Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image reading apparatus includes a document tray, a wall surface, a conveying unit, an image reading unit, and a position indicating member. The document tray has a document placement surface on which one or more documents are placed. Documents placed on the document tray abut against the wall face. The conveying unit is configured to convey documents one by one. The image reading unit is configured to read an image of the document conveyed by the conveying unit. The position indicating member is disposed on the wall surface and has a scale mark indicating a position at which the document is to be disposed on the document placement surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0002] A technique is known in which a plurality of width sizes of documents (e.g., standard size and non-standard size) are continuously scanned using an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) in a mixed manner. In order to continuously feed the mixedly placed width sizes of documents described above, the mixedly placed width sizes of documents must be properly set with respect to the position at which the documents are picked up.

[0003] In Patent Literature 1, a technique is disclosed in which a plurality of position indicators are included in the center position of the upper portion of an ADF and positions symmetrical to the center position, to indicate proper set positions of a plurality of width sizes of documents placed in a mixed manner. SUMMARY

[0004] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0005] However, according to the prior art, since there is a gap in height between the number of documents corresponding to the number of documents that can be loaded between the position indicators indicating the set positions of the upper portion of the ADF and the placement surface on which the documents are actually placed, there has been a problem in that it is difficult to visually check the relationship between the position of the position indicators and the document end position, and thus it is difficult to set a plurality of width sizes of documents placed in a mixed manner, or the plurality of width sizes of documents placed in a mixed manner are shifted after being set.

[0006] An object of the present application is to enable accurate setting of a plurality of width sizes of documents placed in a mixed manner.

[0007] SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

[0008] To solve the above problem and achieve the above object, the present application provides an image reading apparatus including a document tray, a wall surface, a conveying unit, an image reading unit, and a position indicating member. The document tray has a document placement surface on which one or more documents are placed. The documents placed on the document tray abut against the wall surface. The conveying unit is configured to convey the documents one by one. The image reading unit is configured to read an image of the document conveyed by the conveying unit. The position indicating member is disposed on the wall surface and has a scale mark indicating a position at which the document is to be set on the document placement surface.

[0009] ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0010] According to one aspect of the present application, it is possible to accurately set a plurality of width sizes of documents placed in a mixed manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.

[0012] Figure 2 An example of a configuration near a document tray of an ADF is shown.

[0013] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an image forming apparatus.

[0014] Figure 4 is a diagram showing a problem in a conventional ADF.

[0015] Figure 5A is a diagram showing an effect of a position indicating member indicating a set position.

[0016] Figure 5B is a diagram showing an effect of a position indicating member indicating a set position.

[0017] Figure 6A is a deformation diagram of a position indicating member.

[0018] Figure 6B is a deformation diagram of a position indicating member.

[0019] Figure 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image processing unit included in an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment.

[0020] Figure 8A is a diagram showing a width relationship between a scale mark and a skew in a position indicating member.

[0021] Figure 8B is a diagram showing a width relationship between a scale mark and a skew in a position indicating member.

[0022] Figure 8C is a diagram showing a width relationship between a scale mark and a skew in a position indicating member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Embodiments of an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] First Embodiment

[0025] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100 provided for the first embodiment. Figure 1 An image forming apparatus 100 is exemplarily shown, which has at least two of a copying function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and is generally called an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral / Printer / Product). As shown in Figure 1As shown, the image forming apparatus 100 generally includes a scanner 110 as an image reading device and a plotter 120. The scanner 110 includes an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) 110A and an image reading unit 110B. The plotter 120 includes a paper feeding unit 103 and an image forming unit 105.

[0026] The ADF 110A includes a document tray 125, a document feeding roller 121 configured as a conveying unit, a document conveying belt 122, a document discharge roller 123, and a document discharge tray 124. The ADF 110A is attached to the image reading unit 110B by an opening and closing mechanism (not shown in the drawing), such as a hinge, so that the ADF 110A is openable. One or more documents to be scanned are placed or loaded on the document tray 125. In other words, the upper surface of the document tray 125 serves as a "document placement surface".

[0027] The document feeding roller 121 separates the documents one by one from a bundle of documents placed on the document tray 125 and on a wall surface 128, and conveys the documents toward the image reading unit 110B. The document conveying belt 122 conveys the documents separated from the document feeding roller 121 to the image reading unit 110B. The document discharge roller 123 discharges the documents discharged from the image reading unit 110B by the document conveying belt 122 to the document discharge tray 124 below the document tray 125.

[0028] After the user sets the documents, the document tray 125 is raised toward a paper feeding opening 126 (see Figure 2 ) so that the documents placed on the document tray 125 enter a document feeding state.

[0029] The image reading unit 110B includes a housing 140, a scan optical unit 141, a contact glass 142, and a driving unit (not shown). The scan optical unit 141 is disposed within the housing 140, and includes an LED unit. The scan optical unit 141 emits light in a main scanning direction from the LED unit, and performs scanning in a sub scanning direction over an entire irradiation area. Accordingly, the scan optical unit 141 reads a two-dimensional color image of a document.

[0030] The contact glass 142 is disposed at the top of the housing 140 of the image reading unit 110B, and constitutes a top surface portion of the housing 140. The driving unit includes a plurality of driven pulleys (not shown in the drawing) and a driving pulley (not shown in the drawing) bridged by a wire disposed on the scan optical unit 141, and a motor that rotates the driving pulley.

[0031] The paper supply unit 103 includes a paper supply cassette 130 and a paper supply unit 131. The paper supply cassette 130 accommodates paper sheets (not shown in the drawings) as recording media of different paper sizes. The paper supply unit 131 feeds the paper sheets accommodated in the paper supply cassette 130 to a main transport path 170 of the image forming unit 105.

[0032] A manual paper supply unit tray 132 is provided on a side of the image forming unit 105 so as to be openable to the image forming unit 105, and in a case where the manual paper supply unit tray 132 is open to the image forming unit 105, a paper bundle is manually fed to an upper surface of the tray. A top paper sheet of the manually fed paper bundle is fed to the main transport path 170 by a feed roller of the manual feed unit tray 132.

[0033] A pair of registration rollers 170a is provided on the main transport path 170. After a paper sheet to be transported through the main transport path 170 is inserted between the pair of registration rollers 170a, the pair of registration rollers 170a feeds the paper sheet to a secondary transfer nip at a given timing.

[0034] The image forming unit 105 includes an exposure unit 151, a tandem image forming unit 150, an intermediate transfer belt 154, an intermediate transfer roller 155, a secondary transfer device 152, and a fixing unit 153. The image forming unit 105 includes the main transport path 170, a reversal transport path 173, and a paper discharge path 160.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, the exposure unit 151 is provided adjacent to the tandem image forming unit 150. The exposure unit 151 exposes the photosensitive drums 174 provided respectively corresponding to yellow, cyan, magenta, and black colors using light. Figure 1 The tandem image forming unit 150 is located above the intermediate transfer belt 154 and includes four yellow, cyan, magenta, and black image forming units 175 arranged in a direction in which the intermediate transfer belt 154 rotates. Although detailed description is omitted, each of the image forming units 175 includes a charging device, a developing device, a photosensitive cleaning device, and a neutralizing device arranged around the photosensitive drum 174 corresponding to each color. Each of the photosensitive drum 174 and the above-mentioned devices arranged around the photosensitive drum 174 are unified, thereby constituting one process cartridge.

[0036] Based on image information read by the image reading unit 110B and subjected to color separation, the tandem image forming unit 150 forms visible images (toner images) formed using toners of colors respectively on the respective photosensitive drums 174. The visible images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 174 are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 154 between each of the photosensitive drums 174 and the intermediate transfer roller 155.

[0037]

[0038] ​On the other hand, the secondary transfer device 152 is provided on the side opposite to the tandem image forming unit 150, and the intermediate transfer belt 154 is between the secondary transfer device 152 and the tandem image forming unit 150. The secondary transfer device 152 includes a secondary transfer roller 521 as a transfer member. The secondary transfer roller 521 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 154, thereby forming a secondary transfer nip. The secondary transfer nip is formed so that the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 154 is transferred onto the paper conveyed from the paper feeding unit 103 through the main conveyance path 170.

[0039] The paper on which the toner image is transferred in the secondary transfer nip is fed out by a paper feed belt 156, which is stretched to two support rollers 157 to the fixing unit 153.

[0040] The fixing unit 153 is configured with a pressure roller 159 that is pressed against a fixing belt 158 as a loop-shaped belt. The fixing unit 153 applies heat and pressure to the paper with the pressure roller 159, thereby melting the toner of the toner image transferred onto the paper and fixing the toner image as a color image.

[0041] The paper on which the color image is fixed in this way is stacked on a paper discharge tray 161 outside the device through a paper discharge path 160 as a paper discharge conveyance path.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming device 100 includes a tandem image forming unit 150 and a paper feed unit 103. The tandem image forming unit 150 includes a plurality of image forming units 151A to 151D. The paper feed unit 103 is configured to feed paper to the tandem image forming unit 150. Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming device 100 includes a tandem image forming unit 150 and a paper feed unit 103. The tandem image forming unit 150 includes a plurality of image forming units 151A to 151D. The paper feed unit 103 is configured to feed paper to the tandem image forming unit 150.

[0043] A plurality of conveyance sensing sensors (not shown in the drawings) as a paper jam sensing unit are arranged on the main conveyance path 170 and the reverse conveyance path 173 along the conveyance paths. The number and arrangement points of the conveyance sensing sensors are appropriately set. When each conveyance sensing sensor does not sense the passage of the paper for each predetermined time, the sensor senses that a paper jam (non-conveyance or paper jam) has occurred, and notifies a display unit (not shown in the drawings) of the image forming device 100 of the occurrence of the jam.

[0044] An example of the configuration around the document tray 125 of the ADF 110A will be described in detail below.

[0045] Figure 2 An example of the configuration around the document tray 125 of the ADF 110A is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming device 100 includes an ADF 110A above the main unit. A pair of side flaps 200 is provided on the document tray 125 of the ADF 110A. Figure 1 An example of the configuration around the document tray 125 of the ADF 110A is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming device 100 includes an ADF 110A above the main unit. A pair of side flaps 200 is provided on the document tray 125 of the ADF 110A.

[0046] The side plate 200 is configured so that the side plate 200 is movable in the main scan (width) direction of the document, and guides both ends of the document in the width direction. The function of sensing the length of the document in the main scan direction is also achieved by installing a known variable resistor on the side plate 200, the output of which sequentially changes with the displacement of the side plate 200 or the like. At this time, since the position of the side plate 200 is detected in a state where the side plate 200 is aligned with both ends of the document, the length of the document in the main scan direction is sensed.

[0047] The ADF 110A includes a switch cover 127 including a paper feed opening 126 through which a document placed on a document tray 125 is fed. A document feeding roller 121 consisting of a set of rollers and a set of gears is arranged on the inner side of the switch cover 127 for conveying the document on the document tray 125. The switch cover 127 is a cover provided so that the switch cover 127 can cover or expose the document tray 125 and the downstream end of the document feeding roller 121. Note that in the present embodiment, the document feeding roller 121 is provided at a position in communication with the approximate center of the document tray 125.

[0048] Further, in the ADF 110A, a position indicating member 129 having a scale mark indicating a proper set position of the document is provided on the wall surface 128 of the paper feed opening 126 of the switch cover 127. The position indicating member 129 has a scale mark indicating the center position of the document tray 125 and positions symmetrical to the center position. The position indicating member 129 is printed on the wall surface 128 of the switch cover 127. Note that the position indicating member 129 can be a paper sheet in the form of a sticker and attached to the wall surface 128 of the switch cover 127. The position indicating member 129 is not limited to being printed on the wall surface 128 of the switch cover 127 or being a paper sheet attached as a sticker, and the position indicating member 129 can be used to indicate the combination of the center position in the width direction around the center reference and the left-right symmetrical positions by emitting light to the document at given intervals or changing the color of the light using a light emitter such as an LED.

[0049] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a paper loading unit 300, a paper feed unit 301, an image forming unit 302, an operation display unit 303, a storage unit 304, a control unit 305, an image processing unit 310, and an image reading unit 110B.

[0050] For the paper loading unit 300, paper to be fed is loaded on the paper cassette 130 or the manual paper feed unit tray 132. As Figure 1As shown, the paper feeding unit 301 includes a paper feeding unit 103, which includes a paper feeding box 130, a paper feeding unit 131, and a manual paper feeding unit tray 132, and supplies and conveys paper to the main conveying path 170. The image forming unit 302 corresponds to the image forming unit 105, forms an image based on the image forming process, and transfers the image onto the fed and conveyed paper.

[0051] The operation display unit 303 includes various operation keys, a display such as a liquid crystal display, and lights such as LEDs. The operation keys are used to input operations required for the image forming apparatus 100 to perform functions such as copying, printing, and scanning, as well as operations to specify the paper type. The display shows the contents of the commands input from the operation keys and various types of information notified to the user by the image forming apparatus 100.

[0052] Storage unit 304 may be configured using, for example, an HDD (hard disk drive), ROM, or RAM.

[0053] The control unit 305 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 306, a ROM (read-only memory) 307, and a RAM (random access memory) 308.

[0054] The CPU 306 controls the entire image forming apparatus 100. The program executed by the CPU 306 is stored in the ROM 307, and the CPU 306 reads the program from the ROM 307 and executes the program. When the CPU 306 performs control, the RAM 308 serves as the working memory.

[0055] The image processing unit 310 performs given image processing on the image read by the image reading unit 110 B.

[0056] This section will describe the problems in traditional ADF.

[0057] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating a problem in a traditional ADF (Advanced Execution Formatting) algorithm. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the conventional ADF 400 includes a position indicator 402 that indicates the center position of the upper part of the switch cover 401 and the symmetrical positions around the center position, so as to indicate the appropriate position and orientation for placing the document. Using the position indicator 402 makes it possible to properly set the center or both ends of the document.

[0058] However, in the conventional ADF 400, there is a height gap corresponding to the number of documents that can be loaded between the position indicator 402 on the upper part of the switch cover 401 and the document tray 403 where the documents are actually placed. In practice, the user setting the document stands in front of the image forming apparatus, thus having a downward-angled viewing angle from the front to the back of the ADF 400. In this situation, a problem arises that the height difference between the position indicator 402 and the document tray 403 is difficult to visually assess in relation to the position of the position indicator 402 and the position of the document end, making it difficult to set the document or causing offsets after setting it.

[0059] For the traditional ADF 400, an indicator was also considered for placement on the sidewall surface; however, a display screen must be provided, and the indicator must be in contact with the document to improve the ease of document setup, and placing the indicator on the sidewall does not solve the problem.

[0060] Furthermore, the traditional ADF 400 assumes standard-sized documents, and the use of the side baffle 404 is common, so the effect of setting position offsets is relatively small. However, in recent years, the placement of irregularly sized documents in a mixed arrangement has also been examined. In such mixed placements, there is a combination of large and small sizes, making side baffle positioning ineffective. When the positions of documents of different sizes are offset, the impact on reading quality, such as oblique reading quality, increases. Therefore, a method needs to be designed to accurately set the placement of documents of different sizes in a mixed manner.

[0061] Therefore, in this embodiment, the position of the document on the wall 128 of the switch cover 127 is indicated by the position indicator member 129, so that the position of the document can be accurately identified even when viewed from an oblique direction from the front to the back of the ADF 110A, and the center of the document relative to the document tray 125 can be easily set. This will be described in detail below.

[0062] like Figure 2 As shown, in the ADF 110A of this embodiment, the position indicator member 129 is disposed at the position where the position indicator member 129 contacts the document, or disposed on the wall surface 128 of the switch cover near the position where it contacts the document. Figure 2 In the example shown, since the position indicator member 129 is disposed on the wall 128 to align the ends along the transport direction, the ends of the document are in contact with the position indicator member 129.

[0063] After the user aligns the document with the position indicator component 129, the document tray 125 is lifted toward the paper feed opening 126, so that the document enters the ready-to-feed state and becomes readable.

[0064] The position indicating member 129 does not necessarily have to be disposed at the position where the document end portion contacts the position indicating member 129, and can function even in the vicinity of the position where the document end portion contacts. When the vicinity of the position where the document end portion contacts is, for example, within 10 mm from the position where the document end portion contacts, the difference between the position of the visual inspection and the actual position can be sufficiently reduced.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 9, the position indicating member 129 indicates the set position not only at the center but also at left and right symmetrical positions in the width direction at given intervals from the center reference. This enables the user to adjust the position of the alignment of the both ends of the document, and even when the center of the document is not clear, the document tray 125 can be set at an appropriate position. Figure 2 Further, the position indicating member 129 indicates so that the combination of the left and right symmetrical positions in the width direction from the center reference can be grasped. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the left and right symmetrical positions in the width direction from the center reference are indicated with the same number. Accordingly, by checking whether the both ends of the document are at the equivalent positions of the combination when the document is set, the user can achieve pseudo setting at the center position of the document tray 125.

[0066] Figure 2 Further, the position indicating member 129 indicates so that the combination of the left and right symmetrical positions in the width direction from the center reference can be grasped. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the left and right symmetrical positions in the width direction from the center reference are indicated with the same number. Accordingly, by checking whether the both ends of the document are at the equivalent positions of the combination when the document is set, the user can achieve pseudo setting at the center position of the document tray 125.

[0067] As described above, disposing the position indicating member 129 on the wall surface 128 of the switch cover 127 makes it possible to directly check the set position and the position of the document by visual inspection, thereby having the effects of setting convenience and suppressing positional deviation in setting. In the present embodiment, the wall surface 128 of the switch cover 127 is used to make the end portion of the document contact, and has the advantage that the display can be checked even when a plurality of documents are set. It is assumed that the position indicating member 129 is arranged on the document tray 125; however, when a large document is placed on the document tray 125, display checking cannot be performed for a small document.

[0068] Subsequently, the effects of the position indicating member 129 indicating the set position will be described in detail.

[0069] Figure 5A and 5B are diagrams showing the effects of the position indicating member indicating the set position. Figure 5A and 5B shows an example in which the document feed roller 121 arranged inside the switch cover 127 is positioned at the center. Figure 5A shows an example in which a plurality of documents of different width sizes placed in a mixed manner can be positioned at the center with respect to the document feed roller 121, and Figure 5B shows an example in which a plurality of documents of different width sizes placed in a mixed manner cannot be positioned at the center with respect to the document feed roller 121.

[0070] ​As shown in Figure 5A , according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of width sizes of documents placed in a mixed manner are set at a time and scanned (different width sizes mixed), it is possible to set the documents of an arbitrary width size so that the center position of the document is aligned with the position of the document feed roller 121. In the case where a plurality of width sizes of documents placed in a mixed manner are set at a time and scanned (different width sizes mixed), when there is a shift between the position of the document feed roller 121 and the center position of the document, as shown in Figure 5B , a phenomenon occurs in which the force of the rotation direction acts and skew is easily generated. Assuming that in the case of large skew, the document reaches outside the conveyance region, resulting in document damage, and the skew itself has an influence on the image quality, it is necessary to suppress the skew. Therefore, when a plurality of width sizes of documents placed in a mixed manner are set at a time and scanned (different width sizes mixed), it is preferable to set so that the center position of the document and the position of the document feed roller 121 are aligned.

[0071] In other words, according to the present embodiment, by indicating the position of contact with the document, it is possible to accurately know the set position even when viewed in the skew direction, so that it is easy for the user to accurately set a plurality of width sizes of documents placed in a mixed manner, and the print quality is improved.

[0072] According to the present embodiment, even if the side stopper 200 is not in the free state, it is possible to indicate the position of setting the document, and it is inclined not to cause skew.

[0073] In the present embodiment, the position indicating member 129 is described as being printed on the wall surface of the switch cover 127 or a paper sheet in the form of a sticker; however, the position indicating member 129 is not limited thereto. The modification is described as follows.

[0074] Figure 6A and 6B are modified examples of the position indicating member 129. In the example shown in Figure 2 , the same numerals in the position indicating member 129 indicate symmetrical positions combined left and right in the width direction around the center reference; however, as shown in Figure 6A , the color pattern of the area of the symmetrical positions combined left and right in the width direction around the center reference can be changed and indicated by the position indicating member 129. The color has high perceptibility compared to a numerical value or a symbol (such as a character), because it is only necessary to see whether the end of the document is in the area where the colors are the same left and right. Note that the position indicating member 129 can indicate the combination of the symmetrical positions left and right in the width direction around the center reference by the combination of the color and the symbol.

[0075] As shown in Figure 6BAs shown, the position indicating member 129 can also be assumed to have a configuration in which a string member 129a, such as a string or a tape, is hung in a form similar to a partition curtain from the wall surface 128 of the paper supply opening 126 having the switch cover 127 to indicate the position.

[0076] Second Embodiment

[0077] A second embodiment will be described next.

[0078] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that an image of the same size as the document is provided to the user. In the description of the second embodiment, the description of the same parts as the first embodiment will be omitted, and the parts different from the first embodiment will be described below.

[0079] As described above, the position of the document can be instructed to be set so that skew does not occur even when the side plate 200 is in the free state. Although the possibility of a large skew occurring accordingly decreases, the skew does not completely decrease. When a plurality of width sizes of documents are scanned with the purpose of keeping the side plate 200 free, an irregular size of document can also be input, so that the exact size is not clear at the time of reading, and it is not possible to provide an image of the same size as the document to the user.

[0080] Figure 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image processing unit 310 included in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment. As shown, Figure 7 The image processing unit 310 includes an edge detector 3101, a straight line detector 3102, a skew corrector 3103, a positioning adjuster 3104, and a size cropper 3105, as shown.

[0081] The edge detector 3101 detects edges from an image based on input image data. The edge detection method employed by the edge detector 3101 can be any method, such as detecting a difference in density between a background area and a document area, or detecting a shadow formed at a boundary between a background area and a document area.

[0082] The straight line detector 3102 detects straight lines on each side based on the result of the edge detection performed by the edge detector 3101.

[0083] The skew detector 3103 performs skew correction based on the edge information detected by the edge detector 3101 and the straight lines detected by the straight line detector 3102.

[0084] The positioning adjuster 3104 performs adjustment of the position of the positioning. The positioning adjustment method performed by the positioning adjuster 3104 can be any method, such as detecting and correcting the intersection of the straight lines on each side detected by the straight line detector 3102.

[0085] The size cutter 3105 cuts the size of the document according to the edge detection result performed by the edge detector 3101. The method by which the size cutter 3105 performs the size cutting can be any method, for example, detecting the width between the upper and lower sides and the width between the left and right sides from the result of the edge detection performed by the edge detector 3101, detecting the size, and performing the correction.

[0086] Therefore, the user can be provided with an image having the same size as the document, and thus, when a plurality of documents of different width sizes placed in a mixed manner are set at one time and scanned (mixing of different width sizes), not only the quality can be improved with the setting position, but also the quality can be further improved by incorporating the correction in the image processing in the image processing unit 310.

[0087] The width between the scale marks in the position indicating member 129 will be described below.

[0088] Figure 8A to Figure 8C is a graph showing the relationship between the width between the scale marks in the position indicating member 129 and the skew. The width between the scale marks in the position indicating member 129 has an influence on the ease of setting by the user when the document is set. For example, in the case where the width between the scale marks in the position indicating member 129 is small, as shown in Figure 8A , when the document is set so that the document covers the same number on the left and right sides, the positioning accuracy required of the user is high, and it takes time to adjust.

[0089] On the other hand, in the case where the width between the scale marks in the position indicating member 129 is large, as shown in Figure 8B , when the document is set so that the document covers the same number on the left and right sides, the user can more easily set the document.

[0090] When the offset from the center is large when the document is set, the center of gravity position of the transport and the center of gravity position of the document are offset, and thus, the skew when the document is transported easily occurs. For example, as shown in Figure 8A and Figure 8B , when the width between the scale marks is small, the influence of the rotation decreases, and when the width between the scale marks is large, the influence of the rotation increases. In other words, depending on the size of the width between the scale marks in the position indicating member 129, the tendency of the skew to occur changes.

[0091] Therefore, the width between the scale marks is preferably determined in consideration of the amount of skew allowed by the skew corrector of the image processing unit 310 described above.

[0092] As shown in the example shown in Figure 8C , a configuration using the width between the scale marks in the position indicating member 129 to achieve accuracy and usability will be described.

[0093] The ADF 110A has a determined maximum size width (e.g., A3 size width), and has a regulating member (side stopper 200) in the width direction. For a large size document, the side stopper 200 reduces the skew angle, and even if the setting position is slightly shifted in the width direction, the effect is small. As described above, since the width interval between the scale marks in the position indicating member 129 has an effect on usability, it is desirable that this interval be set as wide as possible.

[0094] Figure 8C The example shown in FIG. 12 indicates an example in which the width between the scale marks in the position indicating member 129 is varied such that the width between the scale marks increases in the width direction as the distance from the center increases. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the width between the scale marks in the position indicating member 129 is set smaller toward the center (w1 < w2 < w3). Figure 8C

[0095] Accordingly, the adjustment of the setting position can be simplified while indicating that the effect of the setting position on skew can be reduced as much as possible.

[0096] The above-described embodiments are described with the image forming apparatus of the present application applied to a multifunction peripheral device having at least two of a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and the image forming apparatus is applicable to any image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, a scanner device, or a facsimile device.

[0097] Embodiments of the present application have been described, and each of the embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. These new embodiments can be performed in other various modes and with various omissions, substitutions, and changes within the scope of the subject matter of the present application. Each of these embodiments is included in the scope and subject matter of the present application, and is included in the scope of the present application described in the claims and equivalents of the present application.

[0098]

List of Reference Symbols

[0099] 100 image forming apparatus

[0100] 105 image forming unit

[0101] 110 image reading device

[0102] 110b image reading unit

[0103] 121 conveying unit

[0104] 125 document tray

[0105] 128 wall surface

[0106] 129 position indicating member ​

[0107] 129a string member

[0108] 310 image processing unit

[0109] List of citations

[0110] Patent literature

[0111] Patent literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent No. H10-063044

Claims

1. An image reading device, characterized in that, include: A document tray has a document placement surface for placing one or more documents; The delivery unit is configured to deliver the documents one by one; An image reading unit is configured to read an image of the document conveyed by the conveying unit; as well as A position indicator component that indicates the position in which the document should be placed relative to the document tray; The position indicating component indicates the location at or near the position in contact with the document.

2. An image reading device, characterized in that, include: A document tray has a document placement surface for placing one or more documents; The document placed on the document tray is pressed against the wall. The delivery unit is configured to deliver the documents one by one; An image reading unit is configured to read an image of the document conveyed by the conveying unit; as well as A position indicator component is arranged on the wall surface and has scale markings that indicate the position where the document is to be placed on the document placement surface.

3. The image reading device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The position indicator has the scale markings that indicate positions at predetermined left and right intervals around a central reference in the width direction of the document.

4. The image reading device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The position indicator component has the scale markings, which allow for the determination of a combination of left-right symmetrical positions around a central reference in the width direction of the document.

5. The image reading device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The position indicator uses at least one of a symbol or a color to indicate a combination of left-right symmetrical positions about the central reference in the width direction of the document.

6. The image reading device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The position indicator has a width between the scale marks, the width of which varies with the distance from the center reference in the width direction of the document.

7. The image reading device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The position indicator has a width between the scale marks, and the width varies such that the width between the scale marks increases with the distance from the center reference in the width direction of the document.

8. The image reading device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The image processing unit is configured to perform any one of the following processes: detecting edges from an image obtained by reading a document, performing skew correction based on information related to the detected edges, adjusting the positioning position based on information related to the detected edges, and cropping the document size based on information related to the detected edges.

9. The image reading device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The location indicator is affixed to the wall surface as a sticker.

10. The image reading device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The position indicator has a string member suspended from the wall.

11. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, include: The image reading device according to any one of claims 1-10; and Image forming unit.

Images