Media transport device, control method, and control program

Abstract

Provided are a media conveyance device, a control method, and a control program, with each of which it is possible to improve convenience for a user when an affixation object is affixed to a medium being conveyed. A media conveyance device according to the present invention comprises: a conveyance unit that conveys a medium; an imaging unit that captures an image of the medium being conveyed; a determination unit that determines whether or not an affixation object is affixed to the medium being conveyed; and a control unit that, when the determination unit has determined that the affixation object is affixed to the medium, stops the conveyance of the next medium. When the conveyance of the initial medium is completed after the determination unit determined that the affixation object is affixed to the medium and the conveyance of the next medium is stopped, the control unit stops the conveyance of the medium again.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a medium conveyance device.

Background Art

[0002] A medium conveyance device such as a scanner executes a medium reading process of imaging while conveying a plurality of media. However, when the medium is conveyed with an attachment such as a sticker or a label (seal) attached thereto, there is a possibility that characters, figures, etc. printed on the medium may be covered by the attachment and not imaged. When a medium with an attachment attached thereto is included in a plurality of continuously conveyed media, the user needs to extract the medium with the attachment from among the plurality of media for which the medium reading process has been completed, remove or shift the attachment, and cause the medium conveyance device to re-execute the medium reading process. In that case, after re-executing the medium reading process, the user needs to reattach the attachment to the medium or return the position of the attachment.

[0003] An image reading apparatus is disclosed that controls to stop the reading process of subsequent originals when detecting double feeding of an original, and to execute the selected process after detection of double feeding after the reading process of the image for the original for which double feeding has been detected is completed (see Patent Document 1). This image reading apparatus selects the process after detection of double feeding from a process of restarting a continuous reading operation including rereading the image for the original for which double feeding has been detected, and a process of restarting the continuous reading operation from reading the image for the original next to the original for which double feeding has been detected.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] In a medium conveyance device, when an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium, it is desired to improve the convenience for the user.

[0006] The object of the medium transport device, control method, and control program according to the embodiment is to improve the convenience for the user when an attachment is attached to the medium to be transported.

[0007] A medium transport device according to an aspect of the embodiment includes a transport unit that transports a medium, an imaging unit that images the transported medium, a determination unit that determines whether an attachment is attached to the transported medium, and a control unit that stops the transport of the next medium when the determination unit determines that an attachment is attached to the medium. The control unit stops the transport of the medium again when the transport of the first medium is completed after the determination unit determines that an attachment is attached to the medium and stops the transport of the next medium.

[0008] A control method according to an aspect of the embodiment is a control method for a medium transport device. The transport unit transports the medium, the imaging unit images the transported medium, it is determined whether an attachment is attached to the transported medium, and when it is determined that an attachment is attached to the medium, the transport of the next medium is stopped. When the transport of the first medium is completed after it is determined that an attachment is attached to the medium and the transport of the next medium is stopped, the transport of the medium is stopped again.

[0009] A control program according to an aspect of the embodiment is a control program for a medium transport device including a transport unit that transports a medium and an imaging unit that images the transported medium. It is determined whether an attachment is attached to the transported medium, and when it is determined that an attachment is attached to the medium, the medium transport device is caused to stop the transport of the next medium. When the transport of the first medium is completed after it is determined that an attachment is attached to the medium and the transport of the next medium is stopped, the transport of the medium is stopped again.

[0010] According to the present embodiment, the medium transport device, control method, and control program can improve the convenience for the user when an attachment is attached to the medium to be transported.

[0011] The objects and effects of the present invention will be recognized and obtained by using the components and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention described in the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, a medium conveyance device, a control method, and a control program according to an aspect of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, note that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to those embodiments, and extends to the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a medium conveyance device 100 configured as an image scanner. The medium conveyance device 100 conveys and images a medium that is an original document. The medium is paper, cardboard, a card, or the like. Further, the medium includes a medium with an attachment such as a sticky note or a label (seal) attached thereto. The medium conveyance device 100 may be a facsimile machine, a copier, a printer multifunction peripheral (MFP), or the like.

[0015] The medium conveyance device 100 includes a first housing 101, a second housing 102, a mounting table 103, a discharge table 104, an operation device 105, a display device 106, and the like.

[0016] The first housing 101 is disposed above the medium conveyance device 100 and is engaged with the second housing 102 by a hinge so as to be openable and closable when cleaning the inside of the medium conveyance device 100 or when handling the medium.

[0017] The mounting table 103 is engaged with the second housing 102 so as to be able to mount the medium to be conveyed. The mounting table 103 is provided on the side surface of the second housing 102 on the medium supply side so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction (height direction) A1 by a motor (not shown). The mounting table 103 is disposed at the lower end position so that the medium can be easily mounted when the medium is not being conveyed, and rises to a position where the uppermost mounted medium contacts a pick roller described later when the medium is being conveyed. The discharge table 104 is formed on the first housing 101 so as to be able to hold the discharged medium, and stacks the discharged medium.

[0018] The operating device 105 has an input device such as a button and an interface circuit that acquires signals from the input device, receives an input operation by a user, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the input operation of the user. The display device 106 has a display including a liquid crystal, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence), etc., and an interface circuit that outputs image data to the display, and displays the image data on the display.

[0019] In FIG. 1, arrow A2 indicates the medium conveyance direction, arrow A3 indicates the medium discharge direction, and arrow A4 indicates the width direction orthogonal to the medium conveyance direction. Hereinafter, the upstream means upstream of the medium conveyance direction A2 or the medium discharge direction A3, and the downstream means downstream of the medium conveyance direction A2 or the medium discharge direction A3.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the conveyance path inside the medium conveyance device 100.

[0021] The conveyance path inside the medium conveyance device 100 includes a first medium sensor 111, a pick roller 112, a feed roller 113, a separation roller 114, a second medium sensor 115, an ultrasonic transmitter 116a, an ultrasonic receiver 116b, first to eighth conveyance rollers 117a to h, first to eighth driven rollers 118a to h, a first imaging device 119a, a second imaging device 119b, and the like.

[0022] The pick roller 112, the feed roller 113, the separation roller 114, the first to eighth conveyance rollers 117a to h, and the first to eighth driven rollers 118a to h are an example of a conveyance unit that conveys the medium. Note that the number of each of the pick roller 112, the feed roller 113, the separation roller 114, the first to eighth conveyance rollers 117a to h, and / or the first to eighth driven rollers 118a to h is not limited to one, and a plurality may be used. In that case, the plurality of pick rollers 112, feed rollers 113, separation rollers 114, first to eighth conveyance rollers 117a to h, and / or first to eighth driven rollers 118a to h are arranged side by side at intervals in the width direction A4. Hereinafter, the first imaging device 119a and the second imaging device 119b may be collectively referred to as the imaging device 119.

[0023] The surface of the first housing 101 facing the second housing 102 forms a first guide 101a of the medium conveyance path, and the surface of the second housing 102 facing the first housing 101 forms a second guide 102a of the medium conveyance path.

[0024] The first medium sensor 111 is disposed on the mounting table 103, that is, upstream of the feeding roller 113 and the separating roller 114, and detects the mounting state of the medium on the mounting table 103. The first medium sensor 111 determines whether a medium is mounted on the mounting table 103 by a contact detection sensor that passes a predetermined current when the medium is in contact or not in contact. The first medium sensor 111 generates and outputs a first medium signal whose signal value changes between a state where a medium is mounted on the mounting table 103 and a state where no medium is mounted. Note that the first medium sensor 111 is not limited to a contact detection sensor, and any other sensor capable of detecting the presence or absence of a medium, such as a light detection sensor, may be used as the first medium sensor 111.

[0025] The pick roller 112 is provided on the first housing 101, contacts the medium mounted on the mounting table 103 that has risen to substantially the same height as the medium conveyance path, and feeds the medium toward the downstream side.

[0026] The feeding roller 113 is provided inside the first housing 101, downstream of the pick roller 112, and further feeds the medium mounted on the mounting table 103 and fed by the pick roller 112 toward the downstream side. The separating roller 114 is a so-called brake roller or retard roller, and is disposed inside the second housing 102, facing the feeding roller 113. The feeding roller 113 and the separating roller 114 perform a separating operation of the medium, separate the medium, and feed the medium one by one. The feeding roller 113 is disposed above the separating roller 114, and the medium feeding device 100 feeds the medium by a so-called upper pick-up method. Note that the feeding roller 113 may be provided on the second housing 102, the separating roller 114 may be provided on the first housing 101, and the feeding roller 113 may feed the medium mounted on the mounting table 103 in order from below.

[0027] The second media sensor 115 is disposed downstream of the feed roller 113 and the separation roller 114 and upstream of the ultrasonic transmitter 116a and the ultrasonic receiver 116b. The second media sensor 115 detects whether a media exists at its position. The second media sensor 115 includes a light emitter and a light receiver provided on one side with respect to the media conveyance path, and a light guide member provided at a position facing the light emitter and the light receiver with the conveyance path therebetween. The light guide member is a light guide tube such as a U-shaped prism. The light emitter is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or the like and irradiates light toward the conveyance path. On the other hand, the light receiver is a photodiode or the like and receives the light irradiated by the light emitter and guided by the light guide tube. The second media sensor 115 generates and outputs a second media signal whose signal value changes between a state where a media exists and a state where no media exists at the position of the second media sensor 115 based on the intensity of the light received by the light receiver.

[0028] Note that instead of the light guide member, a reflection member such as a mirror may be used. Also, the light emitter and the light receiver may be provided at positions facing each other with the conveyance path therebetween. Further, the second media sensor 115 may detect the presence of the media by a contact detection sensor or the like that passes a predetermined current when the media is in contact or not in contact.

[0029] The ultrasonic transmitter 116a and the ultrasonic receiver 116b are arranged downstream of the feed roller 113 and the separation roller 114 and upstream of the first to eighth conveying rollers 117a - h and the first to eighth driven rollers 118a - h. The ultrasonic transmitter 116a and the ultrasonic receiver 116b are arranged facing each other across the conveyance path in the vicinity of the conveyance path of the medium. The ultrasonic transmitter 116a transmits ultrasonic waves. On the other hand, the ultrasonic receiver 116b receives the ultrasonic waves transmitted by the ultrasonic transmitter 116a and passing through the medium, and generates and outputs an ultrasonic signal, which is an electrical signal corresponding to the received ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic signal indicates the transmission information of the ultrasonic waves that penetrate the medium at a plurality of positions in the medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. The transmission information indicates the magnitude of the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic receiver 116b. Hereinafter, the ultrasonic transmitter 116a and the ultrasonic receiver 116b may be collectively referred to as the ultrasonic sensor 116. Note that the number of ultrasonic sensors 116 is not limited to one, and a plurality may be used. In that case, the plurality of ultrasonic sensors 116 are arranged side by side at intervals in the width direction A4.

[0030] The first to eighth conveying rollers 117a - h and the first to eighth driven rollers 118a - h are provided downstream of the feed roller 113 and the separation roller 114, and convey the medium fed by the feed roller 113 and the separation roller 114 toward the downstream side. The first to eighth conveying rollers 117a - h and the first to eighth driven rollers 118a - h are arranged facing each other across the medium conveyance path.

[0031] The first imaging device 119a is an example of an imaging unit, and is provided downstream of the first transport roller 117a and the first driven roller 118a in the medium transport direction A2, that is, downstream of the ultrasonic sensor 116. The first imaging device 119a has a line sensor using a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) of an equi-magnification optical system type having an imaging element using CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) linearly arranged in the main scanning direction. Further, the first imaging device 119a has a lens that forms an image on the imaging element, and an A / D converter that amplifies an electrical signal output from the imaging element and performs analog / digital (A / D) conversion. The first imaging device 119a images the surface of the transported medium to generate and output an input image.

[0032] Similarly, the second imaging device 119b is an example of an imaging unit, and is provided downstream of the first transport roller 117a and the first driven roller 118a in the medium transport direction A2. The second imaging device 119b has a line sensor using a CIS of an equi-magnification optical system type having an imaging element using CMOS linearly arranged in the main scanning direction. Further, the second imaging device 119b has a lens that forms an image on the imaging element, and an A / D converter that amplifies an electrical signal output from the imaging element and performs A / D conversion. The second imaging device 119b images the back surface of the transported medium to generate and output an input image.

[0033] The medium transport device 100 may arrange only one of the first imaging device 119a and the second imaging device 119b and read only one side of the medium. Further, instead of the line sensor using a CIS of an equi-magnification optical system type including an imaging element using CMOS, a line sensor using a CIS of an equi-magnification optical system type including an imaging element using CCD (Charge Coupled Device) may be used. Further, a line sensor of a reduced optical system type including an imaging element using CMOS or CCD may be used.

[0034] The medium placed on the placement table 103 is conveyed between the first guide 101a and the second guide 102a in the medium conveyance direction A2 by the pick roller 112 and the feed roller 113 rotating in the medium feed directions A5 and A6, respectively. On the other hand, when a plurality of media are placed on the placement table 103 by the separation roller 114 rotating in the direction A7 opposite to the medium feed direction, only the medium in contact with the feed roller 113 among the media placed on the placement table 103 is separated.

[0035] The medium is guided by the first guide 101a and the second guide 102a and fed into the imaging position of the imaging device 119 by the first to second conveyance rollers 117a - b rotating in the directions of arrows A8 - A9, and is imaged by the imaging device 119. Further, the medium is discharged onto the discharge table 104 by the third to eighth conveyance rollers 117c - h rotating in the directions of arrows A10 - A15, respectively. The discharge table 104 stacks the medium discharged by the eighth conveyance roller 117h.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the medium conveyance device 100.

[0037] In addition to the above-described configuration, the medium conveyance device 100 further includes a motor 131, an interface device 132, a storage device 140, a processing circuit 150, and the like.

[0038] The motor 131 includes one or a plurality of motors, and rotates the pick roller 112, the feed roller 113, the separation roller 114, and the first to eighth conveyance rollers 117a - h according to a control signal from the processing circuit 150 to feed and convey the medium. Note that the first to eighth driven rollers 118a - h may be provided to rotate by a driving force from the motor instead of rotating passively according to the rotation of each conveyance roller.

[0039] The interface device 132 has an interface circuit conforming to a serial bus such as USB, for example, and is electrically connected to an information processing device (for example, a personal computer, a portable information terminal, etc.) not shown in the drawings to transmit and receive read images and various types of information. Further, instead of the interface device 132, a communication unit having an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio signals and a radio communication interface circuit for transmitting and receiving signals through a radio communication line according to a predetermined communication protocol may be used. The predetermined communication protocol is, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network).

[0040] The storage device 140 includes a memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), a fixed disk device such as a hard disk, or a portable storage device such as a flexible disk and an optical disk. Further, the storage device 140 stores computer programs, databases, tables, etc. used for various processes of the medium conveyance device 100. The computer program may be installed in the storage device 140 from a computer-readable portable recording medium using a known setup program or the like. The portable recording medium is, for example, a CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory), a DVD-ROM (digital versatile disc read only memory), etc.

[0041] The processing circuit 150 operates based on a program stored in the storage device 140 in advance. The processing circuit 150 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). As the processing circuit 150, a DSP (digital signal processor), an LSI (large scale integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), etc. may be used.

[0042] The processing circuit 150 is connected to an operating device 105, a display device 106, a first medium sensor 111, a second medium sensor 115, an ultrasonic sensor 116, an imaging device 119, a motor 131, an interface device 132, a storage device 140, etc., and controls these respective units. The processing circuit 150 controls the motor 131 to convey a medium, controls the imaging device 119 to acquire an input image, and transmits the acquired input image to an information processing device via the interface device 132. Further, the processing circuit 150 determines whether an attachment is attached to the medium based on an ultrasonic signal received from the ultrasonic sensor 116, and controls the conveyance of the medium based on the determination result.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the storage device 140 and the processing circuit 150.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, various programs such as a control program 141, a determination program 142, and a reception program 143 are stored in the storage device 140. These respective programs are functional modules implemented by software operating on a processor. The processing circuit 150 reads each program stored in the storage device 140 and operates according to each read program, thereby functioning as a control unit 151, a determination unit 152, and a reception unit 153.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the medium reading process.

[0046] Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the medium reading process of the medium conveyance device 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5. Note that the flow of the operation described below is mainly executed by the processing circuit 150 in cooperation with the respective elements of the medium conveyance device 100 based on a program stored in the storage device 140 in advance.

[0047] First, the control unit 151 waits until an operation signal instructing the reading of the medium is received from the operating device 105 or the interface device 132 when an instruction to read the medium is input by the user using the operating device 105 or the information processing device (step S101).

[0048] Next, the control unit 151 acquires a medium signal from the first medium sensor 111, and determines whether a medium is placed on the mounting table 103 based on the acquired medium signal (step S102). If no medium is placed on the mounting table 103, the control unit 151 returns the process to step S101 and waits until a new operation signal is received from the operation device 105 or the interface device 132.

[0049] On the other hand, if a medium is placed on the mounting table 103, the control unit 151 drives a motor for moving the mounting table 103, and moves the mounting table 103 to a position where the medium can be fed. The control unit 151 drives the motor 131 to rotate the pick roller 112, the feed roller 113, the separation roller 114, and the first to eighth transport rollers 117a - h, and feeds and transports the medium placed on the mounting table 103 (step S103).

[0050] Next, in the overlap determination process executed in parallel with the medium reading process, the control unit 151 determines whether it is determined that double - feeding of the medium has occurred and whether it is determined that an attachment is attached to the transported medium (step S104). In the overlap determination process, the determination unit 152 determines whether double - feeding of the medium has occurred and whether an attachment is attached to the transported medium based on the transmission information indicated by the ultrasonic signal. Details of the overlap determination process will be described later.

[0051] If it is determined that double - feeding of the medium has occurred in the overlap determination process, or if it is determined that an attachment is attached to the transported medium, the control unit 151 stops the motor 131 and stops the feeding and transporting of the medium by the transport unit (step S105). If an attachment is attached to the transported medium, the control unit 151 stops the transport of the medium to which the attachment is attached, thereby stopping the transport of the next medium. That is, the control unit 151 stops the feeding and transporting of the medium placed on the mounting table 103 so as to be transported next to the medium to which the attachment is attached. The stop of the feeding and transporting of the medium is an example of abnormal processing.

[0052] When the media transport device 100 detects double feeding of the media or the presence of an attached object on the media, it immediately stops the media transport, thereby suppressing the occurrence of media jams and media damage. In addition, after the transport of all the media placed together on the mounting table 103 and continuously transported is completed, the user does not need to search for and re-transport the media with double feeding or the media with an attached object from the media stacked on the discharge table 104. As a result, the media transport device 100 can reduce the user's labor and improve the user's convenience.

[0053] Note that the control unit 151 may stop the transport of the next media after discharging the currently transported media, that is, the media determined to have an attached object. As a result, the user does not need to open the first housing 101 to take out the media stopped in the media transport path, and the media transport device 100 can reduce the user's labor and improve the user's convenience.

[0054] Next, the control unit 151 notifies the user by displaying information indicating that an abnormality has occurred on the display device 106 or transmitting it to the information processing device via the interface device 132 (step S106). When double feeding of the media occurs, the control unit 151 notifies the user that double feeding of the media has occurred, and when an attached object is attached to the media, the control unit 151 notifies the user that an attached object is attached to the media. Notifying the user of the occurrence of double feeding of the media or the presence of an attached object on the media is an example of abnormality processing.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a notification screen 600 for notifying the user that an attached object is attached to the media.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 6, on the notification screen 600, a text 601, a selection button 602, a resume button 603, a stop button 604, etc. are displayed. The text 601 is a character string indicating that an attachment was pasted on the medium. The selection button 602 is a button for specifying whether to resume stopping the conveyance of the medium when the conveyance of the first medium is completed after resuming the conveyance of the medium. The resume button 603 is a button for instructing resumption of the conveyance of the medium. The stop button 604 is a button for instructing stoppage of the conveyance of the medium.

[0057] When double conveyance of the medium occurs, the user opens the first housing 101, takes out the medium that has stopped in the medium conveyance path, and resets the medium on the mounting table 103. On the other hand, when an attachment is pasted on the medium, after the user opens the first housing 101 and takes out the medium that has stopped in the medium conveyance path, the user removes the attachment from the medium or shifts the attachment position to the end of the medium and then resets the medium on the mounting table 103. Thereafter, the user operates the selection button 602 to specify whether to resume stopping the conveyance of the medium and presses the resume button 603 or the stop button 604 to specify subsequent processing.

[0058] Note that on the notification screen for notifying the user that double conveyance of the medium has occurred, a text for notifying the user that double conveyance of the medium has occurred, a resume button for instructing resumption of the conveyance of the medium, and a stop button for instructing stoppage of the conveyance of the medium are displayed. On this notification screen, a selection button for specifying whether to resume stopping the conveyance of the medium when the conveyance of the first medium is completed after resuming the conveyance of the medium is not displayed.

[0059] Next, the reception unit 153 waits until it receives an instruction from the user to resume the conveyance of the medium or to stop the conveyance of the medium from the operation device 105 or the interface device 132 (step S107). On the notification screen 600, when the resume button 603 is pressed by the user, the reception unit 153 receives an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium. On the other hand, on the notification screen 600, when the stop button 604 is pressed by the user, the reception unit 153 receives an instruction to stop the conveyance of the medium.

[0060] In addition, when the reception unit 153 receives an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium, it further receives an instruction to re-stop the conveyance of the medium or an instruction not to stop the conveyance of the medium. The instruction to re-stop the conveyance of the medium is an instruction to re-stop the conveyance of the medium when the first conveyance of the medium is completed after resuming the conveyance of the medium. The instruction not to stop the conveyance of the medium is an instruction to continue the conveyance of the medium without stopping it when the first conveyance of the medium is completed after resuming the conveyance of the medium. When it is specified on the selection button 602 of the notification screen 600 to re-stop the conveyance of the medium, the reception unit 153 receives an instruction to re-stop the conveyance of the medium. On the other hand, when it is specified on the selection button 602 of the notification screen 600 not to re-stop the conveyance of the medium (to continue), the reception unit 153 receives an instruction not to stop the conveyance of the medium.

[0061] When the reception unit 153 receives an instruction, the control unit 151 determines whether the reception unit 153 has received an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium or an instruction to stop the conveyance of the medium (step S108). When the reception unit 153 has received an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium, the control unit 151 returns the process to step S103 and causes the medium re-placed on the placement table 103 by the user to be re-fed and re-conveyed. That is, the control unit 151 causes the medium that has been determined to have caused double feeding and has been re-set on the placement table 103 by the user to be re-conveyed. Alternatively, the control unit 151 causes the medium on which an attachment has been determined to be attached and the attachment of which has been removed or shifted by the user and re-set on the placement table 103 to be re-conveyed. On the other hand, when the reception unit 153 has received an instruction to stop the conveyance of the medium, the control unit 151 ends the series of steps without resuming the conveyance of the medium.

[0062] On the other hand, in step S104, when it is determined in the overlapping determination process that double feeding of the medium has not occurred and that no attachment is attached to the medium to be conveyed, the control unit 151 determines whether the entire medium has been imaged (step S109). The control unit 151 determines, for example, whether the rear end of the medium has passed the position of the second medium sensor 115 based on the second medium signal received from the second medium sensor 115. The control unit 151 periodically acquires the second medium signal from the second medium sensor 115, and determines that the rear end of the medium has passed the position of the second medium sensor 115 when the signal value of the second medium signal changes from a value indicating the presence of the medium to a value indicating the absence of the medium. The control unit 151 determines that the entire medium has been imaged when the rear end of the medium has passed the imaging position of the imaging device 119 after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the rear end of the medium passed the position of the second medium sensor 115. The first predetermined time is set to the time required for the medium to move from the position of the second medium sensor 115 to the imaging position of the imaging device 119. Note that the control unit 151 may determine that the entire conveyed medium has been imaged when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of feeding of the medium.

[0063] If the entire medium that has been conveyed has not been imaged yet, the control unit 151 returns the process to step S104 and repeats the processes of steps S104 to S109.

[0064] On the other hand, when the entire conveyed medium has been imaged, the control unit 151 acquires the input image from the imaging device 119 and stores the acquired input image in the storage device 140. The control unit 151 outputs the acquired input image by transmitting it to the information processing device via the interface device 132 (step S110).

[0065] Next, the control unit 151 determines whether or not an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium and an instruction to re-stop the conveyance of the medium have been received from the user for the medium conveyed immediately before (step S111). If an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium and an instruction to re-stop the conveyance of the medium have been received from the user for the medium conveyed immediately before, the medium conveyed immediately before is the medium to which the sticker has been attached. On the other hand, the medium currently being conveyed is the medium whose sticker has been removed or shifted by the user and re-conveyed. If an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium or an instruction to re-stop the conveyance of the medium has not been received from the user for the medium conveyed immediately before, the control unit 151 proceeds to step S113 without performing any particular process.

[0066] On the other hand, if an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium or an instruction to re-stop the conveyance of the medium has been received from the user for the medium conveyed immediately before, the control unit 151 waits until the conveyance of the medium currently being conveyed is completed. When the conveyance of the medium is completed, the control unit 151 stops the motor 131 and re-stops the feeding and conveyance of the medium (step S112). The control unit 151 determines that the conveyance of the medium is completed, for example, when the rear end of the medium passes the position of the eighth conveyance roller 117h after a second predetermined time has elapsed since the rear end of the medium passed the position of the second medium sensor 115. The second predetermined time is set to the time required for the medium to move from the position of the second medium sensor 115 to the position of the eighth conveyance roller 117h. Note that the control unit 151 may determine that the conveyance of the medium is completed when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the feeding of the medium.

[0067] In this way, when the determination unit 152 determines that an attachment is attached to the medium and stops the conveyance of the next medium, and then when the conveyance of the first medium is completed, the control unit 151 stops the feeding and conveyance of the medium again.

[0068] As described above, when an attachment is attached to the medium, after the user takes out the medium that has stopped in the medium conveyance path, removes the attachment from the medium or shifts the attachment position to the end of the medium, the user resets the medium on the mounting table 103. That is, the first medium to be conveyed after it is determined that an attachment is attached to the medium and the conveyance of the next medium is stopped is the medium for which the determination unit 152 determines that an attachment is attached and the attachment has been removed or shifted by the user. When the conveyance of the medium for which the attachment has been removed or shifted by the user is completed, the control unit 151 stops the conveyance of the medium again in order to return the state of the medium to the user. As a result, the user can reattach the attachment or return the attachment position to the medium placed at the top on the discharge table 104, for which the attachment has been removed or shifted.

[0069] Further, the user can stack the media placed together on the mounting table 103 and continuously conveyed in order on the discharge table 104 by returning the medium for which the attachment has been reattached or the attachment position has been returned to above the medium placed at the top on the discharge table 104. After the conveyance of all the media placed together on the mounting table 103 and continuously conveyed together with the medium to which the attachment is attached is completed, the user searches for the medium to which the attachment was attached from among the media stacked on the discharge table 104, and there is no need to return the state of the medium. As a result, the medium conveyance device 100 can reduce the labor of the user and improve the convenience for the user.

[0070] In particular, the control unit 151 restarts the conveyance of the medium only when, after the determination unit 152 determines that an attachment is attached to the medium and stops the conveyance of the next medium, an instruction to restart the stoppage of the conveyance of the medium is received from the user. As a result, when it is not necessary for the user to return the state of the medium, as in the case where double feeding occurs and the conveyance of the medium is stopped, the medium conveyance device 100 can stop the conveyance of the medium and suppress an increase in the processing time of the medium reading process.

[0071] After that, the control unit 151 waits until an instruction to resume reading of the medium is input by the user using the operation device 105 or the information processing device, and an operation signal instructing the resumption of reading of the medium is received from the operation device 105 or the interface device 132. After reattaching the attachment to the medium or returning the attachment to the original attachment position, the user places the medium on top of the medium placed at the top on the discharge table 104, and then inputs an instruction to resume reading of the medium using the operation device 105 or the information processing device.

[0072] Next, the control unit 151 determines whether there is a medium remaining on the placement table 103 based on the first medium signal received from the first medium sensor 111 (step S113). If there is a medium remaining on the placement table 103, the control unit 151 returns the process to step S104 and repeats the processes of steps S104 to S113.

[0073] On the other hand, if there is no medium remaining on the placement table 103, the control unit 151 stops the motor 131, stops the pick roller 112, the feed roller 113, the separation roller 114, and the first to eighth conveyance rollers 117a to 117h (step S114), and ends the series of steps.

[0074] Note that in step S104, the control unit 151 may determine only whether an attachment is attached to the medium without determining whether double feeding of the medium has occurred. Alternatively, in step S104, when it is determined that double feeding of the medium has occurred, the control unit 151 may shift the process to step S109 and continue without stopping the conveyance of the medium.

[0075] Also, in step S107, when the reception unit 153 receives an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium from the user, it may not receive an instruction to resume or not resume the conveyance of the medium. In that case, in step S112, when the determination unit 152 determines that an attachment is attached to the medium and stops the conveyance of the next medium, and then when the conveyance of the first medium is completed, regardless of the instruction from the user, the control unit 151 stops the conveyance of the medium again.

[0076] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the overlap determination process of the medium conveyance device 100.

[0077] Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the overlap determination process of the medium conveyance device 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7. Note that the operation flow described below is mainly executed by the processing circuit 150 in cooperation with each element of the medium conveyance device 100 based on a program stored in the storage device 140 in advance. The operation flow shown in FIG. 7 is executed every time the medium is conveyed.

[0078] First, the determination unit 152 receives an ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic sensor 116. The determination unit 152 detects the transmission information indicated by the received ultrasonic signal as the transmission information of the ultrasonic wave that transmits through the medium at a plurality of positions of the medium conveyed by the conveyance unit, and stores it in the storage device 140 in association with the current time (step S201).

[0079] Next, the determination unit 152 determines whether or not the rear end of the medium has passed the position of the ultrasonic sensor 116 (step S202). For example, the control unit 151 determines that the rear end of the medium has passed the position of the ultrasonic sensor 116 when a third predetermined time has elapsed since the rear end of the medium passed the position of the second medium sensor 115. The third predetermined time is set to the time required for the medium to move from the position of the second medium sensor 115 to the position of the ultrasonic sensor 116. Note that the control unit 151 may determine that the rear end of the medium has passed the position of the ultrasonic sensor 116 when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of feeding the medium. If the rear end of the medium has not yet passed the position of the ultrasonic sensor 116, the determination unit 152 returns the process to step S201 and repeats the processes of steps S201 to S202.

[0080] On the other hand, when the rear end of the medium has passed the position of the ultrasonic sensor 116, the determination unit 152 calculates, as the overlapping size where the medium overlaps, the size of the region within the medium being conveyed where the transmission information detected by the ultrasonic sensor 116 is within a predetermined range (step S203). At the position where the medium overlaps, the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic sensor 116 is attenuated in the air layer between the plurality of media, so the transmission information decreases. The determination unit 152 regards that the medium overlaps at a position where the calculated value based on the transmission information is less than the double-feed threshold value. The determination unit 152 calculates, as the calculated value, the statistical value (average value, median value, maximum value, or minimum value) of the transmission information detected within a predetermined period before and after each transmission information is detected. Note that the determination unit 152 may use each transmission information itself as the calculated value. The double-feed threshold value is set to a value between the transmission information detected when one PPC (Plain Paper Copier) sheet is conveyed and the transmission information detected when two PPC sheets are conveyed, for example. The determination unit 152 refers to the transmission information stored in the storage device 140 and calculates, as the overlapping size, the value obtained by multiplying the maximum continuous time during which the state where the calculated value is less than the double-feed threshold value continues by the conveyance speed of the medium.

[0081] In addition, when there are a plurality of ultrasonic sensors 116, the determination unit 152 calculates the overlapping size in the medium conveyance direction A2 for each ultrasonic sensor 116. Further, the determination unit 152 may calculate, as the overlapping size, in addition to or instead of the size where the medium overlaps in the medium conveyance direction A2, the size where the medium overlaps in the width direction A4. In that case, the determination unit 152 calculates the overlapping size in the width direction A4 from the arrangement position of the ultrasonic sensor 116 that has output transmission information less than the double-feed threshold value.

[0082] Further, when the interval between two consecutive times during which the calculated value is less than the double-feed threshold value is equal to or less than a predetermined interval, the determination unit 152 may consider the two consecutive times to be consecutive. By these means, the determination unit 152 can reduce the influence of noise and calculate the overlapping size with higher accuracy.

[0083] Next, the determination unit 152 determines whether the calculated overlapping size is greater than the first threshold value (step S204). The first threshold value is set to a value obtained by adding a margin to the maximum size of a general sticky note (for example, 80 mm), for example.

[0084] When the overlapping size is greater than the first threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that double-feed of the medium has occurred (step S205) and ends a series of steps.

[0085] On the other hand, when the overlapping size is less than or equal to the first threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines whether the overlapping size calculated by the determination unit 152 is less than the second threshold value (step S206). The second threshold value is set to a value smaller than the first threshold value, and is set to a value obtained by subtracting a margin from the minimum size of a general sticky note (for example, 5 mm), for example.

[0086] When the overlapping size is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, that is, when the overlapping size is less than or equal to the first threshold value and greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium (step S207) and ends a series of steps.

[0087] On the other hand, when the overlapping size is smaller than the second threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that there is no retransmission of the medium and that there is no attachment attached to the conveyed medium (step S208), and ends a series of steps.

[0088] In this way, the determination unit 152 determines whether or not an attachment is attached to the medium based on the transmission information of the ultrasonic wave that passes through the conveyed medium. Thereby, the determination unit 152 can accurately determine whether or not an attachment is attached to the medium. In particular, even when the calculated value is less than the retransmission threshold value, if the overlapping size is equal to or less than the first threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium and that no retransmission of the medium has occurred. Thereby, the determination unit 152 can suppress erroneously determining that retransmission of the medium has occurred when a medium with a small-sized medium attached thereto is conveyed.

[0089] Note that the transmission information may indicate the magnitude of the phase shift of the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic wave receiver 116b with respect to the phase of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic wave transmitter 116a, rather than the magnitude of the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic wave receiver 116b. When the media are overlapping, the phase shift of the ultrasonic wave passing through the media becomes larger than when the media are not overlapping. Therefore, the determination unit 152 assumes that overlapping of the media occurs at a position where the calculated value based on the transmission information is larger than the retransmission threshold value.

[0090] Further, the determination unit 152 may determine whether or not an attachment is attached to the medium based only on the size of the transmission information without using the overlap size. For example, when there is a position in the medium where the calculated value based on the transmission information is less than the retransmission threshold, the determination unit 152 determines that retransmission of the medium has occurred and determines that an attachment is attached to the medium. By using only the size of the transmission information, the determination unit 152 can determine whether or not retransmission of the medium has occurred and whether or not an attachment is attached to the medium with a lower load. On the other hand, by using the overlap size, the determination unit 152 can determine whether or not retransmission of the medium has occurred and whether or not an attachment is attached to the medium with higher accuracy.

[0091] As described in detail above, the medium conveyance device 100 stops the conveyance of the medium when an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium. After that, when the medium with the attachment removed or shifted is re-conveyed, the medium conveyance device 100 re-stops (temporarily stops) the conveyance of the medium so that the user can reattach the attachment or return the position of the attachment. Thereby, when an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium, the user can easily remove or shift the attachment, re-convey the medium, and then easily return the state of the attachment. Therefore, the medium conveyance device 100 can improve the convenience for the user when an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium.

[0092] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the medium reading process according to another embodiment.

[0093] The flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is executed instead of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5. The processes of steps S301 to S303, S304, S306 to S310, and S314 to S317 in FIG. 8 are the same as the processes of steps S101 to S103, S109, S104 to S108, and S111 to S114 in FIG. 5. However, the processes of S306 to S310 are executed after it is determined in step S304 that the entire medium has been imaged.

[0094] When it is determined in step S304 that the entire medium has been imaged, the control unit 151 acquires the input image from the imaging device 119 and stores the acquired input image in the storage device 140 (step S305).

[0095] Also in step S306, when it is determined in the overlapping determination process that there is no double-feed of the medium and that there is no attachment attached to the medium to be conveyed, the control unit 151 determines whether an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium has been received (step S311). The control unit 151 determines whether an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium has been received by the reception unit 153 for the medium immediately preceding the currently conveyed medium, where double-feed of the medium has occurred or an attachment has been attached and the conveyance of the medium has been stopped.

[0096] When an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium has been received, the control unit 151 replaces the input image of the immediately preceding conveyed medium with the input image of the currently conveyed medium (step S312). The control unit 151 deletes the input image of the immediately preceding conveyed medium in the storage device 140 and rewrites it with the input image of the currently conveyed medium. That is, when it is determined by the determination unit 152 that an attachment is attached to the medium, the control unit 151 replaces the image of that medium with the image of the first medium conveyed after the conveyance of that medium was stopped. Thereby, the control unit 151 can replace the input image in which the characters or figures printed on the medium are covered by the attachment and imaged with the input image in which those characters or figures are imaged by removing or shifting the attachment. Therefore, the medium conveyance device 100 can provide an appropriate input image to the user.

[0097] Next, the control unit 151 outputs the acquired input image by transmitting it to the information processing device via the interface device 132 (step S313).

[0098] As described in detail above, when the media conveyance device 100 determines whether an attachment is attached to the media after the entire media has been imaged, or when an attachment is attached to the conveyed media, it is possible to improve the convenience for the user.

[0099] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the overlap determination process according to another embodiment.

[0100] The flowchart shown in FIG. 9 is executed instead of the flowchart shown in FIG. 7. The flowchart shown in FIG. 9 is executed when the media reading process shown in FIG. 8 is executed. Note that the overlap determination process executed when the media reading process shown in FIG. 8 is executed is not limited to the overlap determination process shown in FIG. 9, and may be the overlap determination process shown in FIG. 7. Since the processes of steps S401 to S404 in FIG. 9 are the same as the processes of steps S201 to S204 in FIG. 7, only the processes of steps S405 to S410 will be described below.

[0101] In step S404, when the overlap size is larger than the first threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that double feeding of the media has occurred (step S405).

[0102] On the other hand, when the overlap size is equal to or less than the first threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that double feeding of the media has not occurred (step S406).

[0103] Next, the determination unit 152 waits until the control unit 151 acquires the input image from the imaging device 119 (step S407 )

[0104] Next, the determination unit 152 determines whether the acquired input image has the characteristics of the sticker (step S408). The medium conveyance device 100 stores, in advance, in the storage device 140, for example, image patterns of various types of stickers. The determination unit 152 calculates the degree of similarity between the cut-out images obtained by cutting out regions having the same size as each of the image patterns pre-stored in the storage device 140 from the input image while shifting the positions thereof, and each of the image patterns. The degree of similarity is, for example, the normalized cross-correlation value. Note that the degree of similarity may be the reciprocal of SSD (Sum of Squared Difference) or the reciprocal of SAD (Sum of Absolute Difference). When the maximum value of the degree of similarity between each cut-out image and each image pattern is equal to or greater than the similarity threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that the input image has the characteristics of the sticker. On the other hand, when the maximum value of the degree of similarity between each cut-out image and each image pattern is less than the similarity threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that the input image does not have the characteristics of the sticker.

[0105] Note that the medium conveyance device 100 may store, in advance, in the storage device 140 one or more sizes, shapes, and colors that a general sticker has as the characteristics of the sticker. In that case, the determination unit 152 generates cut-out images by cutting out regions having the same size and shape as each of the sizes and shapes pre-stored in the storage device 140 from the input image while shifting the positions thereof. For each of the generated cut-out images, the determination unit 152 calculates the difference between the gradation value (luminance value or color value) of each pixel in the cut-out image and the gradation value of each color pre-stored in the storage device 140. The determination unit 152 calculates, as an evaluation value, the number of pixels for which the calculated difference is equal to or less than the gradation threshold value, or the ratio of the number of pixels for which the calculated difference is equal to or less than the gradation threshold value to the total number of pixels in the cut-out image. When the maximum value of the calculated evaluation value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that the input image has the characteristics of the sticker, and when the maximum value of the calculated evaluation value is less than the predetermined threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that the input image does not have the characteristics of the sticker.

[0106] When the input image has the characteristics of an attachment, the determination unit 152 determines that an attachment is attached to the medium being conveyed (step S409) and ends the series of steps.

[0107] On the other hand, when the input image does not have the characteristics of an attachment, the determination unit 152 determines that no attachment is attached to the medium being conveyed (step S410) and ends the series of steps.

[0108] In this way, the determination unit 152 determines whether an attachment is attached to the medium based on the image of the medium being imaged. By using the image of the medium being imaged, the determination unit 152 can more accurately determine whether an attachment is attached to the medium.

[0109] Note that the determination unit 152 may determine whether an attachment is attached to the medium based on both the transmission information and the input image. For example, the determination unit 152 determines that an attachment is attached to the medium only when it determines that an attachment is attached to the medium based on the transmission information and determines that an attachment is attached to the medium based on the input image. Note that in any case where the determination unit 152 determines that an attachment is attached to the medium based on the transmission information or determines that an attachment is attached to the medium based on the input image, the determination unit 152 may determine that an attachment is attached to the medium. By using both the transmission information and the input image, the determination unit 152 can more accurately determine whether an attachment is attached to the medium.

[0110] As described in detail above, when the medium conveyance device 100 determines whether an attachment is attached to the medium based on the input image, or when an attachment is attached to the medium being conveyed, it becomes possible to improve the convenience for the user.

[0111] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the medium reading process according to another embodiment.

[0112] The flowchart shown in FIG. 10 is executed instead of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8. Since the processes of steps S501 to S505, S507 to S513, and S516 to S517 in FIG. 10 are the same as the processes of steps S301 to S305, S307 to S313, and S316 to S317 in FIG. 8, only the processes of steps S506 and S514 to S515 will be described below.

[0113] In step S506, the control unit 151 first determines whether an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium has been received from the user for the medium conveyed immediately before. If an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium has not been received from the user for the medium conveyed immediately before, the control unit 151 determines whether it has been determined that double conveyance of the medium has occurred and whether it has been determined that an attachment is attached to the medium to be conveyed. On the other hand, if an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium has been received from the user for the medium conveyed immediately before, the control unit 151 proceeds to step S507 without determining whether it has been determined that double conveyance of the medium has occurred and whether it has been determined that an attachment is attached to the medium to be conveyed.

[0114] In step S514, the control unit 151 determines whether an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium has been received from the user for the medium conveyed immediately before and whether the state of the attachment has changed between the medium conveyed immediately before and the medium currently being conveyed (step S514). If an instruction to resume the conveyance of the medium has been received from the user for the medium conveyed immediately before, the medium conveyed immediately before is a medium for which double conveyance has occurred or a medium to which an attachment is attached. If the state of the attachment has changed between the medium conveyed immediately before and the medium currently being conveyed, the medium currently being conveyed is a medium for which the attachment has been removed or shifted by the user and then re-conveyed.

[0115] The control unit 151 determines whether an attachment is attached to the currently conveyed medium in the same manner as the processes of steps S201 to S207 in FIG. 7 or the processes of steps S408 to S410 in FIG. 9. When no attachment is attached to the currently conveyed medium, the control unit 151 determines that the attachment has been removed from the currently conveyed medium and the state of the attachment has changed between the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the currently conveyed medium.

[0116] Also, when the determination unit 152 determines in step S207 in FIG. 7 that an attachment is attached to the medium, the position of the region within the medium where the transmission information is within a predetermined range (the region where the overlap of the media occurs) is stored in the storage device 140 as the overlap position. Similarly, when the control unit 151 determines that an attachment is attached to the currently conveyed medium, the control unit 151 detects the position of the region within the medium where the transmission information is within a predetermined range (the region where the overlap of the media occurs) as the overlap position. When the overlap positions are different between the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the currently conveyed medium, the control unit 151 determines that the position of the attachment has shifted in the currently conveyed medium and the state of the attachment has changed between the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the currently conveyed medium. On the other hand, when the overlap positions match between the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the currently conveyed medium, the control unit 151 determines that the state of the attachment has not changed between the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the currently conveyed medium.

[0117] On the other hand, when the determination unit 152 determines in step S409 of FIG. 9 that an attachment is attached to the medium, in the input image, the position of the region where the cut-out image with the highest degree of similarity or evaluation value to the image pattern is cut out is stored in the storage device 140 as the overlapping position. Similarly, when the control unit 151 determines that an attachment is attached to the currently conveyed medium, it detects, as the overlapping position, the position of the region where the cut-out image with the highest degree of similarity or evaluation value to the image pattern is cut out in the input image. If the overlapping positions are different between the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the currently conveyed medium, the control unit 151 determines that the position of the attachment has shifted in the currently conveyed medium and that the state of the attachment has changed between the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the currently conveyed medium. On the other hand, if the overlapping positions match between the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the currently conveyed medium, the control unit 151 determines that the state of the attachment has not changed between the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the currently conveyed medium.

[0118] Note that the control unit 151 may determine whether the state of the attachment has changed by determining only one of whether the attachment has been removed or whether the position where the attachment is attached has shifted in the currently conveyed medium.

[0119] If the control unit 151 has not received an instruction from the user to resume the conveyance of the medium for the immediately preceding conveyed medium, or if the state of the attachment has not changed between the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the currently conveyed medium, the control unit 151 does not execute any particular processing and proceeds to step S516.

[0120] On the other hand, if the control unit 151 has received an instruction from the user to resume the conveyance of the medium for the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the state of the attachment has changed between the immediately preceding conveyed medium and the currently conveyed medium, the control unit 151 waits until the conveyance of the currently conveyed medium is completed. When the conveyance of the medium is completed, the control unit 151 stops the motor 131 and resumes the stoppage of the feeding and conveyance of the medium (step S515).

[0121] In this way, when the control unit 151 determines that an attachment is attached to the medium and stops the conveyance of the medium, and then when the conveyance of the first conveyed medium is completed, the control unit 151 stops the conveyance of the medium again only when no attachment is attached to the first conveyed medium. Or, when the control unit 151 determines that an attachment is attached to the medium and stops the conveyance of the medium, and then when the conveyance of the first conveyed medium is completed, the control unit 151 stops the conveyance of the medium again only when the position where the attachment is attached to the first conveyed medium is shifted. By these means, when it is not necessary for the user to reattach the attachment to the medium or when it is not necessary to return the position of the attachment, the medium conveyance device 100 does not stop the conveyance of the medium, so that the convenience for the user can be improved.

[0122] As described in detail above, even when the medium conveyance device 100 stops the conveyance of the medium again only when the state of the attachment has changed in the re-conveyed medium, when an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium, the convenience for the user can be improved.

[0123] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a conveyance path inside a medium conveyance device 200 according to another embodiment.

[0124] As shown in FIG. 11, the medium conveyance device 200 has each part that the medium conveyance device 100 has. However, the medium conveyance device 200 has a thickness sensor 216 instead of the ultrasonic sensor 116.

[0125] The thickness sensor 216 is disposed downstream of the feed roller 113 and the separation roller 114 and upstream of the first to eighth conveying rollers 117a - h and the first to eighth driven rollers 118a - h. The thickness sensor 216 includes a light emitter 216a and a light receiver 216b. The light emitter 216a and the light receiver 216b are disposed opposite to each other across the conveyance path in the vicinity of the conveyance path of the medium. The light emitter 216a irradiates light (infrared light or visible light) toward the light receiver 216b. On the other hand, the light receiver 216b receives the light irradiated by the light emitter 216a and generates and outputs a thickness signal, which is an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the received light. When a medium exists at the position of the thickness sensor 216, the light irradiated by the light emitter 216a is attenuated by the medium, and the greater the thickness of the medium, the greater the attenuation amount. For example, the thickness sensor 216 generates a thickness signal such that the signal value increases as the thickness of the medium increases. The thickness signal indicates the thickness information of the medium at a plurality of positions within the medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. Note that the number of the thickness sensors 216 is not limited to one, and a plurality of them may be provided. In that case, the plurality of thickness sensors 216 are arranged side by side at intervals in the width direction A4.

[0126] Note that as the thickness sensor 216, a reflection light sensor, a pressure sensor, or a mechanical sensor may be used. The reflection light sensor includes a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver provided on one side with respect to the conveyance path of the medium and a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver provided on the other side. The reflection light sensor detects the distance from each pair to each surface of the medium from the time from when one pair irradiates light on one surface of the medium until the reflected light is received and the time from when the other pair irradiates light on the other surface of the medium until the reflected light is received. The reflection light sensor generates a thickness signal indicating, as thickness information, a subtraction value obtained by subtracting the detected distances from the distance between the two pairs. The pressure sensor detects a pressure that changes according to the thickness of the medium and generates a thickness signal indicating the detected pressure as thickness information. The mechanical sensor detects the amount of movement of a roller in contact with the medium and generates a thickness signal indicating the detected amount of movement as thickness information.

[0127] Similar to the media transport device 100, the media transport device 200 executes the media reading process shown in FIGS. 5, 8, or 10 and the overlap determination process shown in FIGS. 7 or 9.

[0128] However, in step S201 of FIG. 7 or step S401 of FIG. 9, the determination unit 152 receives a thickness signal from the thickness sensor 216. The determination unit 152 detects the thickness information indicated by the received thickness signal as the thickness information of the media at a plurality of positions of the media conveyed by the conveyance unit, and stores it in the storage device 140 in association with the current time.

[0129] Also, in step S202 of FIG. 7 or step S402 of FIG. 9, the determination unit 152 determines whether the rear end of the media has passed the position of the thickness sensor 216. If the rear end of the media has not yet passed the position of the thickness sensor 216, the determination unit 152 returns the process to step S201 or S401, and repeats the processes of steps S201 - S202 or S401 - S402.

[0130] Also, in step S203 of FIG. 7 or step S403 of FIG. 9, the determination unit 152 calculates the size of the region where the detected thickness information is within a predetermined range in the conveyed media as the overlap size. The determination unit 152 assumes that an overlap of the media occurs at a position where the thickness information is greater than the double-feed threshold. The determination unit 152 calculates the statistical value (average value, median value, maximum value, or minimum value) of the information detected within a predetermined period before and after each thickness information is detected as the calculated value. Note that the determination unit 152 may use each thickness information itself as the calculated value. The double-feed threshold is set to a value between the thickness information detected when one PPC sheet is conveyed and the thickness information detected when two PPC sheets are conveyed. The determination unit 152 refers to the thickness information stored in the storage device 140, and calculates the value obtained by multiplying the maximum continuous time during which the state where the calculated value is greater than the double-feed threshold continues by the conveyance speed of the media as the overlap size. Thickness

[0131] ​In addition, when there are a plurality of thickness sensors 216, the determination unit 152 calculates the overlapping size in the medium conveyance direction A2 for each thickness sensor 216. Further, the determination unit 152 may calculate, as the overlapping size, in addition to or instead of the size where the medium overlaps in the medium conveyance direction A2, the size where the medium overlaps in the width direction A4. In that case, the determination unit 152 calculates the overlapping size in the width direction A4 from the arrangement position of the thickness sensor 216 that outputs thickness information greater than the double-feed threshold value.

[0132] In this way, the determination unit 152 determines whether an attachment is attached to the medium based on the thickness information of the conveyed medium. Thereby, the determination unit 152 can accurately determine whether an attachment is attached to the medium. In particular, even if the calculated value is greater than the double-feed threshold value, when the overlapping size is equal to or less than the first threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium and that double-feed of the medium has not occurred. Thereby, the determination unit 152 can suppress erroneously determining that double-feed of the medium has occurred when a medium with a small-sized medium attached is conveyed.

[0133] Further, the determination unit 152 may determine whether an attachment is attached to the medium based only on the magnitude of the thickness information without using the overlapping size. For example, when there is a position in the medium where the calculated value based on the thickness information is greater than the double-feed threshold value, the determination unit 152 determines that double-feed of the medium has occurred and that an attachment is attached to the medium. By using only the magnitude of the thickness information, the determination unit 152 can determine whether an attachment is attached to the medium with a lower load. On the other hand, by using the overlapping size, the determination unit 152 can more accurately determine whether an attachment is attached to the medium.

[0134] Further, the determination unit 152 may determine whether an attachment is attached to the medium based on both the thickness information and the input image. For example, the determination unit 152 determines that an attachment is attached to the medium only when it determines that an attachment is attached to the medium based on the thickness information and also determines that an attachment is attached to the medium based on the input image. Note that the determination unit 152 may determine that an attachment is attached to the medium in either case where it determines that an attachment is attached to the medium based on the thickness information or where it determines that an attachment is attached to the medium based on the input image. By using both the thickness information and the input image, the determination unit 152 can more accurately determine whether an attachment is attached to the medium.

[0135] As described in detail above, when the medium conveyance device 200 determines whether an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium based on the thickness information of the conveyed medium, or when an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium, it is possible to improve the convenience for the user.

[0136] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a processing circuit 350 of a medium conveyance device according to another embodiment.

[0137] The processing circuit 350 is used in place of the processing circuit 150 and executes medium reading processing, overlap determination processing, etc. in place of the processing circuit 150. The processing circuit 350 includes a control circuit 351, a determination circuit 352, a reception circuit 353, etc. Note that each of these units may be configured by an independent integrated circuit, microprocessor, firmware, etc.

[0138] The control circuit 351 is an example of a control unit and has the same functions as the control unit 151. The control circuit 351 receives an operation signal from the operation device 105 or the interface device 132 and a first medium signal from the first medium sensor 111, and controls the motor 131 based on each received signal to convey the medium. The control circuit 351 acquires an input image from the imaging device 119 and outputs it to the interface device 132. Further, the control circuit 351 reads out from the storage device 140 a determination result as to whether an attachment is attached to the medium or an instruction to restart the conveyance of the medium, and stops or restarts the conveyance of the medium based on each read information.

[0139] The determination circuit 352 is an example of a determination unit and has the same functions as the determination unit 152. The determination circuit 352 receives an ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic sensor 116 or a thickness signal from the thickness sensor 216, or reads out an input image from the storage device 140. The determination circuit 352 determines whether an attachment is attached to the medium based on the received signal or the read input image, and stores the determination result in the storage device 140.

[0140] The reception circuit 353 is an example of a reception unit and has the same functions as the reception unit 153. The reception circuit 353 receives an instruction to restart the conveyance of the medium from the operation device 105 or the interface device 132 and stores it in the storage device 140.

[0141] As described in detail above, when the medium conveyance device executes the medium reading process and the overlap determination process by the processing circuit 350, or when an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium, it is possible to improve the convenience for the user.

[0142] Although the preferred embodiments have been described above, the embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, in step S312 of FIG. 8 or step S512 of FIG. 10, instead of replacing the entire input image, the control unit 151 may replace only the area where the sticker is pasted in the input image. In that case, when the determination unit 152 determines in step S409 of FIG. 9 that a sticker is pasted on the medium, the position of the area where the cut-out image with a similarity or evaluation value equal to or higher than the threshold with the image pattern is cut out in the input image is stored in the storage device 140 as the overlapping position. The control unit 151 converts the gradation value of each pixel in the area of the overlapping position in the input image of the medium imaged immediately before into the gradation value of the corresponding pixel in the input image of the medium currently being conveyed, thereby replacing the area where the sticker is pasted in the input image. Also in this case, the control unit 151 can replace the input image in which the characters or figures printed on the medium are covered by the sticker and imaged with the input image in which those characters or figures are imaged by removing or shifting the sticker. Therefore, the medium conveyance device can provide an appropriate input image to the user.

Explanation of Signs

[0143] 100, 200 Medium conveyance device, 112 Pick roller, 113 Feed roller, 114 Separation roller, 117a~h First to eighth conveyance rollers, 118a~h First to eighth driven rollers, 119 Imaging device, 151 Control unit, 152 Determination unit, 153 Reception unit

Claims

1. a conveying unit that conveys a medium; an imaging unit that images the conveyed medium; a determination unit that determines whether an attachment is attached to the conveyed medium; a control unit that stops the conveyance of the next medium when the determination unit determines that an attachment is attached to the medium, and has: when the determination unit determines that an attachment is attached to the medium and stops the conveyance of the next medium, and then when the conveyance of the first medium is completed, the control unit stops the conveyance of the medium again; A medium conveyance device characterized by this.

2. The determination unit detects the overlapping size of the medium based on the transmission information of ultrasonic waves transmitted through the conveyed medium or the thickness information of the medium, and determines whether an attachment is attached to the medium according to the detected size of the overlapping size. The medium conveyance device according to claim 1.

3. The determination unit determines whether an attachment is attached to the medium based on an image obtained by imaging the conveyed medium. The medium conveyance device according to claim 1.

4. further comprising a reception unit that receives an instruction from a user to stop the conveyance of the medium again, The control unit stops the conveyance of the medium again only when the determination unit determines that an attachment is attached to the medium and stops the conveyance of the next medium, and then the user receives an instruction to stop the conveyance of the medium again. The medium conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. When the determination unit determines that an attachment is attached to the medium and stops the conveyance of the medium, and then when the conveyance of the first conveyed medium is completed, if the attachment is not attached to the first conveyed medium, or if the position where the attachment is attached is shifted, the control unit stops the conveyance of the medium again. The medium conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. When the determination unit determines that an attachment is attached to the medium, the control unit replaces the image of the imaged medium with the image of the first conveyed medium after stopping the conveyance of the medium. The medium conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. When the determination unit determines that an attachment is attached to the medium, the control unit stops the conveyance of the next medium by stopping the conveyance of the medium to which the attachment is determined to be attached. The medium conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A control method for a medium conveyance device, The conveying unit conveys the medium, the imaging unit images the medium being conveyed, determines whether an attachment is attached to the medium being conveyed, if it is determined that an attachment is attached to the medium, stops the conveyance of the next medium, when it is determined that an attachment is attached to the medium and the conveyance of the next medium is stopped, and when the conveyance of the first medium is completed, stops the conveyance of the medium again, A control method characterized by the above.

9. A control program for a medium conveyance device having a conveyance unit that conveys a medium and an imaging unit that images the medium being conveyed, determines whether an attachment is attached to the medium being conveyed, causes the medium conveyance device to stop the conveyance of the next medium when it is determined that an attachment is attached to the medium, when it is determined that an attachment is attached to the medium and the conveyance of the next medium is stopped, and when the conveyance of the first medium is completed, stops the conveyance of the medium again, A control program characterized by the above.

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