Image reading apparatus and display control method of image reading apparatus

Abstract

The image reading device includes a document stage, a document cover, a reading unit, a light-emitting unit, and a control unit. The document stage has a mounting surface for placing the document. The document cover opens and closes the mounting surface of the document stage. The reading unit reads the document placed on the mounting surface of the document stage from the side opposite to the mounting surface. The light-emitting unit is configured to switch between being on and off. When reading the document is performed with the document cover open relative to the document stage (i.e., in the open state), the control unit illuminates the light-emitting unit at a predetermined position on the mounting surface before the document is placed on the mounting surface of the document stage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading device having a reading unit for reading original documents and a display control method for the image reading device. Background Technology

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image reading device capable of detecting when a document is placed at a predetermined position on a document table. The image reading device includes: a document table having a mounting surface for placing the document; a document cover capable of opening and closing the mounting surface of the document table; and a reading unit for reading the document.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a method where, after a predetermined standby time has elapsed following detection by a sensor that a document is mounted at a designated position on the document stage, the reading unit begins reading the document. Furthermore, it describes a method where the reading unit can also detect the document by reading it.

[0004] However, for users who wish to read originals with the original cover open, there is room for improvement in convenience. For example, in a structure that detects whether an original is placed on the document tray, although the user needs to place the original at the designated detection position, they might be unaware of this and place the original in an inappropriate position on the tray. Furthermore, sometimes users want to confirm whether they are in the designated mode for reading the original with the original cover open. Therefore, for users who wish to read originals with the original cover open, there is room for improvement in convenience to ensure the smooth reading of the original.

[0005] Patent Document 1: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0084179. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An image reading device for solving the above-mentioned problems includes: a document stage having a mounting surface for placing a document; a document cover that opens and closes the mounting surface of the document stage; a reading unit that reads the document placed on the mounting surface of the document stage from the side opposite to the mounting surface; a light-emitting unit that can switch between being lit and extinguished; and a control unit that, when reading the document is performed with the document cover open relative to the document stage (i.e., in an open state), illuminates the light-emitting unit at a predetermined position on the mounting surface of the document stage before the document is placed on the mounting surface of the document stage in the open state.

[0007] An image reading device for solving the above-mentioned problem includes: a document stage having a mounting surface for placing a document; a document cover that opens and closes relative to the document stage relative to the mounting surface; a reading unit that reads the document placed on the mounting surface of the document stage from a side opposite to the mounting surface; and a control unit that, in a mode where reading the document is performed with the document cover open relative to the document stage (i.e., in an open state), causes the reading unit to read the document based on a predetermined time elapsed since a condition has been met when a user has indicated the start of the reading task, the document cover is in the open state, and the document is placed on the document stage.

[0008] In the display control method of the image reading device for solving the above-mentioned problems, the image reading device includes: a document stage having a mounting surface for placing a document; a document cover that opens and closes relative to the document stage relative to the mounting surface; a reading unit that reads the document placed on the mounting surface of the document stage from a side opposite to the mounting surface; and a display unit that displays information. In the display control method of the image reading device, when instructed to read the document in an open state (i.e., with the document cover open relative to the document stage), the display unit displays guidance information, which is information guiding the document to a position on the mounting surface of the document stage where the document is placed (i.e., a placement position). Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a schematic front sectional view showing the image reading device in the embodiment.

[0010] Figure 2 A schematic perspective view of an image reading device showing the original document cover in the open state.

[0011] Figure 3 A schematic front view, partially cut out, of an image reading device holding a book as an original manuscript.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a schematic top view illustrating the structure of the reading module.

[0013] Figure 5 A block diagram illustrating the electrical structure of an image reading device.

[0014] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the selection screen for the original manuscript waiting mode.

[0015] Figure 7 A diagram showing the first settings screen for setting the standby time.

[0016] Figure 8 A diagram showing the second settings screen for setting the standby time.

[0017] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating a book scanning processing routine.

[0018] Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating the guide screen that prompts the user to open the original document cover.

[0019] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of a guide screen that shows how to place the original document.

[0020] Figure 12 A schematic top view showing an image reading device with the original document placed on it.

[0021] Figure 13 A schematic top view showing an image reading device with the original document mounted on it.

[0022] Figure 14 This diagram illustrates the original document inspection process performed with the original document cover open, and also shows a schematic diagram of an image reading device with a book mounted on it, as well as a graph of the reading data from the reading unit.

[0023] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of a notification screen that informs users of the meaning of a scan.

[0024] Figure 16 This is a diagram illustrating a guide screen that shows how to remove the original manuscript.

[0025] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of a guide screen that shows how to place the original document.

[0026] Figure 18 This is a schematic top view showing an image reading device equipped with the sensor in the modified example.

[0027] Figure 19 This is a schematic top view of the sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the image reading device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Structure of an image reading device

[0030] Figure 1 Image reading device 11 indicating the posture of being in use. Figure 1 The X, Y, and Z axes shown are orthogonal to each other. The Z-axis is parallel to the direction of gravity. The Y-axis is from... Figure 1The X-axis is parallel to the width direction when viewed from the front of the image reading device 11. The Y-axis is parallel to the depth direction of the image reading device 11. The directions parallel to the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are respectively designated as the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction. The X direction includes both +X and -X directions. The Y direction includes both +Y and -Y directions. The Z direction includes both +Z and -Z directions. Furthermore, the Y direction is also referred to as the width direction Y, the X direction as the depth direction X, and the Z direction as the vertical direction Z.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, the image reading device 11 includes a document stage 12 and a document cover 15. The document stage 12 has a mounting surface 12A for placing the document M1. The document M1 is placed on the document stage 12 by being placed on the mounting surface 12A.

[0032] The document stage 12 has a housing 13 and a transparent plate 14. The transparent plate 14 is mounted on the upper part of the housing 13. The transparent plate 14 forms the top plate of the housing 13. The document stage 12 is light-transmitting. That is, the document stage 12 is light-transmitting at a portion of the transparent plate 14. The upper surface of the transparent plate 14 forms a mounting surface 12A. The document stage 12 is light-transmitting at the mounting surface 12A. The upper surface of the portion of the transparent plate 14 exposed in the upper surface of the document stage 12 is designated as the mounting surface 12A. The mounting surface 12A has a size capable of mounting a document M1 of the largest size that the image reading device 11 can read.

[0033] The document cover 15 opens and closes relative to the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12. The document cover 15 may also be configured to rotate relative to the document stage 12. The document cover 15 is connected via a hinge mechanism 47 (see reference). Figure 2 It was installed on the manuscript tray 12. Figure 1 In the shown front view, the rotation axis of the original cover 15 extends in the width direction Y from the inner side in the depth direction X. The original cover 15 can be opened and closed within a specified angle range with the inner rotation axis as the center.

[0034] The original document cover 15 is opened relative to the original document stage 12, thereby exposing the mounting surface 12A, which is the upper surface of the transparent plate 14. This allows the user to place the original document M1 onto the mounting surface 12A. The original document cover 15 is closed relative to the original document stage 12, thereby pressing the original document M1 placed on the mounting surface 12A from above. Figure 1In the closed state shown, the original document M1, placed on the mounting surface 12A, is pressed against the mounting surface 12A by the closed document cover 15. In normal mode, the original document M1 is read by the image reading device 11 in this pressed state. Furthermore, the image reading device 11 of this embodiment has an example of a mode in which the reading of the original document M1 is performed in the open state with the document cover 15 open, namely a book scanning mode. This book scanning mode will be described later.

[0035] The image reading device 11 includes a reading unit 17 and a light-emitting unit 18. The reading unit 17 is configured to read the original document M1 placed on the mounting surface 12A. The reading unit 17 reads the original document M1 placed on the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12 from the side opposite to the mounting surface 12A. The reading unit 17 is located inside the housing 13 of the document stage 12. The reading unit 17 is located on the side opposite to the mounting surface 12A through a transparent plate 14. The reading unit 17 is configured to perform scanning within the housing 13.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, the image reading device 11 may also include a carriage 19 that supports the reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18. The carriage 19 supporting the reading unit 17 is configured to be movable in the width direction Y. The reading unit 17 is configured to move along the mounting surface 12A on the transparent plate 14 together with the carriage 19 in the width direction Y. The reading unit 17 reads the original document M1 by scanning it relative to the original document M1 mounted on the mounting surface 12A, thereby reading it through the transparent plate 14. The reading unit 17 is capable of moving across a range wider than the mounting surface 12A in the width direction Y.

[0037] The reading unit 17 is, for example, constructed from a line sensor that is elongated in one direction. Figure 1 In the example shown, the reading unit 17 is configured such that its length direction is parallel to the depth direction X. The length direction of the reading unit 17 is referred to as the main scanning direction, and the direction of movement of the reading unit 17 is referred to as the sub-scanning direction. Since the main scanning direction is parallel to the depth direction X, it is also called the "main scanning direction X". Since the sub-scanning direction is parallel to the width direction Y, it is also called the "sub-scanning direction Y". The main scanning direction X and the sub-scanning direction Y intersect each other (e.g., are orthogonal). The reading unit 17 can move in the first direction +Y and the second direction -Y of the sub-scanning direction Y by moving the carriage 19.

[0038] The light-emitting unit 18 can be switched between being on and off. The light-emitting unit 18 is located within the housing 13 of the document stage 12. The light-emitting unit 18 is positioned on the side of the document stage 12 opposite to the mounting surface 12A. The light-emitting unit 18 emits light from the opposite side of the document stage 12 towards the outside of the mounting surface 12A. When the reading unit 17 reads the document M1, the light-emitting unit 18 illuminates the document M1 by being turned on. In the illuminated state, the light-emitting unit 18 illuminates the document M1 from the side of the document stage 12 opposite to the mounting surface 12A. The light-emitting unit 18 illuminates the reading target area of ​​the document M1, which is the object of reading by the reading unit 17, on the reading surface of the document M1 placed on the mounting surface 12A.

[0039] The light-emitting unit 18 is configured to perform scanning within the housing 13. The light-emitting unit 18 illuminates the original document M1, which is placed on the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12, through a transparent plate 14. The light-emitting unit 18, supported on the upper part of a carriage 19, moves along the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12 together with the reading unit 17. The light-emitting unit 18 moves in the sub-scanning direction Y via the carriage 19. The reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18 are supported on the carriage 19 in a positional relationship that allows the light-emitting unit 18 to illuminate the reading target area of ​​the reading unit 17. By illuminating itself, the light-emitting unit 18 illuminates the reading target area of ​​the reading unit 17, which extends along the main scanning direction X.

[0040] The reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18 constitute the reading module 20 (see also...). Figure 4 The readout module 20 is supported on the upper part of the carriage 19. The readout unit 17 is, for example, configured as a contact image sensor (CIS). In this embodiment, the readout module 20 is a CIS-type (close-contact optical) contact image sensor module (CISM). The detailed structure of the readout module 20 will be described later.

[0041] The image reading device 11 may also include a reading window 21. The reading window 21 may also be located outside the mounting surface 12A when viewed from above (see also...). Figure 2 ).exist Figure 1 In the example shown, the reading window 21 is located outside the sub-scanning direction Y relative to the mounting surface 12A. The reading window 21 can also be positioned opposite the reading unit 17. The reading window 21 is positioned adjacent to the transparent plate 14 in the sub-scanning direction Y at the upper part of the document stage 12. The reading window 21 and the transparent plate 14 are respectively mounted at a position that is horizontal and approximately at the same height as the upper part of the housing 13.

[0042] The reading unit 17 is configured to be able to move to the position opposite the reading window 21 by moving the slide 19. Figure 1 The position is indicated by a double-dotted line. The carriage 19 can move in the sub-scanning direction Y across a range including the position where the reading unit 17 faces the reading window 21 and the area where the reading unit 17 faces the mounting surface 12A. Thus, the reading unit 17 can read the original document M1 in transit and the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A at the position opposite the reading window 21.

[0043] The reading window 21 has a small transparent plate 22 that is sufficiently small compared to the size of the transparent plate 14. The transparent plates 14 and 22 are, for example, made of glass. The transparent plate 14 is constructed of a large piece of glass larger than the transparent plate 22, which is made of small glass and constitutes the reading window 21. Furthermore, the transparent plate 14 and the reading window 21 are approximately the same in position and length along the main scanning direction X.

[0044] The image reading device 11 may also include an opening / closing sensor 23. The opening / closing sensor 23 detects the opening and closing of the original document cover 15. The opening / closing sensor 23 is configured to detect both the open and closed states of the original document cover 15 relative to the original document stage 12. The opening / closing sensor 23 can detect both the open state of the original document cover 15 relative to the original document stage 12 and the closed state of the original document cover 15 relative to the original document stage 12. The opening / closing sensor 23 may be mounted, for example, on the housing 13 of the original document stage 12, but it may also be mounted on the original document cover 15. The opening / closing sensor 23 may be a contact sensor or a non-contact sensor such as an optical sensor. For example, when the original document cover 15 is closed, the opening / closing sensor 23 may be positioned on the inner side of the original document cover 15 near the rotation axis in the depth direction X of the image reading device 11, or it may be positioned on the rotating end side of the original document cover 15.

[0045] The opening / closing sensor 23 can also detect the open state when the angle formed by the original cover 15 relative to the mounting surface 12A is greater than a predetermined angle, and the closed state when the angle is less than a predetermined angle. The predetermined angle is a predetermined value within the range from 0 degrees when the original cover 15 is fully closed relative to the original table 12 to the maximum opening angle. Although the predetermined angle can be set to an appropriate value, as an example, it can also be a predetermined value within the range of 1 degree or more and 30 degrees or less. In this embodiment, the predetermined angle can also be a predetermined value within the range of 2 degrees or more and 20 degrees or less.

[0046] The image reading device 11 includes a display unit 41 for displaying information. The display unit 41 is configured to display a screen. The display unit 41 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The display unit 41 is, for example, mounted on a document tray 12. By displaying information on the screen, the display unit 41 notifies the user of information related to the image reading device 11.

[0047] The image reading device 11 includes an input unit 42. The input unit 42 is operated by a user. The user provides instructions or necessary input information to the image reading device 11 through the input unit 42. The input unit 42 may be configured as, for example, a touch panel. That is, the input unit 42 may also be configured using the touch operation function of the touch panel of the display unit 41. The input unit 42 may also be configured as at least one operation button or the like displayed on the screen of the display unit 41. The user provides instructions or necessary input information to the image reading device 11 by touching the screen of the display unit 41. The input unit 42 is not limited to a touch panel and may also include buttons, levers, switches, etc.

[0048] The image reading device 11 includes a control unit 50. The control unit 50 is configured to control the image reading device 11. The control unit 50 controls the reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18. The control unit 50 controls the movement of the carriage 19 along the mounting surface 12A. The control unit 50 controls the display unit 41. The control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display various information. The control unit 50 controls the image reading device 11 based on instructions provided by the user through the input unit 42.

[0049] The image reading device 11 has the image reading function of the above-described flatbed (FB) type and the image reading function of the automatic document feeder (ADF) type as described below. Hereinafter, reference will be made to... Figure 1 This section explains the structure of the image reading function using the ADF method.

[0050] ADF structure of image reading device Figure 1 The image reading device 11 shown includes an automatic paper feeding device 24. The automatic paper feeding device 24 is configured to automatically feed paper to the original document M1. The automatic paper feeding device 24 is installed in the original document cover 15. The automatic paper feeding device 24 feeds the original document M1 into the original document cover 15. A transport path 25 is formed in the original document cover 15. The transport path 25 is the path through which the original document M1 is transported. The transport path 25 extends within the original document cover 15. During the transport of the original document M1 along the transport path 25, it is read by the image reading device 11.

[0051] The automatic paper feeding device 24 has a supply tray 26. The supply tray 26 is mounted on the original cover 15. The supply tray 26 extends from the original cover 15. The supply tray 26 is configured to accommodate the original M1. By placing the original M1 on the supply tray 26, the original M1 is thus positioned on the supply tray 26.

[0052] The automatic paper feeding device 24 has a conveying section 30. The conveying section 30 is installed in the original document cover 15. The conveying section 30 is configured to convey the original document M1. The conveying section 30 conveys the original document M1, which is placed on the supply tray 26, along the conveying path 25. The conveying section 30 has one or more (in Figure 1 (Multiple rollers are shown in the example.) The conveying unit 30 has, for example, a pick-up roller 31 and one or more conveying rollers 32. The pick-up roller 31 conveys the originals M1 placed on the supply tray 26 one by one. In one example, the pick-up roller 31 contacts the topmost original M1 among the multiple originals M1 stacked on the supply tray 26 and conveys them sequentially from the topmost original M1. The multiple conveying rollers 32 are located along the conveying path 25. The multiple conveying rollers 32 convey the originals M1 along the conveying path 25.

[0053] The automatic paper feeding device 24 has a discharge tray 33. The discharge tray 33 is configured to receive the original document M1 discharged from the original document cover 15. The discharge tray 33 is mounted on the original document cover 15. The discharge tray 33 receives the original document M1 after it has been read.

[0054] The automatic paper feeding device 24 has a detection unit 34 that detects the presence or absence of a document M1 placed on the feed tray 26. The detection unit 34 can be a contact sensor or a non-contact sensor such as an optical sensor. When the open / close sensor 23 detects that the document cover 15 is closed and the detection unit 34 detects that the document M1 is placed on the feed tray 26, the control unit 50 will prioritize reading in the ADF mode.

[0055] The automatic paper feeding device 24 may also include an overlap transport detection unit 35 for detecting overlapping transport of the original documents M1. The overlap transport detection unit 35 detects whether multiple original documents M1 are being transported from the supply tray 26 in an overlapping state. The overlap transport detection unit 35 may also include an ultrasonic sensor. For example, the overlap transport detection unit 35 detects overlapping transport when the attenuation rate of the ultrasonic waves passing through the original documents M1 exceeds a threshold.

[0056] The image reading device 11 includes a reading unit 37 and a light-emitting unit 38. The reading unit 37 and the light-emitting unit 38 are supported by a support unit 39. The reading unit 37 and the light-emitting unit 38 constitute a reading module 40. The support unit 39 supports the reading module 40 in a posture capable of reading the original document M1 being transported along the transport path 25. The structure of the reading module 40 is basically the same as that of the reading module 20 within the original document stage 12. The transport unit 30, the second reading unit 37, and the light-emitting unit 38, constituting an ADF-type image reading mechanism, are controlled by a control unit 50.

[0057] The reading unit 37 is positioned within the original document cover 15 along the transport path 25. The reading unit 37 reads the original document M1 that is transported from the supply tray 26. In other words, the reading unit 37 reads the original document M1 that is transported along the transport path 25.

[0058] The light-emitting unit 38 can be switched between being on and off. The light-emitting unit 38 is positioned along the transport path 25. When on, the light-emitting unit 38 illuminates the area of ​​the original document M1 being transported along the transport path 25 that includes the portion to be read by the reading unit 37.

[0059] The reading unit 17 and the reading unit 37 are configured to read both the front and back sides of the original document M1 being transported along the transport path 25. The reading unit 17, located within the document tray 12, has image reading functions for both FB and ADF modes. In this specification, the reading unit 17 within the document tray 12 is referred to as the "first reading unit 17," and the reading unit 37 within the automatic paper feed device 24 is referred to as the "second reading unit 37."

[0060] The first reading unit 17 reads the first side of the original document M1 being transported along the transport path 25 through the reading window 21. At this time, the first reading unit 17 does not scan the original document M1. The first reading unit 17 reads the first side of the original document M1 through the reading window 21 when it is in the window position opposite to the reading window 21. The first side of the original document M1 is, for example, a surface.

[0061] The second reading unit 37 reads the second side of the original document M1 being transported along the transport path 25. The second side of the original document M1 is the side opposite to the first side. For example, the second side of the original document M1 is the back side.

[0062] When reading one side of the original document M1 being transported along the transport path 25, the first reading unit 17 performs the reading. When reading both sides of the original document M1 being transported along the transport path 25, the first reading unit 17 and the second reading unit 37 perform the reading. That is, the first reading unit 17 reads the first side (e.g., the surface) of the original document M1 through the reading window 21, and the second reading unit 37 reads the second side (e.g., the back) of the original document M1.

[0063] Figure 2 The image reading device 11 is in the open state with the original document cover 15 open. The original document cover 15 is mounted on the original document stage 12 in a manner that allows it to rotate via a hinge mechanism 47. When the user reads the original document M1 in flatbed mode (FB mode), the original document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A with the original document cover 15 open. The display unit 41 is, for example, located at the front side of the original document stage 12. The user can check the displayed content on the display unit 41 or operate the input unit 42 while performing operations such as placing the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A or positioning the placed original document M1.

[0064] like Figure 2 As shown, a background plate 15A and a transport channel 15B are provided on the back of the original document cover 15. The background plate 15A is positioned corresponding to the mounting surface 12A and has a shape and size that are approximately the same as the mounting surface 12A. When the original document cover 15 is closed, the mounting surface 12A is covered by the background plate 15A. Furthermore, the transport channel 15B is positioned corresponding to the reading window 21. When the original document cover 15 is closed, the reading module 20 can read the first side (surface) of the original document M1 that has passed through the transport section 30 and the transport channel 15B via the reading window 21. In addition, the user can select either a single side or a double side as the reading side of the original document on the setting screen (illustration omitted) where the reading conditions are set. When double-sided reading is specified, the reading module 20 reads the first side (surface) of the original M1 passing through the transport channel 15B via the reading window 21, and the reading module 40 reads the second side (back side) of the original M1 opposite to the first side.

[0065] Detailed structure of the flat panel method Next, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 The detailed structure of the flat panel in the image reading device 11 will now be explained. Furthermore, in Figure 2 , Figure 3 The structure of the ADF system, including the automatic paper feeder 24, is omitted in the text. The original document M1 is, for example, a book or pamphlet, or other original document with thickness. Figure 3This indicates that the book B1, whose page is open for reading, is placed on the mounting surface 12A. In other words, it indicates that the user has placed (placed) the book B1 on the manuscript tray 12 in order to read the page of the book B1.

[0066] like Figure 2 As shown, the shape of the document stage 12, viewed from above, is, for example, rectangular. The lower surface (back side) of the document cover 15 is rectangular, with approximately the same dimensions as the upper surface of the document stage 12. The upper surface of the document stage 12 and the lower surface of the document cover 15 are approximately equal in shape and size. Figure 1 When the document cover 15 is closed, the document stage 12 and the document cover 15 overlap in the vertical direction Z. That is, when the document cover 15 is closed, the document cover 15 covers the entire upper surface of the document stage 12, including the mounting surface 12A and the reading window 21.

[0067] like Figure 3 As shown, for example, when the original manuscript M1, such as book B1, is placed on the mounting surface 12A of the manuscript tray 12, the manuscript cover 15 is set to an open state at a predetermined angle. The original manuscript M1 is positioned on the mounting surface 12A of the transparent plate 14, for example, near the two sides close to the inside and the left.

[0068] like Figure 3 As shown, the image reading device 11 includes a scanning mechanism 44 within the housing 13 of the original document stage 12, which enables the carriage 19 to scan in the sub-scanning direction Y, and a carriage motor 43 that serves as the drive source for the carriage 19. The carriage 19 moves in the sub-scanning direction Y via the scanning mechanism 44 through the driving force of the carriage motor 43.

[0069] The scanning mechanism 44 includes a guide member 45 and a power transmission mechanism 46. The guide member 45 guides the carriage 19 to move in the sub-scanning direction Y. The power transmission mechanism 46 transmits the driving force of the carriage motor 43 to the carriage 19 as the power for the carriage 19 to move in the sub-scanning direction Y. When the carriage motor 43 is driven in a forward direction, the carriage 19 moves in the first direction +Y. When the carriage motor 43 is driven in a reverse direction, the carriage 19 moves in the second direction -Y, which is opposite to the first direction +Y. As the carriage 19 moves, the reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18 constituting the reading module 20 move in the sub-scanning direction Y.

[0070] exist Figure 3 In the diagram, the position of the carriage 19, shown by a solid line, is the standby position P0. The standby position P0 is the position where the light-blocking portion between the reading unit 17 and the reading window 21 and the transparent plate 14 is opposite. When the reading module 20 is not reading, the carriage 19 is in standby position P0.

[0071] When the reading module 20 reads in ADF mode, the carriage 19 moves to a first reading position Y1 located at one end in the sub-scanning direction Y. The first reading position Y1 is the position where the reading part 17 and the reading window part 21 are opposite each other in the sub-scanning direction Y.

[0072] When reading in flatbed (FB) mode, the reading unit 17 moves to a position within the original document reading area SA in the sub-scanning direction Y. The original document reading area SA is the area corresponding to the mounting surface 12A. The original document reading area SA is the region extending from the end of the mounting surface 12A on the reading start side in the sub-scanning direction Y, i.e., the start end Y0, to the end end YE. The start end Y0 is, for example, the reading start position of the reading unit 17. The reading unit 17... Figure 3 The document reads from the original document M1, such as book B1, placed on the mounting surface 12A, by scanning the original document reading area SA in the sub-scanning direction Y. During the scanning process, the reading unit 17 starts reading, for example, from the reading start position Y0. The reading unit 17 reads the original document M1 by receiving reflected light from the reading surface of the original document M1, which is irradiated by the light-emitting unit 18.

[0073] About book scanning mode In the image reading device 11, sometimes original documents M1 with thickness, such as books and pamphlets (hereinafter also referred to as "books, etc."), are read. For example, when a user opens a book B1 that they want to read (see reference 11), they may do so. Figure 3 With the pages of book B1 in the open state, the open pages are pressed against the mounting surface 12A. Because book B1 has thickness, the document cover 15 cannot be closed. Furthermore, if the document cover 15 is to be pressed towards the closed side to press the open pages of book B1 against the transparent plate 14, a force in the tilting direction must be applied from the document cover 15 towards book B1. As a result, the mounting position of book B1 relative to the mounting surface 12A is easily shifted. Therefore, with the document cover 15 open, the user performs a positioning state and reads the pages of book B1 pressed against the mounting surface 12A. If the user presses book B1 to position it at a predetermined position on the mounting surface 12A (refer to...), the book B1 can be positioned correctly. Figure 13 If the user forcibly checks the displayed content on the display unit 41 or operates the input unit 42, the user will be unable to concentrate on positioning the book B1. When the user presses the book B1, which is placed on the mounting surface 12A, while looking towards the display unit 41 or operating the input unit 42 with the other hand, it can easily hinder the positioning of the book B1. For example, since the user needs to press the book B1 while positioning it, if the operation to start the scan is forcibly performed, the user needs to look towards the input unit 42, and therefore the position of the book B1 is easily shifted during this operation.

[0074] Therefore, the image reading device 11 of this embodiment has a book scanning mode that automatically starts scanning upon detecting that a document M1, such as a book B1, is placed on the mounting surface 12A. In the book scanning mode, if an initial reading operation (task start operation) is performed, then if the document M1 is subsequently detected during document detection processing that detects the situation where the document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A, reading of the document M1 automatically begins.

[0075] In this embodiment, the original manuscript M1 assumed to be the object of reading in the book scanning mode is a booklet such as Book B1. A booklet refers to a book bound with multiple sheets of paper. Booklets include thicker, non-periodic publications with more than a certain number of pages of text, i.e., Book B1. In addition, booklets include thinner pamphlets or booklets with less than a certain number of pages of text, and printed materials such as flyers folded from a single sheet of paper.

[0076] Light-emitting section 18 illumination guide When the control unit 50 performs the reading of the original document M1 in the open state (i.e., when the original document cover 15 is open relative to the original document stage 12), the original document M1 is read at a predetermined position P1 (refer to the reference position) on the mounting surface 12A of the original document stage 12 in the open state. Figure 3 , Figure 12 The light-emitting unit 18 is illuminated at a predetermined position P1 on the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12 when the control unit 50 receives a task start instruction in book scanning mode and the document cover 15 is open. Specifically, if the control unit 50 receives a task start instruction in book scanning mode, it first moves the reading module 20 to the predetermined position P1. Then, with the reading module 20 in the predetermined position P1, the control unit 50 illuminates the light-emitting unit 18.

[0077] The specified position P1 simply needs to be a position where the illumination of the reading module 20 can pass through the transparent plate 14 forming the mounting surface 12A and be visually confirmed by the user. The specified position P1 can also be a position within the mounting surface 12A when viewing the image reading device 11 from above in the vertical direction Z. The specified position P1 simply needs to be a position where a portion of the light-emitting part 18 can be visually confirmed within the original document reading area SA when viewing the image reading device 11 from above.

[0078] like Figure 12 As shown, the specified position P1 can also be a position within a range YA from the end of the second direction -Y side (reading start position side) in the mounting surface 12A, i.e., the starting end Y0, towards the first direction +Y, which is a specified distance. That is, the specified position P1 can also be a position close to the standby position P0 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the mounting surface 12A.

[0079] The position of the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A of the document tray 12, i.e., the mounting position (original document mounting position), can also be indicated by the illumination of the light-emitting part 18. In other words, the designated position P1 for illuminating the light-emitting part 18 can also represent the mounting position for the user to place the book B1. Here, the distance between the transparent plate 14 and the reading module 20 in the vertical direction Z is very short. Therefore, the positional offset in the sub-scanning direction Y between the actual illumination position of the light-emitting part 18 in the sub-scanning direction Y and the illumination position on the mounting surface 12A (the apparent illumination position) that the user visually confirms through the transparent plate 14 is very small. Therefore, the illumination position of the light-emitting part 18 visually confirmed by the user is approximately equal to the designated position P1. The user places the book B1 on the designated position P1 illuminated by the reading module 20 within the mounting surface 12A.

[0080] For the range YA of the designated position P1 illuminated by the light-emitting unit 18, if expressed as the distance from the starting end Y0 to the first direction +Y, it can be, for example, a range of 3mm or more and 50mm or less. If it is less than 3mm, even though the book B1 is placed, the gap between the starting end Y0 and the book B1 will be read, which may increase the frequency of missed detection of the book B1. If it exceeds 50mm, the movement time of the carriage 19 from the standby position P0 to the designated position P1 will be longer, which may easily cause a delay in the original document detection. In addition, if it exceeds 50mm, the time required for the reading unit 17 to move from the designated position P1 to the reading start position Y0 after the original document detection will be longer, which may easily induce a delay in the timing of the reading start of the original document M1.

[0081] Furthermore, if the distance exceeds 50mm, the central portion of the double-page spread of book B1 tends to float, making it easier to detect book B1 at the location where it is likely to float. In this case, it is easy to miss the detection of the original document M1 due to the deviation of the reading target portion from the depth of field of the reading unit 17. In particular, when the reading module 20 is a CISM, the shallow depth of field makes it prone to missing the detection of the original document. In addition, the range YA is not limited to a range of 3mm or more and 50mm or less from the starting end Y0 in the first direction +Y. It can also be set to a value with a lower limit greater than 0mm and less than 3mm, or a value with an upper limit greater than 50mm. For example, the range YA can also be a range of 1mm or more and 10mm or less from the starting end Y0 in the first direction +Y. Alternatively, the range YA can also be a range of 5mm or more and 30mm or less from the starting end Y0 in the first direction +Y.

[0082] With the original document cover 15 open, the illumination of the light-emitting part 18 at the designated position P1 can be either continuous or flashing. In this embodiment, the light-emitting part 18 is flashing. The control unit 50 causes the light-emitting part 18 to flash when indicating the placement position. The flashing at the designated position P1 of the reading module 20 can also guide the user to perform the operation at a specific location on the placement surface 12A. Furthermore, the flashing of the light-emitting part 18 at the designated position P1 of the reading module 20 can also inform the user of the status of the image reading device 11. When the flashing of the reading module 20 has the function of guiding the position, the designated position P1 is the position that should be guided to the user. When the flashing of the reading module 20 has the function of guiding the status of the image reading device 11, the designated position P1 only needs to be a position where the user can visually confirm the illumination of the light-emitting part 18 through the transparent plate 14.

[0083] The control unit 50 can also cause the display unit 41 to display guidance information guiding the placement of the original document M1 at the position indicated by the illumination of the light-emitting unit 18. The control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display guidance information indicating the position of the book B1 placed at the designated position P1 of the reading module 20, which is illuminated or flashing. The guidance information is, for example, a guidance image composed of a notification information GUI. In this embodiment, the user is guided to the placement position of the original document M1 by illuminating (e.g., flashing) the light-emitting unit 18 at the designated position P1 and by the guidance information displayed on the display unit 41. The user, having seen the guidance information displayed on the display unit 41, places the book B1 at the illuminated position of the light-emitting unit 18 in the mounting surface 12A, i.e., the designated position P1. That is, the user places the book B1 on the mounting surface 12A in such a way that it covers the designated position P1 illuminated within the mounting surface 12A. The book B1 is placed at a position where the reading module 20, which is flashing on the mounting surface 12A, can read the book B1.

[0084] In the image reading device 11 of this embodiment, the reading unit 17 is used to detect the presence or absence of the original document M1, such as book B1, on the mounting surface 12A. That is, the control unit 50 uses the reading unit 17 to detect whether the original document M1, such as book B1, is on the mounting surface 12A. The control unit 50 detects the presence or absence of the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A based on the reading result when the reading unit 17 performs reading while the light-emitting unit 18 is illuminated. In this embodiment where the light-emitting unit 18 flashes, the control unit 50 detects the presence or absence of the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A based on the reading result when the reading unit 17 performs reading while the light-emitting unit 18 is flashing. Details regarding this original document detection process will be described later.

[0085] Structure of Reading Module 20 Next, refer to Figure 4 The structure of the reading module 20 will now be described. The two reading modules 20 and 40 have the same basic structure. Therefore, the structure of the reading module 20 will be described below.

[0086] The readout module 20 is, for example, a contact image sensor (CIS). The readout module 20 has a readout section 17 and a light-emitting section 18. The readout section 17 and the light-emitting section 18 constituting the contact image sensor are integrated. The readout module 20 has an elongated support section 27 extending in the main scanning direction X. The readout section 17 and the light-emitting section 18 are supported by the support section 27 with their length direction aligned with the main scanning direction X.

[0087] Figure 4 The reading unit 17 shown includes, for example, a line sensor 17L and an imaging lens (not shown). The line sensor 17L includes a plurality of image sensors 28. The plurality of image sensors 28 constituting the line sensor 17L are arranged in a row along the main scanning direction X. The image sensor 28 is a photoelectric conversion element. The image sensor 28 corresponds to one reading pixel (one pixel) constituting the line sensor 17L. The image sensor 28 outputs a brightness signal corresponding to the amount of light received from the incident light. The number m of the plurality of image sensors 28 is, for example, a predetermined number in the range of 500 to 10000. In addition, the imaging lens is composed of a lens array such as a rod lens array (equal magnification imaging system lens).

[0088] The light-emitting part 18 includes a light source 18A and a light guide member 29. The light source 18A is either disposed at one end of the support part 27 along its length or at two ends. Figure 4 In the example shown, two light sources 18A are arranged at both ends of the support portion 27 along its length. The light guide member 29 is supported by the support portion 27 at positions on either side or one side of the reading portion 17 in the sub-scanning direction Y, extending in the main scanning direction X. Figure 4In the example shown, a pair of light guide members 29 are arranged on both sides of the reading section 17 in the sub-scanning direction Y. The light guide members 29 are, for example, light guides. The light guide members 29 illuminate the reading target area of ​​the reading section 17 while guiding light from the illuminated light source 18A in the main scanning direction X. The light-emitting section 18 is illuminated by the light source 18A, thereby emitting the same light from the light guide members 29 in the main scanning direction X. The light source 18A can be a white light source emitting white light, or it can be a structure having three light sources capable of emitting monochromatic light of red, green, and blue respectively. The light source 18A can be, for example, an LED (light-emitting diode). Electrical structure of the image reading device 11 Next, refer to Figure 5 The electrical structure of the image reading device 11 in this embodiment will now be described. Additionally, in Figure 5 The structure of part of the ADF-type image reading mechanism in the image reading device 11 is omitted.

[0089] like Figure 5 As shown, the image reading device 11 includes a control unit 50, a carriage motor 43, a reading unit 17, a light-emitting unit 18, an input unit 42, a display unit 41, and an opening / closing sensor 23.

[0090] The control unit 50 may also be composed of one or more processors that execute various processes according to a computer program. The control unit 50 may also be composed of one or more dedicated hardware circuits, such as ASICs, that execute at least a portion of the various processes. The control unit 50 may also be composed of a circuit that includes a processor and a combination of hardware circuits. The processor includes a CPU and memories 52 such as RAM and ROM. The memories 52 store program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute processes. Memory, also known as computer-readable media, includes all readable media that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0091] The control unit 50 is electrically connected to a carriage motor 43, a reading unit 17, a light-emitting unit 18, an input unit 42, a display unit 41, and an opening / closing sensor 23. The control unit 50 controls the carriage motor 43, the reading unit 17, and the light-emitting unit 18 to perform the reading of the original document M1 and various processing related to the reading of the original document M1.

[0092] The control unit 50 includes an image reading control unit 51 and a memory 52. ​​The memory 52 stores a control program PR. The image reading control unit 51 is composed of software (such as software configured by executing the control program PR via a computer within the control unit 50) and hardware such as an ASIC. The image reading control unit 51 includes a carriage drive control unit 61, a reading control unit 62, a light emission control unit 63, an input receiving unit 64, a display control unit 65, and an on / off determination unit 66.

[0093] The carriage drive control unit 61 controls the carriage motor 43. The carriage drive control unit 61 drives the carriage motor 43 in both forward and reverse directions, thereby moving the carriage 19 in the sub-scanning direction Y. The control unit 50, through the movement of the carriage 19, causes the reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18 to scan in the sub-scanning direction Y.

[0094] The readout control unit 62 controls the readout unit 17. The readout control unit 62 controls the readout processing of the readout unit 17. The readout unit 17 outputs a readout signal composed of analog signals by reading the original document M1. The readout signal includes a serial signal that uses the light received by each of the multiple image sensors 28 constituting the readout unit 17 as a signal value. The readout control unit 62 generates readout data by converting the readout signal input from the readout unit 17 from an analog signal to a digital signal. The readout data includes serial data representing the light received by each of the multiple image sensors 28 at different main scanning positions using grayscale values ​​of a specified grayscale (e.g., 256 grayscale). The readout data includes multiple serial data corresponding to the readout signals read by the readout unit 17 moving in the sub-scanning direction Y at each sub-scanning position. The readout data is, for example, data specifying the readout resolution for the readout conditions. The control unit 50 generates scan data as the readout result of the original document M1 by performing prescribed processing on the readout data from the readout control unit 62. The specified processing may also include at least one of the following image processing operations: rotation of the original image, background removal, shadow removal, tilt correction, and blank page removal. Furthermore, the specified processing may also include document processing to generate scanned data by documenting the image data after image processing.

[0095] The user can select a desired file format from multiple file formats on the settings screen (illustration omitted) displayed on the display unit 41. The scanned data is file data in the file format specified by the user on the settings screen. Among the multiple file formats available for selection on the settings screen are PDF, JPEG, TIFF, and BMP formats. Among these multiple file formats is a specified file format that can summarize multi-page image data obtained through multiple scans into a single file. When the specified file format is selected, the control unit 50 performs the fileization process of summarizing multi-page image data into a single file. Here, "page" refers not to a page of book B1, but to an image obtained in a single scan. If the original document M1 is book B1, one page of image data is equivalent to two folded pages of book B1.

[0096] In this embodiment, the specified file format is, for example, PDF. When the PDF format is specified, the control unit 50 performs the process of converting multiple image data into a single PDF file. The PDF file can also be specified as either a multi-page PDF or a single-page PDF. A multi-page PDF is a format that combines multiple pages into one file, while a single-page PDF is a format that generates a file page by page when reading multiple originals. Alternatively, other than PDF can be selected as the specified file format. TIFF (multi-page) can also be selected as the default file format.

[0097] The control unit 50 performs document inspection processing to inspect the original document M1 placed by the user on the mounting surface 12A. Specifically, when the original document is in the document loading waiting state, the reading control unit 62 causes the reading unit 17 to perform document inspection reading at a predetermined position on the mounting surface 12A.

[0098] The light emission control unit 63 controls the switching between illuminating and extinguishing the light emission unit 18. In a standby state where reading is not performed, the control unit 50 extinguishes the light emission unit 18. During the reading of the original document M1, the control unit 50 illuminates the light emission unit 18. The control unit 50 performs original document detection processing, detecting when the user places the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A. During original document detection processing, the light emission control unit 63 illuminates the light emission unit 18 while detecting the original document M1 placed on the mounting surface 12A. The illumination of the light emission unit 18 during original document detection processing can also be a blinking motion.

[0099] The input receiving unit 64 receives input information entered by the user through operation of the input unit 42. In this embodiment, the input unit 42 is, for example, a touch panel of the display unit 41. The input receiving unit 64 receives input information entered by the user through touch operation of options or buttons such as selection items on the screen displayed on the display unit 41 via the input unit 42 (touch panel). As input information, the input receiving unit 64 receives, for example, mode selection information, task start indication information, mode end indication information, and various setting information.

[0100] The display control unit 65 controls the display unit 41. By controlling the display unit 41, the display control unit 65 displays menu screens or various setting screens on the display unit 41. These screens include guidance information and notification information. The display control unit 65 uses the screens displayed on the display unit 41 to display guidance information that guides the user in operations to be performed in book scanning mode, or notification information that should be communicated to the user. When the user is in a mode for reading a thick original document M1, such as book B1 (book scanning mode), the display control unit 65 displays this guidance information on the display unit 41. For example, the display control unit 65 causes the display unit 41 to display... Figures 6-8 , Figure 10 , Figure 11 , Figure 15 , Figure 16 and Figure 17 The various screens D1 to D8 are shown. Further details about each screen D1 to D8 will be described later.

[0101] The opening / closing determination unit 66 receives the detection signal from the opening / closing sensor 23. Based on the detection signal received from the opening / closing sensor 23, the opening / closing determination unit 66 determines whether the document cover 15 is in an open or closed state. Here, the opening / closing sensor 23 outputs a detection signal when the document cover 15 is in a closed state and outputs a non-detection signal when the document cover 15 is in an open state. The opening / closing sensor 23 outputs a non-detection signal indicating an open state when the angle of the document cover 15 exceeds a predetermined angle greater than 0 degrees. The opening / closing sensor 23 outputs a detection signal indicating a closed state when the angle of the document cover 15 is less than a predetermined angle.

[0102] Image reading control device (host device) The image reading device 11 can be connected to a host device 200, such as a personal computer (PC), in a communicable state. A reading control system 10 is constituted by the image reading device 11 and the reading control device 300. The image reading device 11 has a communication interface 67 that enables communication with the host device 200. The host device 200 has a communication interface 201 that enables communication with the communication interface 67 of the image reading device 11. The image reading device 11 can communicate with the host device 200 via the communication interfaces 67 and 201 in a wired or wireless manner. Furthermore, the host device 200 is not limited to a PC; for example, it can be a smartphone, mobile phone, tablet PC, portable terminal device (PDA), or other portable terminal device.

[0103] The host device 200 includes a display unit 210 and an input unit 220. The display unit 210 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD). The input unit 220 is configured with a pointing device such as a keyboard or mouse. The host device 200 includes a CPU and a memory. The memory stores a scan driver. The scan driver is installed into the host device 200 from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD, or downloaded into the host device 200 via the Internet from a server provided by an image reading device manufacturer. The image reading control device 300 is configured with software built into the host device 200 by the CPU of the host device 200 executing the scan driver. The reading control device 300 includes a scan driver.

[0104] The user can provide instructions to the image reading control device 300 by operating the input unit 220. For example, the user can set reading conditions by pressing various buttons on the setting screen displayed on the display unit 210 using the input unit 220. Furthermore, the user can provide a reading instruction (scan instruction) to the image reading control device 300 by pressing the task start button on the setting screen. Upon receiving a reading instruction, the image reading control device 300 generates a reading task based on the reading conditions. The reading control device 300 then sends the generated reading task to the image reading device 11.

[0105] The image reading control device 300 (scan driver) enables the display unit 210 of the host device 200 to display the same guidance or notification information as that displayed on the display unit 41 of the image reading device 11. That is, the reading control device 300 has the same GUI as the GUI on the image reading device 11 side. By operating the input unit 220 of the host device 200, the user can receive various instructions related to the book scanning mode, such as selecting the book scanning mode, operating the task start button, ending the book scanning mode, and canceling the book scanning mode. These book scanning mode-related operation functions can also be configured by the GUI generated by the scan driver. By operating the input unit 220 of the host device 200, the user can issue a reading task start instruction to the control unit 50 of the image reading device 11.

[0106] The content and guide screen of the book scanning mode In book scanning mode, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display various guidance information that guides the user to perform operations, as well as notification information that informs the user of necessary information.

[0107] The book scanning mode proceeds according to the following procedure: display steps (U1-U6) to display guidance or notification information on the display unit 41, user operation steps (U1-U6) to perform operations guided by the guidance information by the user, and processing steps (U1-U6) to perform prescribed processing by the reading module 20. Steps (G1-G5) beginning with the letter "G" are user operation steps. Steps (G1-G5) beginning with the letter "G" are display steps (G1-G5) to display guidance information, etc., on the display unit 41 by the control unit 50 (i.e., the display control unit 65). Steps (S1-S6) beginning with the letter "S" are processing steps performed by the control unit 50.

[0108] (U1) Selection of book scanning mode and start instruction for reading task.

[0109] (G1) Display of guiding information to prompt the opening of the original cover 15.

[0110] (U2) is an open operation performed by the user that puts the original cover 15 into the open state.

[0111] (S1) Detect the open state of the original cover 15.

[0112] (G2) Display of guidance information to prompt the operation of placing book B1 in the specified position on the mounting surface 12A.

[0113] (U3) Place book B1 on the designated position on the mounting surface 12A.

[0114] (S2) The case where book B1 is placed at the specified position on the mounting surface 12A is detected.

[0115] (S3) Perform the original manuscript reading process to read book B1.

[0116] (G3) displays guidance information prompting the removal operation of book B1 from the mounting surface 12A.

[0117] (U4) Remove the original manuscript of book B1 from the mounting surface 12A.

[0118] (G4) Displays guidance information prompting the operation to change the read page and place book B1 on the placement position of placement surface 12A.

[0119] (G5) Displays guidance information to guide you through the process of ending the book scanning mode.

[0120] (U5) The operation of modifying the read page and placing book B1 on the placement position of placement surface 12A.

[0121] Repeat (G4), (G5), (U5), (S2) to (U5) above.

[0122] (U6) End operation that terminates book scanning mode.

[0123] (S4) Determine whether the termination condition of the book scanning mode has been met.

[0124] (S5) End book scanning mode.

[0125] (S6) Convert the image data of more than one page of book B1 into a single PDF file.

[0126] The memory 52 stores a control program PR for instructing the control unit 50 to perform steps other than the user operation steps (U1) to (U6) described above. Specifically, the control program PR includes... Figure 9 The book scanning processing routine is illustrated in the flowchart.

[0127] In the display steps (G1) to (G5), make Figure 8 , Figure 10 , Figure 11 , Figures 15-17 The various screens shown in the diagram are displayed on screens D3 to D8.

[0128] The processing steps include a document detection processing step (S2) that detects that book B1 is placed in an example placement position, which is a predetermined position on placement surface 12A, and a document reading processing step (S3) that reads book B1 when placement is detected. The processing steps include a determination processing step (S4) that determines whether the end condition of the book scanning mode is met, and an end processing step (S5) that ends the book scanning mode when the end condition is met. Further, the processing steps include a documenting process (S6) that generates a file format for scanning data that summarizes image data from more than one page of book B1 into a single file. Documenting performed by the documenting process is, for example, PDFing multiple images from more than one original document M1 that have been read into a single PDF file. Additionally, Figure 9 The flowchart shown illustrates the book scanning process routine, which includes the steps described above.

[0129] About book scanning mode The control unit 50 includes a book scanning mode as an example of a mode in which the original document M1 is read when the original document cover 15 is open relative to the original document table 12. Additionally, the control unit 50 includes a standard scanning mode as an example of a mode in which the original document M1 is read when the original document cover 15 is closed relative to the original document table 12. The standard scanning mode is, for example, the default mode selected when scanning documents printed on single-page paper. When the original document is a booklet such as Book B1, and the user wants to read Book B1 with the original document cover 15 open, the user selects the book scanning mode.

[0130] Figure 6 The selection screen D1 is for the document waiting mode. The document waiting mode is a mode in which the image reading device 11 automatically begins reading the document M1 when it detects that a document M1 has been placed on it. The image reading device 11 of this embodiment includes an ADF-type document waiting mode and an FB-type document waiting mode. The FB-type document waiting mode is a mode in which the image reading device 11 automatically begins reading the document M1 when it detects that a user has placed (placed) a document M1, such as a book B1, on the mounting surface 12A. The FB-type document waiting mode is equivalent to a book scanning mode as an example of a mode.

[0131] like Figure 6 As shown, the document waiting mode selection screen D1 has a mode selection button 70 for selecting the book scanning mode. In addition to the FB (First-Fast) document waiting mode, an ADF (Ahead-of-Flight) document waiting mode is also available.

[0132] The image reading device 11 includes a task start button 71 that indicates the start of reading the original document M1. In this embodiment, the task start button 71 is configured as a graphical user interface (GUI). Specifically, the selection screen D1, which includes the task start button 71, is configured as a GUI.

[0133] In book scanning mode, selection screen D1 includes an "automatic mode" for starting the reading task of the original document M1 in an "automatic" manner, and a "manual mode" for starting it manually. In automatic mode, even when reading multiple original documents, only the start of the initial reading task needs to be indicated. Selection screen D1 includes a task start button 71 operated by the user when only the start of the initial reading task is indicated. In addition, selection screen D1 includes a manual mode selection button 72, which selects a "manual mode" for starting the reading task of the original document M1 (book B1) in a "manual" manner for each page. The control unit 50 of this embodiment has the feature that, in book scanning mode where the original document cover 15 is open and the original document M1 is being read, the reading task of each page of the original document M1 is automatically started based on the detection of the original document M1 being placed on the mounting surface 12A. For example, by pressing the mode selection button 70 (which selects the book scanning mode) and the task start button 71 on the selection screen D1, the user can automatically begin reading each original document M1, such as book B1. Furthermore, the selection screen D1 includes a close button 73, which instructs the user to close the screen from the display unit 41. Additionally, in this specification, "pressing" to indicate button operation includes a touch operation that selects a button or the like on the screen of the display unit 41, which is composed of a touch panel.

[0134] Starting conditions for reading tasks in book scanning mode The control unit 50 receives the start instruction for the reading task via the task start button 71. Further, the control unit 50 determines whether an open state has been detected by the open / close sensor 23. The control unit 50 also determines whether a document M1 is detected on the mounting surface 12A. To detect that a document M1 is on the mounting surface 12A, the control unit 50 causes the reading unit 17 to perform a document detection reading process at a predetermined position on the mounting surface 12A. The control unit 50 detects the document being on the document stage 12 based on the reading result of the reading unit 17. After a predetermined time T has elapsed since the control unit 50 detected that a document M1 is on the document stage 12 based on the reading result from the reading unit 17, the control unit 50 executes a document reading process to read the document M1.

[0135] That is, in book scanning mode, the control unit 50 performs original document reading processing to read the original document M1 (book B1) based on the fact that a standby time T1 has elapsed since the time point when the following three conditions (a1) to (c1) are met.

[0136] (a1) The user indicates the start of the reading task.

[0137] (b1) The original manuscript cover 15 is in the open state.

[0138] (c1) A manuscript M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A of the manuscript stage 12 (manuscript placement).

[0139] Furthermore, the order of (a1) to (c1) above is not important. In other words, as long as these three conditions are met, the order is not limited.

[0140] In this embodiment, the indications in (a1) above include the selection of a book scanning mode implemented by pressing the mode selection button 70, and the task start indication implemented by pressing the task start button 71 in automatic mode or the task start button (not shown) in manual mode.

[0141] In book scanning mode, when a specified time T has elapsed since all three conditions (a1) to (c1) above were met, the reading of the original document M1 begins.

[0142] In scanning mode, the triggering of the reading start differs slightly between automatic and manual modes. That is, when reading book B1 page by page, although the triggering of the first reading (first page) of book B1 is the same, the triggering of the reading start for subsequent pages of the original manuscript M1 (second page) is different.

[0143] In the automatic mode of book scanning mode, the task start instruction based on pressing the task start button 71 can only occur once at the start of book scanning mode. In this sense, the task start button 71 can also be considered the automatic mode start button for book scanning mode. The control unit 50 executes document reading processing, causing the reading unit 17 to read the document M1, based on the detection that a document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A. In the mounting wait state of book scanning mode, the control unit 50 executes document reading processing when it detects that the document M1 has been placed on the mounting surface 12A. After receiving the task start instruction (automatic mode start instruction), document reading processing is executed whenever a predetermined time T has elapsed after the aforementioned conditions (b1) and (c1) are met. That is, after receiving the task start instruction, the control unit 50, with the original cover 15 open (condition (b1)), starts reading each page of the original M1 after a predetermined time T has elapsed since the original M1 was detected to be placed on the mounting surface 12A (condition (c1) is met).

[0144] In contrast, manual mode is a mode where the task start instruction is initiated by pressing the task start button 71 for each page of book B1 being read. In manual mode, the original document reading process does not begin until the user presses the task start button 71. Manual mode allows the user to ensure the time required for loading and positioning the book B1 at their own pace. Additionally, in normal mode, the reading of the original document M1 begins page by page based on the situation where the task start button (not shown) is pressed while the original document cover 15 is closed.

[0145] Regarding the setting of the specified time T Figure 7 , Figure 8 Setting screens D2 and D3 are provided for setting the standby time from the placement of the original document to the start of scanning. The control unit 50 has a function that allows the user to set a specified time as the standby time. In this embodiment, there is a first setting screen D2 that allows setting the specified time numerically, and a second setting screen D3 that allows setting the specified time by selecting one of multiple options. The control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display the setting screens D2 and D3 that allow the user to set the specified time. There can be one setting screen or multiple types of setting screens. In this embodiment, multiple types (e.g., two types) of setting screens are provided. That is, in this embodiment, the first setting screen D2 and the second setting screen D3 are provided as setting screens. The first setting screen D2 is a screen that allows setting the specified time numerically. The second setting screen D3 is a screen that allows setting the specified time by selecting one of multiple options that divide the specified time into stages according to the length of time.

[0146] like Figure 7 As shown, the first setting screen D2 includes an input field 74 for inputting seconds, a plus button 75 for increasing the seconds in the input field 74, and a minus button 76 for decreasing the seconds in the input field 74. Here, the increment or decrement achieved by a single operation of each button 75 or 76 is not limited to 1 second; it can also be every 0.5 seconds or every 2 seconds. Furthermore, by continuously pressing each button 75 or 76, the seconds can be increased or decreased sequentially over the duration of the continuous press. The first setting screen D2 includes an OK button 77 selected when the value in the input field 74 is set to a specified time T. The user sets the specified time T by pressing the OK button 77 after setting the value in the input field 74 to the desired time. While the settable seconds are limited to a specified time within the range of 1 to 10 seconds, the settable seconds can also be set within an appropriate range. For example, the lower limit of the seconds is not limited to 1 second; it can be a shorter number of seconds (e.g., 0 seconds) or a longer number of seconds (e.g., 2 seconds). Furthermore, the upper limit for the number of seconds is not limited to 10 seconds; it can be a shorter number of seconds (e.g., 5 seconds) or a longer number of seconds (e.g., 15 seconds).

[0147] like Figure 8 As shown, the second setting screen D3 allows users to set a specified time by selecting one of several options divided into time segments. The second setting screen D3 includes three options: a first option 78 allowing selection of "fast," a second option 79 allowing selection of "normal," and a third option 80 allowing selection of "slow." Furthermore, the multiple options can be either just "fast" and "slow," or more than four options that allow users to select one time segment from four or more time options as the specified time.

[0148] The image reading device 11 of this embodiment includes, for example, a Figure 7 and Figure 8 The image reading device 11 may also include a selection operation unit (not shown) that allows the user to choose the desired option from the two setting screens D2 and D3. The selection operation unit may also be configured as a GUI that can be displayed on the display unit 41 by the control unit 50, similar to the setting screens D2 and D3. In the image reading device 11 of this embodiment, a predetermined time can be set in advance via the setting screens D2 and D3. Furthermore, the predetermined time T may be set separately in both the automatic and manual modes of the book scanning mode.

[0149] The memory 52 stores information including... Figure 9The control program PR, including the book scanning processing routine shown in the flowchart, is a reading control processing routine specifically for the book scanning mode. The book scanning processing routine includes a display control program that causes the control unit 50 to display guidance information on the display unit 41 in the book scanning mode. In addition to the book scanning mode, the control program PR also includes the programs involved in the reading control routine (not shown) in the normal mode.

[0150] Figure 10 A guide screen D4 is displayed on the display unit 41 when the book scanning mode is selected and automatic mode is enabled. The guide screen D4 includes a message MS1 indicating that the book scanning mode has been selected, and a message MS2 prompting the user to open the original document cover 15. The user opens the original document cover 15 in the image reading device 11... Figure 1 The original cover 15 is shown in the closed state, thus setting it as... Figure 2 The document cover 15 is shown in the open state. The control unit 50 detects when the document cover 15 changes from the closed state to the open state based on the detection signal of the open / close sensor 23.

[0151] Figure 11 The guide screen D5 is displayed on the display unit 41 when the user sets the original cover 15 to the open state in book scanning mode. The guide screen D5 includes a message MS3 prompting the user to configure (load) the original M1 by aligning the reading surface of the original M1 with the left inner corner of the original table 12. Figure 12 The area of ​​the original manuscript M1 (book B1) indicated by the double-dotted line is the placement position of the reading surface where the original manuscript M1 should be placed. Figure 12 When viewed from above, the mounting surface 12A is located on the left inner side of the mounting surface 12A (in... Figure 12 The position of the reading surface of the original document M1 is configured by aligning the center (top left) with the corner to determine the placement position of the original document M1.

[0152] When the detection signal of the opening / closing sensor 23 is detected Figure 2 as well as Figure 12 When the original document cover 15 is in the open state, the control unit 50 moves the reading module 20 to the open state. Figure 12 The designated position is indicated by a solid line, and the light-emitting part 18 is illuminated. Specifically, in... Figure 12 In the secondary scanning direction Y, the position within the area between the original document reading area SA and the reading window 21 is the standby position P0 of the reading module 20. In book scanning mode, when the original document cover 15 switches from the closed state to the open state, the control unit 50 causes the reading module 20 to switch from... Figure 12 The standby position P0, indicated by the double-dotted line, moves to... Figure 12The designated position P1 is shown in solid line. Then, the control unit 50 illuminates the light-emitting unit 18 when the reading module 20 is positioned at the designated position P1. Furthermore, the timing for illuminating the light-emitting unit 18 can be either when the reading module 20 is in the standby position P0 before movement begins, after the reading module 20 has finished moving to the designated position P1 (the target position), or during the movement of the reading module 20 from the standby position P0 to the designated position P1. The light-emitting unit 18 only needs to be illuminated at least before the start of a predetermined period (e.g., a predetermined value within the range of 1 to 10 seconds) after the reading module 20 has finished moving to the designated position P1 and before the start of the original document inspection process.

[0153] Users can cover from above Figure 12 The original document M1 is mounted by means of the reading module 20, which is lit at a designated position P1 as shown by a solid line. That is, the user mounts the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A in such a state that the reading module 20 (especially the reading section 17) is opposite the reading surface (e.g., the page to be read) of the original document M1 (book B1) in the vertical direction Z.

[0154] Display control method of image reading device 11 The control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display guidance information guiding the placement of the original document M1 at the position indicated by the illumination of the light-emitting unit 18. For example, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display the guidance information as a user interface (GUI) for notification information.

[0155] When instructed to read the original in the open state (with the original cover 15 open relative to the original table 12), the display unit 41 displays guidance information that guides the original M1 to be placed on the mounting surface 12A of the original table 12, i.e., the original mounting position.

[0156] The display control method of the image reading device includes the following (a2) and (b2).

[0157] (a2) The original document M1 is read when the original document cover 15 is open relative to the original document table 12.

[0158] (b2) When instructed to read the original document M1, the display unit 41 displays guidance information that guides the original document M1 to be placed in the original document table 12, i.e., the placement position.

[0159] As an example of guidance information, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display information containing... Figure 11 The guide screen D5 shows the guidance information. Figure 11The guide screen D5 shown includes message MS3 as an example of guidance information that guides the placement of the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12, i.e., the mounting position. Message MS3 includes, for example, information such as "Please align the reading surface of the original document with the left inner corner of the document stage to configure the original document".

[0160] The user identifies the correct position for placing the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A, i.e., the document placement position, by using message MS3 in the guidance screen D5. In this embodiment, the user is guided to the correct document placement position on the mounting surface 12A by illuminating the light-emitting unit 18 at a predetermined position P1 indicating the document placement position and by displaying message MS3 as an example of guidance information on the display unit 41. Therefore, the user can place the original document M1 at the appropriate placement position on the mounting surface 12A.

[0161] The reading unit 17, configured at the original document detection position P1 (an example of a predetermined position), can detect the position of the original document M1. The reading module 20 of the image reading device 11 illuminates (including flashes) the predetermined position P1 within the original document reading area SA. The user places the original document M1 at the predetermined position indicated by the illumination (e.g., the original document detection position P1). Thus, the image reading device 11 can guide the placement of the original document M1 towards the original document detection position P1, which can detect that the original document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A, for the user.

[0162] Original manuscript detection and processing Next, refer to Figure 14 This section will explain the original manuscript detection and processing. Figure 14 A schematic side sectional view of the document holder 12 on which book B1 is placed and a graph showing the reading result of the reading unit 17 are displayed. The control unit 50 performs a document detection process in which the reading unit 17 reads documents when the document cover 15 is open and the light-emitting unit 18 is lit. The document detection process is a reading process used to detect when the document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A. That is, in this embodiment, the reading unit 17 is used to detect when the document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A.

[0163] The control unit 50, starting from the point before the original document cover 15 is open and the original document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A, activates the reading unit 17 to perform reading while the light-emitting unit 18 is illuminated. The control unit 50 performs the original document detection reading process based on the result of the opening / closing sensor 23 detecting the open state of the original document cover 15. The control unit 50 performs the original document detection reading process with the reading unit 17 positioned at a predetermined position P1 within the original document reading area SA of the mounting surface 12A.

[0164] Figure 14 The graph shown illustrates the reading results of the reading unit 17 (line sensor 17L). The horizontal axis of the graph represents the main scan position, indicating the respective positions of the plurality of image sensors 28, and the vertical axis represents the read data value. Here, the main scan position corresponds to the pixel position representing the position of the plurality (m) image sensors 28 constituting the reading unit 17 in the main scan direction X. The read data value represents the brightness value corresponding to the signal value when the brightness signal input from the plurality of image sensors 28 is converted into a digital signal of a specified grayscale (e.g., 256 grayscale). Figure 14 The reading result SD1 shown in the graph, indicated by the double-dotted line, represents the reading result when the original cover 15 is open and the original M1 is placed in front of the mounting surface 12A. Figure 14 The solid line in the graph shows the reading result SD2, which represents the reading result when the original document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A. The reading results SD1 and SD2 represent the brightness value corresponding to the amount of light received by the image sensor 28 at each main scanning position, for example, using reading data represented in 256 grayscale levels. The reading results SD1 and SD2 respectively represent the reading data of each reading by the line sensor 17L. The control unit 50 detects whether the original document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A based on the reading results SD1 and SD2 from the reading unit 17. That is, if the control unit 50 detects a reading data value (brightness value) exceeding the threshold A1 in the reading results SD1 and SD2, it determines that the original document M1 has been detected.

[0165] like Figure 14 As shown, in the stage before the original document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A where the original document cover 15 is in the open state, it is possible to obtain... Figure 14 The reading result SD1 is shown as a double-dotted line in the graph. Since the reading unit 17 did not receive reflected light from the original document M1, there was no reading data value exceeding the threshold A1. In this case, the control unit 50 did not detect that the original document M1 was placed on the mounting surface 12A.

[0166] On the other hand, when the original document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A, the reading unit 17 receives reflected light from the original document M1. Therefore, it is possible to obtain reading data that exceeds the threshold A1. Figure 14The reading result SD2 is shown in solid line. The falling edge position X1 of the reading result SD2 corresponds to the boundary between the bright area MA formed by the reflected light from book B1 and the dark area LA that did not receive the reflected light from book B1. That is, the falling edge position X1 corresponds to the position of the +X side end face ME of book B1 placed on the mounting surface 12A. Since there is reading data exceeding the threshold A1 in the reading result SD2, the control unit 50 detects that the original document M1 is placed. In this way, the control unit 50 performs document detection processing to detect whether the original document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A based on the reading results SD1 and SD2.

[0167] In the original document inspection process, the reading process described above, which involves reading the document with the original cover 15 open and the light-emitting part 18 lit, is designated as reading process A. In addition to reading process A, the original document inspection process may also include reading process B, which involves reading the document with the original cover 15 open and the light-emitting part 18 off. In this case, the control unit 50 can detect that the original document M1 is mounted on the mounting surface 12A based on the difference between the reading results of reading process A and reading process B, and based on the presence of a difference exceeding a threshold.

[0168] In addition to the book scanning mode, the original document detection process may also include a reading process C in which the original document cover 15 is closed. For example, the original document detection process may include a reading process A, a reading process B, and a reading process C in which the original document cover 15 is closed and the light-emitting part 18 is lit. When a black original document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A, since the difference between the reading result of reading process A and the reading result of reading process B does not exceed a threshold, the presence or absence of the black original document M1 cannot be detected. The control unit 50 may also detect the presence or absence of the black original document M1 based on the difference data and the reading result of reading process C. That is, if the difference data is less than the threshold and the reading result of reading process C is less than the threshold, the control unit 50 determines that the original document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A. On the other hand, if the difference data is less than the threshold and the reading result of reading process C is greater than or equal to the threshold, the control unit 50 determines that the original document M1 is not placed on the mounting surface 12A. This determination can also detect the situation where the black original M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A.

[0169] Regarding the original document reading and processing via Facebook Next, the original document reading process performed by the reading module 20 in FB mode to read the original document M1 will be described. The content of the original document reading process is the same in both the normal mode and the automatic / manual modes of the book scanning mode. The control unit 50 starts the original document reading process based on the occurrence of a reading start trigger. The control unit 50 controls the carriage motor 43, causing the carriage 19 to move along the mounting surface 12A in the sub-scanning direction Y within the original document reading area SA. The control unit 50 (e.g., the light emission control unit 63) illuminates the light emission unit 18 during original document reading. With the light emission unit 18 illuminated during the movement of the carriage 19, the control unit 50 (e.g., the reading control unit 62) causes the reading unit 17 to read the original document M1 through the transparent plate 14. The reading unit 17 reads the original document M1 by receiving reflected light from the original document M1, which is reflected by the light emitted by the light emission unit 18. The control unit 50 obtains the read data read by the read unit 17 through the original document read processing from the read control unit 62. The control unit 50 generates image data by performing necessary image processing on the read data of each page. The control unit 50 performs a fileization process to file the image data into a file of a specified file format. The control unit 50 generates scan data of a specified file format by fileization of the image data.

[0170] The role of the implementation method Next, refer to Figure 9 The function of the image reading device 11 will now be explained. The following describes the functions performed by the control unit 50. Figure 9 The book scanning processing routine shown is explained below. The user selects reading conditions, modes, and initiates original document reading (scan start indication) through the input unit 42. The control unit 50 executes... Figure 9 The book scanning processing routine shown is as follows. In the book scanning processing routine, when the control unit 50 receives a task start instruction in book scanning mode, it automatically starts reading (scanning) the original M1 whenever it detects that the original M1 is mounted on the mounting surface 12A of the original stage 12.

[0171] First, in step S11, the control unit 50 determines whether the book scanning mode has been selected and the task start button 71 has been pressed. If the control unit 50 receives a selection of the book scanning mode based on the pressing of the mode selection button 70 on the selection screen D1, and a task start instruction in automatic mode based on the pressing of the task start button 71, it proceeds to step S12. Otherwise, the control unit 50 remains in standby mode until the book scanning mode is selected and the task start button 71 is pressed.

[0172] In step S12, the control unit 50 switches to book scanning mode. Specifically, the control unit 50 switches to automatic mode of book scanning. At this time, the control unit 50 transitions from standby mode to a document placement waiting state (document placement waiting state) where the user is waiting for the original document M1 (book B1) to be placed on the mounting surface 12A. In step S13, the control unit 50 displays guidance information prompting the opening of the original document cover. For example, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display... Figure 13 The guide screen D4 is shown. In this guide screen D4, the guidance information includes a message MS1 indicating that the book scanning mode has been selected, and a message MS2 prompting the opening of the original document cover. In this way, while the original document is in the loading waiting state, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display the guide screen D4 containing the message MS2 prompting the opening of the original document cover. Following the guidance of message MS2, the user causes the original document cover 15 to... Figure 1 The shown closed state becomes Figure 2 The open state is shown.

[0173] In step S14, the control unit 50 determines whether the document cover 15 is in an open state. The control unit 50 determines whether the document cover 15 is in an open state based on the determination result of the opening / closing determination unit 66 based on the detection signal from the opening / closing sensor 23. If the document cover 15 is in an open state, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S15; if the document cover 15 is not in an open state, the control unit 50 returns to step S13. In this case, the control unit 50 displays guidance information in step S13 prompting the opening of the document cover 15 until it is determined in step S14 that the document cover 15 is in an open state.

[0174] In step S15, the control unit 50 moves the carriage 19 to the original document detection position P1. The control unit 50 moves the carriage 19 from the standby position P0 to the original document detection position P1, which is an example of a predetermined position, by driving the carriage motor 43 to rotate forward. The original document detection position P1 is the position where the reading unit 17 detects whether the original document M1 is mounted on the mounting surface 12A. In this embodiment, the original document detection position P1 is the position where the original document M1 is mounted with its corner aligned with the left inner corner of the mounting surface 12A (see reference). Figure 12 Therefore, a document detection position P1 is set near the left end (the end on the -Y direction side) of the mounting surface 12A (document reading area SA). Here, the document detection position P1 (prescribed position) is a position within a range YA from the starting end Y0 of the mounting surface 12A to the +Y direction side, which is a predetermined distance.

[0175] In step S16, the control unit 50 begins document detection. The control unit 50 illuminates the light-emitting unit 18 and initiates reading by the reading unit 17. Based on the reading result from the reading unit 17, the control unit 50 begins document detection processing to check whether the document M1 is mounted on the mounting surface 12A. The illumination of the light-emitting unit 18 at this time can, for example, be a blinking motion. In this case, the control unit 50 causes the light-emitting unit 18 to blink at a predetermined period via the light-emitting control unit 63. Figure 12 As shown, at the original document detection position P1, the light-emitting part 18 of the reading module 20 flashes. Based on the flashing position of the light-emitting part 18 of the reading module 20, the user is guided to the correct original document placement position for the original document M1. The flashing of the reading module 20 serves as a guidance function for the user to locate the original document detection position P1. Furthermore, the flashing of the reading module 20 also serves to inform the user that the image reading device 11 is in book scanning mode or in an original document placement waiting state.

[0176] In the next step S17, the control unit 50 displays guidance information prompting the loading of the original onto the mounting surface. For example, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display... Figure 11 The guide screen D5 is shown. Guide screen D5, as guidance information, includes instructions on the original document placement location and a message MS3 prompting the user to place the original document M1 at that location. The user follows the instructions in message MS3, as... Figure 12 , Figure 13 As shown, the original document M1 (book B1) is placed on the original document detection position P1 in such a way that it covers the flashing position in the mounting surface 12A from above. That is, the user places the book B1 on the original document placement position near the left inner side of the mounting surface 12A. In this way, the book B1 is placed in a position that the reading unit 17 in the mounting surface 12A can read. Furthermore, the guide screen D5 includes a setting button 81 and an end button 82. When the setting button 81 is selected, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display... Figure 7 The first setting screen D2 shown is... Figure 8 The second setting screen D3 is shown. In settings screens D2 and D3, the user can change the elapsed time T, i.e., the specified time T, from the point when book B1 was loaded until the start of reading. Furthermore, the user can press the end button 82 to end the book scanning mode.

[0177] In the next step S18, the control unit 50 determines whether the end button 82 has been pressed. If the end button 82 has not been pressed, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S19; if the end button 82 has been pressed, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S24. Since no page B1 has been read yet, it is highly unlikely that the user will press the end button 82. Therefore, step S19 is usually performed.

[0178] In the next step S19, the control unit 50 determines whether an original document has been detected. The control unit 50 determines whether an original document has been detected through the original document detection process. The control unit 50 causes the light-emitting unit 18 to flash during the original document detection process. The control unit 50 performs the original document detection process when the light-emitting unit 18 is lit or turned off. Here, refer to... Figure 14 The original document detection process will be explained below. During the stage before book B1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A, even if the light-emitting part 18 of the reading module 20 is lit, the reading part 17 will not receive reflected light from book B1. Therefore, in Figure 14 In the reading result SD1, shown by double-dotted lines, no reading data exceeding the threshold A1 is found at any main scan position. Subsequently, when book B1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A, the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 18 of the reading module 20 is reflected onto the paper surface of the page to be read from book B1, thereby the reading unit 17 receives the reflected light from book B1. As a result, in Figure 14 In the reading result SD2, shown by a solid line, the reading data value at the main scan position in the area where book B1 is placed exceeds the threshold A1. Based on the presence of reading data exceeding the threshold A1, the control unit 50 detects that the original document M1 (book B1) is placed on the mounting surface 12A. If the original document is detected, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S20. On the other hand, if the original document is not detected, the control unit 50 returns to step S17 and repeats steps S17 to S19 until the original document is detected in step S19.

[0179] In step S20, the control unit 50 displays the meaning of the scan. For example, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display... Figure 15 The notification screen D6 is shown. In notification screen D6, message MS4, indicating that scanning is in progress, is included as notification information. However, Figure 15 The notification screen D6 shown is the screen in the state before scanning begins. Therefore, notification screen D6 includes a message MS5 indicating that the original document has been detected, a message MS6 indicating that reading has begun, and a message MS7 indicating the remaining time (in seconds) in the specified time T until reading begins. In addition, notification screen D6 includes a cancel button 83. Notification screen D6 can also disappear messages MS5 to MS7 and switch to displaying the scanning status when reading (scanning) begins. When the cancel button 83 is pressed in notification screen D6, the control unit 50 cancels the reading (scanning) of book B1.

[0180] exist Figure 9 In step S21 shown, the control unit 50 performs the original document reading process. The control unit 50 causes the reading module 20 to move from the original document detection position P1 (refer to...) Figure 13The control unit 50 moves the reading module 20 from the reading start position Y0 in the second direction -Y side to the reading start position Y0. The control unit 50 executes a reading process by moving the reading module 20 from the reading start position Y0 towards the first direction +Y. For example, the reading module 20 performs a movement in the first direction +Y from the reading start position Y0 to the reading end position PE, and a movement in the second direction -Y from the reading end position PE to the original document detection position P1. Here, the reading end position PE can be the end point YE of the original document reading area SA, or the end position YM of the book B1 in the first direction +Y side, or a position with a predetermined margin distance added to that end position YM. In this case, the control unit 50 can also detect the presence or absence of the book B1 based on the reading signal from the reading module 20 during the reading process, and obtain the end position YM of the book B1 as the position from when the book B1 is detected to when it is no longer detected.

[0181] In step S22, the control unit 50 displays guidance information prompting the removal of the original document. For example, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display... Figure 16 The guide screen D7 is shown. Guide screen D7 includes a message MS9 as guidance information, indicating that the original document should be removed. Furthermore, guide screen D7 may also include a message MS8 indicating that the scan (reading of the original document) has ended. The user, seeing guide screen D7, removes book B1 from the mounting surface 12A based on the guidance of message MS9. Since the user knows the scan is finished and can remove book B1 from the mounting surface 12A based on the guidance information provided by message MS9, convenience is improved. For example, it can suppress the useless waiting time of pressing book B1 even after the scan has ended. This is related to the reduction of the reading time required to read multiple pages of book B1.

[0182] exist Figure 9In the next step S23, the control unit 50 determines whether the removal of the original document has been detected. The control unit 50 performs the same processing as in steps S16 and S19 to determine whether the original document detection result has changed from a detected document state (book B1 detected) to a non-detected document state (book B1 not detected). Specifically, the control unit 50 illuminates the light-emitting unit 18 and starts reading from the reading unit 17. Based on the reading result from the reading unit 17, the control unit 50 determines whether the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A has disappeared. The illumination of the light-emitting unit 18 at this time can be, for example, flashing. In this case, the control unit 50 can also cause the light-emitting unit 18 to flash at a predetermined period via the light-emitting control unit 63. Alternatively, the control unit 50 can detect the removal of the original document while the light-emitting unit 18 is continuously illuminated. During the period when the removal of the original document M1 (book B1) is not detected, the control unit 50 returns to step S22 and continues to display guidance information prompting the removal of the original document. On the other hand, when the control unit 50 detects the removal of the original document, it returns to step S16. At this time, the control unit 50 transitions from the original document removal waiting state to the original document loading waiting state. In addition, the reading module 20, which has finished the original document reading process, moves to the designated position P1.

[0183] In step S16, the control unit 50 begins original document detection. That is, the control unit 50, which has transitioned to the original document loading waiting state, begins original document detection processing to check whether the original document M1, which has been changed to the next page, is loaded onto the loading surface 12A. Specifically, the control unit 50 illuminates the light-emitting unit 18 and causes the reading unit 17 to begin reading. The control unit 50 is based on... Figure 14 The reading results SD1 and SD2 from the reading unit 17 are used to determine whether the original document M1 is mounted on the mounting surface 12A. At this time, the light-emitting unit 18 flashes, for example, at a predetermined period. When the book B1, which the user has changed to the next page of, is mounted on the mounting surface 12A, as shown... Figure 12 As shown, the image reading device 11 guides the user to the original document placement position by flashing the reading module 20 at the original document detection position P1.

[0184] Then, in step S17, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display guidance information prompting the loading of the original onto the mounting surface 12A. For example, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display... Figure 17The guide screen D8 is shown. The control unit 50 can also count the number of pages read from the original document using a counter (not shown), so that when reading pages after the second page, the display unit 41 displays the guide screen D8. The guide screen D8 includes a message MS10 indicating that the next original document should be placed on the mounting surface 12A, and an end button 82. Furthermore, the guide screen D8 may also include a message MS11 indicating that the end button 82 should be pressed to end the book scanning mode.

[0185] Thus, based on the guidance and notification information displayed on the display unit 41, the user places the book B1 on the mounting surface 12A while changing the pages of the book B1, thereby causing the image reading device 11 to read the desired pages of the book B1. The control unit 50 repeatedly executes the processing of steps S16 to 23 until the end button 82 is pressed in step S18. When the user finishes reading all the desired pages of the book B1, Figure 17 In the shown guide screen D8, the end button 82 is pressed. When the press of the end button is detected in step S18, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S24.

[0186] In step S24, the control unit 50 generates scan data. For example, the control unit 50 performs a file processing procedure to summarize the multi-page image data obtained from reading multiple pages of book B1 into a single file. The control unit 50, for example, files the multi-page image data of book B1 into a file with a specified file format. The specified file format is, for example, a PDF file. The control unit 50 generates a PDF file summarizing the multi-page image data into a single file as scan data.

[0187] The above book scanning processing routine is based on the condition that a predetermined time T has elapsed since the conditions (a1) to (c1) above were met, thereby executing the original document reading process in which the reading unit 17 reads the original document M1. (a1) above is equivalent to... Figure 9 In the example shown, the result of the decision processing in step S11 is a positive decision. The above (b1) is equivalent to... Figure 9 In the example shown, the result of the decision processing in step S14 is a positive decision. The above (c1) is equivalent to... Figure 9 In the example shown, the result of the determination process in step S19 is a positive determination.

[0188] Effects of the implementation method According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0189] (1) The image reading device 11 includes a document stage 12, a document cover 15, a reading unit 17, a light-emitting unit 18, and a control unit 50. The document stage 12 has a mounting surface 12A for placing a document M1. The document cover 15 opens and closes the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12. The reading unit 17 reads the document M1 placed on the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12 from the side opposite to the mounting surface 12A. The light-emitting unit 18 is configured to switch between being lit and extinguished. When reading the document M1 is performed with the document cover 15 open relative to the document stage 12 (i.e., in the open state), the control unit 50 illuminates the light-emitting unit 18 at a predetermined position on the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12 before the document M1 is placed on the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12. According to this structure, by illuminating the light-emitting part 18 at a predetermined position on the mounting surface 12A before placing the original document M1 on the document tray 12, the user can be guided or informed of the information required to begin reading the original document M1. This improves user convenience. The required information includes the image reading device 11 being in an appropriate document reading mode, the image reading device 11 being in a predetermined state, and information about the position to be guided or informed to the user by illuminating the predetermined position. The predetermined state of the image reading device 11 can be exemplified by a waiting state where the image reading device 11 is awaiting a predetermined operation by the user, or a standby state until document reading begins. Furthermore, the information about the position to be guided or informed to the user can be exemplified by the placement position where the user should place the original document M1, the position where the placement of the original document M1 can be detected (i.e., the document detection position), and the placement position where the reading of the original document M1 can begin.

[0190] (2) By illuminating the light-emitting part 18, the position of the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A of the document tray 12, i.e., the mounting position, is shown. According to this structure, since the position of the original document M1 on the document tray 12 can be shown by illuminating the light-emitting part 18, the user can be guided to the position of the original document M1. This improves user convenience.

[0191] (3) The document stage 12 is light-transmitting. The light-emitting part 18 is provided on the side of the document stage 12 opposite to the mounting surface 12A. Light can be emitted from the opposite side of the document stage 12 to the outside of the mounting surface 12A. According to this structure, the mounting position can be shown from the side of the document stage 12 opposite to the mounting surface 12A.

[0192] (4) When the reading unit 17 reads the original document M1, the light-emitting unit 18 illuminates the original document M1 by lighting it. According to this structure, the position of the original document M1 can be indicated by the light-emitting unit 18, and the original document M1 can be illuminated by the light-emitting unit 18 when the reading unit 17 reads the original document M1.

[0193] (5) The control unit 50 causes the light-emitting unit 18 to flash when indicating the placement position. With this structure, it is easy for the user to identify the placement position.

[0194] (6) The control unit 50 detects the case where M1 is mounted on the mounting surface 12A based on the reading results SD1 and SD2 when the light-emitting unit 18 is lit during flashing. According to this structure, the case where the original document M1 is mounted on the mounting surface 12A can be detected based on the reading results SD1 and SD2 read by the reading unit 17.

[0195] (7) The control unit 50 performs a document reading process, which causes the reading unit 17 to read the document M1, based on the detection that the document M1 is mounted on the mounting surface 12A. According to this structure, since the reading by the reading unit 17 can start based on the detection that the document M1 is mounted, the convenience of the user is improved.

[0196] (8) It also includes a display unit 41, which displays information. The control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display guidance information guiding the placement of the original document M1 at the position indicated by the illumination of the light-emitting unit 18. According to this structure, the guidance information displayed on the display unit 41 makes it easier to guide the user in placing the original document M1.

[0197] (9) The reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18 are integrated. In this embodiment, the reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18 are constituted by a reading module 20 in which they are integrated. According to this structure, since the reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18 are integrated, when the light-emitting unit 18 is moved to the mounting position, the reading unit 17 can perform reading for document inspection at the mounting position. For example, since the reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18 can share the carriage 19 constituting the moving mechanism, it is not necessary to provide a separate moving mechanism dedicated to the light-emitting unit. Therefore, it is possible to realize a structure that indicates the mounting position of the document M1 by lighting it up in a relatively simple way.

[0198] (10) The image reading device 11 includes: a document stage 12 having a mounting surface 12A for placing a document M1; a document cover 15 that opens and closes relative to the document stage 12 relative to the mounting surface 12A; a reading unit 17 that reads the document M1 placed on the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12 at a location opposite to the mounting surface 12A; and a control unit 50. In a mode where the document cover 15 is open relative to the document stage 12, i.e., in an open state, the control unit 50 performs document reading processing by having the reading unit 17 read the document M1 based on the condition that a predetermined time has elapsed since the time point from the time point when the following three conditions (a1) to (c1) are met.

[0199] (a1) The user indicates the start of the reading task.

[0200] (b1) The original manuscript cover 15 is in the open state.

[0201] (c1) The original manuscript M1 is loaded on the original manuscript platform 12.

[0202] According to this structure, in the mode of reading the original document M1 in the open state, since the user's indication of the start of the reading task is one of the start conditions of the reading process, the user can recognize the situation when the reading task is started, thus improving the user's convenience.

[0203] (11) The image reading device 11 includes an adjustment unit for adjusting a predetermined time. The adjustment unit is configured as a GUI displayed on the display unit 41 in a manner that allows the user to adjust the predetermined time. This easily avoids situations where the reading of book B1 by the reading module 20 starts midway through the user's positioning of book B1, resulting in a short positioning time, or where the waiting time from the user finishing positioning book B1 until reading begins is too long. For example, when reading a book B1 that is difficult to position, or when a positioning operation requires careful attention, by adjusting the predetermined time to be longer, the operation time required for positioning can be ensured. Furthermore, when reading a type of book B1 that is easy to position, or when a positioning operation does not require careful attention, by adjusting the predetermined time to be shorter, rapid reading can be achieved while ensuring the operation time required for positioning.

[0204] (12) The reading unit 17 is equipped with a contact image sensor. According to this structure, since the reading unit 17 is a contact image sensor with a narrower depth of field compared to a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) type image sensor, the user needs to firmly press the book B1 so that the entire surface of the page to be read is close to the mounting surface 12A. If the user forcibly performs other operations, or looks away from the original document M1 (such as the book B1) to check the display screen, their awareness of the original document M1 will decrease. Therefore, the position of the original document M1 (such as the book B1) being pressed while the user is in a positioned state is prone to shifting or floating. However, according to this structure, since the reading of the original document M1 (such as the book B1) starts automatically, the user can concentrate on pressing the original document M1 (such as the book B1) in a positioned state. Therefore, when the reading of the original document M1 (such as the book B1) begins, the position of the original document M1 (such as the book B1) is less likely to shift or float. Therefore, even a contact image sensor with a relatively narrow depth of field can read images of the original manuscript M1, such as book B1, where the positional shift is small and the blur is minimal.

[0205] (13) The image reading device 11 also includes an opening / closing sensor 23 for detecting the opening and closing of the original cover 15, and a task start button 71 for accepting the start instruction of the reading task of the original M1. The control unit 50 accepts the start instruction of the reading task via the task start button 71, detects the open state via the opening / closing sensor 23, and performs the original reading process after a predetermined time has elapsed since the original M1 has been placed on the original table 12 based on the reading result read by the reading unit 17. According to this structure, after the user indicates the start of the reading task via the task start button 71, there is a predetermined time from when the user places the original M1 on the mounting surface 12A of the original table 12 in the open state until the reading begins. Therefore, the user can position the original M1 on the mounting surface 12A.

[0206] (14) The display control method of the image reading device 11 includes the following (a2) and (b2), wherein the image reading device 11 includes: a document table 12; a document cover 15; a reading unit 17 that reads the document M1 placed on the document table 12A on the document surface 12A at the side opposite to the document surface 12A; and a display unit 41 that displays information.

[0207] (a2) The original document M1 is read when the original document cover 15 is open relative to the original document table 12.

[0208] (b2) When instructed to read the original document M1, the display unit 41 displays guidance information guiding the placement position of the original document M1 on the document tray 12. According to this method, the placement position of the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A of the document tray 12 can be guided to the user who has instructed to read the original document M1 by the guidance information displayed on the display unit 41. Specifically, when the user instructs the start of the book scanning mode, the image reading device 11 enters a document placement waiting state. When the user performs the operation of placing the next original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A in this document M1 waiting state, the display unit 41 displays guidance information. Thus, the placement position of the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A of the document tray 12 can be guided to the user. Therefore, user convenience can be improved.

[0209] Change Example Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can also be modified as shown in the following variations. Further, variations obtained by appropriately combining the above-described embodiments and the variations shown below can also be considered further variations.

[0210] • A sensor for detecting when the original document M1 is mounted on the mounting surface 12A can also be provided separately from the reading unit 17. For example, such as Figure 18 As shown, when viewed from above on the document stage 12 of the image reading device 11, at least one document detection sensor 90 can be installed in the document reading area SA of the mounting surface 12A at a position different from the predetermined position P1 of the reading unit 17. Figure 18 In the example shown, in the original document reading area SA corresponding to the mounting surface 12A, four sensors 90 are respectively arranged at four positions different from the predetermined position P1 of the reading unit 17. Figure 19 As shown, the sensor 90 includes a light-emitting element 91 and a light-receiving element 92. The light-emitting element 91 and the light-receiving element 92 are supported by a substrate 90A at positions that satisfy the positional relationship between the light-emitting element 91 and the reflected light reflected from the reading surface of the original document M1. According to this structure, even if the sensor deviates from the reading section 17 positioned at a predetermined position P1... Figure 18The original document M1 (book B1) is placed at the position indicated by the double-dotted line, and the placement of the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A can also be detected. Therefore, the user's freedom in placing the original document M1 on the mounting surface 12A is increased. In this way, a structure can also be used to guide the user to the placement position of the original document M1 by emitting light from the reading unit 17 moved to a predetermined position P1 and by emitting light from at least one sensor 90. • The detection of the original document M1 (book B1) placed on the mounting surface 12A can also be implemented using a sensor different from the reading unit 17. For example, instead of the reading module 20 (CIS module), a photoelectric sensor (optical sensor) can be used to detect the presence of the original document. Furthermore, the sensor is not limited to a photoelectric sensor; an ultrasonic sensor can also be used. That is, the sensor can also be a non-contact sensor such as an optical or ultrasonic sensor. In addition, the sensor can be installed in a designated position inside the housing 13 of the original document stage 12, or it can be set on the carriage 19, or it can be set on a dedicated carriage different from the carriage 19.

[0211] • The original document detection position P1 of the reading module 20 (reading unit 17) that detects the original document M1 placed on the mounting surface 12A and the original document removal detection position that detects the removal of the original document M1 can be different positions. In this case, the control unit 50 can also be a structure in which the reading module 20, which detects the removal of the original document at the original document removal detection position in step S23, moves from the original document removal detection position to the original document detection position P1.

[0212] • The original document removal detection process can also be started midway through the movement of the reading module 20 from the original document reading position to the original document detection position P1. According to this structure, the removal of the original document M1 can be detected in advance, even if the original document M1 is removed immediately after the user finishes reading it.

[0213] • When the image reading device 11 is in the original loading waiting state, the illumination of the light-emitting part 18 can also be replaced by continuous illumination to keep the light-emitting part 18 in the lit state instead of flashing.

[0214] • For the flickering that alternates between the illumination and extinguishing times of the light-emitting section 18, the illumination and extinguishing times can be the same, or one can be longer than the other. For example, the illumination time can be longer than the extinguishing time, and conversely, the illumination time can be shorter than the extinguishing time. In addition, the illumination time can also be set to a time that ensures the reading time required for one inspection of the original document M1, or a time that ensures N times the reading time (where N is a natural number greater than 2).

[0215] • The flickering of the light-emitting unit 18 is not limited to a structure that simply alternates between being on and off; it can also be a flickering of an on-state where the brightness changes in stages during illumination. Furthermore, the illumination of the light-emitting unit 18 can also be illumination where the brightness changes in stages during illumination without being off.

[0216] • The light-emitting part that emits light at a designated position P1 when the original is in the waiting state is not limited to the structure of the light-emitting part 18 used for illuminating the original M1 during scanning. That is, the light-emitting part may be a component other than the light-emitting part 18 constituting the reading module 20. For example, a light-emitting part dedicated to original detection may be provided on the carriage 19 separately from the light-emitting part 18 used for illuminating the original.

[0217] • The reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18 can also be integrated in a manner different from that of the reading module 20 (CIS). For example, the integration of the reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18 can also be achieved by assembling them on a common support member mounted on the carriage 19.

[0218] • The light-emitting unit 18 may not be integrated with the reading unit 17. That is, the light-emitting unit 18 may not be a component constituting the reading module 20 (CIS) integrated with the reading unit 17. For example, the reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18 may be separately mounted on the carriage 19. In this case, the light-emitting unit may also be a component dedicated to original document detection that is different from the light-emitting unit 18 used for original document illumination.

[0219] • The light-emitting part can also be a dedicated light-emitting part for illumination guidance, provided separately from the light-emitting part 18 constituting the read module 20. The dedicated light-emitting part for illumination guidance can be provided on the carriage 19 together with the read module 20, or it can be provided to move via a dedicated carriage different from the carriage 19. The dedicated carriage can be a structure that can only move in the sub-scanning direction Y, like the carriage 19, or it can be a structure that can move in both the main scanning direction X and the sub-scanning direction Y, or it can be a structure that can only move in the main scanning direction X.

[0220] • The light-emitting part is not limited to a movable structure. For example, the light-emitting part may be fixed in a position that the user can visually confirm when the original document cover 15 is open. In this case, the predetermined position for fixing the light-emitting part may also be a position inside the housing 13 of the original document tray 12.

[0221] • The designated position for illuminating the light-emitting part is not limited to the position indicating where the original document M1 should be placed (the original document placement position). Illumination of the light-emitting part can also guide to a position other than the original document placement position, or guide or notify the image reading device 11 of its status. In these cases, the control unit 50 may also display guidance information guided by the illumination of the light-emitting part 18, or notification information notified by the illumination of the light-emitting part 18, as a message on the display unit 41. Information indicating a position other than the placement position may also be mode notification information notifying the user of a mode in progress, such as a book scanning mode; status report information notifying the image reading device 11 of a waiting state, such as an original document placement waiting state or an original document removal waiting state; or operation guidance information guiding the user to perform an operation during the waiting state. In these cases, the designated position need not be specifically shown; it can simply be a position on the mounting surface 12A that the user can visually confirm.

[0222] • The light emitted by the light-emitting part can be either scattered light or laser light.

[0223] • The illumination of the light-emitting part at the designated location is sufficient for the user to visually confirm it by looking through the mounting surface 12A. This can be either a structure where the user can directly visually confirm the illumination of the light-emitting part, or a structure where the user can visually confirm the reflected light from the light-emitting part being reflected by a reflective component such as a mirror. In this case, the light-emitting part itself may not be directly visually confirmable from the user's perspective.

[0224] • The light-emitting unit is not limited to a structure that illuminates the object to be read from the opposite side of the mounting surface 12A. The light-emitting unit may also be illuminated at a position corresponding to a predetermined position on the same side as the mounting surface 12A. For example, the light-emitting unit may also be a structure that guides the user to the mounting position by illuminating a predetermined position on the mounting surface 12A from the same side of the mounting surface 12A. In this case, it may be a structure in which the user can directly visually confirm the illumination of the light-emitting unit, or it may be a structure in which the reflected light after the light illuminating the light-emitting unit is reflected by the reflecting member is visually confirmed. In the case of a structure in which the reflected light is visually confirmed, it may also be a structure in which the user passes through the transparent plate 14 and visually confirms the reflected light generated by the illumination of the light-emitting unit located on the side (outer side) of the mounting surface 12A after passing through the transparent plate 14 and being reflected by the reflecting member inside the housing 13. For example, the light-emitting unit may also be illuminated at a predetermined position in the sub-scanning direction Y along the inner (-X side) edge of the original document reading area SA. This illumination can also be used to guide the placement of the designated position on the mounting surface 12A (original document reading area SA) as the mounting position.

[0225] • When the light source 18A of the light-emitting unit 18 has a structure that includes three light sources capable of illuminating in three colors (RGB), the control unit 50 can also illuminate the light-emitting unit 18 by selecting at least one of the three light sources to emit light, thereby illuminating the light-emitting unit 18 with a color corresponding to the state of the image reading device 11. For example, illuminating the first color can indicate the state of being in book scanning mode, illuminating the second color (different from the first color) can indicate the state of being in document loading waiting mode, and illuminating the third color (different from both the first and second colors) can indicate the state of being in document removal mode. Furthermore, the structure of indicating different states or positions based on different illuminated colors is also applicable in the above-described modifications using light-emitting units other than the light-emitting unit 18.

[0226] • The task start button 71 is not limited to a structure formed by the GUI displayed on the display units 41 and 210; it can also be a mechanical switch. For example, the image reading device 11 can also be equipped with a task start button as a mechanical switch to start a task. Furthermore, the mechanical switch is not limited to being dedicated solely to the task start button. For example, it can also be a structure in which a specific mechanical switch functions as a task start button after a book scanning mode is selected. In this case, it is not limited to the image reading device 11; a specific key switch of the input unit 220 constituting the host device 200 can also function as a task start button after a book scanning mode is selected.

[0227] • In the described embodiment, only one of the automatic mode and manual mode constituting the book scanning mode may be included. For example, only the automatic mode or only the manual mode may be included.

[0228] • The task start button 71 can also be removed. For example, it can be configured such that the book scanning mode is set to automatic mode only, and the task start indication in automatic mode of book scanning mode is implemented based on the pressing of the mode selection button 70. Furthermore, it can be configured such that the book scanning mode is set to manual mode only, and the task start indication for each page in manual mode of book scanning mode is implemented based on the pressing of the mode selection button 70.

[0229] • The guidance information displayed on the display unit 41 by the control unit 50 when the original document is waiting can also be guidance information indicating that the lit position (including flashing position) of the light-emitting part 18 in the mounting surface 12A of the original document stand 12 indicates the mounting position where the original document should be placed. For example, it can also be in Figure 11 The guide screen D5 shown contains the following guidance message: "Please place the original document at the flashing position of the reading section."

[0230] • The guidance information displayed on the display unit 41 by the control unit 50 when the original document is waiting can also be guidance information indicating that the book scanning mode is continuing when the light-emitting unit 18 is lit (including flashing). For example, it can also be in Figure 11 The guide screen D5 shown contains the following guidance information: "The book scanning mode is continuing when the reading section is flashing."

[0231] • The mode selection button 70 and the task start button 71, which select the book scanning mode, are not limited to being set on the same selection screen D1; they can also be set on different guide screens. For example, when the book scanning mode is selected in the first guide screen, the control unit 50 switches the display content of the display unit 41 from the first guide screen to the second guide screen. The second guide screen may also include guidance information prompting the pressing of the task start button 71 and guidance information prompting the opening of the original cover 15. Furthermore, these two guidance messages can also be displayed on different guide screens. When these two guidance messages are displayed on different guide screens, either one can be displayed first.

[0232] • Pre-reading processing (pre-scanning) of the original document M1 can also be performed before the original document reading process (scanning). In this case, the control unit 50 can also perform the pre-reading process (pre-scanning) when the original document M1 is detected to be placed on the mounting surface 12A by the original document detection process. In addition, the purpose of the pre-reading process can be either to detect the size of the original document or to confirm the image of the original document in advance by the user. In the case of image confirmation, the image of the original document read by the pre-reading process can also be previewed on the display unit 210 of the host device 200. In this case, only the first page of the book scanning mode can be previewed, or all pages can be previewed. The control unit 50 can also be structured such that the original document reading process is performed when the user presses the OK button after confirming the preview screen based on the pre-reading process. It can also be structured such that the image density or resolution can be changed in the preview screen displayed on the display unit 210 of the host device 200.

[0233] • The image reading device 11 may also have a structure that does not have a book scanning mode, but only a manual mode in which the user operates a button that indicates the start of reading each time a reading is performed.

[0234] • The image reading device 11 may also be a structure that does not have the function of detecting the original document M1. That is to say, the illumination (including flashing) of the light-emitting part 18 may also be a structure that does not serve as an illumination for original document detection.

[0235] • The image reading device 11 may also be a structure that does not have a detection function to detect the original document M1. The control unit 50 may also be a structure that causes the reading unit 17 to perform original document reading processing based on the condition that a predetermined time has elapsed since the condition that the original document cover 15 is in the open state and the condition that the reading task indicated by the user is indicated to start each time reading has been met.

[0236] • The reading unit 17 is not limited to the CIS method, but can also be of the CCD (Charge Coupled Device) method (reduced optical method).

[0237] The opening and closing motion of the original cover 15 relative to the original table 12 is not limited to a structure with only rotational motion. The opening and closing motion of the original cover 15 may also include, for example, rotational motion and linear motion. For example, the opening and closing motion of the original cover 15 may also include an upward motion that rises while maintaining a predetermined posture of the original cover 15, or a horizontal sliding motion that moves horizontally in the X direction.

[0238] • The original document M1 read when the original document cover 15 is open is not limited to book B1 or a booklet; it can also be an original document printed on single-page paper or other paper. In this case, the original document M1 on a single-page sheet can be larger than the size of the mounting surface 12A or smaller. The original document M1 on a single-page sheet can be mounted with a portion protruding from the mounting surface 12A or without protruding. Furthermore, the original document M1 can also be a three-dimensional object other than book B1. In addition, it can be various original documents that are preferably read when the original document cover 15 is open, or original documents that the user wishes to read when the original document cover 15 is open, depending on the user's situation.

[0239] • In addition to the structure that enables the display units 41 and 210 to display guidance information, the image reading device 11 may also be equipped with a speaker that broadcasts guidance information by sound.

[0240] • The control unit 50 may be partly or entirely constructed in hardware, for example, using electronic circuits such as ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or it may be constructed solely in software.

[0241] • The image reading device 11 may also be a structure without an automatic paper feeder 24. That is, the image reading device 11 may also be a flatbed image reading device without ADF-type image reading function.

[0242] • The image reading device 11 can be any structure having a document stage 12 with a mounting surface 12A capable of holding the original document M1, and a reading unit 17 and a light-emitting unit 18 that can move relative to each other in the sub-scanning direction Y. For example, the image reading device 11 can also be a structure in which the original document M1 placed on the mounting surface 12A of the document stage 12 is read by moving relative to the opening on the upper surface of the housing 13, which houses the reading unit 17 and the light-emitting unit 18, in the sub-scanning direction Y while the document stage 12 is fixed in a predetermined position.

[0243] • The image reading device 11 can be a standalone scanner or part of a multifunction printer. When part of a multifunction printer, the image reading device 11 can also be mounted on top of the printing unit. Such a multifunction printer can be a small multifunction printer for individual or home consumers, or a large multifunction printer for business or office use.

[0244] The term "at least one" as used in this specification means "more than one" of the desired options. As an example, if the number of options is two, "at least one" as used in this specification means "only one option" or "both options". As another example, if the number of options is three or more, "at least one" means "only one option" or "any combination of two or more options".

[0245] Technical ideas The following will describe the technical ideas and effects learned from the described embodiments and variations.

[0246] [1] An image reading device includes: a document stage having a mounting surface for placing a document; a document cover for opening and closing the mounting surface of the document stage; a reading unit for reading a document placed on the mounting surface of the document stage at a location opposite to the mounting surface; a light-emitting unit capable of switching between being lit and extinguished; and a control unit that, when reading a document is performed with the document cover open relative to the document stage (i.e., in an open state), illuminates the light-emitting unit at a predetermined position on the mounting surface of the document stage before the document is placed on the mounting surface of the document stage in the open state.

[0247] According to this structure, by illuminating the light-emitting part at a predetermined position on the mounting surface before placing the original document on the document stage, the user can be guided or informed of the information required to begin reading the original document. This improves user convenience. The required information includes whether the image reading device is in the appropriate document reading mode, whether the image reading device is in a predetermined state, and information about the position to be guided or informed to the user by illuminating the predetermined position. The predetermined state of the image reading device can include a waiting state where the image reading device is awaiting a predetermined operation by the user, and a standby state until document reading begins. Furthermore, information about the position to be guided or informed to the user can include the document placement position where the user should place the original document, the document detection position where the original document is detected, and the document placement position where document reading can begin.

[0248] [2] In the image reading device described in [1] above, the position where the original is placed, i.e., the placement position, can also be indicated by illuminating the light-emitting part on the mounting surface of the document stage. According to this structure, since the position of the original in the document stage can be indicated by illuminating the light-emitting part, the user can be guided to the position of the original. This improves user convenience.

[0249] [3] In the image reading device described in [1] or [2] above, the original platen may be light-transmitting, and the light-emitting part may be disposed on the side of the original platen opposite to the mounting surface, and may emit light from the opposite side of the original platen to the outside of the mounting surface. According to this structure, since the light is emitted from the side of the original platen opposite to the mounting surface, the user can easily visually confirm the light emission by looking through the mounting surface where the original is to be placed. For example, the mounting position in the mounting surface can be appropriately shown to the user by the light emission.

[0250] [4] In any of the image reading devices described in [1] to [3] above, the light-emitting part can be used to illuminate the original document by lighting it when the reading part reads the original document. According to this structure, the position of the original document can be indicated by the light-emitting part, and the original document M1 can be illuminated by the light-emitting part when the reading part reads the original document. [5] In the image reading devices described in [2] above and [3] or [4] citing [2] above, the light-emitting part can be used to flash when the control part indicates the placement position. According to this structure, the placement position can be easily identified by the user.

[0251] [6] In the image reading device described in [5] above, the control unit may detect whether an original document is mounted on the mounting surface based on the reading result when the reading unit performs reading during the flashing of the light-emitting unit. According to this structure, the original document can be detected based on the reading result read by the reading unit.

[0252] [7] In any of the image reading devices described in [1] to [6] above, the control unit may perform a document reading process that causes the reading unit to read the document based on the detection that a document is mounted on the mounting surface. According to this structure, since the reading by the reading unit can start based on the detection that a document is mounted, the convenience of the user is improved.

[0253] [8] In any of the image reading devices described in [1] to [7] above, it is also possible to further include a display unit that displays information, and a control unit that causes the display unit to display guidance information, which is information guiding the original document to be placed at a position indicated by the illumination of the light-emitting unit. According to this structure, the guidance information displayed on the display unit makes it easier to guide the user to place the original document.

[0254] [9] In any of the image reading devices described in [1] to [8] above, the reading unit and the light-emitting unit may be integrated. With this structure, since the reading unit and the light-emitting unit are integrated, there is no need to provide a separate moving mechanism for the light-emitting unit. For example, it is possible to easily implement a structure that indicates the placement position of the original document by illuminating it.

[0255]

[10] An image reading device includes: a document stage having a mounting surface for placing a document; a document cover that opens and closes relative to the document stage over the mounting surface; a reading unit that reads a document placed on the mounting surface of the document stage at a location opposite to the mounting surface; and a control unit that, in a mode where reading of the document is performed in an open state relative to the document stage, causes the reading unit to read the document based on a predetermined time elapsed since a condition has been met, namely, a condition that the document cover is in the open state and a condition that the document is placed on the document stage.

[0256] According to this structure, in the mode where the original document is read while the cover is open, the user's indication of the start of the reading task is one of the conditions for initiating the reading process. Since the user can recognize when the reading task has started, user convenience is improved.

[0257]

[11] In any of the image reading devices described in [1] to

[10] above, the reading unit may be equipped with a contact image sensor. With this configuration, since the reading unit is a contact image sensor with a narrower depth of field compared to a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) type image sensor, the user needs to press the book firmly so that the entire surface of the page being read is close to the mounting surface. If the user forcibly performs other operations, or looks away from the original document (such as a book) to check the display screen, their awareness of the original document decreases. Consequently, the position of the original document being pressed while the user is in a positioned state is prone to shifting or floating. However, with this configuration, since the reading of the original document begins automatically, the user can concentrate on pressing the original document in a positioned state. Therefore, when the reading of the original document begins, the position of the original document is less likely to shift or float. Therefore, even contact image sensors with a narrow depth of field can read images of original manuscripts such as books that have minimal positional shifts and less blurring.

[0258]

[12] In any of the above-described [1] to

[11] image reading apparatus, it may also be provided with: an opening / closing sensor that detects the opening and closing of the original cover; a task start button that accepts the start instruction of the original reading task, the control unit accepts the start instruction of the reading task via the task start button, detects the open state via the opening / closing sensor, and performs the original reading process after a predetermined time has elapsed since the original is detected to be placed on the original stage based on the reading result read by the reading unit.

[0259] According to this structure, after the user indicates the start of the reading task via the task start button, there is a predetermined time from when the user places the original on the loading surface of the open document tray until reading begins. Therefore, the user can position the original on the loading surface.

[0260]

[13] A display control method for an image reading device, wherein the image reading device comprises: a document table having a mounting surface for placing a document; a document cover that opens and closes relative to the document table over the mounting surface; a reading unit that reads a document placed on the mounting surface of the document table at a location opposite to the mounting surface; and a display unit that displays information. In the display control method of the image reading device, when instructed to read the document in an open state (i.e., with the document cover open relative to the document table), the display unit displays guidance information, which is information guiding the placement position of the document on the mounting surface of the document table. According to this method, for a user who has been instructed to read the document in an open state (i.e., with the document cover open), the guidance information displayed on the display unit can guide the placement position of the document on the mounting surface of the document table. Therefore, user convenience can be improved.

[0261] Symbol Explanation 10…Reading control system, 11…Image reading device, 12…Original document table, 12A…Placement surface, 13…Housing, 14…Transparent plate, 15…Original document cover, 15A…Background plate, 15B…Transport channel, 17…Reading unit (first reading unit), 17L…Line sensor, 18…Light-emitting unit, 18A…Light source, 19…Carriage, 20…Image sensor, 20…Reading module, 21…Reading window, 22…Transparent plate, 23…Opening / closing sensor, 24…Automatic paper feeding device, 25…Transport path, 26…Supply tray, 27…Support unit, 28…Image sensor, 29…Light guide component, 30…Transport unit, 31…Pick-up roller, 32…Transport roller, 33… Discharge tray, 34… Detection unit, 35… Overlapping conveyor detection unit, 37… Second reading unit (reading unit), 38… Light-emitting unit, 39… Support unit, 40… Reading module, 41… Display unit, 42… Input unit, 43… Carriage motor, 44… Scanning mechanism, 45… Guide component, 46… Power transmission mechanism, 47… Hinge mechanism, 50… Control unit, 51… Image reading control unit, 52… Memory, 61… Carriage drive control unit, 62… Reading control unit, 63… Light-emitting control unit, 64… Input receiving unit, 65… Display control unit, 66… Opening / closing determination unit, 67… Communication interface, 70… Mode selection button, 71… Task start button, 72… Manual mode Select button, 73…Close button, 74…Input field, 75…Plus button, 76…Minus button, 77…OK button, 78…First option, 79…Second option, 80…Third option, 81…Set button, 82…End button, 83…Cancel button, 90…Sensor, 90A…Substrate, 91…Light-emitting element, 92…Light-receiving element, 200…Reading control device, 200…Main device, 201…Communication interface, 210…Display unit, 220…Input unit, 300…Reading control device, M1…Original, B1…Book, ME…End face (end position), SA…Original reading area, D1…Selection screen, D2…First setting screen (setting screen) D3…Second setting screen (setting screen), D4…Guide screen, D5…Guide screen, D6…Notification screen, D7…Guide screen, D8…Guide screen, MS1~MS11…Messages, P0…Standby position, P1…Specified position (original document detection position), YA…Range, PE…Reading end position, Y0…Start end (reading start position), YE…End end, Y1…First reading position, SD1…Reading result, SD2…Reading result, A1…Threshold, T…Specified time, PR…Control program, X…Main scanning direction (depth direction), Y…Sub-scanning direction (width direction), +Y…First direction, -Y…Second direction, Z…Vertical direction.

Claims

1. An image reading device, comprising: A manuscript stand, which has a mounting surface for placing the manuscript; The original document cover opens and closes over the mounting surface of the original document stage; The reading unit reads the original document placed on the mounting surface of the document stage from the side opposite to the mounting surface. The light-emitting part can switch between being lit and turned off; Control Department When the control unit performs the reading of the original document with the original document cover open relative to the original document platform, in the open state, it illuminates the light-emitting part at a predetermined position on the mounting surface of the original document platform before the original document is placed on the mounting surface of the original document platform.

2. The image reading device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, By illuminating the light-emitting part, the position on the mounting surface of the original document stage where the original document is mounted, i.e., the mounting position, is displayed.

3. The image reading device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The manuscript tray is translucent. The light-emitting part is disposed on the side of the document stage opposite to the mounting surface, and is capable of emitting light from the opposite side of the document stage to the outside of the mounting surface.

4. The image reading device as claimed in claim 2, wherein, When the reading unit reads the original document, the light-emitting part illuminates the original document by lighting it up.

5. The image reading device as claimed in claim 2, wherein, The control unit causes the light-emitting part to flash when the placement position is indicated.

6. The image reading device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, The control unit detects whether the original document is mounted on the mounting surface based on the reading result when the reading unit performs reading during the flashing of the light-emitting part.

7. The image reading device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, The control unit performs a document reading process, which causes the reading unit to read the document, based on the detection that a document is mounted on the mounting surface.

8. The image reading device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, It also includes a display unit that displays information. The control unit causes the display unit to display guidance information, which guides the original document to be placed in the position indicated by the illumination of the light-emitting unit.

9. The image reading device as claimed in claim 3, wherein, The reading part and the light-emitting part are integrated.

10. An image reading device, comprising: A manuscript stand, which has a mounting surface for placing the manuscript; The original document cover opens and closes relative to the original document platform on the mounting surface; The reading unit reads the original document placed on the mounting surface of the document stage from the side opposite to the mounting surface. Control Department In the mode where the original document is read in the open state relative to the original document table, the control unit performs original document reading processing to make the reading unit read the original document, based on the condition that a predetermined time has elapsed since the conditions that the user has indicated the start of the reading task, the original document cover is in the open state, and the original document is placed on the original document table have been met.

11. The image reading device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The reading unit constitutes a contact image sensor.

12. The image reading device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, It also has: An opening / closing sensor detects the opening and closing of the original document cover; The "Start Task" button indicates the start of the task of reading the original manuscript. The control unit accepts the start instruction of the reading task via the task start button, detects the open state via the open / close sensor, and performs the original document reading process after a predetermined time has elapsed since the original document is detected to be placed on the original document stage based on the reading result read by the reading unit.

13. A display control method for an image reading device, wherein, The image reading device includes: a document stage having a mounting surface for placing a document; a document cover that opens and closes relative to the document stage and the mounting surface; a reading unit that reads the document placed on the mounting surface of the document stage from a side opposite to the mounting surface; and a display unit that displays information. In the display control method of the image reading device... When instructed to read the original in the open state (with the original cover open relative to the original table), the display unit displays guidance information, which guides the original to be placed at a specific position on the mounting surface of the original table.

Images