Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus in which a user's erroneous operation relating to a finished stamp is reduced and usability is improved.SOLUTION: An ADF 200 includes: a front surface reading part 101 that reads an image of a document; a finished stamp 235 that presses a stamp on the document from which the image has been read; and a finished stamp detection part 175 that detects whether or not the finished stamp 235 is attached to the ADF 200. A CPU 164 of an image reading apparatus 5 controls an operation part 506 to display a finished stamp button 511 on a display screen 506a when the finished stamp 235 is attached to the ADF 200, and not to display the finished stamp button 511 on the display screen 506a when the finished stamp 235 is not attached to the ADF 200.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading device that reads an image on a sheet and an image forming apparatus that includes the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, document transport devices such as automatic document feeders (hereinafter referred to as ADFs) provided in image reading devices mounted on copiers, facsimile machines, etc. have become widespread. Some of these ADFs are equipped with a device (hereinafter referred to as a "completed stamp") that stamps documents. The completed stamp marks the surface of a document when the document is read by an image reading device, indicating that the document has been read, and allows a user to distinguish between unread documents based on the presence or absence of the completed stamp. Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which the completed stamp is detachable from the ADF, thereby providing the completed stamp only to users who need it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-139839 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional configurations, devices with and without a completion stamp are identical in configuration except for the presence or absence of the stamp. Therefore, even when a completion stamp is not attached, the operation screen of the device displays a button for stamping a completion stamp. Such unnecessary displays can confuse users and lead to incorrect operations, and the increased clutter on the display reduces usability.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image reading device and an image forming device that reduce user operation errors related to completion stamps and improve usability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an image reading device comprising: a device main body including a conveying means for conveying a sheet; a reading means for reading an image of the sheet conveyed by the conveying means; a stamping means for stamping a sheet whose image has been read by the reading means; a detection means for detecting whether the stamping means is attached to the device main body; an operation unit having a display screen that displays a button for executing stamping by the stamping means and that accepts operations from a user; and a control means for controlling the operation unit so that, when the detection means detects that the stamping means is attached to the device main body, the button is displayed on the display screen, and when the detection means does not detect that the stamping means is attached to the device main body, the button is not displayed on the display screen. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image reading device and an image forming device that reduce user operation errors related to the completion stamp and improve usability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus as seen from the front. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image reading device as seen from the front. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image reading apparatus. [Figure 4] 10 is an example of a document on which a mark indicating that the document has been read has been stamped using a completed stamp. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of control for notifying the connection detection result of a completed stamp. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of control for determining whether to display a completed stamp button. [Figure 7] 10A is an example of a display screen in which the "Done" stamp button is displayed, and FIG. 10B is an example of a display screen in which the "Done" stamp button is not displayed. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of control for detecting connection of a completed stamp. [Figure 9] 10 is a table showing the detection state of the completed stamp detection unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a modified example of control for detecting connection of a completed stamp. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an electrophotographic monochrome printer is used as an example of the image forming apparatus 1. However, the present invention is not limited to an electrophotographic monochrome printer image forming apparatus 1, and may be applied to a full-color image forming apparatus, or even a tandem type or inkjet recording type image forming apparatus.

[0010] [Image forming equipment] The schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 has an operation unit 506 that accepts operations from a user. The operation unit 506 is provided with a display screen 506a that displays information to the user and hard keys such as a start button. The display screen 506a is a touch panel that accepts operations from the user and is capable of displaying various soft keys. Note that the operation unit 506 may be configured without hard keys so that input is made only through the display screen 506a, which is a touch panel. Hereinafter, the position facing the operation unit 506, where the user makes various inputs / settings to the image forming apparatus 1, is defined as the "front side" of the image forming apparatus 1, and the rear side is defined as the "rear side." In other words, FIG. 1 shows the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 as seen from the front side.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 1 is composed of a printer main body 1A that mainly prints on a recording medium and an image reading device 5 that reads an image from a document. The printer main body 1A has an image forming unit 33 that forms an image on a sheet S, which is a recording medium, and a sheet feeding unit 6 that feeds the sheet S to the image forming unit 33. The sheet feeding unit 6 has sheet storage units 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d that can store sheets of different sizes. Sheets stored in each sheet storage unit 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d are fed by pickup rollers 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. Then, the sheets are separated one by one by feed rollers 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d and retard rollers 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d and delivered to the corresponding conveyance roller pairs 31. The sheets S are then delivered in order to the multiple conveyance roller pairs 31 arranged along the sheet conveyance path, and are conveyed to the registration roller pair 36.

[0012] The sheet S placed on the manual feed tray 37e by the user is fed into the printing apparatus main body 1A by the feed roller 38 and conveyed to the registration roller pair 36. The registration roller pair 36 stops the leading edge of the sheet S to correct skew, and resumes conveyance of the sheet S in accordance with the progress of the image forming operation, which is the toner image forming process by the image forming unit 33.

[0013] The image forming unit 33, which serves as an image forming means, forms an image on the sheet S based on image information read by the image reading device 5. The image forming unit 33 is an electrophotographic unit equipped with a photosensitive drum 21, which is a photosensitive member. The photosensitive drum 21 is rotatable along the conveyance direction of the sheet S, and a charger 18, an exposure device 23, a developing device 24, a transfer charger 25, a separation charger 26, and a cleaner 27 are arranged around the photosensitive drum 21. The charger 18 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. The exposure device 23 exposes the photosensitive drum 21 to light based on image information input from the image reading device 5 or the like, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21.

[0014] The developing device 24 contains a two-component developer containing toner and carrier, and develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image by supplying charged toner to the photosensitive drum 21. The toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to a sheet S conveyed from a pair of registration rollers 36 by a bias electric field formed by a transfer charger 25. The sheet S with the transferred toner image is separated from the photosensitive drum 21 by a bias electric field formed by a separation charger 26, and is conveyed toward a fixing unit 29 by a pre-fixing conveying unit 28. Note that any deposits, such as transfer residual toner, remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 without being transferred to the sheet S are removed by a cleaner 27, and the photosensitive drum 21 is prepared for the next image forming operation.

[0015] The sheet S conveyed to the fixing unit 29 is sandwiched between a pair of rollers and heated and pressurized, and the image is fixed by melting and fixing the toner. When image output is complete, the sheet S with the fixed image is discharged via a pair of discharge rollers 10 to a discharge tray 30 that protrudes outward from the printing apparatus main body 1A. When an image is formed on the back side of the sheet S in double-sided printing, the sheet S that has passed through the fixing unit 29 has its front and back sides swapped by a reversing unit 39 and is conveyed to a pair of registration rollers 36 by a double-sided conveying unit 40. Then, the sheet S on which the image has been formed again by the image forming unit 33 is discharged to the discharge tray 30.

[0016] [Image reader] The image reading device 5, which is disposed above the printing device main body 1A of the image forming apparatus 1, includes a scanner unit 100 and an ADF 200, and optically scans an original to read image information. The image information converted into an electrical signal by the image reading device 5 is transferred to a control unit 32 provided in the printing device main body 1A via a controller 500 (see FIG. 3). As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on a recording medium based on the image information read by the image reading device 5.

[0017] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an image reading device 5 of this embodiment. The scanner unit 100 has a front surface reading unit 101, a white reference member 108, a platen glass 109, a reading movement guide 110, a timing belt 151, a platen motor 169, etc. The scanner unit 100 reads an image by driving the platen motor 169 and reading the front surface reading unit 101 line by line of the front surface of a document placed on the platen glass 109 while moving the front surface reading unit 101 along the reading movement guide 110 via the timing belt 151.

[0018] The front surface reading unit 101 is an example of a reading means, and may be, for example, a contact image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CIS). The front surface reading unit 101 is composed of a front surface LED 102, a front surface line sensor 103, a front surface lens array 104, etc. The front surface reading unit 101 is capable of reading an image of a document that has been transported onto a front surface flow reading glass 106 by the ADF 200.

[0019] The ADF 200 includes a document tray 201, a feeding unit 240, a back-side reading unit 230, and a discharge tray 225. The document transport path of the ADF 200 is provided with a plurality of rollers, such as a registration roller pair 215, a lead roller pair 217, a lead roller pair 219, and a lead roller pair 221, which are an example of a transport unit for transporting documents. The back-side reading unit 230 can use a CIS similar to that of the front-side reading unit 101. The back-side reading unit 230 includes a back-side LED 231, a back-side line sensor 232, a back-side lens array 233, and the like. The back-side reading unit 230 can read an image of a document transported to a back-side flow reading glass 234 by the ADF 200. The document tray 201 is an example of a loading unit on which a stack of documents consisting of one or more documents is loaded. The document tray 201 is provided with a guide width restriction plate 202, a document presence / absence detection sensor 203, a width detection sensor 205, and a length detection sensor 206. The feeding unit 240 has a pickup roller 210, a separation roller 211, and a separation pad 226, and separates the sheets S stacked on the document tray 201 one by one and conveys them in the conveying direction.

[0020] A document presence / absence detection sensor 203 detects the presence or absence of a document on the document tray 201. A guide width restriction plate 202 is installed on the document tray 201 and swings in a width direction (main scanning direction) perpendicular to the document transport direction to restrict the movement of the document in the main scanning direction. A width detection sensor 205 acquires document width information in response to the movement of the guide width restriction plate 202. A length detection sensor 206 is a sensor for determining whether the length of the document in the feed direction is longer than a predetermined length. A CPU 164 (described later) determines the document size from the results of the width detection sensor 205 and the length detection sensor 206. A separation roller 211 and a separation pad 226 are a separation mechanism that separates documents one by one and prevents the document stack from protruding beyond the document tray 201 and advancing downstream before the document transport begins. A pickup roller 210 is dropped onto the top of the document stack stack on the document tray 201 and rotated, thereby transporting the topmost document of the document stack. Of the documents conveyed by the pickup roller 210, the topmost sheet is separated and conveyed by the action of the separation roller 211 and separation pad 226.

[0021] A number of sensors are arranged along the transport path of the ADF 200, including a separation sensor 212, a skew detection sensor 228, a pull-out sensor 227, a double feed detection sensor 213, a registration sensor 214, a lead sensor 216, and a paper discharge sensor 222. When a document separated by the separation roller 211 turns on the separation sensor 212, a timer count is started. This count is used to calculate the detection start timing of the double feed detection sensor 213 and to calculate the document length. The skew detection sensor 228 is arranged downstream of the separation roller 211 and detects skew in the fed document. When the document reaches the vicinity of the double feed detection sensor 213, double feed detection is initiated. The document then passes through the registration sensor 214 and is transported to the registration roller pair 215, where it abuts against the nip position of the registration roller pair 215. The leading edge of the document that abuts against the registration roller pair 215 forms a loop, thereby eliminating skew during document transport.

[0022] When the document passes through the pair of registration rollers 215 and turns on the lead sensor 216, this triggers a timer 171 (described later in FIG. 3) to be set to count down until the leading edge of the document reaches the front-side document reading position 107. In the case of simultaneous double-sided reading, the timer is also set to count down until the leading edge of the document reaches the back-side document reading position 220. The document is then transported to the front-side document reading position 107 by the pair of lead rollers 217.

[0023] When the timer 171 for front side reading expires, front side reading begins. Specifically, a document passing over front side flow reading glass 106 is illuminated from below the front side glass by front side LED 102 in front side reading unit 101. The reflected light is read by front side line sensor 103 through front side lens array 104 to read the front side image of the document. Then, the document is transported from front side document reading position 107 to back side document reading position 220 by lead roller pair 219.

[0024] When the timer 171 for back-side reading expires, reading of the back side begins. In the case of double-sided reading, light is irradiated onto the document by a back-side LED 231 as the document passes over a back-side white opposing member integrated with a back-side flow reading glass 234. The reflected light is read by a back-side line sensor 232 through a back-side lens array 233, thereby reading the image on the back side of the document.

[0025] A completion stamp 235 is disposed downstream of the back-side document reading position 220. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a document on which a mark M has been imprinted by the completion stamp 235. The completion stamp 235 is an imprinting means (a stamp, an imprinting member) for imprinting a mark M (mark, stamp) on a document, indicating that the document has been completely scanned. The completion stamp 235 is pressed against the document by a solenoid 236. As shown in FIG. 4, the completion stamp 235 imprints the mark M on the rear end portion of the document. Note that, although the mark M in this embodiment is a round mark, the mark M is not limited to this and may be a mark or character of another shape. The completion stamp 235 in this embodiment is configured to be detachable from the ADF 200, which is the device main body. Here, the device main body refers to the parts of the ADF 200 other than the completion stamp 235, and includes a metal plate, an exterior cover, a conveyance guide, a pair of conveyance rollers, etc. When the user issues an instruction to execute a "Completed" stamp using operation unit 506, the document passes through back-side document reading position 220, is conveyed to lead roller pair 221, and mark M is stamped by "Completed" stamp 235. At this time, based on the detection of the trailing edge of the document by discharge sensor 222, the document being conveyed by lead roller pair 221 is stopped at a predetermined position, and solenoid 236 presses "Completed" stamp 235 onto the document. When stamping of "Completed" stamp 235 is completed, conveyance of the document by lead roller pair 221 is resumed. Thereafter, the document is discharged by discharge roller pair 223 from discharge outlet 224 onto discharge tray 225.

[0026] In this embodiment, a case where a CIS is used as the front side reading unit 101 and the back side reading unit 230 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a CCD configured with a reduction optical system using a mirror can also be used.

[0027] [Control system] 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the image reading device 5 of this embodiment. The image reading device 5 includes a CPU 164, which is a central processing unit, a ROM 165, which is a read-only memory, and a RAM 166, which is a random access memory. The ROM 165 stores a control program for realizing document reading, and the RAM 166 stores input data and working data.

[0028] The lighting control unit 167 controls the on / off of illumination of the front LED 102 and the back LED 231. The scanning control unit 168 controls the drive of a platen motor 169. The platen motor 169 is connected to the front reading unit 101 by a timing belt 151 or the like, and when the platen motor 169 is driven, the front reading unit 101 can slide in the sub-scanning direction on the reading movement guide 110. Similarly, the scanning control unit 168 controls the drive of a document transport motor 170 built into the ADF 200. The document transport motor 170 is connected to a separation roller 211, a pair of registration rollers 215, a pair of read rollers 217, a pair of read rollers 219, a pair of read rollers 221, a pair of discharge rollers 223, etc. When the document transport motor 170 is driven, these rollers rotate, and the document is transported to a transport path within the ADF 200.

[0029] The front surface line sensor 103 is built into the front surface reading unit 101, and receives light that is irradiated by the front surface LED 102 and reflected from the original. A signal from the front surface line sensor 103 is input to the A / D conversion unit 161, and the analog data is converted into digital data. The image processing unit 162 performs image processing to generate image data. Similarly, the back surface line sensor 232 is built into the back surface reading unit 230, and receives light that is irradiated by the back surface LED 231 and reflected from the original. The subsequent processing is the same as that on the front surface side, so a description thereof will be omitted. The original size acquisition unit 163 acquires original size information to be read input by an operation unit 506 of the controller 500, which will be described later, and acquires original size information from a combination of the states of the width detection sensor 205 and the length detection sensor 206.

[0030] The shading RAM 254 is composed of an arithmetic memory 255 and a coefficient memory 256, and is accessible for reading and writing from the CPU 164. The nonvolatile memory 257 is a memory that retains values ​​even when the power to the image reading device 5 is turned off. For example, it is used to retain shading target values ​​when shading correction is performed by the shading correction circuit 253, or alarm and error information that occurs during a job.

[0031] The timer 171 receives and counts pulse signals transmitted every predetermined distance as the document transport motor 170 is driven, and transmits a timer expiration signal to the CPU 164 when a preset count value is reached. This makes it possible to measure the distance the document has traveled. The front image reading control unit 172 controls image reading by the front reading unit 101. The back image reading control unit 173 controls image reading by the back reading unit 230. When the timer value set in the timer 171 is reached and the CPU 164 receives the signal, the signal is transmitted as a trigger signal to the front image reading control unit 172 and the back image reading control unit 173. Based on this trigger, the front image reading control unit 172 and the back image reading control unit 173 start acquiring the document image.

[0032] The transport sensor detection unit 174 acquires the on / off state of each sensor installed in the document transport path described above, and when the leading edge of the document reaches each sensor or when the trailing edge of the document leaves each sensor, the signal is transmitted to the transport sensor detection unit 174. The CPU 164 receives this signal as an interrupt, making it possible to transmit processing to the timer 171 etc. without delay.

[0033] The completion stamp detection unit 175 is an example of a detection means for determining whether or not the completion stamp 235 is connected. The completion stamp detection unit 175 is connected to a solenoid 236 that drives the completion stamp 235, and determines whether or not the completion stamp 235 is attached to the device based on the output state when the solenoid 236 is to be moved.

[0034] The controller 500 converts the document image read by the image reading device 5 into a format that allows the image to be output onto a sheet S set in the image forming apparatus 1. Alternatively, the controller 500 converts the image into a format that allows the image to be output to a PC, and also handles the reception of user operations and the management of the entire apparatus. The image reading device 5 and the controller 500 are connected by a communication line 180, and various data signals between the image reading device 5 and the controller 500 are transmitted and received via the communication line 180. The controller 500 includes a CPU 501 that is a central processing unit, a ROM 502 that is a read-only memory, and a RAM 503 that is a random access memory. The ROM 502 stores control programs for realizing image conversion and overall apparatus management, and the RAM 503 stores input data and working data.

[0035] An image processing unit 504 performs processing to convert the document image read by the image reading device 5 into a format that can be output by the image forming device 1. The image data is temporarily stored in an image memory 505. An operation unit 506 accepts button operations from the user and outputs various information to the user on the screen.

[0036] In this embodiment, the image reading device 5 and the controller 500 are configured to each have a CPU, ROM, and RAM, but for example, the image reading device 5 may not be equipped with a CPU, etc., and the CPU, ROM, and RAM of the controller 500 may be shared. In this case, the communication line 180 does not exist, and other control units connected to the CPU 164 are also directly connected to the CPU 501. In this embodiment, a configuration in which each CPU is present will be described, but a configuration in which they are shared can be realized by appropriately changing the interpretation.

[0037] [About the completed stamp button display] Next, the button display of the "Done" stamp will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. The image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment can operate in multiple modes, including a copy mode in which printing is performed based on image data of a document scanned by the image scanning device 5, and a fax mode in which the scanned image data is transmitted. FIG. 7A shows an example of a fax function selection screen displayed on the display screen 506a when a user selects the fax mode on a home screen (not shown). The fax function selection screen displays multiple buttons (soft keys), such as a numeric keypad 507, a function A button 508, a function B button 509, a function C button 510, and a "Done" stamp button 511. The numeric keypad 507 is used to input a fax destination and displays numbers and symbols. The function A button 508, the function B button 509, and the function C button 510 are buttons for setting multiple functions used in the fax mode. Examples of functions used in the fax mode include a function for opening an address book in which destinations are registered in advance, a function for inputting a new destination, and a function for inputting the type of document to be scanned.

[0038] The completion stamp button 511 is a button for setting whether or not to stamp the mark M using the completion stamp 235 described above. If the user wants to use the completion stamp 235, the user presses the completion stamp button 511. When the completion stamp button 511 is pressed by the user, it turns gray, and the execution of stamping using the completion stamp 235 is set. When the completion stamp button 511 is pressed again, the setting for stamping using the completion stamp 235 is canceled. When the start button is pressed with the execution of stamping using the completion stamp 235 set, mark M is stamped on the document through the process described above. In this way, the user can easily set the execution of stamping using the completion stamp using the completion stamp button 511 displayed on the display screen 506a.

[0039] The completion stamp 235 is primarily used in the fax function to determine whether a document has been sent. However, the image forming apparatus 1 can operate in multiple modes other than faxing, such as copy and send. Therefore, some users may not use the completion stamp 235 and therefore may not need the completion stamp 235. Conversely, some users may not need the completion stamp 235 at the time of purchase but may need it later. To accommodate such situations, the completion stamp 235 in this embodiment is configured to be detachable from the ADF 200. This allows the apparatus to be provided to users who do not need the completion stamp 235 without the completion stamp 235 attached. Even if the completion stamp 235 is needed later, the completion stamp 235 can be attached to the ADF 200 after the apparatus is installed.

[0040] However, displaying the "Complete" stamp button 511 as shown in FIG. 7(a) when the "Complete" stamp 235 is not attached to the ADF 200 may confuse the user and reduce usability. Therefore, in this embodiment, the "Complete" stamp detection unit 175 detects whether the "Complete" stamp 235 is attached, and the controller 500 controls the display screen 506a based on the detection result. Specifically, the controller 500 displays the screen shown in FIG. 7(a) when the "Complete" stamp 235 is attached, and displays the screen shown in FIG. 7(b) when the "Complete" stamp 235 is not attached. The screen shown in FIG. 7(b) is a fax function selection screen in which the "Complete" stamp button 511 is hidden, unlike the screen shown in FIG. 7(a). This prevents the "Complete" stamp button 511 from being displayed when the "Complete" stamp 235 is not attached, thereby preventing user operation errors.

[0041] 5 is a flowchart of the process in the image reading device 5 for notifying the controller 500 whether or not the completion stamp 235 is connected. The process shown in FIG. 5 is performed by the CPU 164 of the image reading device 5 executing a program stored in the ROM 165. When the completion stamp detection result notification process starts, first, in S501, the CPU 164 and the controller 500 start a device configuration confirmation process for preparing for communication. Thereafter, in S502, a connection detection process for the completion stamp 235 is performed, and the process proceeds to S503. The connection detection process for the completion stamp 235 in S502 will be described later. If the connection detection result for the completion stamp in S503 indicates that there is a connection (Yes in S503), the process proceeds to S504, and if the connection detection result for the completion stamp 235 indicates that there is no connection (No in S503), the process proceeds to S511. In S504, the CPU 164 notifies the controller 500 that a completion stamp is present, and then the device configuration confirmation process between the CPU 164 and the controller 500 ends (S505), and the completion stamp detection result notification process ends. In S511, the CPU 164 notifies the controller 500 that a completion stamp is not present, and then the device configuration confirmation process between the CPU 164 and the controller 500 ends (S505), and the completion stamp detection result notification process ends.

[0042] 6 is a flowchart of the process in the controller 500 for displaying the completed stamp button 511 based on the result of the completed stamp detection result notification process. The process shown in FIG. 6 is implemented by the CPU 501 of the controller 500 executing a program stored in the ROM 502. When the completed stamp button display process starts, first in S551, the process waits for a notification of the connection detection result of the completed stamp from the image reading device 5. If a notification has been received (Yes in S551), the process proceeds to S552. If a notification of the connection detection result of the completed stamp from the image reading device 5 has not been received (No in S551), the process waits until a notification is received. In S552, if the connection detection result of the completed stamp from the image reading device 5 indicates that there is a connection (Yes in S552), the process proceeds to S553, and if the connection detection result of the completed stamp 235 indicates that there is no connection (No in S552), the process proceeds to S561. In S553, the "Done" stamp button 511 is displayed on the display screen 506a of the operation unit 506 (FIG. 7(a)), and the "Done" stamp button display process is terminated. In S561, the display of the "Done" stamp button 511 is erased from the display screen 506a of the operation unit 506 (FIG. 7(b)), and the "Done" stamp button display process is terminated.

[0043] Figure 8 is a flowchart of the control for detecting the attachment of the completion stamp 235 in this embodiment. The processing shown in Figure 8 is performed by the CPU 164 executing a program stored in the ROM 165. When the completion stamp connection detection processing starts, first in S601 it is determined whether the output of the solenoid 236 is OFF. The output of the solenoid 236 is detected by the completion stamp detection unit 175. If the output of the solenoid 236 is OFF, the process proceeds to S602. On the other hand, if the output of the solenoid 236 is ON even though the solenoid 236 is not ON (No in S601), considering the possibility that the solenoid 236 is malfunctioning, it is assumed that the completion stamp is not connected and the process proceeds to S611.

[0044] 9 shows an example of the output result of the completion stamp detection unit 175 depending on the connection state of the completion stamp 235 and the output state of the solenoid 236. The completion stamp detection unit 175 detects ON only when the completion stamp 235 is connected and the solenoid 236 is ON, and detects OFF when the completion stamp 235 is not connected or when the solenoid 236 is OFF.

[0045] In S602, the solenoid 236 is turned ON, and in S603, it is determined whether the output of the solenoid 236 is ON. If the output of the solenoid 236 is ON (Yes in S603), it is determined that a completion stamp is connected, and the process proceeds to S604. If the output of the solenoid 236 is OFF (No in S603), it is determined that a completion stamp is not connected, and the process proceeds to S611. In S604, the detection result of the completion stamp is determined to be connected, and the process proceeds to S605, where the solenoid 236 is turned OFF, and the connection detection process ends. In S611, the detection result of the completion stamp is determined to be not connected, and the process proceeds to S605, where the solenoid 236 is turned OFF, and the connection detection process ends. Note that in this embodiment, the completion stamp detection unit 175 is used, which detects the connection of the completion stamp based on the connection state of the completion stamp 235 and the output of the solenoid 236, but a different sensor or detection means may be used.

[0046] As described above, the image reading device 5 in this embodiment changes the content displayed on the fax function selection screen depending on whether the completion stamp 235 is attached to the ADF 200. Specifically, if the completion stamp 235 is attached, the completion stamp button 511 is displayed (FIG. 7(a)), and if the completion stamp 235 is not attached, the completion stamp button 511 is not displayed (FIG. 7(b)). This can reduce user confusion and operational errors, and improve usability.

[0047] In this embodiment, if the completion stamp 235 is not attached, the screen does not display the completion stamp button 511 as shown in Fig. 7(b), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the completion stamp 235 is not attached, it is also possible to display the completion stamp button 511 in a grayed-out state so that it cannot be pressed.

[0048] [Modification of completed stamp connection detection] Next, a modified example of the completed stamp connection detection will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a modified example of the completed stamp connection detection process described in FIG. 8. In this modified example, the control flow for the completed stamp detection result notification process and the button display process is the same as that described above in FIGS. 5 and 6. The process shown in FIG. 10 is performed by the CPU 164 executing a program stored in the ROM 165. When the completed stamp connection detection process starts, first, in S701, it is determined whether the completed stamp connection history indicates a connection. The completed stamp connection history is the result of connection detection of the completed stamp 235 performed in the past, and is stored in the non-volatile memory 257. In other words, the non-volatile memory 257 is an example of a storage unit that stores whether or not the completed stamp 235 is attached to the ADF 200. If the completed stamp connection history indicates a connection (Yes in S701), the process proceeds to S702. If the completed stamp connection history indicates a connection (No in S701), the process proceeds to S711. If the completed stamp connection history indicates that there is a connection, the completed stamp connection has been detected in the past, so the completed stamp detection result is set to indicate that there is a connection without performing connection detection by operating the solenoid 236, and the connection detection process is terminated.

[0049] Steps S711 to S713 are the same as steps S601 to S603 in Figure 8, and therefore will not be described here. In step S714, since the connection of the completed stamp was detected, the result that there is a connection is saved in the connection history of the completed stamp. In step S715, the solenoid 236 is turned OFF, and in step S702, the detection result of the completed stamp is set to "connected," and the connection detection process ends. In step S721, it is determined that the completed stamp is not connected, so the solenoid 236 is turned OFF, and the process proceeds to step S722, where the detection result of the completed stamp is set to "not connected," and the connection detection process ends.

[0050] 10, it is also possible to change the content displayed on the fax function selection screen depending on whether or not the completion stamp 235 is attached to the ADF 200. Furthermore, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, if the nonvolatile memory 257 stores information that the completion stamp 235 was previously attached, the completion stamp detection result indicates that the completion stamp is connected, without the completion stamp detection unit 175 performing a detection operation. In other words, if the nonvolatile memory 257 stores information that the completion stamp 235 is attached to the ADF 200, the completion stamp detection unit 175 does not perform detection, and the completion stamp button 511 is displayed on the display screen 506a. This makes it possible to appropriately control the content displayed on the fax function selection screen without unnecessarily operating the solenoid 236 once the attachment of the completion stamp 235 has been detected.

[0051] It is conceivable that the completion stamp 235 would be added after the image forming apparatus 1 is placed on the ground, but it is unlikely that the completion stamp 235 would be removed from a product that already has the completion stamp 235 mounted on it. Therefore, it is sufficient to simply change the completion stamp button 511 from a state in which it is not displayed to a state in which it is displayed, and there is little need to change the completion stamp button 511 from a state in which it is displayed to a state in which it is not displayed. In other words, the present invention is not limited to control to erase the completion stamp button 511 that is already displayed, but it is sufficient to at least control to display the completion stamp button 511 that is not currently displayed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Image forming device 5. Image reader 33 Image forming unit 101 Surface reading unit 175 Completed stamp detection unit 200 ADF 235 Completed Stamp 236 Solenoid 506 Operation section 506a display screen 511 Completed Stamp Button

Claims

1. an apparatus body including a conveying means for conveying a sheet; a reading means for reading an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means; a stamping means for stamping a mark on the sheet from which the image has been read by the reading means; a detection means for detecting whether the stamping means is attached to the device body; an operation unit having a display screen displaying a button for executing stamping by the stamping means and accepting an operation from a user; and a control means for controlling the operation unit so that, when the detection means detects that the stamping means is attached to the device body, the button is displayed on the display screen, and, when the detection means does not detect that the stamping means is attached to the device body, the button is not displayed on the display screen. An image reading device characterized by:

2. a storage means for storing whether or not the stamping means is attached to the device body; When the storage means stores information that the stamping means is attached to the device body, the control means displays the button on the display screen without performing detection by the detection means.

2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein:

3. a solenoid for pressing the stamping means against the sheet; The detection means detects whether the stamping means is attached or not based on an output from a solenoid.

2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein:

4. The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and an image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium based on the image of the sheet read by the reading means. An image forming apparatus characterized by:

Images