JPH08234331A - Original image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce a feeling of uncomfortableness and prevent the leaving of an original on an original table with a simple structure at a low cost by providing a reading operation end confirming means, a cover opening and closing confirming means, and a means preventing original from being left. CONSTITUTION: When a power source is inputted by the power source switch of the equipment body, the reading of the original image of an original 1 by a reading means 10 is started, and whether the reading operation has ended or not is judged by a reading operation end confirming means 5. When the reading operation end is judged by the confirming means 5, the opening and closing of a cover 3 is judged by a cover opening and closing confirming means 4. When the cover 3 is not opened, the leaving of the original 1 is alarmed by an alarming means 7 in order to notify the user that the original 1 is left on the original table 2 by an original leaving preventing means 6. Thus, the leaving of the original 1 can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a scanner, a scanner, or a multi-function machine having these functions together, for preventing a document from being left behind on a document table. The present invention relates to a document image reading apparatus including the.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a pressure plate is closed with a document placed on a document table (contact glass) to read a document image, and the read image information is subjected to image processing. When making a copy of a duplicate image,
It is often the case that the manuscript is left behind on the platen after the copying work is completed. Especially when the number of originals is large and the operator of the copying machine is in a hurry, when the copying of the last original is finished, take only the copied transfer paper and leave the original on the original table. There were many If the document is left on the document table of the document image reading device, problems such as loss of the document and leakage of confidentiality occur. Therefore, conventionally, various means have been proposed for preventing the document from being left behind on the document table of the document image reading apparatus.

That is, there is known a technique of issuing a warning of forgetting to place a document when the document cover is not opened after a predetermined time has elapsed after copying is completed or when the power switch is turned off when there is a document on the document table. (JP-A-53-1323
(See publication No. 50). A technique is also known in which a warning is issued when the copy is removed with the original placed on the original table after the copying is completed (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-21139). There is also known a technique of issuing a warning when a document is placed on a document table and goes out of a certain range from a copying machine (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-26329). There is also known a technique of issuing a warning that a document is left behind when a timer counts and a predetermined time or more elapses from the time when there is a document on the document table after copying is completed and there are no copies on the discharge tray. (See JP-A-60-26330).

Further, when copying at a convenience store or the like, a charging process is performed to prevent the copied product from being taken away and leaving the document placed on the platen due to being distracted by the charging process and the charging process. There is known a technique in which the presence or absence of a document is checked by the detection output of the document detecting means when the process is finished, and a warning that the document is left behind is generated when there is (see JP-A-5-53385). However, in each of the conventional examples, the presence or absence of a document on the document table, or
Since a special detection means for detecting the document size and the like, a timer and the like are required, not only the structure is complicated and the cost is high, but also the warning that the document is left behind causes the user to feel uncomfortable. It was

[0005]

The means for preventing the document from being left behind on the document table in the above-described conventional document image reading apparatus is a special means for detecting the presence or absence of the document on the document table, the document size, or the like. Not only is the structure complicated and costly because it requires a detection means and a timer, but it also gives a warning even if the document image is being read, or a warning of leaving the document uncomfortable. There was a problem to say.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve such a problem. That is, it is an object of the present invention to provide a document image reading apparatus which has a simple structure, is inexpensive, reduces discomfort, and prevents a document from being left behind on the document table.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 is a document image reading apparatus for reading a document image of a document placed on a document table, the document image reading device being mounted on the document table. An openable / closable pressure plate for pressing the original, a pressure plate open / close recognizing means for detecting the opening / closing of the pressure plate, a reading operation end recognizing means for detecting the end of the original image reading operation of the original, and the pressure plate open / close recognizing means. And a document misplacement prevention unit that detects a document misplacement by detecting the closed state of the pressure plate after the operation of reading the document image of the document based on each recognition result from the reading operation completion recognition unit. And According to the invention of claim 2,
The document misplacement prevention means is characterized in that a warning means issues a warning of document misplacement. In the invention according to claim 3, the warning content by the warning means is
It is characterized in that the negative warning is changed to a positive warning according to the time elapsed after the reading operation end recognition means recognizes the completion of the reading operation of the document image. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the document misplacement prevention means notifies the misplacement by opening the pressure plate by the pressure plate opening means. Claim 5
In the invention described above, the document misplacement prevention unit is characterized in that the document misplacement unit discharges the document to prevent misplacement.

[0008]

The original image reading apparatus configured as described above is
In Claim 1, the reading operation end recognition means and the pressure plate opening / closing recognition means detect the end of the reading operation of the original image of the original, and then detect the closed state of the pressure plate to prevent the original misplacement prevention means. Therefore, it is possible to provide a document image reading apparatus having a simple structure, low cost, reducing discomfort, and preventing a document from being left behind on the document table.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the reading operation end recognizing means and the pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means recognize the end of the reading operation of the original document image of the original document, and then detect the closed state of the pressure plate, and the warning means warns that the original document is left behind. Since the document misplacement prevention means is provided to prevent document misplacement, a document image reading device that has a simple structure, is low in cost, reduces discomfort, issues a warning, and prevents document misplacement on the document table. Can be provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the reading operation end recognizing means and the pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means recognize the end of the reading operation of the original image of the original and detect the closed state of the pressure plate, and the elapsed time after the end of the reading operation. Due to the warning mechanism that changes from a passive warning to a proactive warning, the document forgetting warning is issued by the document forgetting prevention means, so it is possible to prevent the document from being left behind, so the structure is simple, the cost is low, and the discomfort is greatly reduced. Thus, it is possible to provide a document image reading apparatus that issues a warning and prevents the document from being left behind on the document table.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the reading operation end recognizing means and the pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means detect the closed state of the pressure plate after recognizing the completion of the reading operation of the original image of the original, and the pressure plate opening means opens the pressure plate. Since the document is prevented from being left behind by the misplacement prevention means, the structure is simple, the cost is low, and the pressure plate is opened to inform the user that the document was left behind on the platen without giving a warning discomfort. It is possible to provide a document image reading apparatus that prevents the document from being left behind.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the reading operation end recognizing means and the pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means recognize the end of the reading operation of the original image of the original, and then detect the closed state of the pressure plate, and the original discharging means mounts the original on the original table. Since the original is ejected from the original, it has a simple structure, is low in cost, ejects the original, and informs you that the original has been left on the original table, so that you can place the original on the original table without giving a warning discomfort. It is possible to provide a document image reading device that reliably prevents the document image reading device from being left behind.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory view of an example of an image forming apparatus equipped with a document image reading apparatus to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system. 1 to 3, a document table (contact glass) 2 on which a document 1 is placed and a document image is read is provided on an upper surface of a copying machine or the like which is an image forming apparatus. The document is placed according to the reference position of the document shown by the arrow. The document reading unit is arranged directly below the document table 2. The pressure plate 3 is rotated in the directions of the arrows A and A ′ around the fulcrum 3a by an urging means (not shown) to place the document 1 on the document table 2 in accordance with the document reference position. Press and fix at the reading position.

The pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means 4 is provided with a switch near the hinge of the opening / closing portion of the pressure plate 3, and is linked with the opening / closing operation of the pressure plate 3 in the direction of arrow A (closing direction) shown in the figure.
Opening and closing of the pressure plate 1 is recognized by turning on when the switch is turned on and turning off when turned in the direction A '(opening direction) opposite to the direction of the arrow A shown in the drawing. The original image of the original 1 is read by the first scanner 10a as the reading means 10 provided below the original table 2 and the second scanner 10b that moves at a speed half that of the first scanner 10a. The scanning surface is scanned by moving the reading surface of the document 1 in the direction of the arrow B shown in the figure by a driving source (not shown), and the reflection image of the document 1 by the illumination means 10c provided in the first scanner 10a is the first mirror 10d Image information is read by the light receiving element 10h through the second mirror 10e, the third mirror 10f, and the lens 10g, and the read image information is image-processed by an image forming unit (not shown) to form a copy image. After the reading of the original image of the original 1 by the reading means 10 is completed, the pressure plate 3 is opened by the rotation in the direction opposite to the arrow A direction shown in the figure, and the original 1 is taken out from the original table 2.

According to the present invention, by utilizing this operation procedure, after the reading of the original image of the original 1 is completed, the pressure plate 3 is not opened even once by the rotation in the direction of the arrow A'shown in the figure.
Even if the copying operation is continued, it is considered that the original 1 is left behind on the original table 2 and the original 1
It is designed to prevent misplacement.

The warning for preventing the document 1 from being left behind ends even when the pressure plate 3 is opened once by rotating in the direction of the arrow A'illustrated in the drawing. The reading operation end recognizing means 5 is the first scanning device 10a as the reading means 10.
And the second scanning device 10b causes the reading surface of the document 1 to be indicated by an arrow B in FIG.
The switch is a switch that operates when the scanning operation direction is reached and reaches the reading operation end position. When the switch is turned on, the end of the reading operation is recognized.

The document misplacement prevention means 6 detects when the pressure plate opening / closing recognition means 4 and the reading operation end recognition means 5 detect that the pressure plate 1 is continuously closed after the reading operation of the document image of the document 1 is completed, or by a timer. 11 (for example, a CR time constant circuit as shown in the figure), after a predetermined time has elapsed, the warning means 7 displays a warning display by blinking the document forgetting lamp, a sound warning such as a buzzer, or a stepwise warning. It is supposed to be emitted.

The warning by the warning means 7 is given via the timer 11, for example, a CR time constant circuit, in accordance with the elapsed time after the reading operation of the original image of the original 1 by the reading operation end recognizing means 5 is completed. For example, from a passive warning by the passive warning means 7a to a positive warning by the active warning means 7b, such as strengthening the flashing, raising the volume, or shifting from a flashing warning display to a sound alert such as a beam sound. It turns into a warning. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a document image reading apparatus which has a simple structure, is low in cost, significantly reduces discomfort, and prevents a document from being left behind on the document table.

The document misplacement prevention means 6 uses the reading operation end recognition means 5 and the pressure plate opening / closing recognition means 4 to detect the state in which the pressure plate 3 continues to be closed after the operation of reading the original image of the original 1 is detected, or After the lapse of a predetermined time through a timer 11, for example, a CR time constant circuit as shown in the figure, the solenoid serving as the pressure plate opening means 8 is turned on so that the end of the pressure plate 3 on the fulcrum 3a side is indicated by an arrow C in the figure. The open end of the pressure plate 3 is opened by pulling and rotating in the direction to prevent the document 1 from being left behind on the document table 2. Therefore, with a simple structure, the cost is low, the pressure plate 3 is automatically opened to inform that the document 1 is left behind on the document table 2, and a warning is given to the document table 2 without giving discomfort. You can prevent 1 from being left behind.

The document misplacement prevention means 6 detects the closing state of the pressure plate 3 after the reading operation of the original image of the original 1 is detected by the reading operation end recognizing means 5 and the pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means 4, or the timer described above. 11, for example, by rotating the conveyance belt of the document discharge means 9 via the CR time constant circuit as shown in the figure, the document 1 is shown by the arrow D.
It is designed to eject in the direction. Therefore, with a simple structure, at low cost, the original document 1 is ejected onto the ejection tray to inform that the original document 1 has been left behind on the original table 2, and to warn the original document without causing any discomfort. Manuscript 1 on table 2
You can prevent misplacement.

Next, the processing procedure of the document misplacement prevention means 6 according to each of the above-described embodiments will be described in detail with reference to each flowchart. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the document misplacement prevention means according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, when the power is turned on by a power switch (not shown) of the apparatus main body (step 100), the document 1 is read by the reading means 10. The reading process of the original image is started (step 101),
It is judged whether or not the reading processing operation by the reading operation end recognizing means 5 (not shown) is completed (step 102). If the reading processing operation by the reading operation end recognizing means 5 is completed, the pressure plate open / close recognizing means 4 determines whether the pressure plate 3 is open or closed (step 103). If it is not opened, the original 1 is left behind on the original table 2. In order to inform that the document 1 has been given, the warning means 7 issues a warning of leaving the document 1 behind (step 104).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document misplacement prevention means of the second embodiment of the present invention. First, when the power is turned on by a power switch (not shown) (step 200), the document 1 is read by the reading means 10. The reading process of the original image is started (step 201), and it is judged whether the reading process operation by the reading operation end recognizing means 5 is completed (step 202).

If the reading processing operation by the reading operation end recognizing means 5 is completed, the pressing plate opening / closing recognizing means 4 causes the pressing plate 3 to move.
It is determined whether or not to open (step 203), and if it is closed, the timer 11 starts counting (step 2).
04) Then, if the pressure plate 3 is not opened for a predetermined time from the end of the reading processing operation by the reading operation end recognizing means 5, until the arbitrary time (X) elapses, the negative warning means 7a deactivates. Warning (step 205) is issued.

After an arbitrary time (X) has elapsed (step 20)
In 6), the pressure plate open / close recognizing means 4 judges whether the pressure plate 3 is open or closed (step 207), and if it is not opened,
The fact that the manuscript 1 has been left behind on the manuscript table 2 is switched from a negative warning by the negative warning means 7a (step 205) (not shown) to a positive warning by the positive warning means 7b (step 208). Since the warning is given, discomfort is greatly reduced. The negative warning by the negative warning means 7a is such that a negative warning such as light emission, weak light emission, or small beam sound is given so as not to give discomfort. On the other hand, in the active warning by the active warning means 7b, the amount of light emission is gradually increased, the flashing light emission is strengthened to make sure that the user forgets to get up, and the active warning such as a loud beam sound is gradually output. Is also being conducted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document misplacement prevention means of the third embodiment of the present invention. First, when the power of the device is turned on by turning on the power switch (not shown) (step 300), the reading means 10 The reading process of the original image of the original 1 is started (step 301),
It is judged whether or not the reading processing operation by the reading operation end recognizing means 5 is completed (step 302). If the reading operation end recognizing means 5 recognizes the end of the reading processing operation, the pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means 4 determines whether the pressure plate 3 is opened or closed (step 303). Open 3 (step 304),
The user is informed that the document 1 has been left behind on the platen 2 and the document 1 is prevented from being left behind.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the document misplacement prevention means of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. First, when the power is turned on by a power switch (not shown) (step 400), the document 1 is read by the reading means 10. The reading process of the original image is started (step 401), and it is judged whether the reading process operation by the reading operation end recognizing means 5 is completed (step 402).

When the recognition of the reading processing operation by the reading operation end recognition means 5 is completed, the opening / closing of the pressure plate 3 is judged by the pressure plate opening / closing recognition means 4 (step 403). The means 9 discharges the document 1 from the document table 2 (step 404), informs that the document 1 is left on the document table 2, and prevents the document 1 from being left behind.

[0028]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the reading operation end recognizing means and the pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means detect the state in which the pressure plate is closed after the reading operation of the original image of the original is completed and the document is left behind. Since the document is prevented from being left behind by the preventive means, it is possible to prevent the document from being left behind on the platen with a simple structure, at low cost, with less discomfort.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the reading operation end recognizing means and the pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means detect the state in which the pressure plate is closed after the reading operation of the original image of the original is completed, and the warning means warns that the original is left behind. I tried to prevent the document misplacement by issuing the document misplacement prevention means.
With a simple structure, the cost is low, discomfort is reduced, a warning is issued, and it is possible to prevent the document from being left behind on the document table.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the reading operation end recognizing means and the pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means detect the state in which the pressure plate is closed after the reading operation of the original image of the original, and the elapsed time after the reading operation is completed. Due to the warning mechanism that changes from a passive warning to a proactive warning, the document forgetting warning is issued by the document forgetting prevention means, so it is possible to prevent the document from being left behind, so the structure is simple, the cost is low, and the discomfort is greatly reduced. It is now possible to prevent the user from leaving a document on the platen by issuing a warning.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the reading operation completion recognizing means and the pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means detect the closed state of the pressure plate after the completion of the reading operation of the document image of the document, and the pressure plate opening means opens the pressure plate. Since the document misplacement prevention means is designed to prevent document misplacement, the structure is simple, the cost is low, and the platen is opened without releasing the pressure plate and notifying the user that the document has been misplaced on the platen without giving a warning discomfort. It is now possible to prevent the document from being left behind.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the reading operation completion recognizing means and the pressure plate opening / closing recognizing means detect the closed state of the pressure plate after the completion of the reading operation of the original image of the original, and the original is ejected by the original ejecting means. Since the document left-behind document prevention mechanism prevents the left-behind document from being left behind, it has a simple structure, is low in cost, and discharges the document and informs the user that the document has been left behind on the platen and gives a warning discomfort. It is now possible to provide a document image reading device that reliably prevents a document from being left behind on the document table.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a document image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of a document image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a document image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a main part of the document image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a main part of a document image reading apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a main part of a document image reading apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a main part of a document image reading apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... manuscript, 2 ... manuscript table, 3 ... pressure plate, 3a ...
..Support points, 4 ... Platen opening / closing recognition means, 5 ... Reading operation end recognition means, 6 ... Original document misplacement prevention means, 7 ...
..Warning means, 7a ... Passive warning means, 7b ...
Positive warning means, 8 ... pressure plate opening means, 9 ... original sheet discharging means, 10 ... reading means, 10a ... first scanner, 10b ... second scanner, 10c ...・ Lighting means,
10d ... 1st mirror, 10e ... 2nd mirror, 1
0f: third mirror, 10g: lens, 10h
..Light receiving elements, 11 ... Timers

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A manuscript image reading apparatus for reading a manuscript image of a manuscript placed on a manuscript table, wherein an openable and closable pressure plate for pressing the manuscript placed on the manuscript table and a pressure plate for detecting opening and closing of the manuscript plate. The opening / closing recognition means, the reading operation end recognition means for detecting the end of the original image reading operation of the original, and the original image of the original based on the recognition results from the pressure plate opening / closing recognition means and the reading operation end recognition means. A document image reading apparatus, comprising: a document misplacement prevention unit that detects a state in which the pressure plate is closed after the reading operation is completed to prevent the document misplacement. 2. The document image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document misplacement prevention unit is configured to issue a warning of document misplacement by a warning unit. 3. The warning content by the warning means is changed from a passive warning to a positive warning according to the time elapsed after the reading operation end recognition means recognizes the end of the reading operation of the document image. The document image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The document image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document misplacement prevention means notifies misplacement by opening the pressure plate by the pressure plate opening means. 5. The document image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document misplacement prevention unit prevents misplacement by ejecting the document by document discharge unit.