Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To suppress an increase in product cost.SOLUTION: The image reading device 101 includes a ADF102 including a platen guide 305 configured to guide the document D conveyed by the conveyance roller pairs 204a, 204b, 204c, and 204d to a document reading position, a document reading device 103 including an image reading unit 301 configured to irradiate the document D guided to the document reading position by the platen guide 305 with light to read an image of the document D, and a controller 130. The platen guide 305 includes a determination unit 306a or a determination unit 306b corresponding to the type of the ADF102. The control section 130 identifies the type of the ADF102 based on the result of receiving the light reflected by the determination section 306a or the determination section 306b when the image reading unit 301 irradiates the determination section 306a or the determination section 306b with light.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading device configured by combining a document reading device and a document transport device, and an image forming apparatus equipped with this image reading device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, sheet-through automatic document feeders (hereinafter referred to as "ADF") that read images on documents while transporting them have a flow-through unit. In such flow-through units, components such as glass on the image reading device (reader) side become part of the transport path, and it is necessary to ensure continuity with the rest of the transport path arranged inside the ADF.

[0003] In addition, there have been copiers and the like on the market that allow users to select an image reading device and an ADF from among a plurality of printing speeds or reading speeds according to the purpose of use, depending on the function and price. There are a plurality of combinations of image reading devices and ADFs that can be installed in such copiers and the like. Therefore, it has been necessary to correctly identify the connected image reading device and ADF by some means and control the device according to the combination of the connected image reading device and ADF.

[0004] In view of this situation, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that identifies the combination of devices by providing an identification circuit in the device as a means for identifying the combination of devices. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-127933 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in Patent Document 1, the provision of an identification circuit for identifying the image reading device and the ADF increases costs, which is an obstacle to reducing product costs.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device and an image forming device that can identify a document transport device and combine the document transport device with a document reading device without increasing costs, thereby suppressing increases in product costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The image reading device of the present invention is an image reading device including a document reading device, a document transporting device, and an identification means, wherein the document transporting device comprises a transporting section capable of transporting multiple documents continuously, and a guide member that guides the documents transported by the transporting section to a document reading position, the guide member comprising an identification section according to the type of the document transporting device, the document reading device comprising an image reading section that irradiates light onto the document guided to the document reading position by the guide member to read the image of the document, and the identification means identifies the type of the document transporting device based on the result of receiving light reflected by the identification section when the image reading section irradiates light onto the identification section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the document transport device can be identified and combined with the document reading device without increasing costs, so that an increase in product costs can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of an image reading device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image reading device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a platen guide of the image reading device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a change in luminance of a signal read by the image reading device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a platen guide of an image reading device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) <Configuration of image forming device> The configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0013] Image forming apparatus 100 has an image reading device 101, an apparatus main body 104, a paper feed cassette 105, a paper feed roller 106, a laser scanner 107, a laser scanner 108, a laser scanner 109, and a laser scanner 110. Image forming apparatus 100 also has an image forming unit 111, an image forming unit 112, an image forming unit 113, and an image forming unit 114. Image forming apparatus 100 also has an intermediate transfer belt 115, a secondary transfer roller 116, a fixing unit 118, a paper output tray 119, and an operation unit 120.

[0014] Laser scanner 107, laser scanner 108, laser scanner 109, laser scanner 110, image forming unit 111, image forming unit 112, image forming unit 113 and image forming unit 114 make up an image forming section.

[0015] The image reading device 101 is provided above the device main body 104. The image reading device 101 is configured by combining an ADF 102 and an original reading device 103. The image reading device 101 reads an image of an original D. The configuration of the image reading device 101 will be described in detail later.

[0016] The apparatus main body 104 houses various members and devices for forming an image on paper P as a recording material.

[0017] The paper feed cassette 105 accommodates a stack of paper sheets P.

[0018] The paper feed roller 106 feeds the paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 105 toward the secondary transfer roller 116 .

[0019] The laser scanner 107 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 111a of the image forming unit 111 by irradiating the photosensitive drum 111a with a laser based on image information related to yellow Y among the image information of the image read by the image reading device 101.

[0020] The laser scanner 108 irradiates a photosensitive drum of the image forming unit 111 with a laser based on image information related to magenta (M) among the image information of the image read by the image reading device 101, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum.

[0021] The laser scanner 109 irradiates a photosensitive drum of the image forming unit 111 with a laser based on image information related to cyan C from the image information of the image read by the image reading device 101, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum.

[0022] The laser scanner 110 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum of the image forming unit 111 by irradiating the photosensitive drum with a laser based on the image information related to black (K) among the image information of the image read by the image reading device 101.

[0023] The image forming unit 111 forms a yellow Y toner image and primarily transfers the formed yellow Y toner image onto an intermediate transfer belt 115. The image forming unit 111 includes a photosensitive drum 111a, a charger 111b, a developing device 111c, and a primary transfer roller 111d.

[0024] The photosensitive drum 111a rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. An electrostatic latent image is formed by the laser scanner 107 on the photosensitive drum 111a, which has been uniformly charged by the charger 111b.

[0025] The charger 111b uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 111a.

[0026] The developing device 111c supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 111a by the laser scanner 107, thereby forming a yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 111a.

[0027] The primary transfer roller 111d primarily transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 111a by the developing unit 111c onto the intermediate transfer belt 115.

[0028] The image forming unit 112 forms a magenta M toner image and primarily transfers the formed magenta M toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 115. The image forming unit 112 includes a photosensitive drum 112a, a charger 112b, a developing unit 112c, and a primary transfer roller 112d. Note that the configurations of the photosensitive drum 112a, the developing unit 112c, and the primary transfer roller 112d are the same as the configurations of the photosensitive drum 111a, the developing unit 111c, and the primary transfer roller 111d, respectively, except for the formation and primary transfer of a magenta M toner image, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. The configuration of the charger 112b is the same as the configuration of the charger 111b, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] The image forming unit 113 forms a cyan C toner image and primarily transfers the formed cyan C toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 115. The image forming unit 113 includes a photosensitive drum 113a, a charger 113b, a developing unit 113c, and a primary transfer roller 113d. The photosensitive drum 113a, the developing unit 113c, and the primary transfer roller 113d are configured identically to the photosensitive drum 111a, the developing unit 111c, and the primary transfer roller 111d, respectively, except for forming and primarily transferring a cyan C toner image, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. The configuration of the charger 113b is also configured identically to the configuration of the charger 111b, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0030] The image forming unit 114 forms a black K toner image and primarily transfers the formed black K toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 115. The image forming unit 114 includes a photosensitive drum 114a, a charger 114b, a developing unit 114c, and a primary transfer roller 114d. The photosensitive drum 114a, the developing unit 114c, and the primary transfer roller 114d are configured identically to the photosensitive drum 111a, the developing unit 111c, and the primary transfer roller 111d, respectively, except for forming and primarily transferring a black K toner image, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. The configuration of the charger 114b is also configured identically to the configuration of the charger 111b, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0031] Toner images are primarily transferred onto intermediate transfer belt 115 by image forming units 111, 112, 113, and 114. Intermediate transfer belt 115 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 to transport the primarily transferred toner images.

[0032] The secondary transfer roller 116 secondarily transfers the toner image that has been primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 115 onto the paper P fed by the paper feed roller 106. The secondary transfer roller 116 transports the paper P onto which the toner image has been secondarily transferred to the fixing unit 118.

[0033] The fixing unit 118 applies pressure and heat to the paper P being transported by the secondary transfer roller 116, thereby fixing the toner image secondarily transferred onto the paper P by the secondary transfer roller 116 to the paper P. The fixing unit 118 transports the paper P with the fixed toner image toward the paper output tray 119.

[0034] The paper P conveyed by the fixing unit 118 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 119.

[0035] The operation unit 120 as a notification unit is, for example, a touch panel, which is operated by a user when the user inputs information necessary to operate the image forming apparatus 100, and outputs an electrical signal according to the user's operation to a control unit 130 (described later) of the image reading device 101. The operation unit 120 displays predetermined information or images under the control of the control unit 130.

[0036] <Configuration of image reading device> The configuration of the image reading device 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG.

[0037] In Figure 4, Figure 4(a) shows the platen guide 305 provided in the ADF 102, and Figure 4(b) shows the platen guide 305 provided in an ADF 102 of a different type from the ADF 102 provided with the platen guide 305 shown in Figure 4(a).

[0038] The image reading device 101 includes an ADF 102, a document reading device 103, and a control unit 130.

[0039] The ADF 102, which serves as a document transport device, is provided above the document reading device 103. The ADF 102 is provided on the document reading device 103 so as to be openable and closable relative to the document reading device 103. For example, the ADF 102 is opened when rotated counterclockwise relative to the document reading device 103 in FIG. 3, and closed when rotated clockwise relative to the document reading device 103 in FIG. 3.

[0040] The ADF 102 includes a document tray 200, a paper discharge tray 201, a pickup roller 202, a separation roller 203, a pair of conveying rollers 204a, a pair of conveying rollers 204b, a pair of conveying rollers 204c, and a pair of conveying rollers 204d. The ADF 102 also includes a pair of rear conveying rollers 204e, a pair of rear conveying rollers 204f, a pair of rear conveying rollers 204g, and an image reading unit 205. The pair of conveying rollers 204a, the pair of conveying rollers 204b, the pair of conveying rollers 204c, and the pair of conveying rollers 204d form a conveying section that can continuously convey multiple documents D.

[0041] The document tray 200 is loaded with documents D.

[0042] The document D discharged from the pair of rear conveying rollers 204g is stacked on the discharge tray 201.

[0043] The pickup roller 202 pulls in the upper document D placed on the document tray 200 .

[0044] The separation roller 203 separates the documents D drawn in by the pickup roller 202 one by one, and conveys the separated documents D one by one to a pair of conveying rollers 204a.

[0045] The pair of conveying rollers 204a conveys the document D conveyed by the separation roller 203 to the pair of conveying rollers 204b.

[0046] The pair of conveying rollers 204b conveys the document D conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 204a to the pair of conveying rollers 204c.

[0047] The pair of conveying rollers 204c conveys the document D conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 204b to the pair of conveying rollers 204d.

[0048] The pair of conveying rollers 204d conveys the document D conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 204c to the pair of rear conveying rollers 204e.

[0049] The rear conveying roller pair 204e conveys the document D conveyed by the conveying roller pair 204d to the rear conveying roller pair 204f.

[0050] The rear conveying roller pair 204f conveys the document D conveyed by the rear conveying roller pair 204e to the rear conveying roller pair 204g.

[0051] The rear conveying roller pair 204g discharges the document D conveyed by the rear conveying roller pair 204f onto the paper discharge tray 201.

[0052] The image reading unit 205 reads the images of the originals D conveyed from the original tray 200 to the paper discharge tray 201 one by one.

[0053] The document reading device 103 reads an image of a document D set by a user. The document reading device 103 includes a housing 300, an image reading unit 301, a document table glass 302, a flow reading glass 303, a guide shaft 304, and a platen guide 305.

[0054] The housing 300 houses an image reading unit 301 , a guide shaft 304 , and a platen guide 305 .

[0055] 3, image reading unit 301 reads an image of original D placed on original platen glass 302 by irradiating light onto original D placed on original platen glass 302. Image reading unit 301 moves along guide shaft 304 by a moving member (not shown), such as a belt member or a wire. When image reading unit 301 moves to an image reading position substantially below flow reading glass 303, image reading unit 301 reads images of originals D, one by one, as they are transported from original tray 200 to discharge tray 201 of ADF 102. Image reading unit 301 outputs image information of the read images to control unit 130.

[0056] While moving in the X2 direction, the image reading unit 301 irradiates a predetermined area including the discrimination unit 306a or 306b of the platen guide 305 with light. When the image reading unit 301 irradiates the discrimination unit 306a or 306b with light, the image reading unit 301 receives the light reflected by the discrimination unit 306a or 306b and outputs an electrical signal according to the result of the light reception to the control unit 130. Specifically, the image reading unit 301 reads a luminance change that differs for each type of ADF 102 in the light reflected by the discrimination unit 306a or 306b and outputs an electrical signal indicating the read luminance change as a result of light reception to the control unit 130.

[0057] The platen glass 302 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 300 so as to be exposed to the outside. An original D is placed on the platen glass 302.

[0058] The flow reading glass 303 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 300 so as to be exposed to the outside. The flow reading glass 303 is provided at a position adjacent to the platen glass 302 in the direction in which the image reading unit 301 moves.

[0059] The guide shaft 304 supports the image reading unit 301 so that it can move in the X1 and X2 directions in FIG.

[0060] The platen guide 305 as a guide member faces the flow reading glass 303, and faces the image reading unit 301 via the flow reading glass 303 when the image reading unit 301 moves to the image reading position. The platen guide 305 guides the original D conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 204d to the original reading position. Here, the original reading position is the position between the flow reading glass 303 and the platen guide 305. The platen guide 305 is equipped with a discrimination unit 306a or 306b having a different shape depending on the type of ADF 102.

[0061] The discrimination portion 306a is not cut out as shown in FIG. 4(a). The discrimination portion 306b is cut out as shown in FIG. 4(b), and has a different shape from the discrimination portion 306a. The ADF 102 having the platen guide 305 with the discrimination portion 306a and the ADF 102 having the platen guide 305 with the discrimination portion 306b are of different types (models). Note that the platen guide 305 shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) is a view of the platen guide 305 shown in FIG. 3 as seen from the side (left-right direction in FIG. 3).

[0062] The control unit 130 as an identification unit controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 100 based on the electrical signal input from the operation unit 120 and the image information input from the image reading unit 301 .

[0063] The control unit 130 identifies the type of the ADF 102 based on the light reception result indicated by the electrical signal input from the image reading unit 301. Specifically, the control unit 130 determines the types of the platen guide 305 and the ADF 102 based on the brightness change indicated by the electrical signal input from the image reading unit 301. Based on the determination result of the types of the platen guide 305 and the ADF 102, the control unit 130 determines whether the combination of the ADF 102 and the document reading device 103 conforms to the specifications, and performs control to display the determination result on the operation unit 120.

[0064] The image reading device 101 having the above configuration reads the image of the original D in a fixed reading mode in which the original placed on the platen glass 302 is scanned and the image is read, or in a flow reading mode in which the image of the original D fed and transported by the ADF 102 is read.

[0065] Although the image reading device 101 has the image reading unit 205, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image reading unit 205 may not be provided.

[0066] <Image reader operation> The operation of the image reading device 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0067] First, the operation of the image reading device 101 when reading an image of the original D in the fixed reading mode will be described.

[0068] First, the image reading device 101 selects the fixed reading mode when an original detection sensor (not shown) in the housing 300 detects that an original D has been placed on the original platen glass 302 of the original reading device 103. At this time, the original detection sensor detects the presence or absence of an original and the size of the original. Alternatively, the image reading device 101 selects the fixed reading mode when the user designates the fixed reading mode via the operation unit 120 of the image forming device 100 or the like.

[0069] When placing the original D on the platen glass 302, the user opens the ADF 102, places the original D on the platen glass 302, and then closes the ADF 102. Then, the original placed on the platen glass 302 is positioned at a predetermined position on the platen glass 302 when the ADF 102 is closed.

[0070] When the fixed reading mode is selected, the image reading device 101 reads the image of the original D placed on the platen glass 302 by irradiating light onto the original D while moving the image reading unit 301 along the platen glass 302 using a drive motor (not shown). Then, the image reading device 101 outputs image information of the read image to the control unit 130.

[0071] Next, the operation of the image reading device 101 when reading the image of the document D in the flow reading mode will be described.

[0072] First, the image reading device 101 selects the skimming mode when the ADF 102 detects the document D placed on the document tray 200 of the ADF 102, or when the skimming mode is specified by the user via the operation unit 120 of the image forming device 100, etc.

[0073] When the image reading device 101 selects the continuous reading mode, the image reading unit 301 is moved by a drive motor (not shown) along the guide shaft 304 to the image reading position slightly below the continuous reading glass 303.

[0074] Next, the image reading device 101 separates and feeds the plurality of original documents D placed on the original document tray 200 one by one by the pickup roller 202 and the separation roller 203.

[0075] Next, the image reading device 101 conveys the original document D fed by the pickup roller 202 and the separation roller 203 to the image reading position by the conveyance roller pairs 204a, 204b, 204c, and 204d. Further, the image reading device 101 guides the original document D conveyed to the image reading position to the image reading position by the platen guide 305.

[0076] Next, the image reading device 101 reads the image of the original document D conveyed to the image reading position by the image reading unit 301 waiting at the image reading position at the timing when the original document D is conveyed to the image reading position.

[0077] Next, the image reading device 101 conveys the original document D by the post-conveyance roller pairs 204e, 204f, and 204g, and discharges and stacks the original document D on the discharge tray 201.

[0078] Note that when the image reading unit 301 includes the image reading unit 205 in the ADF 102, it is possible to read the images on the front and back surfaces of the original document D simultaneously by conveying the original document D only once.

[0079] <ADF Identification Operation> The ADF identification operation of the image reading device 101 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5(b).

[0080] In Figure 5, Figure 5(a) shows the change in brightness of discrimination section 306a when light is irradiated by image reading unit 301, and Figure 5(b) shows the change in brightness of discrimination section 306b when light is irradiated by image reading unit 301.

[0081] The image reading device 101 may perform the ADF identification operation independently, or may perform the ADF identification operation in parallel with other control operations, such as a color correction scan operation when the main power of the image forming device is turned on.

[0082] 3 (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b)) with the ADF 102 installed in the document reading device 103 and the document D not being conveyed, the image reading unit 301 irradiates the platen guide 305 with light. The image reading unit 301 receives and photoelectrically converts the reflected light when the light is irradiated onto the platen guide 305, and outputs the photoelectrically converted signal to the control unit 130.

[0083] At this time, the image reading unit 301 reads the luminance change corresponding to the discrimination portion 306a or 306b of the platen guide 305, and outputs a signal indicating the read luminance change to the control unit 130. In this way, the image reading unit 301 irradiates the discrimination portion 306a or 306b with light and reads the luminance change that differs for each type of ADF 102, thereby making it possible to identify the ADF 102.

[0084] Specifically, when the platen guide 305 includes a discrimination portion 306a with no notch, the image reading unit 301 outputs a signal indicating a luminance change in a state in which high luminance is maintained in region A indicating the luminance change of the discrimination portion 306a, as shown in Fig. 5(a). On the other hand, when the platen guide 305 includes a discrimination portion 306b with a notch, the image reading unit 301 outputs a signal indicating a luminance change in which the luminance significantly decreases in region A indicating the luminance change of the discrimination portion 306b, as shown in Fig. 5(b).

[0085] The control unit 130 determines the average brightness based on the brightness change in a predetermined area indicated by the signal input from the image reading unit 301, and compares the determined average brightness with a predetermined threshold to determine the type of ADF 102. For example, the control unit 130 selects and determines the type of ADF 102 associated with the comparison result in a table stored in a memory (not shown) that associates the comparison result between the average brightness and the threshold brightness with the type of ADF 102. That is, the control unit 130 identifies the type of ADF 102 based on the result of the image reading unit 301 receiving light reflected by the discrimination unit 306a or 306b of the platen guide 305.

[0086] The control unit 130 controls the operation of the image reading device 101 so that the reading operation is performed in a sequence suitable for the combination of the ADF 102 and the document reading device 103 of the determined type.

[0087] Furthermore, if the combination of the determined type of ADF 102 and document reading device 103 is outside the specifications and is not intended for use, the control unit 130 notifies the user by displaying information indicating the combination is outside the specifications on the operation unit 120, thereby urging the user to prevent use of the unexpected combination. For example, a table showing combinations determined by the specifications of the ADF 102 and document reading device 103 is stored in advance in a memory (not shown). Then, if the combination of the determined type of ADF 102 and document reading device 103 is not present in the table stored in the memory, or if there is no ADF 102 of the determined type, the control unit 130 determines that the combination is outside the specifications.

[0088] The color of the discrimination portions 306a and 306b of the platen guide 305 is preferably white to increase the difference in brightness between the discrimination portion 306a without a notch and the discrimination portion 306b with a notch.

[0089] Furthermore, if the device main body 104 or the image reading device 101 is equipped with an LED as a notification unit, the control unit 130 may notify the user that the combination of the ADF 102 and the document reading device 103 is out of specification by flashing or lighting the LED. In this way, the control unit 130 may notify the user by light of information indicating that the combination of the ADF 102 and the document reading device 103 is out of specification.

[0090] Furthermore, if the device main body 104 or the image reading device 101 is equipped with a speaker as a notification unit, the control unit 130 may use the speaker to notify that the combination of the ADF 102 and the document reading device 103 is out of specification. In this way, the control unit 130 may issue a warning by notifying information indicating that the combination of the ADF 102 and the document reading device 103 is out of specification by sound or voice.

[0091] Furthermore, the control unit 130 may notify information indicating that the combination of the ADF 102 and the document reading device 103 is out of specification by at least two of the display on the operation unit 120, the sound or voice from the speaker, and the light from the LED.

[0092] In this embodiment, the ADF 102 can be identified by irradiating the discrimination unit 306a or 306b with light and reading a luminance change that differs depending on the type of ADF 102. This makes it possible to identify the ADF 102 and combine the ADF 102 with the document reading device 103 without increasing costs, thereby suppressing an increase in product costs.

[0093] (Embodiment 2) The configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0094] <Configuration of image reading device> The configuration of an image reading device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0095] 6 and the configuration of the image reading device according to this embodiment, the same components as those in FIGS. 2 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals or are not shown, and their description will be omitted. The components other than the discrimination unit of the image reading device according to this embodiment will be described using the reference numerals of image reading device 101 in the first embodiment.

[0096] In Figure 6, Figure 6(a) shows the platen guide 305 provided in the ADF 102, and Figure 6(b) shows the platen guide 305 provided in an ADF 102 of a different type from the ADF 102 provided with the platen guide 305 shown in Figure 6(a).

[0097] The platen guide 305 includes a discrimination unit 306 a or 306 c that has a different degree of light diffusion depending on the type of the ADF 102 .

[0098] The discrimination portion 306a does not have minute irregularities. The discrimination portion 306c has minute irregularities and has a different shape from the discrimination portion 306a. The ADF 102 having the platen guide 305 with the discrimination portion 306a and the ADF 102 having the platen guide 305 with the discrimination portion 306c are of different types (models).

[0099] The image reading unit 301 irradiates a predetermined area including the discrimination unit 306a or 306c of the platen guide 305 with light while moving in the X2 direction (the left-right direction in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b)). When the image reading unit 301 irradiates the discrimination unit 306a or 306c with light, the image reading unit 301 receives the light reflected by the discrimination unit 306a or 306c and outputs an electrical signal according to the result of the light reception to the control unit 130. Specifically, the image reading unit 301 reads a luminance change in the light reflected by the discrimination unit 306a or 306c, which differs depending on the type of ADF 102, and outputs an electrical signal indicating the read luminance change as a result of light reception to the control unit 130.

[0100] The operation of the image reading device according to this embodiment is the same as the image reading operation according to the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0101] <ADF Identification Operation> The ADF identification operation of the image reading apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5(a), 5(c), and 6.

[0102] FIG. 5(c) shows the luminance change of the discrimination unit 306c when irradiated with light by the image reading unit 301.

[0103] With the ADF 102 installed in the document reading device 103, the image reading unit 301 irradiates the platen guide 305 with light while moving in the X2 direction of FIG. 3 without the document D being conveyed. The image reading unit 301 receives the reflected light when irradiating the platen guide 305 with light, photoelectrically converts it, and outputs the photoelectrically converted signal to the control unit 130.

[0104] At this time, the image reading unit 301 reads the luminance change corresponding to the discrimination unit 306a or the discrimination unit 306c of the platen guide 305, and outputs a signal indicating the read luminance change to the control unit 130. In this way, the image reading unit 301 irradiates the discrimination unit 306a or the discrimination unit 306c with light to read different luminance changes for each type of ADF 102, thereby making it possible to identify the ADF 102.

[0105] Specifically, when the platen guide 305 includes the discrimination unit 306a without fine irregularities, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the image reading unit 301 outputs a signal indicating a luminance change in which a high luminance is maintained in the region A indicating the luminance change of the discrimination unit 306a. On the other hand, the discrimination unit 306c having fine irregularities has a greater degree of light diffusion when irradiated with light than the discrimination unit 306a without irregularities. Therefore, when the platen guide 305 includes the discrimination unit 306c having fine irregularities, as shown in FIG. 5(c), the image reading unit 301 outputs a signal indicating a luminance change in which the luminance decreases in the region A indicating the luminance change of the discrimination unit 306c.

[0106] This makes it possible to distinguish between an ADF 102 having a platen guide 305 with discrimination unit 306a and an ADF 102 having a platen guide 305 with discrimination unit 306c. Note that operations other than those described above in the ADF discrimination operation of the image reading device according to this embodiment are the same as the ADF discrimination operation of image reading device 101 according to the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0107] In this embodiment, the ADF 102 can be identified by irradiating the discrimination unit 306a or 306c with light and reading a luminance change that differs depending on the type of ADF 102. This makes it possible to identify the ADF 102 and combine the ADF 102 with the document reading device 103 without increasing costs, thereby suppressing an increase in product costs.

[0108] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0109] Specifically, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the discrimination unit 306b having a notch or the discrimination unit 306c having fine irregularities is provided, but this is not limiting, and a convex-shaped discrimination unit or a discrimination unit of a different color may be provided depending on the type of ADF 102. In this case as well, the image reading unit 301 can output a signal with a different brightness change depending on the presence or absence of a convex shape or the color.

[0110] In the first and second embodiments, the type of the ADF 102 is identified by the control unit 130. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image reading device 101 may be provided with a control unit that identifies the type of the ADF 102.

[0111] In the first and second embodiments described above, the ADF 102 including the platen guide 305 shown in FIG. 4(a) and the ADF 102 including the platen guide 305 shown in FIG. 4(b) have the same configuration except for the platen guide 305. Thus, the fact that the control unit 130 identifies the type of the ADF 102 can be rephrased as the control unit 130 identifying the type of the platen guide 305. In other words, the control unit 130 may identify the type of the ADF 102 as a whole, or may identify the type of the platen guide 305 that is part of the ADF 102. In this case, the control unit 130 may be configured to only notify that the type of the platen guide 305 is inappropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 100 Image forming device 101 Image reading device 102 ADF 103 Document reader 104 Device body 111 Image forming unit 112 Image forming unit 113 Image forming unit 114 Image forming unit 200 Document Tray 201 Paper output tray 202 Pickup roller 203 Separation roller 204a conveying roller pair 204b conveying roller pair 204c conveying roller pair 204d Conveying roller pair 205 Image reading unit 300 cabinets 301 Image reading unit 302 Document glass 303 Skimming Glass 304 Guide shaft 305 Platen Guide 306a Discrimination part 306b Discrimination part 306c Discrimination part

Claims

1. An image reading device including a document reading device, a document transport device, and an identification means, The document transport device a conveying unit capable of continuously conveying a plurality of sheets of original document; and a guide member that guides the original document conveyed by the conveying unit to an original document reading position; The guide member is a discrimination unit according to the type of the document transport device; The document reading device an image reading unit that reads an image of the document by irradiating light onto the document guided to the document reading position by the guide member; The identification means and identifying the type of the document transport device based on a result of receiving light reflected by the discrimination unit when the image reading unit irradiates the discrimination unit with light. An image reading device characterized by:

2. a notification unit that notifies information indicating that the combination of the document transport device and the document reading device identified by the identification unit is out of specification when the combination is out of specification; 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The notification unit notifying information indicating that the specification is not met by display; 3. The image reading device according to claim 2,

4. The notification unit The information indicating that the specification is not met is notified by sound or voice.

3. The image reading device according to claim 2,

5. The notification unit The information indicating that the specification is out of range is notified by light.

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

6. The notification unit The information indicating that the product is out of specifications is notified by at least two of a display, a sound or voice, and a light.

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

7. The identification means identifying the type of the document transport device based on a change in luminance that differs depending on the type of the document transport device as a result of the light reception; 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein:

8. An image reading device including a document reading device, a document transport device, and an identification means, The document transport device a conveying unit capable of continuously conveying a plurality of sheets of original document; and a guide member that guides the original document conveyed by the conveying unit to an original document reading position; The guide member is a discrimination unit according to the type of the document transport device; The document reading device an image reading unit that reads an image of the document by irradiating light onto the document guided to the document reading position by the guide member; The identification means the image reading unit irradiates the discrimination unit with light and then receives the light reflected by the discrimination unit, and identifies the type of the guide member based on the result of the reception of the light. An image reading device characterized by:

9. The identification means identifying the type of the guide member based on a change in luminance that differs depending on the type of the document transport device as a result of the light reception; 9. The image reading device according to claim 8, wherein:

10. The determination unit The document transport device has a different shape depending on the type of the document transport device.

10. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is a scanning device.

11. The determination unit The document feeder has different colors depending on the type of the document feeder.

10. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is a scanning device.

12. The determination unit The degree of light diffusion varies depending on the type of the document transport device.

10. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is a scanning device.

13. An image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 9; an image forming unit that forms an image of the document read by the image reading device on a recording material; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images