Document reading device and method for controlling the same, and program

Abstract

To prevent, when documents with a plurality of different sizes are placed, a situation where a document is not conveyed due to the placement position of the document.SOLUTION: A document reading device of the present invention has display means and a placement part on which a plurality of documents are placed, and comprises conveying means that conveys the plurality of documents placed on the placement part, and reading means that reads the documents conveyed by the conveying means to generate image data. The display means displays information for urging placement of a document with a plurality of different sizes with the documents being aligned to the center of the placement part in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the documents are conveyed by the conveying means, based at least on the fact that a mode for the reading means to read the documents in one job is set to the document reading device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a document reading apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] There is a document reading apparatus that operates in a mixed reading mode for conveying a plurality of documents of different sizes placed on a document tray one by one, determining the size of the conveyed document, and reading the document in the determined size (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the user sets the mixed reading mode as described above, the user places a plurality of documents of different sizes on the document tray.

[0005] When a plurality of documents of different sizes are placed, the width of the guide portion on the document tray is adjusted according to the largest-sized document among the plurality of documents of different sizes. Therefore, a document having a width smaller than that of the largest-sized document in the direction orthogonal to the document conveyance direction may be placed abutting against one side of the guide portion on the document tray. In that case, there are the following problems.

[0006] For example, depending on the width of the document in the direction orthogonal to the document conveyance direction, the document may contact the document placed on the document tray and may not reach the roller that conveys the document, and thus the document may not be conveyed.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to prevent a document from not being conveyed depending on the placement position of the document when documents of a plurality of different sizes are placed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The document reading apparatus of the present invention is a document reading apparatus having a display means and a placement unit for placing a plurality of documents, and includes a conveyance means for conveying the plurality of documents placed on the placement unit, and a reading means for reading the document conveyed to the conveyance means and generating image data. Based on the fact that a mode for the at least the reading means to read documents of a plurality of different sizes in one job is set in the document reading apparatus, the display means displays information prompting to place the document in alignment with the center of the placement unit in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the document by the conveyance means.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, when documents of a plurality of different sizes are placed, it is possible to prevent the document from not being conveyed depending on the placement position of the document.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations shown in the following examples are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the illustrated configurations.

Example

[0012] A configuration example of the automatic document reading unit in an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the automatic document reading unit in this example. The automatic document reading unit in this example is composed of a document reading unit 100 that reads a document, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 200 that conveys the document toward the document reading unit. The ADF 200 is connected to the document reading unit 100 so as to be openable and closable by an opening / closing hinge provided on the back side of the upper surface of the document reading unit 100.

[0013] <Configuration example of document reading unit 100> The document reading unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section of the ADF 200 and the document reading unit 100 in this example.

[0014] The document reading unit 100 includes a document table glass 101, a surface reading unit 105, an optical motor 306 (not shown in the figure), and a reading movement guide 109. The document reading unit 100 reads the document placed on the document table glass 101 during document reading control. Specifically, while moving the surface reading unit 105 along the reading movement guide 109 using the optical motor 306, the surface of the document placed on the document table glass 101 is read line by line to read the surface reading image of the document. Also, during continuous reading control, the image of the document conveyed onto the surface flow reading glass 102 by the ADF 200 is read by the surface reading unit.

[0015] <Configuration example of automatic document feeder (ADF) 200> The ADF200 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The ADF200 includes a document tray 30 which is a placement unit for placing a document stack S composed of one or more documents, a separation pad 21 and a separation roller 2 which, as a separation mechanism, restrict the document stack S from protruding from the document tray 30 and advancing downstream, and a paper feed roller 1. The document tray 30 also has a document presence / absence detection sensor 10 for detecting the presence or absence of a document, and further has a document tray size detection sensor 9 for determining the size on the document tray.

[0016] The paper feed roller 1 is located near the center of the document tray 30 in a direction orthogonal to the document conveyance direction. Specifically, in a state where the guide portions a and b are expanded to the maximum extent, it is in a range of 10 cm in the direction orthogonal to the document conveyance direction from points at the same distance from each of the two guide portions a and b. This position is taken as the approximate center.

[0017] During the reading and conveyance of a document, in order to reliably convey the document placed on the document tray 30, it is necessary to bring the paper feed roller 1 into contact with the document stack S placed on the document tray 30 and apply an appropriate pressure to the contacted portion. As a means for this, the document tray 30 is raised to a certain height, and the paper feed roller 1 is pressed against the uppermost surface of the document stack S placed on the document tray 30. By rotating the paper feed roller 1 as shown in FIG. 2 in this state, the uppermost document of the document stack is conveyed. The document conveyed by the paper feed roller 1 is separated and conveyed as the uppermost sheet by the action of the separation pad 21 and the separation roller 2. This separation is realized by a known separation technique.

[0018] The document separated by the separation pad 21 and the separation roller 2 is conveyed to the extraction roller 3, and further conveyed to the conveyance roller 4 by the extraction roller 3. Downstream of the conveyance roller 4, a conveyance path for conveying the document that has passed through the conveyance roller 4 in the direction of the surface flow reading glass 102 is arranged. The document sent to the conveyance path is conveyed to the surface reading position by the surface reading conveyance roller 5 and the surface reading upstream roller 51.

[0019] <Surface reading> The document conveyed to the surface reading position passes between the surface flow-through glass 102 and the surface glass opposing member 6 and is irradiated by the surface LEDs 103a and 103b. Then, the reflected light is bent by the plurality of mirrors 104a, 104b, and 104c, and the surface reading sensor 108 reads the image of the document line by line.

[0020] The read document is discharged to the discharge tray 17 by the conveyance roller 7 and the discharge roller 16 located between the positions for reading the front and back surfaces.

[0021] When there are multiple documents on the document tray 30, the paper feeding, separation, conveyance process from the document bundle S, the single-sided reading process at the surface flow-through reading position, and the discharging process are repeated until the surface reading of the last document and the discharging to the discharge tray 17 are completed.

[0022] <Double-sided reading> Double-sided flow-through reading is the addition of the operation of reading the back surface of the document to the reading of the front surface of the document in single-sided flow-through reading. Since the paper feeding, separation, conveyance, and surface reading of the document are the same as those in the aforementioned single-sided reading, the description is omitted.

[0023] The document conveyed by the surface reading downstream roller 52 is conveyed to the back surface flow-through reading position by the back surface reading conveyance roller 7 and the back surface reading upstream roller 53. Before the document reaches the back surface flow-through reading position, the movable back surface flow-through glass 201 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 4. The back surface of the document passing between the back surface flow-through glass 201 and the back surface glass opposing member 8 is irradiated by the back surface LEDs 203a and 203b. The reflected light is bent by the plurality of mirrors 204a, 204b, and 204c, and the back surface reading sensor 208 reads the back surface image of the document (back surface reading).

[0024] The document conveyed by the back surface reading downstream roller 54 is conveyed to the discharge tray 17 by the discharge roller 16.

[0025] When there are multiple original documents on the original document tray 30, until the reading of the front and back surfaces of the last original document and the paper discharge to the paper discharge tray 17 are completed, the paper feeding, separation, conveyance processing from the original document bundle S, the front and back reading processing at the front surface flow reading position and the back surface flow reading position, and the paper discharge processing are repeated.

[0026] In addition to the configuration using a CCD as shown in FIG. 4, the front surface reading unit 105 and the back surface reading unit 202 can also be configured using a CIS sensor or the like.

[0027] <Description of the block diagram> FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the MFP1000 in this embodiment. An MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 1000, which is an example of an original document reading device, includes a reader controller 300, a system controller 400, and a printer controller 500.

[0028] The reader controller includes a reader CPU 301 which is a central processing unit, a reader ROM 302 which is a read-only memory, and a reader RAM 303 which is a random access memory. A control program is stored in the reader ROM 302, and input data and working data are stored in the reader RAM 303. The reader CPU 301 controls the original document reading unit by executing the control program flow as shown in FIG. 8 stored in the reader ROM 302.

[0029] In order to realize the original document conveyance function, the reader CPU 301 has a paper feeding motor 310 and a conveyance motor 307 for driving each roller for conveyance. When the paper feeding motor 310 is driven, the paper feeding roller 1 and the separation roller 2 connected to the paper feeding motor rotate. The other extraction roller 3, conveyance roller 4, lead upstream roller 5, lead downstream roller 7, and paper discharge roller 16 are directly connected to the conveyance motor 307 and are driven and stopped in conjunction with the rotation of the conveyance motor 307.

[0030] In this embodiment, the paper feed motor 310 and the conveyance motor 307 are pulse motors, and the reader CPU 301 manages the rotation amount of each motor by controlling the number of drive pulses. Therefore, the number of pulses can be regarded as the conveyance distance of the document being conveyed, and the reader CPU 301 can measure the conveyance distance of the document by counting the number of drive pulses of the paper feed motor 310 and the conveyance motor 307.

[0031] Furthermore, conveyance system sensors (including the separation sensor 11, extraction sensor 12, conveyance sensor 13, lead sensor 14, and paper discharge sensor 15 shown in FIG. 4) provided at various locations on the conveyance path are connected. In addition, a tray length sensor 9 for detecting the length of the document size is provided on the tray. Similarly, there is a tray width guide sensor 309 for detecting the width of the document, and the document size placed on the tray is predicted using the aforementioned tray length sensor 9 and tray width guide sensor 309.

[0032] When a document is placed on the tray, the reader CPU 301 operates a paper feed roller lift motor 311 connected to a paper feed roller lift mechanism (not shown in the figure) to lower the paper feed roller 1. Thereafter, a tray lift motor 312 connected to a lift mechanism for lifting and lowering the tray (not shown in the figure) is operated to lift the tray.

[0033] The tray stops rising at a position where the lowered paper feed roller described above contacts the document placed on the tray, and the motor is operated to feed the document into the machine body.

[0034] The reader CPU 301 is connected to the front and back surface LEDs 106, 203, and the front and back surface line sensors 108, 215 to realize the document reading function. The reader CPU 301 performs various image processes on the image data read by the front and back surface line sensors 108, 208 in the reader image processing unit 304, and then stores it in the reader image memory 305. The reader CPU 301 transmits the stored image data to the system controller 400 via the image data bus 318 in accordance with the image output request received from the system controller 400 via the command data bus 317. Further, the reader CPU 301 notifies the system controller 400 of the vertical synchronization signal serving as a reference for the leading edge of the document image data and the horizontal synchronization signal serving as a reference for the leading edge of the pixels of one line through the image data bus 318 in accordance with the document reading timing.

[0035] The system controller 400 includes a system CPU 411, an HDD 412, and a RAM 413, and exchanges data related to image reading control with the reader CPU 301 via the command data bus 317. The image data processed by the reader image processing unit 304 is transferred to the system image processing unit 414 in the system controller via the image data bus 318, and after being subjected to predetermined image processes such as color determination, it is stored in the image memory 415. Further, the system controller 400 includes an operation unit 416 which also serves as a display unit, and user interface control is performed by the system CPU 411 via the operation unit 416.

[0036] <Regarding mixed document reading> A method for reading different manuscript sizes will be described. Similar to the aforementioned reading methods (single-sided and double-sided reading), the reader CPU 301 feeds and conveys the manuscripts placed on the manuscript tray 30 one by one into the conveyance path using the paper feed roller 1 and the separation roller 2. At this time, the length of the conveyed manuscript is detected using the separation sensor 11. That is, the paper feed roller 1 feeds a manuscript from the manuscript bundle S present on the manuscript tray 30, and the topmost sheet is separated and conveyed by the separation roller 2 and the separation pad 21. The leading edge of the conveyed manuscript turns on the separation sensor 11 as it is. When the manuscript is conveyed as it is and the trailing edge of the manuscript passes through the separation sensor 11, it turns off. The time from when the separation sensor turns on to when it turns off is measured, and the length of the manuscript is measured according to the conveyance speed. This technology is generally used as a known technology.

[0037] Then, the manuscript is conveyed to the front reading position and read by the front reading unit 105. The read manuscript image has the edges at the ends of the manuscript detected from the manuscript image by the reader image processing unit 304, and the width of the manuscript is measured from the detected edges. From both the results of the measured manuscript width and the aforementioned manuscript length measurement method, the manuscript size is specified, and the read image is stored in the reader image memory 305 in size according to the specified manuscript size.

[0038] <Regarding the manuscript setting position on the tray> The placement position of the manuscript on the manuscript tray 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the placement position of the manuscript on the manuscript tray 30.

[0039] On the original document tray 30, guide parts a and b for setting the original document at the correct position (center position) are provided so as to face each other. The user can manually adjust the width of the original document that can be placed on the original document tray 30 according to the width of the original document in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the original document. When one guide part is moved, the other guide part moves in conjunction with it by the same distance. For example, when one guide part is moved in the direction of narrowing the widths of guide parts a and b, the other guide part also moves in the narrowing direction by the same distance. Thereby, the original document can be placed in alignment with the approximate center where the paper feed roller 1 is located.

[0040] By narrowing guide parts a and b to the width of the original document placed on the original document tray 30, it is possible to prevent the original document from being conveyed obliquely when the original document is conveyed by the paper feed roller 1. Further, guide parts a and b are used for determining the reading size when an original document of one size is placed on the original document tray 30 and that original document is read. Specifically, the reading size is determined based on the width between guide a and guide b and the information detected by the length detection sensor 9 on the original document tray.

[0041] In the case of mixed original documents, a plurality of different original documents are placed on the original document tray 30. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 1(a), an original document smaller in size than the largest-sized original document is placed against guide part a. Thereby, as shown in Fig. 1(d), it is possible to prevent the original document from being conveyed obliquely when the paper feed roller 1 conveys the original document. This is because even if an oblique torque is applied to the original document when the paper feed roller 1 pulls the left end of the original document, the original document is held down by guide part a.

[0042] This is the case where mixed original documents are placed and an original document smaller in size than the largest-sized original document is placed against the guide part, and when the smaller-sized original document is a standard-sized original document, it reaches the paper feed roller 1.

[0043] The fixed size is the size pre-registered in the MFP1000. It may also be the size defined by standards such as ISO216. Or it may be either of them.

[0044] However, when the edge of the document in the direction perpendicular to the document conveyance direction is abutted against the guide portion a as shown in FIG. 1(b), there is a possibility that a document may be placed such that the edge opposite to the abutted edge does not reach the paper feed roller 1. Examples of such irregular-sized documents include receipts such as receipts, or checks, forms, etc. Here, the irregular size is a size not registered in the MFP1000. It may also be a size not defined by standards such as ISO216. Or it may be a size that is neither of them.

[0045] In this case, even if reading is instructed, the topmost document that is not in contact with the paper feed roller 1 is not conveyed, and the document in contact with the paper feed roller 1 is conveyed. Thus, depending on the size of the document, there is a problem that when placed abutted against the guide portion, it cannot reach the paper feed roller 1 and is not conveyed. In order to solve that problem, as shown in FIG. 1(c), it is necessary to place the paper feed roller 1 so that it can convey the document. To enable the user to make such a placement, the following processing is executed.

[0046] <Regarding Mixed Loading and Reading of Irregular-Sized Documents> In this embodiment, mixed loading and reading of irregular-sized documents will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the home screen 600. The home screen 600 in FIG. 6 is a screen displayed on the operation unit 416 when the reading operation is not being performed after the power is turned on. 601 to 606 shown in FIG. 6 are selection buttons, and selection is possible by touching the touch panel of the operation unit 416.

[0047] When the user wants to perform mixed loading and reading of irregular-sized documents, the user can select the button 604 to enable mixed loading and reading of irregular sizes.

[0048] When the button 604 is selected, the screen shown in Fig. 7(a) is displayed, and information prompting the user to place the document in the center of the document tray is shown on that screen. Also, the user can select detailed reading settings as desired. Here, the center of the document tray refers to the center of the document tray in the direction orthogonal to the document conveyance direction.

[0049] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for notifying information. When it is desired to perform mixed reading of standard-size documents, the user can select the button 605 to enable mixed reading of standard sizes.

[0050] When the button 605 is selected, the screen shown in Fig. 7(b) is displayed, and information prompting the user to place the document against the guide portion on the back side of the document tray is shown on that screen. Also, the user can select detailed reading settings as desired.

[0051] Note that in this embodiment, an example has been described in which the screen of Fig. 7(a) is displayed when the button 604 is selected and Fig. 7(b) is selected when the button 605 is selected, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0052] For example, when the button 601 for displaying a screen for setting the copy function of the MFP 1000 is selected, and the displayed reading setting screen is shown. It may also be shown when copying is instructed in a state where a mode for reading non-standard-size documents and a mode for reading mixed documents (document mixed mode) are set on the reading setting screen. Note that it may also be shown when scanning is instructed. In that case, the setting button on the screen of Fig. 7(a) is not displayed.

[0053] Also, when the button 602 for displaying a screen for setting the function of the MFP 1000 to transmit the image data generated by reading the document is selected, the displayed reading setting screen is shown. In the reading setting screen, it may also be displayed when the execution of transmission is instructed with the modes of reading an irregular-sized document and reading a mixed document set. Note that it may also be displayed when the execution of scanning is instructed. In that case, the setting buttons on the screen in Fig. 7(a) are not displayed.

[0054] The button 603 in Fig. 6 is a button for displaying a screen for setting the function of reading a document and storing the generated image data in the HDD 412 of the MFP 1000.

[0055] The button 606 is a button for displaying a screen for setting various settings of the MFP 1000.

[0056] <Display control of document placement method according to mixed mode> The display control of the document placement method according to the document mixed mode in this embodiment will be described using the flowchart in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of screen display when the MFP 1000 executes a reading process.

[0057] The flow in Fig. 8 is executed by the system CPU 411 executing the program read from the ROM 417 and expanded in the RAM 413. The flow in Fig. 8 starts when the power of the MFP 1000 is turned on.

[0058] In S801, the system CPU 411 determines whether the manuscript mixed loading mode is set. That is, the system CPU 411 determines whether it is possible to read manuscripts of a plurality of different sizes. Specifically, it determines whether button 604 or 605 is selected on the home screen 600. Or, in the reading setting screen displayed after buttons 601 and 602 are selected, it determines whether the manuscript mixed loading mode is set. If it is determined that the manuscript mixed loading mode is set, the process proceeds to S802. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S803.

[0059] Here, the manuscript mixed loading mode is a mode for reading manuscripts of a plurality of different sizes in one job.

[0060] In S802, the system CPU 411 determines whether the mode of reading in an irregular size is set. Specifically, it determines whether button 604 on the home screen 600 is selected. Or, in the reading setting screen displayed after buttons 601 and 602 are selected, it determines whether the mode of reading in an irregular size is set.

[0061] If it is determined that the mode of reading in an irregular size is set, the process proceeds to S804. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S803.

[0062] In S803, as shown in FIG. 7(b), the system CPU 411 displays on the operation unit 416 information prompting the user to place each of the plurality of manuscripts against the guide portion on one side (the back side) of the manuscript tray. In this way, when it is determined that a manuscript of a size that cannot reach the paper feed roller 1 and is not conveyed when abutted against the guide portion, such as an irregular size, skewed conveyance of the manuscript can be prevented.

[0063] In S804, as shown in Fig. 7(a), the system CPU 411 displays, on the operation unit 416, information prompting the user to place each of a plurality of original documents at the center of the original document tray. In this way, when it is determined that an original document of a size that cannot reach the paper feed roller 1 and is not conveyed is placed when it abuts against the guide unit, it is possible to prevent the original document from not being conveyed.

[0064] Note that, as the information to be prompted in Fig. 7, information prompting whether to place an original document having a width less than the width between the guide units a and b at the center or to place it abutting against the guide unit may be used.

[0065] Note that, in this embodiment, an example in which the screen of Fig. 7(a) is displayed based on the fact that the original document mixed loading mode is set and the mode for reading an original document of an irregular size is set will be described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, even if the mode for reading an original document of an irregular size is not set, the screen of Fig. 7(a) may be displayed based on the fact that the original document mixed loading mode is set. This can prevent an original document of an irregular size from not being conveyed even when the mode for reading an original document of an irregular size is not set although the user places an original document of an irregular size on the original document tray.

[0066] In S805, the system CPU 411 determines whether the start button has been selected. Specifically, when buttons 604 and 605 on the home screen 600 are selected, it is determined whether the start button displayed on the screen of Fig. 7(a) or the screen of Fig. 7(b) has been selected. Alternatively, when buttons 601 and 602 on the home screen 600 are selected and the mode is set on the reading setting screen, it is determined whether the start button displayed on the reading setting screen has been selected. If it has been selected, the process proceeds to S806. Otherwise, the process returns to S805.

[0067] In S806, the system CPU 411 controls the reader CPU 301. The reader CPU 301 controls the ADF 200 to convey one sheet of the document placed on the document tray 30, reads the document, and generates image data. At this time, when buttons such as buttons 601 and 602 are selected and reading is instructed, processing corresponding to the function of the button is started as another flow. For example, when button 601 is selected, processing to print an image on paper is started based on the generated image data. Also, when button 602 is selected, processing to send the generated image data to the set destination is started.

[0068] The system CPU 411 controls the reader CPU 301 to determine whether a jam has occurred in the ADF 200. If it is determined that a jam has occurred, the process proceeds to S809. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S808.

[0069] In S808, the system CPU 411 controls the reader CPU 301 to determine whether a document is placed on the document tray 30 and whether all the documents have been scanned. If it is determined that all the documents have been scanned, the process ends. Otherwise, the process returns to S806.

[0070] In S809, the system CPU 411 displays the jam recovery procedure on the operation unit 416. After S809, the system CPU 411 proceeds to S810 and waits for the jam to be cleared. In S810, when the system CPU 411 is notified by the reader CPU 301 that the jam has been cleared, it proceeds to S811 and determines whether it is a fixed-size mixed loading scan. In S811, if the system CPU 411 determines that it is a fixed-size mixed loading scan, it proceeds to S812 and displays on the operation unit 416 that the original document should be placed against the guide on the back side of the tray. In S811, if it is determined that it is not a fixed-size mixed loading scan, it proceeds to S813 and determines whether it is an irregular mixed loading scan. In S813, if it is determined that it is an irregular mixed loading scan, it proceeds to S814 and displays on the operation unit 416 that the original document should be placed centered in the tray. If it is determined in S813 that it is not an irregular mixed loading scan, and after the processes of S812 and S814, it proceeds to S815 and waits for the start button to be pressed. If it is determined in S815 that the start button has been pressed, it proceeds to S816, and the system CPU 411 sends a restart notification from the jam to the reader CPU 301 and performs a process of blank reading and discharging the scanned original document. After S816, the reader CPU 301 returns to S806 and resumes scanning the original document.

[0071] As described above, before starting the mixed loading scan and when repositioning the original document at the time of jam occurrence, it is possible to recognize from the display on the operation unit how the original document should be placed according to the selected mixed loading mode. By doing so, it is possible to prevent problems such as the original document not being fed, jamming, or the image being cut due to an incorrect method of placing the original document.

[0072] Note that in this embodiment, an example of displaying information prompting to place the original document centered in the original document tray in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the original document has been described, but it is not limited to this. For example, information prompting to place the original document according to the position of the paper feed roller 1 may be displayed.

[0073] <Other Embodiments> The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium. Further, it can also be realized by a process in which one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Explanation of Signs

[0074] 1000 MFP 411 System CPU 30 Document Tray 1 Paper Feed Roller

Claims

1. A display means; A document reading device having a placement unit on which a plurality of documents are placed, a conveying means for conveying the plurality of documents placed on the placement section; a reading means for reading the document conveyed by the conveying means and generating image data; The document reading device is characterized in that, based on at least a mode in which the reading means is set to read documents of multiple different sizes in one job, the display means displays information encouraging the user to place the document in the center of the placement section in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the document is transported by the transport means.

2. a guide section for adjusting a width of the document that can be placed on the placement section in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the document is transported by the transport means, The document reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that, based on a mode set in the document reading device, the display means determines whether to display information encouraging the user to place the document in the center of the placement section in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the document is transported by the transport means, or to display information encouraging the user to place the document by abutting the edge of the document in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the document is transported by the transport means against the guide section.

3. The document reading device according to claim 2, characterized in that the display means displays information encouraging the user to place the document by abutting the edge of the document against the guide in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the document is transported by the transport means, based on the fact that a mode in which the reading means reads documents of multiple different sizes in one job is set in the document reading device and that a mode in which a document of a size not registered in the document reading device is not set in the document reading device.

4. The document reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the display means displays information encouraging the user to place the document in the center of the loading section in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the document is transported by the transport means, based on the fact that a mode in which the reading means reads documents of multiple different sizes in one job is set in the document reading device, and a mode in which a document of a size not registered in the document reading device is set.

5. a guide section for adjusting a width of the document that can be placed on the placement section in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the document is transported by the transport means, a determining unit that determines whether the reading unit is capable of reading a plurality of documents of different sizes that are placed on the placement unit and transported by the transport unit; The document reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that, based on at least the result of the judgment by the judgment means, it is determined whether the display means displays information encouraging the user to place the document in the center of the placement section in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the document is transported by the transport means, or whether the display means displays information encouraging the user to place the document by abutting the edge of the document in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the document is transported by the transport means against the guide section.

6. the conveying means includes a roller that contacts the document placed on the placement section and conveys the document, 6. The document reading device according to claim 1, wherein the roller is provided at a substantial center of the placement portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the document is transported by the transport means.

7. The document reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the display means displays information encouraging the user to place each of the multiple documents in a position aligned with the center of the placement section in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the documents are transported by the transport means.

8. the conveying means includes a roller that contacts the document placed on the placement section and conveys the document, The document reading device according to claim 4, characterized in that a document of a size not registered in the document reading device includes a document whose end that is not abutted does not reach the roller when the document is placed on the loading section with its end abutted against the guide section.

9. A method for controlling a document reading device having a display unit and a placement unit on which a plurality of documents are placed, the method comprising: a reading step of reading the document conveyed in the conveying step to generate image data; A method for controlling a document reading device, characterized in that, based on at least the fact that a mode for reading documents of multiple different sizes in one job is set in the document reading device in the reading process, the display means displays information encouraging the user to place the document in the center of the placement section in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the document is transported by the transport process.

10. A program for causing a computer to execute each unit of the document reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

Images