Image reading device

Abstract

To provide an image reading device that can easily perform semi-automatic setting by manually setting the setting content of at least one setting item and automatically setting the setting contents of the remaining setting items.SOLUTION: An image reading device includes an image reading unit that reads an image according to the setting contents of a plurality of setting items, an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit, and the control unit automatically sets the setting contents of at least one of the setting items when a first operation is performed on the operation unit, and makes the setting contents of the automatically set setting item changeable by manual setting when a second operation is performed on the operation unit, and causes the display unit to notify the user that the setting contents of the automatically set setting item have been changed by the manual setting.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image reading device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has an APS function for detecting the size of a document, an ADS function for detecting the density of the document, and an ACS function for detecting the color of the document. In the image forming apparatus, on the initial screen of the operation unit, a density setting display for setting the density of the image to be printed, a color setting display for setting the color of the image, a size setting display for setting the size of the paper on which the image is to be formed, and an automatic mode display for operating all of the APS, ACS, and ADS functions are displayed. When the automatic mode display is pressed, the main control unit performs control to erase the density setting display, the color setting display, and the size setting display from the display screen of the operation unit (summary).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, when the automatic mode display is pressed after some setting contents of the density, color, and paper size are manually set, the manually set setting contents are ignored, and all the setting contents of the density, color, and paper size are automatically set. For this reason, it is not possible to easily perform semi-automatic setting in which the setting contents of some setting items are manually set and the setting contents of the remaining setting items are automatically set.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure has been made in view of this problem. One aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide an image reading apparatus that can easily perform semi-automatic setting in which, for example, the setting content of at least one setting item is manually set and the setting content of the remaining setting items is automatically set.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An image reading apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an image reading unit that reads an image according to the setting content of a plurality of setting items, an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. When a first operation for instructing the control unit to automatically set the setting content of at least one of the setting contents of the plurality of setting items is performed on the operation unit, the control unit automatically sets the setting content of the at least one setting item. When a second operation for manually setting the setting content of the automatically set setting item is performed on the operation unit, the setting content of the automatically set setting item can be changed manually. When the setting content of the automatically set setting item is changed manually, the display unit is caused to notify that the setting content of the automatically set setting item has been changed manually.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] (First Embodiment) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 18, the first embodiment will be described. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a multifunction peripheral (MPF) according to the first embodiment.

[0010] The multifunction peripheral 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a copy mode, a print mode, a fax mode, and a scan mode. For this reason, the multifunction peripheral 1 incorporates an image reading device 11 necessary for the copy mode, the fax mode, and the scan mode. The image reading device 11 may be incorporated in a copy-only machine, a fax-only machine, or a scan-only machine.

[0011] The multifunction peripheral 1 includes an image reading unit 21, an image forming unit 22, a communication unit 23, an operation unit 24, a display unit 25, and a control unit 26. The image reading unit 21, the operation unit 24, the display unit 25, and the control unit 26 constitute the image reading device 11.

[0012] The image reading unit 21 reads an image on a document according to the setting contents of a plurality of setting items, and generates image data corresponding to the read image. The image reading unit 21 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF), a document reading unit, a document table, and a reading device. When the image reading unit 21 reads an image on a document by the ADF method, the ADF feeds each document included in a plurality of documents set in the ADF to the document reading unit, and the reading device reads the image on each document fed to the document reading unit. When the image reading unit 21 reads an image on a document by the flatbed method, the reading mechanism reads the image on the document set on the document table.

[0013] The image forming unit 22 forms an image corresponding to the image data on a sheet of paper. The image forming unit 22 forms an image on a sheet of paper by, for example, an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, a thermal method, or the like.

[0014] The communication unit 23 is connected to the public switched telephone network and the network. The communication unit 23 transmits a fax signal corresponding to the image data to a fax connected to the public switched telephone network. The communication unit 23 receives a fax signal corresponding to the image data from a fax connected to the public switched telephone network, and acquires the image data from the received fax signal. The communication unit 23 transmits the image data to a device connected to the network. The communication unit 23 receives the image data from a device connected to the network.

[0015] The operation unit 24 accepts operations.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 24 includes a touch panel display 31. The touch panel display also serves as the display unit 25. The operation unit 24 may include operation members other than the touch panel display 31. For example, the operation unit 24 may include buttons, levers, dials, sliders, etc.

[0017] The plurality of setting items include "document", "resolution", and "skip blank pages". Therefore, the setting contents of the plurality of setting items include the setting contents of "document", "resolution", and "skip blank pages".

[0018] The setting contents of "document" include the size of the document, the orientation of the document, whether to read images on both sides or one side of the document, and the orientation of the image on the document. The setting contents of "document" may include matters other than these matters.

[0019] The setting contents of "resolution" include the resolution in the main scanning direction and the resolution in the sub-scanning direction. The setting contents of "resolution" may include matters other than these matters.

[0020] The setting contents of "skip blank pages" include whether to skip blank page documents and read images on documents other than blank page documents. The setting contents of "skip blank pages" may include matters other than this matter.

[0021] The plurality of setting items may include setting items other than "document", "resolution", and "skip blank pages". Therefore, the setting contents of the plurality of setting items may include the setting contents of setting items other than "document", "resolution", and "skip blank pages". For example, the plurality of setting items may include "black and white", "document skew correction", "compression rate", etc. Therefore, the setting contents of the plurality of setting items may include the setting contents of "black and white", "document skew correction", "compression rate", etc.

[0022] The setting content of "black and white" indicates whether to read the image on the document in either black and white binary or grayscale.

[0023] The setting content of "document skew correction" indicates whether to correct the state where the document is tilted or the state where the image on the document is tilted.

[0024] The setting content of "compression rate" indicates the compression rate of the generated image data.

[0025] The display unit 25 displays a screen. The display unit 25 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a quantum dot light emitting diode (QLED) display, etc.

[0026] The control unit 26 controls the image reading unit 21, the image forming unit 22, the communication unit 23, the operation unit 24, and the display unit 25.

[0027] The control unit 26 includes a processor, a memory, a storage, and peripheral circuits. The storage stores programs. The processor executes the program loaded from the storage into the memory to operate the processor, the memory, the storage, and the peripheral circuits as the control unit 26. Part or all of the processing performed by the processor may be performed by dedicated electronic circuits.

[0028] When the mode of the multifunction machine 1 is the copy mode, the control unit 26 causes the image reading unit 21 to read an image on the document according to the setting contents of a plurality of setting items, and generate image data corresponding to the read image. Further, the control unit 26 causes the image forming unit 22 to form an image corresponding to the generated image data on the paper.

[0029] When the mode of the multifunction machine 1 is the print mode, the control unit 26 causes the communication unit 23 to receive image data. Further, the control unit 26 causes the image forming unit 22 to form an image corresponding to the received image data.

[0030] When the mode of the multifunction machine 1 is the fax mode and fax transmission is performed, the control unit 26 causes the image reading unit 21 to read an image on the document according to the setting contents of a plurality of setting items, and generate image data corresponding to the read image. Further, the control unit 26 causes the communication unit 23 to transmit a fax signal corresponding to the generated image data to a fax connected to the public switched telephone network.

[0031] When the mode of the multifunction machine 1 is the fax mode and fax reception is performed, the control unit 26 causes the communication unit 23 to receive a fax signal corresponding to image data from a fax connected to the public switched telephone network, and acquire image data from the received signal. Further, the control unit 26 causes the image forming unit 22 to form an image corresponding to the acquired image data on the paper.

[0032] When the mode of the multifunction machine 1 is the scan mode, the control unit 26 causes the image reading unit 21 to read an image on the document according to the setting contents of a plurality of setting items, and generate image data corresponding to the read image. Further, the control unit 26 causes the communication unit 23 to transmit the generated image data to a device connected to the network.

[0033] When a first operation instructing the automatic setting of the setting content of at least one of the setting contents of a plurality of setting items is performed on the operation unit 24, the control unit 26 automatically sets the setting content of at least one of the setting items. Further, when a second operation for manually setting the setting content of the automatically set setting item is performed on the operation unit 24, the control unit 26 makes the setting content of the automatically set setting item changeable by manual setting. Specifically, when a third operation instructing the start of manual setting is performed on the touch panel display 31 for an operation target indicating the automatically set setting item, the control unit 26 makes the second operation acceptable on the touch panel display 31. Further, when the setting content of the automatically set setting item is changed by manual setting, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 25 to notify that the setting content of the automatically set setting item has been changed by manual setting.

[0034] FIG. 2A is a table showing an example of options for the setting contents of a plurality of setting items. FIG. 2B is a table showing an example of the default setting contents of a plurality of setting items. FIG. 2C is a table showing an example of the setting contents for automatic setting of a plurality of setting items.

[0035] The control unit 26 stores multiple options for the setting content for each setting item included in the multiple setting items. The control unit 26 selects the setting content of each setting item from the multiple options for the setting content stored for each setting item. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, for "resolution", the control unit 26 stores multiple options for the setting content: "100×100 dpi", "150×150 dpi", "200×200 dpi", "300×300 dpi", "400×400 dpi", and "600×600 dpi". The control unit 26 selects the setting content of "resolution" from the multiple options for the setting content: "100×100 dpi", "150×150 dpi", "200×200 dpi", "300×300 dpi", "400×400 dpi", and "600×600 dpi". Also, for "original document", the control unit 26 stores multiple options for the setting content: "A6R", "A5", "B5R", "B4", "A5R", "A4", "A3",.... The control unit 26 selects the setting content of "original document" from the multiple options for the setting content: "A6R", "A5", "B5R", "B4", "A5R", "A4", "A3",....

[0036] The control unit 26 stores the default setting content for each setting item included in the plurality of setting items. When the multifunction machine 1 is started up, the control unit 26 sets the setting content of each setting item to the default setting content stored for each setting item. The control unit 26 maintains the state where the setting content of each setting item is the default setting content, except when the first operation is performed and when the second operation is performed. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the control unit 26 stores the default setting content "150×150 dpi" for "resolution". When the multifunction machine 1 is started up, the control unit 26 sets the setting content of "resolution" to the default setting content "150×150 dpi" stored for "resolution". The control unit 26 maintains the state where the setting content of "resolution" is the default setting content "150×150 dpi", except when the first operation instructing automatic setting of the setting content of "resolution" is performed and when the second operation for manually setting the setting content to a setting content different from the automatically set setting content, such as "200×200 dpi", is performed. Also, the control unit 26 stores the default setting content "A4" for "original document". When the multifunction machine 1 is started up, the control unit 26 sets the setting content of "original document" to the default setting content "A4" stored for "original document". The control unit 26 maintains the state where the setting content of "original document" is the default setting content "A4", except when the first operation instructing automatic setting of the setting content of "original document" is performed and when the second operation for manually setting the setting content to a setting content different from the automatically set setting content, such as "A3", is performed.

[0037] The control unit 26 stores the setting contents for automatic setting for each setting item included in a plurality of setting items. When automatically setting the setting contents of each setting item, the control unit 26 forcibly changes the setting contents of each setting item to the setting contents for automatic setting stored for each setting item. The control unit 26 stores the setting contents for automatic setting for each setting item separately from storing the default setting contents for each setting item. For this reason, the setting contents for automatic setting stored for each setting item may be the same as the default setting contents stored for each setting item, or may be different from the default setting contents stored for each setting item. For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, the control unit 26 stores the setting contents for automatic setting "300×300 dpi" for "resolution". When automatically setting the setting contents of "resolution", the control unit 26 forcibly changes the setting contents of "resolution" to the setting contents for automatic setting "300×300 dpi" stored for "resolution". Also, the control unit 26 stores the setting contents for automatic setting "A4" for "original document". When automatically setting the setting contents of "original document", the control unit 26 forcibly changes the setting contents of "original document" to the setting contents for automatic setting "A4" stored for "original document". The setting contents for automatic setting such as resolution may be the setting contents set based on the image data generated by reading the image on the original document set on the document table by the image reading unit 21.

[0038] FIGS. 3 to 8 are diagrams showing an example of the transition of the screen displayed on the touch panel display 31 by the control unit 26 when the control unit 26 causes the image reading unit 21 to read an image.

[0039] As shown on the left side of FIG. 3, the control unit 26 causes the touch panel display 31 to display the home screen 101. The home screen 101 is used for an operation to select the mode of the multifunction machine 1. The home screen 101 has a simple scan button 101a.

[0040] When an operation of pressing the simple scan button 101a is performed on the touch panel display 31, as shown on the right side of FIG. 3, the control unit 26 terminates the display of the home screen 101 on the touch panel display 31 and causes the touch panel display 31 to display the destination selection screen 102 in the scan mode. The destination selection screen 102 in the scan mode is used for an operation of selecting a destination to which image data is to be transmitted. The destination selection screen 102 in the scan mode has a switching button 102a.

[0041] When an operation of pressing the switching button 102a is performed on the touch panel display 31, as shown on the left side of FIG. 4, the control unit 26 terminates the display of the destination selection screen 102 in the scan mode and causes the touch panel display 31 to display the setting screen 103 in the scan mode. The setting screen 103 in the scan mode is used for an operation of selecting "original document", "resolution", or "skip blank pages", and an operation of instructing to automatically set setting contents such as "original document", "resolution", and "skip blank pages". The setting screen 103 in the scan mode has an original document button 103a, a resolution button 103b, a skip blank pages button 103c, and an automatic setting button 103d. At this point, the control unit 26 sets the setting contents of "original document", "resolution", and "skip blank pages" to the default setting contents of "automatic", "200x200 dpi", and "Off", respectively. Therefore, the control unit 26 causes the original document button 103a, the resolution button 103b, and the skip blank pages button 103c to display the character strings "automatic", "200x200 dpi", and "Off", which are the default setting contents of "automatic", "200x200 dpi", and "Off", which are the setting contents of "original document", "resolution", and "skip blank pages" at this point.

[0042] The original document button 103a, the resolution button 103b, and the skip blank pages button 103c are examples of selection buttons for which an operation of selecting a setting item is performed. The automatic setting button 103d is an example of an operation target for which an operation of instructing to automatically set setting contents such as "resolution" and "skip blank pages" is performed. The operation of pressing the automatic setting button 103d is an example of the first operation.

[0043] As shown on the right side of FIG. 4, when an operation of pressing the automatic setting button 103d is performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 changes the display forms of the resolution button 103b and the blank page skip button 103c from the normal display forms to the display forms indicating that the setting contents of "resolution" and "blank page skip" are the automatically set setting contents. For example, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 25 to display a screen element indicating that the automatic setting has been performed. The screen element indicating that the automatic setting has been performed is indicated, for example, by changing brightness, color, shape, character string, etc. For example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 5, the control unit 26 grays out and displays the resolution button 103b and the blank page skip button 103c so as to indicate that the setting contents of "resolution" and "blank page skip" have been automatically set. That is, when the control unit 26 automatically sets the setting content of at least one setting item, the control unit 26 changes the display form of the operation target indicating the automatically set setting item. Further, as shown on the left side of FIG. 5, the control unit 26 causes the character string "Automatic" indicating that the setting contents of "resolution" and "blank page skip" have been automatically set to be displayed on the resolution button 103b and the blank page skip button 103c.

[0044] As shown on the right side of FIG. 5, when an operation of pressing the resolution button 103b is performed, as shown on the left side of FIG. 6, the control unit 26 causes the screen 104 to be displayed on the touch panel display 31 by overlapping the scan mode setting screen 103. That is, for example, after the control unit 26 automatically sets the setting content of "resolution", the operation of pressing the resolution button 103b is an example of the third operation. The screen 104 inquires whether to change the automatically set setting content of "resolution" to manual setting. The screen 104 has an OK button 104a and a Cancel button 104b. Note that the operation of pressing the resolution button 103b for accepting the above setting change may accept the setting change only when a specific operation such as "long press" or "double click" is received.

[0045] When an operation of pressing the "Yes" button 104a is performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 causes the setting screen 105 for "Resolution" to be overlaid on the setting screen 103 for the scan mode and displayed on the touch panel display 31 as shown on the right side of FIG. 6. The setting screen 105 for "Resolution" has an OK button 105a. The operation on the setting screen 105 is an example of the second operation.

[0046] After an operation of manually setting the setting content for "Resolution" to a resolution of "300x300 dpi" is performed on the touch panel display 31 and then an operation of pressing the OK button 105a is performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 ends the display of the setting screen 105 for "Resolution" on the touch panel display 31 as shown on the left side of FIG. 7, sets the setting content for "Resolution" to "300x300 dpi", and updates the setting screen 103 for the scan mode. At that time, the control unit 26 causes the character string "300x300 dpi" indicating the resolution of "300x300 dpi" to be displayed on the resolution button 103b.

[0047] Furthermore, when the control unit 26 causes a screen element indicating that the setting contents of "Original", "Resolution", and "Skip Blank Pages" have been manually set semi-automatically, such as the semi-auto button 103e, to be displayed on the touch panel display 31, the user can easily recognize that the setting contents of "Original", "Resolution", and "Skip Blank Pages" have been manually set semi-automatically. Also, when the control unit 26 causes the semi-auto button 103e to be displayed on the touch panel display 31, the user can easily recognize that the setting contents of "Original", "Resolution", and "Skip Blank Pages" have been manually set semi-automatically.

[0048] As shown on the right side of FIG. 7, when an operation of pressing the scan start button 103f is performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 causes the touch panel display 31 to display the screen 106 superimposed on the scan mode setting screen 103 as shown on the left side of FIG. 8. The screen 106 inquires whether to store the resolution "300 x 300 dpi". The screen 106 has an OK button 106a and a Cancel button 106b.

[0049] When an operation of pressing the OK button 106a is performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 stores the resolution "300 x 300 dpi" and ends the display of the screen 106 on the touch panel display 31 as shown on the right side of FIG. 8.

[0050] FIGS. 9 to 11 are flowcharts showing an example of the flow of processing performed by the control unit 26 when the control unit 26 provided in the multifunction machine 1 according to the present embodiment causes the image reading unit 21 to read an image.

[0051] In step S101, the control unit 26 performs user authentication. Thereby, the control unit 26 identifies the user who uses the multifunction machine 1. The control unit 26 performs user authentication based on the user number input by the operation performed on the operation unit 24. Alternatively, the control unit 26 performs user authentication based on the login name and password input by the operation performed on the operation unit 24. Alternatively, when the multifunction machine 1 is provided with an integrated circuit (IC) card reader, the control unit 26 performs user authentication based on the data read from the IC card by the IC card reader. The administrator of the multifunction machine 1 can set the function contents of the multifunction machine 1 and can perform automatic setting for each user.

[0052] In step S102, the control unit 26 causes the touch panel display 31 to display the home screen 101.

[0053] In step S103, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of pressing the simple scan button 101a has been performed on the touch panel display 31. If the control unit 26 determines that the operation has not been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S103 again. On the other hand, if the control unit 26 determines that the operation has been performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 executes step S104.

[0054] In step S104, the control unit 26 finishes displaying the home screen 101 on the touch panel display 31 and causes the destination selection screen 102 in the scan mode to be displayed on the touch panel display 31.

[0055] By steps S103 and S104, the control unit 26 waits until the simple scan button 101a is pressed, and in response to the simple scan button 101a being pressed, switches the screen to be displayed on the touch panel display 31 from the home screen 101 to the destination selection screen 102 in the scan mode.

[0056] In step S105, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of selecting a destination has been performed on the touch panel display 31. If the control unit 26 determines that the operation has not been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S105 again. On the other hand, if the control unit 26 determines that the operation has been performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 executes step S106.

[0057] In step S106, the control unit 26 sets the selected destination as the destination.

[0058] By steps S105 and S106, the control unit 26 waits until a destination is selected, and in response to a destination being selected, sets the selected destination as the destination.

[0059] In step S107, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of pressing the switching button 102a has been performed on the touch panel display 31. If the control unit 26 determines that the operation has not been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S107 again. On the other hand, if the control unit 26 determines that the operation has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S108.

[0060] In step S108, the control unit 26 finishes displaying the destination selection screen 102 for the scan mode on the touch panel display 31, and displays the setting screen 103 for the scan mode on the touch panel display 31. Then, the control unit 26 executes step S109 illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0061] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow following FIG. 9 performed by the control unit 26.

[0062] In step S109, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of pressing the automatic setting button 103d has been performed on the touch panel display 31. If the control unit 26 determines that the operation has not been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S115 illustrated in FIG. 11. On the other hand, if the control unit 26 determines that the operation has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S110.

[0063] In step S110, the control unit 26 automatically sets the setting content of the setting items selected as at least one automatic setting item among the plurality of setting items.

[0064] In step S111, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of selecting the automatically set setting item has been performed on the touch panel display 31. If the control unit 26 determines that the operation has not been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S115 illustrated in FIG. 11. On the other hand, if the control unit 26 determines that the operation has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S112.

[0065] In step S112, the control unit 26 causes the touch panel display 31 to display, superimposed on the scan mode setting screen 103, a screen 104 for querying whether to change the automatically set setting content of the selected setting item to manual setting.

[0066] In step S113, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of pressing either the yes button 104a or the no button 104b has been performed on the touch panel display 31. When the control unit 26 determines that an operation of pressing the no button 104b has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S115 illustrated in FIG. 11. On the other hand, when the control unit 26 determines that an operation of pressing the yes button 104a has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S114.

[0067] In step S114, the control unit 26 causes the touch panel display 31 to display, superimposed on the scan mode setting screen 103, a setting screen 105 for the setting content of the selected setting item. That is, through steps S111 to S114, when a third operation instructing to start manual setting is performed on the touch panel display 31 for an operation target indicating an automatically set setting item, the control unit 26 enables the touch panel display 31 to accept a second operation for performing manual setting. Then, the control unit 26 executes step S115 illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0068] For example, when the setting content of "document" is automatically set in step S110, and when the document button 103a is pressed and "document" is selected in step S111, in step S114, the control unit 26 causes the touch panel display 31 to display, superimposed on the scan mode setting screen 103, the setting screen 105 for "document".

[0069] Also, for example, when the setting content of "resolution" is automatically set in step S110, if the resolution button 103b is pressed and "resolution" is selected in step S111, in step S114, the control unit 26 overlays the setting screen 105 of "resolution" on the setting screen 103 of the scan mode and displays it on the touch panel display 31.

[0070] Also, for example, when the setting content of "blank page skip" is automatically set in step S110, if the blank page skip button 103c is pressed and "blank page skip" is selected in step S111, in step S114, the control unit 26 overlays the setting screen 105 of "blank page skip" on the setting screen 103 of the scan mode and displays it on the touch panel display 31.

[0071] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow following FIG. 9 performed by the control unit 26.

[0072] In step S115, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation for semi-automatically manually setting the setting content of the selected setting item has been performed on the touch panel display 31. If the control unit 26 determines that the operation has not been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S115 again. On the other hand, if the control unit 26 determines that the operation has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S116.

[0073] In step S116, the control unit 26 sets the setting content of the selected setting item to the semi-automatically manually set setting content. Thereby, the control unit 26 can change the automatically set setting item by manual setting. For example, when an operation of pressing the resolution button 103b is performed on the touch panel display 31, and a series of operations including an operation of semi-automatically manually setting the setting content of "resolution" to "300x300 dpi" and an operation of pressing the OK button 105a are performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 sets the setting content of "resolution" to "300x300 dpi".

[0074] In step S117, the control unit 26 finishes displaying the automatic setting button 103d on the touch panel display 31, and displays the semi-auto button 103e on the touch panel display 31. That is, when the setting content of the automatically set setting item is changed by manual setting, the control unit 26 causes the touch panel display 31 to notify that the setting content of the automatically set setting item has been changed by manual setting.

[0075] In step S118, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of pressing the scan start button 103f has been performed on the touch panel display 31. When the control unit 26 determines that the operation has not been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S118 again. On the other hand, when the control unit 26 determines that the operation has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S119.

[0076] In step S119, the control unit 26 determines whether there are setting items manually set in semi-auto mode. That is, the control unit 26 determines whether the setting content of the selected setting item is the setting content manually set in semi-auto mode, and whether the unselected setting items are the setting content automatically set or the default setting content. When the control unit 26 determines that there are no setting items manually set in semi-auto mode, it executes step S123. On the other hand, when the setting content of the selected setting item is the manually set content and the unselected setting items are the automatically set content or the default setting content, the control unit 26 determines that there are setting items manually set in semi-auto mode. When the control unit 26 determines that there are setting items manually set in semi-auto mode, it executes step S120.

[0077] In step S120, the control unit 26 overlays the screen 106 on the scan mode setting screen 103 and displays it on the touch panel display 31. The screen 106 inquires whether to store the setting content manually set in semi-auto mode.

[0078] In step S121, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of pressing either the yes button 106a or the no button 106b is performed on the touch panel display 31. When the control unit 26 determines that an operation of pressing the no button 106b is performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S123. On the other hand, when the control unit 26 determines that an operation of pressing the yes button 106a is performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S122.

[0079] In step S122, the control unit 26 stores the setting contents manually set in a semi-automatic manner in association with the user. Further, the control unit 26 sets the setting contents of at least one setting item that can be automatically set as the setting contents stored in association with the user. The stored setting contents are the default setting contents. The user to be associated is the user at the time when a second operation of manually setting the setting contents of the automatically set setting item is performed on the touch panel display 31, that is, the user identified in step S101.

[0080] In step S123, the control unit 26 causes the image reading unit 21 to read an image according to the setting contents of a plurality of setting items. For example, the control unit 26 causes the image reading unit 21 to read an image according to the setting contents of "document", "resolution", and "skip blank pages".

[0081] From step S118 to S123, the control unit 26 waits until the scan start button 103f is pressed. Also, when at least one of "document", "resolution", and "blank page skip" is manually set semi-automatically in the setting content, in response to the scan start button 103f being pressed, the control unit 26 inquires whether to store the setting content manually set semi-automatically, and when instructed to store the setting content manually set semi-automatically, stores the setting content manually set semi-automatically. Subsequently, the control unit 26 causes the image reading unit 21 to read an image. On the other hand, when at least one of the setting contents of "document", "resolution", and "blank page skip" has not been manually set semi-automatically, in response to the scan start button 103f being pressed, the control unit 26 immediately causes the image reading unit 21 to read an image.

[0082] FIGS. 12 to 13 are diagrams showing an example of the screen transition that the control unit 26 causes to be displayed on the touch panel display 31 when the control unit 26 causes the image reading unit 21 to read an image after storing the setting content manually set semi-automatically.

[0083] When an operation of pressing the simple scan button 101a shown on the left side of FIG. 3 is performed on the touch panel display, the control unit 26 causes the scan mode setting screen 103 shown on the left side of FIG. 12 to be displayed on the touch panel display 31. When the setting content of "resolution" is manually set semi-automatically and the resolution "300x300 dpi" is stored, the default setting content of "resolution" is set to the resolution "300x300 dpi".

[0084] As shown on the right side of FIG. 12, when an operation of pressing the scan start button 103f is performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 causes the touch panel display 31 to display the screen 107 overlaid on the scan mode setting screen 103, as shown on the left side of FIG. 13. The screen 107 inquires whether to read an image using the manually set content of "resolution". The screen 107 has an affirmative button 107a and a negative button 107b.

[0085] When an operation of pressing the negative button 107b is performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 causes the touch panel display 31 to display the "resolution" setting screen 105 overlaid on the scan mode setting screen 103, as shown on the right side of FIG. 13.

[0086] When an operation of pressing the OK button 105a is performed on the touch panel display 31 after an operation of manually setting the setting content of "resolution" semi-automatically to set the setting content of "resolution" to "300x300 dpi" is performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 ends the display of the "resolution" setting screen 105 on the touch panel display 31 as shown on the left side of FIG. 7, sets the setting content of "resolution" to "300x300 dpi", and updates the scan mode setting screen 103. Since the subsequent screen transition is the same as the transition from the left side of FIG. 7 onwards, detailed description is omitted.

[0087] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by the control unit 26 when the control unit 26 causes the image reading unit 21 to read an image after storing the semi-automatically manually set setting content. It is assumed that the control unit 26 executes steps S101 to S108 before executing step S201. Also, at the time when the control unit 26 executes step S201, it is assumed that the setting content of the semi-automatically manually set setting item is stored as the default setting content of the setting item.

[0088] In step S201, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of pressing the automatic setting button 103d has been performed on the touch panel display 31. If the control unit 26 determines that the operation has not been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S203. On the other hand, if the control unit 26 determines that the operation has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S202.

[0089] In step S202, the control unit 26 automatically sets the setting content for the setting items that are not semi-automatically and manually set items and are selected as automatic setting items.

[0090] In step S203, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of pressing the scan start button 103f has been performed on the touch panel display 31. If the control unit 26 determines that the operation has not been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S203 again. On the other hand, if the control unit 26 determines that the operation has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S204.

[0091] In step S204, the control unit 26 determines whether there is any setting content that has been semi-automatically and manually set among the default setting content. If the control unit 26 determines that there is no setting content that has been semi-automatically and manually set among the default setting content, it executes step S210 illustrated in FIG. 15. On the other hand, if the control unit 26 determines that there is setting content that has been semi-automatically and manually set among the default setting content, it executes step S205.

[0092] In step S205, the control unit 26 causes the screen 107 to be displayed on the touch panel display 31 by overlapping it with the scan mode setting screen 103. The screen 107 inquires whether to use the setting content that has been semi-automatically and manually set among the default setting content. Then, the control unit 26 executes step S206 illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0093] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the process that follows FIG. 14 and is performed by the control unit 26.

[0094] In step S206, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of pressing either the yes button 107a or the no button 107b has been performed on the touch panel display 31. When the control unit 26 determines that an operation of pressing the no button 106b has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S118 illustrated in FIG. 11. On the other hand, when the control unit 26 determines that an operation of pressing the yes button 106a has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S207.

[0095] In step S207, the control unit 26 causes the touch panel display 31 to display the setting screen 105 of the setting items manually set in semi-auto mode overlaid on the setting screen 103 in scan mode. In step S208, the control unit 26 determines whether an operation of newly manually setting the setting content has been performed on the touch panel display 31. When the control unit 26 determines that the operation has been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S209. When the control unit 26 determines that the operation has not been performed on the touch panel display 31, it executes step S208 again. In step S209, the control unit 26 sets the setting content of the setting items manually set in semi-auto mode to the newly manually set setting content. That is, when a third operation instructing the start of manual setting is performed on the touch panel display 31 for the operation target indicating the manually set setting item, the control unit 26 enables the setting content of the setting item indicated by the operation target on which the third operation has been performed to be changed by manual setting.

[0096] In step S210, the control unit 26 ends the display of the automatic setting button 103d on the touch panel display 31 and causes the semi-auto button 103e to be displayed on the touch panel display 31. Then, the control unit 26 executes step S118 illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0097] Figures 16 to 18 are diagrams showing an example of the screen transition displayed on the touch panel display 31 when the control unit 26 manually sets the setting content of "resolution" semi-automatically and then manually sets the setting content of "document".

[0098] When the control unit 26 manually sets the setting content of "resolution" semi-automatically and sets the resolution to "300x300 dpi", the control unit 26 causes the string "300x300 dpi" indicating the resolution "300x300 dpi" to be displayed on the resolution button 103b. In that case, when an operation of pressing the document button 103a is performed on the touch panel display 31 as shown on the left side of FIG. 16, the control unit 26 causes the screen 108 to be displayed on the touch panel display 31 by overlapping the scan mode setting screen 103 as shown on the right side of FIG. 16. The screen 108 inquires whether to manually set the setting content of "document" by changing the default setting content. The screen 108 has a yes button 108a and a no button 108b.

[0099] When an operation of pressing the yes button 108a is performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 causes the "document" setting screen 109 to be displayed on the touch panel display 31 by overlapping the scan mode setting screen 103 as shown on the left side of FIG. 17. The "document" setting screen 109 is used for an operation of setting which image on both sides and single side of the document is to be read, as well as the orientation of the image on the document. The "document" setting screen 109 has a call button 109a.

[0100] When an operation of pressing the call button 109a is performed on the touch panel display 31, the control unit 26 ends the display of the "document" setting screen 109 on the touch panel display 31 as shown on the right side of FIG. 17, and causes the called "document" setting screen 110 to be displayed on the touch panel display 31 by overlapping the scan mode setting screen 103. The "document" setting screen 110 is used for an operation of setting the size and orientation of the document. The "document" setting screen 110 has an OK button 110a.

[0101] When the control unit 26 performs an operation of pressing the OK button 110a on the touch panel display 31 after an operation of setting the size of the document to size "B5" is performed on the touch panel display 31, as shown in FIG. 18, the control unit 26 ends the display of the setting screen 110 of "document" on the touch panel display 31. Further, the control unit 26 sets the setting content of "document" to size "B5". Further, the control unit 26 updates the setting screen 103 of the scan mode. At that time, the control unit 26 displays the character string "B5" indicating size "B5" on the document button 103a of the scan mode setting screen 103. That is, the control unit 26 can change the setting contents of two or more automatically set setting items by manual setting.

[0102] From the above, the image reading apparatus 11 accepts an operation of manually setting the setting contents of other setting items after semi-automatically manually setting the setting contents of the setting items. That is, the image reading apparatus 11 accepts an operation of semi-automatically manually setting the setting contents of two or more setting items. Thereby, the image reading apparatus 11 can easily perform semi-automatic setting in which the setting contents of at least one setting item are manually set and the setting contents of the remaining setting items are automatically set.

[0103] (Modification example) In the first embodiment, in step S122, the control unit 26 stores the setting contents semi-automatically manually set in association with the user, and sets the manually set setting contents of the selected setting item as the setting contents stored in association with the user.

[0104] On the other hand, in a modification of the first embodiment, in step S122, the control unit 26 stores the setting content that is semi-automatically and manually set in association with the group to which the user belongs, and sets it as the setting content stored in association with the group to which the user belongs. The group to be associated is the group to which the user belongs when the second operation of manually setting the setting content of the automatically set setting item is performed on the touch panel display 31, that is, the group to which the user identified in step S101 belongs. The administrator of the multifunction machine 1 can set the function content of the multifunction machine 1 and create groups, and can perform automatic settings for each group.

[0105] Each process executed in the above embodiment is not limited to the processing modes exemplified in each embodiment. The above-described functional blocks may be realized by either a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit or the like, or software using a CPU. Each process executed in the above embodiment may be executed by a plurality of computers. For example, the processes executed by each functional block of the image reading device 11 may have some processes executed by other computers, or all processes may be executed in a distributed manner by a plurality of computers.

[0106] The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and may be replaced with a configuration that is substantially the same as the configuration shown in the above embodiments, a configuration that exhibits the same operational effects, or a configuration that can achieve the same purpose. The present disclosure also includes embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Furthermore, by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment, new technical features can be formed.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0107] 1 Multifunction machine, 11 Image reading device, 21 Image reading unit, 22 Image forming unit, 23 Communication unit, 24 Operation unit, 25 Display unit, 26 Control unit, 31 Touch panel display, 101 Home screen, 101a Simple scan button, 102 Destination selection screen for scan mode, 102a Switching button, 103 Scan mode setting screen, 103a Document button, 103b Resolution button, 103c Skip blank pages button, 103d Auto setting button, 103e Semi-auto button, 103f Scan start button, 104 Screen, 104a Yes button, 104b No button, 105 Setting screen, 105a OK button, 106 Screen, 106a Yes button, 106b No button, 107 Screen, 107a Yes button, 107b No button, 108 Screen, 108a Yes button, 108b No button, 109 Setting screen, 109a Call button, 110 Setting screen, 110a OK button

Claims

1. An image reading unit that reads an image according to the setting contents of a plurality of setting items, an operation unit, a display unit, a control unit, and comprising wherein the control unit when a first operation instructing automatic setting of the setting content of at least one of the setting contents of the plurality of setting items is performed on the operation unit, automatically sets the setting content of the at least one setting item, when a second operation for manually setting the setting content of the automatically set setting item is performed on the operation unit, makes the setting content of the automatically set setting item changeable by manual setting, when the setting content of the automatically set setting item is changed by the manual setting, causes the display unit to notify that the setting content of the automatically set setting item has been changed by the manual setting an image reading apparatus.

2. When the control unit automatically sets the setting content of the at least one setting item, the control unit changes the display form of the operation target indicating the automatically set setting item The image reading apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The operation unit includes a touch panel display, when a third operation instructing the start of the manual setting is performed on the touch panel display for an operation target indicating the automatically set setting item, the control unit makes the touch panel display accept the second operation The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The control unit stores the setting content of the manually set setting item and uses it as the setting content stored for the setting content of the at least one setting item The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

5. When storing the setting content of the manually set setting item, the control unit stores the setting content of the manually set setting item associated with the user, and uses it as the setting content stored by associating the setting content of the at least one setting item with the user when the second operation is performed on the operation unit The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

6. When storing the setting content of the manually set setting item, the control unit stores the setting content of the manually set setting item associated with the group to which the user belongs, and uses it as the setting content stored by associating the setting content of the at least one setting item with the group to which the user belongs when the second operation is performed The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

7. When the third operation is performed on the touch panel display for an operation target indicating the manually set setting item, the control unit enables the setting content of the setting item indicated by the operation target on which the third operation is performed to be changed by manual setting. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3. **Claim 8** The at least one setting item is two or more setting items. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

Images