JPH1175061A - Image reader and image reading method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader and an image reading method which always obtains image data that has high reproducibility on the same level regardless of sensitivity deterioration which is caused by stain of white reference due to mist, etc., of ink and stain of a sensor unit of a scanner. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a light source 7a, a CCD 7d, etc., decides a serial scanner 7 which generates an image signal of an original through photoelectric conversion and a white reference value for image signal processing based on the intensity of reflected light from a white reference sheet, stores them in an EEPROM(electrical erasable programmable ROM) 10e, detects the states of the source 7a of the scanner 7 and the CCD 7d, selects a white reference compensation value that corresponds to detection value of the total discharge dot number of discharge ink of an ink jet record head 6 from values which are preliminarily stored in a ROM 10c, perform compensation to a white reference value stored in the EEPROM 10e and has a CPU 10a that processes an image signal based on the compensated white reference value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image reading method, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus and an image reading method suitable for controlling image signal processing using a white reference value. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there have been many devices equipped with image reading means (hereinafter, referred to as a scanner) having a function of taking images such as photographs and printed matter into a word processor (hereinafter abbreviated as a word processor) or a so-called host machine such as a computer. Existing.

The above-described scanner generally has a plurality of light sources and a light receiving sensor (hereinafter, a combination of the light source and the light receiving sensor is referred to as a sensor unit of the scanner), and light emitted from the light source is emitted by a light emitting fiber. The original is read by irradiating a read image (hereinafter, also referred to as an original) through the like and receiving reflected light from the original by a light receiving sensor. The control is performed so as to determine the density of the document, that is, the density gradation, according to the intensity of the light received by the light receiving sensor. The control method includes a control method called multi-value for finely distinguishing shades and a control method called binary for judging only black and white.

As described above, the light receiving sensor needs to judge that white on the document is white and black is black on the basis of the intensity of the received light. The strength may change. If the intensity of the received light changes, white may be determined to be black and black may be determined to be white, and the read original has a different content from the original. Therefore, in order to always read constantly even if the sensor unit of the scanner varies, a white reference member whose reflection density is known is read, and the intensity of the light received by the light receiving sensor at that time is the reference white. In general, control (hereinafter, referred to as white reference adjustment) for recognizing the presence is performed.

It is desirable that the above-described control be performed immediately before each reading of an original, but the durability of the scanner and the above-mentioned reference member and the device configuration such as that the reference member is not provided in the apparatus, or the use of the device, In consideration of the complexity of work for the user, the number of operations is only the first one, or after scanning several originals, or when the user cannot obtain the desired image data. In recent years, many devices having a configuration for limiting the number of times to a specific number have been adopted.

On the other hand, the reference member is provided at a position facing the sensor unit (light source) of the scanner in the apparatus, and the reference member is of a sheet type and is passed through a sheet conveyance path of the apparatus. There is a method of performing the white reference adjustment, but the reference member is provided inside the apparatus from the point that it is most effective to perform immediately before every reading of the document and that the complexity for the user is eliminated. Is most desirable.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, many word processors and the like have a recording device provided with a recording head for recording an image on a recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as a sheet). For example, by incorporating a scanner near the recording head, not only recording an image on a sheet but also reading an image on the sheet is increasing. Such a word processing recording apparatus is often of the thermal transfer recording type, but the ink jet type has a high speed, high definition and low noise because the recording head can perform recording without contacting the sheet. Has been rapidly increasing in recent years because it is possible to record data.

An ink jet recording type recording apparatus performs recording by discharging ink droplets from nozzles of a recording head.
At the time of non-recording, a cap made of an elastic material such as rubber is configured to contact the surface of the recording head in order to prevent the nozzle portion of the recording head from drying. The print head and the sheet are arranged at a certain distance, and at the time of printing, an image is formed by the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles of the print head flying in the air at the certain distance and reaching the sheet. You.

Further, if the ejection is not performed after a certain period of time, such as when waiting for data even during recording, the recording head is moved to the cap position to eject ink droplets into the cap. An operation called preliminary ejection for preventing the nozzles of the recording head from drying is performed. in this case,
When the cap is brought into contact with the recording head, the position of the recording head is displaced, and the image may be disturbed at the time of next recording. The above-described preliminary ejection is performed toward the cap. Therefore, also in this case, the ink droplet flies in the air for a certain distance as in the recording.

It is ideal that the ink droplets ejected from the recording head are one lump. Actually, the ink droplets are called a large main droplet that forms an image on a sheet and a mist that is not related to the image formation. A plurality of small ink droplets are ejected. The mist does not always coincide with the flight direction of the main droplet, and in the case of a very small ink droplet, it floats in the recording device and adheres to various places in the recording device. Further, the main droplet may jump up at the moment when the main droplet reaches the sheet or the cap, and may also float as a mist. For this reason, in an apparatus having a configuration in which a scanner is provided in a printing apparatus, if the apparatus is used as a printing apparatus for a long time, the mist causes a sensor unit (particularly, a light receiving sensor) of the scanner or a reference for white reference adjustment provided in the apparatus. The members gradually get dirty.

Therefore, particularly in an apparatus in which the number of operations of the white reference adjustment is limited, the white reference value set when the sensor unit of the scanner or the reference member for white reference adjustment is almost clean is obtained. When the processing of the image signal read by the dirty scanner sensor unit is performed, there occurs a problem that image data desired by the user, that is, image data with high reproducibility cannot be provided.

As one means for avoiding the above phenomenon, there is cleaning of the reference member for white reference adjustment and re-execution of the white reference adjustment. In particular, in order to prevent the mist from being stained, the reference member for white reference adjustment is used. , For example, a device in which the reference member for white reference adjustment is a sheet type (white reference sheet) is used to convey the sheet in the sheet conveyance path of the apparatus main body, thereby performing white reference adjustment. In
Resetting the white standard requires the user to perform complicated operations, resulting in a loss of convenience.

As described above, when the reference member for adjusting the white reference gradually becomes dirty due to the mist, the image signal processed with the white reference value set when the reference member is almost uncontaminated, and the reference member In an image signal processed with the white reference value set in the dirty state, even if the image data is the same, the density difference between the two becomes large, and the desired image data can be provided to the user. The problem that disappeared occurred.

By the way, the cause of the change of the white reference value can be roughly classified into two except for a sudden factor such as noise and a factor of defective sensor unit. One is a change in the sensitivity of the sensor unit due to a change in temperature or a change in the light amount of the light source.
The other is a change in density on the surface of the reference member described above.
In the apparatus having the above-described configuration, the temperature change on the surface of the reference member is mostly caused by contamination by ink mist.

In order to correct the above-mentioned factor of the change in the white reference value, a correction value considering the temperature, time and the like is used for the former, and the density change on the surface of the reference member is corrected for the latter. The problem can be solved by removing, ie, cleaning or replacing the reference member, but it is impossible to provide the user with highly reproducible image data unless both factors are determined and correction is performed. In addition, the former correction requires complicated control in order to perform appropriate correction because of many elements, while the latter cleaning or replacement of the reference member is
It is necessary to reduce the number of times as much as possible in order to request the user for complicated work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has the same level of high reproducibility regardless of the white reference stain due to ink mist or the like and the scanner sensor unit stain, that is, regardless of sensitivity deterioration. It is a first object to provide an image reading apparatus and an image reading method capable of obtaining data.

Further, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and it is possible to always obtain the same level of reproducible image data as described above, and to provide a reference member for white reference adjustment. It is a second object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus and an image reading method in which the burden on the user is reduced by performing cleaning / replacement only when necessary, and the control configuration can be simplified.

[0018]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for generating an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion, and a method for controlling the intensity of light reflected by a white reference member. An image reading apparatus having setting means for setting a white reference value for image signal processing, wherein the state detecting means for detecting a state of a light source and a light receiving sensor provided in the image reading means, The image processing apparatus further includes a correction unit that corrects the white reference value according to a detection result of the state detection unit, and an image processing unit that processes an image signal based on the corrected white reference value.

In order to achieve the above object, a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the state detecting means detects a deterioration in sensitivity of a light source and a light receiving sensor of the image reading means.

In order to achieve the above object, a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the state detecting means detects the degree of contamination of a light source and a light receiving sensor of the image reading means.

In order to achieve the above object, a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the state detecting means measures the operating time or the energizing time of the image reading means.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the reference member is a sheet-type member that can be conveyed on a document conveying path provided in the apparatus main body.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for generating an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion, and a white image processing means for processing an image signal based on the intensity of light reflected by a white reference member. An image reading apparatus having a reference value and setting means for setting a good level of the white reference value, wherein the state detection means for detecting a state of the reference member, and a white reference value not reaching the good level. A return means for returning a density level of the surface of the reference member to a good level value or more in accordance with a detection result of the state detection means.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 7 is a correction method for correcting the sensitivity deterioration of the image reading means according to the detection result of the state detecting means when the white reference value does not reach the good level. It is characterized by having means.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the return means notifies the time of cleaning or replacement of the reference member.

In order to achieve the above object, a ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the reference member can be cleaned or replaced by the apparatus itself.

In order to achieve the above object, a tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the state detecting means detects a change in density on the surface of the reference member.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 11 is characterized in that the state detecting means detects the degree of contamination of the reference member.

In order to achieve the above object, a twelfth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the state detecting means detects completion of cleaning or replacement of the reference member based on resetting of a white reference value after the notification. And

In order to achieve the above object, a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the reference member is detachably provided at a position facing the light source of the image reading means and near the document conveying path. I do.

In order to achieve the above object, a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a recording head for performing recording on a recording medium can be mounted on the apparatus main body.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the recording head has an electrothermal converter as an energy generating element for discharging ink, which generates heat energy for causing film boiling of the ink. It is a recording head of a system.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 16 is characterized in that the state detecting means counts the total number of ejection dots of ejection ink of the recording head mounted on the apparatus main body.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 17 is characterized in that the state detecting means counts the number of ejection dots of ejection ink for each of a plurality of nozzles of the recording head mounted on the apparatus main body. Features.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 18 is characterized in that the state detecting means counts the number of recordings by the recording head mounted on the apparatus main body.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to a nineteenth aspect is characterized in that the state detecting means counts the number of times of ejection recovery processing for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head mounted on the apparatus main body. It is characterized by.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading step for generating an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion by an image reading means, and an image signal based on the intensity of reflected light from a white reference member. An image reading method having a setting step of setting a white reference value for processing, wherein a state detection step of detecting a state of a light source and a light receiving sensor provided in the image reading means; and the state detection after setting a white reference value The image processing apparatus further includes a correction step of correcting the white reference value according to the detection result of the step, and an image processing step of processing an image signal based on the corrected white reference value.

In order to achieve the above object, a twenty-first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in the state detecting step, a deterioration in sensitivity of a light source and a light receiving sensor portion of the image reading means is detected.

In order to achieve the above object, a twenty-second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in the state detecting step, the degree of contamination of the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means is detected.

In order to achieve the above object, a twenty-third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the state detecting step, an operation time or an energizing time of the image reading means is measured.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 24 is an image reading step in which an image reading means generates an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion, and an image signal based on the intensity of light reflected by a white reference member. A setting step of setting a white reference value for processing and a good level of the white reference value, wherein a state detection step of detecting a state of the reference member; and a white reference value reaching a good level. A reset step of returning the density level of the surface of the reference member to a good level value or more in accordance with a detection result of the state detecting step when the condition is not detected.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, when the white reference value does not reach the good level, the correction for correcting the sensitivity deterioration of the image reading means according to the detection result of the state detection step. It is characterized by having a step.

In order to achieve the above object, a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in the return step, a time for cleaning or replacing the reference member is notified.

In order to achieve the above object, a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the invention has a cleaning / replacement step of cleaning or replacing the reference member.

In order to achieve the above object, a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the state detecting step, a change in density on the surface of the reference member is detected.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 29 is characterized in that in the state detecting step, the degree of contamination of the reference member is detected.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 30 is characterized in that in the state detecting step, completion of cleaning or replacement of the reference member is detected based on resetting of a white reference value after the notification. And

[0048] In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 31 is characterized in that it has a recording step of recording on a recording medium with a recording head.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to a thirty-second aspect is characterized in that in the recording step, an ink-jet head having an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy for causing film boiling of the ink as an energy generating element for discharging the ink. The recording is performed on a recording medium by a recording head of a system.

In order to achieve the above object, a thirty-third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the state detecting step, the total number of ejected dots of ejected ink of the recording head is counted.

In order to achieve the above object, a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the state detecting step, the number of ejection dots of ejection ink for each of a plurality of nozzles provided in the recording head is counted.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 35 is characterized in that in the state detecting step, the number of recordings by the recording head is counted.

In order to achieve the above object, a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the state detecting step, the number of ejection recovery processes for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head is counted.

[0054]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[1] First Embodiment FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a document creation processing apparatus (word processor) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The document creation processing device according to the first embodiment includes a keyboard 1, a display 2, a recording / reading device 3, a sheet / document insertion port 4,
Are provided in the housing. 5A shows a recording sheet and 5B shows a read original.

The keyboard 1 is an input means for the user to input information such as text. As another input means, a pointing device such as a mouse can be attached to the main body of the document creation processing apparatus. The display 2 is, for example, an LCD (L
It is configured as an iquid Crystal Display (liquid crystal display). When an image is read by a serial scanner described later, the procedure and read image data are displayed. The display method is not limited to the LCD, and other display methods can be used.

The recording / reading device 3 includes an ink jet recording device 3A for recording information such as a document on a recording sheet 5A,
The first embodiment is configured such that an ink jet recording head and a serial scanner are mounted on a carrier described later in the first embodiment. In view of the intention of the present invention, the same effect can be obtained even in a device configuration in which a line scanner is incorporated in the device.

The sheet / document insertion slot 4 is provided with a recording sheet 5A.
Alternatively, it is an insertion port for inserting the read original 5B. The recording / reading device 3 pulls in the recording sheet 5A or the read document 5B inserted into the sheet / document insertion slot 4 to a predetermined position.
While driving the recording sheet 5A or the read original 5B in the direction of the arrow A shown in FIG.
It is configured to perform recording on the recording sheet 5A or reading of the read original 5B.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the recording head / scanner section 3a according to the first embodiment. The recording head / scanner section 3a includes a portion that is an ink jet recording head 6 and a portion that is a serial scanner 7. First, the portion that is the ink jet recording head 6 will be described. Inkjet recording head 6
Can be roughly divided into two types, one for monochrome and the other for color. The inside is a head part that discharges ink droplets according to recording information and an ink tank part that stores ink (not shown).
It is composed of

The head portion and the ink tank are separable, and when the ink runs out, only the ink tank portion can be replaced. Further, the head portion includes a fine liquid discharge port (orifice, hereinafter, referred to as a discharge port), a liquid path (hereinafter, referred to as a nozzle), an energy action section provided in a part of the nozzle, and the action section. A plurality of energy generating means for generating droplet forming energy to act on the liquid are provided.

Next, the portion that is the serial scanner 7 will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the serial scanner 7. As shown in the figure, the portion that is the serial scanner 7 is the number of nozzles of the inkjet recording head 6 (for example, 1 in this example).
It is 28, but is not limited to this number)
An optical system including a light source 7a, a mirror 7b, a lens 7c, and the like having the same number of pixels as those of the CCD (Charge Coupled De)
vice) 7d or a light receiving sensor which is a solid-state imaging device such as a photodiode array.

The light source 7a of the serial scanner 7 is generally composed of three types of "Red", "Green", and "Blue". The read image and the white reference adjustment are based on the results of irradiation with the three types of light sources. Produces data,
In the following description, the “Red” sensor will be described as a representative example. In the present invention, of course, the emission color of the sensor is not limited to “Red”.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation configuration of the serial scanner 7 in the document creation processing device according to the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, the serial scanner 7 irradiates light from the light source 7a to the read original 5B (step S401), and forms an image of the light reflected on the surface of the read original 5B by the mirror 7b and the lens 7c (step S402). Further, the light amount is transmitted to the light receiving sensor CC.
After reading at D7d (step S403), the read light amount is converted into a voltage (step S404), and then A / D conversion is performed to convert an analog voltage into a digital voltage (step S405), and the control is transmitted to the host device. ing.

The irradiation of the light from the light source 7a of the serial scanner 7 may be performed all the time, but it is desirable to irradiate the light as needed from the viewpoint of the durability of the light source 7a. In addition, the above control is performed by a dedicated IC, and the description thereof will be described later.

FIG. 5 is an arrow B in FIG. 2 showing the internal configuration of the document creation processing device (word processor) according to the first embodiment.
It is sectional drawing (along AA 'direction) from the direction. Inside the housing of the document creation processing device, a recording head / scanner unit 3a including an ink jet recording head 6 and a serial scanner 7, a carrier 3b, a guide shaft 3c, a transport roller 3d, a pinch roller 3e, and a discharge roller 3f
, Spur 3g, conveyance guide 3h, sheet sensor 3i
, A discharge port 8, a floppy disk drive 9, and a control board 10 are provided. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a keyboard, and 2 denotes a display.

The structure of each part described above will be described in detail. The ink jet recording head 6 and the serial scanner 7
b, and scans (reciprocates) along the guide shaft 3c in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction A of the recording sheet 5A or the read original 5B (vertical direction on the paper). The transport system for the recording sheet 5A or the read original 5B includes a transport roller 3d and a pinch roller 3e that presses against the transport roller 3d, and a discharge roller 3f and a spur 3g that presses against this. Further, a transport guide 3h for guiding the transport of the recording sheet 5A or the read original 5B is provided between the rollers.

The recording sheet 5A or the read original 5B is discharged from the discharge port 8. The sheet sensor 3i is
The presence or absence of the recording sheet 5A or the read original 5B in the transport path is detected. The floppy disk drive (FDD) 9 is built in a word processor, and writes information such as a document to a floppy disk (not shown) as a detachable recording medium inserted therein and reads the information. The control board 10 controls each part of the word processor, and controls, for example, information processing of documents and the like, control of the inkjet recording apparatus 3A, control of the image reading apparatus 3B, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the document creation processing device according to the first embodiment. The document creation processing apparatus according to the first embodiment includes a keyboard 1, a display 2, a recording / reading device 3 having an ink jet recording head 6, a serial scanner 7, a carrier motor 10j, a transport motor 10k, and a sensor 10m. , A / D converter 7f, D / A converter 7g, RAM 7h, scanner driver 7e having oscillating circuit 7i, floppy disk drive (FDD) 9, CPU 10a, timer 10b, ROM 10c, RAM 10d, EEP
ROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable RO)
M) 10e, a discharge heater driver 10f, a carrier motor driver 10g, and a transport motor driver 10h. It should be noted that the illustrated arrows indicate the signal transmission and reception directions.

The structure of each of the above components will be described in detail.
a is for controlling the entire apparatus,
6, FIG. 7, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and flowcharts shown in FIGS. 16 to 19, which will be described later, based on the control program stored in FIG.
Are described in the first embodiment, and FIGS. 16 to 19 are described in detail in the fifth embodiment.) Timer 10b
Is composed of a plurality of timers and manages the time during the control execution of the CPU 10a, and is configured to be able to instruct start and stop of time measurement by a control signal from the CPU 10a.

The ROM 10c stores a control program for the apparatus and various data. In addition, the present apparatus is provided with the above floppy disk drive (FDD).
9. It is also controlled by a control program and various data stored in an external storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD, not shown). RAM 10d is a CPU
It is used as a work area when the control 10a is executed, a buffer area for storing input data from input means such as the keyboard 1, or a VRAM (Video RAM) area for displaying data on the display 2. The EEPROM 10e has an electrically readable and writable R
OM, the recorded data is retained even when the power of the apparatus is turned off, and the above-described white reference value is also stored here.

When recording or reading an image, the carrier motor 10 serving as a driving source of the carrier 3b is used.
j, a transport motor 10k which is a transport drive source of the recording sheet 5A or the read original 5B, an ink jet recording head 6 (actually, an energy generating means in the recording head 6) or a serial scanner 7 includes a carrier motor driver 10g, an ejection heater Driven by the driver 10f, the transport motor driver 10h, and the scanner driver 7e, a recording operation or a reading operation is executed according to the detection state of the sensor 10m including the sheet sensor 3i.
However, due to the configuration of the apparatus, the ejection heater driver 10f and the scanner driver 7e are not driven at the same time.

At the time of recording, the transport motor 10k
Is to discharge the ink from all the discharge ports by the energy generating means used for discharging the ink in the head portion of the ink jet recording head 6, or to apply a suction force while covering the discharge port forming surface with the cap. Accordingly, a recovery system (not shown) for performing a recovery process for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection state by performing a process for removing a cause of ejection failure such as bubbles and dust, ink which has become unsuitable for printing due to an increase in viscosity is also driven. It is driven by switching a force transmission gear (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 6, the scanner driver 7e controls the serial scanner 7 in accordance with a signal from the CPU 10a to acquire a white reference value and image data. The scanner driver 7e includes an A / D converter 7f, a D / A converter 7g, a RAM 7h, an oscillation circuit 7i for generating a timing signal necessary for a reading operation, and the like. It also has functions.

The control configuration is such that necessary signals such as an enable signal and a write signal from the CPU 10a are input to the scanner driver 7e in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 10c or the like, so that the CCD 7 shown in FIG.
The input data (amplified) obtained as a result of driving d (step S403 in FIG. 6) is temporarily stored in the RAM 7h in the scanner driver 7e, and necessary data is stored therein based on the white reference value described above. Processing is performed (steps S404 and S405 in FIG. 6), and control is performed so that image reading data is output to the CPU 10a in synchronization with a clock signal as multi-valued or binary digital serial data.

In the first embodiment, a white reference sheet is used as a reference member for white reference adjustment, and the user sets the white reference sheet during white reference adjustment. The same effect can be obtained even when a reference member for reference adjustment is provided.
Further, the white reference adjustment is performed once at the time of product shipment, and thereafter is basically not performed. However, an effect can be obtained in an apparatus configured to perform the white reference adjustment as appropriate.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation at the time of adjusting the white reference value in the document creation processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The white reference value adjustment is performed by reading the density of the white reference member, whose reflection density is known in advance, with the serial scanner 7 when the temperature is stable (at room temperature).
The reference member is independent of the apparatus, and a sheet-like reference member (white reference sheet) is prepared. However, as described above, this operation is performed only once at the time of product shipment,
Basically, the user does not perform this operation, and the user performs it only when desired image data cannot be obtained.

In this example, the serial scanner 7 is
In the AA ′ direction (column direction), for example, 128 pixels are arranged so as to be arranged at intervals of 0.0706 mm. Since the white reference value is set for each pixel, 128 pixels are set. You. Also, the recording head 6 is A-
In the A 'direction, for example, 128 ejection nozzles are 0.0706 m
It is assumed that they are arranged so as to be arranged at m intervals.

First, upon receiving the white reference adjustment command (step S601), the CPU 10a displays a message on the display 2 to set the white reference sheet in the apparatus, and informs the sheet sensor that the white reference sheet has been set in the apparatus. When the detection is made in 3i (step S602), the transport motor 10k is driven by the transport motor driver 10h to transport the white reference sheet in the direction A by a predetermined amount (step S603).

Further, the scanner driver 7e drives the serial scanner 7 to make one scan in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction A of the white reference sheet (step S604), thereby reading the density of the white reference sheet at a predetermined position (step S604). S605). Steps S603 to S60 above
The processing up to 5 is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, three times), and the resulting values are averaged to determine a white reference value (step S606).
It is stored in the designated area of the EPROM 10e and updated (step S607).

Here, the state condition indicates the total number of ejection dots from which the ink jet recording head 6 has ejected ink. Note that the count can also be used for controlling a remaining amount display mechanism for counting the number of ejection dots, which has recently been adopted in many ink jet recording apparatuses. In step S606, the white reference value is determined by averaging. However, a control method using three central values may be used.

When the white reference adjustment operation is completed, the conveyance motor 10k is driven by the conveyance motor driver 10h to discharge the white reference sheet in the front direction of the apparatus (the direction A 'in FIG. 1) (step S608). This is to prevent the white reference sheet from passing through the lower part of the spur 3g (see FIG. 5), which is generally made of metal, thereby preventing the white reference sheet from being damaged and always performing the same white reference value adjustment. It is to make it possible. Therefore, needless to say, the transport amount in step S603 also needs to be an amount such that the leading end of the white reference sheet does not reach the spur 3g.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing an example of the set white reference value. The horizontal direction is 128 pixels arranged in the AA 'direction,
The vertical direction indicates the level of each pixel (hereinafter, this white reference value is R). The output level of the sensor is A /
D-converted and expressed in 256 levels from 0 to 255,
If it is represented by two values, a value equal to or less than the white reference value is determined as “black”, and a value equal to or more than the white reference value is determined as “white”.

The white reference value is generally larger for pixels located at the center, and smaller for pixels located at the ends. This is the pixel located in the center part,
This is because the light source 7a of the serial scanner 7 is nearly perpendicular to the lens 7c, so that a large amount of light can be collected on the CCD 7d. Further, the light source 7a itself has a variation in light amount, and the CCD 7d receiving the reflected light also has a variation.
Due to the influence of noise and the like, even when a reference member for white reference adjustment with a constant reflection density is read, generally only an output that is not constant as shown in the figure is obtained.

Next, the flow of the operation of the document creation processing apparatus according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. For the sake of simplicity, the description will be made on the assumption that the mist of the ink ejected from the ink jet recording head 6 uniformly adheres to the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7, and as a result, the sensitivity of each pixel deteriorates by the same level.

First, when an image reading command is received, C
The PU 10a executes the white reference value correction control (Step S801). The CPU 10a stores the white reference value stored in the EEPROM 10e in a predetermined work area of the RAM 10d (step S802), and the total number of discharge dots of ink currently ejected from the ink jet recording head 6 (actually, the current total discharge number). Number of dots and step S6 in FIG.
07 is detected (step S803).

Further, a white reference correction value corresponding to the value detected in step S803 is selected from the values stored in the ROM 10c in advance (step S804), and the white reference value stored in the RAM 10d in step S802 is selected. Correction is performed (step S805). Here, EE
The values stored in the PROM 10e are not corrected and are left as they are.

Here, FIG. 11 shows that the total number of ejected dots of the ink jet recording head 6 is 0 to 50 million (RH in FIG. 11).
1), 5000 to 100 million (RH2 in the figure), 1
6 is a graph illustrating an example of a correction value when discharging is performed at 100,000,000 dots or more (RH3 in the drawing). FIG. 12 shows a white reference value obtained by correcting the white reference value shown in FIG. 8 with the correction value shown in FIG.

In FIG. 12, RH1 in FIG. 11 corresponds to R'1, RH2 to R'2, and RH13 to R'3. The vertical and horizontal axes of the graphs in FIGS. 11 and 12 are the same as those in FIG. This is because the greater the total number of ejection dots of the inkjet recording head 6, that is, the greater the amount of ink ejected from each nozzle, the more the mist described above,
As a result, the sensitivity of the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7 deteriorates. The deterioration is corrected according to the ink ejection amount. As an example, in FIG.
Is 98% output of R, R'2 is 95% output of R, R '
3 depicts the output of 90% of R.

When the correction of the white reference value is completed in step S805, a message is displayed on the display 2 to set the read original 5B in the apparatus, and the sheet sensor 3i detects that the read original 5B is set in the apparatus. Then (step S806), the scanner driver 7e drives the serial scanner 7 to make one scan in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction A (step S807), thereby reading image data from the read original 5B (step S808). At this time, processing is performed on the read image data using the corrected white reference value stored in the RAM 10d (step S809).

Thereafter, the transport motor 10k is driven by the transport motor driver 10h to transport the read original 5B by a predetermined amount (for example, 128 dots) (step S810), and the above-described step S8 is performed until the reading of the read original 5B is completed.
Steps 07 to S810 are repeated. Then, it is determined whether the reading of the read document 5B is completed (step S811). When the reading of the read document 5B is completed, the transport motor driver 10h drives the transport motor 1H.
0k is driven to eject the read original 5B (step S8).
12), the main reading process ends.

By executing the above-described control, even if the sensitivity of the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7 is deteriorated due to the mist due to the ejection of the ink from the ink jet recording head 6, the white reference value is corrected. It is possible to provide the user with the same image data as before the deterioration. In the first embodiment, the number of ink ejection dots of the ink jet recording head 6 is classified into three levels, but the effect can be further enhanced by further subdividing.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the document creation processing device is based on the serial scanner 7 for generating an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion and the intensity of the reflected light from the white reference sheet. A white reference value for image signal processing is determined, and a light source 7a and a light receiving sensor (C
CD 7d) is detected, and a white reference correction value corresponding to the detected value of the total number of ejection dots of the ejection ink of the ink jet recording head 6 is selected from values stored in the ROM 10c in advance, and And a CPU 10a for performing the correction and processing the image signal based on the corrected white reference value, that is, correcting the white reference value after setting the white reference value for processing the read image signal, and Since the control system is configured to process the image signal read using the reference value, the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7 due to the ink mist, etc. It can be provided to the user.

[2] Second Embodiment In addition to the above-described first embodiment, the following second to fourth embodiments can be adopted.

The document creation processing device according to the second embodiment includes a keyboard 1 and a
A display 2, an inkjet recording head 6, a serial scanner 7, a carrier motor 10j, a transport motor 10k,
A recording / reading device 3 (inkjet recording device 3A, image reading device 3B) having a sensor 10m, a scanner driver 7e having an A / D converter 7f, a D / A converter 7g, a RAM 7h, an oscillation circuit 7i, and a CPU 10a
, A timer 10b, a ROM 10c, and a RAM 10d
, An EEPROM 10e, and an ejection heater driver 10f.
And a carrier motor driver 10g and a transport motor driver 10h (see FIG. 1). The configuration of each part has been described in detail in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Further, the external configuration of the recording head / scanner section 3a including the ink jet recording head 6 and the serial scanner 7 according to the second embodiment (see FIG. 3), and the schematic configuration of the serial scanner 7 (see FIG. 4), the internal configuration of the document creation processing device (see FIG. 5 above), the control configuration of the serial scanner 7 (see FIG. 6), and the like are also the same as those in the first embodiment, and will not be described.

In the first embodiment, the ink mist uniformly adheres to the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7, and as a result, the sensitivity of each pixel is deteriorated by the same level. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, in a device configured to count the total number of ejection dots for each nozzle of the inkjet recording head 6, if the number of ejection dots differs greatly for each nozzle, A method of selecting a correction value corresponding to an ejection nozzle, or a control configuration in which a correction value for a typical ejection pattern of the inkjet recording head 6 is possessed and the closest one is selected from among them. That can be dealt with.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing an example of a correction value for a certain ejection pattern of the ink jet recording head 6. This graph is an example of a correction value when 64 nozzles from the A direction discharge more than 64 nozzles from the A 'direction. FIG. 14 shows the correction values shown in FIG. 13 and the white reference values shown in FIG. Is the white reference value after the correction.

That is, as described above, when the number of ejection dots of the 64 nozzles from the direction A is large, the sensitivity of the pixels of the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7 in the vicinity is easily affected by the mist, and the sensitivity is significantly deteriorated. RH1 'is 1 to
By making the correction value of the 64-pixel portion larger than RH1, the level of the corrected white reference value R''1 in the 1-64-pixel portion is reduced. Note that RH1 and R'1 are the same values as RH1 and R'1 in FIGS.

The ink jet recording head 6 can be classified into monochrome and color. Generally, the black ink is more likely to degrade the sensor unit sensitivity of the serial scanner 7 than the red and yellow inks. In view of the above points, the correction patterns include, for example, a correction value when only some of the nozzles have a large number of ejections, a correction value when only some of the nozzles have a small number of ejections, and a correction when there are many monochrome ejections. Values: Correction values when there are many color discharges; Correction values when a plurality of colors are combined; etc. are stored in the ROM 10c in advance, and when selecting a correction value in step S804 in FIG. If the correction value of the ejection pattern is selected and the correction is executed, the effect can be further enhanced.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the document creation processing apparatus is capable of
In the case where the number of ejection dots differs greatly for each nozzle, a control configuration for selecting a correction value corresponding to the ejection nozzle with the largest number of dots, or a typical inkjet recording head 6
And the control configuration is such that the closest correction value is selected from the correction values. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, the serial scanner 7 using an ink mist or the like is used. It is possible to always provide the same level of reproducible image data to the user irrespective of the contamination of the sensor unit, that is, the sensitivity degradation.

[3] Third Embodiment The document creation processing apparatus according to the third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment.
As in the embodiment, the keyboard 1, the display 2,
Inkjet recording head 6, serial scanner 7, carrier motor 10j, transport motor 10k, sensor 10m
Recording / reading device 3 having an ink jet recording device 3
A, image reading device 3B) and A / D converter 7f, D
/ A converter 7g, RAM 7h, scanner driver 7e having oscillation circuit 7i, CPU 10a, timer 1
0b, ROM 10c, RAM 10d, and EEPROM
M10e, a discharge heater driver 10f, a carrier motor driver 10g, and a transport motor driver 10h (see FIG. 1 described above). The configuration of each part has been described in detail in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Further, the external configuration of the recording head / scanner section 3a including the ink jet recording head 6 and the serial scanner 7 according to the third embodiment (see FIG. 3), and the schematic configuration of the serial scanner 7 (see FIG. 4), the internal configuration of the document creation processing device (see FIG. 5 above), the control configuration of the serial scanner 7 (see FIG. 6), and the like are also the same as those in the first embodiment, and will not be described.

As described above, the finer the correction conditions are, the more effective the control can be.
This results in an increase in the OM 10c and a decrease in the processing speed. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the following control configuration is adopted as a control configuration for realizing the purpose of the present invention.

That is, in the third embodiment, the control structure for counting the number of prints recorded by the ink jet recording apparatus 3A and selecting a correction value in accordance with the counted result, or in the ink jet recording apparatus 3A. Among the various operations, the operation in which the mist is most likely to fly is the ejection recovery process that maintains and recovers the ink ejection state more than the recording operation, that is, the above-mentioned preliminary ejection or suction with the ejection port formation surface covered with a cap separately Since this is a process of removing a discharge factor by forcibly sucking and discharging ink from all the discharge ports using a pump (this is called a cleaning operation), the number of preliminary discharge or cleaning operations is counted, and the number of times is counted. Simplification is possible by adopting a control configuration for selecting a correction value in response.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the document creation processing device is the same as the inkjet recording device 3A.
Or a control structure for counting the number of printed sheets and selecting a correction value in accordance with the counting result, or counting the number of preliminary ejections and cleaning operations in the ink jet printing apparatus 3A and selecting a correction value in accordance with the counting number. Because of the control configuration, as in the first embodiment, image data of the same level and high reproducibility is always used irrespective of contamination of the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7 due to ink mist or the like, that is, regardless of sensitivity deterioration. Can be provided.

[4] Fourth Embodiment A document creation processing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment is characterized in that
As in the embodiment, the keyboard 1, the display 2,
Inkjet recording head 6, serial scanner 7, carrier motor 10j, transport motor 10k, sensor 10m
Recording / reading device 3 having an ink jet recording device 3
A, image reading device 3B) and A / D converter 7f, D
/ A converter 7g, RAM 7h, scanner driver 7e having oscillation circuit 7i, CPU 10a, timer 1
0b, ROM 10c, RAM 10d, and EEPROM
M10e, a discharge heater driver 10f, a carrier motor driver 10g, and a transport motor driver 10h (see FIG. 1 described above). The configuration of each part has been described in detail in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The external configuration of the recording head / scanner section 3a including the ink jet recording head 6 and the serial scanner 7 according to the fourth embodiment (see FIG. 3), and the schematic configuration of the serial scanner 7 (see FIG. 4), the internal configuration of the document creation processing device (see FIG. 5 above), the control configuration of the serial scanner 7 (see FIG. 6), and the like are also the same as those in the first embodiment, and will not be described.

In the first to third embodiments, the ink mist is taken as a parameter of the condition of the sensitivity deterioration of the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7.
On the other hand, as the fourth embodiment, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which processing control is executed in combination with parameters of other state conditions.

As specific examples of the other state conditions,
For example, the element of time. The sensor unit of the serial scanner 7 includes the light source 7a and the light receiving sensor (CCD) as described above.
7d) and the like (see FIG. 4 above), the sensitivity thereof deteriorates with time. Some serial scanners have a sensitivity of 1 after 5000 hours of use.
Decrease by 5%. The deterioration of the sensitivity is mainly caused by the so-called durability deterioration of the light source 7a. Therefore, the time factor is a major factor as one of the conditions for the sensitivity degradation, so that a more precise control can be executed by adding the time factor to the first to third embodiments.

The flowchart of the control according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and therefore will not be described. However, the time is counted by the timer 10b, and the corresponding flowchart shown in FIG. The white reference correction value may be selected in consideration of the time counted in step S803 of step S803. As the time, the cumulative operation time of the serial scanner 7 and the cumulative power-on time of the serial scanner 7 can be cited.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the document creation processing device counts the accumulated operation time or the energized time of the serial scanner 7 with the timer 10b, and based on this counts the white reference correction value. Since the control configuration is selected, similar to the first embodiment, image data with high reproducibility at the same level is always obtained regardless of contamination of the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7 due to ink mist or the like, that is, regardless of sensitivity deterioration. It can be provided to the user. Further, by adding an element of time, it becomes possible to execute more precise control.

[5] Fifth Embodiment The document creation processing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment is similar to the first embodiment.
As in the embodiment, the keyboard 1, the display 2,
Inkjet recording head 6, serial scanner 7, carrier motor 10j, transport motor 10k, sensor 10m
Recording / reading device 3 having an ink jet recording device 3
A, image reading device 3B) and A / D converter 7f, D
/ A converter 7g, RAM 7h, scanner driver 7e having oscillation circuit 7i, CPU 10a, timer 1
0b, ROM 10c, RAM 10d, and EEPROM
M10e, a discharge heater driver 10f, a carrier motor driver 10g, and a transport motor driver 10h (see FIG. 1 described above). The configuration of each part has been described in detail in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Further, the external configuration of the recording head / scanner section 3a including the ink jet recording head 6 and the serial scanner 7 according to the fifth embodiment (see FIG. 3), and the schematic configuration of the serial scanner 7 (see FIG. 4), the control configuration of the serial scanner 7 (see FIG. 6) and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. The internal configuration of the document creation processing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment (see FIG. 15) is the same as that of the first embodiment except that a reference member W for white reference adjustment is provided. The fifth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the reference member W for white reference adjustment is located at a position facing the light source 7a of the serial scanner 7 and at the same time as the transport surface of the read original 5B. It is provided at the same height (immediately below the transport path) so as to be detachable so that it can be cleaned or replaced. The reason why the reference member W is provided at the same height as the transport surface of the read original 5B is that the angle of light emission and light reception changes between when the reference member W is read and when the original is read, and the same density level is different. This is to prevent the judgment.

The size and material of the reference member W are not particularly limited. For example, the reference member W is made of vinyl chloride and has a size of 5 mm in the direction B in FIG.
About 2 mm is sufficient. Further, in this example, the reference member W for white reference adjustment is provided inside the apparatus. However, even if the sheet type is used, ink mist may adhere when passing through the sheet conveyance path. The method is not limited to the white reference adjustment method.

The light source 7a of the serial scanner 7 is generally composed of three types of "Red", "Green", and "Blue". The read image and the white reference adjustment are based on the results of irradiation with the three types of light sources. Produce data.
Although the following description is for a single light source, in the case of a plurality of light sources, the following embodiment may be executed for each light source. Of course, the invention is not limited to the emission colors of the sensors and the number of light sources.

Further, in the fifth embodiment, the control configuration is such that the white reference adjustment is performed every time the original is read.
For example, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus having a control configuration for performing white reference adjustment according to the number of sheets to be read.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation at the time of the white reference adjustment according to the fifth embodiment. The white reference value adjustment is executed by reading the density of the white reference member W, whose reflection density is known in advance, with the serial scanner 7 when the density is stable (at room temperature). In this example, the serial scanner 7 is arranged such that, for example, 128 pixels are arranged at intervals of 0.0706 mm in the AA ′ direction (column direction) in FIG. 1 described above, and the white reference value is set for each pixel. Therefore, 128 are set.

First, when a white reference adjustment command is received (step S1601), the CPU 10a sets the scanner driver 7
e, the serial scanner 7 is driven to make one scan in the scanning direction (step S1602), whereby the reference member W
The density at a predetermined position is read (step S1603).
The processes of steps S1602 and S1603 are repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, three times), and the resulting values are averaged to determine a white reference value (step S1).
604). In step S1604, the white reference value is determined by averaging. However, a control method using three central values may be used.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing an example of the set white reference value. The horizontal direction indicates 128 pixels arranged in the AA 'direction, and the vertical direction indicates the level of each pixel. The level is A / D converted from the output value of the sensor, and 25 of 0 to 255
If the value is expressed in six levels and is expressed in two values, a value equal to or less than the white reference value is determined as “black”, and a value equal to or more than the white reference value is determined as “white”.

The white reference value is generally larger for the pixel located in the central portion, and is larger at the end portions (near A and A ').
The smaller the pixel, the smaller the value. This is because the light source 7a of the serial scanner 7 has a large amount of light because the light source 7a of the serial scanner 7 is nearly perpendicular to the lens 7c.
This is because light can be collected to d. Further, the light source 7a itself has a variation in the amount of light, the CCD 7d receiving the reflected light also has a variation, and there is an influence of noise or the like. Therefore, when the reference member W for white reference adjustment with a constant reflection density is read. However, generally, only an output that is not constant as shown is obtained.

Next, the flow of the operation of the document creation processing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
19 and the flowchart of FIG. 19 and FIG. FIG. 20 shows that the ink jet recording head 6 has a discharge dot number of 0 to 50,000,000 (L1 in the figure), 5000 to 100
An example of a white reference value that can be obtained when the white reference adjustment is performed without cleaning / replacement of the reference member W after discharging 100,000 dots (L2 in the drawing) and 100 million dots or more (L3 in the drawing). FIG. For the sake of simplicity, the ink mist of the ink jet recording head 6 is shown as uniformly adhering to the reference member W, and as a result, the output level of each pixel is degraded by the same level.

As described above, the greater the number of ejected dots of the ink jet recording head 6, that is, the greater the amount of ink ejected from each nozzle, the greater the amount of mist described above.
The change in the density on the surface of the reference member W increases. In this example, the good level of the white reference value is set to 90% of the initial value in consideration of the obtained image data and the number of times of cleaning / replacement of the reference member W (LB, LB = L1 * 0.9 in the figure). ). Therefore, when the ejection of 100 million dots or more is performed, it is determined that when the white reference adjustment is performed, only the white reference value equal to or less than the good level is obtained.

First, upon receiving an image reading command (step S1701), the CPU 10a sets 0, which is a count value of the number of times, (step S1702), and adjusts the white reference as shown in the flow chart of FIG. The control is executed (step S1703). Next, the white reference value obtained as a result of the white reference adjustment
A comparison is made with the good level value LB set in c (step S1704). The comparison is performed on a plurality of different points (eg, 5, 33, 65, 97, 128 dots).
It is more preferable to perform the above operation in order to remove factors such as noise.

As a result of the comparison, if the value obtained this time is (all) larger than the good level, it is determined whether or not N = 1 (step S1714). If the answer is YES, the detected value is determined. Is cleared (step S1715), if the answer is NO, the original reading operation from step S1716 is executed. Conversely, if the value obtained this time is smaller than the good level, it is determined whether N = 3 (step S1705), and if the answer is YES,
The process moves to step S1712, and if the answer is NO, N =
It is determined whether it is 1 (step S1706). If the answer is YES, the process moves to step S1711 and the answer is N.
In the case of O, it is determined whether or not the detection result is equal to or more than a certain value with reference to the detection result of the state detection means (step S
1707).

In this example, the number of ejection dots of the ink jet recording head 6 is as described above. The detection result is equal to or greater than a certain value (the number of ejection dots of the inkjet recording head 6 is 1).
If it is more than 100,000 dots), it is determined that the reference member W of the sensor unit is dirty, and the display (LCD)
2 "The reference material is dirty. Please clean / replace the reference material. If you continue as it is, you will not be able to obtain the original image data. After cleaning / replacement is completed, select the cleaning / replacement complete key. Please notify the user of the cleaning / replacement timing by displaying a message saying "Please." (Step S1708).

Here, the cleaning of the reference member W is to remove the cause of dirt without changing the state of the surface of the reference member W. If the material of the reference member W is vinyl chloride as described above, it is washed with water. After removing the water, the reference member W may be re-attached to the apparatus. However, depending on the material, the work of removing surface dirt with a dry cloth may be optimal. If the reference member W can be replaced, it may be replaced with a new one.

After the notification, it is determined whether the cleaning / replacement is completed (step S1709). If the cleaning / replacement is completed, 1 is added to the value of N (step S171).
0), the process returns to step S1703, and the white reference adjustment is performed again. If the value obtained as a result is equal to or greater than the good level value LB (the answer to step S1704 is YES),
Assuming that the cleaning has been correctly performed, the detection result (the number of ejected dots of the ink jet recording head 6) of the state detection unit is cleared (step S1715), and then the document is read (step S1716).

If the level is below the good level (the answer to step S1704 is NO), the change factors of the white reference value are the aging of the light source 7a of the serial scanner 7, and the ink mist adheres to the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7. The sensitivity deterioration of the sensor is corrected (step S1711), assuming that the sensitivity deterioration is caused by such factors (step S1711).
To clear the detection value, and thereafter, the operation after step S1716 is performed.

If the detection result of the state detecting means (CPU 10a) does not reach a certain value, that is, if the number of ejection dots of the ink jet recording head 6 is less than 100 million dots (the answer to step S1707 is NO), N Is set to 3 (step S1713), the process returns to step S1703, and the white reference adjustment is performed again. If the white reference adjustment is at a good level, a good level is set due to sudden noise at the previous white reference adjustment. It is determined that the white reference value could not be obtained, and the reading of the document from step S1716 is executed.

On the other hand, if it is still below the good level value LB, the change factor of the white reference value is due to the aging of the light source 7a of the serial scanner 7 and the deterioration of sensitivity due to the ink mist adhering to the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7. Then, the change is used as a correction value for the sensitivity degradation (step S1712). As for the degree of sensitivity deterioration, it has been confirmed that a certain serial scanner reduces sensitivity by 15% after 5000 hours of use.

More specifically, the state detecting means (CPU 10
The detection result of a) does not reach a certain value (the number of ejection dots of the inkjet recording head 6 is less than 100 million)
However, if the white reference value obtained by the white reference adjustment is at a level 5% lower than the good level value LB, at least 5% of the 15% change from the initial value, and max 15%
Is 5% of the read data as sensitivity degradation
Correction is performed to increase the sensitivity by up to 15%.

The image reading routine from step S1716 is as follows. That is, after the read original 5B is set in the apparatus (step S1716), the serial scanner 7 is caused to perform one scan in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction A (see FIG. 1) (step S1717).
Thereby, the original is read (step S171).
8). At this time, the read image signal is subjected to density gradation processing using the white reference value acquired in step S1703 immediately before reading the original document (step S171).
9).

Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed by a predetermined amount (for example, 128 dots) (step S1720), and the above steps S1717 to S1720 are repeated until the reading of the read original 5B is completed. Then, it is determined whether the reading of the original is completed (step S1721). When the reading of the original is completed, the transport motor 10k is driven by the transport motor driver 10h to discharge the read original 5B (step S1722). The reading process ends.

In the above-described fifth embodiment, the good level value LB is set to 90% or more of the initial white reference value, but is not limited to this value.
The level of the white reference value is classified into three levels according to the number of ejection dots. However, it is needless to say that the white reference value is not limited to this level. It is.

In the fifth embodiment described above, the cleaning / replacement of the reference member W is carried out by notifying the user of the timing to perform the work by the user. There is no problem even if a cleaning / replacement means is provided in the printer and the cleaning / replacement is automatically performed. If the configuration is such that cleaning / replacement is performed automatically, there is an advantage that the labor required for cleaning / replacement can be reduced and the burden on the user can be reduced.

By executing the above-described control, the ink is ejected from the ink jet recording head 6 and the mist is not used as the white reference value obtained from the reference member W which remains dirty. By notifying the user of the cleaning / replacement timing, the burden on the user is minimized, and the image signal is always processed using a good white reference value equal to or higher than a certain level, so that the same level of reproducibility is always high. Image data can be provided to the user.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the document creation processing device includes the serial scanner 7 for generating an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion and the white reference member W.
A white reference value for image signal processing based on the intensity of the reflected light is determined, and the white reference value is compared with a good level value stored in advance in the ROM 10c, and the white reference value does not reach the good level. In this case, the CPU 10a determines that the cause is the deterioration of the sensitivity of the serial scanner 7 and uses the change as a correction value of the sensitivity deterioration thereafter. Since the image signal is processed using a good white reference value equal to or higher than a certain level instead of a white reference value obtained from the member, it is possible to always provide the user with image data having the same level and high reproducibility. .

When the white reference value does not reach the satisfactory level, the reference member W is used only when the cause is a change in the density of the surface of the reference member W for white reference adjustment, that is, when it is dirty.
Can be cleaned or replaced, so that the burden on the user can be reduced. In addition, since the surface density of the reference member W is always equal to or higher than a certain level, the change factor of the white reference value can be determined as the sensitivity deterioration of the sensor unit of the serial scanner 7, and the change is used as the correction value of the sensitivity deterioration of the sensor unit. And the control configuration can be simplified.

[6] Sixth Embodiment In addition to the fifth embodiment, the following sixth embodiment can be adopted.

The document creation processing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment comprises a keyboard 1 and a
A display 2, an inkjet recording head 6, a serial scanner 7, a carrier motor 10j, a transport motor 10k,
A recording / reading device 3 (inkjet recording device 3A, image reading device 3B) having a sensor 10m, a scanner driver 7e having an A / D converter 7f, a D / A converter 7g, a RAM 7h, an oscillation circuit 7i, and a CPU 10a
, A timer 10b, a ROM 10c, and a RAM 10d
, An EEPROM 10e, and an ejection heater driver 10f.
And a carrier motor driver 10g and a transport motor driver 10h (see FIG. 1). The configuration of each part has been described in detail in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The external configuration of the recording head / scanner section 3a including the ink jet recording head 6 and the serial scanner 7 according to the sixth embodiment (see FIG. 3), and the schematic configuration of the serial scanner 7 (see FIG. 4), the internal configuration of the document creation processing device (see FIG. 15), the control configuration of the serial scanner 7 (see FIG. 6), and the like.
Since this embodiment is the same as the fifth embodiment or the fifth embodiment, the description is omitted.

In the fifth embodiment, the number of ejection dots is used as the state detecting means. On the other hand, in the sixth embodiment, the following control configuration is employed as a control configuration for realizing the purpose of the present invention.

That is, in the sixth embodiment, the control structure for counting the number of prints recorded by the ink jet recording apparatus 3A and selecting a correction value according to the counting result, or in the ink jet recording apparatus 3A. Among the various operations, the operation in which the mist is most likely to fly is the ejection recovery process that maintains and recovers the ink ejection state more than the recording operation, that is, the above-mentioned preliminary ejection or suction with the ejection port formation surface covered with a cap separately Since this is a process of removing a discharge factor by forcibly sucking and discharging ink from all the discharge ports using a pump (this is called a cleaning operation), the number of preliminary discharge or cleaning operations is counted, and the number of times is counted. Simplification is possible by adopting a control configuration for selecting a correction value in response.

A plurality of combinations may be performed in order to achieve a more precise control configuration. That is, for example, the number of ejection dots is 100,000,000 or more, or
When one of the conditions of at least the number of sheets, the number of preliminary ejections of 500 or more, and the number of ejection recovery processes of 100 or more is satisfied, the cleaning / replacement of the reference member may be notified.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, the document creation processing device is the same as the inkjet recording device 3A.
Or a control structure for counting the number of printed sheets and selecting a correction value in accordance with the counting result, or counting the number of preliminary ejections and cleaning operations in the ink jet printing apparatus 3A and selecting a correction value in accordance with the counting number. Because of the control configuration, it is possible to always provide the user with the same level of high-reproducibility image data as in the fifth embodiment. In addition, when the white reference value does not reach the satisfactory level, the reference member can be cleaned or replaced only when the cause is a change in the density of the surface of the reference member for white reference adjustment, that is, when the surface is dirty. Burden can be reduced. In addition, since the surface density of the reference member is always equal to or higher than a certain level, the change factor of the white reference value can be determined as the sensitivity deterioration of the sensor unit.
The control configuration can be simplified.

In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the case where the present invention is applied to a document processing device (word processor) has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the document processing device. Of course, the present invention can be applied to other devices having an image reading function by a scanner and a recording function by an ink jet recording head.

Note that the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus executes the program code stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by executing the reading.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS and the like running on the computer are actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0152]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided image reading means for generating an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion, and image signal processing based on the intensity of light reflected by a white reference member. An image reading apparatus having setting means for setting a white reference value for use, wherein the state detecting means detects a state of a light source and a light receiving sensor provided in the image reading means, and the state detecting means after setting the white reference value Correction means for correcting the white reference value in accordance with the detection result, and image processing means for processing an image signal based on the corrected white reference value. ,
It is possible to always provide the user with the same level of high reproducibility image data regardless of sensitivity degradation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the state detecting means detects the deterioration of the sensitivity of the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means. The white reference value can be corrected according to the detection result of the sensitivity deterioration of the portion, and the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means can be stained, that is, image data having the same level and high reproducibility can always be obtained regardless of the sensitivity deterioration. It can be provided to the user.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the state detecting means detects the degree of dirt on the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means, so that the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means are set after setting the white reference value. The white reference value can be corrected according to the detection result of the degree of contamination of the portion, and the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means can be corrected, that is, the image data having the same level and high reproducibility can always be obtained regardless of the sensitivity deterioration. It can be provided to the user.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the state detecting means measures the operating time or the energizing time of the image reading means, so that the operating time or the energizing time of the image reading means after setting the white reference value. The white reference value can be corrected in accordance with the clocking result, and the user is provided with the same level of reproducible image data always at the same level irrespective of contamination of the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means, that is, regardless of sensitivity deterioration. It becomes possible.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the reference member is a sheet-type member that can be transported along the document transport path provided in the apparatus main body, the white reference member is transported along the document transport path to provide a white reference. By setting the value and correcting the white reference value according to the detection result of the state detection unit after setting the white reference value, the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading unit are stained, that is, regardless of the sensitivity deterioration, The same level of reproducible image data can be provided to the user.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for generating an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion, a white reference value for image signal processing based on the intensity of light reflected by a white reference member, and the white reference value. An image reading apparatus having setting means for setting a good level of a reference value, wherein the state detecting means detects a state of the reference member and the state detecting means when a white reference value does not reach a good level. A return means for returning the density level of the surface of the reference member to a value equal to or higher than the good level value in accordance with the detection result, so that not a white reference value obtained from a dirty reference member but a good white reference value equal to or higher than a certain level Is used to process image signals, so that it is possible to always provide the user with image data of the same level and high reproducibility. Further, since the surface density of the reference member is always equal to or higher than a certain level, the change factor of the white reference value can be determined as the sensitivity deterioration of the image reading means, and the change can be applied to the correction value of the sensitivity deterioration of the image reading means. It is possible to simplify the control configuration.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the white reference value does not reach the good level, there is provided a correction means for correcting the sensitivity deterioration of the image reading means in accordance with the detection result of the state detection means. By correcting the sensitivity degradation of the image reading means, it becomes possible to always provide the user with the same level of reproducible image data at the same level.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the return means notifies the time of cleaning or replacement of the reference member. Therefore, when the white reference value does not reach the satisfactory level, the cause is the white reference adjustment. The user can clean or replace the reference member based on the above notification only when the density of the surface of the reference member is changed, that is, when the surface is dirty, so that the burden on the user can be reduced.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning or replacement of the reference member can be performed by the apparatus itself, when the white reference value does not reach the good level, the cause is the white reference adjustment. The reference member is automatically cleaned or replaced only when the density of the surface of the reference member is changed, that is, when the surface of the reference member is dirty, so that the time and effort required for cleaning and replacement are eliminated, and the burden on the user is eliminated.

According to the tenth aspect, the state detecting means detects a change in the density of the surface of the reference member, and detects a change in the density of the surface of the reference member, so that an appropriate white reference value is obtained. It becomes possible to set.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the state detecting means sets an appropriate white reference value by detecting the degree of dirt on the surface of the reference member to detect the degree of dirt on the reference member. It becomes possible.

According to the twelfth aspect, the state detecting means detects completion of cleaning or replacement of the reference member based on resetting of the white reference value after the notification.
The completion of cleaning or replacement of the reference member becomes clear.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, since the reference member is detachably provided at a position facing the light source of the image reading means and near the document conveying path, the user can clean the reference member. Alternatively, replacement can be easily performed.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the recording head for performing recording on the recording medium can be mounted on the apparatus main body.
Reading of a document or recording on a recording medium can be performed as necessary, and convenience is improved.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the recording head is an ink-jet recording head having an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy for causing film boiling of ink as an energy generating element for discharging ink. It is configured. Also in the image reading apparatus equipped with the ink jet type recording head, the same effects as those of the invention of claim 1 can be obtained.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the state detecting means counts the total number of dots of ink ejected from the recording head mounted on the apparatus main body. The white reference value can be corrected in accordance with the counting result of the total number of ejected dots of ink, and the light source of the image reading means and the light receiving sensor are stained, that is, the image having the same level of high reproducibility regardless of the sensitivity deterioration. Data can be provided to the user.

According to the seventeenth aspect, the state detecting means sets a white reference value to count the number of ejection dots of ejection ink for each of a plurality of nozzles of the recording head mounted on the apparatus main body. Later, the white reference value can be corrected in accordance with the result of counting the number of ejection dots of the ejection ink for each nozzle of the recording head, so that the light source of the image reading unit and the light receiving sensor are stained, that is, regardless of the sensitivity deterioration. The same level of reproducible image data can be provided to the user.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the state detecting means counts the number of recordings by the recording head mounted on the apparatus main body. The white reference value can be corrected accordingly, and the user can always be provided with the same level of highly reproducible image data regardless of the contamination of the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means, that is, regardless of the sensitivity deterioration. become.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the state detecting means counts the number of times of the ejection recovery processing for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head mounted on the apparatus main body. After the setting, the white reference value can be corrected according to the counting result of the number of times of the ejection recovery processing of the recording head, and the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading unit are stained, that is,
It is possible to always provide the user with the same level of high reproducibility image data regardless of sensitivity degradation.

According to the twentieth aspect, an image reading step in which the image reading means generates an image signal of the original by photoelectric conversion, and a white reference for image signal processing based on the intensity of the reflected light of the white reference member. A setting step of setting a value, a state detection step of detecting a state of a light source and a light receiving sensor provided in the image reading unit, and a detection result of the state detection step after setting a white reference value. And the image processing step of processing an image signal based on the corrected white reference value. Regardless, it is possible to always provide the user with the same level of high reproducibility image data.

According to the twenty-first aspect, in the state detecting step, the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means are set after setting the white reference value in order to detect the sensitivity deterioration of the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means. The white reference value can be corrected according to the detection result of the sensitivity deterioration of the portion, and the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means can be stained, that is, image data having the same level and high reproducibility can always be obtained regardless of the sensitivity deterioration. It can be provided to the user.

According to the twenty-second aspect, in the state detecting step, the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading unit are set after setting the white reference value to detect the degree of contamination of the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading unit. The white reference value can be corrected according to the detection result of the degree of contamination of the portion, and the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means can be corrected, that is, the image data having the same level and high reproducibility can always be obtained regardless of the sensitivity deterioration. It can be provided to the user.

According to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the state detecting step, the operation time or the power-on time of the image reading means is measured after setting the white reference value. The white reference value can be corrected in accordance with the clocking result, and the user is provided with the same level of reproducible image data always at the same level irrespective of contamination of the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means, that is, regardless of sensitivity deterioration. It becomes possible.

According to the twenty-fourth aspect, an image reading step of generating an image signal of the original by photoelectric conversion by the image reading means, and a white reference for image signal processing based on the intensity of the reflected light of the white reference member. Setting a value and a good level of the white reference value, the image reading device,
A state detection step of detecting the state of the reference member, and if the white reference value has not reached the good level, the density level of the surface of the reference member is returned to the good level value or more according to the detection result of the state detection step. Since the image signal is processed using a good white reference value equal to or higher than a certain level, instead of a white reference value obtained from a dirty reference member, image data with high reproducibility at the same level is always provided. Can be provided to the user. Also,
Since the surface density of the reference member is always equal to or higher than a certain level, the change factor of the white reference value can be determined as the sensitivity deterioration of the image reading means, and the change can be applied to the correction value of the sensitivity deterioration of the image reading means. The control configuration can be simplified.

According to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, when the white reference value does not reach the good level, there is provided a correction step for correcting the sensitivity deterioration of the image reading means according to the detection result of the state detection step. By correcting the sensitivity degradation of the image reading means, it becomes possible to always provide the user with the same level of reproducible image data at the same level.

According to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the return step, the time for cleaning or replacing the reference member is notified, and when the white reference value has not reached the satisfactory level, the cause is the white reference adjustment. The user can clean or replace the reference member based on the above notification only when the density change of the surface of the reference member, that is, when the surface is dirty,
The burden on the user can be reduced.

According to the twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning / replacement step for cleaning or replacing the reference member is provided, if the white reference value does not reach the satisfactory level, the cause is the white reference adjustment. The reference member is automatically cleaned or replaced only when the density of the surface of the reference member changes, that is, when the surface of the reference member is dirty. Therefore, the labor required for cleaning and replacement is eliminated, and the burden on the user is eliminated.

According to the twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the state detecting step, the density change on the surface of the reference member is detected in order to detect the density change on the surface of the reference member.
It is possible to set an appropriate white reference value.

According to the twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in the state detecting step, an appropriate white reference value is set by detecting the degree of dirt on the surface of the reference member in order to detect the degree of dirt on the reference member. It becomes possible.

According to the thirtieth aspect, in the state detecting step, the completion of the cleaning or replacement of the reference member is detected based on the resetting of the white reference value after the notification. The completion of is clear.

According to the thirty-first aspect of the present invention, since a recording step of recording on a recording medium by a recording head is provided, it is possible to read an original or record on a recording medium as needed, thereby improving convenience. I do.

According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, in the recording step, an ink-jet type recording head having an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy for causing film boiling of ink as an energy generating element for discharging ink. Perform recording on the recording medium. Also in the image reading method by the image reading apparatus equipped with the ink jet type recording head, the same effects as the effects of the twentieth aspect can be obtained.

According to the thirty-third aspect of the present invention, in the state detecting step, the total number of ejection dots of the recording head after setting the white reference value is used to count the total number of ejection dots of the recording head. The white reference value can be corrected in accordance with the counting result of, and the user can be provided with the same level of highly reproducible image data at all times regardless of the contamination of the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means, that is, regardless of the sensitivity deterioration. It becomes possible to do.

According to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the state detecting step, the number of ejection dots of the ejection ink for each of the plurality of nozzles of the recording head is counted. The white reference value can be corrected in accordance with the result of counting the number of ejection dots of each ejection ink, and the light source of the image reading means and the light receiving sensor are stained, that is, the reproducibility of the same level is always maintained regardless of the sensitivity deterioration. High image data can be provided to the user.

According to the thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the state detecting step, the number of recordings by the recording head is counted. Can be corrected,
It is possible to always provide the user with image data of the same level and high reproducibility regardless of contamination of the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means, that is, regardless of the sensitivity deterioration.

According to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the state detecting step, the number of times of the ejection recovery processing for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head is counted. The white reference value can be corrected in accordance with the result of counting the number of times of recovery processing, and the light source and the light receiving sensor of the image reading means are stained, that is, image data having the same level and high reproducibility is always used regardless of sensitivity deterioration. Can be provided to people.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a document creation processing device according to first to sixth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a document creation processing apparatus according to first to sixth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a recording head / scanner unit in the document creation processing device according to the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a serial scanner in the document creation processing device according to the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of a document creation processing device according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control configuration of a serial scanner in the document creation processing device according to the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example at the time of white reference value adjustment in the document creation processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a graph representing an example of a set white reference value according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of document reading processing in the document creation processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of a document reading process in the document creation processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a graph illustrating an example of a correction value based on the total number of ejection dots of the inkjet recording head according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a graph representing a corrected white reference value according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing an example of a correction value for a certain ejection pattern of the inkjet recording head according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a graph representing a corrected white reference value according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing the internal configuration of a document creation processing device according to the fifth and sixth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation at the time of white reference adjustment in the document creation processing device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of a document reading process in the document creation processing device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of document reading processing in the document creation processing device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of document reading processing in the document creation processing device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a graph showing an example of a white reference value that can be obtained when a white reference adjustment is performed without cleaning / replacement of a reference member after ink ejection according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 6 inkjet recording head 7 serial scanner 7a light source 7d CCD 7e scanner driver 10a CPU 10b timer 10c ROM 10d RAM 10e EEPROM W reference member

Claims (36)

[Claims] An image reading unit that generates an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion; and a setting unit that sets a white reference value for image signal processing based on the intensity of reflected light from a white reference member. An apparatus, comprising: a state detecting unit that detects states of a light source and a light receiving sensor included in the image reading unit; and a correcting unit that corrects the white reference value according to a detection result of the state detecting unit after setting a white reference value. And an image processing means for processing an image signal based on the corrected white reference value. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said state detecting means detects a sensitivity deterioration of a light source and a light receiving sensor portion of said image reading means. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the state detection unit detects a degree of contamination of a light source and a light receiving sensor of the image reading unit. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the state detection unit measures an operation time or a power-on time of the image reading unit. 5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference member is a sheet-type member that can be conveyed on a document conveying path provided in the apparatus main body. 6. An image reading means for generating an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion, a white reference value for image signal processing based on the intensity of reflected light from a white reference member, and a good level of the white reference value. An image reading apparatus having setting means for detecting the state of the reference member, wherein the reference is performed in accordance with a detection result of the state detecting means when a white reference value does not reach a good level. An image reading apparatus comprising: a return unit configured to return a density level on a surface of the member to a value equal to or higher than a good level value. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a correction unit that corrects a deterioration in sensitivity of the image reading unit according to a detection result of the state detection unit when the white reference value does not reach a good level. Image reading device. 8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the return unit notifies a timing of cleaning or replacing the reference member. 9. The image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the reference member can be cleaned or replaced by the apparatus itself. 10. An image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said state detecting means detects a change in density on the surface of said reference member. 11. The image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said state detecting means detects a degree of contamination of said reference member. 12. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the state detection unit detects completion of cleaning or replacement of the reference member based on resetting of a white reference value after the notification. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the reference member is detachably provided at a position facing a light source of the image reading unit and near a document conveying path. Image reading device. 14. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recording head for performing recording on a recording medium can be mounted on the apparatus main body. 15. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an ink jet type recording head having an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for causing film boiling of the ink as an energy generating element for discharging the ink. Item 1
5. The image reading device according to 4. 16. The image reading apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said state detecting means counts the total number of ejection dots of the ejection ink of the recording head mounted on the apparatus main body. 17. The image reading apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said state detecting means counts the number of ejection dots of the ejection ink for each of a plurality of nozzles provided in the recording head mounted on the apparatus main body. 18. An image reading apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said state detecting means counts the number of recordings by said recording head mounted on the apparatus main body. 19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said state detecting means counts the number of times of the ejection recovery processing for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head mounted on the apparatus main body. The image reading device according to claim 1. 20. An image reading step of generating an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion by image reading means, and a setting step of setting a white reference value for image signal processing based on the intensity of reflected light from a white reference member. An image reading method, comprising: a state detecting step of detecting a state of a light source and a light receiving sensor included in the image reading unit; and setting the white reference value according to a detection result of the state detecting step after setting the white reference value. An image reading method, comprising: a correction step for correcting; and an image processing step for processing an image signal based on the corrected white reference value. 21. The image reading method according to claim 20, wherein, in the state detecting step, sensitivity deterioration of a light source and a light receiving sensor of the image reading unit is detected. 22. The image reading method according to claim 21, wherein in the state detecting step, a degree of contamination of a light source and a light receiving sensor of the image reading unit is detected. 23. The image reading method according to claim 20, wherein in the state detecting step, an operation time or an energization time of the image reading unit is measured. 24. An image reading step in which an image reading means generates an image signal of a document by photoelectric conversion, a white reference value for image signal processing based on the intensity of reflected light from a white reference member, and a white reference value of the white reference value. A setting step of setting a good level, comprising: a state detecting step of detecting a state of the reference member; and a detecting result of the state detecting step when a white reference value does not reach the good level. Returning a density level of the surface of the reference member to a value equal to or higher than a good level value. 25. The image processing apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a correction step of correcting deterioration in sensitivity of the image reading unit in accordance with a detection result of the state detection step when the white reference value has not reached the good level. Image reading method. 26. The image reading method according to claim 24, wherein in the returning step, a timing of cleaning or replacing the reference member is notified. 27. The method according to claim 2, further comprising a cleaning / replacement step of cleaning or replacing the reference member.
26. The image reading method according to 4 or 25. 28. The image reading method according to claim 24, wherein in the state detecting step, a change in density on a surface of the reference member is detected. 29. The method according to claim 28, wherein in the state detecting step, a degree of contamination of the reference member is detected.
The image reading method described in the above. 30. The image reading method according to claim 26, wherein in the state detecting step, completion of cleaning or replacement of the reference member is detected based on resetting of a white reference value after the notification. 31. A recording step for recording on a recording medium by a recording head.
0. The image reading method according to any one of 0. 32. In the recording step, recording is performed on a recording medium by an ink jet type recording head having an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy for causing film boiling of ink as an energy generating element for discharging ink. The image reading method according to claim 31, wherein: 33. The image reading method according to claim 32, wherein in the state detecting step, a total number of ejection dots of the ejection ink of the recording head is counted. 34. The image reading method according to claim 33, wherein in the state detecting step, the number of ejection dots of ejection ink for each of a plurality of nozzles included in the recording head is counted. 35. The image reading method according to claim 31, wherein in the state detecting step, the number of recordings by the recording head is counted. 36. The method according to claim 32, wherein in the state detecting step, the number of times of the ejection recovery process for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head is counted.
The image reading method according to any one of the above.