JPH10271250A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader which consecutively read a large quantity of documents different by shapes or the like as one picture group. SOLUTION: This image reader displays a question, which asks whether there is the next read document or not, on a display part 86 during the document read operation in a read part 14. Based on the display on the display part 86, the presence or the absence of the next read document is inputted by operation of a next document presence/absence key 87c. At the time of the end of document read operation, it is determined based on the input result of this key operation whether the read operation of the next read document should be continued or not.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading an image on a document in, for example, a copying machine or a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some image reading apparatuses of this type are equipped with an automatic document reading section (ADF) and a flatbed reading section (FBS). The multi-document automatic reading unit is configured to automatically feed a plurality of documents to a reading position in order to perform a reading operation automatically. In the flatbed reading section, the reading operation of the original is performed in a stationary state in which the original is placed on the original placing plate.

[0003]

However, in a conventional image reading apparatus, when a large number of originals are read by a plurality of automatic reading units, the number of originals exceeding the number that can be inserted into the reading unit is regarded as one image group. There was a problem that it was not possible to read continuously. Also, in the case where originals having different shapes such as cut sheets and books are read by both reading units, the original of the plural original automatic reading unit and the original of the flatbed reading unit are scanned.
There is also a problem that it is not possible to continuously read one image group.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such problems existing in the conventional technology. The purpose is to produce a large number of documents and documents with different shapes, etc.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus that can continuously read one image group.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention of an image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, during the reading operation of a document by a reading section, a question is displayed as to the presence or absence of the next document to be read. Display means, input means for inputting presence / absence of the next read document, and reading operation of the next read document upon completion of the reading operation of the document based on the input of the input means following the question display of the display means. Deciding means for deciding whether or not to continue.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the reading section includes an automatic reading section for a plurality of originals and a flatbed reading section. The original reading unit or the flatbed reading unit continuously reads a document, and stores the image data as one image group.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the second aspect, the display means initially displays that there is no next document during the reading operation of the plural document automatic reading section. During the reading operation of the flatbed reading section, the fact that the next document is present is initially displayed, and the contents of the initial display on the display means are inverted based on the input from the input means.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a document feeding section 12, a document placing section 13, a reading section 14, a cut sheet supplying section 15, a recording section 17, , And a cut sheet discharge unit 18 are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the document feeder 12 comprises a document table 22 on which a document 21 is placed, and a document 21.
Rollers 23 for feeding the separated originals 21 one by one, a plurality of feed rollers 24 for feeding the separated originals 21, a light transmitting plate 25 through which the originals 21 pass, and a stock of the discharged originals 21 A document discharge table 26 is provided.

A document presence sensor 27 is arranged to face the document table 22 and outputs a detection signal when the document 21 is placed on the document table 22. The document discharge sensor 28 is disposed to face the document discharge table 26 and the document 2 is placed on the document discharge table 26.
When 1 is discharged, a detection signal is output.

The original placing portion 13 has a transparent original placing plate 31 on which an original 21 is placed, and a pressing lid 32 disposed on the original placing plate 31 so as to be capable of opening and closing. And The document table 22 and document discharge table 26 of the document feeding section 12 are provided with a pressing cover 32 of the document table 13.
It is arranged on the upper side and is opened and closed and rotated integrally with the presser lid 32.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a light source 37 for irradiating the original 21 passing on the light transmitting plate 25 or the original 21 placed on the original placing plate 31 with light.
To change the optical path of the reflected light from the document 21
Mirrors 38, 39, 40, and a moving mechanism 41 for moving the light source 37 and the first to third mirrors 38, 39, 40
And Further, the reading unit 14 includes the third mirror 4
A condensing lens 42 for converging light from 0, and an image pickup device (CCD) 43 for reading an image on the document 21 based on light incident through the condensing lens 42 are provided.

The moving mechanism 41 includes a pair of left and right large diameter pulleys 44 and 45, a pair of left and right small diameter pulleys 46 and 47,
First belt 48 mounted between large-diameter pulleys 44 and 45
And the second belt 4 mounted between the small-diameter pulleys 46 and 47
9 is provided. Further, the moving mechanism 41 includes a first carriage 50 connected to the first belt 48, a second carriage 51 connected to the second belt 49, and a step motor 52.

The diameter of the large-diameter pulleys 44, 45 is formed to be twice the diameter of the small-diameter pulleys 46, 47. The large-diameter pulley 44 and the small-diameter pulley 46 on the left side are integrally rotatably connected on the same axis, and are operatively connected to a step motor 52. Further, a light source 37 and a first mirror 38 are supported on the first carriage 50, and a second mirror 39 and a third mirror 39 are provided on the second carriage 51.
A mirror 40 is supported.

When the large-diameter pulleys 44 and 45 and the small-diameter pulleys 46 and 47 are rotated by the step motor 52, the first and second carriages 50 and 50 are rotated via the first and second belts 48 and 49. 51 is moved. At this time, the first carriage 50 is moved at twice the moving speed of the second carriage 51. Thereby, both carriages 5
0 and 51 are intermediate standby positions P1 as shown in FIG.
A first document reading position P <b> 2 which is located immediately below the light transmitting plate 25 and faces the same.
And a start point P3 of a second document reading position located just below the reference end 31a of the document placing plate 31.

A plurality of automatic document reading units (ADFs) are constituted by the document feeding unit 12 and the reading unit 14, and light is transmitted when the carriages 50 and 51 are moved to the first document reading position P2. The image of the document 21 passing on the plate 25 is read. Further, a flatbed reading section (FBS) is configured by the document placing section 13 and the reading section 14, and after the carriages 50 and 51 are moved and arranged at the start point P3 of the second document reading position, they move toward the end point P4. Moved
The image of the original 21 placed on the original placing plate 31 is read.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reading position sensor 53 is disposed below the reference end 31a of the original placing plate 31, and the carriages 50 and 51 are positioned at the start point P3 of the second original reading position. Outputs a detection signal when moved. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the original length sensor 54 is connected to the original placing plate 3.
The length of the original 21 placed on the original placing plate 31 is detected at a position spaced from the first reference end 31a by a predetermined distance. The reading unit 14 including the light source 37 also serves as a document width sensor, and reads the document 21 in the main scanning direction in a state where the first carriage 50 is moved to the start point P3 of the second document reading position. When performing, the width of the document 21 is detected.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cut sheet supply unit 1
5 is a plurality (two in this embodiment) of sheet cassettes 57 containing cut sheets 56 of a predetermined size in a stacked state;
A sheet feeding roller 58 for feeding the cut sheets 56 in each sheet cassette 57 one by one toward the recording unit 17;
And a guide plate 59 for guiding the feeding of the sheet. In addition,
Cut papers 56 of different sizes are stored in each paper cassette 57.
Is housed.

The recording unit 17 includes a photosensitive drum 68, a charger 69 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 68 to a predetermined potential, and an exposing device for forming an electrostatic latent image of an image on the photosensitive drum 68. And a developing unit 71 for supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 68 to visualize the latent image. Further, the recording unit 17 includes a feed roller 72 for feeding the cut sheet 56 to the photosensitive drum 68, a transfer unit 73 for transferring the toner image from the photosensitive drum 68 to the cut sheet 56, And a heat fixing device 74 for heat fixing the toner image.

The cut sheet discharge section 18 includes a discharge roller 77 for discharging the recorded cut sheet 56, and a cut sheet 56.
And a discharge tray 79 for storing the discharged cut paper 56.

Next, the circuit configuration of the copy / facsimile multifunction machine configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a central processing unit (CPU) 82 controls the operation of each unit of the multifunction peripheral. Read only memory (ROM)
Reference numeral 83 stores various control programs necessary for the operation of the multifunction peripheral. Random access memory (RAM) 84
Temporarily stores data and the like obtained with the execution of the control program. The CPU 82 and the ROM 8
3 and the RAM 84 constitute control means and determination means.

The document presence sensor 27 and the document length sensor 54 output detection signals to the CPU 82. Reading unit 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes the original 2 via the light transmitting plate 25 or the original placing plate 31.
1 is read and the black and white binary image data is
Output to PU82. The image memory 85 temporarily stores received image data and image data read by the reading unit 14. The recording unit 17 records the received image data and the image data read by the reading unit 14 on the cut sheet 56.

The display section 86 as a display means includes a liquid crystal display panel and an LED. For example, "copy mode", "communication mode", "next document", "no next document", "standby", "device error"", Various information such as the operation state of the apparatus is displayed. The operation unit 87 includes a copy / communication key 87
a, a start key 87b, and a next original key 87c.

The copy / communication key 87a is operated to select whether to execute the copy mode or the facsimile communication mode. Start key 87b
Is operated to start a copy operation or a facsimile communication operation. The next document presence / absence key 87c constitutes an input means, and it is necessary to reverse the display contents of "next document exists" or "no next document" on the display unit 86 during the reading operation of the document 21 by the reading unit 14. To operate.

The modem 88 modulates and demodulates transmission and reception data. The network control unit (NCU) 89 has a function of controlling the closing and opening of the telephone line L1, and a function of detecting transmission and reception of a dial pulse corresponding to the fax number of the other party.

Then, the CPU 82 controls the document feeding section 1
Automatic reading section (AD)
During the reading operation in F), the state where there is no next document is initially set, and "no next document" is initially displayed on the display unit 86 as a question display. The CPU 82 includes a flatbed reading unit (FBS) including the document placement unit 13 and the reading unit 14.
During the reading operation of, the state of the presence of the next document is initially set, and the display section 86 is initially displayed as “question display”.

Further, when the next document presence / absence key 87c is operated in order to reverse the contents of the initial display on the display unit 86 during the reading operation, the CPU 82 changes the initial setting of no next document or a next document. At the same time, the contents of the initial display on the display unit 86 are inverted. Moreover, the CPU 8
2 determines whether or not to continue the reading operation based on the setting of the absence of the next document or the presence of the next document at the end of the reading operation of the document 21.

When the reading operation is continued by the plural document automatic reading section, the documents 21 exceeding the number of sheets that can be inserted on the document table 22 can be continuously read as one image group. ing. When a reading operation is performed by the flatbed reading unit subsequent to the reading operation of the automatic multiple document reading unit, the documents 21 can be continuously read as one image group.

Next, the operation of the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral of this embodiment when reading the original 21 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart proceeds under the control of the CPU 82 based on a control program stored in the ROM 83.

When reading the original 21, the operator places the original 21 on the original platen 22 of the original feeding section 12 or the original placing plate 31 of the original placing section 13, and then presses the start key 87b. A pressing operation is performed (S1). Then, the document presence sensor 27 of the document feeding unit 12 detects whether the document 21 is placed on the document table 22 (S2). When the original 21 is present on the original platen 22, the state of no next original is initially set, and "no next original" is initially displayed on the display unit 86 (S3).
The reading operation of the original 21 on the document 2 is started (S4). That is, a group of plural or many originals 21 are often stacked and placed on the original platen 22 of the original feeder 12, and there are many cases where there is no next original, so that the above-described display is performed. .

On the other hand, in the determination of S2,
In the case where the original 21 does not exist on the
The original length sensor 54 detects whether or not the original 21 is placed on the original placing plate 31 (S5).
When the original 21 is present on the original placing plate 31, the state of the presence of the next original is initially set, and the display unit 86 initially displays "next original" (S6). The reading operation of the original 21 on the document 31 is started, and the image data is stored in the image memory 85 (S4). That is, since only one original 21 is placed on the original placing plate 31, the next original is often present, and thus the above-described display is performed.

When the original 21 does not exist on the original placing plate 31, that is, when the original 21 does not exist on both the original platen 22 and the original placing plate 31, the process returns to S1 to return to the original 21. And the operation of pressing the start key 87b is awaited.

If it is necessary to invert the initial display of the display unit 86 during the reading operation of the original 21 on the original platen 22 or the original placing plate 31, it is necessary to divide the original 21 into one unit. When the next original exists because the original 21 is placed on the original platen 22, the original 21 on the original placing plate 31 is read following the original 21 on the original platen 22, or the original is read on the original placing plate 31. If there is only one document, the operation of the next document presence / absence key 87c by the operator is waited during the reading operation (S7).

During reading of the original, the next original presence / absence key 87
When c is operated, the initial setting of the absence of the next document or the presence of the next document is changed, and the initial display of the display unit 86 is reversed (S8). At the end of the reading operation of the original 21, it is determined whether the next original is set or not (S9). If there is a next original, the process returns to S1, and the original 21 on the original platen 22 or the original placing plate 31 is read through the determination of S2 or S5. Then, the image data read after the second time through S9 is already read and stored as one image group in the same area of the image memory 85 together with the image data stored in the image memory 85.

If it is determined in S9 that there is no next original, the reading operation of the original 21 is terminated (S10).
All processing ends. As described above, when the reading operation is continued by the automatic document reading unit (ADF), a large number of documents 21 exceeding the number of sheets that can be inserted on the document table 22 are output.
The images are continuously read and stored as one image group. When the reading operation of the flatbed reading unit (FBS) is performed following the reading operation of the automatic reading unit (ADF), the originals 21 having different shapes and the like in the reading units are used.
Are continuously read and stored as one image group.

The effects that can be expected from the above embodiment will be described below. In the image reading apparatus of this embodiment, during the reading operation of the document 21 by the reading unit 14, the presence or absence of the next read document is displayed on the display unit 8.
6 is displayed as a question, and based on the display on the display unit 86,
By operating the next original key 87c, the presence or absence of the next original to be read is input. Then, based on the input result of the key operation, when the reading operation of the document 21 ends, the CPU 82 determines whether or not to continue the reading operation of the next reading document.

Therefore, during the reading operation of the original 21, the presence or absence of the next original to be read can be input and set in advance.
Therefore, when the next original is present, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to set the original.
Can be read continuously and quickly as one image group. If there is no next original, the reading operation of the original 21 can be immediately terminated.

Here, the reading operation means, in addition to the actual reading, the case where only the original is fed before and after each original is read by the plural automatic document reading unit (ADF), or the case where the flatbed reading unit is used. The carriages 50 and 51 move to the standby position P before and after reading the original in the (FBS).
The movement from 1 to the first document reading position P2 includes the case where the carriages 50 and 51 return after reading.

In the image reading apparatus of this embodiment, the reading section is constituted by an automatic multiple document reading section (ADF) and a flat bed reading section (FBS). Then, with respect to the original 21 that has already been read, the original 21 of the plural original automatic reading unit or the original 21 of the flatbed reading unit is
One image group is continuously read. For this reason, it is possible to read all the originals 21 of the plural original automatic reading section and the flat bed reading section in one image group. Therefore, when transmitting or copying the read image data, even if the number of documents is large or the shape of the document is different, the transmission or copying operation is not divided, and It can be done in one operation.

In the image reading apparatus of this embodiment, "no next document" is initially displayed on the display unit 86 during the reading operation of the plural document automatic reading unit, and during the reading operation of the flatbed reading unit, The display unit 86 initially displays “next document is present”. Then, when it is necessary to reverse the initial display of the display unit 86, the next original presence key 8
7c is input.

Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of input operation for inverting the initial display at the time of the reading operation of the plural document automatic reading section in which there is a high possibility that there is no next document.
In addition, even in the reading operation of the flatbed reading unit having a high possibility of having the next original, the trouble of the input operation for inverting the initial display can be similarly eliminated.

The above embodiment can be embodied with the following modifications. At the time of the reading operation by the reading section 14, a question such as "whether there is a next document" is displayed on the display section 86, and the question display is responded by operating the next document presence / absence key 87c.

In the above-described embodiment, even if reading is started from either the automatic reading unit for plural originals or the flatbed reading unit, the next read original image is stored in the image memory 85 as one image group. However, only the image read by the flatbed reading unit following the reading by the automatic multiple document reading unit is stored as one image group. In other words, the configuration is such that only originals having different shapes are stored as one image group.

The configuration is such that only the document read by the plural document automatic reading section is stored as one image group.
In other words, the configuration is such that only a large number of original documents are stored as one image group.

[0046]

The present invention is configured as described above, and has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, during the reading operation of the document, the presence or absence of the next document to be read can be input and set in advance, so that a large number of documents or documents having different shapes or the like can be read in one image They can be read continuously and quickly as a group.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to continuously read a single image group irrespective of the originals in the plural original automatic reading section and the flatbed reading section, and transmit the original. And copying can be done in one operation.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the troublesome input operation for inverting the initial display during the reading operation of the automatic reading unit for a plurality of originals, which has a high possibility of no next original. . In addition, even in the reading operation of the flatbed reading unit in which there is a large possibility that the next document is present, the trouble of the input operation for inverting the initial display can be similarly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of a multifunction peripheral embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a document placing plate of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a document reading operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... apparatus main body, 12 ... original feeding part, 13 ... original mounting part, 14 ... reading part, 17 ... recording part, 21 ... original, 22 ...
Document table, 25 ... Transparent plate, 27 ... Document presence sensor, 31 ...
Document placement plate, 37 light source, 43 image sensor, 54 document length sensor, 82 C constituting control means and determination means
PU, 83 ... ROM constituting control means and determination means,
84 RAM constituting control means and decision means, 86
A display unit constituting the display means; 87 ... an operation unit; 87c ... a next document presence / absence key constituting the input means.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A display means for displaying a question as to the presence or absence of the next document to be read during a document reading operation of the reading unit, an input means for inputting the presence or absence of the next document to be read, and a question display of the display means Determining means for determining whether or not to continue the reading operation of the next document to be read at the end of the document reading operation based on the input of the input means following the inputting means. 2. The reading section according to claim 1, wherein the reading section comprises a plurality of automatic document reading sections and a flat bed reading section, and continuously scans the plurality of document originals from the plurality of document automatic reading sections or the flat bed reading section. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is configured to read the image data and store the image data as one image group. 3. The display means initially displays that there is no next document during the reading operation of the automatic multiple document reading section, and initially displays that there is the next document during the reading operation of the flatbed reading section. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the content of the initial display on the display means is reversed based on an input from the input means.