JP4630026B2 - Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the same, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus that reads a document having images on both sides.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image reading apparatus that automatically and sequentially conveys a document and sequentially reads an image formed on the document is read while automatically conveying the document for efficient image reading and image formation. Is to be done.
In addition, some originals having images on both sides can be read almost simultaneously on both sides of the original for more efficient reading.

In such an image reading apparatus, the orientation (front side or back side) of the document is usually determined in advance, and the front and back sides of the document are set in the correct orientation with respect to the user by pictograms and notes. I am guiding you.
However, because the orientation of placing the document on the document tray varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and even from the same manufacturer varies depending on the model, the document is rarely set upside down, and the user originally intended There is a problem in that unnecessary image data is output by reading the back side of an undocumented document.

In order to cope with such a problem, in an image reading apparatus capable of reading both sides almost simultaneously, two reading units corresponding to the front and back sides of the original are operated even in the mode of reading one side of the original. There is known an image reading apparatus configured to determine the front side of a document and output image data read by a document reading unit corresponding to the front side of the document (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-178519

  However, recently, from the viewpoint of resource saving, not only a new sheet but also a used sheet once image-formed, that is, a sheet generally called “backing paper” is used for image formation. In many cases, the back side of the original is not a blank sheet (no image).

When such a back-sheet original is used, an image is also formed on the back side, so that the above-described conventional image reading apparatus cannot distinguish the front side and the back side of the original, and the image reading apparatus There is a risk of falling into a state where normal operation cannot be performed.
In addition, when reading a document using a conventional image reading apparatus that cannot distinguish the front and back of the document, the user sets the document in the reverse direction until the user sees a printed matter on which an image of an unnecessary surface is output. In order to read the original again without recognizing it, the original that has already been read by the reading device and the original that has not yet been read must be set in the original tray in the correct orientation, and the original must be read again from the beginning. did not become.

Also, if the read image information is sequentially ejected as printed matter and the user is present at the site, the user will immediately realize that an unintended surface has been output. When image formation is left up to the device and the user leaves the site, or when the scanned image information is transmitted to the outside via a communication line, the image data received is received after completion of image formation. The output result can be confirmed only by the answer from the person.
In this case, a user who notices an error by confirming a printed matter on which image formation has been completed or receiving a reply from the recipient sets the document that has already been scanned in the correct orientation, and again starts again. I had to read the manuscript again.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and when a back-sheet original is used, even if the user makes a mistake in the setting direction of the front and back of the original, the user does not have to read the original again. The present invention provides an image reading apparatus that can output image information of an intended surface again after completion of image reading.

According to the present invention, first reading means and second reading means for reading image information on the first side and the second side, which are the front and back sides of the conveyed document, respectively, and the first read by the first and second reading means. A storage unit that stores image information of the surface and the second surface, a single-sided reading mode intended to read only the first surface, and a double-sided scanning mode intended to read both the first surface and the second surface are arbitrarily selected A reading mode selection unit that can be set, and a control unit that controls the first reading unit, the second reading unit, the storage unit, and the reading mode selection unit, the control unit, when the single-sided reading mode is set, The image information on the first side and the second side of the document is read by the first and second reading means, respectively, and the image information on the first side is output as the requested image information, and at least the image information on the second side is stored. To remember An instruction was received to switch the image information to be output from the first side to the second side after a plurality of originals have been conveyed and all the originals have been read and all the output as requested image information has been completed. Sometimes, the image information on the second surface stored in the storage unit is sequentially output as the requested image information going back to the first document , and the image information to be output is output from the first surface to the second surface. An instruction to switch to is accepted only within a predetermined time after the reading and output of the document is completed, and the image information stored in the storage unit is deleted after a predetermined time has elapsed after the reading and output of the document are completed. An image reading apparatus is provided.

  According to the present invention, even when the single-sided reading mode intended to read and output the image information on the first surface is set, at least the image information on the second surface is stored in the storage unit. Even when the user makes a mistake in the direction of setting the front and back sides of the document, it is possible to output the image information of the surface intended by the user after the image reading is completed without re-reading the document from the beginning.

The image reading apparatus according to the present invention reads the image information on the first side and the second side, which are the front and back sides of the conveyed document, by the first reading unit and the second reading unit, and the first and second reading units, respectively. A storage unit for storing image information of the first side and the second side, a single-sided reading mode intended to read only the first side, and a double-sided reading intended to read both sides of the first side and the second side A reading mode selection unit that can arbitrarily set the mode, and a control unit that controls the first reading unit, the second reading unit, the storage unit, and the reading mode selection unit, and the control unit is set to the single-sided reading mode. The image information on the first side and the second side of the document is read by the first and second reading means, respectively, and the image information on the first side is output as the requested image information, and at least the second side of the document is output. Image information Image information to be output after a plurality of originals are stored in the storage unit and all of the originals are read and output as requested image information is completed from the first side to the second side The image information on the second surface stored in the storage unit is sequentially output as the requested image information retroactively to the first document , and the image information to be output is An instruction to switch from the first side to the second side is accepted only within a predetermined time after the reading and output of the original are completed, and is stored in the storage unit after a predetermined time has elapsed after the reading and output of the original are completed. The image information is erased .

In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the first surface and the second surface serving as the front and back sides of the document may be such that the first surface is the front side of the document and the second surface is the back side of the document, or the first surface. May be the back side of the document, and the second side may be the front side of the document.
The first reading means may be anything as long as it can read an image formed on the first surface of the document and convert it into image information as electronic information. For example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) An image sensor or the like can be used as the first reading unit.
The second reading means may be anything as long as it can read an image formed on the second surface of the document and convert it into image information as electronic information. For example, the CIS (Contact Image Sensor) Can be used as the second reading means.

What is a storage unit as long as it can store at least the image information of the second surface as electronic information among the image information of the first surface and the second surface converted into electronic information by the first and second reading means? For example, a RAM or a flash memory can be used as the storage unit. In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the storage unit may of course store both the image information on the first surface and the image information on the second surface.
The reading mode selection means accepts a user instruction as to whether to set only the first surface based on the user's intention or to set to read both the first surface and the second surface, Any device can be used as long as it can transmit the instruction to the control unit. For example, an operation unit including a push key switch or a touch panel type liquid crystal display panel provided in the image reading apparatus may be used as the reading mode selection unit. it can.
The control unit may be any unit as long as it can control the first reading unit, the second reading unit, the storage unit, and the reading mode selection unit, for example, a CPU, a RAM, A microcomputer composed of a ROM, an I / O port and the like can be integrated.

In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit receives an instruction to switch the image information to be output from the first side to the second side after a plurality of originals are conveyed and the reading and output of the originals are completed. when the, Ru is configured to sequentially output back image information of the second surface which is stored in the storage unit in the first document.
Ri by such a configuration, when reading the output of the document by the user after the completion notice setting direction of the error in front and back of the document, use to switch the image data output from the first surface to the second surface's The image information on the second side can be traced back to the first original and sequentially output by simply instructing the user, which is extremely convenient for the user. Of course, as described above, it is not necessary to read the original from the beginning.

In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit is configured to accept an instruction to switch the image information to be output from the first surface to the second surface only within a predetermined time after the document reading and output are completed. It is preferred that
This is because if it is possible to accept a switching instruction at any time, the control unit needs to wait in a situation where it can handle switching at any time, which increases the burden on the control unit. According to the configuration, since the time for accepting the switching instruction is limited, the standby time for the unnecessary instruction can be reduced, and the deterioration of the operation performance of the control unit can be minimized.

In the above-described configuration in which the time for receiving the switching instruction is limited, it is preferable that the predetermined time for receiving the instruction to switch the image information to be output from the first surface to the second surface can be arbitrarily set.
According to such a configuration, since the user can arbitrarily set the time for accepting the switching instruction, the user can arbitrarily set an easy-to-use environment according to the performance of the control unit, and the image reading is very easy to use. It becomes a device.

In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the control unit is configured to erase the image information stored in the storage unit after a predetermined time has elapsed after the reading and output of the document are completed.
According to such a configuration, the image information stored in the storage unit is automatically deleted after a lapse of a predetermined time from the completion of reading and output of the document, so that the capacity of the storage unit can be used effectively.

Further, in the above configuration in which the image information is erased after a predetermined time elapses, the predetermined time from when the reading and outputting of the document is completed until the image information stored in the storage unit is erased may be arbitrarily set. preferable.
According to such a configuration, since the user can arbitrarily set the time until the image information stored in the storage unit is erased, the user can arbitrarily set an environment that is easy to use according to the capacity of the storage unit. This is an image reading apparatus that is very easy to use.
In consideration of the capacity of the storage unit, the predetermined upper limit time is set in advance, and it is preferable from the viewpoint of the stability of the apparatus that the predetermined time is set not to exceed the upper limit time. .

In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit receives an instruction to switch the image information to be output from the first side to the second side only within a predetermined time after the reading and output of the document is completed, and the predetermined time After the elapse of time, it is preferable that the image information stored in the storage unit is erased.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to effectively use the capacity of the storage unit while minimizing a decrease in operation performance of the control unit.

In addition, in the above configuration in which the time for accepting the switching instruction is limited to a predetermined time and the image information is erased from the storage unit after the predetermined time has elapsed, an instruction to switch the image information to be output from the first surface to the second surface is issued. It is preferable that the predetermined time to be accepted can be arbitrarily set.
According to such a configuration, the user can arbitrarily set the time for receiving the switching instruction, that is, the time until the image information is erased from the storage unit, so that the user can control the performance of the control unit and the capacity of the storage unit. Accordingly, an easy-to-use environment can be arbitrarily set, and the image reading apparatus is very easy to use.

The image reading apparatus according to the present invention further includes a communication unit with the outside, and can receive an instruction to switch the image information to be output from the first surface to the second surface via the communication unit. It is preferable that the image information on the second surface can be communicated to the outside via the communication means.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to instruct switching from the side of the receiver who has received the image information, and the image reading apparatus is easy to use for the receiver.
In the present invention, the means for communication with the outside includes any means that can be used as means for communication with the outside, such as a LAN, a telephone line, an optical line, and the Internet.

From another viewpoint, the present invention also provides an image forming apparatus that includes the above-described image reading apparatus according to the present invention and that discharges a printed matter on which image information on at least the first surface or the second surface is formed. .
According to such an image forming apparatus, it is possible to obtain the effect brought about by the above-described image reading apparatus in the image forming apparatus. Even if the front and back sides of the original are set in the wrong direction, the original can be read after completion of the image formation. It is possible to quickly form an image on the intended surface without re-reading.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a plurality of discharge trays for receiving the printed matter to be discharged, and the image information on the first surface when the image information to be output is switched from the first surface to the second surface. The printed material on which the image information on the second surface is formed may be discharged to a different discharge tray from the tray from which the printed material having been formed is discharged.
According to such a configuration, the unnecessary printed matter that has been discharged first and the necessary printed matter that has been discharged after switching the output surface are discharged to different discharge trays. This eliminates the need for the user's sorting work to sort the printed materials and unnecessary printed materials, which is convenient.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a discharge tray and sorting means for converting the discharge direction of the printed matter by 90 °, and when image information to be output is switched from the first surface to the second surface. In addition, the printed matter on which the image information on the second side is formed may be converted by 90 ° from the discharge direction of the printed matter on which the image information on the first side is formed, and discharged.
According to such a configuration, the unnecessary printed matter that has been discharged first and the necessary printed matter that has been discharged after switching the output surface are discharged to the discharge tray so as to overlap each other in a direction orthogonal to each other. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to sort necessary prints and unnecessary prints, which is convenient.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a communication unit with the outside, and can receive an instruction to switch the image information to be output from the first surface to the second surface via the communication unit. Alternatively, the image information of the second surface may be configured to be transmitted to the outside via the communication unit.
According to such a configuration, the image forming apparatus can be a so-called multi-function machine having the function of the image transmission apparatus, and the effect of the above-described image reading apparatus according to the present invention can be obtained even with the image transmission function. Even if the document is set up with the wrong orientation, the intended image can be transmitted promptly without re-reading the document after completion of image transmission. In addition, it is possible to instruct switching from the side of the receiver who has received the transmitted image, and the multi-function device is easy to use for the receiver.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

  An image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image reading apparatus according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic electrical configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are controls of a control unit. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the operation panel, and FIG. 6 is a “guidance display” and “switch key” displayed on the operation panel when the user guides the user to switch the surface to be read. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as a reading unit.

(1) Image Reading Device As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, an image reading device 1 according to an embodiment is a CCD reading unit that reads image information on the first and second surfaces, which are the front and back sides of a conveyed document. (First reading means) 11 and CIS (second reading means) 21, storage section 47 for storing image information of the first and second surfaces read by CCD reading unit 11 and CIS 21, and only the first surface An operation unit 46 (reading mode selection means) that can arbitrarily set a single-sided reading mode intended to read the image and a double-sided reading mode intended to read both the first and second surfaces; and the CCD reading unit 11 , The control unit 41 for controlling the CIS 21, the storage unit 47, and the operation unit 46. When the single-sided reading mode is set, the control unit 41 displays the image information of the first side and the second side of the document as C. The image information on the first side is read by the CD reading unit 11 and the CIS 21, respectively, and the image information on the first side and the second side is stored in the storage unit 47, and is output after the reading and output of the original are completed. When receiving an instruction to switch the power image information from the first surface to the second surface, the image information on the second surface is output from the storage unit 47.

(1-1) Mechanical Configuration of Image Reading Apparatus As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus 1 includes an optical system 2 and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 3 disposed above the optical system 2. It is used as a scanner for copying machines and facsimile machines, and can read both sides of a document.

  The optical system 2 is configured to include a CCD reading unit 11, and image information of the first surface of the document placed on the document table 12 and supported by a plane is provided at a fixed position by the light source unit 13 and the mirror unit 14. The image is formed on the CCD reading unit 11 and read.

The CCD reading unit 11 includes an imaging lens 11a and a CCD image sensor 11b.
The light source unit 13 includes a light source 13a, a mirror 13b that collects reading illumination light from the light source 13a at a predetermined reading position on the document table 12, and a slit 13c that allows only reflected light from the document to pass through. And a mirror 13d that changes the optical path of the light passing through the slit 13c by 90 °.
The mirror unit 14 includes a pair of mirrors 14a and 14b that change the optical path of light from the light source unit by 180 °.

Assuming that the speed of the light source unit is V, the mirror unit 14 is displaced at a speed of V / 2 in the direction of the arrow 15 (sub-scanning direction) as indicated by reference marks 13e, 13f, etc. Can be read.
Although not shown in the figure, the CCD reading unit 11 is a V reading speed unit which is a reduction reading optical system or a unity reading optical system in which at least the CCD image sensor 11b, the imaging lens 11a, and the light source 13a are configured as one unit. It may be configured to scan with

  The optical system 2 is provided with another document table 16 spaced apart from the document table 12 in the sub-scanning direction. The light source unit 13 can illuminate the image on the first surface (front surface) of the document being conveyed on the document table 16 while being displaced to the lower side of the document table 16 and standing still. A paper discharge tray 17 is provided near the exit of the conveyed document.

On the other hand, the ADF 3 is configured to include the CIS 21 as the second reading unit, and takes in the documents placed on the document tray 22 in a stacked state one by one. ) Image information. For this reason, various rollers R1 to R10, detectors S1 to S6, a curved conveyance path 23, and a registration / skew correction region 24 are further provided.
The CIS 21 is a contact image sensor including, for example, an array-shaped image sensor, an array-shaped light guide (lens array such as a Selfoc lens), and a light source (LED array light source or fluorescent lamp).

The document tray 22 is an electric tray. When the optical document detector S1 including the actuator S1a and the sensor body S1b detects that a document is set on the document tray 22, the start key K5 (see FIG. 5) is turned on. It will be in a standby state.
When a document feed start signal is input, the document feeding roller R1 is driven to rotate after the document tray 22 is raised until the calling roller R1 is detected by the calling roller position detector S2. Are sequentially fetched from the topmost document.

Separation rollers R2 and R2a are arranged on the downstream side of the drawing roller R1. The attracting roller R1 is supported by the arm 25, and the arm 25 is rotatably supported on the rotation shaft of the separation roller R2. The attracting roller R1 comes into contact with the document by its own weight or urging force.
A convex portion is formed on the arm 25, and the height of the attracting roller R1 can be detected from the swing angle of the arm 25 by the attracting roller position detector S2 constituted by an optical sensor or the like. . In this embodiment, a convex portion is provided on the arm 25 and directly detected by the incoming roller position detector S2. However, the incoming roller position detector S2 can also be provided at a position away from the arm 25. For this, the height of the arm 25 may be detected using a movable connecting means.

The separation roller R2 is provided with a roller R2a provided with a torque limiter (or alternatively a friction pad) so as to be opposed to each other, so that one document is reliably separated and conveyed without being fed repeatedly. It has come to be.
Therefore, even if a plurality of documents are taken in by the drawing roller R1, only the uppermost document that is in close contact with the drawing roller R1 is taken in by the separation rollers R2 and R2a and conveyed to the curved conveyance path 23. The
Whether or not the original is reliably separated and supplied by the separation rollers R2 and R2a is detected by a paper feed detector S3 including an actuator S3a and a sensor body S3b. Then, it is guided to the curved conveyance path 23 on the downstream side at a predetermined timing.

In the curved conveyance path 23, the document is conveyed by the conveyance rollers R3 to R7, and whether or not the document is guided without difficulty includes an actuator S4a and a sensor body S4b, and a paper feed detector that detects discharge from the curved conveyance path 23. Detected by S4. The curved conveyance path 23 has a curvature that allows the manufacturer to guarantee the stable supply of all types of documents, and has a curvature that can smoothly convey the thickest, that is, the most profound document among the readable documents. .
The document discharged from the curved conveyance path 23 is conveyed to the registration / skew correction area 24, and the leading end thereof is disposed in front of the registration rollers R8 and R9 near the exit of the registration / skew correction area 24. When detected by the detector S5, the registration rollers R8 and R9 are stopped and caused to collide with the conveying force from the upstream side for a predetermined time to correct the registration and skew. The paper feed detector S5 includes an actuator S5a and a sensor body S5b.

  The registration / skew correction area 24 is the registration / skew correction area 24 from the last pair of conveyance rollers R6, R7 to the pair of registration rollers R8, R9 in the curved conveyance path 23. As for the distance between these rollers R6, R7; R8, R9, the length in the conveyance direction of the smallest document among the documents that can be processed as a document feeder is set to the minimum. It only has to be done. In other words, the smaller the trailing edge portion of the document remaining on the curved conveyance path 23, the smoother the document registration and skew correction.

Next, the document on which the registration and skew correction are performed is resumed at a predetermined timing, and is guided to the first reading position Pos1 for exposing and scanning the surface of the document. Further, it passes the second reading position Pos2 for continuously scanning the back side of the document. The light source unit 13 faces the first reading position Pos1, and the CIS 21 faces the second reading position Pos2.
Then, the document from which the images on both the front and back sides are read is discharged from the document reading device 1 at a position lower than the document discharge point by the discharge rollers R10 and R11 (the discharge roller R11 is provided on the optical system 2 side). The paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 17 supported on the side surface.
The confirmation of the document discharge operation is detected by a sheet discharge detector S6 including an actuator S6a and a sensor body S6b.
The above operation is repeated until there is no document set on the document tray 22, and all the documents that have been read are sequentially discharged onto the discharge tray 17.

Further, since the document tray 22 is lowered each time the documents are sequentially fed, the document tray 22 rises by the amount of the lowering roller R1 and is always called the uppermost surface of the document bundle. The insertion roller R1 is monitored so as to maintain a predetermined state.
Therefore, the document tray 22 can swing around the fulcrum 22a, and the rib 22b provided at the end opposite to the fulcrum 22a can be moved up and down by being pushed up by the lift plate 31. It has become. The lift plate 31 has an end opposite to the rib 22b fixed to a plate support shaft 32. The plate support shaft 32 is lifted by a lift motor 33 via a lift mechanism 34 comprising a transmission member (gear) row. Driven by rotation.

Further, the document tray 22 has a height between the entrance side and the exit side of the curved conveyance path 23 inevitably formed by the curved conveyance path 23 set so as to guarantee stable document conveyance as described above. It is possible to move up and down within the range, and by shifting in the vertical direction, a large amount of documents can be placed and the uppermost surface of the large amount of documents placed on the document tray 22 is curvedly conveyed. The paper is raised to a state where paper can be fed to the entrance of the path 23, and the paper is fed sequentially.
The document tray 22 is provided with a document regulating plate 30 for aligning the sides of the document. The position of the document regulating plate 30 is detected by the document size detector S0, and the size of the set document is set. Can be detected.

On the other hand, when reading the document on the document table 12, the light source unit 13 moves from the position Pos3 in FIG. 1 to the position Pos4 in the document size detector S9 (not shown in FIG. 1). It moves by a predetermined distance according to the size detected in (see). On the other hand, when reading the conveyed document, it stops at the position Pos1.
In addition, any position between Pos3, Pos4 or Pos3 and Pos1 is set as the home position with reference to the position detector of the light source unit 13, and is stopped at this home position when not in use. is doing.

In order to read the document on the document table 12, the ADF 3 rotates a hinge (not shown) provided between the image reading apparatus 1 and the optical system 2 on the back side (back side of the paper surface). As shown in FIG.
As a result, the image reading apparatus 1 can open the upper surface of the document table 12 from the front side of the sheet, and can set a document or the like of a book that cannot be conveyed on the document table 12. A document mat 35 is provided on the ADF 3 side so as to face the document table 12.

The image reading apparatus 1 configured as described above can read a document in three modes: a stationary reading mode, a traveling reading mode, and a duplex reading mode.
The stationary reading mode is a mode in which a document placed on the document table 12 such as a book is read by the CCD reading unit 11 while scanning the light source unit 13 and the mirror unit 14.
Both the traveling reading mode and the duplex reading mode are modes in which the document set on the document tray 22 is read while automatically feeding one sheet at a time by the ADF 3. The travel reading mode is automatically set when a document is set on the document tray 22 of the ADF 3.

In the traveling reading mode and when the normal single-sided reading mode is set, the CCD reading unit 11 reads the first side of the document. When the automatic identification function is activated, both the CCD reading unit 11 and the CIS 21 are used to read the first side and the second side of the document. That is, the output target surface switching function and the image forming surface automatic identification function are arbitrarily set according to the intention of the user.
On the other hand, in the double-sided reading mode, both the CCD reading unit 11 and the CIS 21 are used to read the first side and the second side of the document. The duplex reading mode is a mode that is arbitrarily set according to the intention of the user. When the duplex scanning mode is set, the output target surface switching function and the image forming surface automatic identification function are not activated. .
The maximum number of documents that can be set on the document placing tray 22 is, for example, 150.

(1-2) Electrical Configuration of Image Reading Apparatus FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image reading apparatus configured as described above. In FIG. 2, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The control unit 41 realized by a microcomputer or the like includes a document size detector S0 and a second document size detector S7 for detecting the size of a document set on the document tray 22, and a document set on the document table 12. Based on the detection result of the document size detector S9 that detects the size, control of the paper to be used, timing, and the like is performed.

  In reading using the CCD reading unit 11, the control unit 41 drives the light source unit 13 and the mirror unit 14 by the stepping motor 42, and at the position of the light source unit 13 detected by the light source unit detector S8. In response, the exposure lamp 13a and the CCD 11b are driven to read the image information of the document.

  On the other hand, in the reading using the ADF 3, the control unit 41 drives the lifting motor 33 in response to the output of the incoming roller position detector S2, and the document bundle set on the document tray 22 is read. In response to the detection result of each of the detectors S3 to S6 until the document detector S1 detects that the document on the document tray 22 runs out while keeping the upper surface height constant, the document transport motor 43 The CCD image sensor 11b and / or the CIS 21 are driven while controlling the clutch 44 of the drawing roller R1 and the clutch 45 of the registration rollers R8 and R9 to read the image information of the document.

Further, the control unit 41 separately stores the image information of the first surface read by the CCD image sensor 11b and the image information of the second surface read by the CIS 21 in the storage unit 47 and outputs the surface information to be output. Are read out from the storage unit 47 and output.
The comparison unit 48 uses a normal manuscript with an image formed on only one side, and when the user makes a mistake in the orientation of the front and back of the manuscript, he / she has to set the manuscript again in the correct orientation and read it from the beginning. In order to save the image information on the first side and the image information on the second side stored in the storage unit 47, the control unit 41 has a function of comparing the image information on the original based on the comparison result of the comparison unit 48. Judging.
The control unit 41 displays necessary information on the operation unit 46 realized by a liquid crystal touch panel or the like, and accepts a user input operation to the operation unit 46, for example, setting of a single-sided reading mode or a double-sided reading mode.
The control unit 41 communicates bidirectionally with an external terminal 49 such as a personal computer via a network (communication means), and is configured to receive a switching instruction from the external terminal and transmit image information to the external terminal. .

(1-3) Control Flow of Control Unit FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the control flow of the control unit 41 (see FIG. 2). The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 show that the single-sided reading mode (mode intended to read and output only the first side of the document) is set by the user in advance in the traveling reading mode and output. It is assumed that the target surface switching function and the image forming surface automatic identification function are activated.
In the following description, parts corresponding to the configurations of FIGS. 1 and 2 are described with the same reference numerals, and therefore, if necessary, refer to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 as appropriate.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 41 determines whether or not a document is set on the document tray 22 (step 1). If it is determined in step 1 that the document is set on the document tray 22, the process proceeds to the next step, and the control unit 41 sets both the CCD reading unit 11 and the CIS 21 to be readable (step 2).
When the CCD reading unit 11 and the CIS 21 are set to be readable in step 2, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step and determines whether or not the start key K5 (see FIG. 5) has been pressed (step 3).

If it is determined in step 3 that the start key K5 has been pressed, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step and starts supplying and conveying the original (step 4).
When the supply and conveyance of the document are started in step 4, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step, and reads the images on the first and second surfaces of the document by the CCD reading unit 11 and the CIS 21 (step 5).
When the image information on the first side and the second side of the document is read in step 5, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step and stores the image information on the first side and the second side in the storage unit 47 (step 6).

When the image information of the first surface and the second surface is stored in the storage unit 47 in step 6, the control unit 41 stores the image information of the first surface and the second surface stored in the storage unit 47 in the comparison unit 48. A comparison is made to determine whether there are images on both the first and second sides of the document (step 7).
If it is determined in step 7 that there is an image on only one side of the document, that is, one of the first side and the second side of the document, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step, and image information on the side where the image exists. Is output from the storage unit 47 (step 8).
When the image information of the surface on which the image exists is output in step 8, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step, and the surface on which the image exists, that is, the first surface or the first surface of the document that is determined to have the image in step 7. Either one of the two surfaces is set as an output target surface (step 9).

  Thereafter, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step to determine whether or not the document remains on the document tray 22 (step 10). When it is determined that there are no more documents, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step and completes the output of all documents. It is determined whether or not all the originals have been output (step 11).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step 7 that there are images on both sides of the document, that is, on both the first and second sides of the document, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step, and the read document is determined in advance. Image information on the first side (in the single-sided reading mode, the first side of the document is preset as the side to be output) is output from the storage unit 47 (step 12).

Thereafter, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step to determine whether or not the document remains on the document tray 22 (step 13). If it is determined that there is no document, the process proceeds to the next step to determine whether the document output is completed. Judgment is made (Step 14)
If it is determined in step 14 that the output of the document has been completed, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step shown in FIG. 4 and asks whether to switch the output target surface, and does not output the output target surface. A switching key K0 (see FIG. 6) for accepting an operation for switching to the screen, that is, the second surface is displayed on the operation panel P (see FIG. 5) (step 15). At this time, the control unit 41 starts measuring the passage of time from the time when the output is completed.
When the guidance display G and the switching key K0 are displayed on the operation panel P in step 15, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step and determines whether or not the switching key K0 has been pressed (step 16).

If the switching key K0 is not pressed in step 16, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step and determines whether or not a switching instruction signal is received from the external terminal 49 via the network (communication means) (step). 17).
If it is determined in step 17 that the switching instruction signal has not been transmitted from the external terminal 49, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step, and whether a predetermined time has elapsed since it was determined in step 14 that the output was completed. If it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has passed (step 18), the process proceeds to the next step to erase the image information in the storage unit 47 (step 20), and the series of flows is terminated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 16 that the switching key K0 has been pressed, or if it is determined in step 17 that the switching instruction signal has not been transmitted from the external terminal 49 via the network, the control unit 41 performs the following operation. Proceed to step, the output target surface is switched to the surface that has been output, that is, the surface that has not been output from the first surface, that is, the second surface, and one piece of image information of the second surface stored in the storage unit 47 Go back to the original of the eye and output again sequentially (step 19).
In step 19, when the image information on the second surface is output again, the control unit 41 proceeds to the next step, erases the image information in the storage unit (step 20), and ends the series of flows.

(1-4) Description of Operation Panel FIG. 5 is a front view showing a configuration example of the operation unit 46 shown in the block diagram of FIG. The operation unit 46 is provided on the upper surface of the image reading apparatus 1 and includes various keys K1 to K8 and an operation panel P realized by a liquid crystal touch panel or the like.
On the right side, a ten key K1, a start key (print start key) K5, a clear key K3, an interrupt key K2, and an all cancel key K4 are arranged.
On the left side, a mode key for switching the operation mode, a fax key K6, a printer key K7, and a copy key K8 are arranged.
On the screen of the operation panel P, various screens are switched and displayed. In these screens, touch keys for setting various conditions are arranged, and various conditions can be set by directly pressing the touch keys with a finger. Further, operation guidance, warnings, etc., as well as guidance display G and switching key K0 shown in FIG.

(2) Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 (digital multifunction peripheral) that includes the image reading apparatus 1 described above as a reading unit 110. In the image forming apparatus 100, image information read by the reading unit 110 and stored in the storage unit 47 (see FIG. 2) is sent to an image information input unit (not shown), and predetermined image processing is performed on the image information. Is stored in the memory of the image processing unit, and the image in the memory is read out and transferred to the laser writing unit 227 which is an optical writing device of the image forming unit 210 in response to the output instruction. Has been.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 100 is configured to be capable of bidirectional communication with an external terminal 49 (see FIG. 2) such as a personal computer via a network (external communication means). It is also possible to transmit only image information to an external terminal via. In addition, an instruction to switch the output target surface can be received from an external terminal via a network.

  The laser writing unit 227 is a semiconductor laser light source that emits laser light in accordance with image information read from the memory or image information transferred from an external device, and corrects the laser light to be deflected at a constant angular velocity. F-θ lens. In this embodiment, a laser writing unit is used as a writing device, but a solid scanning optical writing head unit using a light emitting element array such as an LED or an EL may be used.

  In addition, the image forming unit 210 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 222 and a charger 223 that charges the photosensitive drum 222 to a predetermined potential around the photosensitive drum 222. A developing device 224 for visualizing, a transfer device (transfer charger or the like) 225 for transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 222 to a sheet, a cleaning device 226 for collecting excess toner, and a static eliminator (static charge charger or the like) 229. The sheet onto which the image has been transferred by the image forming unit 210 is then sent to the fixing unit 217, where the image is fixed on the sheet to become a printed matter.

On the discharge side of the image forming unit 210, in addition to the fixing unit, a switchback path 221 that reverses the front and back of the sheet to form an image again on the back side of the sheet, and sorting the printed matter on which the image is formed. The post-processing device 260 provided with a plurality of discharge trays is mounted so that the discharge tray 261 can be moved up and down.
The printed matter on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 217 is guided to the post-processing device 260 by the paper discharge roller 219 through the switchback path 221 as necessary, and is sorted and discharged here.
In addition, although not shown in the drawing, the printed materials are sorted by providing a discharge tray that is movable in a direction orthogonal to the printed material discharge direction, or by holding the printed materials in the post-processing device 260 and discharging the printed materials. Sorting means for converting the direction by 90 ° may be provided, and sorting may be performed by discharging the printed material whose discharging direction has been converted by 90 ° so as to overlap perpendicularly on the previously discharged printed material.

  Note that the control unit 241 of the image forming apparatus 100 communicates with the control unit 41 (see FIG. 2) of the reading unit 110 and is notified from the control unit 41 of the reading unit 110 that the output target surface has been switched. And controlling the post-processing device 260 so that the printed matter on which the first-side image is discharged first and the printed matter on which the second-side image is formed are discharged to different discharge trays, Alternatively, unnecessary printed materials can be used by controlling the sorting means (not shown) in the post-processing device 260 so that the discharge direction of the printed material on which the image of the second surface is formed is changed by 90 ° and discharged. This eliminates the user's hassle of sorting printed materials.

The paper feed unit is disposed below the image forming unit 210, and includes a manual feed tray 254, a duplex unit 255, a paper tray 251, and a paper feed tray 252 provided in the multistage paper feed unit 270. , 253.
Further, a transport unit 250 is provided for transporting paper fed from these trays 251, 252, 253, and 254 to a transfer position in the image forming unit 210 where a transfer unit is disposed. The duplex unit 255 communicates with a switchback path 221 that inverts the sheet, and is used when image formation is performed on both sides of the sheet.
The double-sided unit 255 can be replaced with a normal paper cassette, and the double-sided unit 255 can be replaced with a normal paper cassette.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the control flow of the control part shown by FIG. It is a flowchart figure which shows the control flow of the control part shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of an operation panel as an example of the operation part shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the "guidance display" and the "switching key" which are displayed on an operation panel when performing switching guidance of the output object surface to a user. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 as a reading unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image reader 2 ... Optical system 3 ... ADF
11 ... CCD reading unit 11a ... Imaging lens 11b ... CCD
12, 16 ... Document table 13 ... Light source unit 13a ... Light source 13b, 13d, 14a, 14b ... Mirror 13c ... Slit 14 ... Mirror unit 15 ... Sub-scanning direction 17. ..Output tray 21 ... CIS
22 ... Document tray 22a ... fulcrum 22b ... rib 23 ... curved conveyance path 24 ... registration / skew correction area 25 ... arm 30 ... document regulating plate 31 ... lifting Plate 32 ... Lifting plate support shaft 33 ... Lifting motor 34 ... Lifting mechanism part 41 ... Control part 42 ... Stepping motor 43 ... Document feeding motor 44 ... Calling roller clutch 45 ... Registration roller clutch 46 ... Operation part 47 ... Storage part 48 ... Comparison part 49 ... External terminal 100 ... Image forming apparatus 110 ... Reading part (image reading apparatus 1)
210: Image forming unit 217: Fixing unit 219 ... Discharge roller 221 ... Switchback path 222 ... Photoconductor drum 223 ... Charging device 224 ... Developing device 225 ... Transfer device 226 ... Cleaning device 227 ... Laser writing unit 229 ... Static eliminator 241 ... Control unit 251 ... Paper tray 252, 253 ... Paper feed tray 254 ... Manual feed tray 255 ... Double-sided unit 260 ... Post-processing device 261 ... Discharge tray 270 ... Multi-stage paper feeding unit G ... Guidance display K0 ... Switch key K1 ... Numeric keypad K2 ... Interrupt Key K3 ... Clear key K4 ... All release key K5 ... Start key K6 ... Fax key K7 ... Printer key K8 ... Copy key P ... Operation panel DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Call-in roller R2, R2a ... Separation roller R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 ... Conveyance roller R8, R9 ... Registration roller R10, R11 ... Discharge roller S0, S9 ... Document size detector S1 ... Document detector S1a, S3a, S4a ... Actuator S1b, S3b, S4b ... Sensor body S2 ... Incoming roller position detector S3, S4, S5 ... Feed Paper detector S6 ... Paper discharge detector S7 ... Second document size detector S8 ... Light source unit detector

Claims (8)

First reading means and second reading means for reading image information on the first side and the second side which are the front and back sides of the conveyed document, respectively, and the first side and the second side read by the first and second reading means. It is possible to arbitrarily set a storage unit for storing image information of a surface, a single-sided reading mode intended to read only the first surface, and a double-sided reading mode intended to read both the first surface and the second surface. And a control unit that controls the reading mode selection unit, the first reading unit, the second reading unit, the storage unit, and the reading mode selection unit, and the control unit controls the first document when the single-sided reading mode is set. The image information on the surface and the second surface is read by the first and second reading means, respectively, and the image information on the first surface is output as the requested image information, and at least the image information on the second surface is stored in the storage unit. Being transported When an instruction to switch the image information to be output from the first surface to the second surface is received after all the originals are read and all the output of the requested image information is completed, An instruction to sequentially output the image information on the second surface stored in the storage unit as requested image information by going back to the first document , and to switch the image information to be output from the first surface to the second surface Is received only within a predetermined time after the reading and output of the document is completed, and the image information stored in the storage unit is erased after a predetermined time has elapsed after the reading and output of the document are completed. An image reading apparatus. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a predetermined time for receiving an instruction to switch the image information to be output from the first surface to the second surface can be arbitrarily set. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a predetermined time from the completion of reading and outputting of a document to the erasing of image information stored in the storage unit can be arbitrarily set. An external communication means is further provided, an instruction to switch the image information to be output from the first surface to the second surface can be received via the communication means, and the image information of the first surface or the second surface is received by the communication means. the image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that transmission is possible to the outside through. Comprising an image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4, the image forming apparatus for discharging a printed matter at least the image information of the first surface or the second surface is formed. A plurality of discharge trays for receiving the printed matter to be discharged are further provided, and when the image information to be output is switched from the first surface to the second surface, the printed matter on which the image information on the first surface is formed is discharged. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the printed matter in which the image information on the second surface is formed on a discharge tray different from the discharge tray is discharged. The image forming apparatus further includes a discharge tray and a sorting unit that converts the discharge direction of the printed material by 90 °, and image information on the second surface is formed when the image information to be output is switched from the first surface to the second surface. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the printed material is discharged after being converted by 90 ° from a discharge direction of the printed material on which image information on the first surface is formed. An external communication means is further provided, an instruction to switch the image information to be output from the first surface to the second surface can be received via the communication means, and the image information of the first surface or the second surface is received by the communication means. the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 5-7, characterized in that transmission is possible to the outside through.

Images