Image reading device

Abstract

To provide an image reading device that accurately analyzes a tendency of the type of document used by a user and performs proper reading setting according to the type of document when images of various types of business forms such as bills are read by an image reading device to digitize the images.SOLUTION: In an image reading device, reading conditions are set by a user in advance for each size of documents, and the sizes and reading conditions are stored while associated with each other in non-volatile memory 402. When documents are loaded on a document loading part, a CPU 401 detects the document size using a document size detection sensor 216 and determines the size of the placed documents. When it is determined that the determined size matches or is similar to information on the size stored in the non-volatile memory 402, the reading condition is set to the condition corresponding to the size that matches or is similar to information on the determined size.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading device that reads an image of a document. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an image reading device that reads an image of a document while conveying the document. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that identifies a user from a user ID, analyzes the tendency of the type of document used by the user, and prompts the user to use a recommended setting. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-309097 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, there have been an increasing number of occasions where images of various types of documents, such as invoices, are read and digitized using image reading devices, and the configuration of Patent Document 1 cannot accurately analyze the tendency of the type of document used by the user, and there is a possibility that appropriate reading settings according to the type of document are not made. As a result, there is a possibility that the image of the document is not read appropriately. In addition, the user needs to make reading settings every time a document is read, which reduces usability.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to suppress a decrease in the usability of an image reading device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, an image reading device according to the present invention comprises: a loading section on which documents are placed; a conveying means for conveying the document placed on the stacking section; a reading means for reading an image of the document being conveyed by the conveying means; a memory storing the size of the document and reading conditions associated with the size of the document when the reading means reads the image; a sensor provided in the stacking section for detecting whether the document is present in the stacking section; a determining unit that determines the size of the document placed on the stacking unit based on the detection result of the sensor; having The reading means is characterized in that, when the size of the original document determined by the determination means and the size of the original document stored in the memory satisfy predetermined conditions, it reads an image of the original document being transported by the transport means based on the reading conditions associated with the size of the original document stored in the memory that satisfies the predetermined conditions. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the usability of the image reading device from decreasing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a control configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a document size detection sensor. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating setting of reading conditions for each size of a document. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a screen for setting reading conditions. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a reading operation in the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the shapes of the components and their relative positions described in the embodiments may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions, and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the following embodiments.

[0010] [First embodiment] [Image forming equipment] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a color electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) 100 used in this embodiment. Note that the image forming apparatus is not limited to a copying machine, and may be, for example, a facsimile machine, a printing machine, a printer, etc. Furthermore, the recording method is not limited to an electrophotographic method, and may be, for example, an inkjet method, etc. Furthermore, the type of the image forming apparatus may be either a monochrome type or a color type.

[0011] The configuration and functions of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described below with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 has an original reading device 200 including an original feeding device 201 and a reading device 202, and an image printing device 301.

[0012] <Document reader> The position in the width direction (a direction intersecting the feeding direction in which the document P is fed) of the document P loaded on the document loading section 2 of the document feeding device 201 is regulated by a pair of regulating sections 1 provided on the document loading section 2. The pair of regulating sections 1 are configured to be movable in accordance with the width of the document.

[0013] The originals P are fed one by one by the pickup roller 3, and then transported further downstream by the feed roller 4. A separation roller 5 that is in pressure contact with the feed roller 4 is provided at a position opposite to the feed roller 4. The separation roller 5 is configured to rotate when a load torque equal to or greater than a predetermined torque is applied to the separation roller 5, and has the function of separating the originals that are fed in a two-sheet overlapping state.

[0014] The pickup roller 3 and the feed roller 4 are connected by a swing arm 12. The swing arm 12 is supported by the rotation shaft of the feed roller 4 so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft of the feed roller 4.

[0015] The document P is conveyed by the feed roller 4 and the like, and is discharged onto the discharge tray 10 by the discharge roller 11 .

[0016] The reading device 202 is provided with a reading unit 16 that reads an image of the first side of a document being conveyed. The reading unit 16 has an LED 110, an image sensor 111, and an optical component group 112. The image sensor 111 has a plurality of light receiving elements that receive R (red), G (green), and B (blue) light in the main scanning direction (corresponding to the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the document). The reading unit 16 reads an image of the front side (first side) of the document as follows. Specifically, the LED 110 as a light source irradiates (emits) light onto the front side of the document being conveyed through the reading glass 108. The optical component group 112 guides the reflected light from the document received through the reading glass 108 to the image sensor 111. The image sensor 111 outputs analog image data based on the received light. The image sensor 111 simultaneously reads one line of the image in the main scanning direction. Therefore, by reading one line of image multiple times by the image sensor 111 while conveying the document, the image sensor 111 can output image data including the entire document.

[0017] Further, the document feeder 201 is provided with a reading unit 17 that reads an image on the second side of the document being conveyed. The configuration of the reading unit 17 is similar to that of the reading unit 16, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0018] Methods for reading an original include a skimming method and a pressure plate reading method. The skimming method is a method for reading an image of an original transported by the above-mentioned method. The pressure plate reading method is a method for reading an image of an original placed on the original table glass 214 of the reading device 202 by the reading unit 16 moving at a constant speed in the sub-scanning direction (rightward in FIG. 1) corresponding to the transport direction in which the original is transported. Usually, images of sheet-like originals are read by the skimming method, and images of bound originals such as books and pamphlets are read by the pressure plate reading method.

[0019] The document feeder 201 is rotatable relative to the reader 202 between an open position where the document glass 214 is exposed and a closed position where the document glass 214 is covered by a pressure plate 18. The document feeder 201 has a pressure plate that presses the document placed on the document glass 214 toward the document glass 214 in the closed position. In the pressure plate reading method, the document placed on the document glass 214 is read by the reader 16 that moves in the sub-scanning direction.

[0020] <Image printing device> A sheet storage tray 18 for storing recording media is provided inside the image printing device 301. Note that the recording media are those on which an image is formed by the image forming device, and include, for example, paper, resin sheets, cloth, OHP sheets, labels, etc.

[0021] The recording medium stored in the sheet storage tray 18 is sent out by a pickup roller 19, and is sent to a registration roller 20 by conveyance rollers 39, 40, 41, 42, etc.

[0022] The image printing device 301 is also provided with a manual feed tray 44 on which recording media are stacked. The recording media stacked on the manual feed tray 44 are sent out by a pickup roller 43, and are then sent to the registration rollers 20 by a transport roller 42 and the like.

[0023] The leading edge of the recording medium conveyed by the pre-registration roller 37 hits the registration roller 20. As a result, a loop is formed in the recording medium between the registration roller 20 and the pre-registration roller 37, and the skew of the recording medium is corrected (reduced).

[0024] The image signal output from the document reading device 200 is input for each color component to optical scanning devices 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K including a semiconductor laser and a polygon mirror. Specifically, the image signal for yellow output from the document reading device 200 is input to optical scanning device 3Y, and the image signal for magenta output from the document reading device 200 is input to optical scanning device 3M. In addition, the image signal for cyan output from the document reading device 200 is input to optical scanning device 3C, and the image signal for black output from the document reading device 200 is input to optical scanning device 3K. In the following description, a configuration for forming a yellow image will be described, but the same configuration applies to magenta, cyan, and black.

[0025] The outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y is charged by the charger 23Y. After the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y is charged, a laser beam corresponding to an image signal input from the document reading device 200 to the optical scanning device 21Y is irradiated onto the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y from the optical scanning device 21Y via an optical system including a polygon mirror and a mirror. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y.

[0026] Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed by toner in a developing device 24Y as a developing unit, and a toner image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 22Y is transferred to a transfer belt 27 as an intermediate transfer body by a transfer roller 25Y provided at a position facing the photosensitive drum 22Y. Note that the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y after the toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 27 is collected by a cleaning unit 26Y.

[0027] The yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images transferred onto the transfer belt 27 are transferred onto the recording medium by the pair of transfer rollers 28. A high voltage is applied to the pair of transfer rollers 28, and the toner images are transferred onto the recording medium due to the high voltage. The registration rollers 20 feed the recording medium into the pair of transfer rollers 28 in accordance with the timing of this transfer.

[0028] As described above, the recording medium onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing device 29 as a fixing section, and the toner image is fixed to the recording medium by heating and pressurizing the recording medium by the fixing device 29. In this manner, an image is formed on the recording medium by the image forming apparatus 100.

[0029] When an image is formed in a single-sided printing mode, the recording medium that has passed through the fixing device 29 is discharged to a discharge tray 31 by a paper discharge roller 30. When an image is formed in a double-sided printing mode, the fixing device 29 performs a fixing process on the first side of the recording medium, and then the recording medium is conveyed to a reversing path 32 by a reversing roller 38. The recording medium conveyed to the reversing path 32 is reversed between the first side and the second side by the reversing roller 38 and conveyed to a conveying guide provided with conveying rollers 33, 34, 35, and 36. The recording medium is conveyed again to the registration roller 20 by the conveying rollers 33, 34, 35, and 36, and an image is formed on the second side of the recording medium by the method described above. Thereafter, the recording medium is discharged to a paper discharge tray 31 by a paper discharge roller 30.

[0030] The configuration and functions of image forming apparatus 100 have been described above.

[0031] [Control configuration] <Control configuration of image printing device> 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a control configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. First, the control configuration of the image printing apparatus 301 will be described.

[0032] 2, the system controller 151 includes a CPU 151a, a ROM 151b, and a RAM 151c. The system controller 151 is also connected to an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter 153, a high voltage control unit 155, a motor control device 600, sensors 159, and an AC driver 160. The system controller 151 is capable of transmitting and receiving data and commands to and from each of the units connected thereto.

[0033] The CPU 151a reads out and executes various programs stored in the ROM 151b to execute various sequences related to a predetermined image formation sequence.

[0034] The RAM 151c is a storage device and stores various data such as set values ​​for the high voltage control unit 155, command values ​​for the motor control device 600, and the like.

[0035] System controller 151 receives signals from sensors 159, and sets the set value of high voltage control unit 155 based on the received signals.

[0036] A high voltage control unit 155 supplies a necessary voltage to a high voltage unit 156 (charger 310, developer 314, transfer charger 315, etc.) in accordance with a set value set by the system controller 151.

[0037] The motor control device 600 controls the motor 509 that drives a load provided in the image printing device 301 in response to a command output from the CPU 151a.

[0038] The A / D converter 153 receives a detection signal detected by a thermistor 154 for detecting the temperature of the fixing heater 161, converts the detection signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and transmits the digital signal to the system controller 151. The system controller 151 controls the AC driver 160 based on the digital signal received from the A / D converter 153. The AC driver 160 controls the fixing heater 161 so that the temperature of the fixing heater 161 becomes a temperature required for performing the fixing process. The fixing heater 161 is a heater used in the fixing process, and is included in the fixing unit 318.

[0039] As described above, the system controller 151 controls the operation sequence of the image forming apparatus 100 .

[0040] <Control configuration of document reading device> Next, a description will be given of a control configuration of the document reading device 200. The CPU 401 controls the document reading device 200 by executing a program stored in the non-volatile memory 402.

[0041] The operation unit 403 provides a user interface. The CPU 401 controls the operation unit 403 so as to display, on a display unit provided in the operation unit 403, an operation screen for a user to perform reading settings when reading an image of a document by the document reading device 200. The CPU 401 receives information set by the user from the operation unit 403, and controls the document reading device 20 based on the information.

[0042] The system controller 151 transmits information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus to the operation unit 403. The information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus is, for example, information regarding the number of images formed, the progress of the image forming operation, and information regarding sheet jams and multiple feeds in the image printing device 301 and the document feeding device 201. The operation unit 403 displays the information received from the system controller 151 on the display unit.

[0043] The image data output by the reading units 16 and 17 is input to the image processing unit 404. The image processing unit 404 converts the analog image data into digital image data. The digital image data has a higher numerical value as the intensity of the reflected light increases. This numerical level is hereinafter referred to as a luminance value. The image processing unit 404 performs corrections such as known shading corrections on the image data.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 2, in this embodiment, a document size detection sensor 216 is provided to detect the size of a document loaded in the document loading section. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the document size detection sensor 216. The document size detection sensor 216 in this embodiment includes sensors 18, 19, and 20.

[0045] The sensor 18 detects the positions of the pair of regulating parts 1 and outputs the position to the CPU 401. The CPU 401 determines the length of the document in the width direction based on the detection result of the sensor 18. Note that a volume resistor may be used as the sensor 304, and the width of the document may be detected by linking the amount of rotation of the volume resistor with the amount of movement of the pair of regulating parts 1.

[0046] The sensors 19 and 20 detect the presence or absence of the document and output the result to the CPU 401. The CPU 401 determines the length of the document in the feeding direction based on the detection result of the sensor 18.

[0047] <Setting reading conditions> The following describes how to set reading conditions for each document size in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the following configuration is applied to prevent the usability of the image reading device from decreasing.

[0048] 4 is a flowchart for explaining the setting of reading conditions for each document size in this embodiment. The process of this flowchart is executed by the CPU 401.

[0049] In S401, when the user selects a condition setting mode via the operation unit 403 to set the size of the document and the reading conditions for reading the image of the document, in S402, the CPU 401 issues a notification prompting the user to place the document on the document stacking unit 2.

[0050] When a sensor provided in the document stacking unit 2 detects that a document has been stacked on the document stacking unit 2 in S403, the CPU 401 determines the size of the document based on the detection results of the sensors 18, 19, and 20 in S404.

[0051] After that, in S405, the CPU 401 displays on the display unit of the operation unit 403 a screen for setting reading conditions when reading the document loaded on the document loading unit 2. Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining the screen for setting the reading conditions. As shown in Fig. 5, in this embodiment, the user can select the desired reading conditions from color / monochrome reading, single-sided reading / double-sided reading, resolution, and file format. In addition to these, the document size may be manually input.

[0052] Next, when OK shown in FIG. 5 is selected in S406, in S407 the CPU 401 associates the document size determined in S404 with the reading conditions set in S405 and stores them in the non-volatile memory 402, for example.

[0053] 6 is a flowchart illustrating the reading operation in this embodiment. The process of this flowchart is executed by the CPU 401.

[0054] When a sensor provided in the document stacking unit 2 detects that a document has been placed on the document stacking unit 2 in S601, the CPU 401 determines the size of the document based on the detection results of the sensors 18, 19, and 20 in S602.

[0055] Next, in S603, if the determined size and the size information stored in the non-volatile memory 402 match or are similar, in S604, the CPU 401 sets the reading conditions for reading the image of the document loaded on the document loading unit 2 to the reading conditions corresponding to the size that matches or is similar to the determined size information. Note that "the determined size and the size information stored in the non-volatile memory 402 are similar (satisfying a predetermined condition)" means, for example, that the determined size is larger or smaller than the size in the main scanning direction by a predetermined percentage. Also, for example, it means that the determined size is equal to or larger than a predetermined percentage (first predetermined amount, second predetermined amount) of the size in the sub-scanning direction. Note that the predetermined percentage is, for example, 20%.

[0056] Thereafter, when an instruction to start reading is input, in S605, the CPU 401 conveys the document stacked on the document stacking unit 2 and reads the image of the document.

[0057] Also, in S603, if the determined size does not match or is not similar to the size information stored in the non-volatile memory 402, in S606, the CPU 401 causes the display unit to display a screen (e.g., FIG. 5) for setting reading conditions.

[0058] Thereafter, in S607, the CPU 401 sets the set reading conditions as reading conditions for reading an image of the document placed on the document stacking unit 2.

[0059] As described above, in this embodiment, the reading conditions are set in advance by the user for each size of the document, and the size and the reading conditions are associated and stored in the memory. When the document is loaded on the document loading section 2, the CPU 401 determines the size of the document loaded on the document loading section 2. If it is determined that the determined size matches or is similar to the size information stored in the non-volatile memory 402, the reading conditions are set to the reading conditions corresponding to the size that matches or is similar to the determined size information. In this way, in this embodiment, the reading conditions are automatically set based on the size of the document loaded on the document loading section 2. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the usability of the image reading device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 2 Document stacking area 3 Pickup roller 16, 17 Reading unit 216 Original size detection sensor 401 CPU

Claims

1. a loading section on which documents are placed; a conveying means for conveying the document placed on the stacking section; a reading means for reading an image of the document being conveyed by the conveying means; a memory storing the size of the document and reading conditions associated with the size of the document when the reading means reads the image; a sensor provided in the stacking section for detecting whether the document is present in the stacking section; a determining unit that determines the size of the document placed on the stacking unit based on the detection result of the sensor; having The image reading device is characterized in that, when the size of the original document determined by the determination means and the size of the original document stored in the memory satisfy a predetermined condition, the reading means reads an image of the original document being transported by the transporting means based on the reading conditions associated with the size of the original document stored in the memory that satisfies the predetermined condition.

2. An image reading device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the specified condition is determined to be satisfied when the size of the original determined by the determination means is larger than a value that is a first predetermined amount smaller than the size of the original stored in the memory and is smaller than a value that is a second predetermined amount larger than the size of the original stored in the memory.

3. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first predetermined amount and the second predetermined amount are the same value.

4. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading conditions include whether or not the image of the document is to be read in color.

5. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading conditions include a resolution for reading the image of the document.

6. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading conditions include a type of file format when the image read by the reading means is output to an outside of the image reading apparatus.

Images