JPH10285348A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader by which a succeeding original is read quickly. SOLUTION: When an image-pickup element 43 starts reading an original 21, while a 1st carriage 50 is moved from a start point P3 of a 2nd original read position to an end point P4 of the 2nd original read position, a message is displayed on a display section. When the reading of the original 21 is finished, the 1st carriage 50 is placed at. an end point P4 of the 2nd original read position. Then the movement of the 1st carriage 50 is started from the end point P4 of the 2nd original read position towards a standby position P1. In this case, based on the message of the display section, the operator places a succeeding original 21 onto an original placing platen 31, and in the case that a copy mode key or a start key is depressed, the 1st carriage 50 is not moved to the standby position P1 but to the start point P3 of the 2nd original read position.

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 such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction peripheral.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some multi-function machines of this type are provided with a flat bed scanner (FBS: Flat Bed Scanner) for reading documents by placing documents on a document placing plate one by one.

When reading a document with a flatbed reading unit (FBS), the document is placed on a document placing plate in a stationary state. When the start key is pressed by the operator, the carriage on which the light source and the mirror are mounted is moved from the standby position to the start point of the document reading position by driving the motor. Then, the document is moved along the document placing plate to the end point of the document reading position. At this time, light is irradiated onto the original from a light source through an original mounting plate, and the reflected light is transmitted through a plurality of mirrors and lenses to an image sensor (CCD:
Charge Coupled Device). The image sensor outputs the read image as black and white binary image data. Thereafter, the carriage returns from the end point of the document reading position to the standby position.

[0004]

However, in the flatbed reading section (FBS), it takes a time for the carriage to return from the end point of the document reading position to the standby position.
It takes a few seconds. Using this time, the operator can place the next original on the original placing plate and press the start key to read the next original.

However, in the conventional image reading apparatus, when the carriage has not returned to the standby position, even if the start key is pressed as described above, it cannot be recognized. For this reason, even if the carriage returns to the standby position, the reading of the document is not started. Therefore, the operator had to press the start key again.
Until the carriage returns to the standby position, there is no need to change the number of copies or change the settings of the copy mode (normal mode, photo mode, etc.), so that the time required for the copy operation is long.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus capable of quickly reading a next original.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a part or all of a reading unit is moved from a start point of a document reading position to an end point of the document reading position. Document reading means for reading the document, operating means for starting the reading of the document, and operation of the operating means after the document reading means is moved to the end point of the document reading position and before it is moved to a predetermined position. Control means for enabling.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means validates an operation on the operation means when the document reading means moves back.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image data of the document is stored in the storage unit before the operation on the operation unit is validated.

In the embodiments of the invention described below, the "document reading means" described in claims or means for solving the problems is the reading section 14, the moving mechanism 41.
And "stepping motor 52", and also "operation means".
Corresponds to a start key 87b, a copy mode key 87c, a numeric keypad 87d, and a cut sheet change key 87e, and similarly, "control means" is a CPU 82, a ROM 83, and a RAM.
84, and “storage means” also corresponds to the image memory 85.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a document feeding unit 12 is
, A document placement section 13, a reading section 14, a cut sheet supply section 15, a recording section 17, and a cut sheet discharge section 18.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the document feeder 12 includes 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 / absence sensor 27 is disposed 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 diameters of the large-diameter pulleys 44 and 45 are formed to be twice the diameters of the small-diameter pulleys 46 and 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 document placing plate 31, and the carriages 50 and 51 are positioned at the start point P3 of the second document 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 section 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 and arranged at the start point P3 of the second document reading position. Is performed, 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 section 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.

The reading section 14 reads an image on the original 21 via the light transmitting plate 25 or the original placing plate 31 and outputs black and white binary image data to the CPU 82. 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 a cut sheet 56 or the like.

The display unit 86 includes a liquid crystal display panel and an LED, and displays various information such as an operation state of the apparatus such as "copy", "communication", "standby", and "lamp replacement". The operation unit 87 includes a copy / communication key 87a, a start key 87b, a copy mode key 87c, and a ten key 87.
Various operation keys such as d are provided. Copy / Communication key 8
7a is operated to select whether to execute copying or facsimile communication. Start key 8
7b is operated to start a copy operation or a facsimile communication operation. The copy mode key 87c is operated to select whether to execute a normal mode for copying normal characters or a photo mode for copying a photo original. The ten-key 87d is operated to input the number of copies at the time of copying, a facsimile number at the time of facsimile communication, and the like.

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.

Next, the operation when the original 21 is read by the flatbed reading unit (FBS) in the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 proceeds under the control of the CPU 82 based on the control program stored in the ROM 83.

First, the document 21 is placed on the document placing plate 31 by the operator (S1), and it is waited for the start key 87a to be pressed (S2). When the start key 87a is pressed, the first carriage 50 is moved to the start point P3 of the second document reading position (S3). Then, the first carriage 5
0 is moved (forward) in the direction of the end point P4 of the second document reading position, so that the
And the storage of the image data of the read original 21 in the image memory 85 is started (S4), and at the same time as the start of reading, the display section 86 displays "Do you have a next original?"
Is displayed (S5). When the reading of the document 21 is completed (S6), the first carriage 50 is located at the end point P4 of the second document reading position, and the accumulation of the image data in the image memory 85 is completed.

Then, the movement (backward movement) of the first carriage 50 from the end point P4 of the second document reading position toward the standby position P1 is started, and the cut sheet 56 of the document 21 stored in the image memory 85 is moved. Is started (S
7).

Subsequently, in step S5, based on the message displayed on the display unit 86, the next original 21 is placed on the original placing plate 31 by the operator during the period from the display of the message to the present time, and the copy is performed. It is determined whether or not the mode key 87c has been pressed (S8). Copy mode key 87c
Is pressed to change the copy mode, the pressing operation of the copy mode key 87c is validated, and the process returns to S3 where the first carriage 50 is not at the standby position P1 but at the start point P3 of the second document reading position. Moved to On the other hand, if the copy mode 87c has not been pressed and the copy mode setting has not been changed, the process proceeds to S9.

In step S5, based on the message displayed on the display unit 86, the next original 21 is placed on the original placing plate 31 by the operator between the display of the message and the present time. It is determined whether or not 87b has been pressed (S9). When the start key 87b is pressed, the pressing operation of the start key 87b is validated, and the process returns to S3 to move the first carriage 50 to the start point P3 of the second document reading position instead of the standby position P1. . On the other hand, if the start key 87b has not been pressed, the flow shifts to S10, where the first carriage 50 is moved to the standby position P1, and this processing ends.

As described above, in this embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained. After the reading of the original 21 is completed based on the message on the display unit 86, the next original 21 is placed on the original placing plate 3 by the operator.
1 and the copy mode key 87c or the start key 87b is pressed, the pressing operation is validated and the first carriage 50 is moved to the standby position P1 instead of the standby position P1.
It is moved to the start point P3 of the second document reading position. For this reason, the next original 21 is placed on the original placing plate 31 during the backward movement of the first carriage 50, and the process can immediately proceed to the next copy operation, so that copying can be performed in a short time.

When the copy mode key 87c is pressed, it is determined that the next original 21 is placed on the original placing plate 31, and the next original 21 is not pressed without pressing the start key 87b. Since the operation for reading is started, it is not necessary to press the start key 87b.

Image memory 85 for read image data
After the storage of the copy mode key 87c,
The pressing operation of the start key 87b is validated. Therefore, the target of validation for the pressing operation of the copy mode key 87c and the start key 87b is not the original 21 in the current reading operation but the original 21 to be read next. Therefore, the setting conditions are not changed in the middle of the document 21 currently being read, and no malfunction or the like occurs in the currently recorded operation.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows. Even in such a case, the same operation and effect as those of the above embodiment can be obtained. -It is also applicable when changing the size of the cut sheet 56. Specifically, a cut sheet change key 87e is provided as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. And, as shown in FIG.
After NO in S8 in FIG. 5, the cut sheet change key 8
It is determined whether or not 7e is pressed (S11). If the size of the cut sheet 56 has been changed, the process proceeds to S3. On the other hand, if the size of the cut sheet 56 has not been changed, the process proceeds to S9.

Applying even when the number of copies is changed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, following NO in S8 in FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the ten key 87d is pressed (S12). When the ten key 87d is pressed, the process proceeds to S3. On the other hand, if the ten key 87d has not been pressed, the process proceeds to S9.

The present invention is applied to a copy machine and a facsimile machine. The image sensor 43 that reads the document 21 may be a contact sensor, that is, a device in which a line light source (usually an LED) and a line sensor that detects the width of the document are integrated.

The first carriage 50 activates the copy mode key 87c and the start key 87b when pressed.
Of the document reading position at the end point P4 of the document reading position.

Further, technical ideas other than the claims grasped from the embodiment will be described below together with their effects. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a display unit that indicates a state of the apparatus, wherein the control unit is configured to perform the reading of the next original with respect to the display unit when reading the original. An image reading device that indicates that it can be started.

With this configuration, the operator can be notified of the timing at which the next original can be placed.

[0041]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the operation unit is operated after the reading unit is moved to the end point of the document reading position, the operation of reading the next document is immediately started. Therefore, the next original can be read efficiently.

According to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1
In addition to the effects of the invention described in (1), the operation of reading the next document is started by the operation of the operation means when the document reading means moves back, so that the next document can be read quickly.

According to the invention described in claim 3, according to claim 1
Alternatively, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 2, after the image data of the read document is stored in the storage unit, the operation unit is validated, so that inconvenience such as malfunction in recording can be prevented beforehand. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the multifunction peripheral.

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

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a reading operation in a flatbed reading unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 14 denotes a reading unit constituting a document reading unit; 21 denotes a document;
Reference numeral 1 denotes a moving mechanism constituting a document reading means; 52 a step motor constituting a document reading means; 85 an image memory as a storage means; P3 a start point of a second document reading position as a starting point of the document reading position; P4: the end point of the second document reading position as the end point of the document reading position.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An original reading means for reading an original by moving a part or all of a reading part from a start point to an end point of an original reading position, an operating means for starting an original reading, and an original reading means An image reading apparatus comprising: a control unit that validates an operation of an operation unit after the document is moved to an end point of a document reading position and before the document is moved to a predetermined position. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit validates an operation on the operation unit when the document reading unit moves back. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data of the document is stored in the storage unit, and then the operation on the operation unit is validated.