JP4858856B2 - Document reading apparatus and digital multi-function peripheral - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a document reading device and a digital multifunction peripheral, and more particularly to a document reading device and a digital multifunction peripheral provided with an automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a document to a reading table.

  Some document readers are provided with an automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a document on a reading table that reads the document (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-72137). Such an automatic document feeder is also called ADF (Auto Document Feeder). In such an ADF, there is a limit to the number of documents that can be set at one time. However, in order to continuously read a document exceeding this limit, the user sets the document within the limit of the number of sheets. When the reading of the original is completed, the next original is additionally set, so that the target number of originals can be read into the original reading apparatus using the ADF. Assuming such usage, it is dependent on the user how many documents the ADF sends out continuously.

  However, ADFs used for business purposes can routinely send out more than 100 originals, but ADFs used for personal use are generally more than 100 originals. It is considered rare to send it out. However, under the present circumstances, even in a document reading apparatus that assumes that an individual is the main user, a drive motor that generates a driving force for feeding a document on the assumption that an ADF may continuously feed over 100 documents. Is selected. Under such a premise, a cooling device such as a fan for cooling the ADF drive motor may be incorporated in the ADF.

  However, in the continuous feeding of about 30 originals, which will occupy the majority for personal use, such selection as an ADF drive motor becomes over-specification. Moreover, the drive motor selected based on such premise is large in size and high in cost. Also, the provision of a cooling device increases the cost and increases the burden on the global environment.

Of course, improvements have been made to suppress the heat generation of the ADF drive motor itself (see, for example, JP-A-2002-135526). However, even if the heat generation of the drive motor itself is suppressed in this way, the effect is naturally limited. In addition, there is a technique for suppressing heat generation by controlling the reading repetition period of the document reading apparatus (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-23514), but this alone may not always provide sufficient protection for the drive motor. This unnecessarily increases the user's image reading waiting time.
JP-A-10-72137 JP 2002-135526 A JP 2003-23514 A

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and for an automatic document feeder, a small drive motor suitable for a normal use mode is selected, and an increase in the waiting time of a user is suppressed while continuously. An object of the present invention is to provide a manuscript reading apparatus which is inexpensive and friendly to the global environment by taking measures against operation. It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital multi-function peripheral having such an automatic document feeder.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a document reading apparatus according to the present invention includes:
A reading head for reading the document on the document table as image data;
An automatic document feeder that automatically drives one or more set documents to the document table by driving a drive motor;
A temperature detector for detecting the motor temperature of the drive motor;
A remaining amount detection unit that is set in the automatic document feeder and detects the remaining amount of the document that has not yet been sent to the document table;
When the motor temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, after a predetermined wait time has elapsed, the drive motor is driven to send the next document to the document table, and When the remaining amount of the document detected by the remaining amount detection unit is equal to or less than the set number of continuous reading, the drive motor is driven without waiting for the predetermined wait time regardless of the motor temperature, A control unit that executes a process of sending the next document to the document table;
It is characterized by providing.

  In this case, the wait time may be set to increase as the motor temperature increases.

  Further, the set number of continuous readings may be set to decrease as the motor temperature increases.

  In this case, an initial value may be set for the continuous reading set number. Alternatively, the set number of continuous readings may be determined based on the motor temperature without an initial value being determined.

  The digital multi-function peripheral may include such a document reading device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the following embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to an ADF of a scanner unit which is a document reading device of a digital multifunction peripheral will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to any kind of document reading device provided with an ADF. Can be applied to.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a digital multifunction peripheral 10 mainly includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 24, a printer unit 26, and a scanner unit. 28 and a hard disk drive 30, which are appropriately connected via an internal bus 40, an interface, and the like.

  The CPU 20 is a control unit that performs overall control of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 by software. The CPU 20 reads out a program necessary for controlling the digital multifunction peripheral 10 from the ROM 24 or the hard disk drive 30 and executes it. In executing these programs, the CPU 20 temporarily stores data in the RAM 22 as appropriate.

  The printer unit 26 is configured by an ink jet type or laser beam type printer engine. The scanner unit 28 corresponds to the document reading device in the present embodiment, and is a device for reading a set document as image data. The hard disk drive 30 is an example of an auxiliary storage device, and can store data in a nonvolatile manner.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the scanner unit 28 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner unit 28 according to the present embodiment mainly includes a control unit 50, a document table 52, a reading head 54, and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 56. .

  The control unit 50 is a unit for controlling the scanner unit 28. Specifically, control for moving the reading head 54 and control for driving / stopping the ADF 56 are performed. In the present embodiment, the control unit 50 is configured by hardware such as an ASIC. However, an independent CPU may be provided in the control unit 50, and the scanner unit 28 may be controlled by software using this CPU.

  The ADF 56 constitutes an automatic document feeder in the present embodiment, and documents that the user wants to read continuously as image data are set in a bundle. The ADF 56 sends out the set originals one by one to the original table 52. The document sent to the document table 52 and set at a predetermined position is read as image data by the reading head 54. In the present embodiment, for example, a plurality of CCDs (Charge Coupled Devices) are arranged in a line on the reading head 54, and the reading head 54 moves from the beginning to the end of the document, so that one document can be handled. One image data to be acquired is acquired.

  The image data read from the reading head 54 is temporarily stored in, for example, a storage device provided in the control unit 50, and the image data stored in the storage device is transferred to the RAM 22 or the hard disk drive 30 as appropriate. .

  In order to realize such automatic document feeding, the ADF 56 according to the present embodiment is provided with a drive motor 60, a remaining paper amount detection unit 62, and a temperature detection unit 64. The drive motor 60 generates a driving force for feeding one document to the document table 52 from a bundle of documents set on the ADF. The drive motor 60 is a motor having a performance suitable for continuously feeding about 30 originals. For this reason, the size is comparatively small and the price is low. Further, it is not always necessary to provide a special cooling device. However, it is possible to provide some kind of cooling device such as a cooling fan.

  In order to detect the temperature of the drive motor 60, a temperature detector 64 is provided. The temperature detection unit 64 can be configured by a thermistor, for example. The temperature of the drive motor 60 detected by the temperature detection unit 64 is input, for example, as a voltage signal to the analog / digital conversion port of the CPU 20, and the voltage value is converted into a digital signal and taken into the CPU 20.

  The number of originals set by the user and the number of remaining originals can be detected by the remaining paper amount detection unit 62. Various mechanisms of the remaining paper amount detection unit 62 are conceivable. In this embodiment, detection is performed using a variable resistor as shown in FIG. 3, for example. That is, the resistor R1 is provided between the voltage VCC and the ground GND. Further, the spring SPR expands and contracts according to the weight of the document DOC set by the user. The voltage value read by the sensor SEN that is in electrical contact with the resistor R1 changes according to the expansion and contraction of the spring SPR. The voltage value read by the sensor SEN is output to the CPU 20. The CPU 20 converts this voltage value into a digital signal at the analog / digital conversion port and takes it in, and converts the document from the voltage value. As a result, the document reading apparatus can detect the remaining amount of the document set on the ADF.

  Next, the automatic document reading process according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams illustrating an example of an automatic document reading process executed by the digital multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment. This automatic document reading process is realized by the CPU 20 reading and executing an automatic document reading process program stored in the ROM 24. The automatic document reading process is a process that is automatically started when the power of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 is turned on.

  In this automatic document reading process, there are some that the scanner unit 28 autonomously executes based on an instruction from the CPU 20. In this case, the control unit 50 receives the instruction from the CPU 20, and the control unit 50 performs the scanner operation. Specific control of the unit 28 is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 first performs a home position seek (step S10). That is, the origin of the read head 54 is determined. Subsequently, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 initializes the ADF 56 (step S12).

  Next, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether or not to shift to the low power mode (step S14). Specifically, for example, when no operation occurs in the scanner unit 28 for 3 minutes or more with the power on, the scanner unit 28 is used to reduce power consumption in the scanner unit 28. To the low power mode.

  If it is determined in step S14 that the mode should be shifted to the low power mode (step S14: YES), the digital multi-function peripheral 10 moves the read head 54 to the home position (step S16) and shifts to the low power mode. (Step S18).

  Then, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether or not to return to the normal operation mode from the low power mode (step S20). Specifically, when the user performs any operation on the scanner unit 28 or when any instruction is sent from the CPU 20 to the scanner unit 28, the scanner unit 28 changes from the low power mode to the normal operation mode. It is necessary to move to. Therefore, in step S20, when it is not necessary to return from the low power mode (step S20: NO), the process of step S20 is repeated to wait, and if it is necessary to shift to the normal mode (step S20: YES), the process returns to step S12 described above.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the mode should not be shifted to the low power mode (step S14: NO), the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether or not there is a scan start request by the ADF 56 (step S22). ). The scan start request is generated, for example, when the user sets a document on the ADF 56 and presses a scan start button in the digital multifunction peripheral 10. If there is no scan start request (step S22: NO), the process returns to step S14 described above.

  On the other hand, when there is a scan start request (step S22: YES), as shown in FIG. 5, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 sets the continuous reading set number n to 5 (step S30). Subsequently, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 moves the reading head 54 to the ADF reading start position (step S32).

  Next, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 acquires the current remaining paper amount from the remaining paper amount detection unit 62 (step S34). Subsequently, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 acquires the current temperature T of the drive motor 60 from the temperature detector 64 (step S36).

  Next, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether or not the acquired remaining amount of paper is equal to or less than the continuous reading set number n (5 or less) (step S38). When the acquired remaining amount of paper is equal to or less than the continuous reading set number n (step S38: YES), the original is read by the ADF of FIG.

  On the other hand, when the acquired remaining amount of paper is not less than or equal to the continuous reading set number n (step S38: NO), that is, when the remaining amount of paper is more than 5, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 has the temperature T of the drive motor 60 as the temperature. It is determined whether it is lower than T1 (step S40). In the present embodiment, for example, since the temperature T1 is set to 52 ° C., the digital multifunction peripheral 10 determines whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 52 ° C. When the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 52 ° C. (step S40: YES), the temperature of the drive motor 60 is a temperature at which there is no problem in operation. Do.

  On the other hand, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 52 ° C. or higher (step S40: NO), it is determined whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than the temperature T2 (step S42). In the present embodiment, for example, since the temperature T2 is set to 56 ° C., the digital multifunction peripheral 10 determines whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 56 ° C. When the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 56 ° C. (step S42: YES), after waiting for 1 second (step S44), the document is read by the ADF of FIG. That is, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is not less than 52 ° C. and less than 56 ° C., the drive motor 60 is paused for 1 second and then the document is printed by the ADF in order to suppress the temperature rise of the drive motor 60. Read.

  On the other hand, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 56 ° C. or higher (step S42: NO), it is determined whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than the temperature T3 (step S46). In the present embodiment, for example, since the temperature T3 is set to 60 ° C., the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 60 ° C. When the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 60 ° C. (step S46: YES), after performing a 2-second wait process (step S48), the document is read by the ADF of FIG. That is, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is not less than 56 ° C. and less than 60 ° C., the drive motor 60 is stopped for 2 seconds and then the document is printed by the ADF in order to suppress the temperature rise of the drive motor 60. Read.

  On the other hand, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 60 ° C. or more (step S46: NO), the digital multi-function peripheral 10 executes a 6-second wait process (step S50), and then the ADF of FIG. Scan the original with. That is, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 60 ° C. or more, if the drive motor 60 further increases in temperature, it may cause damage due to seizure or the like. Therefore, in this embodiment, the document is read by the ADF after the drive motor 60 is stopped for 6 seconds.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when it is determined in step S38 that the remaining amount of paper is equal to or less than the continuous reading set number n (step S38: YES), the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than the temperature T1 in step S40. (Step S40: YES), after executing the weight processing of Step S44, Step S48, or Step S50, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether it is necessary to acquire shading data (Step S40). S60). That is, it is determined whether it is necessary to acquire shading data for correcting variations in sensors provided in the read head 54, positional unevenness, and the like. For example, the shading data can be set to be executed every time a predetermined number of originals are read, or can be set to be executed every elapse of a predetermined time, but the setting is arbitrary.

  If it is determined that it is necessary to acquire shading data (step S60: YES), the digital multifunction peripheral 10 moves the reading head 54 to the white reference position (step S62). That is, the reading head 54 is moved to a position where a member serving as a white reference is provided.

  Next, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 reads the white reference member with the reading head 54, acquires the white reference data, and generates and acquires shading data (step S64). Subsequently, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 moves the reading head 54 to the ADF reading start position (step S66).

  After this step S66, or when it is determined in step S60 described above that it is not necessary to acquire shading data (step S60: NO), the digital multi-function peripheral 10 drives the ADF 56 to place the document on the document table 52. Is fed (step S68).

  Next, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 cues the document to be read set on the document table 52 (step S70), and moves the reading head 54 to execute scanning (step S72). Subsequently, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 drives the ADF 56 and discharges the document that has been read (step S74).

  Next, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether there is a next document to be read in the ADF 56 (step S76). Whether there is a document in the ADF 56 may be detected by the remaining paper amount detection unit 62 or may be detected by providing another paper sensor in the ADF 56.

  Further, when there is a document to be read in the ADF 56 (step S76: YES), the process returns to step S32 in FIG. 5 and the above-described processing is performed again to read the next document. On the other hand, if there is no further document to be read in the ADF 56 (step S76: NO), the process returns to step S14 in FIG. 4 and the next document is set in the ADF 56 and waits until an instruction to start scanning is given.

  As described above, according to the digital multi-function peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 of the ADF 56 is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the original is not continuously sent out, but the predetermined document is not sent out. After the wait time has elapsed, the drive motor 60 is driven to send the document to the document table 52. For this reason, abnormal overheating of the drive motor 60 can be prevented.

  In addition, since the wait time is increased stepwise in accordance with the temperature T of the drive motor 60, it is possible to avoid abnormal overheating of the drive motor 60 while shortening the document reading time by the ADF 56 as much as possible. Can do. In addition, since the wait time is increased stepwise, it is possible to suppress the user from having a suspicion that the ADF 56 has suddenly stopped for a long time and the ADF 56 has failed.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the remaining amount of the document remaining in the ADF 56 is equal to or less than a predetermined number (in this embodiment, 5 or less), a wait time is provided regardless of the temperature of the drive motor 60. Instead, the document is sent from the ADF 56 to the end. This is because if the number of originals is small, even if the drive motor 60 is driven without being stopped, it is considered that damage due to abnormal overheating does not occur. Thereby, the document reading time by the ADF 56 can be shortened as much as possible.

  In addition, since a process for preventing abnormal overheating of the drive motor 60 is provided based on the temperature T of the drive motor 60 as described above, a small motor can be adopted as the drive motor 60. For this reason, it is possible to employ a motor having a performance suitable for continuous reading of about 30 originals assumed in a normal use mode, and cost can be reduced. Moreover, it is not necessary to provide an additional cooling device, and the burden on the global environment can be reduced. Furthermore, since the drive motor 60 can be downsized, the degree of freedom in exterior design can be increased.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment described above, and when the number of originals to be read is five or more, the last continuous reading set number n is made variable by the temperature T of the drive motor 60. Thus, the abnormal overheating of the drive motor 60 is carefully avoided. Hereinafter, a different part from 1st Embodiment mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the contents of the automatic document reading process according to the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 5 of the first embodiment described above. As shown in FIG. 7, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment determines in step S38 that the remaining paper amount detected by the remaining paper amount detection unit 62 is greater than the set number n for continuous reading (step S38). : NO), it is determined whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than the temperature T1 (step S100). As described above, in the present embodiment, for example, since the temperature T1 is set to 52 ° C., the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 52 ° C. When the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 52 ° C. (step S100: YES), the temperature of the drive motor 60 is a temperature at which there is no problem in operation, so the continuous reading set number n is set to “5”. After that (step S102), the document is read by the ADF shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 52 ° C. or higher (step S100: NO), it is determined whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than the temperature T2 (step S104). As described above, in the present embodiment, for example, since the temperature T2 is set to 56 ° C., the digital multifunction peripheral 10 determines whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 56 ° C. If the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 56 ° C. (step S104: YES), the digital multi-function peripheral 10 executes the wait process for 1 second (step S106), and then sets the continuous reading set number n to “3”. (Step S108), and the original is read by the ADF shown in FIG. That is, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is not less than 52 ° C. and less than 56 ° C., the drive motor 60 is stopped for 1 second, and then the document is sent out by the ADF 56. Do not set until 3 or fewer.

  On the other hand, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 56 ° C. or higher (step S104: NO), it is determined whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than the temperature T3 (step S110). As described above, in this embodiment, for example, since the temperature T3 is set to 60 ° C., the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 60 ° C. If the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 60 ° C. (step S110: YES), the digital multi-function peripheral 10 executes a 2-second wait process (step S112), and then sets the continuous reading set number n to “2”. (Step S114), and the original is read by the ADF shown in FIG. That is, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 56 ° C. or more and less than 60 ° C., the drive motor 60 is stopped for 2 seconds, and then the document is sent out by the ADF 56. Set to not perform until 2 or less.

  On the other hand, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 60 ° C. or higher (step S110: NO), the digital multi-function peripheral 10 executes the 6-second wait process (step S116), and then sets the continuous reading set number n. “1” is set (step S118), and the original is read by the ADF of FIG. 6 described above. That is, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 60 ° C. or more, in order to protect the drive motor 60, the drive motor 60 is stopped for 6 seconds, and then the document is sent out by the ADF 56 and the last continuous. The reading process is set so as not to be performed until the last one document.

  As described above, according to the digital multi-function peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment, when the remaining amount of paper is more than five sheets, the number of sheets for starting the last continuous reading process is determined according to the temperature T of the drive motor 60. I decided to change it. In other words, as the temperature T of the drive motor 60 becomes higher, the number of continuous reading set number n is decreased, so that the number of sheets determined to start the continuous reading process in step S38 is decreased. For this reason, abnormal overheating of the drive motor 60 can be avoided more carefully.

[Third Embodiment]
In the third embodiment, the above-described second embodiment is modified to change the number of the last continuous reading process according to the temperature T of the drive motor 60 regardless of the number of documents to be read continuously. The abnormal overheating of the drive motor 60 is carefully avoided. Hereinafter, a different part from 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment which were mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the contents of the automatic document reading process according to the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 5 of the first embodiment described above. As shown in FIG. 8, after acquiring the temperature T of the drive motor 60 in step S36, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 determines whether the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than the temperature T1 (step S200). As described above, in the present embodiment, for example, since the temperature T1 is set to 52 ° C., the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 52 ° C. When the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 52 ° C. (step S200: YES), the temperature of the drive motor 60 is a temperature that does not cause any problem in the operation. Do.

  On the other hand, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 52 ° C. or higher (step S200: NO), it is determined whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than the temperature T2 (step S202). As described above, in the present embodiment, for example, since the temperature T2 is set to 56 ° C., the digital multifunction peripheral 10 determines whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 56 ° C. When the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 56 ° C. (step S202: YES), the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether the remaining amount of paper is 5 sheets or less (step S204). If the remaining amount of paper is 5 or less (step S204: YES), the document is read by the ADF in FIG. 6 described above. That is, if the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 56 ° C., it is considered that there is no problem even if about 5 originals are read continuously, so the original is read by the continuous reading process.

  On the other hand, when the remaining amount of paper is more than five (step S204: NO), after waiting for 1 second (step S206), the original is read by the ADF of FIG. That is, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is not less than 52 ° C. and less than 56 ° C., the drive motor 60 is stopped for 1 second, and then the document is sent out by the ADF 56.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S202 that the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 56 ° C. or higher (step S202: NO), the digital multifunction peripheral 10 determines that the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is higher than the temperature T3. Whether it is low is determined (step S208). As described above, in this embodiment, for example, since the temperature T3 is set to 60 ° C., the digital multi-function peripheral 10 determines whether or not the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 60 ° C. If the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is lower than 60 ° C. (step S208: YES), the digital multifunction peripheral 10 determines whether or not the remaining amount of paper is three or less (step S210). When the remaining amount of paper is three or less (step S210: YES), the original is read by the ADF of FIG. 6 described above. That is, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 56 ° C. or higher and lower than 60 ° C., it is considered that there is no problem even if about three originals are read continuously. End up.

  On the other hand, when the remaining amount of paper is more than three (step S210: NO), after performing a 2-second wait process (step S212), the original is read by the ADF of FIG. That is, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is not less than 56 ° C. and less than 60 ° C., the drive motor 60 is stopped for 2 seconds, and then the document is sent out by the ADF 56.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S208 that the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 60 ° C. or higher (step S208: NO), the digital multifunction peripheral 10 determines whether the remaining amount of paper is 1 or less. (Step S214). When the remaining amount of paper is 1 or less (step S214: YES), the document is read by the ADF of FIG. That is, when the temperature T of the drive motor 60 is 60 ° C. or more, the drive motor 60 is protected by not performing the continuous reading process until the last one.

  On the other hand, when the remaining amount of paper is more than one (step S214: NO), the drive motor 60 is stopped for 6 seconds (step S216) to protect the drive motor 60, and then the ADF in FIG. Scan the original with. .

  As described above, according to the digital multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment, the number of sheets to be subjected to the last continuous reading process is changed according to the temperature T of the drive motor 60. That is, as the temperature T of the drive motor 60 increases, the number of sheets for starting the last continuous reading process decreases. For this reason, abnormal overheating of the drive motor 60 can be avoided more carefully.

  In the present embodiment, step S30 that existed in the first and second embodiments can be omitted. That is, the process of setting the continuous reading set number n to the initial value “5” is unnecessary.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the document read by the ADF 56 is paper has been described as an example. However, this document is not limited to paper, and may be formed of another medium such as an OHP sheet.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the CPU 20 of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 controls the automatic document reading process of the scanner unit 28 has been described. However, the control of the scanner unit 28 is not necessarily performed by the CPU 20 of the digital multi-function peripheral 10. It does not have to be done. For example, the control unit 50 provided in the scanner unit 28 may control the above-described automatic document reading process. Alternatively, a separate CPU may be provided in the scanner unit 28, and the separately provided CPU may control the above-described automatic document reading process.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the present invention is applied to the digital multifunction peripheral 10 has been described. However, the application target of the present invention is not limited to the digital multifunction peripheral. That is, the present invention can be applied to any document reading apparatus including an automatic document feeder that automatically sends a document to a document table.

  Furthermore, for the automatic document reading process described in each of the above-described embodiments, a program for executing the automatic document reading process is a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a ROM, a memory card, or the like. It is possible to record on a recording medium and distribute in the form of a recording medium. In this case, the above-described embodiment can be realized by causing the program recorded on the recording medium to be read and executed by a document reading device such as the digital multifunction peripheral 10.

  Further, the document reading apparatus such as the digital multifunction peripheral 10 may include other programs such as an operating system and another application program. In this case, in order to use another program provided in the digital multifunction peripheral 10, a program that realizes processing equivalent to that of the above-described embodiment is called out from programs provided in the document reading apparatus such as the digital multifunction peripheral 10. A program including various instructions may be recorded on a recording medium.

  Furthermore, such a program can be distributed not as a recording medium but as a carrier wave through a network. The program transmitted in the form of a carrier wave on the network is taken into a document reading apparatus such as the digital multi-function peripheral 10, and the above-described embodiment can be realized by executing this program.

  Also, when a program is recorded on a recording medium or transmitted as a carrier wave on a network, the program may be encrypted or compressed. In this case, an original reading apparatus such as the digital multi-function peripheral 10 that reads the program from the recording medium or the carrier wave needs to execute the program after decoding or decompressing the program.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the automatic document reading process is realized by software has been described as an example. However, each of these processes may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific IC). Furthermore, each of these processes may be realized by cooperation of software and hardware.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an example of an internal configuration of a scanner unit in the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a remaining paper amount detection unit in the scanner unit of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an example of an automatic document reading process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a second flowchart illustrating a flowchart for explaining an example of an automatic document reading process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a third flowchart illustrating a flowchart for explaining an example of an automatic document reading process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a part of an automatic document reading process according to the second embodiment (corresponding to FIG. 5 of the first embodiment). FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a part of an automatic document reading process according to the third embodiment (a diagram corresponding to FIG. 5 of the first embodiment).

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital MFP 20 CPU
22 RAM
24 ROM
26 Printer unit 28 Scanner unit 30 Hard disk drive 40 Internal bus

Claims (6)

A reading head for reading the document on the document table as image data;
An automatic document feeder that automatically drives one or more set documents to the document table by driving a drive motor;
A temperature detector for detecting the motor temperature of the drive motor;
A remaining amount detection unit that is set in the automatic document feeder and detects the remaining amount of the document that has not yet been sent to the document table;
When the motor temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, after a predetermined wait time has elapsed, the drive motor is driven to send the next document to the document table, and When the remaining amount of the document detected by the remaining amount detection unit is equal to or less than the set number of continuous reading, the drive motor is driven without waiting for the predetermined wait time regardless of the motor temperature, A control unit that executes a process of sending the next document to the document table;
An original reading apparatus comprising:   The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wait time is set to increase as the motor temperature increases.   3. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set number of continuous readings is set to decrease as the motor temperature increases. 4.   The document reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an initial value is set for the continuous reading set number of sheets.   4. The document reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an initial value of the continuous reading set number of sheets is determined based on the motor temperature. 5.   A digital multifunction machine comprising the document reading device according to claim 1.

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