JP4763999B2 - Image reading device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that reads an image on a sheet.

  Image reading as shown in Patent Document 1 for sorting and organizing paper sheets such as utility bills and service applications, securities such as bills and checks (hereinafter collectively referred to as bills) A method of reading a character recorded with magnetic ink called MICR character at a predetermined position of a bill by magnetic or optical means is generally performed by an apparatus. For example, in the case of a financial institution such as a bank, it is classified by bank, account, amount, payment date, etc. by reading MICR characters recorded on a bill. Bills categorized by type are brought into the bill exchange office, and instead they bring back their own bills brought from other banks to the bill exchange office, and are classified in the same way for each branch and account. Process together.

  Such a series of bill processing must be performed in about one day until the bill is received from the user and the processing is completed, and is a task requiring quick processing. For this reason, many banks do not process bills at each branch, but set up a department that handles bills professionally (generally called a centralized center) to process a large amount of bills at a centralized location. Yes. The processing contents in the centralized center are classified by reading the bill by the image reading device and simultaneously reading the MICR recorded on the document. For this reason, an image reading apparatus with a sorter provided with a plurality of discharge ports is usually used for such work.

JP 2003-141367 A

  However, a series of operation procedures includes multiple operations such as removing the document from the discharge unit, adding a new document to the feeding unit, and checking the image that has been read and displayed on a monitor such as a personal computer. Work procedures are required at the same time. For this reason, the burden on the operator is heavy.

  In addition, the scanner is configured to stop when the discharged document is full, but the document reading conditions set at this time are cleared. Similarly, if an attempt is made to add a document to the feeding port during a scanning operation, if the document remaining on the feeding port is removed in order to place the document in a line, the image forming apparatus generates an error and a series of operations. Will end. In these cases, it is necessary to set the original reading conditions again and start the scanning operation, increasing the burden on the operator and reducing the work efficiency.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus capable of reducing the burden on an operator and improving business efficiency, particularly when the discharge load amount detection means detects a full load.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a typical configuration of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a feeding unit that sequentially feeds a plurality of sheets from a feeding port, and a sheet fed by the feeding unit. Reading means for reading the image, discharged sheet detection means capable of detecting a full load of discharged sheets,
An image reading apparatus connected to an external host computer and capable of controlling a reading operation from the external host computer , wherein the sheet detection means detects the presence or absence of a sheet at the feeding port, and the discharge when full discharge printed sheet is detected by sheet detection means performs termination operation and the image reading apparatus, which of the standby operation of waiting until the release factor is generated while maintaining the setting information of the image reading A selection means for pre-selecting before reading starts, a control means for controlling the feeding means based on the detection result of the discharge sheet detection means,
And the control means stops feeding by the feeding means when the discharge sheet detecting means detects a full load, and the standby operation is selected in advance using the selection means. The standby state, waiting until a release factor of the standby state occurs, performing an operation of ending or restarting a series of operations according to the release factor, maintaining the image reading setting in the standby state, When resuming the series of operations according to the release factor, the reading of the image is resumed according to the setting before the standby state, and the sheet is repeated until there is no sheet in the feeding port, and the feeding sheet detecting means selection but it is controlled to transmit a termination status to the external host computer when it is detected that the sheet runs out the sheet Okukuchi, the end operation by using the selection means If There have been made in advance, and ends the series of operations by sending a termination status to the external host computer while stop feeding by said feeding means by the output sheet detecting means detects the full It is characterized by controlling as follows.

  According to the present invention, even when the discharge load amount detection means detects a full load, the feeding is stopped and a standby state is entered, and a series of operations is terminated or resumed according to the generated release factor. Can do. That is, since a series of operations are continued, the operator does not need to perform any troublesome operations other than removing the sheet from the discharge port, and the burden on the operator can be reduced and work efficiency can be improved.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall schematic configuration of an image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the image reading apparatus, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet on which MICR characters are recorded, and FIG. It is a figure explaining the example of a setting screen or a display screen.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading system according to the present embodiment includes a check scanner 900, a host computer 800 that includes an application that controls reading operation of the check scanner 900, and a scanner device driver.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the check scanner 900 includes a control device 206 for controlling the operation of the check scanner 900, an image sensor 201 for reading an image as an example of a reading unit, and an MICR character as an example of a reading unit. A magnetic head 202 for reading a document, a feeding port 203 for stacking documents, a feeding roller 200 as an example of feeding means for feeding the loaded documents, and two discharges for stacking the ejected documents. A flapper 208 and an operation button 207 are provided for selecting the outlets 204 and 205, and which outlet to convey. The document S stacked on the feeding port 203 is read by the magnetic head 202 and the image sensor 201, and then is distributed to either the discharge port 204 or the discharge port 205 by the flapper 208, and is discharged and stacked.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the original S to be read in this embodiment is recorded with characters called MICR characters in a predetermined position by magnetic ink, and a design or character is printed or a character is written at a specific position. . In this embodiment, the MICR characters are read by the magnetic head 202, and the entered characters are read by the image sensor 201. However, a configuration for optically reading MICR characters is also common.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge ports 204 and 205 are provided with a discharged document full load detection sensor 401, a discharged document presence / absence detection sensor 402, and a discharged document pressing member 403 as an example of a discharge stack amount detection unit. Yes. When the discharged document is empty, the discharged document presence / absence detection sensor 402 detects that there is no discharged document. When the number of discharged documents increases, the discharged document full detection sensor 401 detects the full document.

  FIG. 4A shows an example of an image reading setting screen of the check scanner. The operator displays this screen and sets image reading before starting the scanning operation. For example, black and white scanning or color scanning is selectively set at P1 in FIG. 4A, and the size of the original read at P2 is selectively set to read both sides of the original or one side at P3. . In P4 and P5, brightness and contrast are set as conditions for reading. In addition, the MICR character type, character string arrangement type, save file name, save format, and the like are also set.

  Further, as in the setting screen example shown in FIG. 4B, the operation setting after full load detection is performed in advance by the operator before starting the scanning operation. This setting screen is displayed and operated in the host computer 800 in this embodiment, but the check scanner 900 may be provided with a display unit and an operation unit. In this embodiment, the operation selection content after full load detection is any one of “end”, “error end”, and “wait”. Here, when “standby” is selected, a standby state canceling factor is further specified. In this example, the waiting state release factor is specified as one of “wait until the full discharge is released”, “wait until the discharge port is empty”, and “wait until the operation button is pressed”. It is. However, a plurality can be selected. Further, when no factor for releasing the standby state is generated, “setting the maximum standby time” prevents an infinite standby state. Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the “energy saving mode” can be set on another screen.

  The scanning operation according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 is a flowchart showing processing at the start of scanning, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of normal end selection, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of error end selection, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of standby selection. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the process in the standby state, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the process for determining the standby release factor.

  The scanning operation is started by an application that runs on the host computer 800 by the operator. The host computer 800 issues a scan operation command to the check scanner 900 and shifts to an image reading operation. The check scanner 900 having received the scan operation instruction as shown in FIG. 5 (S701) starts to drive a conveyance motor (not shown) (S702).

(Normal scan loop)
The check scanner 900 first determines whether or not the document S exists in the feeding port 203 by using a sheet presence / absence sensor 209 as an example of a feeding sheet detecting unit provided in the feeding port 203 (S801). Then, it is determined whether or not the full load detection sensor 401 detects the full load (S802). If neither of the discharge ports 204 and 205 is full, the loaded original S is fed to the feed roller 200 and not shown. The separation mechanism separates and feeds the sheets one by one, and the document enters the conveyance path (S803).

  The document entering the conveyance path is conveyed by a conveyance roller (not shown), and MICR characters are read by the magnetic head 202 (S804). The check scanner 900 further conveys the document, starts driving the image sensor 201 when the document reaches the image sensor 201, and stores the image data in the memory (S805). The read MICR characters and image data are sent to the host computer 800.

  While the discharged document full load detection sensor 401 does not detect the full load, the above operation is repeated (S802) until the original placed on the feeding port 203 becomes empty (S801). If the sheet presence sensor 209 of the feeding port 203 detects that there is no document during normal image reading, that is, while the discharged document full load detection sensor 401 does not detect the full load, the normal end status is displayed as the host. The program is sent to the computer 800 and the process ends (S806).

  Next, the case where the discharged document full load detection sensor 401 detects the full load will be described according to the preset operation when the discharged document is fully loaded.

(When “Exit” is selected)
If “End” has been selected on the setting screen (see FIG. 4B), it is simply ended by full load detection. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the check scanner 900 stops the transport motor without performing new feeding, performs a scan end operation, transmits a normal end status to the host computer 800, and ends (S806). .

(When “Display error message” is selected)
If “Error end” is selected on the setting screen, error processing is performed by detecting full load. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the check scanner 900 stops the transport motor without performing new feeding, performs a scan end operation, transmits an error status to the host computer 800, and ends (S901). Upon receiving the error status, the host computer 800 displays an error message as shown in FIG. 4D on the screen.

  The error message is not only displayed on the screen of the host computer 800, but other known notification means such as turning on an LED provided in the check scanner 900 may be used.

(When “Wait” is selected)
When “standby” is selected on the setting screen, a transition is made to a standby state upon detection of full load. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the check scanner 900 shifts to a standby state without performing new feeding (S1001). Here, the standby state is a state in which feeding of a new document is interrupted while holding the setting for image reading. On the other hand, the end of a series of processing refers to a state in which the setting for image reading is canceled and an initial state is awaited for the next processing. When the standby state is released, as described in detail below, a series of processing operations are resumed or the processing is ended depending on the release factor.

  As will be described later, when the energy saving mode is set, the transport motor is stopped. Therefore, when the energy saving mode is selected, the operation sound of the transport motor is stopped, so that the operator can quickly recognize that the standby state is entered without looking at anything. Further, when the energy saving mode is not set, the driving of the transport motor is continued without performing paper feeding. However, regardless of whether the energy saving mode is set or not, the waiting state is displayed to the operator. Examples of display means may be displayed on the screen of the host computer 800 in the same manner as the error message shown in FIG. 4D, or other known notification means such as turning on an LED provided in the check scanner 900. It is also possible to use.

  When shifting to the standby state, as shown in FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not the energy saving mode is selected in advance (S1101), and if it is selected, the motor stop waiting time is set to 0 (S1102). ). The motor stop waiting time is a time for designating how long the transport motor is not stopped in the standby state. This is because there is a problem from the viewpoint of power consumption and environmental noise if the transport motor is moved, but it takes time to recover if it is stopped. As the motor stop waiting time when the energy saving mode is not selected, a predetermined initial value appropriately determined is used.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the motor stop waiting time has elapsed (S1103). As described above, since the waiting time is set to 0 in the energy saving mode, the transport motor is immediately stopped (S1104). Then, it is determined whether or not a cause for canceling the standby state has occurred (S1105), and if it has not occurred, it is determined whether the maximum standby time has elapsed (S1106). The maximum waiting time is a time for specifying how long the standby state is maintained. If the maximum standby time has not elapsed, the process loops to the step of determining the motor stop waiting time (S1103), and if the predetermined time has elapsed, the transport motor is stopped (S1104) and the standby state is maintained. (S1104 to S1106 are looped).

  When a factor for canceling the standby state occurs, a series of operations are resumed. At that time, after a predetermined time delay (S1107), the operations are resumed. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the original is fed and conveyed (S803), and MICR character and image reading processing is performed (S804 and S805). The delay time is provided here, for example, when an attempt is made to remove an original from a plurality of outlets and the operation of the apparatus is resumed as soon as the original is removed from one outlet, the operator is confused. Because it will end up.

  When the maximum standby time has elapsed (S1106), that is, when the full discharge detection sensor detects full load even after the maximum standby time has elapsed, an error status is transmitted to the host computer 800 (S1108), and a series of processes Exit. Upon receiving the error status, the host computer 800 displays an error message as shown in FIG. 4D on the screen.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the determination of the release factor for the standby state (S1105) is performed according to the release factor selected on the setting screen (see FIG. 4B).

  If “wait until release full discharge” is selected on the setting screen (S1201), the detection result of the discharge original full load detection sensor 401 provided at the discharge ports 204 and 205 is determined (S1202). If no full load is detected, it is determined that a release factor has occurred (R). If the full load is still detected, the standby state is continued (E).

  When “wait until the discharge port is empty” is selected on the setting screen (S1203), the detection result of the discharged document presence / absence detection sensor 402 is determined (S1204), and the discharge ports 204 and 205 are empty. If it is determined that the release factor has occurred (R). If it is not empty, the standby state is continued (E).

  If “wait until the operation button is pressed” is selected on the setting screen (S1205), it is determined whether or not the operation button 207 is pressed (S1206). (R). If not pressed, the standby state is continued (E).

  As described above, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, even if the discharge port is full, only the new feeding is not performed and the setting for image reading is retained. It is only necessary to remove the document from the discharge port, and troublesome work such as resetting of the reading setting is not necessary.

  In the standby state, even if the sheet presence sensor 209 of the feeding port 203 detects that there is no document, the control device 206 ignores this and does not transmit any status to the host computer 800. As a result, when a new document is added to the feeding unit using the waiting-for-feed state, the document is removed from the feeding port in order to realign the document, and after being aligned, it can be loaded again on the feeding port. It becomes possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, when there is no document at the feeding port 203 (S801: see FIGS. 6 to 8), the series of operations has been described (S806). However, even if there is no document at the feeding port, the standby state (a state in which feeding of a new document is interrupted while maintaining the settings for image reading) is waited for replenishment of the document to the feeding port 203. You may comprise.

  The present invention can be used in an image reading apparatus that conveys a sheet and reads an image.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall schematic configuration of an image reading apparatus. It is a figure explaining the structure of an image reading apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the sheet | seat which recorded the MICR character. It is a figure explaining the example of a setting screen or a display screen. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of a scan start. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of normal end selection. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of an error end selection. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of standby selection. It is a flowchart explaining the process in a standby state. It is a flowchart which shows the process of waiting cancellation | release factor determination.

Explanation of symbols

S: Manuscript
200 ... Feed roller
201… Image sensor
202… Magnetic head
203… Feeding port
204… Discharge port
205… discharge port
206… Control device
207… Operation buttons
208 Flapper
209… Seat presence sensor
401 ... Sensor for detecting full discharge
402… Ejected document presence / absence detection sensor
403… discharged document holding member
800… Host computer
900… Check scanner

Claims (8)

A feeding means for sequentially feeding a plurality of sheets from the feeding port;
Reading means for reading an image of the sheet fed by the feeding means;
A discharge sheet detection means capable of detecting the full load of discharged sheets;
An image reading apparatus connected to an external host computer and capable of controlling a reading operation from the external host computer ,
A feeding sheet detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet at the feeding port;
When full discharge printed sheet is detected by the discharging sheet detecting means, it terminates the operation and the image reading apparatus, which of the standby operation of waiting until the release factor is generated while maintaining the setting information of the image reading Selection means for pre-selecting whether to execute before starting reading;
Control means for controlling the feeding means based on the detection result of the discharged sheet detecting means;
Have
The control means stops feeding by the feeding means by detecting that the discharge sheet detecting means is full,
If the selection of the standby operation using the selection means has been made in advance, the standby state,
Wait until the release factor of the standby state occurs, perform an operation to end or resume a series of operations according to the release factor,
In the standby state, the image reading setting is maintained, and when the series of operations is resumed according to the release factor, the image reading is resumed according to the setting before the standby state, and the feeding port Control until the feeding sheet detecting means detects that there is no sheet at the feeding port and sends an end status to the external host computer .
If the selection of the end operation has been made in advance using the selection means, the discharge of the discharge sheet detection means has detected the full load, and the external host computer is stopped while feeding by the feed means is stopped. An image reading apparatus that controls to end a series of operations by transmitting a status . Before SL control means after reaching the standby state, even when it is detected that there is no sheet on the sheet Okukuchi by the feeding sheet detecting means, and controlling so as to maintain the standby state The image reading apparatus according to claim 1.   The release factor of the standby state is to detect that the discharged sheet detection unit does not detect full load or that the stack amount of discharged sheets is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. The image reading apparatus according to 1. Input means for sending a control signal to the control means;
2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waiting state canceling factor is a predetermined control signal input through the input unit. The maximum waiting time can be set in advance before starting reading by the setting means,
The release factor of the standby state is the lapse of the maximum standby time,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit ends the series of operations when the maximum standby time has elapsed in a standby state.   2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for indicating the standby state.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the image reading apparatus is operating in the energy saving mode in the standby state, the control unit stops the driving unit of the image reading apparatus. apparatus.   2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the series of operations is resumed according to the release factor, the control unit resumes the operation with a predetermined time delay after the release factor is generated. .

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