 width. On the other hand, if it is detected that the width is A4 width or more, in step S907, the A0 width is read.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the read width automatic enlargement mode. In step S902 in FIG. 7, if the reading width expansion mode is OFF, the process proceeds to the processing in the reading width automatic expansion mode in FIG. In step S501, it is detected whether it is A4 width or more. If it is not detected that the width is A4 or more, in step S507, the reading width is read as A4 width. On the other hand, if it is detected that the width is A4 or more, it is detected in step S502 whether the width is A3 or more. If it is not detected that the width is A3 width or more, in step S508, the reading width is read as the A4 width. On the other hand, if it is detected that the width is A3 or more, it is detected in step S503 whether the width is A2 or more. If it is not detected that the width is A2 or more, in step S509, the reading width is read as the A3 width. On the other hand, if it is detected that the width is A2 or more, it is detected in step S504 whether the width is A1 or more. If it is not detected that the width is A1 or more, in step S510, the reading width is read as the A2 width. On the other hand, if it is detected that the width is A1 or more, it is detected in step S505 whether the width is A0 or more. If it is not detected that the width is greater than or equal to the A0 width, in step S511, the read width is read as the A1 width. On the other hand, if it is detected that the width is equal to or greater than the A0 width, in step S506, the read width is read as the A0 width.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a method of setting the reading width expansion. This reading width enlargement setting makes it possible to read a standardized size that is larger than the reading size determined by the paper determination unit 76. In the setting method, first, in step S601, the read width expansion setting key 55 in FIG. 6 is pressed. If the reading size is determined to be several steps larger than the reading size determined by the determination unit 76, the number of steps is input with the numeric keypad 52 as a read width expansion setting value in step S602. For example, “1” of the numeric keypad 52 is input when reading one level larger, and “2” of the numeric keypad 52 is input when reading large two levels. Next, in step S603, the enter key is pressed. In this way, the reading width expansion setting value is determined (S604).

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the present invention. The non-standard paper 32 is a paper that is slightly larger than the A4 size, which is a standard size.

  The detection sensors 12 to 16 detect the presence of the A4 width and do not detect the presence of the A3 width. Therefore, since the size of the non-standard paper 32 is a width between the A4 width and the A3 width, the paper determination unit 76 reads the non-standard paper 32 as an A3 width that is one paper standard larger than the A4 width. By doing so, since the entire original area of the non-standard paper 32 is included, it becomes possible to read all the images of the non-standard paper 32 as in the reading range 702, and the conventional image omission problem is caused. Can be solved. For example, when the reading width is further increased by two levels according to the reading width expansion setting of the present invention, the reading range becomes the reading range 703 by setting the expansion setting value to “2”. In this way, it is possible to freely increase the reading range.

  As a modified example of the position of the detection sensor, when the reading reference is not the center (line 11) of the document table as shown in FIG. 1, but the corner of the document table, the detection sensor detects the main scanning direction and sub-scanning of reading. You may arrange in the direction.

  The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the size detection sensor in an image forming apparatus. It is a figure explaining a prior art. It is a figure explaining the basic principle of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an image forming apparatus. It is the schematic of an operation part. It is a figure explaining the modification (the 1) of this invention. It is a figure explaining the modification (the 2) of this invention. It is a figure explaining the method of reading width expansion setting. It is a figure explaining the effect of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 75 Detection sensor 32 Non-standard paper 42 Exposure lamp 43 Reflector 44 Lens 45 CCD sensor 47 Mirror 51 Liquid crystal touch panel 52 Numeric keypad 54 Reading width expansion key 55 Reading width expansion setting key 71 Main Controller (MCU)
72 Image processing unit (IPU)
73 Operation section 76 Paper discrimination section

Claims (3)

A size detection sensor for detecting the size of the document;
Based on the output of the size detection sensor, a paper discriminating unit for discriminating which size of the standardized size is a document,
Setting means for setting the number of reading stages for reading the document;
An image reading method of an image forming apparatus having reading means for reading the original,
The reading means includes
The standardized size of the larger size than the standardized size of the document is determined by the sheet discrimination means, selected depending on the reading step number set by said setting means, by normalizing the selected size, An image reading method of an image forming apparatus, wherein the original is read.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main scanning width for reading and the sub-scanning width for reading are expanded in accordance with the standardized size of the original determined by the paper determining means. Image reading method. A size detection sensor for detecting the size of the document;
Based on the output of the size detection sensor, a paper discriminating unit for discriminating which size of the standardized size is a document,
Setting means for setting the number of reading stages for reading the document;
A standardized size larger than the standardized size of the document determined by the paper determination unit is selected according to the number of reading steps set by the setting unit , and the selected standardized size An image forming apparatus comprising: a reading unit that reads the document.

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