JPH10285345A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader, in which deterioration in an image and reduction in the throughput of read processing are prevented by reading an original image at an optimum read speed, in matching with the processing capability of a host computer so as to reduce the frequency of occurrence of an intermittent operation. SOLUTION: This reader is provided with a read section 1, that reads an original in the unit of lines in the main scanning direction, a mobile mechanism 60 that moves the read section 1 in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, a step motor 19 that acts as a drive source of the mobile mechanism 60, a system control section 3 that controls reading by the read section 1 in the unit of lines synchronously with a clock pulse supplied to the step motor 19, an image memory 3a that stores data read by the read section 1, and a means that transfers the data stored in the image memory 3a to a host computer. When the image memory 3a reaches a nearly full state, the reading is stopped. When the image memory 3a reaches an empty state, the reading is restarted as an intermittent operation, and the read speed is changed, depending on the processing capability of the host computer.

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 a document image and transferring the data to a host computer, and more particularly, to reading at a speed suitable for the processing capability of the host computer. Related to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image processing system which reads an image on a document by an image scanner, takes the image data into a host computer, and processes the image data is widely used. The image scanner temporarily stores the read data in an image memory, reads the data therefrom, and transfers the data to a host computer. At this time, the image scanner stops reading when the image memory becomes near full (substantially full state), and resumes reading when the image memory becomes empty (empty state). Do.

[0003]

However, at the time of the intermittent operation, the moving mechanism for moving the reading means, such as a lamp and a mirror, for scanning the original in the sub-scanning direction repeatedly stops and starts. This leads to deterioration and a decrease in the throughput of the reading process. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to reduce the frequency of intermittent operations by reading a document image at an optimum reading speed according to the processing capacity of a host computer, and to prevent image deterioration and a decrease in throughput of reading processing. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus that can perform the above-described operations.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading unit for reading a document in line units in a main scanning direction, and the reading unit is connected to the main scanning direction. A moving mechanism for moving the moving mechanism in the orthogonal direction, a step motor serving as a driving source of the moving mechanism, and a reading control means for controlling reading of the line unit by the reading means in synchronization with a clock pulse of the step motor An image memory for storing data read by the reading unit, a transfer unit for transferring the data stored in the image memory to a host computer, and stopping reading when the image memory becomes near full. An image having intermittent operation control means for performing an intermittent operation for restarting reading when the image memory becomes empty In the reading device, the reading speed can be changed in accordance with the performance of the host computer, thereby reading the document image at an optimum reading speed according to the processing capability of the host computer, thereby reducing the frequency of occurrence of intermittent operation. Thus, it is possible to prevent image deterioration and reduction in throughput of reading processing. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the performance of the host computer is detected, and the reading speed is changed according to the result. The reading speed can be increased in accordance with the increase in the processing capacity of. According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the reading speed is reduced at the time of the intermittent operation as compared with a normal time, so that the image is stored in the image memory. Reading can be continued while data is being transferred, albeit at a lower speed than normal. Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, in the image reading apparatus according to claim 1, the reading speed can be changed by the user's selection, so that a user who knows the performance of the host computer can do so. By setting the reading speed by oneself, it is possible to select whether to emphasize throughput or image. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the user can be notified of the start of the intermittent operation, thereby using a speed at which the intermittent operation does not occur. Can be selected easily. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the reading speed selected by the user is stored in the non-volatile memory, and is read into the stored value of the non-volatile memory after the power is turned on. By configuring the speed to be automatically set, the user can save the trouble of setting the reading speed every time the power is turned on.

[0005]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus includes a reading unit 1 that optically reads image information of a document and converts the image information into an image signal, and a document placed on a paper feed tray (document placing table) 20 by one sheet. An automatic document feeder 2 that feeds the fed document to the reading position S in the drawing and carries out the document from which the image information has been read by the reading unit 1 from the reading position S. The automatic document feeder 2 is provided below the contact glass 10 and the reading position S on the document feed path so as to cover the contact glass 11 extending in a direction perpendicular to the document feed direction, that is, in the main scanning direction. It is provided on the upper part. The reading unit 1 corresponds to a reading unit, and includes an irradiation lamp 12, mirrors 13 to 15, a condenser lens 16, a CCD image sensor 17, and a reading unit 1.
And a traveling body motor 19 composed of a stepping motor serving as a driving source of the moving mechanism 60.

An irradiation lamp 12 irradiates light passing through a contact glass 11 to a document passing a reading position S in the drawing. The reflected light of the document irradiated by the irradiation lamp 12 passes through the contact glass 11 and is sequentially reflected by the mirrors 13, 14, and 15, and then is condensed by the condenser lens 16 and enters the CCD image sensor 17. I do. The CCD image sensor 17
SBU (Sensor Board Unit) 18
The image information of the document is read by receiving the reflected light of the document condensed by the condenser lens 16 and converting the reflected light into an electric signal corresponding to the received light intensity. The irradiation lamp 12 and the mirrors 13 to 15 are integrally formed as a traveling body, and are driven by a traveling body motor 19 to be movable in the direction A in the drawing.
When a document is directly placed on the contact glass 10, the traveling body motor 19 moves the traveling body in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow A in the figure) to read the image information of the document. On the other hand, when the document is supplied by the automatic document feeder 2, the traveling body is moved to the reading position S, and the image of the document conveyed by the automatic document feeder 2 and passing through the reading position S is read. .

The automatic document feeder 2 includes a pickup roller 21, a pair of registration rollers 22, a transfer drum 23, idle rollers 24-26, paper discharge rollers 27 and 28, a transfer motor 30, and a paper feed motor (not shown). I have. The paper feed tray 20 can hold a plurality of documents,
The document placement surface of the paper feed tray 20 moves to the pickup roller 21 side, and the document placement surface and the pickup roller 21 move.
And a document is sandwiched therebetween. The pickup roller 21 feeds a document from the sheet feed tray 20. The document fed by the pickup roller 21 is fed at a predetermined timing by a pair of registration rollers 22, and then is fed to the transport drum 23 and The sheet is inverted and conveyed to the reading position S by idle rollers 24 to 26 slidingly contacting the conveying drum 23. Each of the idle rollers 24 to 26 is a transfer drum 2
3 and is disposed along the circumferential direction of the transfer drum 23.
In addition, the document is nipped and conveyed. The document from which the image information of the document passing the reading position S is read by the reading unit 1 is conveyed by discharge rollers 27 and 28 and then discharged to a discharge tray 31. The pickup roller 21 and the pair of registration rollers 22 are driven by a sheet feeding motor (not shown).
4 to 26 and the discharge rollers 27 and 28
It is adapted to be driven by.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the image reading apparatus includes a paper feed sensor 32, a read start sensor 33, and a paper discharge sensor. Each of these sensors is a known transmission type sensor that detects the presence or absence of a document on the document transport path, and outputs an ON signal when a document is present,
When there is no original, an off-state signal is output. Each sensor is provided substantially at the center with respect to the width direction on the document conveying path. The paper feed sensor 32 is provided between the pair of registration rollers 22 and the idle roller 24.
3 is provided near the upstream side of the reading position S,
Reference numeral 4 is provided near the upstream side of the discharge roller 28. The paper feed sensor 32 corresponds to a detecting unit, and determines whether or not the original has been reliably fed, and also determines the leading end and the trailing end of the original and the holes previously formed in the original (the leading end and the trailing end of the hole). It is provided in order to judge. Based on the determination result, a reading range indicating a range between the reading start position and the reading end position in the document conveying direction is specified, and the timing of starting feeding of the next document is controlled.

A reading start sensor 33 is provided for controlling the start of the reading operation of the reading means 1. A predetermined time after the leading end of the document is detected by the reading start sensor 33, the irradiation lamp 12 and the CCD image are read. The sensor 17 starts operating. This is because the time required for the document fed from the paper feed tray 20 to reach the reading position S varies.
This variation is provided to reduce the variation and ensure that the timing at which the leading edge of the document reaches the reading position S and the timing at which the irradiation lamp 12 and the CCD image sensor 17 start operating are matched. The paper discharge sensor 34 is provided to determine whether or not the document whose image information has been read by the reading unit 1 has been reliably discharged to the paper discharge tray 31. The paper feed sensor 32, the reading start sensor 33, and the paper ejection sensor 34 constitute the document presence / absence detecting section 4 (FIG. 3).

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the image reading apparatus includes a system control unit 3, a reading unit 1, an automatic document feeder 2, a document presence / absence detection unit 4, an operation display unit 5, an RCU (Rev.
erse side Control Unit) 6, Video adapter 7, IE
U (Image Enharce Unit) 8 and DCU (Data Compress
ion unit) 9, and each unit is connected by a bus. Note that the reading unit 1, the automatic document feeder 2, and the document presence / absence detection unit 4 have been described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and a description thereof will be omitted. The system control unit 3 includes a CPU 51 and an EPROM (erasabl
e and programmable ROM) 52, EEPROM (electric
ally erasable and programmable ROM) 53 and RA
M54 is provided inside. The EPROM 52 stores a control program for the apparatus, and the EEPROM 54
Stores operation history information of each unit of the apparatus, such as the number of operations of the CCD image sensor 17, and also stores operation information of an operation by an operator or the like. RAM5
Reference numeral 3 stores control data of the apparatus. CPU5
1 controls the entire apparatus based on a control program stored in the EPROM 52 and data stored in the EEPROM 53 and the RAM 54.

The system control unit 3 has an image memory 3a therein, stores image data read and output by the reading unit 1 in the image memory 3a, performs image processing on the data, and outputs the data. , And controls communication with a host computer (not shown). The system control unit 3 performs an operation of sequentially reading out image data from the image memory 3a and transferring the image data to the host computer, and erasing the transferred image data from the image memory 3a. Further, the system control unit 3 has a plurality of timers inside,
Paper feed sensor 32 and reading start sensor 3 of document presence / absence detecting section 4
3 and the on-off operation time of the paper discharge sensor 34 to control the operation of the paper feed motor 29 and the paper discharge motor 30 of the automatic document feeder 2, and to irradiate the illumination lamp 12 and the CCD image sensor of the reading unit 1. 17 is controlled.

RCU 6, video adapter 7, IEU 8,
The DCU 9 is an optional unit of the image reading apparatus, and performs special image processing. RCU6
Is for controlling reading of the back side of the document, and is provided together with an optical system member similar to the reading unit 1 when reading both sides of the document P at the same time. The video adapter 7 is for inputting another video signal outside the apparatus. IEU
Reference numeral 8 denotes an image area separating unit that separates an input video signal into photographic information and character information, and outputs the image signal. DCU
Reference numeral 9 designates, for example, a JPEG (Joint P
hotographic Coding Experts Group) and JBIG (Joint
It is compressed and output by various information compression methods such as Bi-Level Image Coding Experts Group).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, image processing of an image signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD image sensor 17 will be mainly described. The system control unit 3
U (Mother Board Unit) 40, SCU (Scanner Contoro
l Unit) 50 and an ADU (ADF Driving Unit) 70. The MBU 40 and the SCU 50 are connected by a connector pair 80, and the MBU 40 and the ADU 7
0 is connected by a connector pair 81. Also,
The MBU 40 and the RCU 6 can be connected by a connector pair 82, the SCU 50 and the video adapter 7 can be connected by a connector pair 83, the SCU 50 and the IEU 8 can be connected by a connector pair 84, and the SCU 50 and the DCU 9 can be connected by a connector 85. Has become. MB
U40 includes the irradiation lamp 12 of the image reading unit 1, the SBU1
8 and the traveling body motor 19 are connected respectively,
The operation display unit 5 is connected. SBU18 is CCD
The reflected light of the document P incident on the image sensor 17 is converted into an analog signal having a voltage value corresponding to the light intensity, and the analog signal is separated into odd bits and even bits and output to the MBU 40.

The MBU 40 has an AHP (Analogue da
ta Handling Peripheral) 41 and an A / D converter 42. The AHP 41 receives the analog signal output from the SBU 18, removes a dark potential portion from the input odd-bit and even-bit analog signals, and synthesizes the odd and even bits again.
The gain is adjusted to a predetermined amplitude and output to the A / D converter 42. The A / D converter 42 converts the analog signal output from the AHP into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the SCU 50. The SCU 50 has a CPU 51 and an EPRO inside.
M52, EEPROM 53, RAM 54, SIPT (Sca
nner Image Peripheral Three) 55, selector 56, selector 57, selector 58, SBC (Sanner Buffer Con
controller 59, a DRAM 60, a SIMM 61, a selector 62, and a SCSI controller 63.

The SIPT 55 has one input terminal and two input terminals.
The input terminal is connected to the A / D converter 42 of the MBU 40 via the connector pair 80, one output terminal is connected to the selector 56, and the other output terminal is connected to the connector pair 84. It can be connected to the IEU 8 via the Internet. The SIPT 55 is an A / D converter 4
The digital signal output from 2 is input, the input signal is subjected to image processing such as shading correction, gamma correction, and MTF correction, and then binarized to be converted into a video signal together with a page synchronization signal, a line signal, and an image clock. Output to selector 56 and IEU8. IEU8 is SI
The video signal output from the PT 55 is input, image area separated, and output to the selector 56. The selector 56 is 2
It has one input terminal and one output terminal. One input terminal is connected to the SIPT 54, and the other input terminal is connectable to the IEU 8 via the connector pair 84.
The output terminal is connected to the selector 57. The selector 56 switches between and connects one of the input terminals and the output terminal, selects whether or not to perform image area separation by the IEU 8, inputs a video signal, and inputs the input video signal to the selector 57. Output.

The selector 57 has two input terminals and one output terminal. One input terminal is connected to the selector 56, and the other input terminal is connected via the connector pair 80 and the connector pair 82 of the MBU 40. Connected to the RCU 6. The output terminal is connected to the selector 58. The selector 57 switches and connects one of the input terminal and the output terminal to select and input the reading surface (front or back) of the document, and outputs the input video signal to the selector 58. The RCU 6 that controls reading of the back surface is controlled by the CPU 51 through serial communication. The selector 58 has two input terminals and one output terminal, and one input terminal is connected to the selector 5.
7 and the other input terminal can be connected to the video adapter 7 via the connector pair 83. The output terminal is connected to the SBC 59. The selector 58 switches the connection between one of the input terminals and the output terminal to connect the video signal of the document to the video adapter 7.
, And selects and inputs the input video signal, and outputs the input video signal to the SBC 59.

The SBC 59 includes a DRAM 60 and a SIM
It manages an image memory composed of an M (Single Inline Memory Module) 61. The video signal output from the selector 58 is stored in the image memory.
The stored video signal is output to the DCU 9 connected via the selector 62 and the connector pair 85. DCU9
Compresses the video signal output from the SBC 59 by a predetermined image compression method and outputs the compressed signal to the selector 62. The selector 62 has two input terminals and one output terminal. One input terminal is connected to the SBC 59, and the other input terminal is connectable to the DCU 9 via the connector pair 85. The output terminal is connected to the SCSI controller 63. The selector 62 switches and connects any one of the input terminal and the output terminal, thereby providing the D terminal.
The CU 9 selects whether or not to perform image compression, inputs a video signal, and outputs the input video signal to the SCSI controller 63. SCSI controller 63
Are controlled by the CPU 51 and the selector 62
And outputs the input video signal to a host computer (not shown) via a communication line. A control signal is input to the SCSI controller 63 from a host computer (not shown), and the above-described reading mode and high-speed sheet feeding mode are set. ADU70
Has a function as a relay unit for supplying power to the automatic document feeder 2 and the document presence / absence detecting unit 4.
Are connected to the paper feed motor 29 and the transport motor 30, and the paper feed sensor 32, the reading start sensor 33, and the paper discharge sensor 34 of the document presence / absence detecting section 4.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory views illustrating the relationship between the clock of the traveling motor 19 and the reading operation timing in line units in the image reading apparatus of the present embodiment. The read timing pulse for each line is generated asynchronously with the motor clock pulse. (A) is for a reading speed of 300 mm / sec, and (b)
Is a case where the reading speed is 150 mm / sec. In both cases, the reading timing pulse is made effective every three clock pulses of the running body motor 19, and reading of one line is performed at that timing, thereby moving the running body. The number of read data with respect to the distance is always the same. For example, 0 .0 per motor clock cycle.
Assuming that the reading speed is 02117 mm, the reading speed is 300 mm / sec, 150
Although it is different from mm / sec, it is possible to capture an image of 400 DPI. 0.02117 × 3 = 0.0635 mm / LINE = 0.0635 / DOT (← 400 DPI) The image reading apparatus of the present embodiment operates as follows.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the first embodiment. The performance of the host computer is mainly determined by the performance of the CPU.
The performance of the host computer is determined based on the performance of the host computer, that is, the operating clock frequency. In this flow,
Whether the operating clock frequency of the CPU mounted on the host computer is 50 MHz or less is checked by communication with the host computer or the like (S1), and 50 MHz
If it is below (Yes in S1), the reading speed is set to 100
mm / sec (S2). If it is higher than 50 MHz (No in S1), the reading speed is set to 300 mm / sec.
c (S3). By changing the reading speed in accordance with the operating clock frequency of the CPU mounted on the host computer as described above, the original image can be read at the optimum reading speed in accordance with the processing capability of the host computer. The frequency of occurrence can be reduced, and image deterioration and reduction of reading time due to mechanical vibration due to repeated stop and start of the traveling body can be prevented.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the second embodiment. In this flow,
Whether the operating clock frequency of the CPU mounted on the host computer is 50 MHz or less is checked by communication with the host computer (S21), and 50MH
If it is equal to or less than z (Yes in S21), the reading speed is set to 1
It is set to 00 mm / sec (S22). If it is larger than 50 MHz (No in S21), it is checked whether it is 75 MHz or less (S23).
23, the reading speed is set to 150 mm / sec (S24), and if it is higher than 75 MHz (S23).
No), and check if it is below 120 MHz (S
25) If it is 120 MHz or less (Ye in S25)
s), and set the reading speed to 200 mm / sec (S
26) If it is higher than 120 MHz (N in S25)
o) Similarly, it is checked whether it is 160 MHz or less (S27). If it is 160 MHz or less (Y in S27)
es), the reading speed is set to 250 mm / sec (S28), and if it is higher than 160 MHz (N in S27)
o), the reading speed is set to 300 mm / sec (S29). By increasing the reading speed as the operating clock frequency of the CPU mounted on the host computer increases as described above, the reading speed can be increased as the processing capability of the host computer increases. The read processing throughput can be improved in response to higher performance.

FIGS. 8 to 10 are flow charts showing the processing procedure of the third embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the reading control. The driving of the traveling body motor 19 is started at a set speed (S31), and the FGATE signal is turned on.
Then, reading is started (S32). Then, until reading is completed (FGATE signal OFF) (S
34, No), the read image data is transferred to the host computer (S33), and if the reading is completed (S3).
After the reading is completed by turning off the FGATE signal (S35), the driving of the traveling body motor 19 is stopped (S36).

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the intermittent operation control. When the read data amount reaches almost the memory capacity (S41).
(Yes in step S4), the reading of the read data is interrupted (S4).
2) The reading suspension flag is set (S43).
At this time, the traveling body motor 19 is not stopped. Then, while the reading of the read data is suspended (Y in S44).
es), the data stored in the image memory 3a is transferred to the host computer (S45), and when all the data has been transferred to the host computer, that is, when the read data amount in the image memory 3a becomes 0 (Yes in S46).
s), reading is resumed (S47), and the reading suspension flag is reset (S48). On the other hand, during data transfer,
That is, until the read data amount in the image memory 3a becomes 0 (No in S46), the speed change setting process is performed (S49).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the speed change setting process in step S49. The current speed is reduced by a predetermined speed, for example, 50 mm / sec (S
51). As a result, the speed after the change is 100 mm / sec.
If it is less than the above (Yes in S52), the changed speed is set to 100 mm / sec (S55). That is,
In this example, the reading speed is 50 mm / s during the intermittent operation.
The speed is controlled so that ec is decelerated, but not less than 100 mm / sec. As described above, during the intermittent operation, the reading speed is lower than the normal speed, and the reading speed is not reduced below the predetermined speed, so that the data accumulated in the image memory 3a is transferred and the speed is lower than the normal speed. But you can continue reading. Therefore,
It is possible to prevent the running body (the irradiation lamp 12 and the mirrors 13 to 15) from being repeatedly stopped and started by the intermittent operation, and to prevent the image deterioration and the reading time from being reduced due to mechanical vibration.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the user selects a reading speed (S61), the reading speed is set accordingly (S62 to S66). ). The reading speed can be selected, for example, by an input operation using a key switch or the like on the operation display unit 5 or by transmitting a speed selection command or the like from the host computer. In this way, the reading speed can be changed by the user's selection, so that the user who knows the performance of the host computer can set the reading speed by himself / herself to select whether to emphasize throughput or image. Will be able to

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the embodiment according to claim 5, and checks whether or not the stop flag (FIG. 11) is set (ON) (S71). If the stop flag is set, that is, if the operation is intermittent (Yes in S71), a predetermined display lamp (for example, an LED) on the operation display unit 5 is turned on (S72). As described above, when the intermittent operation occurs, the predetermined display lamp on the operation display unit 5 is turned on to notify the user of the fact, and thereby the step S6 in FIG.
In 1, the speed at which the intermittent operation does not occur can be easily selected. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the embodiment according to claim 6. In this embodiment, the reading speed selected by the user is stored in the EEPROM 54 which is a non-volatile memory (S81).
The reading value is read from the EPROM 54 and the reading speed is automatically set. This saves the user from having to set the reading speed every time the power is turned on.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be exhibited. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the document image can be read at an optimum reading speed according to the processing capability of the host computer, so that the occurrence frequency of the intermittent operation can be reduced, and the reading unit is moved in the direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. It is possible to prevent the deterioration of the image and the reduction of the reading time due to the mechanical vibration due to the stop and start of the moving mechanism for moving the image repeatedly. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus of the first aspect, the performance of the host computer is detected, and the reading speed is changed according to the result. Since the reading speed can be increased as the processing capability increases, the throughput of the reading process can be improved in accordance with the higher performance of the host computer. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the reading speed is reduced at the time of the intermittent operation as compared with the normal time, so that the data stored in the image memory is stored. Since the reading can be continued at a lower speed than the normal time while performing the transfer, the throughput of the reading process can be further improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus of the first aspect, the reading speed can be changed by a user's selection. By setting the reading speed by the user himself, it is possible to select whether to emphasize the throughput or to emphasize the image. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading device according to the fourth aspect,
Since the user can be notified of the start of the intermittent operation, the user can easily select the speed at which the intermittent operation does not occur, and the convenience can be improved. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading device according to the fourth aspect,
The reading speed selected by the user is stored in the non-volatile memory, and after the power is turned on, the reading speed is automatically set to the stored value in the non-volatile memory. Can be saved and the convenience can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a relationship between a clock of a traveling body motor and a reading operation timing in line units in the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the embodiment corresponding to claim 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the embodiment corresponding to claim 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an embodiment according to claim 3;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another processing procedure of the embodiment according to claim 3;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another processing procedure of the embodiment according to claim 3;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an embodiment according to claim 4;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to an embodiment corresponding to claim 5;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an embodiment according to claim 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 reading unit (reading unit), 2 automatic document feeding unit, 3 system control unit (intermittent operation control unit), 3a image memory, 5 operation display unit, 12 irradiation lamp (traveling body), 1
3 to 15 mirror (traveling body), 16 condenser lens, 17
CCD image sensor, 19 running motor (stepping motor), 51 CPU, 52 EPROM, 5
3 EEPROM (non-volatile memory), 54 RAM,
60 Moving mechanism.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading a document in line units in a main scanning direction, a moving mechanism for moving the reading means in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and a step motor serving as a drive source of the moving mechanism. Reading control means for controlling reading in line units by the reading means in synchronization with a clock pulse of the step motor, image memory for storing data read by the reading means, and storage in the image memory. Transfer means for transferring the read data to a host computer, and an intermittent operation for performing an intermittent operation of stopping reading when the image memory is in a near full state and resuming reading when the image memory is in an empty state. Controlling the reading speed according to the performance of the host computer. An image reading apparatus characterized in that it can be changed. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a performance of the host computer is detected, and a reading speed is changed according to a result of the detection. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reading speed is reduced during the intermittent operation as compared with a normal operation. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reading speed can be arbitrarily selected and changed. 5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image reading apparatus is configured to notify that the intermittent operation has started. 6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the selected reading speed is stored in a non-volatile memory, and after the power is turned on, the reading speed is automatically set to a value stored in the non-volatile memory. Image reading device.