JPH09294184A - Image processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize an original size or an original position efficiently with shortest original detection moving scanning by recognizing a size of a placed original or a position of the original based on the detection result of an edge of the original to be sensed and a moving amount of a read section. SOLUTION: Let an original 14 has a size of a1×b1, and a carriage 1 reads an area of L×W. Furthermore, P1-P5 indicate a position of a CCD 13 being a read section. When reading of an original is commanded, the carriage 1 provided with the CCD 13 moves from the position P1 to the position P2 to detect the length b1 of the original. Then the carriage 1 is returned to the position 3 (at optional position of the length b1) and when a carriage 2 moves to the position P4, the carriage 1 is moved, the length a1 of the original is recognized by converting a moving distance from a rotating amount of a pulse motor to drive the carriages 1, 2. When the size a1, b1 of the original is recognized, the carriage 1 is moved simultaneously in main and subscanning directions and restores to the position P5 identical to the position P1 so as to recognize the position of the original.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention reads a manuscript image placed on a manuscript table by sequentially moving a reading unit in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and records on the basis of the read image information. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that prints an image on a medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed an image processing apparatus of a copying machine having a function of automatically detecting a document size and automatically selecting a recording sheet corresponding to the detected document size. The original size is detected by a plurality of sensors provided in the image reading unit, and in a digital copying machine that reads an image by an optical element such as a CCD, the image is read once to determine the original size. The detection method is used.

[0003]

However, according to the first original size detecting method, a plurality of original detecting sensors are required, which increases the cost of the apparatus.

Further, according to the second original size detecting method, the digital copying apparatus has a full-line image reading structure, and it is possible to read the entire image by one scanning. The detection operation time was also very short. Further, it is not necessary to provide a sensor for detecting the original.

However, in an image reading apparatus which performs serial scanning, image reading is performed by a plurality of main scanning reciprocating operations and one sub-scan reciprocating operation.
There has been a problem that a lot of time is required to detect a document in this image reading operation.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to eleventh inventions of the present invention is to provide a reading unit for reading a document placed on a document table. Are detected individually in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, or simultaneously controlled in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction to detect the document edge, and the detection result of the detected document edge and the reading unit By recognizing the size or position of the placed document based on the amount of movement, it is possible to efficiently recognize the size or position of the document with the shortest document detection moving scan while using the document reading unit as the document detection means. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently outputting an image to a recording medium while reading a document image according to the recognized document size or document position.

[0007]

A first aspect of the present invention is a drive means for serially moving a reading section for reading an original placed on an original table in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, respectively. A control means for controlling the drive of the driving means so as to reciprocate the reading part in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction by one, respectively, and a document end from a document image state read while the reading part reciprocates once. And a recognition means for recognizing the document size or the document position on the document table by converting the moving distance moved by the reading unit until the detection unit detects the document edge of the document. I have.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the reading section is provided with a charge image forming device having a predetermined pixel width and photoelectrically converted to read an original image.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the driving means is composed of a pulse motor, and the recognition means converts the moving distance from the rotation angle of the pulse motor to place the original on the original table. The size or the document position is recognized.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the detecting means detects the document edges of the document set on the two document reference edges on the document table.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the detection means detects one side of the document and the edge of the document set on the basis of the center line of the one side.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the detecting means detects the document edges of the document not set at the two document reference edges on the document table.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the detecting means detects one end of each original of the original placed on the original table parallel to the main scanning and sub-scanning directions of the reading section. To do.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the detection means detects an original end area of a standard size original placed on the original table.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, the driving means individually serially moves the reading section for reading the original placed on the original table in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. It is a thing.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the drive means serially moves a reading unit for reading a document placed on a document table, simultaneously in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a printing means for printing an image on a recording medium by moving the printing portion in the main scanning direction based on serial document image information read by the reading portion, and the printing portion. And a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main-scanning direction in which the recording medium moves.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an image processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. For example, digital color copying having a printer unit having an inkjet head and a reader unit for reading a document image. It corresponds to the case of the machine.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main scanning carriage (hereinafter referred to as a carriage), which is equipped with optical elements such as CCD and BASIS and reads an original image placed on an original table. 2 is a sub-scanning carriage (hereinafter referred to as a carriage)
Then, the carriage 1 is loaded. A cassette 3 stores the recording paper 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a print carriage on which an inkjet recording head 6 is loaded and is movable in the direction of arrow BC.

With the above construction, the recording paper 4 is fed from the cassette 3, and the print carriage 5 moves in the direction of the arrow B in the printing portion 7, so that the print head 6 prints the print head width.

The carriage 1 moves in the direction of arrow D to read a document (not shown) on the document glass 8. The read data at this time is sent to the recording head 6, and the recording head 6 is driven to copy the original on the recording paper 4. Next, the carriage 1 returns in the direction of arrow E, and the carriage 2
However, the recording paper 4 is moved in the direction of arrow F by the amount of the image reading width, and the recording paper 4 is conveyed by the conveying roller 10 in the direction of arrow A by the amount of the recording width. By repeating this operation, the image of the original is copied on the recording paper 4. A method of detecting a document in the copying machine performing the above operation will be described.

2 and 3 show the carriage 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part for explaining the configuration of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the original pressing plate 9 has a mirror-finished surface on the original glass 8 side so that light is not diffusely reflected. Therefore, when there is no original on the original glass 8, the lamp 1 is used.
1 light is reflected in the direction of arrow G, so lens 12, CCD
The light of the lamp 11 does not enter 13 and the CCD 13 detects a black pixel.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the original 14 is placed on the original glass 8, the lamp 11 is caused by irregular reflection of light.
Can be received by the lens 12 and the CCD 13.
Generally, the paper used as the original 14 has a lot of white color, and therefore the original area can be detected by detecting the black portion by the original pressure plate 9 and the white portion by the original 14 at the time of reading the original.

FIG. 4 shows C in the carriage 1 shown in FIG.
It is a figure explaining the structure of CD.

As shown in FIG. 4, one of the carriages 1
3A is an image reading area of the CCD 13, t is a size of one side of a read pixel, and S is a size in which a plurality of pixels are arranged.

FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining the document detection processing of the image processing apparatus showing the first embodiment of the present invention.
The same components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 14 denotes a manuscript, and the manuscript 1
4 has a size of a1 × b1. The carriage 1 can read an area of L × W. Also, P1
˜P5 indicate the position of the CCD 13 as the reading unit.

When the document reading is instructed, the carriage 1 equipped with the CCD 13 moves from the position P1 to the position P2 and detects the length b1 of the document. Next, by returning to the position of position 3 (arbitrary position of the length of b1) and moving the carriage 2 (not shown in the figure) to the position of position P4, the carriage 1 moves, and the length of the document increases. As will be described later, the height a1 is recognized by converting the movement distance from the rotation amount of the pulse motor that drives the carriages 1 and 2. After recognizing the document sizes a1 and b1 as described above, the carriage 1 is simultaneously moved in both the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction, and the position P1 is set.
Return to the same position P5 as.

[Second Embodiment] FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan views for explaining a document detection process of an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is attached with a code.

In FIG. 6, when the document reading is instructed, the carriage 1 slightly moves in the main scanning direction from the position P1 and advances to the position P2. The document 14 is positioned on the document glass 8 at the end 14a, and the position P2 is a position near the end of the document 14.

With this movement, there is a high possibility that there is no image at a position near the edge of the original, and when the CCD 13 moves to the position P3, the black portion on the original can be erroneously detected as the black portion due to the mirror surface original pressure plate 9. This is to reduce the sex.

Next, in moving to the position P4, the edge of the detected document is moved to the CCD 13 so as to be aligned with the approximate center of the reading width S, so that the reading width of the CCD 13 during the movement from the position P3 to the position P4. If the white part is detected in the right half of the (the part detected as the black part), the position P
Detection of the black portion in 3 means detection of the black color of the original.

In this case, after the white part is detected, it is further moved in the direction of the original length a1 (right side in the drawing) to cause the CCD 13 to detect the end of the original. Next, the position P4 is moved to the position P5, and when the white part is detected at this time, the position P4 is detected.
Then, the black portion of the document is detected, and the document is further moved in the direction of the document length b1 (the lower side of the figure) to detect the end of the document. Then, from the position P5 to the position P6, the document length b1
Go to detect.

The original 14 is positioned on the original glass 8 at the end 14a, and the movement from the position P5 to the position P6 is
It is near the edge of the document, there is a high possibility that there is no image, and the length b1 can be accurately recognized. With the above operation, the size of the original can be recognized more accurately than in the first embodiment. A specific example of the second embodiment corresponds to FIG. 7, and the carriage 1 sequentially moves from position P1 to position P10.

In the first and second embodiments, the carriage 1 is driven by the main scanning and sub-scanning pulse motors (motors) 104 and 105 (not shown), and the carriages in the main scanning and sub-scanning directions. The movement amount of 1 can be converted by the reader control unit 100 shown in FIG. 22 described later from the number of drive pulses (rotation amount) of the pulse motors 104 and 105.

Further, since the document edges 14a and 14b are the positioning of the document glass 8 and the document edge 14b with respect to the dimension X in the drawing and the reading width S of the CCD 13 is constant, the document edges 14c and 14d can be detected. Length a
1, b1 can be easily obtained.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 8 is a plan view for explaining an original detection process of an image processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 5 are the same. It is attached with a code. It should be noted that the document 14 is of a center standard document stacking system in which the center of the document 14 in the b2 direction coincides with the center 15 of the document reading width W.

When the document reading is instructed, the carriage 1
Moves from position P1 to position P2, first detects the document end 14a, and further moves to detect the document end 14c,
Recognize the length b2. Next, from position P2 to position P3 (b
By moving to the position P4 and moving to the position P4, the end 14d is detected, the length a2 is recognized, and the process returns to the position P5.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 9 is a plan view for explaining an original detection process of an image processing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 5 are the same. It is attached with a code. It should be noted that the document 14 is of a center standard document stacking system in which the center of the document 14 in the b2 direction coincides with the center 15 of the document reading width W.

When the document reading is instructed, the carriage 1
Moves from position P1 to position P2, detects the document edge 14a, and stops at position P2 near the document edge. Where position P
By obtaining the length X from 1 to the document edge 14a, the length b2 'from the center 15 to the document edge 14a is obtained (the length from the position P1 to the center 15 is the length determined by the device), The document length b2 can be obtained by doubling this.

Next, the position P2 is moved to the position P3, the document end 14d is detected, the document length a2 is obtained, and the position P3 is obtained.
Returns to the position P4 which is the same position as the position P1.

As a result, the moving distance is shorter than in the third embodiment, and the detection time can be shortened.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIGS. 10 and 11 are plan views for explaining the document detection processing of the image processing apparatus showing the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Are given the same reference numerals. The original 14 has edges 14a, 1
4b is positioned on the original glass 8.

When the document reading is instructed, the carriage 1
By driving the carriage 2 and simultaneously moving the CCD 13 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, the carriage 1 moves from the position P1 to the position P2, that is, in an oblique direction forming an angle θ with the longitudinal direction. Here, when the carriage 1 moves to the end 14d as shown in FIG.
13 starts detecting the black portion of the document pressure plate 9 in order from the right side in the figure. As a result, the document length a3 is calculated by converting the moving distance.
Recognize.

Next, the carriage 1 and the carriage 2 are driven to move the CCD 13 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and from the position P2 to the position P3. The movement direction at this time is within the range of the hatch portion shown in FIG. 10 in which the carriage 1 can move up to the document readable length W. Here, when the end 14c is detected, the carriage 1 is moved in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction, and returns to the position P4 which is the same position as the position P1.

When the document reading is instructed, FIG.
As shown in, the CCD 13 is moved by the carriages 1 and 2 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.
13 moves from the position P1 to the position P2, that is, in an oblique direction forming an angle θ with the longitudinal direction, and when the carriage 1 moves to the end 14c, the CCD 13 detects the entire width of the original from the white portion of the original to the black portion of the original pressure plate 9. Accordingly, the document length b4 is recognized by converting the movement amount up to the detection.

Next, the carriage 1 and the carriage 2 are driven to move the CCD 13 in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction, and from the position P2 to the position P3. The movement direction at this time is in the range of the hatch portion shown in FIG. 11 in which the carriage 1 can move up to the document readable length L.

When the end 14d is detected, the carriage 1 and the carriage 2 are driven to move the CCD 13 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction to return to the position P4 which is the same position as the position P1.

In this embodiment, the carriage 1 and the carriage 2 are driven to move the CCD 13 simultaneously in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. The time to do can be shortened.

[Sixth Embodiment] FIGS. 12 and 13 are plan views for explaining the document detection processing of the image processing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Are given the same reference numerals. It should be noted that the document 14 is of a center standard document stacking system in which the center of the document 14 in the b2 direction coincides with the center 15 of the document reading width W.

In reading the original, the CCD 13 is moved in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction as in the fifth embodiment.
The document length a5 × b5 shown in FIG. 12 or the document length a6 × b6 shown in FIG. 13 is recognized by detecting the document edges 14c and 14d.

[Seventh Embodiment] FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are plan views for explaining the document detection processing of the image processing apparatus showing the seventh embodiment of the present invention. Are denoted by the same reference numerals and indicate original detection when the original size to be detected is limited to a prescribed size (standard size).

Now, as shown in FIG. 14, the A3 size original 14 is positioned and set with the edges 14a and 14b on the original glass 8 as references. Here, when the document reading is instructed, the CCD 13 moves from the position P1 to the position P2. At this time, it can be recognized as a document smaller than the A3 size and larger than the largest B4 (B5) size end 14c 'among them.

That is, the carriage 1 can be stopped before detecting the A3 size end 14c. Next, the original having the same length as the A3 size length b7 also has the A4 size, and by moving from the position P2 to the position P3, it is recognized whether the original size is “A3” or “A4”.

That is, if the A4 size end 14d 'is detected and the black portion of the document pressure plate 9 cannot be detected even if the end 14d' is moved beyond the original position, the size is larger than the A4 size, and the document is A3 size. Can be recognized. Then, the process returns from the position P3 to the position P4, which is the same position as the position P1, and the document edge detection process ends.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, when the B4 size original 14 is set on the original glass 8 with the ends 14a and 14b positioned, the CCD 13 is set at the position P1.
From the position P2 to recognize the document length b8,
The document size is judged from B4 to B5.

Next, the CCD 13 moves from the position P2 to the position P3.
Move to position P3 to position P4, and end B5 size 14
If the black portion of the document pressure plate 9 cannot be detected even if the edge 14d 'is moved beyond the original position by detecting d', the size becomes larger than B5 size and the document can be recognized as B4 size. Then, from the position P4 to the position P which is the same position as the position P1.
Returning to step 5, the document edge detection process ends.

[Eighth Embodiment] FIG. 16 shows an eighth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a document detection process of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment, in which the same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the document size to be detected is limited to a specified size. It corresponds to the original detection of.

Now, as shown in FIG. 16, a B4 size document is set with the center 15 as a reference. When the document reading is instructed, the CCD 13 in the carriage 1 detects the end 14a of the document from the position P1 to the position P2. By detecting the edge 14a, the original length b9 can be obtained from the distance bh from the center 15, and the original B4 to B5 can be obtained.
Can be determined.

Next, the CCD 13 in the carriage 1 moves from the position P2 to the position P3, and the detection is performed in the same manner as in the seventh embodiment, whereby the document size can be determined to be B4. And
The position P3 returns to the position P4, which is the same position as the position P1, and the detection ends.

In the seventh and eighth embodiments, the moving distance of the carriage 1 by the carriage 2 is shorter than that in the first and fourth embodiments, and the detection time can be shortened.

[Ninth Embodiment] FIGS. 17 and 18 are plan views for explaining the document detection processing of the image processing apparatus showing the ninth embodiment of the present invention. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the original 14 is placed at an arbitrary position on the original glass 8.

When the document reading is instructed, the CCD 13 is moved in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, thereby
D13 moves from position P1 to position P2, that is, in an oblique direction forming an angle θ with the longitudinal direction, and first detects the document end 14a. Thereby, the document position X can be determined.

Next, the document edge 14c is detected and the document length b10 can be recognized. Further, the carriage 1 moves from the position P2 to the position P3 similarly to the fifth and sixth embodiments, detects the document end 14d, moves from the position P3 to the position P4, and detects the document end 14b. Here, the document length a1
0 is determined by detecting the document edges 14b and 14d, and the position Y of the document edge 14b can be determined.

In the case of FIG. 18, the document length b11 can be determined by moving from the position P1 to the position P3 in the same manner as in the fifth and sixth embodiments, and further, by moving from the position P3 to the position P4. The position a11 and the position Y of the document edge 14b can be determined.

With such detection, the position of the original can be recognized together with the detection of the original size, and the original reading position and the like can be corrected by the method described later by obtaining the original positions X and Y.

[Tenth Embodiment] FIG. 19 is a plan view for explaining a document reading process after detecting a document of an image processing apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention, which is the same as FIG. 1 and FIG. Are given the same reference numerals.

The document is positioned on the document glass 8 by the edges 14a and 14b. After moving from the start position (position P1) to the acceleration area X1, the CCD 13 moves at a constant speed to read an image, decelerates from the document edge in the deceleration area X2, stops at position P2, and then reverses and returns. In addition, the sub-scanning carriage moves to the right side in the figure. By repeating this operation, the position P3 is finally moved to the position P4, the image reading is completed, and the process returns to the position P1.

[Eleventh Embodiment] FIG. 20 is a plan view for explaining the document reading process after the document detection of the image processing apparatus showing the eleventh embodiment of the present invention, which is the same as FIG. 1 and FIG. Are given the same reference numerals.

The original is positioned with the edge 14b on the original glass 8 and the center of the original at the center 15. The CCD 13 accelerates from the start position (position P1) to the document edge 14a, then moves at a constant speed to read an image,
The speed is reduced in the deceleration area X2 from the end of the document, stopped at the position P3, then reversed and returned, and the carriage 2 moves to the right side in the drawing. Here, the carriage 1 has returned from the document edge 14a to the distance separated by the acceleration region X1 required for acceleration, and it is not necessary to return by the distance X3 in the drawing. The above operation is repeated to finally move from the position P4 to the position P5, complete the image reading, and return to the position P1.

Further, the position P2 in the drawing is set as the position where the document detection is completed (for example, the position P4 in FIG. 16), and the position P2 as the home position is not returned but the position P2 is returned directly to the position P2, whereby the distance in the drawing is reached. It is not necessary to move X3, and the image reading time can be shortened. The same applies to continuous reading.

[Twelfth Embodiment] FIG. 21 is a plan view for explaining a document reading process after detecting a document of an image processing apparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, which is the same as FIG. 1 and FIG. Are given the same reference numerals.

The original 14 is placed on the original glass 8 at an arbitrary position. The carriage 1 moves the carriage 1 and the carriage 2 from the position P1 as the home position by a distance X.
3, Y3 to move to the position P2 required to read the document 14, move from the position P2 to the acceleration region X1 and then move at a constant speed, and reduce the speed from the edge of the image reading document to the deceleration region X2. After stopping at the position P3, it is reversed and returned, and the sub-scanning carriage 2 moves to the right side in the drawing.

Here, the main scanning carriage 1 has the document end 14
The distance has returned from a to the distance of the acceleration region X1 required for acceleration, and it is not necessary to return by the distance X3 in the figure. The above operation is repeated to finally move from the position P4 to P5, complete the image reading, and return to the position P1.

Further, the position P2 in the drawing does not return to the home position P1 from the position where the document detection is completed (for example, the position P4 in FIG. 17) but directly to the position P2. Since it is not necessary to move the distances X3 and Y3, the image reading time can be shortened.

Also, in the case of continuous reading such as continuous copying, it is not necessary to move the distances X3 and Y3 in the figure by returning from the position P5 to the position P2 in FIG. You can save time.

As described above, in each of the embodiments, by detecting the document size of the document position, it is not necessary for the carriage 1 and the carriage 2 to move over the entire image readable region W × L, and the image reading time can be shortened. it can.

[Thirteenth Embodiment] FIG. 22 is a block diagram for explaining the control arrangement of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, 106 is a CPU, RAM, R
The control unit including the OM executes the control program stored in the ROM to collectively control the reader unit and the printer unit. A reader control unit 100 controls the reading of the carriages 1 and 2 and the CCD 13 according to a document detection instruction or a document reading instruction from the control unit 106.

A carriage control unit 101 controls the driving of the drivers 102 and 103 to drive the motors 104 and 105 in response to an instruction from the reader control unit 100 to individually or mutually drive the carriage 1 and / or the carriage 2. . An operation unit 107 includes various mode setting keys and an LCD.
It is composed of panels, etc. A printer controller 108 controls the printing unit 7 and the delivery roller 10.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing an example of the document processing procedure of the image processing apparatus showing the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step.

First, the recording magnification is set with the keys of the operation unit 107 (1) and the start button is turned on (2), and the reader control unit 100 places it on the original glass 8 according to any one of the original detection routes described above. Original 14
Detected by D13 (3), the optimum recording paper size (automatic paper selection mode) is selected from the set recording magnification and the detected document size (4).

Next, the selected recording paper 4 is conveyed to the printing unit 7 (5), the image read by the CCD 13 is recorded on the recording paper 4 by the recording head 6 (6), and the image is ejected outside the apparatus. (7).

By the above operation, the optimum size recording paper 4 is automatically selected without setting the recording paper size.

[Fourteenth Embodiment] FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of a document processing procedure of an image processing apparatus according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step.

First, the recording paper size is set with the keys of the operation unit 107 (1), and the start button is turned on (2). The scanned original 14 is detected by the CCD 13 (3), and the control unit 106 selects the optimum recording magnification from the set recording paper size and the detected original size (4). Next, the recording paper 4 is conveyed to the printing unit 7 (5), the image read by the image reading unit is recorded on the recording paper 4 at the recording magnification selected by the recording head 6 (6), and then discharged out of the apparatus. Is done (7).

By the above operation, the optimum magnification for the recording paper 4 is automatically selected without setting the recording magnification.

[Fifteenth Embodiment] FIGS. 25 and 26 are plan views for explaining the image printing process after the detection of the document by the image processing apparatus showing the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention. The same components are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 25, the original 1
4 is small, and shows an arrangement when the original 14 is printed on the center of the recording paper 4. That is, both ends X5 of the recording paper 4 are
The image of the document 14 is arranged at the position Y5, and is referred to as center movement here.

Further, FIG. 26 shows the conveyance and printing processing of the recording paper 4 in the movement of the center.
Is conveyed to the printing unit 7 by the conveyance roller 10.

Normally, the leading end of the recording paper 4 is stopped at the position 4a ', but when the center is moved, it is further conveyed in the paper discharge direction by the distance Y6 and stopped at the position 4a. Here, FIG.
Although the distance Y6 is smaller than the center movement amount Y5 shown in FIG.
In order to stabilize the transportability of the recording paper 4,
Although there is an area (Y5-Y6) that is not recorded,
When the center is moved, the non-recorded area is eliminated, so that the entire area of the original can be copied and the amount of movement of the recording paper 4 becomes Yb.

Further, the print carriage 5 has an acceleration area X6.
And accelerates and moves at a constant speed on the recording paper 4. Therefore, the movement start position of the print carriage 5 with respect to the normal recording paper 4 is a position 5'that is X6 away from the recording paper edge 4b.

However, due to the movement of the center, the recording position becomes the position X5 from the recording paper edge 4b, and the movement start position of the print carriage 5 can be a position X6 lower than the normal position 5'in the figure. Then, the data from the CCD 13 is printed on the recording paper 4 by moving the print carriage 5 in the direction of arrow B in the figure.

Even after the completion of 1-line printing, the recording paper edge 4
It is not necessary to move to c at a constant speed, and deceleration and stop may be performed from the place where printing is completed.

FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing an example of the document processing procedure of the image processing apparatus showing the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention. Note that (1) to (10) indicate each step.

First, the recording paper size is set from the operation unit 107 (1), and the center movement is selected and instructed (2). Next, when the start button is turned on (3), the reader controller 100 detects the original 14 placed on the original glass 8 by the CCD 13 according to any one of the original detection routes described above (4), and the set recording paper size is set. The control unit 106 calculates the optimum recording position from the document size detected as (5). Next, the recording paper 4 is conveyed to the printing unit 7 (6), and the recording paper 4 is conveyed to the recording start position (7). Next, the print carriage 5 is moved to the print start position (8), the image read by the image reading unit is recorded on the recording paper 4 at the recording magnification selected by the recording head 6 (9), and then ejected from the apparatus. It is done (10).

As a result, by detecting the original size,
It is possible to easily and automatically control the setting of the recording paper size and the driving of the recording head.

In the present embodiment, an apparatus using an image recording section with an inkjet recording head for serial printing has been described, but the same effect can be obtained with an image reading apparatus having only an image reading section for performing serial scanning. Further, the same effect can be obtained by other recording means such as a thermal transfer type image recording section for performing serial printing.

Further, the same effect can be obtained in an apparatus having an image recording unit for accumulating read data of the image reading unit by serial scanning and recording with a width larger than the reading width of the CCD.

Correspondence between each embodiment and each means of the first to eleventh inventions and their functions will be described below with reference to FIGS.

A first aspect of the present invention is a drive unit (motors 104, 105) for serially moving a reading unit (CCD 13) for reading a document placed on a document table in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, respectively, and the reading unit. Based on a control unit (carriage control unit 101) that controls the drive of the driving unit so as to reciprocate one each in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and a document image state that is read while the reading unit reciprocates once. A detection unit (reader control unit 100) for detecting the document edge, and a document size or a document position on the document table are recognized by converting a moving distance moved by the reading unit until the document edge of the document is detected. The carriage control unit 101 controls the driving of the motors 104 and 105, and the CCD 1 has a recognition unit (reader control unit 100).
When the reader control unit 100 detects the document edge from the document image state read by the CCD 13 while reciprocating 3 in the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction by one, the CCD 13 moves until the reader control unit 100 detects the document edge. It is possible to recognize the document size or the document position on the document table by converting the moved distance and efficiently recognize the document size or the document position placed on the document table by the shortest moving scan in a short time. To do.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the reading section is provided with a charge image-forming device (CCD 13, BASIS, etc.) having a predetermined pixel width, photoelectrically converted to read an original image, and the original image is read and the original size is detected. It is possible to use and together.

In a third aspect of the invention, the driving means is composed of pulse motors 103 and 104, and the reader control section 100 converts the moving distance from the rotation angle of the pulse motor to place the original on the original table. It is possible to recognize the size or the document position and recognize the document position and the document size as numerical values.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the CCD 13 detects the document edges of the document set at the document reference edges of the two sides on the document table, and only detects the document edges opposed to the respective sides to detect the document edge. It is possible to complete the detection.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, the CCD 13 detects one side of the original on the original table and the edge of the original set on the basis of the center line of the one side, and detects the edge of the original facing each side. It is possible to complete the document edge detection with the shortest movement only by detecting.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the CCD 13 detects the document edge of the document not set at the document reference edges of the two sides on the document table, and detects the position of the document to be placed and / or the document size. It is possible.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, the CCD 13 detects one end of each original of the original placed on the original table parallel to the moving direction of the carriages 1 and 2, that is, the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. Then, the CCD 13 detects one document edge of the document placed on the document table parallel to the moving direction of the reading unit, and detects the document edge only by detecting the document edges facing each side. It is possible to complete with the shortest movement.

In the eighth aspect of the invention, the CCD 13 detects the original end area of a standard size original placed on the original table, and detects the original end in the intermediate area from the area described by the standard to the other area. If it cannot be detected, it is possible to complete the document detection by regarding the size above that as being detected.

The ninth invention is the pulse motor 103, 10
Reference numeral 4 indicates that the CCD 13 for reading the original placed on the original table is serially moved individually in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, respectively, and the CCD 13 is moved along the edge of the original to adjust the length of one side of the original. It enables accurate detection.

The tenth aspect of the invention is to provide a pulse motor 103, 1
Reference numeral 04 denotes a reading unit for reading a document placed on a document table, which is serially moved simultaneously in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction to detect the document end in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction to the document end in the shortest time. It is possible to do.

An eleventh aspect of the invention is a printing means (printing means for printing an image on a recording medium by moving a printing section (recording head 6 ejecting ink) in the main scanning direction based on serial document image information read by the CCD 13. Section 7) and the printing section 7
Conveying means (conveying roller 10) for conveying the recording medium in the sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction in which
And the printing unit 7 and the conveyance roller 10 based on the document size or document position recognized by the reader control unit 100.
The printer controller 108 for controlling the drive of the CCD 10 controls the drive of the recording head 6 and the sheet conveyance based on the image information input from the reader controller 100 by the controller 106 and the printer controller 108.
The image read by 3 is automatically scaled and printed on the recording medium automatically selected according to the recognized original size or on the paper selected by the operation unit 107.

[0113]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The reading unit for reading a document placed on the document table is independently moved in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction respectively, or is simultaneously controlled in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction to detect the document edge, Since the size or position of the document to be placed is recognized from the detection result of the detected document edge and the movement amount of the reading unit, the document reading unit can be used as the document detecting unit to efficiently detect the document with the shortest document detection moving scan. It is possible to recognize the size or the position of the document and to efficiently output the image on the recording medium while reading the document image according to the recognized size or position of the document.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an image processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of main parts for explaining the configuration of the carriage shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of main parts for explaining the configuration of the carriage shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a CCD in the main scanning carriage shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating an original detection process of the image processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a document detection process of the image processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a document detection process of the image processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating document detection processing of the image processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating an original detection process of an image processing apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating an original detection process of an image processing apparatus according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating an original detection process of an image processing apparatus according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a document detection process of an image processing apparatus showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a document detection process of the image processing apparatus according to the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating an original detection process of an image processing apparatus showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a document detection process of an image processing apparatus showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating a document detection process of an image processing apparatus showing an eighth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating original detection processing of the image processing apparatus according to the ninth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a plan view illustrating an original detection process of an image processing apparatus showing a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a plan view illustrating a document reading process after detecting a document in the image processing apparatus according to the tenth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a plan view illustrating an original reading process after detecting an original in the image processing apparatus according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a plan view illustrating an original reading process after detecting an original in an image processing apparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of a document processing procedure of the image processing apparatus showing the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of a document processing procedure of the image processing apparatus showing the fourteenth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 25 is a plan view illustrating an image printing process after detecting a document in an image processing apparatus according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a plan view illustrating an image printing process after detecting a document in the image processing apparatus according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing an example of a document processing procedure of the image processing apparatus showing the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Carriage 2 Carriage 100 Reader Control Unit 101 Carriage Control Unit 102 Driver 103 Driver 104 Motor 105 Motor 106 Control Unit 107 Operation Unit

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A drive unit for serially moving a reading unit for reading a document placed on a document table in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction respectively, and the reading unit reciprocating once in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, respectively. Control means for controlling the drive of the driving means so as to move, detecting means for detecting the document edge from the document image state read while the reading section makes one reciprocating movement, and the detecting means for detecting the document edge of the document. An image processing apparatus comprising: a recognition unit that converts a moving distance moved by the reading unit before detection and recognizes a document size or a document position on the document table. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit is provided with a charge image forming element having a predetermined pixel width, and photoelectrically converts the image to read an original image. 3. The driving means is composed of a pulse motor, and the recognizing means recognizes a size of a document or a position of a document placed on the platen by converting a moving distance from a rotation angle of the pulse motor. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects an original edge of an original set on two original reference edges on the original table. 5. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects one side of the original on the original table and an edge of the original set on the basis of the center line of the one side. apparatus. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects document edges of a document not set at document reference edges on two sides of the document table. 7. The detecting means detects one end of each document of a document placed on the document table parallel to the main scanning and sub-scanning directions of the reading section. 1. The image processing device according to 1. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects a document edge area of a standard size document placed on the document table. 9. The image according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit individually serially moves a reading unit for reading a document placed on a document table in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. Processing equipment. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit simultaneously serially moves a reading unit for reading a document placed on a document table in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. . 11. A printing unit that moves the printing unit in the main scanning direction to print an image on a recording medium based on serial document image information read by the reading unit; and a main scanning direction in which the printing unit moves. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to each other.