Document transport device, image processing device, document transport method

Abstract

The present invention provides a document transport device, an image processing device, and a document transport method that can prevent unnecessary stops in the document transport operation. [Solution] In the document transport device (2), the stop processing unit (25) executes a stop process to stop the document transport operation by the transport mechanism (3) when the second detection processing unit (24) determines that the amount of documents placed on the document discharge unit (22) has reached a specific amount. Furthermore, if the first detection processing unit (23) detects that no documents are placed on the document placement unit (21) when a specific job is started, the stop processing unit (25) restricts the execution of the stop process during the execution of that specific job.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a document conveying apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and a document conveying method.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, there is known a document conveying apparatus including a document placement unit on which a document to be conveyed toward an image reading unit that reads an image from the document is placed, and a document discharge unit from which the document after the image has been read by the image reading unit is discharged (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this type of document conveying apparatus, when a full-load state in which the documents placed on the document discharge unit reach a preset specific amount is detected by a sensor, the conveying operation by the document conveying apparatus may stop.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in this type of document conveying apparatus, even when the amount of documents placed on the document discharge unit has not reached a specific amount, there is a possibility that the amount of documents placed on the document discharge unit may be unnecessarily detected as having reached the specific amount. And when such an unnecessary detection of the full-load state of the document discharge unit occurs, the document conveying operation by the document conveying apparatus may stop uselessly.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a document conveying apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and a document conveying method capable of suppressing useless stoppage of the document conveying operation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A document transport device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a transport mechanism, a first detection processing unit, a second detection processing unit, and a stop processing unit. The transport mechanism sequentially transports a document placed on a document placement unit to a document discharge unit through an image reading position where an image is read from the document in a specific job. The first detection processing unit detects whether or not a document is placed on the document discharge unit. The second detection processing unit detects whether or not the amount of documents placed on the document discharge unit has reached a predetermined specific amount. If the second detection processing unit determines that the amount of documents placed on the document discharge unit has reached the specific amount, the stop processing unit executes a stop process to stop the document transport operation by the transport mechanism. Furthermore, if the first detection processing unit has detected that no documents are placed on the document discharge unit when the specific job is started, the stop processing unit restricts the execution of the stop process during the execution of the specific job.

[0007] An image processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a document transport device and an image reading unit that reads an image from a document transported by the document transport device.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a document transport method in which one or more processors control a document transport device equipped with a transport mechanism that sequentially transports a document placed on a document placement section to a document discharge section through an image reading position where an image is read from the document in a specific job, and execute a first detection step, a second detection step, and a stop step. The first detection step detects whether or not a document is placed on the document discharge section. The second detection step detects whether or not the amount of documents placed on the document discharge section has reached a predetermined specific amount. The stop step executes a stop process to stop the document transport operation by the transport mechanism if the second detection step determines that the amount of documents placed on the document discharge section has reached the specific amount. In the stop step, if the first detection step detects that no document is placed on the document discharge section when the specific job is started, the execution of the stop process during the execution of the specific job is restricted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a document transport device, an image processing device, and a document transport method that can prevent unnecessary halts in the document transport process. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a document transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. The following embodiments are examples that embody the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0012] First, the overall configuration of the image processing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

[0013] For the sake of explanation, the vertical direction is defined as the up-down direction D1 when the image processing device 10 is in a usable installation state (as shown in Figure 1). The direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper of the image processing device 10 shown in Figure 1 is defined as the front-to-back direction D2, and the front side of the image in Figure 1 is defined as the front. Furthermore, the left side of the paper in Figure 1 is defined as the left side, and the left-to-right direction D3 is defined.

[0014] [Image processing device] The image processing device 10 according to this embodiment is, for example, a multifunction device that has the function of executing multiple jobs such as a scan job to acquire an image (image data) from a document, a print job to form an image based on the image data, a facsimile job, and a copy job. The image processing device 10 may be at least a scanner, facsimile device, and copier capable of executing scan jobs.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the image processing device 10 comprises a document transport device 2, an image reading unit 11, an image forming unit 12, a paper feeding unit 13, an operation display unit 14, and a control unit 15. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the image processing device 10 includes a housing 100. The ADF 11, image reading unit 11, image forming unit 12, paper feeding unit 13, operation display unit 14, and control unit 15 are provided in the housing 100.

[0016] In this embodiment, the document transport device 2 is an automatic document feeder (ADF). The document transport device 2 transports the document Sh1, which is the object to be read, and whose image is read by the image reading unit 11. As shown in Figure 3, the document transport device 2 includes a document placement unit 21, a document discharge unit 22, a transport mechanism 3, a document detection unit 4, a full load detection unit 5, etc. By driving the transport mechanism 3, the document transport device 2 transports the document Sh1 set in the document placement unit 21, passing it through the image reading position by the image reading unit 11 to the document discharge unit 22.

[0017] The image reading unit 11 reads an image from the original document Sh1 and outputs image data corresponding to the read image. The image reading unit 11 includes a document glass, a light source, multiple mirrors, an optical lens, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), etc. For example, the image reading unit 11 reads an image from the original document Sh1 as it passes through the image reading position P1 (see Figure 3) as it is transported by the document transport device 2.

[0018] The image forming unit 12 forms an image on the sheet Sh2 based on the image data output from the image reading unit 11. Also, the image forming unit 12 forms an image on the sheet Sh2 based on the image data input from an information processing device such as a personal computer to the image processing device 10. In this embodiment, as an example, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 12 includes a transfer device 121, a fixing device 122, a document discharge unit 123, etc., and forms an image on the sheet Sh2 by an electrophotographic method. The image forming unit 12 is not limited to a configuration for forming monochrome images, and may be a configuration for forming full-color images using four colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black). Also, the image forming unit 12 may be a configuration for forming an image on a sheet by an image forming method other than the electrophotographic method, such as an inkjet method.

[0019] The paper feeding unit 13 supplies the sheet Sh2 to the image forming unit 12. The paper feeding unit 13 has a plurality of paper feed cassettes 131, a manual feed tray, a plurality of conveyance rollers, etc. The paper feeding unit 13 conveys the sheet Sh2 from the plurality of paper feed cassettes 131 or the manual feed tray, etc., through a conveyance path by the plurality of conveyance rollers, etc., and supplies it to the image forming unit 12. The image forming unit 12 forms an image on the sheet Sh2 supplied through the conveyance path from the paper feeding unit 13.

[0020] The operation display unit 14 is a user interface in the image processing device 10. The operation display unit 14 has a display unit such as a liquid crystal display for displaying various information according to a control instruction from the control unit 15, and an operation unit such as a switch or a touch panel for inputting various information to the control unit 15 according to a user's operation. Also, the image processing device 10 may include, in addition to or instead of the operation display unit 14, for example, a voice output unit and a voice input unit, etc., as a user interface. Also, the operation display unit 14 may be an external device provided separately from the housing 100, for example, and in this case, the image processing device 10 can use the operation display unit 14 as a user interface by executing data communication with the external device.

[0021] The control unit 15 comprehensively controls the image processing apparatus 10. The control unit 15 mainly consists of a computer system having one or more processors and one or more memories. In the image processing apparatus 10, the functions of the control unit 15 are realized by one or more processors executing a program. The program may be pre-recorded in one or more memories, may be provided through a telecommunications line such as the Internet, or may be provided by being recorded on a non-transitory recording medium readable by a computer system such as a memory card or an optical disk. The one or more processors are composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit. Furthermore, the computer system referred to in the present disclosure includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. The control unit 15 may be a control unit provided separately from the main control unit that comprehensively controls the image processing apparatus 10.

[0022] Also, the image processing apparatus 10 further includes a storage unit, a communication unit, a power supply unit, etc. The storage unit includes one or more non-volatile memories, and information such as a control program for causing the control unit 15 to execute various processes is pre-stored therein. The communication unit is an interface that executes data communication between the image processing apparatus 10 and an external device connected via a communication network such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network). The power supply unit is a power supply circuit that generates (outputs) power for the operation of the image processing apparatus 10.

[0023] [Original document conveyance device] Next, while referring to FIG. 3, the configuration of the original document conveyance device 2 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

[0024] The original document conveyance device 2 is a device that conveys the original document Sh1 from the original document placement unit 21 to the original document discharge unit 22. Also, the original document Sh1 is, as an example in the present embodiment, paper, but is not limited to paper and may be other sheets such as a resin film.

[0025] The document placement section 21 is a component on which the document Sh1 to be transported by the document transport device 2 is placed. In this embodiment, the document Sh1 transported by the document transport device 2 is the target of image reading by the image reading unit 11. The document placement section 21 is provided with a document placement detection unit (not shown) that detects when a document Sh1 is placed on the document placement section 21, and the control unit 15 can use the document placement detection unit to detect the presence or absence of a document Sh1 in the document placement section 21.

[0026] The document placement section 21 can accommodate documents Sh1 of various sizes (paper sizes), such as A3E (A3 landscape), B4E (A4 landscape), 2L size, L size, postcards, or business cards. The document placement section 21 has a pair of cursors facing each other in the front-to-back direction D2, and the distance between the pair of cursors is adjusted to match the dimensions of the placed document Sh1 in the horizontal direction (in this case, the front-to-back direction D2) which is perpendicular to the vertical direction (transport direction).

[0027] The document placement section 21 is set with one or more documents Sh1 that are to be transported by the document transport device 2. When multiple documents Sh1 are set in the document placement section 21, these multiple documents Sh1 are stacked in the vertical direction D1, that is, stacked, and placed in the document placement section 21.

[0028] In the image processing device 10, the amount of documents that can be placed on the document placement section 21 (hereinafter referred to as the "maximum placement amount") is set in advance. In the document placement section 21, the amount of documents that can be placed on the document placement section 21 is limited to the maximum placement amount by the cursor. For example, the cursor is provided with a limiting unit that limits the height of documents that can be placed on the document placement section 21 to a height corresponding to the maximum placement amount.

[0029] The document discharge section 22 is a component on which the document Sh1 transported by the document transport device 2 is discharged and placed. The document discharge section 22 is located below the document placement section 21. The document transport device 2 transports the document Sh1 placed on the document placement section 21 through the image reading position P1 where image processing by the image processing unit is performed, and discharges it onto the document discharge section 22. In this embodiment, since the document Sh1 transported by the document transport device 2 is the target of image reading by the image reading unit 11, the document Sh1 after image reading by the image reading unit 11 is discharged onto the upper surface of the document discharge section 22.

[0030] Here, the document output unit 22 can accommodate documents Sh1 of various sizes (paper sizes), just like the document placement unit 21. Furthermore, when multiple documents Sh1 are output to the document output unit 22, these multiple documents Sh1 are placed in the document output unit 22 stacked in the vertical direction D1, that is, in a stacked state, just like in the document placement unit 21.

[0031] In the image processing device 10, the amount of documents that can be placed on the document ejection unit 22 (hereinafter referred to as the "specific amount") is set in advance. The image processing device 10 is also provided with a full load detection unit 5, which will be described later, that detects whether the height of the documents Sh1 placed on the document ejection unit 22 has reached a specific height corresponding to the specific amount. In this embodiment, the specific amount is equal to or greater than the maximum loading amount.

[0032] The transport mechanism 3 sequentially transports the document Sh1 placed on the document placement section 21 to the document discharge section 22 through the image reading position P1 where the image of the document Sh1 is read. Specifically, as shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 3, the transport mechanism 3 transports the document Sh1 downwards while transporting it to the left from the document placement section 21, then turns back to the right and discharges it onto the document discharge section 22 through the image reading position P1.

[0033] The transport mechanism 3 includes, for example, a plurality of transport rollers 31 and a power source. The transport mechanism 3 uses the power of a power source, including a motor, to drive each of the plurality of transport rollers 31, thereby transporting the documents Sh1 set in the document placement unit 21 one by one, passing them through the image reading position P1 to the document discharge unit 22. For example, when a predetermined number of documents Sh1 to be processed are set in the document placement unit 21, the transport mechanism 3 transports these predetermined number of documents Sh1 one by one until all of them are discharged onto the document discharge unit 22. As a result, the predetermined number of documents Sh1 to be processed move from the document placement unit 21 to the document discharge unit 22 located below it.

[0034] The document detection unit 4 is located in the document discharge unit 22 and is used to detect whether or not a document Sh1 is placed in the document discharge unit 22. Specifically, the document detection unit 4 is an optical sensor comprising a light irradiation unit that irradiates light upward from the placement area of ​​the document Sh1 in the document discharge unit 22 and a light receiving unit that receives light from above the document discharge unit 22. When the document Sh1 is placed in the document discharge unit 22, and the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit is reflected by the document Sh1, and a predetermined amount of light is received by the light receiving unit, the document detection unit 4 inputs an H signal to the control unit 15 indicating that a document Sh1 is placed in the document discharge unit 22. Alternatively, the document detection unit 4 may be another sensor such as an ultrasonic sensor or a contact sensor.

[0035] The full load detection unit 5 is located below the discharge port 220 from which the document Sh1 is discharged from the transport mechanism 3 toward the document discharge unit 22, and is positioned to detect the presence or absence of document Sh1 at a predetermined specific height from the upper surface of the document discharge unit 22. The specific height is the height at which the amount of document Sh1 placed on the document discharge unit 22 reaches the specified amount. In other words, the full load detection unit 5 is used to detect whether or not the amount of document placed on the document discharge unit 22 has reached the specified amount. Hereinafter, the state in which the amount of document Sh1 on the document discharge unit 22 has reached the specified amount may be referred to as the full load state.

[0036] Specifically, the full load detection unit 5 is an optical sensor comprising a light irradiation unit that irradiates light into the space above the document ejection unit 22 at a specific height position of the document ejection unit 22, and a light receiving unit that receives light from the space above the document ejection unit 22. The full load detection unit 5 inputs an H signal to the control unit 15 when the height of the document Sh1 placed on the document ejection unit 22 reaches the specific height, and the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit is reflected by the document Sh1, and a predetermined amount of light is received by the light receiving unit. The full load detection unit 5 may also be other sensors such as an ultrasonic sensor or a contact sensor.

[0037] The full load detection unit 5 may also be a distance measuring sensor that measures the height from the document Sh1 on the document ejection unit 22 to the document placement unit 21. The distance measuring sensor is, for example, located on the lower side of the document placement unit 21 and measures the height from the upper surface of the document Sh1 ejected onto the document ejection unit 22 to the lower surface of the document placement unit 21. The distance measuring sensor is, as an example, a non-contact sensor that utilizes reflection of light or ultrasonic waves. This allows the control unit 15 to detect the amount of document Sh1 placed on the document placement unit 21 based on the height detected by the distance measuring sensor provided as the full load detection unit 5.

[0038] By the way, in this type of document transport device 2, there is a risk that the amount of documents placed in the document discharge unit 22 may be unnecessarily detected as having reached a specific amount, even if the amount of documents placed in the document discharge unit 22 has not reached a specific amount. For example, in this embodiment, the specific amount is equal to or greater than the maximum loading amount. Therefore, even if no documents Sh1 are placed in the document discharge unit 22, and all documents Sh1 placed in the document loading unit 21 are discharged to the document discharge unit 22, the document discharge unit 22 should not become full. However, there is a risk that the document discharge unit 22 may be temporarily falsely detected as full due to curling of the documents Sh1 immediately after being discharged to the document discharge unit 22 or gaps between the documents Sh1.

[0039] Furthermore, if such an unnecessary detection of a full state in the document ejection unit 22 occurs, the document transport operation by the document transport device 2 may be unnecessarily stopped. In contrast, the image processing device 10 and document transport device 2 according to this embodiment can prevent the document transport operation from being unnecessarily stopped, as will be explained below.

[0040] Specifically, the document transport device 2 includes a document placement unit 21, a document ejection unit 22, a transport mechanism 3, a document detection unit 4, a full load detection unit 5, as well as a first detection processing unit 23, a second detection processing unit 24, and a stop processing unit 25. In the document transport device 2, the control unit 15 functions as the first detection processing unit 23, the second detection processing unit 24, and the stop processing unit 25 by executing various processes according to the control program. In this embodiment, a device comprising the document transport device 2 and the control unit 15 corresponds to the document transport device according to the present invention, and a device comprising the document transport device 2 and the image reading unit 11 corresponds to the image processing device according to the present invention. Alternatively, a device comprising the document transport device 2, the image reading unit 11, and the control unit 15 may be considered as the image processing device according to the present invention.

[0041] The first detection processing unit 23 uses the document detection unit 4 to perform a first detection step to detect whether or not the document Sh1 is placed on the document ejection unit 22. Specifically, the first detection processing unit 23 detects that the document Sh1 is placed on the document ejection unit 22 when an H signal is input from the document detection unit 4, and detects that the document Sh1 is not placed on the document ejection unit 22 when an L signal is input from the document detection unit 4.

[0042] Furthermore, the second detection processing unit 24 uses the full load detection unit 5 to perform a second detection step in which it detects whether the amount of documents Sh1 placed on the document discharge unit 22 has reached the specified amount. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the document transport device 2 has an discharge port 220 from the transport mechanism 3 to the document discharge unit 22 located above the full load detection unit 5. Therefore, in the document transport device 2, if the amount of documents Sh1 in the document discharge unit 22 has not reached the specified amount, the documents Sh1 discharged to the document discharge unit 22 pass through the detection position by the full load detection unit 5, and the documents Sh1 are temporarily detected by the full load detection unit 5. On the other hand, in the document transport device 2, if the amount of documents Sh1 in the document discharge unit 22 has reached the specified amount, the state in which the documents Sh1 discharged to the document discharge unit 22 are detected by the full load detection unit 5 continues. Therefore, the second detection processing unit 24 detects that the document ejection unit 22 is full when the state in which the document Sh1 is detected by the full load detection unit 5 continues for a preset time or longer, that is, when the state in which the H signal is input from the full load detection unit 5 continues for a preset time or longer.

[0043] The stop processing unit 25 executes a pre-set stop process when the second detection processing unit 24 detects that the document ejection unit 22 is full. The stop process is a process that stops the transport operation of the document Sh1 by the document transport device 2 or the job that involves such transport operation. Alternatively, the stop process may be a process that prevents the transport operation of the document Sh1 by the document transport device 2 from starting. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the stop processing unit 25 executes the stop process, it also executes a notification process to inform the user that the document ejection unit 22 is full. For example, in the notification process, a message indicating that the document ejection unit 22 is full is displayed on the operation display unit 14. As a result, by checking the message, the user can understand that the transport operation of the document Sh1 by the document transport device 2 or the job that involves such transport operation has stopped because the unit is full.

[0044] [Document transport processing] The document transport method performed by the image processing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, that is, the document transport process performed by the control unit 15, will be described below with reference to Figure 4. Here, steps S1, S2, etc. in Figure 4 represent the numbers of the processing procedures (steps) performed by the control unit 15. The control unit 15 mainly consists of a computer system having one or more processors and one or more memories, and the following processing is realized by one or more processors executing a control program.

[0045] The aforementioned document transport process is performed when the control unit 15 starts a specific job that involves an automatic image reading process in which it reads an image from a document Sh1 that has been transported by the transport mechanism 3 from the document placement unit 21 through the image reading position P1 to the document discharge unit 22. For example, the specific job is a scan job, a facsimile job, or a copy job that involves the transport process of the document Sh1 by the document placement unit 21. The details of the specific job executed by the control unit 15 may be the same as in the conventional model, so a detailed explanation is omitted here.

[0046] <Step S1> In step S1, the stop processing unit 25 of the control unit 15 determines whether or not the document Sh1 is placed on the document ejection unit 22 when the specific job is started. Specifically, the stop processing unit 25 determines that the document Sh1 is placed on the document ejection unit 22 if the first detection processing unit 23 has detected that the document Sh1 is placed on the document ejection unit 22. If it is determined that the document Sh1 is placed (S1:Yes), the process moves to step S2, and if it is determined that the document Sh1 is not placed (S1:No), the process moves to step S11.

[0047] In this manner, if the first detection processing unit 23 has placed the document Sh1 on the document ejection unit 22 when the specific job is started, the stop processing unit 25 will proceed to step S11, thereby restricting the execution of processes such as the notification process in step S4 and the stop process in S5, which will be described later.

[0048] <Step S2> In step S2, the control unit 15 controls the document transport device 2 and starts a document transport process to sequentially transport the documents Sh1 placed on the document placement unit 21.

[0049] <Step S3> In step S3, the stop processing unit 25 of the control unit 15 determines whether or not the document ejection unit 22 is full. Specifically, the second detection processing unit 24 determines that the document ejection unit 22 is full if the full-load detection unit 5 detects the document Sh1 for a preset time or longer. If it is determined that the unit is not full (S3: No), the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, if it is determined that the unit is full (S3: Yes), the process proceeds to step S4.

[0050] <Step S4> In step S4, the stop processing unit 25 of the control unit 15 displays a message on the operation display unit 14 indicating that the document ejection unit 22 is full, and performs notification processing to inform the user that the document ejection unit 22 is full.

[0051] <Step S5> In step S5, the stop processing unit 25 of the control unit 15 executes a stop process to stop the document transport operation of the document transport device 2 to transport the document Sh1. Step S5 is an example of a stop step according to the present invention. In addition, in step S5, the stop processing unit 25 interrupts the transport operation of the document transport device 2 to transport the document Sh1, and also interrupts the specific job executed by the control unit 15.

[0052] <Step S6> In step S6, the stop processing unit 25 of the control unit 15 determines whether the document ejection unit 22 is no longer full. Specifically, the stop processing unit 25 determines that the document ejection unit 22 is no longer full if the document Sh1 is not detected by the full-load detection unit 5 for a predetermined period of time or longer. If it is determined that the document is no longer full (S6:Yes), the process moves to step S7, and if the document is no longer full (S6:No), the process waits in step S6.

[0053] <Step S7> In step S7, the stop processing unit 25 of the control unit 15 restarts the document transport operation of the document transport device 2 to transport the document Sh1. The stop processing unit 25 also restarts the specific job executed by the control unit 15 at the same time as the document transport operation of the document transport device 2 to transport the document Sh1.

[0054] <Step S8> In step S8, the control unit 15 determines whether the specific job has been completed. For example, the control unit 15 determines that the specific job has been completed when the document placement detection unit (not shown) of the document placement unit 21 determines that no document Sh1 has been detected, and the full load detection unit 5 detects that the last document Sh1 has been ejected to the document ejection unit 22. If it is determined that the specific job has been completed (S8:Yes), the document transport process is completed, and if it is determined that the specific job has not been completed (S8:No), the process returns to step S3.

[0055] <Step S11> On the other hand, if, in step S1, it is determined that no document Sh1 is placed on the document ejection unit 22 when the specific job is started (S1: No), the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the control unit 15 controls the document transport device 2 and starts a document transport process to sequentially transport the documents Sh1 placed on the document placement unit 21.

[0056] <Step S12> In step S12, the stop processing unit 25 of the control unit 15 determines whether the document ejection unit 22 is full, similar to step S3. If it is determined that the unit is not full (S12: No), the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, if it is determined that the unit is full (S12: Yes), the process proceeds to step S13.

[0057] <Step S13> In step S13, the stop processing unit 25 of the control unit 15 records in the storage unit that the document ejection unit 22 was full during the execution of the specific job. The record of the document ejection unit 22 being full in the storage unit is erased by the control unit 15 when the document ejection unit 22 is no longer full, or when a predetermined confirmation operation is performed by the user.

[0058] <Step S14> In step S14, the control unit 15, similar to step S8, determines whether the specific job has been completed. If it is determined that the specific job has been completed (S14:Yes), the document transport process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the specific job has not been completed (S14:No), the process returns to step S12.

[0059] Thus, in this embodiment, if the document Sh1 is not placed on the document ejection unit 22 at the start of the specific job (S1: No), the stop processing unit 25 does not perform the notification processing and stop processing as described in steps S4 and S5. That is, the stop processing unit 25 can only perform the notification processing and stop processing as described in steps S4 and S5 if the document Sh1 is placed on the document ejection unit 22 at the start of the specific job (S1: Yes). Therefore, if the document Sh1 is not placed on the document ejection unit 22 at the start of the specific job (S1: No), the stop processing unit 25 does not perform the notification processing and stop processing as described in steps S4 and S5, even if a full state of the document ejection unit 22 is detected during the execution of the specific job.

[0060] Therefore, if the document Sh1 is not placed in the document ejection unit 22 at the start of the specific job, even if the document ejection unit 22 is unnecessarily detected as being full, the transport operation by the document transport device 2 will not stop, thus preventing the document transport operation from stopping unnecessarily.

[0061] In this embodiment, the maximum loading capacity of the document loading unit 21 is equal to or greater than the specified amount of the document ejection unit 22. However, in other embodiments, the maximum loading capacity may be less than the specified amount. Even in this case, if no document Sh1 is loaded onto the document ejection unit 22 at the start of the specified job, the likelihood of the document ejection unit 22 becoming full during the execution of the specified job is lower compared to when document Sh1 is loaded onto the document ejection unit 22 at the start of the specified job. Therefore, even if the maximum loading capacity is less than the specified amount, it is possible to prevent unnecessary stopping of the document transport operation due to the detection of an overloaded state.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a case has been described in which the stop processing unit 25 does not execute the stop processing even if the second detection processing unit 24 determines that the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit 22 has reached the specified amount during the execution of the specific job. On the other hand, in other embodiments, the stop processing unit 25 may also limit the execution of the stop processing by not determining whether the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit 22 has reached the specified amount during the execution of the specific job by the second detection processing unit 24.

[0063] It is possible that additional documents Sh1 may be added to the document placement unit 21 during the execution of the specified job. In this case, even if it is determined that no documents Sh1 are placed on the document output unit 22 at the start of the specified job, it may be determined that the amount of documents Sh1 placed on the document output unit 22 reaches the specified amount during the execution of the specified job. Therefore, in another embodiment, the stop processing unit 25 may execute the stop processing when the number of documents Sh1 whose images are read in the specified job is greater than the number of documents placed on the document output unit 22 that corresponds to the specified amount, and the number reaches a preset upper limit.

[0064] [Job control processing] Next, with reference to Figure 5, the job control method executed in the image processing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, that is, the job control process executed by the control unit 15, will be described. Here, steps S21, S22, etc. in Figure 4 represent the numbers of the processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 15. Note that the job control process is executed by the control unit 15 when the power of the image processing apparatus 10 is turned on.

[0065] <Step S21> In step S21, the control unit 15 determines whether or not a preset start condition is met. If it is determined that the start condition is met (S21:Yes), the process proceeds to step S22. If it is determined that the start condition is not met (S21:No), the job control process ends.

[0066] Specifically, the start condition is that the specific job that was being executed when the document ejection unit 22 became full has finished. Alternatively, the start condition may be that the setting operation for the specific job, which involves the transport of a document by the document transport device 2, has started. Alternatively, the start condition may be that a request to start the specific job, which involves the transport of a document by the document transport device 2, has been made. Furthermore, the start condition may be that another job other than the specific job is executed, or that an operation is performed on the operation display unit 14, etc. Alternatively, the start condition may be that the document Sh1 has been placed on the document placement unit 21, which has been detected by the document placement detection unit (not shown) of the document placement unit 21. The control unit 15 may also be able to arbitrarily select the start condition from a plurality of pre-set start conditions in accordance with user operations such as the initial setup of the image processing device 10.

[0067] <Step S22> In step S22, the stop processing unit 25 of the control unit 15 determines whether or not the storage unit has recorded that the document ejection unit 22 was full. If the occurrence of the full state is recorded (S22: Yes), the process proceeds to step S23; if the occurrence of the full state is not recorded (S22: No), the job control process ends.

[0068] <Step S23> In step S23, the stop processing unit 25 of the control unit 15 performs a notification process to notify that the document ejection unit 22 has become full in the previously executed specific job. Specifically, in the notification process, a message indicating that the document ejection unit 22 has become full in the previously executed specific job is displayed on the operation display unit 14. This makes it possible to notify the user that the document ejection unit 22 has become full in the previously executed specific job.

[0069] For example, if the start condition is that the specific job that was being executed when the document ejection unit 22 became full has finished, the notification process will be executed at the time the specific job is finished. Alternatively, if the start condition is that a request to start the specific job involving the transport of documents by the document transport device 2 has been made, the notification process will be executed at the time the specific job that was being executed when the document ejection unit 22 became full has finished and a request to start a new specific job has been made.

[0070] <Step S24> In step S24, the control unit 15 executes a start restriction process to restrict the start of job execution. Specifically, the control unit 15 executes the start restriction process which is set in advance according to the content of the start condition which was determined to have been satisfied in step S21.

[0071] For example, if the start condition is that the setting operation for the specific job involving the transport of a document by the document transport device 2 has started (for example, when the specific job is selected as the job type), the start restriction process is a process that refuses to accept the setting operation for that specific job. Also, if the start condition is that a request to start the specific job involving the transport of a document by the document transport device 2 has been made, the start restriction process is a process that waits without starting that specific job. Similarly, if the placement of a document Sh1 on the document placement unit 21 has been detected by the document placement detection unit (not shown) of the document placement unit 21, the start restriction process is a process that waits without starting the specific job. With these configurations, it is possible to prevent the execution of the specific job while the document discharge unit 22 is full. On the other hand, other jobs that do not involve the transport of a document by the document transport device 2 can be executed.

[0072] Furthermore, even if the start condition is that other jobs other than the specified job are executed, the start restriction process may be a process that waits without starting the other jobs. Also, even if the start condition is that the specified job that was being executed when the document ejection unit 22 became full has finished, the start restriction process may be a process that waits without starting the next specified job or the other jobs.

[0073] Furthermore, if the start condition is that an operation of the operation display unit 14 has been performed, the start restriction process is a process that refuses to accept any other operations to the operation display unit 14 except for the confirmation operation described later. This makes it possible to more reliably confirm to the user that the document output unit 22 has become full in the specific job that was executed previously.

[0074] <Step S25> In step S25, the control unit 15 determines whether the pre-set restriction release conditions for terminating the start restriction process have been met. For example, the restriction release condition is that a predetermined confirmation operation is performed by the user on the operation display unit 14. Alternatively, the restriction release condition may be that a pre-set time has elapsed after the notification process in step S23 has been executed. Alternatively, the restriction release condition may be that the full load detection unit 5 has detected that the document Sh1 has not been detected for a pre-set time or longer, i.e., the full load state of the document ejection unit 22 has been resolved. In other embodiments, if the full load state of the document ejection unit 22 has been resolved, the job control process may not be executed.

[0075] Then, if it is determined that the restriction release condition has been met (S25:Yes), the process moves to step S26, and until it is determined that the restriction release condition has been met (S25:No), the process waits in step S25.

[0076] <Step S26> In step S26, the control unit 15 terminates the start restriction process that was started in step S24. This makes it possible to execute, for example, the specific job.

[0077] Thus, in the image processing device 10, if the document ejection unit 22 becomes full during the execution of the specific job, but the specific job is completed without notification of this fact, the device will then be notified that the full state occurred at a predetermined timing, such as when the start condition is met.

[0078] [Notes on the invention] The following is an overview of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiments. Note that each configuration and processing function described below can be selected and combined as desired.

[0079] <Note 1> A transport mechanism that sequentially transports a document placed in the document placement section to the document output section through an image reading position where an image is read from the document in a specific job, A first detection processing unit that detects whether or not a document is placed in the document ejection unit, A second detection processing unit detects whether the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit has reached a predetermined specific amount, When the second detection processing unit determines that the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit has reached the specified amount, a stop processing unit executes a stop process to stop the document transport operation by the transport mechanism, Equipped with, If the first detection processing unit detects that no document is placed in the document ejection unit when the specific job is started, the stop processing unit restricts the execution of the stop processing during the execution of the specific job. Document transport device.

[0080] <Note 2> The specified amount is equal to or greater than the maximum amount that can be placed in the document placement section, which is predetermined in advance. The document transport device described in Appendix 1.

[0081] <Note 3> The stop processing unit, when the second detection processing unit determines that the amount of documents placed on the document discharge unit has reached the specified amount, executes a notification process to notify that the document discharge unit is full. The document transport device described in Appendix 1 or 2.

[0082] <Note 4> The stop processing unit, when the second detection processing unit determines that the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit has reached the specified amount during the execution of the specified job, executes the notification process at the completion of the specified job and at a timing when the predetermined conditions are met. The document transport device described in Appendix 3.

[0083] <Note 5> If the first detection processing unit detects that no document is placed on the document when the specific job is started, the stop processing unit will not perform the stop processing even if the second detection processing unit determines that the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit has reached the specified amount during the execution of the specific job. A document transport device as described in any of the appendices 1 to 4.

[0084] <Note 6> A document transport device as described in any of Appendix 1 to 5, An image reading unit that reads an image from a document transported by the aforementioned document transport device, An image processing device equipped with the following features.

[0085] <Note 7> One or more processors control a document transport device that includes a transport mechanism that sequentially transports a document placed in a document placement section to a document output section through an image reading position where an image is read from the document in a specific job. A first detection step of detecting whether or not a document is placed in the document ejection unit, A second detection step involves detecting whether the amount of documents placed on the document output unit has reached a predetermined specific amount, If the second detection step determines that the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit has reached the specified amount, a stop step is performed to stop the document transport operation by the transport mechanism. Execute, In the stop step, if the first detection step detects that no document is placed on the document ejection unit when the specific job is started, the execution of the stop process during the execution of the specific job is restricted. Document transport method. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0086] 2. Document transport device 3. Conveying mechanism 4. Document detection unit 5. Full load detection unit 10 Image Processing Device 11 Image reading unit 12 Image forming unit 21 Manuscript Placement Section 22 Original output section 23 First Detection Processing Unit 24 Second detection processing unit 25 Stop Processing Unit Sh1 manuscript

Claims

1. A transport mechanism that sequentially transports a document placed in the document placement section to the document output section through an image reading position where an image is read from the document in a specific job, A first detection processing unit that detects whether or not a document is placed in the document ejection unit, A second detection processing unit detects whether the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit has reached a predetermined specific amount, When the second detection processing unit determines that the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit has reached the specified amount, a stop processing unit executes a stop process to stop the document transport operation by the transport mechanism, Equipped with, If the first detection processing unit detects that no document is placed in the document ejection unit when the specific job is started, the stop processing unit restricts the execution of the stop processing during the execution of the specific job. Document transport device.

2. The specified amount is equal to or greater than the maximum amount that can be placed in the document placement section, which is predetermined in advance. The document transport device according to claim 1.

3. The stop processing unit, when the second detection processing unit determines that the amount of documents placed on the document discharge unit has reached the specified amount, executes a notification process to notify that the document discharge unit is full. The document transport device according to claim 2.

4. The stop processing unit, when the second detection processing unit determines that the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit has reached the specified amount during the execution of the specified job, executes the notification process at the completion of the specified job and at a timing that satisfies the predetermined conditions. The document transport device according to claim 3.

5. If the first detection processing unit detects that no documents are placed on the document ejection unit when the specific job is started, the stop processing unit will not perform the stop processing even if the second detection processing unit determines that the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit has reached the specified amount during the execution of the specific job. A document transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A document transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, An image reading unit that reads an image from a document transported by the aforementioned document transport device, An image processing device equipped with the following features.

7. One or more processors control a document transport device that includes a transport mechanism that sequentially transports a document placed in a document placement section to a document output section through an image reading position where an image is read from the document in a specific job. A first detection step of detecting whether or not a document is placed in the document ejection unit, A second detection step involves detecting whether the amount of documents placed on the document output unit has reached a predetermined specific amount, If the second detection step determines that the amount of documents placed on the document ejection unit has reached the specified amount, a stop step is performed to stop the document transport operation by the transport mechanism. Execute, In the stop step, if the first detection step detects that no document is placed on the document ejection unit when the specific job is started, the execution of the stop process during the execution of the specific job is restricted. Document transport method.

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