Image reading apparatus

Abstract

To appropriately feed a document by more reliably selecting an appropriate separation state according to the type of the document.SOLUTION: A reading unit that reads a document, a document mounting unit on which the document is mounted, a feeding roller that feeds the document from the document mounting unit, and a roller that nips the document between the feeding roller and the roller, A separation roller capable of switching between a separation state in which separation of a document is performed and a non-separation state in which separation of a document is not performed, and a control unit that controls feeding of a document are provided, in which the control unit determines whether to perform feeding in the separation state or to perform feeding in the non-separation state based on a type of a document set via a user interface for selecting a type of a document to be read and instructing start of reading.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading device that reads a document, and a control program that controls feeding of a document in the image reading device. [Background technology]

[0002] The following describes a scanner, which is an example of an image reading device. The scanner may be provided with a feeding device (also called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder)) that automatically feeds documents, which are an example of a medium, and may be configured to automatically feed and read multiple documents.

[0003] Such a feeding device is configured as shown in Patent Document 1, and includes a tray on which documents are placed (referred to as "chute 14" in Patent Document 1), a feeding roller (referred to as "set roller 2" in Patent Document 1) that contacts the surface of the documents set on the tray and rotates to feed the documents, and a separation roller (referred to as "separation roller 12" in Patent Document 1) that contacts the feeding roller to separate the documents.

[0004] The feed roller described in Patent Document 1 is configured to feed multiple documents (a stack of sheets) loaded on a tray in order, starting with the bottom sheet, i.e., the sheet closest to the tray's loading surface, and the top sheet, i.e., the sheet to be separated, has its leading edge abutted against the separation roller, preventing it from proceeding downstream. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4820314 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] There are many different types of documents, some of which are made up of multiple layers, and if the separating force of a separation roller is applied to such documents in the same way as to normal documents, the layers may separate, causing serious damage. One such document is the film used in instant cameras (hereinafter referred to as "instant film"). However, it is difficult for the scanner control unit to know that such a document has been set, and it is also difficult for the user to understand that if such a document is fed as is in the same way as other documents, it will be severely damaged.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to feed documents appropriately by more reliably selecting an appropriate separation state according to the type of document. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, an image reading device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a reading unit that reads a document, a document placing unit on which the document is placed, a feed roller that sends the document from the document placing unit, a roller that nips the document between the feed roller and the separation roller, which is switchable between a separation state in which the document is separated and a non-separation state in which the document is not separated, and a control unit that controls the feeding of the document, wherein the control unit determines whether to feed the document in the separation state or the non-separation state based on the type of document set via a user interface for selecting the type of document to be read and instructing the start of reading.

[0009] According to this aspect, the separation roller can be switched between a separation state in which the document is separated and a non-separation state in which the document is not separated, and the control unit that controls the document feeding determines whether to feed the document in the separation state or the non-separation state based on the type of document set via a user interface for selecting the type of document to be read and instructing the start of reading, so that the appropriate separation state can be reliably selected according to the type of document, and the document can be fed appropriately. In addition, the user only needs to select the type of document and start reading using the user interface, and does not need to select the separation state or non-separation state of the separation roller, making it user-friendly and also preventing user setting errors.

[0010] A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, a switching means is provided for switching between the separation state and the non-separation state under the control of the control unit, and the control unit controls the switching means based on the type of document that has been set.

[0011] According to this aspect, a switching means is provided for switching between the separation state and the non-separation state under the control of the control unit, and the control unit controls the switching means based on the type of document that has been set. In other words, the switching between the separation state and the non-separation state is performed automatically without the user's intervention, thereby improving user operability.

[0012] A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, a switching means is provided for switching between the separation state and the non-separation state by user operation, and the control unit issues an alert if the state of the separation roller does not correspond to the type of document that has been set.

[0013] According to this aspect, a switching means is provided that switches between the separation state and the non-separation state through user operation, and the control unit issues an alert if the state of the separation roller does not correspond to the type of document that has been set, thereby urging the user to perform the correct operation and ultimately allowing the document to be fed.

[0014] A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any of the first to third aspects, a multi-feed detection unit that detects multi-feeding of documents is provided downstream of the feed roller, and the control unit is capable of switching between a first feed mode in which a first document is fed and a second feed mode in which a second document is fed, the first feed mode being a mode in which the separation roller is fed in the non-separated state, and the second feed mode being a mode in which the separation roller is fed in the separated state, and the control unit does not use the multi-feed detection unit in the first feed mode and uses the multi-feed detection unit in the second feed mode.

[0015] The document that is fed with the separation roller in the non-separated state may be made up of multiple layers, and therefore, if a multi-feed detection unit that detects multi-feeding of documents is used, there is a risk that it will determine that a multi-feed has occurred even though there is no multi-feed, and the job will be stopped. According to this aspect, the control unit does not use the double feed detection unit in the first feeding mode in which the non-separated state is achieved, and uses the double feed detection unit in the second feeding mode in which the separated state is achieved, thereby avoiding the above-mentioned problem. Furthermore, in the first feeding mode, it is possible to appropriately feed a document that is made up of multiple layers, that is, a document that would be damaged if separated by the separation roller.

[0016] An image reading device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the fourth aspect, the first feeding mode is a feeding mode in which only one document set on the document placing section is fed and the device is in a feeding standby state until the next document is set, and the second feeding mode is a feeding mode in which multiple documents set on the document placing section are separated by the separation roller and then fed continuously.

[0017] According to this aspect, in the first feeding mode, it is possible to appropriately feed a document that is made up of multiple layers, that is, a document that would be damaged if separated by the separation roller.

[0018] A control program according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a control program for controlling the feeding of documents in an image reading device that includes a reading unit that reads documents, a document loading unit on which the documents are placed, a feed roller that sends the documents from the document loading unit, and a separation roller that nips the documents between the reading unit and the feed roller and is switchable between a separation state in which the documents are separated and a non-separation state in which the documents are not separated, and is characterized in that it includes a process for determining whether to feed the documents in the separation state or the non-separation state based on the type of document set via a user interface for selecting the type of document to be read and instructing the start of reading.

[0019] According to this aspect, the separation roller can be switched between a separation state in which the document is separated and a non-separation state in which the document is not separated, and the control program that controls the document feeding includes a process that determines whether to feed the document in the separation state or the non-separation state based on the type of document set via a user interface for selecting the type of document to be read and instructing the start of reading, so that an appropriate separation state can be reliably selected according to the type of document, and the document can be fed appropriately. In addition, the user only needs to select the type of document and start reading using the user interface, and does not need to select the separation state or non-separation state of the separation roller, making it user-friendly and also preventing user setting errors. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view showing a scanner according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the scanner according to the present invention, seen from a different angle from that of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a document transport path in the scanner according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the scanner according to the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a switching unit that switches the separation roller between a separation state and a non-separation state. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a condition table showing feeding conditions for each document type. [Figure 7] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing an example of transition of a user interface when scanning a normal photo. [Figure 8] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing an example of transition of a user interface when reading a panoramic photograph. [Figure 9] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing an example of transition of a user interface when reading an instant photograph. [Figure 10] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing an example of transition of a user interface when scanning a normal photo. [Figure 11] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing an example of transition of a user interface when reading an instant photograph. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an external perspective view showing a scanner according to the present invention (second embodiment). [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a switching unit that switches the separation roller between a separation state and a non-separation state (second embodiment). [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a switching unit that switches the separation roller between a separation state and a non-separation state (second embodiment). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] An embodiment of an image reading device and an example of a control program according to the present invention will be described below. In this embodiment, a document scanner (hereinafter simply referred to as scanner 1) capable of reading at least one of the front and back sides of a document, which is an example of a medium, will be used as an example of the image reading device.

[0022] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a scanner according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the scanner according to the present invention seen from a different angle than in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing the document transport path in the scanner according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control system of the scanner according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of a switching means for switching the separation roller between a separated state and a non-separated state. In addition, Figure 6 is a condition table diagram showing feeding conditions for each document type, Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the user interface when reading a regular photograph, Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the user interface when reading a panoramic photograph, Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the user interface when reading an instant photograph, Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the user interface when reading a regular photograph, and Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the user interface when reading an instant photograph.

[0023] Also, Figure 12 is an external perspective view showing a scanner according to the present invention (second embodiment), and Figures 13 and 14 are perspective views (second embodiment) of a switching means for switching the separation roller between a separation state and a non-separation state.

[0024] In the XYZ coordinate system shown in each figure, the X direction is the device width direction and the document width direction, and the Y direction is the document transport direction. The Z direction intersects with the Y direction and generally indicates a direction perpendicular to the surface of the document being transported. The +Y direction side is the front side of the device, and the -Y direction side is the rear side of the device. When viewed from the front side of the device, the left side is the +X direction and the right side is the -X direction. The +Z direction is the upper side of the device (including the upper part, upper surface, etc.), and the -Z direction side is the lower side of the device (including the lower part, lower surface, etc.). The direction in which the document P is fed (+Y direction side) is called "downstream," and the opposite direction (-Y direction side) is called "upstream."

[0025] ■■■Scanner Overview■■■ A scanner 1 according to the present invention will be described below mainly with reference to FIGS. The scanner 1 includes a device main body 2 that includes a reading unit 20 (FIG. 3) that reads an image of a document P therein. The device main body 2 is configured to include a lower unit 3 and an upper unit 4. The upper unit 4 is attached so as to be able to open and close with the downstream side in the document transport direction as a pivot point relative to the lower unit 3, and is configured so that the upper unit 4 can be rotated open toward the front of the device to expose the document transport path for the document P, making it easy to clear any jammed document P.

[0026] On the rear side (-Y axis direction side) of the device main body 2, there is provided a document placing section 11 having a placing surface 11a on which a document P to be fed is placed. The document placing section 11 is provided detachably with respect to the device main body 2. In addition, the document placement section 11 is provided with a pair of left and right edge guides 12, 12 each having a guide surface 13 that guides the side edge of the document P in the width direction (X-axis direction) that intersects with the feeding direction (Y-axis direction).

[0027] The document placement section 11 is equipped with a first paper support 8 and a second paper support 9. The first paper support 8 and the second paper support 9 can be stored inside the document placement section 11 as shown in Fig. 2, and can be pulled out from the document placement section 11 as shown in Fig. 1, making the length of the placement surface 11a adjustable.

[0028] The device main body 2 is provided with an operation panel 7 on the front side of the device of the upper unit 4, which realizes a user interface (UI) for performing various reading settings and reading execution operations and displaying reading setting contents, etc. In this embodiment, the operation panel 7 is a so-called touch panel that can be used for both display and input. A feed opening 6 that connects to the inside of the device main body 2 is provided at the top of the upper unit 4, and the document P placed on the document placement section 11 is sent from the feed opening 6 toward the reading section 20 provided inside the device main body 2. Furthermore, a paper discharge tray 5, which will be described later, is provided on the front side of the lower unit 3.

[0029] ■■■Document transport path in the scanner■■■ Next, the document transport path in the scanner 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, the dotted line indicated by the symbol T indicates the document transport path. On the downstream side of the document placing section 11, there are provided a feeding roller 14 that sends the document P placed on the placing surface 11a of the document placing section 11 toward the reading section 20, and a separation roller 15 that nips the document P between the feeding roller 14 and separates it.

[0030] The document P placed on the placement surface 11a of the document placement section 11 is fed downstream (toward the +Y direction) by a feed roller 14 rotatably provided with respect to the lower unit 3. Therefore, when multiple documents P are set on the document placement section 11 in the scanner 1, the documents P are fed downstream in order starting from the document placement surface 11a side. The document placement section 11 is provided with a sensor (not shown) for detecting whether or not the document P is present on the document placement section 11.

[0031] The feed roller 14 is rotationally driven by a feed roller motor 45 (FIG. 4). The feed roller 14 receives rotational torque from the feed roller motor 45 and rotates counterclockwise in FIG. A rotational torque is transmitted to the separation roller 15 from a transport roller motor 46 (FIG. 4) via a torque limiter (not shown).

[0032] When no document P is interposed between the feed roller 14 and the separation roller 15, or when only one document P is interposed, the separation roller 15 rotates (clockwise in Figure 3) regardless of the rotational torque received from the conveying roller motor 46 due to slippage occurring at a torque limiter (not shown). When a second or subsequent document P, in addition to the document P to be fed, enters between the feed roller 14 and the separation roller 15, slippage occurs between the documents, causing the separation roller 15 to rotate counterclockwise in Fig. 3 due to the rotational torque received from the transport roller motor 46. This prevents multiple documents P from being fed. A separation switching means 68A (FIGS. 4 and 5) is provided on the drive force transmission path from the transport roller motor 46 to the separation roller 15, which will be described later.

[0033] Provided downstream of the feed roller 14 are a pair of transport rollers 16, a reading unit 20 that reads an image, and a pair of discharge rollers 17. The document P nipped by the feed roller 14 and the separation roller 15 and fed downstream is nipped by the pair of transport rollers 16 and transported to the reading unit 20 located downstream of the pair of transport rollers 16. The pair of transport rollers 16 is rotationally driven by a transport roller motor 46 (FIG. 4).

[0034] An ultrasonic wave transmitter 31 and an ultrasonic wave receiver 32 that constitute the multi-feed detector 33 are provided on the document transport path between the feed roller 14 and the reading unit 20. More specifically, the multi-feed detector 33 includes the ultrasonic wave transmitter 31 that emits ultrasonic waves, and the ultrasonic wave receiver 32 that receives the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitter 31 and outputs a detection signal according to the received ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic wave transmitter 31 and the ultrasonic wave receiver 32 are provided above and below the document transport path, respectively. More specifically, the ultrasonic wave transmitter 31 is provided on the upper unit 4 side, and the ultrasonic wave receiver 32 is provided on the lower unit 3 side. The multi-feed detection unit 33 can detect multi-feeding of the transported documents P and documents P with folds, wrinkles, or the like.

[0035] The reading unit 20 includes an upper reading sensor 20a provided on the upper unit 4 side and a lower reading sensor 20b provided on the lower unit 3 side. In this embodiment, the upper reading sensor 20a and the lower reading sensor 20b are configured as contact image sensor modules (CISMs), for example.

[0036] In addition, a document detection unit 47 that detects the passage of the leading or trailing end of the document P is provided between the double feed detection unit 33 and the feed roller 14 in the document transport path. Based on the signal sent from the document detection unit 47, the control unit 40 of the scanner 1 can grasp the position of the document P in the document transport path.

[0037] After the image of at least one of the front and back sides of the document P is read in the reading unit 20, the document P is nipped by a pair of discharge rollers 17 located downstream of the reading unit 20 and discharged from a discharge outlet 18 provided on the front side of the device of the lower unit 3. The pair of discharge rollers 17 is rotated by a transport roller motor 46 (FIG. 4).

[0038] The lower unit 3 is provided with a paper output tray 5 that can be pulled out from the discharge port 18 toward the front of the device. The paper output tray 5 can be stored in the bottom of the lower unit 3 (FIG. 1) or pulled out toward the front of the device (not shown). When the paper output tray 5 is pulled out, documents P discharged from the discharge port 18 can be stacked on the paper output tray 5.

[0039] ■■■About the control system of the scanner■■■ 4, a control unit 40 performs various controls of the scanner 1, including feeding control of the document P. Signals are input to the control unit 40 from the operation panel 7, and signals for realizing the display of the operation panel 7, particularly the user interface (UI), are sent from the control unit 40 to the operation panel 7. The control unit 40 controls the motor 45 for the feed roller and the motor 46 for the transport roller. As described above, the motor 45 for the feed roller is the drive source for the feed roller 14, and the motor 46 for the transport roller is the drive source for the separation roller 15, the transport roller pair 16, and the discharge roller pair 17. The control unit 40 receives the read data from the reading unit 20 and also transmits a signal for controlling the reading unit 20 from the control unit 40 to the reading unit 20 . Signals from the double feed detector 33 and the document detector 47 are also input to the controller 40 .

[0040] The control unit 40 includes a CPU 41, a ROM 42, and a memory 43. The CPU 41 performs various arithmetic processing in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 42, and controls the overall operation of the scanner 1. The memory 43, which is an example of a storage unit, is a non-volatile memory that can be read and written, and stores various data necessary for multifeed detection, which will be described later. The ROM 42 stores a control program 44 for controlling the feeding of the document P according to an embodiment of the present invention (details will be described later).

[0041] The scanner 1 is also configured to be connectable to an external computer 60, and information is input to the control unit 40 from the external computer 60. The external computer 60 is equipped with a display unit 62. A user interface (UI) is realized on the display unit 62 by a control program stored in a storage means (not shown).

[0042] The control unit 40 also controls a separation switching means 68A provided on a power transmission path from the transport roller motor 46 to the separation roller 15. The separation switching means 68A will be described below with reference to FIG. In Figure 5, symbol 22 indicates a transmission shaft that transmits driving force from the motor 46 for the conveying roller to the separation roller 15, and the driving force from the motor 46 for the conveying roller is transmitted to the transmission shaft 22 via a drive gear 71, a slide gear 72, and a gear group 70. The drive gear 71 , slide gear 72 , gear group 70 , transmission shaft 22 , and separation switching means 68 A described later constitute a power transmission mechanism 69 that transmits driving force from the transport roller motor 46 to the separation roller 15 .

[0043] The slide gear 72 is slidable in the direction of its rotation axis (left and right in FIG. 5 ), and by sliding, it can be switched between a state in which it meshes with the drive gear 71 and transmits driving force to the gear group 70 (solid line) and a state in which it disengages from the drive gear 71 and does not transmit driving force to the gear group 70 (chain double-dashed line). Hereinafter, the state in which driving force is transmitted from the drive gear 71 to the gear group 70, i.e., the state in which the driving force of the transport roller motor 46 is transmitted to the separation roller 15, will be referred to as the "separation state" in which the document P is separated. Furthermore, the state in which driving force is not transmitted from the drive gear 71 to the gear group 70, i.e., the state in which the driving force of the transport roller motor 46 is not transmitted to the separation roller 15, will be referred to as the "non-separation state" in which the document P is not separated. In the non-separation state, the separation roller 15 is freely rotatable with a light force.

[0044] The separation switching means 68A switches between the separated state and the non-separated state. The separation switching means 68A is configured to include an electromagnetic plunger 74 and a gear engagement member 73A that is displaced in the left-right direction in Figure 5 by the electromagnetic plunger 74. The gear engagement member 73A is shaped to sandwich the slide gear 72, and the operation of the electromagnetic plunger 74 displaces the slide gear 72, switching between the separated state and the non-separated state.

[0045] ■■■About feeding control in scanners■■■ Next, with reference to FIG. 6 and subsequent figures, the feed control that can be switched depending on the document type will be described. The control program 44 (FIG. 4) included in the control unit 40 realizes the user interfaces (UI) shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, or 10 and 11. The user interfaces shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, or 10 and 11 are user interfaces realized on the operation panel 7, and are operation menus for performing reading.

[0046] 7, operation menu U-1 is an operation menu that is realized when reading various photographs, which are examples of originals P. Although not shown, operation menu U-1 is an operation menu for selecting whether to read a photograph or a document, and is an operation menu that is realized when a photograph is selected. In this embodiment, three types of photos can be selected: "normal photo," "panoramic photo," and "instant photo." Instant photos are photos that are made up of multiple layers, such as Polaroid (a registered trademark of Polaroid Corporation), and if separation is performed with the separation roller 15 in the separating state, the layers may separate and be damaged.

[0047] As shown in Figure 7, when "Normal Photo" is selected in operation menu U-1, the screen transitions to operation menu U-1A. In operation menu U-1A, a guide "Please set the document" is displayed, and three operation icons "Start," "Stop," and "Cancel" are displayed, with the "Stop" icon set as unselectable. If "Cancel" is selected in the operation menu U-1A, the operation menu U-1 is displayed again. When "Start" is selected in the operation menu U-1A, the operation menu U-1B is displayed, and normal photo feeding and reading begins. In the operation menu U-1B, a guide "Reading" is displayed, and the "Start" and "Cancel" icons are set to be unselectable. If "Stop" is selected in the operation menu U-1B, reading is stopped and the screen returns to the operation menu U-1A. If "Stop" is not selected in the operation menu U-1B and reading is completed, the screen returns to the operation menu U-1. The "Cancel" icons on the operation menus U-1A and U-1B may be omitted.

[0048] When "normal photo" is selected in the operation menu U-1, the control unit 40 selects table No. 3 in FIG. 6 as the feeding condition to be applied when feeding the document P. 6, the "multi-feed detection threshold" is a threshold used to determine whether or not a multi-feed has occurred based on the signal level obtained by the multi-feed detection unit 33. The thicker the document, the lower the signal level, so the lower the threshold is set. Here, a threshold for "photos" is used. In addition, "ON" in "Double Feed Detection" indicates that a double feed detection is performed, and "OFF" indicates that a double feed detection is not performed. In this example, it is "ON" and a double feed detection is performed. "Single sheet feed mode" is a feed mode in which documents P are set and fed one by one, without setting multiple documents P, and "ON" indicates that this mode is applied, while "OFF" indicates that it is not applied. In this case, it is "OFF", allowing multiple documents P to be set, and the documents are fed sequentially from the bottom of the multiple documents set. The "separation mode" indicates either the separation state or the non-separation state of the separation roller 15. In this case, the "separation" mode is selected, and the separation roller 15 is in the separation state to separate the document.

[0049] Next, when "Panorama" is selected in the operation menu U-1 as shown in Figure 8, the operation menu U-2A is displayed. In the operation menu U-2A, a guide "Please set the original" is displayed, and three operation icons "Start," "Stop," and "Cancel" are displayed, with the "Stop" icon set as unselectable. If "Cancel" is selected in the operation menu U-2A, the operation menu U-1 is displayed again. When "Start" is selected on the operation menu U-2A, the operation menu U-2B is displayed and feeding and reading of the panoramic photograph begins. In the operation menu U-2B, a guide "Reading" is displayed, and the "Start" and "Cancel" icons are set to be unselectable. If "Stop" is selected in the operation menu U-2B, reading is stopped and the screen returns to the operation menu U-2A. If "Stop" is not selected in the operation menu U-2B and reading is completed, the screen returns to the operation menu U-1. The "Cancel" icons on the operation menus U-2A and U-2B may be omitted.

[0050] When "Panorama" is selected in the operation menu U-1, the control unit 40 selects table No. 1 in Fig. 6 as the feeding conditions to be applied when feeding the document P. The feeding mode realized by the feeding conditions of table No. 1 becomes the "second feeding mode." Here, the "Photo" threshold is applied to the "Multi-feed detection threshold," and "Multi-feed detection" is selected to "ON" to perform multi-feed detection. "Single sheet feed mode" is selected to "OFF," allowing multiple documents to be set, and the documents are fed sequentially from the bottom. In the "separation mode", "separation" is selected, the separation roller 15 is set to the separation state, and document separation is performed.

[0051] Next, when "Instant" is selected in operation menu U-1 as shown in Figure 9, the operation menu U-3A is displayed. In operation menu U-3A, a guide "Please set the first document" is displayed, and two operation icons "Start" and "Cancel" are also displayed. When "Cancel" is selected in operation menu U-3A, the operation menu U-1 is displayed again. When "Start" is selected in the operation menu U-3A, feeding and reading of the instant photograph begins, and the operation menu U-3B appears. When the operation menu U-3B is displayed, the first instant photo has already been scanned, the "Start" icon is disabled, and a guide message appears saying "Please insert the next document." In this state, if you set the next document, a sensor (not shown) will detect it and the document will be fed and read automatically. In other words, you only need to touch the "Start" icon for the first document, but from then on, the document will be fed and read automatically as it is set. If "Cancel" is selected in operation menus U-3A and U-3B, the operation menu U-1 will be displayed again. The "Cancel" icons on the operation menus U-3A and U-3B may be omitted.

[0052] When "instant" is selected in the operation menu U-1, the control unit 40 selects table No. 2 in Fig. 6 as the feeding conditions to be applied when feeding the document. The feeding mode realized by the feeding conditions of table No. 2 becomes the "first feeding mode." Here, "OFF" is selected for "Double Feed Detection" so that double feed detection is not performed, "Single Sheet Feed Mode" is selected to be "ON", "Non-Separation" is selected for "Separation Mode", the separation roller 15 is in the non-separation state, and document separation is not performed.

[0053] When "Document" is selected in the operation menu (not shown) before transitioning to the operation menu U-1, the control unit 40 selects table No. 4 in FIG. 6 as the feeding condition to be applied when feeding the document P. Here, the "document" threshold is applied to the "multiple feed detection threshold", and "on" is selected for "multiple feed detection" to determine whether a multifeed has occurred. "Off" is selected for "single sheet feed mode", allowing multiple sheets of original P to be set, and the multiple sheets of original P set are fed sequentially starting from the bottom one. "Separation mode" is selected to "separate", and the separation roller 15 is set to the separation state, so the originals are separated.

[0054] The UIs shown in Figures 7 to 9 can also be changed as shown in Figures 10 and 11. In the operation menu U-2 shown in Figures 10 and 11, the document type is selected using so-called radio buttons, and when the "Start" icon is selected, feeding and reading of the document P selected with the radio button begins. In the case of "Normal Photo" (and "Panoramic Photo"), a guide saying "Please set the document" is displayed, and when the "Start" icon is selected, feeding and reading of the document P begins, and the operation menu U-4A is displayed. In the operation menu U-4A, a "Stop" icon is displayed. When reading is completed or the "Stop" icon is selected, the operation menu U-2 is displayed again. When "Panorama" is selected, the menu transition is the same as for "Normal Photo."

[0055] On the other hand, if "Instant" is selected, a guide saying "Please set the first document" is displayed, as shown in Figure 11. When the user sets one document P and selects the "Start" icon, feeding and scanning of the instant photo begins, and the screen transitions to operation menu U-5C. By the time the operation menu U-5C appears, the first instant photo has already been scanned and a prompt appears saying, "Please insert the next document." In this state, when the next sheet of document P is set, a sensor (not shown) detects the setting and the document is automatically fed and read. That is, from the second sheet onwards, the document P is automatically fed and read when it is set. If "Cancel" is selected in the operation menu U-5C, the operation menu U-2 is displayed again. Incidentally, the feed setting when each document type is selected and the document P is fed follows the contents of FIG. 6, as in the embodiment already described. The "cancel" message may be a more specific message such as "exit instant mode and return to photo selection."

[0056] The features of the scanner 1 described above can be summarized as follows: The scanner 1 includes a reading unit 20 that reads the original P, an original placement unit 11 on which the original P is placed, a feed roller 14 that feeds the original P from the original placement unit 11, a separation roller 15 that is a roller that nips the original P between itself and the feed roller 14 and is switchable between a separation state in which the original P is separated and a non-separation state in which the original P is not separated, and a control unit 40 that controls the feeding of the original P. The control unit 40 determines whether to feed the original P in a separated state or a non-separated state based on the type of original P set via a user interface (FIGS. 7 to 11) for selecting the type of original P to be read and issuing an instruction to start reading. The control program 44 (Figure 4) includes a process for determining whether to feed the document P in a separated state or a non-separated state based on the type of document P set via a user interface (Figures 7 to 11) for selecting the type of document P to be read and instructing the start of reading.

[0057] This makes it possible to reliably select an appropriate separation state according to the type of document P and appropriately feed the document P. In addition, the user does not need to select (or be aware of) the separation state or non-separation state of the separation roller 15; all the user needs to do is select the type of document P and issue an instruction to start reading via the user interface, making it user-friendly and also preventing user setting errors.

[0058] The scanner 1 also includes a separation switching means 68A (FIGS. 4 and 5) that switches the separation roller 15 between a separation state and a non-separation state under the control of the control unit 40, and the control unit 40 controls the separation switching means 68A based on the set type of document P. This allows the switching between the separation state and the non-separation state to be performed automatically without the user's intervention, improving user operability and ensuring the reliability of appropriate feeding.

[0059] The scanner 1 also has a multi-feed detection unit 33 downstream of the feed roller 14 that detects multi-feeding of the original P, and the control unit 40 is capable of switching between a first feed mode (table No. 2 in Figure 6) in which an instant photograph, which is an example of a first original, is fed, and a second feed mode (table No. 1 in Figure 6) in which a panoramic photograph, which is an example of a second original, is fed. The first feed mode is a mode in which feeding is performed with the separation roller 15 in the non-separated state, and the second feed mode is a mode in which feeding is performed with the separation roller 15 in the separated state. The control unit 40 does not use the multi-feed detection unit 33 in the first feed mode, but uses the multi-feed detection unit 33 in the second feed mode.

[0060] The document P fed with the separation roller 15 in the non-separated state may be composed of multiple layers, and therefore, if the multi-feed detection unit 33 that detects multi-feeding of the document P is used, it may be determined to be a multi-feed even though it is not, and the job may be stopped. However, the control unit 40 does not use the double feed detection unit 33 in the first feeding mode in which the non-separated state is established, but uses the double feed detection unit 33 in the second feeding mode in which the separated state is established, thereby avoiding the above-mentioned problem.

[0061] In addition, the first feeding mode (table No. 2 in Figure 6) for feeding an instant photograph, which is an example of the first original, is a feeding mode in which only one original P set on the original placing section 11 is fed and the feeding standby state is maintained until the next original P is set, and the second feeding mode (table No. 1 in Figure 6) for feeding a panoramic photograph, which is an example of the second original, is a feeding mode in which multiple originals set on the original placing section 11 are separated by a separation roller 15 and then fed continuously. This allows a document that is made up of multiple layers and would be damaged if separated by the separation roller 15, i.e., an instant photograph in the above example, to be properly fed.

[0062] The embodiment described above can be modified as follows. (1) In the above embodiment, the separation roller 15 is automatically switched between the separation state and the non-separation state under the control of the control unit 40 without any user operation. However, the separation roller 15 may be configured to be switched between the separation state and the non-separation state by user operation. 12 to 14 are diagrams showing such an embodiment, and the scanner 100 has an operation unit (slide switch) 73c on the front side of the device, next to the operation panel 7, as shown in Fig. 12. The operation unit 73c is slidable in the left-right direction.

[0063] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the operating portion 73c is formed integrally with the gear engaging member 73B, and this gear engaging member 73B is integrally provided with a gear engaging portion 73d shaped to sandwich the slide gear 72 therebetween. With the above configuration, when the operating part 73c is slid, the slide gear 72 slides and displaces, switching between a separated state in which the slide gear 72 engages with the drive gear 71 and transmits the driving force to the gear group 70, and a non-separated state in which the slide gear 72 disengages from the drive gear 71 and does not transmit the driving force to the gear group 70. As described above, the separation switching means 68B according to this embodiment is configured to include the gear engaging member 73B. 13 and 14, a gear 24 is provided on the transmission shaft 22, and driving torque is transmitted from this gear 24 to the separation roller 15 via a gear 23. Reference numeral 21 denotes a separation roller unit including the separation roller 15, and reference numeral 25 denotes a coil spring as biasing means for biasing the separation roller unit 21 toward the feed roller 14.

[0064] In a configuration including separation switching means 68B that switches between the separation state and the non-separation state through user operation, a detection means (not shown) that detects the position of slide gear 72 may be provided, and control unit 40 may issue an alert if the state of separation roller 15 does not correspond to the set type of document P (does not meet the feeding conditions shown in FIG. 6). This alert may be displayed, for example, on operation panel 7 or on display unit 62 (FIG. 4) provided in external computer 60 (FIG. 4). More specifically, this alert may be a message such as "Please slide the operation knob on the front of the device to the opposite side." This allows the user to be prompted to perform the correct operation, and ultimately allows the document P to be fed.

[0065] 12 and 13, in a configuration including separation switching means 68B that switches between the separation state and the non-separation state by user operation, a detection means (not shown) that detects the position of slide gear 72 may be provided, and control unit 40 may be configured to select a feeding mode (feeding conditions) based on the position of slide gear 72, i.e., whether it is in the separation state or the non-separation state. This allows appropriate feeding control to be performed based on the state of separation roller 15.

[0066] (3) A control program including a process for determining whether to feed the document P in a separated state or a non-separated state based on the type of document P set via a user interface (Figs. 7 to 11) for selecting the type of document P to be read and for instructing the start of reading may be stored in a storage means (not shown) of an external computer 60 (Fig. 4) connected to the scanner 1, executed on the external computer 60, and the user interface may be realized on a display unit 62 of the external computer 60 (Fig. 4). [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1...scanner (image reading device), 2...device main body, 3...lower unit, 4...upper unit, 5...paper output tray, 6...feed slot, 7...operation panel, 8...first paper support, 9...second paper support, 11...document placement section, 12...edge guide, 13...guide surface, 14...feed roller, 15...separation roller, 16...pair of transport rollers, 17...pair of discharge rollers, 18...discharge slot, 20...reading section, 20a...upper reading sensor, 20b...lower reading sensor, 21...separation roller unit, 22...transmission shaft, 23, 24...gear, 25... Il spring, 31...ultrasonic wave transmitter, 32...ultrasonic wave receiver, 33...double feed detector, 40...controller, 41...CPU, 42...ROM, 43...memory, 44...control program, 45...feed roller motor, 46...transport roller motor, 47...document detector, 60...external computer, 62...display unit, 68A, 68B...separation switch means, 69...power transmission mechanism, 70...gear group, 71...drive gear, 72...slide gear, 73A, 73B...gear engagement member, 73c...operation unit, 73d...gear engagement unit, 74...electromagnetic plunger, P...document (medium)

Claims

1. a reading unit capable of reading a document; a document placement section for placing a document; a feed roller that feeds the document from the document placement unit; a separation roller that is a roller that nips the document between itself and the feed roller, and is switchable between a separation state in which the document is separated and a non-separation state in which the document is not separated; A slide switch that can be slid by the user; a control unit that controls feeding of the document based on settings made via a user interface; a switching means for switching between the separated state and the non-separated state; Equipped with The switching means a separated state in which, when the slide switch is slid, the slide gear slides and displaces, and the slide gear meshes with the drive gear to transmit a driving force to the gear group; a non-separated state in which the slide gear is disengaged from the drive gear and does not transmit driving force to the gear group; It is possible to switch to the control unit determines whether to perform feeding in the separated state or the non-separated state based on the type of document set via the user interface; a detection means for detecting the position of the slide gear detects the position of the slide gear, and a feeding condition is selected based on the detected position of the slide gear. An image reading device characterized by:

2. 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, A multi-feed detection unit is provided to detect multi-feeding of documents, The feeding conditions are: application of a double feed detection threshold, which is a threshold used to determine whether or not there is a double feed based on the signal level obtained by the double feed detection unit; Whether to perform multifeed detection or not, Whether to use the single sheet feeding mode, which is a feeding mode in which documents are set and fed one by one without setting multiple documents, a separation mode indicating either the separated state or the non-separated state; Including, the control unit feeds the document from the document placement unit based on the feeding conditions. An image reading device characterized by:

3. 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, The control unit issues an alert when the state of the separation roller does not correspond to the set document type. An image reading device characterized by:

4. 3. The image reading device according to claim 2, The control unit When a document is selected as the type of document to be read, a document threshold value is used as the multifeed detection threshold value to determine whether or not a multifeed has occurred; When a single-layer document consisting of one layer and a photograph is selected as the type of document to be read, the multi-feed detection threshold for photographs, which is lower than the document threshold, is used to determine whether or not a multi-feed has occurred. An image reading device characterized by:

5. 5. The image reading device according to claim 1, It is equipped with a touch panel operation panel, the user interface is realized on the touch panel; The control unit controls the display of the touch panel. An image reading device characterized by:

Images