Reading device and multifunctional machine

Abstract

To provide a reading device and a multifunctional machine that can prevent a reduction in the productivity of processing such as reading processing even a reading unit is caused to perform an error notification operation.SOLUTION: When an error occurs in a multifunctional machine, a reading unit performs an error notification operation through error notification processing. In the error notification operation, the reading unit moves to and stops at an error notification position that is visible from a user. When the start of reading processing is instructed during the error notification processing (during notification of an error state), if the reading processing instructed to be started can be completed regardless of the error (S23: YES), the error notification processing is interrupted (S24), and reading processing is started (S25).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a reading device and a multifunction peripheral. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided a reading device that optically reads an object to be read.

[0003] In one example of a reading device, a reading unit equipped with a light source and an image sensor is provided below a transparent plate. The image sensor has a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in the main scanning direction. When light from the light source of the reading unit is reflected by an object to be read placed on the transparent plate and the reflected light is incident on the image sensor of the reading unit, photoelectric conversion is performed in each light-receiving element, and the reading unit achieves reading of one line in the main scanning direction. While the reading unit is moved in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, reading of one line in the main scanning direction is repeated, thereby reading the entire object to be read and generating image data of the object to be read.

[0004] Some reading devices are equipped with a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and others are not equipped with such a display. In a reading device, an error may occur during execution of a job in which a reading unit reads an object to be read and performs arbitrary processing on the image data of the read object. For example, during execution of a job in which an object to be read is read and the read image data is written to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, an error may occur in which the image data cannot be written to the USB memory. In a reading device equipped with a display, the reading device can notify the user that an error has occurred by displaying the error on the display. However, in a reading device without a display, it is naturally not possible to display the error on the display.

[0005] Therefore, in a reading device that does not have a display, when an error state occurs, a technology has been proposed in which the reading unit is moved to a position corresponding to the error state, and the light source is turned on while the reading unit is stopped at that position, thereby notifying the user of the error state (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-32218 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, since the reading unit is stopped while the error state is being notified, even if another user tries to execute a job that is not caused by the error, such as a job that does not use a USB memory, the job cannot be executed until the error state is resolved.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a reading device and a multifunction peripheral that can suppress a decrease in productivity of processes such as reading processes even when the reading unit is made to perform an error notification operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a reading device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a transparent plate on one side of which an object to be read is placed, a reading unit that emits light toward the transparent plate, and a control unit, wherein the control unit executes a reading process that causes the reading unit to read the object to be read that is placed on the one side, an error notification process that causes the reading unit to perform an error notification operation in response to the occurrence of an error, and an interrupt process that interrupts the error notification process and starts the reading process in response to an instruction to start the reading process during the error notification process.

[0010] According to this configuration, when an error occurs in the reading device, the reading unit performs an error notification operation through an error notification process. This allows the user to be notified that the reading device is in an error state. If an instruction to start the reading process is given during the error notification process, the error notification process is interrupted and the reading process is started. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in productivity of the reading process even when the reading unit is made to perform an error notification operation.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is a multifunction machine comprising a reading device that reads an object to be read, a printing device that prints an image on a medium, and a control unit, wherein the reading device comprises a transparent plate on one side of which the object to be read is placed, and a reading unit that emits light toward the transparent plate, and the control unit executes an error notification process that causes the reading unit to perform an error notification operation in response to the occurrence of an error that stops the operation of the multifunction machine, and an interrupt process that interrupts the error notification process and starts the instructed operation in response to an instruction to start an operation that can be performed regardless of the error during the error notification process.

[0012] According to this configuration, when an error occurs that stops the operation of the multifunction device, the reading unit performs an error notification operation through the error notification process. This allows the user to be notified that the multifunction device is in an error state. If an instruction to start a process that can be executed regardless of the error is given during the error notification process, the error notification operation by the reading unit is interrupted and the instructed process is started. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in productivity of processes that can be executed regardless of the error, even when the reading unit is made to perform the error notification operation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, even when the reading unit is caused to perform an error notification operation, it is possible to suppress a decrease in productivity of processes such as reading processes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1]1 is a perspective view of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal configuration of the reading device. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a part of the back surface of the top panel of the housing of the reading device and a reading unit. FIG. [Figure 4] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating examples of a reference position, a standby position, a reading start position, a reading end position, and an error notification position. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal configuration of the printing apparatus. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the multifunction peripheral. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of an error notification process. [Figure 8A] 10 is a flowchart (part 1) showing the flow of a reading start instruction process. [Figure 8B] 10 is a flowchart (part 2) showing the flow of the reading start instruction process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] <Multifunction device> 1 includes a reading device 2 that reads an object to be read, and a printing device 3 that prints an image related to image data on a sheet-like medium. The object to be read includes not only originals such as text documents and photographic documents that are read for reproduction by printing or the like, but also documents that are read for digital documentation using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology, and paper on which a barcode (one-dimensional barcode or two-dimensional code) is displayed that is read for decoding.

[0017] The front, rear, top, bottom, left, and right directions of the multifunction device 1 are defined, and these directions will be used appropriately in the following description. In Fig. 1, the front, rear, top, bottom, left, and right directions of the multifunction device 1 are indicated by arrows, in Fig. 2, the top, bottom, left, and right directions of the reading device 2 are indicated by arrows, in Fig. 3, the front, rear, left, and right directions of the reading device 2 are indicated by arrows, and in Fig. 5, the front, rear, top, and bottom directions of the printing device 3 are indicated by arrows.

[0018] <Reading device> 1 and 2, the reading device 2 includes a housing 11 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and a cover 12 that opens and closes the top surface of the housing 11. The rear end of the cover 12 is connected to the upper rear end of the housing 11 so as to be able to swing about an axis extending in the left-right direction. The cover 12 swings between an open position where the front end is raised relative to the top surface of the housing 11 to expose the top surface of the housing 11, and a closed position where the cover 12 is folded down relative to the top surface of the housing 11 to cover the top surface of the housing 11.

[0019] A rectangular opening 13 that is long in the left-right direction is formed on the top surface of the housing 11. The opening 13 is closed from below by a transparent plate 14. The transparent plate 14 is made of a transparent plate such as a transparent glass plate or a resin plate.

[0020] The object to be read is placed at a specified position on the transparent plate 14 with the surface of the object to be read facing downward. The specified position is based on the left rear corner where the rear edge 15 and left edge 16 of the opening 13 intersect, and for example, if the object to be read is rectangular, it is the position where one corner of the object to be read abuts against the left rear corner of the opening 13 and the two edges of the object to be read abut against the rear edge 15 and left edge 16 of the opening 13.

[0021] 2, a background member 17 made of a sheet-like white resin is elastically supported on the inner surface of the cover 12. The background member 17 is formed in a generally rectangular shape that is smaller than the opening 13. When the object to be read is placed on the transparent plate 14 and the cover 12 is closed from the open position to the closed position, the background member 17 does not ride on the peripheral edge of the opening 13 of the housing 11, but is positioned within the opening 13 with a gap between it and each edge of the opening 13, and presses the object to be read against the transparent plate 14.

[0022] A reading unit 18 and a moving mechanism 19 are provided below the transparent plate 14.

[0023] The reading unit 18 is in the form of a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) unit and includes a light source 21, a rod lens array 22, and an image sensor 23. The light source 21 includes three LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). The rod lens array 22 includes a large number of rod lenses aligned in the main scanning direction, which coincides with the front-to-back direction. The rod lenses are gradient index lenses with a fixed magnification. The image sensor 23 is a linear image sensor configured with multiple light receiving elements arranged at equal intervals in the main scanning direction. Each light receiving element includes, for example, a red (R), green (G), or blue (B) color filter and a photodiode, and outputs an electrical signal (voltage) corresponding to the intensity of each RGB color component contained in the received light.

[0024] The movement mechanism 19 moves the reading unit 18 in a sub-scanning direction that is perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The sub-scanning direction coincides with the left-right direction. The movement mechanism 19 includes a CIS carriage 24 that carries the reading unit 18, and a scanner motor 25 that generates a driving force to move the CIS carriage 24 back and forth in the left-right direction.

[0025] The reading device 2 is not limited to a configuration that employs a CIS method, which is an equal magnification optical method, as a reading method, but may also employ a reduction optical method, that is, a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) method.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3 , a reference member 26 made of rectangular tape is provided to the left of the transparent plate 14. The reference member 26 is attached to the back surface (the downward-facing surface) of the top panel of the housing 11 so as to extend in the front-to-rear direction to the left of the transparent plate 14. The reference member 26 has rectangular areas at the front-right and rear-right corners that are black areas 27, and the remaining area is white areas 28. As a result, at the end along the right edge of the reference member 26, a white area 28 is sandwiched between two black areas 27 in the front-to-rear direction, and each black area 27 and white area 28 are continuous in the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, at the end along the front edge and the end along the rear edge of the reference member 26, a white area 28 is adjacent to the left of the black area 27, and the black area 27 and white area 28 are continuous in the left-to-right direction.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4 , the boundary between the black area 27 and the white area 28 that are continuous in the left-right direction is the reference position RP, and in the reading device 2, each position that serves as the start point or end point of the movement of the reading unit 18 is set based on the reference position RP. The start point or end point of the movement of the reading unit 18 includes a standby position WP, a reading start position SP, and a reading end position EP. The standby position WP is a position where the reading unit 18 is located when it is in a standby state where it is not operating, and is set at a position away to the left of the left edge 16 of the opening 13. The reading start position SP is set at the left edge 16 of the opening 13. The reading end position EP is a position that is set according to the size of the object to be read, and is set at a position away from the reading start position SP to the right by a distance that corresponds to the length of the object to be read in the sub-scanning direction.

[0028] The standby position WP may be the same position as the reference position RP. Furthermore, the reading start position SP may be set at a position a predetermined reading margin to the right of the left edge 16 of the opening 13 to prevent the reading unit 18 from reading the backside of the top panel of the housing 11. The position of the reading unit 18 is the position of the reading unit 18 when light reflected from the reference member 26, the object to be read on the transparent plate 14, or the background member 17 enters the image sensor 23 of the reading unit 18; for example, when light reflected from the object to be read at the reading end position EP enters the image sensor 23, the position of the reading unit 18 coincides with the reading end position EP.

[0029] <Printing device> As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 3 has a housing 31. A rectangular opening 32 is formed in the front of the housing 31. A plate-shaped discharge tray 33 extending in the front-rear and left-right directions is provided inside the housing 31 so as to divide the space behind the opening 32 into upper and lower two sections. A supply tray 34 is disposed in the space below the discharge tray 33 so as to be insertable and removable through the opening 32. The supply tray 34 is formed in a box shape with an open top. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the supply tray 34 stores print paper P, which is an example of a medium, in a stacked state. The print paper P with an image printed on it is discharged into the space above the discharge tray 33.

[0030] A transport path 35 along which the print paper P is transported is set within the housing 31. The transport path 35 includes a curved path 36 having a substantially semicircular arc shape that bulges rearward from the rear end of the supply tray 34 and curves upward, and a straight path 37 that extends linearly forward from the curved path 36.

[0031] Also provided within the housing 31 are a transport mechanism 41 and a print head 42 .

[0032] The transport mechanism 41 is a mechanism that transports the medium along the transport path 35. The transport mechanism 41 includes a feed roller 45, a first transport roller 46, a second transport roller 47, a third transport roller 48, and a discharge roller 49. The transport mechanism 41 also includes a transport motor (not shown) that is a drive source for the feed roller 45, the first transport roller 46, the second transport roller 47, the third transport roller 48, and the discharge roller 49.

[0033] The feed roller 45 is positioned so that its peripheral surface comes into contact with the uppermost print sheet P in the supply tray 34 when the supply tray 34 is inserted into the space below the discharge tray 33. The first conveyor roller 46 is positioned at the rear end of the straight path 37. The second conveyor roller 47 is positioned at a position spaced forward from the first conveyor roller 46. The third conveyor roller 48 is positioned at a position spaced forward from the second conveyor roller 47. The discharge roller 49 is positioned at the front end of the straight path 37, spaced forward from the third conveyor roller 48.

[0034] The print head 42 is disposed between the first transport roller 46 and the second transport roller 47, above the transport path 35. A plurality of nozzles are arranged on the underside of the print head 42. When the print head 42 faces the print paper P and ink is ejected from the nozzles of the print head 42, the ink droplets land on the print paper P.

[0035] The print head 42 may be a line head whose position is fixed, or a serial head that moves back and forth in the main scanning direction that coincides with the front-to-rear direction.

[0036] Furthermore, the printing device 3 is not limited to a configuration that employs an inkjet printing method, but may be a configuration that employs an electrophotographic method or a configuration that employs a thermal method.

[0037] <Electrical configuration> 6, the multifunction device 1 includes an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 51. The ASIC 51 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 52 and a memory 53. The memory 53 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory or an E2PROM, which allows data to be rewritten, and a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

[0038] The ASIC 51 is connected to a bus 54 for data communication. The reading unit 18 and the moving mechanism 19 of the reading device 2, and the transport mechanism 41 and the print head 42 of the printing device 3 are also connected to the bus 54.

[0039] The multifunction device 1 is also provided with a network interface 55 and a USB interface 56, and the network interface 55 and the USB interface 56 are connected to the bus 54.

[0040] The network interface 55 is an interface for data communication with an external device via a network. Examples of the external device include a PC (Personal Computer) and an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server. The data communication method may be wireless communication or wired communication.

[0041] The USB interface 56 is an interface for data communication with a USB device such as a USB memory, and includes a USB connector to which a USB cable is connected and a USB controller that controls the USB connection with the USB device.

[0042] The CPU 52 (an example of a control unit) of the ASIC 51 executes programs stored in the nonvolatile memory of the memory 53 and controls the operation of the reading device 2 (the reading unit 18 and the movement mechanism 19). The CPU 52 also executes programs stored in the nonvolatile memory of the memory 53 and controls the operation of the printing device 3 (the transport mechanism 41 and the print head 42). When these programs are executed, the CPU 52 uses the volatile memory of the memory 53 as a work area.

[0043] <Reading process> In the multifunction device 1, the CPU 52 executes a reading process that causes the reading device 2 to read an object to be read.

[0044] In the reading process, a reading operation is performed in which the light source 21 of the reading unit 18 is turned on and the reading unit 18 is moved at a constant speed in one direction in the sub-scanning direction, i.e., rightward, from the reading start position SP to the reading end position EP.

[0045] Light from the light source 21 passes through the transparent plate 14, is reflected by the object to be read or the background member 17 on the transparent plate 14, and the reflected light passes through the transparent plate 14 again. When the reflected light passes through the rod lens array 22 and enters the image sensor 23, photoelectric conversion is performed in each light receiving element of the image sensor 23, and each light receiving element outputs a voltage (electrical signal) according to the amount of light received.

[0046] The ASIC 51 includes an A / D conversion circuit. The A / D conversion circuit has, for example, 8-bit (0 to 255) resolution and converts the voltage (electrical signal) output from the image sensor 23 for each RGB color into a digital pixel value (image data). For example, voltages below a lower-limit reference voltage (lower limit value) are uniformly converted to a pixel value of "0," voltages above an upper-limit reference voltage (upper limit value) are uniformly converted to a pixel value of "255," and voltages between the lower limit value and the upper limit value are converted to a pixel value corresponding to the magnitude of the voltage. By converting the voltage output from each light receiving element into a pixel value, the reading unit 18 achieves reading of one line in the main scanning direction.

[0047] During the reading operation, the reading unit 18 is moved at a constant speed from the reading start position SP to the reading end position EP, and the reading unit 18 repeatedly reads one line at a time, thereby reading the reading range between the reading start position and the reading end position, and generating image data of the object to be read. The image data of the object to be read is corrected using correction data, which will be described later. When the reading operation for reading the object to be read is completed, the movement direction of the reading unit 18 is reversed, and the reading unit 18 is moved (return operation) in the other direction in the sub-scanning direction, i.e., to the left, toward the standby position WP.

[0048] The reading process includes an operation of transmitting or saving image data of the object to be read after the image data of the object to be read is generated by the reading operation. Examples of the reading process (job) include a reading process "Scan to PC" that sends the image data of the object to be read to a PC, a reading process "Scan to FTP" that sends the image data of the object to be read to an FTP server, a reading process "Scan to Email" that sends the image data of the object to be read as an attachment to an email, and a reading process "Scan to USB" that saves the image data of the object to be read in a USB memory.

[0049] <Printing process> In the multifunction device 1, the CPU 52 executes a printing process that causes the printer 3 to print an image corresponding to image data on a medium. The image data is sent from an external device to the multifunction device 1 via the network interface 55, or is read from a USB memory into the multifunction device 1 via the USB interface 56. Then, when the user operates an operation key provided on the external device or the multifunction device 1 to instruct the start of the printing process, the printing operation begins.

[0050] During printing, the feed roller 45, first conveyance roller 46, second conveyance roller 47, third conveyance roller 48, and discharge roller 49 are driven. When the circumferential surface of the feed roller 45 is in contact with the topmost medium (print paper P) in the supply tray 34, the feed roller 45 rotates, thereby sending the topmost print paper P into the curved path 36 of the conveyance path 35. The medium then receives conveyance forces from the first conveyance roller 46, second conveyance roller 47, third conveyance roller 48, and discharge roller 49 in that order, and is conveyed along the curved path 36 and straight path 37 of the conveyance path 35 toward the discharge tray 33.

[0051] As the medium is transported along the linear path 37, ink is selectively ejected from the nozzles of the print head 42, and an image made up of dots formed by droplets of ink is printed on the medium, so that an image based on the image data is printed on the medium by the time the medium has passed the position facing the print head 42. Once the medium with the image based on the image data has passed the discharge rollers 49, it is discharged into the space above the discharge tray 33 and is received by the discharge tray 33.

[0052] <Error notification processing> In the multifunction device 1, an error may occur that prevents the reading process or the printing process from being completed.

[0053] Errors that prevent the reading process from being completed include, for example, an error due to a malfunction of the reading unit 18 (for example, an inability of the image sensor 23 to perform photoelectric conversion, or an inability of the light source 21 to light up), an error due to the USB memory becoming full while the reading process "Scan to USB" is being executed and image data cannot be written to the USB memory, and an error due to the network connection of the multifunction device 1 or the PC being disconnected while the reading process "Scan to PC" is being executed and image data cannot be sent from the multifunction device 1 to the PC.

[0054] Errors that prevent the printing process from being completed include, for example, an error caused by a malfunction of the transport mechanism 41, an error caused by a malfunction of the print head 42 (for example, an inability to eject ink), an error caused by the supply tray 34 being out of paper and no printing paper P being stored, and an error caused by a paper jam of the printing paper P occurring on the transport path 35 of the printing device 3 during the printing process, preventing the printing paper P from being transported.

[0055] It should be noted that the "error" in this embodiment does not include an error in which the reading unit 18 cannot be moved due to a malfunction of the moving mechanism 19.

[0056] To notify the user that the multifunction device 1 is in an error state, the CPU 52 executes the error notification process shown in Fig. 7. The error notification process is started, for example, when triggered by an instruction to start a reading process or a printing process. To start the reading process, the user places the object to be read at a specified position on the transparent plate 14. Then, the user operates an operation key provided on an external device or the multifunction device 1 to instruct the start of the reading process.

[0057] In the error notification process, the CPU 52 determines whether an error has occurred in the multifunction device 1 (S11).

[0058] If no error has occurred in the multifunction device 1, the CPU 52 determines that no error has occurred (S11: NO). In this case, the CPU 52 determines whether the currently executing reading process or printing process has ended (S12). If the currently executing reading process or printing process has ended (S12: YES), the CPU 52 ends the error notification process. If the currently executing reading process or printing process has not ended (S12: NO), the CPU 52 again determines whether an error has occurred in the multifunction device 1 (S11). As a result, if the state in which no error has occurred continues, it is repeatedly determined whether an error has occurred in the multifunction device 1 until the currently executing reading process or printing process ends.

[0059] When an error occurs in the multifunction device 1, the CPU 52 determines that an error has occurred (S12: YES). In this case, the CPU 52 determines whether the error that has occurred is an error that makes it impossible to complete the reading process that is currently being executed (S12).

[0060] When the CPU 52 determines that the error occurring during the reading process is an error that prevents the reading process from being completed (S13: YES), it stops the reading process (S14). For example, if an error occurs due to a malfunction of the image sensor 23 during the reading operation to read an object, the reading operation cannot be continued, and the CPU 52 determines that the error due to the malfunction is an error that prevents the reading process from being completed. Then, the CPU 52 stops the reading operation in the reading process. Also, for example, in the "Scan to USB" reading process, if an error occurs during the data saving operation to save image data to the USB memory after the reading operation is completed because the USB memory is full and the image data cannot be written to the USB memory, the data saving operation cannot be continued, and the CPU 52 stops the data saving operation in the reading process. Then, the CPU 52 causes the reading unit 18 of the reading device 2 to perform an error notification operation, thereby notifying that the multifunction device 1 (reading device 2) is in an error state (S15).

[0061] On the other hand, if the CPU 52 determines that the error that occurred during the execution of the reading process is not an error that will prevent the reading process from being completed (S13: NO), it does not stop the reading process (skip S14), but instead causes the reading unit 18 to perform an error notification operation after the reading process is completed, thereby notifying the multifunction device 1 that an error state has occurred (S15). An error that is not an error that will prevent the reading process from being completed is an error that will allow the reading process to be completed and does not prevent the reading process from being completed. For example, an error caused by a paper jam that occurs in the printing device 3 does not prevent the reading process from being completed, and is therefore determined to not be an error that will prevent the reading process from being completed.

[0062] Furthermore, if an error occurs during the execution of a print process, not during the execution of a reading process, for example, due to a paper jam, the completion of the reading process is not hindered by the error because the reading process is not being executed. Therefore, in this case, the CPU 52 determines that the error that occurred in the multifunction device 1 is not an error that prevents the reading process from being completed (S13; NO), and notifies the multifunction device 1 that an error state has occurred by causing the reading unit 18 to perform an error notification operation (S15).

[0063] If the CPU 52 determines that an error has occurred while the reading unit 18 is stopped at the standby position WP, the error notification operation involves moving the reading unit 18 from the standby position WP to the error notification position EIP and stopping there. As shown in FIG. 4, the error notification position EIP is a position to the right of the reading start position SP, where the reading unit 18 faces the opening 13. In other words, the error notification position EIP is a position where the reading unit 18 faces the direction in which light from the light source 21 is emitted relative to the transparent plate 14, and is a position that can be seen by a user through the transparent plate 14. Furthermore, if the CPU 52 determines that an error has occurred while the reading unit 18 is moving, the error notification operation involves the reading unit 18 temporarily stopping, then moving from that stopping position to the error notification position EIP and stopping there.

[0064] The error notification position EIP may be set at a fixed position regardless of the type of error, or may be set at multiple different positions in the sub-scanning direction depending on the type of error. For example, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 4, error notification positions EIP1, EIP2, EIP3, EIP4, EIP5, and EIP6 may be set to the right of the reading start position SP. Error notification position EIP1 may be associated with an error due to a malfunction of the reading unit 18, error notification position EIP2 may be associated with an error due to an inability to write image data to a USB memory, error notification position EIP3 may be associated with an error due to an inability to send image data to an external device, error notification position EIP4 may be associated with an error due to a malfunction of the print head 42, error notification position EIP5 may be associated with an error due to an out-of-paper error, and error notification position EIP6 may be associated with an error due to a paper jam in the printing paper P.

[0065] After the error state is notified, the CPU 52 determines whether the error state has been resolved (S16). If the error state has not been resolved and the CPU 52 determines that the error state has not been resolved (S16: NO), the CPU 52 continues to notify the error state through the error notification operation (S15). As a result, while the error state is being notified (during the error notification operation), the CPU 52 repeatedly determines whether the error state has been resolved.

[0066] When the user takes action to resolve the error and the error state is resolved, the CPU 52 determines that the error state has been resolved (S16: YES), and then moves the reading unit 18 from the error notification position EIP to the standby position WP (S17), and ends the error notification process.

[0067] <Read start instruction processing> When the start of the reading process is instructed, the CPU 52 executes the reading start instruction process shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

[0068] In the reading start instruction process, the CPU 52 determines whether or not the error notification process is being performed, as shown in FIG. 8A (S21).

[0069] When the CPU 52 determines that the error notification process is not in progress (S21: NO), it acquires correction data for correcting the image data of the object to be read (S32) before starting the reading process. Then, it stores the correction data in the memory 53 (S33). The correction data stored in the memory 53 is updated by being overwritten every time it is acquired.

[0070] Specifically, the CPU 52 causes the reading unit 18 to read the white area 28 of the reference member 26. The CPU 52 then obtains a white level correction value for correcting non-uniformity in the white level from the pixel values ​​for one line obtained by the reading, and sets the white level correction value as correction data for shading correction (S32). The CPU 52 then stores the correction data for shading correction in the memory 53 (S33).

[0071] Furthermore, when the CPU 52 causes the reading unit 18 to read the white region 28 of the reference member 26, the CPU 52 may adjust the light intensity of the light source 21 of the reading unit 18 so that the maximum pixel value of each pixel for one line obtained by the reading becomes a predetermined value (for example, 255). The light intensity of the light source 21 is adjusted by the value of the current supplied to the light source 21 and the duty ratio of the lighting time of the light source 21. In this case, after adjusting the light intensity, the CPU 52 sets the adjusted current value and duty ratio as correction data for adjusting the light intensity (S32), and stores the correction data for adjusting the light intensity in the memory 53 (S33).

[0072] The image data of the object to be read in the reading process is substantially corrected by adjusting the current value supplied to the light source 21 and the duty ratio of the light source 21's lighting time based on the correction data for adjusting the light intensity stored in the memory 53. It is preferable that the correction data for shading correction be acquired after adjusting the light intensity of the light source 21.

[0073] After storing the correction data in the memory 53, the CPU 52 starts the reading process (S25). The details of the reading process are as described above.

[0074] When the reading process is completed, the CPU 52 determines whether the error notification process is currently suspended (S26), as shown in Fig. 8B. If the CPU 52 determines that the error notification process is not currently suspended (S26: NO), the reading start instruction process ends.

[0075] The multifunction device 1 receives an input from an external device to set whether to execute or not execute the reading process by interrupting the error notification process. The setting may be input from the external device each time an instruction to start the reading process is issued, or once received by the multifunction device 1, the setting may be maintained until a change in the setting is input from the external device.

[0076] If an instruction to start the reading process is given during the error notification process and the reading start instruction process is started, the CPU 52 determines that the error notification process is in progress (S21: YES), as shown in FIG. 8A, and determines whether or not a setting to execute the reading process by interrupt during the error notification process has been accepted (S22).

[0077] When the CPU 52 determines that it has accepted a setting to execute a reading process by interrupting the error notification process (S22: YES), it determines whether the reading process that has been instructed to start can be completed regardless of the error state of the multifunction device 1 (S23). For example, if an error occurs during the execution of the reading process "Scan to USB" that prevents image data from being written to the USB memory, the newly instructed reading process "Scan to PC" can be completed regardless of the error state because it does not include the process of writing image data to the USB memory. Also, if an error occurs in the printing device 3, all newly instructed reading processes can be completed regardless of the error state.

[0078] If the CPU 52 determines that the reading process can be completed regardless of the error state of the multifunction device 1 (S23: YES), it suspends the error notification process (S24), executes interrupt processing, and moves the reading unit 18, which is stopped at the error notification position EIP, to the reading start position SP without returning it to the standby position WP. Then, the CPU 52 starts the reading operation in the reading process (S25), and moves the reading unit 18 at a constant speed from the reading start position toward the reading end position. Furthermore, the CPU 52 corrects the image data of the object to be read using the correction data stored in the memory 53 without acquiring correction data. When the reading operation, return operation, and operation of transmitting or saving the image data are completed, the reading process is completed.

[0079] After the reading process is completed, the CPU 52 determines whether the error notification process is currently suspended (S26), as shown in Fig. 8B. If the CPU 52 determines that the error notification process is currently suspended (S26: YES), the CPU 52 determines whether the error state has been resolved (S27).

[0080] If the user takes action to resolve the error while the error notification process is suspended and the error state is resolved, the CPU 52 determines that the error state has been resolved (S27: YES). In this case, since there is no need to notify the error state, the CPU 52 ends the suspended error notification process (S28). At this time, the reading unit 18 is located at the standby position WP.

[0081] After the error notification process is completed, the CPU 52 performs reading initialization and resets the positions that serve as the start and end points of movement of the reading unit 18 based on the reference position RP (S29). That is, the CPU 52 causes the reading unit 18 to read the reference member 26. The CPU 52 then searches the image data generated by reading the reference member 26 for a position where the pixel values ​​of adjacent pixels in the sub-scanning direction change across the black-and-white determination threshold, and when a corresponding position is found, it determines that position as the reference position RP. The CPU 52 resets the standby position WP and the reading start position SP based on the reference position RP.

[0082] Thereafter, the CPU 52 moves the reading unit 18 to the standby position WP (S30), and ends the reading start instruction process.

[0083] On the other hand, if the CPU 52 determines that the error state has not been resolved (S27: NO), it resumes the interrupted error notification process (S31). By resuming the error notification process, an error notification operation of the reading unit 18 is performed, the reading unit 18 moves from the standby position WP to the error notification position EIP, and it is notified that the multifunction device 1 is in an error state (S14 in FIG. 7).

[0084] If an instruction to start the reading process is given during the error notification process and the reading start instruction process is started, and if the setting to not execute the reading process by interrupting the error notification process has been accepted by the multifunction device 1, the CPU 52 determines that the setting to execute the reading process by interrupting the error notification process has not been accepted (S22: NO in Figure 8A), and terminates the reading start instruction process.

[0085] Furthermore, if the CPU 52 determines that it has accepted a setting to execute a reading process by interrupting the error notification process (S22: YES in FIG. 8A), and determines that the reading process that has been instructed to start cannot be completed due to an error state of the multifunction device 1 (S23: NO in FIG. 7A), it terminates the reading start instruction process.

[0086] <Action and effect> According to this configuration, when an error occurs in the multifunction device 1, the reading unit 18 performs an error notification operation through an error notification process. If an error occurs during the reading process that prevents the reading process from being completed, the reading process is stopped and the reading unit 18 performs an error notification operation. In the error notification operation, the reading unit 18 moves to the error notification position EIP and stops there. This makes it possible to notify the user that the multifunction device 1 is in an error state.

[0087] If an instruction to start a reading process is given during an error notification process (while an error state is being notified), and if the reading process that was instructed to start can be completed regardless of the error, the error notification process is interrupted and the reading process is started. This allows the reading process to be started even if the error state is not resolved.

[0088] In a configuration in which a plurality of different error notification positions EIP (for example, EIP1 to EIP6) are set according to the content of the error, and in the error notification operation, the reading unit 18 stops at the error notification position EIP according to the content of the error, it is possible to notify the user that the multifunction device 1 is in an error state, as well as the content of the error.

[0089] Furthermore, when the error notification process is interrupted and the reading process is started, the reading unit 18 moves from the error notification position to the reading start position SP without returning to the standby position WP, which allows the reading process to be started promptly.

[0090] In the reading device 2, the reference member 26 is placed at the reference position RP, and in response to an instruction to start the reading process when the error notification process is not in progress, the reading unit 18 reads the reference member 26. Then, using the image data of the reference member 26, correction data for correcting the image data of the object to be read in the reading process is obtained, and the correction data is stored in the memory 53. By correcting the image data of the object to be read using the correction data stored in the memory 53, it is possible to eliminate the influence of uneven density between pixels due to the characteristics of the optical system, and to obtain high-quality image data.

[0091] When the reading process that was started after the error notification process was interrupted is completed, it is determined whether the error state has been resolved. If it is determined that the error state has not been resolved, the error notification process is resumed. When the error notification process is resumed, the reading unit 18 performs an error notification operation, so that the user can be notified again that the multifunction device 1 is in an error state.

[0092] Furthermore, the reading process that is started after the error notification process is interrupted is a reading process that can be completed regardless of the error. This prevents the start of a reading process that cannot be completed due to an error state, and prevents multiple errors from occurring.

[0093] <Modification> Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be embodied in other forms.

[0094] For example, in the error notification operation, the reading unit 18 moves to the error notification position EIP and stops there, but if the reading unit 18 is stopped at the standby position WP and the CPU 52 determines that an error has occurred in the multifunction device 1, the light source 21 of the reading unit 18 may be turned on in that state, and if the reading unit 18 is moving and the CPU 52 determines that an error has occurred in the multifunction device 1, the reading unit 18 may be stopped and the light source 21 of the reading unit 18 may be turned on in that state.

[0095] Furthermore, although it has been stated that the error notification position EIP may be set at different positions in the sub-scanning direction depending on the content of the error, the error notification position EIP may be set at a single position, and in the error notification operation, the reading unit 18 may be moved to the error notification position EIP and stopped, and the light source 21 of the reading unit 18 may be controlled to emit light in different ways (for example, in different colors or flashing patterns, or in different colors and flashing patterns) depending on the content of the error.

[0096] In the above embodiment, the "error" does not include an error in which the reading unit 18 cannot move due to a malfunction of the moving mechanism 19. However, if an error occurs in which the reading unit 18 cannot move due to a malfunction of the moving mechanism 19, the light source 21 of the reading unit 18 may be made to emit light in a manner indicating an error (for example, a color or a flashing pattern, or a color and a flashing pattern) at the position where the reading unit 18 is unable to move and has stopped.

[0097] The reading device 2 is equipped with an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and as a reading method, in addition to the FB (Flat Bed) method in which an object to be read placed on a transparent plate 14 is read, the reading device 2 may also employ an ADF method in which the object to be read is read while being transported by the ADF. Furthermore, the reading device 2 may employ the ADF method as the reading method, but not the FB method. In a configuration that does not employ the FB method, the position of the reading unit 18 is fixed, so that the light source 21 of the reading unit 18 may be turned on at that position during the error notification operation.

[0098] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, if the reading process that was instructed to start during the error notification process can be completed, the error notification process is interrupted and an interrupt process is executed. However, since there is a possibility that the error will be resolved during the interrupt process, even if the reading process that was instructed to start during the error notification process cannot be completed, the error notification process may be interrupted and the interrupt process may be executed.

[0099] In the interrupt process, the reading unit 18 stopped at the error notification position EIP may be temporarily returned to the standby position WP and then moved from the standby position WP to the reading start position SP.

[0100] Furthermore, if the error state is not resolved after the reading process by the interrupt process is completed, the error notification process does not have to be resumed.

[0101] In the above-described embodiment, the multifunction device 1 is configured to accept a setting to execute or not execute the reading process by interrupt during the error notification process, but the multifunction device 1 may be configured not to accept such a setting, and the interrupt process (reading process by interrupt) may always be executed when an instruction is given to start a reading process that can be completed during the error notification process.

[0102] Furthermore, if an instruction to start a process other than the reading process, i.e., a printing process, is issued during the error notification process, there is no need to interrupt the error notification process, so the printing process may be executed without interrupting the error notification process, thereby preventing a decrease in productivity of the printing process.

[0103] The multifunction device 1 may be provided with a display that displays various types of information.

[0104] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the CPU 52 executes each process, but the multifunction device 1 may be provided with multiple CPUs, such as a CPU being provided in each of the reading device 2 and the printing device 3, and the multiple CPUs may work together to execute each process.

[0105] The reading device 2 may be a stand-alone device.

[0106] In addition, various design modifications can be made to the above-described configuration within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 1: Multifunction device 2: Reading device 3: Printing device 14: Transparent plate 18: Reading unit 26: Reference member 52:CPU 53: Memory

Claims

1. a transparent plate on one side of which an object to be read is placed; a reading unit that emits light toward the transparent plate; A control unit; Equipped with The control unit a reading process for causing the reading unit to read an object to be read that is placed on the one surface; an error notification process for causing the reading unit to perform an error notification operation in response to the occurrence of an error; and executing an interrupt process to interrupt the error notification process and start the reading process in response to an instruction to start the reading process during the error notification process. Reading device.

2. 2. The reading device according to claim 1, In the error notification process, in response to an occurrence of an error during the reading process that prevents the reading process from being completed, the control unit stops the reading process and causes the reading unit to perform the error notification operation. Reading device.

3. 2. The reading device according to claim 1, the control unit, in the reading process, causes the reading unit to read the object while moving the reading unit in one direction in the sub-scanning direction from a reading start position to a reading end position; Reading device.

4. 4. The reading device according to claim 3, In the error notification process, the control unit stops the reading unit at an error notification position as the error notification operation. Reading device.

5. 5. The reading device according to claim 4, The error notification position is set to a plurality of different positions depending on the type of the error, In the error notification process, the control unit stops the reading unit at the error notification position according to the content of the error as the error notification operation. Reading device.

6. 5. The reading device according to claim 4, the control unit stops the reading unit at a standby position away from the reading start position in the other direction in the sub-scanning direction when the error notification process is not being performed and before an instruction to start the reading process is given. Reading device.

7. 7. The reading device according to claim 6, In the interrupt process, the control unit moves the reading unit from the error notification position to the reading start position in the other direction in the sub-scanning direction, and starts the reading process. Reading device.

8. 8. The reading device according to claim 7, a reference member disposed at a reference position; Memory and Furthermore, When the control unit is not in the error notification process and is instructed to start the reading process, the control unit moves the reading unit to the reference position, causes the reading unit to read the reference member, and executes a correction data acquisition process in which the control unit uses image data of the reference member to acquire correction data for correcting image data of the object to be read in the reading process, and stores the correction data in the memory. Reading device.

9. 9. The reading device according to claim 8, the control unit corrects the image data of the object to be read in the reading process using the correction data stored in the memory; Reading device.

10. 2. The reading device according to claim 1, The control unit After the reading process started by the interrupt process is completed, an error resolution determination process is executed to determine whether or not the error state caused by the error has been resolved; When it is determined in the error resolution determination process that the error state has not been resolved, the error notification process is resumed. Reading device.

11. 2. The reading device according to claim 1, the control unit executes the interrupt process when the reading process, the start of which is instructed during the error notification process, can be completed regardless of the error. Reading device.

12. 2. The reading device according to claim 1, The control unit executing a reception process for receiving a setting for execution or non-execution of the interrupt process; When the setting of non-execution of the interrupt process has been accepted, even if an instruction to start the reading process is given during the error notification process, the error notification process is continued without being interrupted. Reading device.

13. a reading device that reads the object to be read; a printing device for printing an image onto a medium; A control unit; A multifunction peripheral comprising: The reading device is a transparent plate on one surface of which the object to be read is placed; a reading unit that emits light toward the transparent plate; Equipped with The control unit an error notification process for causing the reading unit to perform an error notification operation in response to an occurrence of an error that stops the operation of the multifunction peripheral; an interrupt process for starting a process that can be executed regardless of the error in response to an instruction to start the process during the error notification process; Multifunction machine.

14. The multifunction peripheral according to claim 13, the control unit executes the interrupt process when the operation stopped due to the error is an operation of one of the reading device and the printing device, and the process that can be executed regardless of the error is a process that uses the other of the reading device and the printing device. Multifunction machine.

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