JPH11231726A - Original reading/recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically determine a reading range even in the case an original document is not a regular size and to record a read image onto recording paper. SOLUTION: The device F is equipped with original size detection means S1 and S2, and an image reading means 9. The device F is composed by being further equipped with an image recording means 10, which records the image, read by the image reading means 9, onto recording paper of a specific size, and a control means 1, which controls such that in the case the image reading means 9 cannot specify a reading range based on a size detected by the original- document size detection means S1 and S2, the image reading means 9 reads a range corresponding to a recording-paper size allowed by the image recording means 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document reading and recording apparatus such as a copying machine and a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a document reading and recording apparatus such as a copier,
The size of the document is detected, an image is read from the range of the document size, and the read image is recorded on a recording sheet having a size corresponding to the document size. At this time, the size of the recording paper is selected to be the same as the original size when recording at the same size, but the size after magnification conversion is selected when recording at an enlarged or reduced size.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of detecting a document size. FIG. 3A shows a state where no original is placed on the original table (flat bed).
In this apparatus, a line image sensor that reads an image of a document shares the document width sensor S1 and detects the width (length in the main scanning direction) of the document when the document is at a reading start line position. A document length sensor S2 provided at a predetermined interval L from the reading start line position detects whether the document has been placed up to that position, thereby detecting the length of the document (length in the sub-scanning direction). doing.

That is, as shown in FIG.
(<L) and a document G1 (here, A4
The document width sensor S1
Specifies and detects a document width L1, and a document length sensor S
2 detects the presence of the original G1, so that the original G
1 is a fixed size document length L2 having a document width L1.
Thus, the reading range is determined.

As shown in FIG. 1C, when an original G1 having the same size as that shown in FIG. 1B is placed in a different direction, the original width sensor S1 detects the original width L2. However, since the document length sensor S2 does not detect the presence of the document G1, it is determined that the length of the placed document G1 is the length L1 of the standard size having the document width L2, and the reading range is determined. .

[0006]

However, in the above-described conventional document reading and recording apparatus, when a document of a non-standard size is placed, the reading range cannot be specified in some cases. For this reason, even if an attempt is made to record on a recording sheet having a non-standard size corresponding to the original size, the original size (or recording paper size) cannot be automatically specified, and it has been necessary to manually select the original size.

FIG. 4A shows a state in which a letter-size original G2 is placed, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which a legal-size original G3 is placed. These sizes are standard sizes in the United States. In both sizes, the document width L3 is almost the same as the A4 size width L1 (L3 ≒ L1), but the letter size length L4 is the A4 size length. It is shorter than L2 (L4 <L2), and the legal size length L5 is longer than the A4 size length L2 (L5> L2).

As shown in the figure, in both sizes, the document lengths L4 and L5 are longer than the distance L from the reading start position to the document length sensor S2. Since the sensor S2 detects the presence of the originals G2 and G3, the two cannot be distinguished and the reading range cannot be specified. Therefore, in this case, the document size must be set manually, which is troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been made to automatically determine a reading range and record a read image on a recording sheet even if the document is not a fixed size document. It is an object to provide a reading and recording device.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document reading and recording apparatus, comprising: a document size detecting means; an image reading means; and an image read by the image reading means. Means for recording on a recording paper of a predetermined size, and when the range to be read by the image reading means cannot be specified based on the size detected by the document size detecting means, the size corresponding to the size of the recording paper of the image recording means. Control means for setting the range to be read by the image reading means.

The document size detecting means detects the document width and the document length to determine the document size.
The reading range of the image reading means is specified based on the determined document size. If the determined document size cannot be specified as one size, the reading range is adjusted from the range corresponding to the document size to the range corresponding to the recording paper size. Change to According to a second aspect, the image recording unit of the first aspect has recording paper of a plurality of sizes, and the control unit specifies a range to be read by the image reading unit based on the size detected by the document size detection unit. If it is not possible, the range corresponding to the size of the recording paper having the higher priority among the recording papers of the image recording means is set as the range to be read by the image reading means.

Here, a configuration is proposed in which the image recording means can record the read image on one size of recording paper selected from a plurality of sizes of recording paper, and the image reading range can be specified. If not, the reading range is determined according to the priority set in advance for each recording sheet, according to the recording sheet having the highest order. Claim 3 is Claim 1
Alternatively, the case where the image reading unit of claim 2 cannot specify the range to be read is specifically described, wherein the control unit is configured so that the document size detection unit detects the length of the document from the document in the main scanning direction. Can be specified and detected, but when the length in the sub-scanning direction cannot be specified and detected, the range to be read by the image reading means cannot be specified.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the document reading and recording apparatus. here,
Although the configuration of the facsimile apparatus F is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a copier, a computer to which a printer or a scanner is connected, and the like.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a control means comprising a CPU or the like, and a main control unit for controlling the following units, and 2 denotes a telephone line L.
NCU for transmitting a dial signal to the telephone line L and controlling connection to the telephone line L; 3, a modem for modulating and demodulating a signal for performing facsimile communication; 4, an image memory for temporarily storing encoded image data; Is a RAM for storing various data, 6 is a ROM in which a control program and the like are stored in advance, 7 is a display unit composed of a liquid crystal screen or an LED lamp, 8 is an operation unit composed of various keys, 9
Denotes a reading unit which constitutes image reading means for reading image data from an original, and 10 denotes a facsimile-received image and an image read from the reading unit 9 in advance by a plurality of recording paper cassettes C.
1, C2,... Are recorded on any one of fixed-size recording papers contained in each of the recording papers 1 to 3 and constitute image recording means.

The recording section 10 is composed of a laser recording type printer or the like, and can record high quality images at high speed. The mode switching key (not shown) of the operation section 8 is provided.
Thus, when the mode is switched to the copy (copy) mode, the image of the document read by the reading unit 9 is recorded (printed out) on recording paper of a predetermined size. On the other hand, when the mode is switched to the facsimile mode, the image of the document read by the reading unit 9 is encoded, and then transmitted to the other party's facsimile device via the modem 3 and the NCU 2. Further, facsimile reception can be performed in any mode. In the facsimile mode, received image data is sequentially recorded by the recording unit 10,
When a copy operation is being performed in the copy mode, the received image data is sequentially stored in the image memory 4, and after the copy operation is completed, the stored image data is read out and recorded by the recording unit 10.

The reading unit 9 includes a document width sensor S1 for detecting a document width as document size detecting means (document sensor);
A document length sensor S2 for detecting the document length is provided. The document size is determined based on the detection results of the document sensors S1 and S2, and the reading unit 9 reads the size range. However, as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the document width sensor S1 is configured by a line image sensor, while the document length sensor S2 is configured by a sensor that only detects the presence or absence of a document at that position. And the length of the image reading in the main scanning direction can be specified and detected, but the length in the sub-scanning direction cannot be specified and detected, that is, the main control unit 1 specifies the document size. If the reading range cannot be specified by the reading unit 9, the range corresponding to the size of the recording paper of the recording unit 10 is set as the range to be read by the reading unit 9.

As a result, as in the prior art,
By operating the operation unit 8, even if the document size and the recording paper size (recording paper cassettes C1, C2,...) Are not selected,
The reading unit 9 can automatically read an image from a document and record the image on a recording sheet. If the reading unit 9 cannot specify the range to be read, it means that only a letter-size or legal-size document is used. The document width sensor S1 detects the document width L3 and the document length sensor S2
Is turned on (see FIG. 4), and when using in such a case (for example, when using overseas), the size of the original to be used is stored in the RAM 5 by operating the operation unit 8 in advance. What is necessary is just to set to the effect that the size cannot be specified.

As shown in the figure, when the recording unit 10 is capable of recording an image on recording paper stored in a plurality of recording paper cassettes C1, C2,. , For each size of recording paper
Priorities (priorities) are determined. This priority is given to the facsimile machine F by the recording paper cassette C.
1, C2,... May be determined in the order in which they are set.
For example, the priority order is set in the order of the upper, middle, and lower positions, which are the set positions of the recording paper cassettes C1, C2,.

As described above, in the state where the priorities are determined, the main controller 1 sets the priority if the range to be read by the reading unit 9 cannot be specified based on the sizes detected by the document sensors S1 and S2. The range corresponding to the size of the recording paper having a high value is defined as the range read by the reading unit 9. If the priority is set higher on the cassette C1 containing the letter-size recording paper than on the cassette C2 containing the legal-size recording paper, the cassette C1 becomes the legal-size recording paper that is used less frequently. There is no case where an image is recorded, and recording is performed in preference to letter-size recording paper. When the user wants to record on legal-size recording paper, the selection of the recording paper cassettes C1, C2,.

Next, the above operation will be described with reference to the flowchart (100 to 112) of FIG. Here, it is assumed that only a letter size and a legal size are provided as recording paper. Place the original on the flatbed (10
0), when the copy switch (start key) of the operation unit 8 is turned on (101), the light source (lamp) for document illumination of the reading unit 9 is turned on, and the image sensor as the document width sensor S1 reads an image. In this case, the portion other than the original is read as white, and the position where the white changes to black continuous is determined as the edge of the original, and the original width is determined. At the same time, the original size is automatically detected by determining whether the original length sensor S2 is on or off (102).

At this time, if the document length sensor S2 is not turned on, it is determined that the document length is equal to or less than the length L (N of 103), and the size (corresponding to the document width detected by the document width sensor S1) While moving the image sensor (S1) in the lengthwise direction of the flatbed, the range of (letter size or legal size) is read to the length L3 (111) and recorded on a recording sheet of this size (112).
(See FIGS. 3C and 4).

On the other hand, when the document length sensor S2 is turned on, the document length becomes longer than the length L, and it is determined that one of the two sizes cannot be specified (Y in 103), and the reading range is determined according to the recording paper. Here, since the priority order is set in advance in the order of letter size and legal size, if there is a letter size recording sheet (recording sheet cassette C1) (10
4), the letter size range from the original is read to the length L4 while moving the image sensor (S1) in the length direction of the flat bed (105), and the read image is printed on a letter size recording paper. To print out (10
6) (see FIG. 4 (a)).

If there is no letter-size recording paper (recording paper cassette C1) (104: N) and there is legal-size recording paper (recording paper cassette C2) (107: Y),
The image sensor (S
While moving 1) in the length direction of the flat bed, reading is performed up to the length L5 (108), and the read image is printed out on legal-size recording paper (109).
(See FIG. 4B).

Further, if neither a letter-size recording paper (recording paper cassette C1) nor a legal-size recording paper (recording paper cassette C2) is present (N in 107), an error processing without recording paper is performed on the display unit. 7, a message prompting replenishment of the recording paper is displayed, and an alarm is sounded (110). In this case, the automatic document size detection (102) is performed after the copy switch ON (101). However, the present invention is not limited to this. A lid (cover) for document pressing is provided on the flat bed so as to be freely opened and closed. A sensor for detecting the angle immediately before the lid is closed is provided on the hinge for attaching the lid and the apparatus main body.
May be turned on, and the image sensor as the document width sensor S1 may read the main scanning image.

[0025]

As can be understood from the above description, the document reading and recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention automatically sets the image reading range when the image reading range cannot be specified based on the detected document size. Since the range corresponding to the size of the recording paper is set as the image reading range, it is not necessary to perform the operation of selecting the document size as in the related art.

In the second aspect, when the image reading range cannot be specified based on the detected document size, the range corresponding to the size of the recording paper having the higher priority among the plurality of recording papers is defined as the image reading range. Therefore, if the priority of a recording sheet of a frequently used size is set high, an image can be read and recorded from a range suitable for the recording sheet. Therefore, an image is not recorded on recording paper of a size that is rarely used, and recording paper is not wasted.

According to the third aspect, the length in the main scanning direction for reading an image from a document can be specified and detected, but when the length in the sub-scanning direction cannot be detected, the image reading range cannot be specified. Since the range corresponding to the size of the recording paper is set as the image reading range, the utility value of the apparatus of the present invention is particularly enhanced when only the letter size and legal size are used overseas.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a document reading and recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the document reading and recording apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for detecting a document size.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a problem when specifying a reading range.

[Explanation of symbols]

 F: facsimile machine (document reading and recording device) 1: main control unit 9: reading unit 10: recording unit S1: document width sensor S2: document length sensor C1: recording Paper cassette (letter size) C2: Recording paper cassette (legal size)

Claims (3)

[Claims] A document size detecting means, an image reading means,
When the image reading unit cannot specify a reading range based on the size detected by the document size detecting unit and the image recording unit that records the image read by the image reading unit on a recording sheet of a predetermined size, A document reading and recording apparatus comprising: a control unit that sets a range corresponding to a predetermined size of a recording sheet of the image recording unit to a range to be read by the image reading unit. 2. The image recording means has a plurality of sizes of recording paper, and the control means specifies a range to be read by the image reading means based on the size detected by the document size detecting means. 2. The document reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a range corresponding to a size of a recording sheet having a high priority among the recording sheets of the image recording means is set as a range to be read by the image reading means. apparatus. 3. The control means according to claim 1, wherein said document size detecting means specifies and detects a length in the main scanning direction in which said image reading means reads an image from the document, but specifies a length in the sub-scanning direction. 3. The document reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the detection is not possible, the range to be read by the image reading unit cannot be specified.