JP6525208B2 - Image reader - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus.

  Some image reading apparatuses have an automatic cropping function (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The auto cropping function is a function of detecting an original portion in a scanned image and hollowing out the detected original portion to form one image.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-20122

  However, due to the dirt and deformation of the document table (contact glass) and document cover (document holder), the automatic cropping function is executed on the default area without being able to accurately detect the document part in the automatic cropping function. In some cases, the auto cropping function may not be performed as intended by the user because the auto cropping function is canceled.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an image reading apparatus that supports a user to smoothly execute an auto crop function.

The image reading apparatus according to the present invention scans an original document placed on a contact glass and pressed by an original cover of the document cover to generate a scanned image, and searches for an original image in the scanned image. A document detection unit for detecting, an image processing unit for cropping the document image detected by the document detection unit, a display device for displaying a warning screen for the user, and a control unit for displaying the warning screen on the display device Equipped with The control unit causes the display device to display a first warning screen for prompting the user to rearrange the document on the contact glass when the document detection unit fails to detect the document image, and the controller After rearrangement, the image reading unit is caused to execute rescanning, and the document detection unit is made to search for and detect a document image in the scanned image by the rescanning. The first warning screen includes a position designation message for specifying the placement position of the document in the rearrangement of the document, and the placement position is any one of the four corners of the contact glass or the four sides of the contact glass. The original is in contact with one of the two. Then, the control unit is configured to urge the user to clean the contact glass when the document detection unit fails to detect the document image in the scanned image by the rescan after the display of the first warning screen. A warning screen is displayed on the display device, and after cleaning of the contact glass, the image reading unit performs rescanning and the document detecting unit searches and detects a document image in the scanned image by the rescanning. .

  According to the present invention, the user is assisted so that the auto crop function can be smoothly performed.

  The above or other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an internal configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the first warning screen. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the second warning screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the third warning screen. FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a screen for inputting a document size. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment (1/2). FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment (2/2).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Embodiment 1

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing an internal configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus such as a scanner, a copying machine, and a digital multi-function machine.

  In FIG. 1, a contact glass 1 is a transparent document table which is disposed on the upper surface of the image reading apparatus main body and on which a document is placed at the time of image reading.

  In addition, the carriage 2 is installed so as to be movable in the sub scanning direction by a drive source (not shown). The carriage 2 has a light source 11 and a mirror 12. The light source 11 is disposed along the main scanning direction, and emits light using, for example, a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged. The light emitted from the light source 11 is reflected by the document placed on the contact glass 1 according to the position of the carriage 2. The mirror 12 reflects light reflected from the document. Further, the carriage 3 is installed movably in the sub scanning direction together with the carriage 2 by a drive source (not shown). The carriage 3 has mirrors 13 and 14. The mirrors 13 and 14 reflect light from the mirror 12 of the carriage 2 twice and emit it along the sub-scanning direction.

  The imaging lens 4 focuses the light from the mirror 14 on the image sensor 5. The image sensor 5 is a one-dimensional image sensor having light receiving elements of a predetermined number of pixels arranged in the main scanning direction, and outputs, for each line, an electric signal corresponding to the amount of light received for the number of pixels. As the image sensor 5, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used.

  Image reading unit 15 that reads an image of an original document placed on contact glass 1 and an original document of original document cover 7 by carriages 2 and 3, imaging lens 4, image sensor 5, light source 11, mirror 12 and mirrors 13 and 14. Is configured. The image reading unit 15 scans the document placed on the contact glass 1 and pressed by the document pressing of the document cover 7 to generate a scanned image. At this time, an image of a predetermined rectangular area on the contact glass 1 is read as a scan image.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the document cover 7 is an openable and closable, substantially flat plate-like member which is pivotably installed around a pivot end near the back side. The document cover 7 includes a white document holder 21 for pressing a document placed on the contact glass 1. The document cover 7 brings the document into close contact with the contact glass 1 and prevents ambient light from entering the inside of the apparatus from the contact glass 1 at the time of image reading.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG.

  The image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1 further includes a user interface 31, a printing unit 32, a controller 33, a storage device 34, and a communication device 35.

  The user interface 31 includes a display device 31a such as a liquid crystal display for displaying various information to the user, and an input device 31b such as a key for detecting a user operation and a touch panel. The display device 31a displays a warning screen or the like to the user.

  The printing unit 32 is an internal device that prints an image based on image data on a recording sheet or the like by an electrophotographic method or the like.

  The controller 33 controls internal devices such as the image reading unit 15, the user interface 31, and the printing unit 32, and executes data processing such as image processing. The controller 33 is realized by, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a computer that operates according to a control program, or the like.

  The storage device 34 is a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk or non-volatile memory, and stores various data and control programs. For example, the storage device 34 stores the control program described above and the device state information of the image reading apparatus.

  The communication device 35 is a device that performs data communication such as a network interface.

  The controller 33 operates as an image reading processing unit 41, a document detection unit 42, an image processing unit 43, a printing processing unit 44, and a control unit 45.

  The image reading processing unit 41 controls the image reading unit 15 to acquire a scan image from the image reading unit 15.

  When the automatic cropping function is on, the document detection unit 42 searches and detects a document image in the acquired scan image. For example, the document detection unit 42 detects an edge in the acquired scan image, and detects an image of a rectangular area surrounded by the edge as a document image.

  The image processing unit 43 executes various image processing. In particular, the image processing unit 43 crops the document image detected by the document detection unit 42 when the automatic cropping function is on.

  The print processing unit 44 controls the printing unit 32 to cause the printing unit 32 to print an image.

  The control unit 45 controls the image reading processing unit 41, the document detection unit 42, the image processing unit 43, and the print processing unit 44 to execute a series of processes.

  The control unit 45 causes the display device 31a to display various warning screens.

  Specifically, when the document detection unit 42 fails to detect a document image before the display of a first warning screen described later, the control unit 45 urges the user to rearrange the document on the contact glass 1. A warning screen is displayed on the display device 31a, and after repositioning of the document by the user, the image reading unit 15 is rescanned, and the document detecting unit 42 searches and detects a document image in the scanned image by the rescan .

  The first warning screen includes a position designation message for specifying the placement position of the original when rearranging the original, and the placement position is at any one of the four corners of the contact glass 1 or any of the four sides of the contact glass The position where the manuscript touches is considered.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the first warning screen.

  The first warning screen shown in FIG. 4 includes a document rearrangement message 61, an OK key 62, and a cancel key 63. The document rearrangement message 61 is a message prompting the user to rearrange the document, and includes a position specification message. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the arrangement position is the “left back” (that is, one of the four corners) of the contact glass 1. The OK key 62 is a soft key pressed by the user after rearranging the document. The cancel key 63 is a soft key for canceling image reading.

  Furthermore, the control unit 45 displays a second warning screen prompting the user to clean the contact glass 1 when the document detection unit 42 fails to detect a document image in the scanned image by rescanning after the display of the first warning screen. The image is displayed on the device 31a, and after cleaning of the contact glass 1, the image reading unit 15 is rescanned, and the document detection unit 42 searches and detects a document image in a scan image by the rescan.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the second warning screen.

  The second warning screen shown in FIG. 5 includes a glass cleaning message 71, an OK key 72, and a cancel key 73. The glass cleaning message 71 is a message prompting the user to clean the contact glass 1. The OK key 72 is a soft key pressed by the user after cleaning the contact glass 1. The cancel key 73 is a soft key for canceling image reading.

  Furthermore, when the document detection unit 42 fails to detect the document image in the scanned image by rescanning after the second warning screen is displayed, the control unit 45 replaces the document presser 21 (here, the document including the document presser 21) The display device 31a displays a third warning screen prompting the user to replace the cover 7).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the third warning screen.

  The third warning screen shown in FIG. 6 includes a cover replacement message 81, an OK key 82, and a cancel key 83. The cover replacement message 81 is a message prompting the user to replace the document holder 21 (here, replacing the document cover 7 including the document holder 21). The OK key 82 is a soft key pressed by the user to continue the automatic cropping of the document image. The cancel key 73 is a soft key for canceling image reading.

  Usually, the user can not contact the support service or the administrator or order replacement parts because replacement of the document holder 21 (here, replacement of the document cover 7 including the document holder 21) can not be performed immediately. Do.

  When the above-described OK key 82 is pressed, the control unit 45 causes the display device 31 a to display a screen for inputting the document size.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a screen for inputting a document size.

  The screen shown in FIG. 7 includes a message 91, an OK key 92, a cancel key 93, and an original size pull-down menu 94. The message 91 is a message prompting the user to input the document size of the document being placed. The OK key 92 is a soft key pressed by the user after the document size is input. The cancel key 93 is a soft key for canceling image reading. The pull-down menu 94 is a menu capable of inputting a document size by selecting one of the items such as A4, A5, and the like.

  When continuing the automatic cropping, the user inputs the document size in the pull-down menu 94 and then presses the OK key 92. Then, after the display of the third warning screen, the image processing unit 43 crops the document image in the scan image specified based on the document size designated by the user and the arrangement position on the first warning screen described above. That is, the area to be cropped is specified from the document size and the arrangement position.

  Next, the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. 8 and 9 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  When the control unit 45 receives an image reading instruction for which ON of the automatic crop is specified via the communication device 35 or from the user interface 31 (step S1), the control unit 45 causes the respective units to execute the following processing.

  First, the image reading processing unit 41 causes the image reading unit 15 to execute an image scan, and acquires a scanned image from the image reading unit 15 (step S2).

  Next, the document detection unit 42 searches for a document image in the scanned image, and tries to detect the document image (step S3).

  Control unit 45 determines whether or not document detection unit 42 has succeeded in detecting the document image (step S4).

  If it is determined that the document detection unit 42 has not succeeded in detecting the document image (that is, it has failed), the control unit 45 generates a panel warning mode as one setting item based on display setting data not shown. Is checked (step S5).

  When the panel warning mode is on, the control unit 45 causes the display device 31a to display the above-described first warning screen (that is, the document rearrangement message 61) (step S6).

  Then, after rearranging the document (for example, when the above-mentioned OK key 62 is pressed), the control unit 45 executes rescanning. The image reading processing unit 41 causes the image reading unit 15 to perform rescanning and acquires a scanned image from the image reading unit 15 (step S7).

  Next, the document detection unit 42 searches for a document image in the rescanned scan image, and tries to detect the document image (step S8).

  The control unit 45 determines whether or not the document detection unit 42 has succeeded in detecting the document image in the rescan scan image (step S9).

  If it is determined that the document detection unit 42 has not succeeded in detecting the document image (that is, it has failed), the control unit 45 causes the second warning screen (that is, the glass cleaning message 71) to be displayed on the display device 31a. It is displayed (step S10).

  Then, after cleaning of the contact glass 1 (for example, when the above-mentioned OK key 72 is pressed), the control unit 45 executes re-scan. The image reading processing unit 41 causes the image reading unit 15 to perform rescanning and acquires a scanned image from the image reading unit 15 (step S11).

  Next, the document detection unit 42 searches for a document image in the rescanned scanned image, and tries to detect the document image (step S12).

  The control unit 45 determines whether or not the document detection unit 42 has successfully detected the document image in the rescanned scan image (step S13).

  If it is determined that the document detection unit 42 has not succeeded in detecting the document image (that is, it has failed), the control unit 45 causes the display device 31 a to display the third warning screen (that is, the cover replacement message 81) described above. It is displayed (step S14). That is, since the defect is not resolved by the rearrangement of the document and the cleaning of the contact glass 1, the contamination or the deformation of the document holder 21 is regarded as the cause of the defect, and the replacement thereof is urged.

  Thereafter, the control unit 45 causes the display device 31a to display a screen (FIG. 7) for inputting the above-described document size. When continuing the automatic cropping, the control unit 45 receives the document size designated by the user on the screen, and the image processing unit 43 arranges the document size designated by the user on the screen and the first warning screen described above. The original image in the scan image specified based on the position is cropped (step S15).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in steps S4, S9, and S13 that the document detection unit 42 has succeeded in detecting the document image, the control unit 45 causes the image processing unit 43 to execute the automatic cropping. At this time, the image processing unit 43 crops the document image detected by the document detection unit 42 into one image (step S16).

  When it is determined in step S5 that the panel warning mode is off, the control unit 45 performs cropping on the image processing unit 43 at the size and position (or default size and position) designated by the user. (Step S17).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the document detection unit 42 fails to detect the document image in the scan image, the control unit 45 instructs the user to rearrange the document on the contact glass 1. The first warning screen to prompt is displayed on the display device 31a, and after repositioning of the document, the image reading unit 15 executes rescanning, and the document detecting unit 42 searches and detects the document image in the scanned image by rescanning. . The first warning screen includes a position designation message for specifying the placement position of the original when rearranging the original, and the placement position is either one of the four corners of the contact glass 1 or any of the four sides of the contact glass The position where the manuscript contacts the crab.

  As a result, even if the detection of the document image fails, the possibility of success in detecting the document image by rescanning increases. That is, since at least one side of the document image is specified by the rearrangement to the arrangement position described above, the possibility of successfully detecting the document image is increased. Therefore, the user is assisted to execute the auto crop function smoothly.

Second Embodiment

  The image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment automatically determines whether there is an abnormality in the document holder 21 before displaying the third warning screen, and determines that the document holder 21 has an abnormality. The third warning screen is displayed, and the third warning screen is not displayed when it is not determined that the document holder 21 has an abnormality.

  Specifically, when the document detection unit 42 fails to detect the document image in the scanned image by rescanning after the display of the second warning screen, the control unit 45 specifies the color of the document press 21 and the specified color It is determined whether to display a third warning screen prompting the user to replace the document holder 21 on the display device 31a based on the above.

  The color of the document holder 21 is a color obtained in a scanned image when an image is scanned with no document placed, or a predetermined margin in a scanned image when an image is scanned with a document placed Identified as the color obtained in the part. Note that, for example, when the image reading apparatus scans an image while the document is not placed, the image scanning is automatically performed when the image reading apparatus is started, and the obtained scanned image is stored in the storage device 34. It is obtained by

  More specifically, if the difference between the background color of the document serving as the reference (that is, the color of the sheet surface) and the color of the specified document holder 21 (distance in color space or luminance difference) is less than a predetermined value The control unit 45 causes the display device 31a to display the third warning screen, and otherwise causes the display device 31a not to display the third warning screen.

  In addition, when not displaying a 3rd warning screen, above-mentioned step S14 is skipped and step S15 is performed.

  The other configuration and operation of the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, a message prompting replacement of the document holder 21 is displayed at an appropriate frequency.

  Note that various changes and modifications to the above-described embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing the intended advantages. That is, such changes and modifications are intended to be included in the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the above embodiment, after the display of the third warning screen, the control unit 45 causes the display device 31a to display a fourth warning screen prompting the user to rescan when the document cover 7 is open. After the cover 7 is opened (for example, when the OK key in the fourth warning screen is pressed), the image reading unit 15 is made to execute rescanning, and the document detecting unit 42 displays the document image in the scanned image by rescanning The image processing unit 43 may crop the detected document image by causing the image processing unit 43 to search for and detect. In this case, since the portion other than the document image in the scanned image has high density (black), the document image is easily detected.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the above-described arrangement position may be changed each time the document image is successfully detected after the above-described rearrangement.

  The present invention is applicable to, for example, an image reading apparatus.

1 contact glass 7 document cover 15 image reading unit 31a display device 42 document detection unit 43 image processing unit 45 control unit

Claims (5)

An image reading unit that scans a document placed on a contact glass and pressed by a document holder of the document cover to generate a scanned image;
An original detection unit that searches for and detects an original image in the scan image;
An image processing unit for cropping the document image detected by the document detection unit;
A display device that displays a warning screen to the user;
And a controller configured to display the warning screen on the display device.
The control unit causes the display device to display a first warning screen for prompting the user to rearrange the document on the contact glass when the document detection unit fails to detect the document image, and the controller After the rearrangement, the image reading unit is caused to execute rescanning, and the document detection unit is made to search for and detect a document image in the scanned image by the rescanning.
The first warning screen includes a position specification message for specifying an arrangement position of the document in the rearrangement of the document,
The arrangement position is a position where the document is in contact with one of the four corners of the contact glass or any of the four sides of the contact glass .
A second warning screen for prompting the user to clean the contact glass when the document detection unit fails to detect the document image in the scanned image by the rescan after the display of the first warning screen; Are displayed on the display device, and after cleaning of the contact glass, the image reading unit is caused to execute rescanning, and the document detection unit is made to search for and detect a document image in the scanned image by the rescanning.
An image reading apparatus characterized by A third warning screen for prompting the user to replace the document pressing when the document detection unit fails to detect the document image in the scanned image by the rescanning after the display of the second warning screen; The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image reading apparatus displays the image on the display device. When the document detection unit fails to detect the document image in the scanned image by the rescanning after the display of the second warning screen, the control unit scans the document or the document is scanned when the document detection unit fails to detect the document image. The third warning screen is configured to specify the color of the original holder based on the scanned image when the original holder is scanned when not placed, and prompt the user to replace the original holder based on the specified color. the image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether to be displayed on the display device. The image processing unit is characterized by cropping the document image in the scanned image specified based on the document size designated by the user and the arrangement position after the display of the third warning screen. An image reading apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 . After the display of the third warning screen, the control unit causes the display device to display a fourth warning screen for prompting the user to rescan when the document cover is in an open state, and the document cover is opened. to perform a rescan the image reading unit, the the document detecting unit, the image of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein to search the original image in the scanned image by rescanning, characterized in that to detect the reader.

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