Reading device, control method for reading device, and multifunction printer

Abstract

To provide a reader capable of preventing a foreign matter entering through a document supply port into an enclosure, a method of controlling the reader, and a multifunction device.SOLUTION: In a scanner unit of a multifunction device, a reader 10 includes a read unit 63 for reading information on a document; an enclosure 11 housing the read unit; a document supply port 61 formed on a top surface of the enclosure and allowing a document to be supplied therethrough; a cover member 40 arranged in the enclosure and displaced between an open position which opens the document supply port and a closed position P2 which closes the document supply port; a driving source 47 which displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position; a position detection mechanism for detecting a position of the cover member; and a control unit. The control unit capable of displacing the cover member between the open position and the closed position with the driving source displaces, when a length of time in which the read unit does not read anything exceeds a predetermined time, and if the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is located in the open position, the cover member to the closed position with the driving source.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a reading device for reading a document, a control method for the reading device, and a multifunction device.

Background Art

[0002] There is a scanner device which is an example of a reading device for reading a document. The scanner device described in Patent Document 1 includes a reading unit that reads information of a document, a housing that houses the reading unit, and a document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied. Further, the scanner device described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a cover member that covers the document supply port from above in order to suppress intrusion of foreign matter into the housing from the document supply port.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in such a reading device, the cover member is fixed, and the document supply port is open to such an extent that a document can be supplied to the document supply port. Therefore, even though the cover member is provided, it was not sufficient to suppress intrusion of foreign matter into the housing from the document supply port.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A reading device that solves the above problems comprises: a reading unit that reads information from a document; a housing that houses the reading unit; a document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied; a cover member disposed on the housing that is displaceable between an open position that opens the document supply port and a closed position that closes the document supply port; a drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position; a position detection mechanism that detects the position of the cover member; and a control unit. The control unit is capable of displacing the cover member between the open position and the closed position using the drive source, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when no reading is performed by the reading unit for a predetermined period of time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position.

[0006] A control method for a reading device that solves the above problems comprises: a reading unit that reads information from a document; a housing that houses the reading unit; a document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied; a cover member disposed on the housing that is displaceable between an open position that opens the document supply port and a closed position that closes the document supply port; a drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position; and a position detection mechanism that detects the position of the cover member. The control method for a reading device comprises: a reading unit that reads information from a document; a housing that houses the reading unit; a document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied; a cover member disposed of the cover member between the open position and the closed position; and a position detection mechanism that detects the position of the cover member.

[0007] A multifunction printer that solves the above problems comprises: a recording unit that records on a medium; a reading unit that reads information from a document; a housing that houses the recording unit and the reading unit; a document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied; a cover member disposed on the housing that is displaceable between an open position that opens the document supply port and a closed position that closes the document supply port; a drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position; a position detection mechanism that detects the position of the cover member; and a control unit. The control unit is capable of displacing the cover member between the open position and the closed position using the drive source, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when no reading is performed by the reading unit for a predetermined period of time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of one embodiment of the reading device. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of the reading device. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view showing the scanner unit. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing the scanner unit. [Figure 5] This is a top view showing the enclosure. [Figure 6] This is a top view showing a magnified portion of the cover component. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing the cover component. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view showing the cover member in the closed position. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view showing the cover member in the open position. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view showing the cover member in the closed position. [Figure 11] A cross-sectional view showing the cover member in the open position. [Figure 12] This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a reading device. [Figure 13]This is a flowchart of the first processing routine. [Figure 14] This is a flowchart showing the second processing routine. [Figure 15] This is a flowchart of the third processing routine. [Figure 16] This is a flowchart of the fourth processing routine. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. The reading device 10 is a device that reads information from the original document 95. The reading device 10 may be a multifunction device. The reading device 10 has multiple functions, including a scanning function, a copying function, and a printing function. The reading device 10 may also have a facsimile function.

[0010] In the drawing, the reading device 10 is assumed to be placed on a horizontal plane, with the direction of gravity indicated by the Z-axis and the directions along the horizontal plane indicated by the X-axis and Y-axis. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are orthogonal to each other. In the following explanation, the direction parallel to the X-axis is also called the width direction X, the direction parallel to the Y-axis is also called the depth direction Y, and the direction parallel to the Z-axis is also called the vertical direction Z.

[0011] <Reading device> As shown in Figure 1, a reader 10, which is an example of a multifunction printer, comprises a housing 11. The housing 11 is substantially rectangular in shape. The housing 11 comprises a top wall 16 and side walls 17. The side walls 17 may comprise a front wall 12, a rear wall 13, a first side wall 14, and a second side wall 15. The front wall 12 is located further in the depth direction Y than the rear wall 13. The second side wall 15 is located further in the width direction X than the first side wall 14. The second side wall 15 is connected to the respective ends of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 in the width direction X. The first side wall 14 is connected to the respective ends of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 in the direction opposite to the width direction X. The top wall 16 is connected to the respective upper ends of the front wall 12, the rear wall 13, the first side wall 14, and the second side wall 15. The upper surface 16a of the top wall 16 may be a plane extending parallel to the horizontal plane. The top surface 16a corresponds to the top surface of the housing 11.

[0012] The reading device 10 may include an input unit 32 and a display unit 33. The user can give an instruction to the reading device 10 by operating the input unit 32. The display unit 33 may be, for example, a touch panel. In this case, the input unit 32 may be constituted by the operation function of the touch panel. Note that the input unit 32 may be constituted by a mechanical switch. The display unit 33 of the present embodiment also functions as a notification unit for notifying information.

[0013] The input unit 32 and the display unit 33 may be arranged in the housing 11. The input unit 32 and the display unit 33 may be arranged on the upper wall 16 of the housing 11. The input unit 32 and the display unit 33 may be arranged offset in the width direction X from the central portion of the housing 11 in the width direction X.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reading device 10 may include an installation portion 19 where a cylindrical roll body 18 can be installed. The roll body 18 is formed by winding a medium 20 around a core member 18a. Examples of the medium 20 include paper, fabric, vinyl, plastic parts, metal parts, and the like. A plurality of roll bodies 18 can be installed in the installation portion 19. Both ends of each roll body 18 in the width direction X are rotatably attached to a holding portion (not shown) in the installation portion 19. The installation portion 19 opens in a part of the front wall 12 of the housing 11. The installation portion 19 constitutes a part of the internal space of the housing 11.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the reading device 10 may include a plate-shaped support base 21 inside the housing 11. The support base 21 is located above the installation portion 19. The dimension of the support base 21 in the width direction X is larger than the dimension of the medium 20 in the width direction X. The support base 21 can support the medium 20 on the upper surface of the support base 21.

[0016] The reading device 10 may include a feeding unit 26 for feeding the medium 20 and a transport unit 28 for transporting the medium 20 along a transport path 27 shown by a dashed line in Figure 2. The housing 11 may house the transport path 27. The transport path 27 may also include the support base 21. The transport path 27 connects to an outlet 12h that opens in the front wall 12.

[0017] The feeding unit 26 rotates the roll body 18 by the drive of the drive motor 26a. As the roll body 18 rotates, the medium 20 is unwound from the roll body 18 and fed into the transport path 27.

[0018] The conveying unit 28 may be equipped with multiple pairs of conveying rollers 30. The conveying roller pairs 30 rotate with the medium 20 in between, thereby conveying the medium 20 in the medium conveying direction D1 along the conveying path 27. The medium conveying direction D1 is the direction along the conveying path 27. The medium conveying direction D1 of the conveying path 27 on the support base 21 may be parallel to the Y-axis.

[0019] The reading device 10 includes a recording unit 22. The reading device 10 may also include a control unit 29. The housing 11 may house the recording unit 22. <Records Department> The recording unit 22 records data onto the medium 20. The recording unit 22 may include a carriage 23 that moves in the scanning direction S, a rod-shaped guide shaft 24 that extends in the width direction X, and a carriage motor 23a. The scanning direction S may be parallel to the X-axis. The carriage 23 is supported by the guide shaft 24. The carriage 23 is reciprocating along the guide shaft 24 when the carriage motor 23a is driven. The carriage 23 and the guide shaft 24 are located above the support base 21.

[0020] The recording unit 22 includes a recording head 25 that records onto the medium 20. The recording head 25 has a nozzle surface 25b from which a nozzle (not shown) opens. The carriage 23 mounts the recording head 25. The recording head 25 scans in the scanning direction S by moving together with the carriage 23. The recording head 25 moves at a position above and away from the support base 21. The nozzle surface 25b may be parallel to the upper surface of the support base 21. The recording head 25 may record onto the medium 20 by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, from the nozzle onto the medium 20 on the support base 21. The recording head 25 in this embodiment is a serial type that prints while moving in the width direction X of the medium 20. The recording head 25 may be configured as a line type that extends across the width direction X of the medium 20.

[0021] <Scanner section> As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the reading device 10 may include a scanner unit 60. The scanner unit 60 includes a reading unit 63, a document supply port 61, and a cover member 40. The scanner unit 60 may also include a drive source 47. In other words, the reading device 10 includes a reading unit 63, a document supply port 61, and a cover member 40. The reading device 10 may also include a drive source 47. The scanner unit 60 may also include a power transmission mechanism 48. The housing 11 houses the reading unit 63.

[0022] The scanner unit 60 includes a reading and transport unit 62 and a document output port 64. The reading and transport unit 62 transports the document 95 inserted from the document supply port 61 along the reading and transport path FR. The reading unit 63 reads the document 95 transported by the reading and transport unit 62. The document output port 64 opens into the front wall 12 of the housing 11. The document output port 64 discharges the document 95, after it has been read by the reading unit 63, to the outside of the housing 11.

[0023] The scanner unit 60 includes a base unit 67 and a reading unit cover 68. The base unit 67 may constitute part of the housing 11. The portion of the housing 11 that the base unit 67 constitutes may be the upper and front portion of the housing 11. The reading unit cover 68 is supported by the base unit 67 so as to be openable and closable. The document supply port 61, the reading transport unit 62, the reading unit 63, and the document output port 64 may be composed of a member provided on one of the base unit 67 and the reading unit cover 68, or a member provided separately on both. The reading transport path FR is configured as the space between the base unit 67 and the reading unit cover 68. The base unit 67 may include a path portion 67a. The path portion 67a may constitute the end face of the base unit 67 in the depth direction Y. The reading transport path FR may be located along the path portion 67a. The reading transport path FR extends between the document supply port 61 and the document output port 64.

[0024] The reading unit cover 68 has a cover shaft 69 extending in the width direction X. The cover shaft 69 is located at the lower end of the reading unit cover 68. The reading unit cover 68 can be displaced between an open position and a closed position by rotating about the axis of the cover shaft 69. When the reading unit cover 68 is in the closed position, the base unit 67 is covered by the reading unit cover 68. When the reading unit cover 68 is in the closed position, the document 95 can be transported by the reading transport unit 62 via the reading transport path FR, and the document 95 can be read by the reading unit 63. When the reading unit cover 68 is in the open position, the reading transport path FR is opened by the reading unit cover 68 moving away from the base unit 67. If a jam occurs in the scanner unit 60, the user can resolve the jam by rotating the reading unit cover 68 to the open position.

[0025] The reading transport path FR comprises a first transport path FR1 extending from the document supply port 61 and a second transport path FR2 extending between the first transport path FR1 and the document output port 64. The first transport path FR1 extends in the depth direction Y. The second transport path FR2 is inclined so that it is located in the depth direction Y as it approaches the vertical direction Z.

[0026] The transport direction of the document 95 will also be referred to as the transport direction D2 below. The transport direction D2 is the direction along the read transport path FR. The width direction X intersects with the transport direction D2. The read transport unit 62 has an upstream drive roller pair 71, a first drive roller pair 72, and a second drive roller pair 73. The first drive roller pair 72 is located downstream of the upstream drive roller pair 71 in the transport direction D2. The second drive roller pair 73 is located downstream of the first drive roller pair 72 in the transport direction D2.

[0027] The upstream drive roller pair 71 has an upstream drive roller 74 and an upstream driven roller 75 facing each other. The first drive roller pair 72 has a first drive roller 76 and a first driven roller 77 facing each other. The second drive roller pair 73 has a second drive roller 78 and a second driven roller 79 facing each other. The upstream drive roller 74, the first drive roller 76, and the second drive roller 78 are provided on the base portion 67. The upstream driven roller 75, the first driven roller 77, and the second driven roller 79 are provided on the reading section cover 68. The rotation axes of the upstream drive roller 74, the upstream driven roller 75, the first drive roller 76, the first driven roller 77, the second drive roller 78, and the second driven roller 79 all extend in the width direction X.

[0028] The upstream drive roller 74, the first drive roller 76, and the second drive roller 78 are driven by a motor (not shown). When the document 95 passes through the reading transport path FR, each of the upstream drive roller pair 71, the first drive roller pair 72, and the second drive roller pair 73 rotates while gripping the document 95 as it passes through the reading transport path FR. This causes the document 95 to be transported in the transport direction D2 along the reading transport path FR. The document 95 supplied from the document supply port 61 passes through the reading transport path FR and is then discharged from the document discharge port 64.

[0029] The document output port 64 corresponds to the space sandwiched in the vertical direction Z by the output guide portion 88 and the wall portion 89. The output guide portion 88 is located in the vertical direction Z more vertically than the second drive roller pair 73 of the base portion 67.

[0030] <Reading Section> The reading unit 63 reads information from the document 95. The reading unit 63 may be located between the upstream drive roller pair 71 and the first drive roller pair 72 in the transport direction D2. The reading unit 63 may be located on the reading unit cover 68. When the reading unit cover 68 is in the closed position, the reading unit 63 may face the read transport path FR.

[0031] The reading unit 63 may have a plurality of contact image sensor modules 80. The contact image sensor module 80 will also be referred to as the CIS module 80 below. The CIS module 80 has two light sources 81, a light receiving element 82, and a contact glass 83. The light sources 81 irradiate the document 95 with light. An LED is an example of a light source 81. The light receiving element 82 receives reflected light from the document 95 as it is being transported. A CMOS sensor is an example of a light receiving element 82. The light receiving element 82 has red, blue, and green color filters. The contact glass 83 has a light-transmitting surface 84. The document 95 is transported while in contact with the light-transmitting surface 84. The light sources 81 irradiate the document 95 with white light through the contact glass 83. The CIS module 80 reads the reflected light from the document 95 that has been received by the light receiving element 82.

[0032] The control of the light source 81 and the light-receiving element 82 of the CIS module 80 may be performed by the control unit 29, or by a dedicated control unit such as a microprocessor provided in the CIS module 80. By controlling the light-receiving element 82, color image data is generated based on the reading result from the light-receiving element 82.

[0033] <Manuscript submission slot> A document 95 is supplied to the document supply slot 61. The document supply slot 61 may be formed on the upper surface 16a. The document supply slot 61 may extend in the width direction X. The dimension of the document supply slot 61 in the width direction X may be smaller than the dimension of the upper surface 16a in the width direction X. Both ends of the document supply slot 61 in the width direction X are adjacent to the upper surface 16a. The document supply slot 61 may be positioned off-center in the depth direction Y from the middle portion of the upper surface 16a in the depth direction Y.

[0034] <Cover component> As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the cover member 40 is positioned on the housing 11. The cover member 40 may include a flat cover body portion 41. The cover body portion 41 may be large enough to close the document feed opening 61 from above. The cover body portion 41 may extend in the width direction X. The dimension of the cover body portion 41 in the width direction X may be smaller than the dimension of the upper surface 16a in the width direction X. Both ends of the cover body portion 41 in the width direction X are adjacent to the upper surface 16a. The cover body portion 41 may be positioned off-center in the depth direction Y from the middle portion in the depth direction Y of the upper surface 16a of the upper wall 16 of the housing 11. The upper surface of the cover body portion 41, which is the upper body upper surface 41a, constitutes the upper surface of the cover member 40. The lower surface of the cover body portion 41, which is the lower body lower surface 41b (see Figure 8), constitutes the lower surface of the cover member 40.

[0035] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cover member 40 has an opening / closing end 45 on the upstream side of the transport direction D2 of the document 95 supplied from the document supply port 61. The opening / closing end 45 is the end of the cover member 40 in the direction opposite to the depth direction Y. Of the cover body 41, the portion including the end in the direction opposite to the depth direction Y corresponds to the opening / closing end 45. A part of the lower surface 41b of the body corresponds to the bottom surface 45b of the opening / closing end 45. The cover member 40 is displaced between an open position P1 that opens the document supply port 61 and a closed position P2 that closes the document supply port 61. The cover member 40 is displaced between the open position P1 and the closed position P2 by rotating around the pivot axis 40a as the pivot point.

[0036] When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the upper surface 41a of the cover member 40 may be at the same height as the upper surface 16a of the housing 11. Note that "same height" includes not only cases where the upper surface 41a of the cover member 40 and the upper surface 16a of the housing 11 are exactly the same height, but also cases where the upper surface 41a of the cover member 40 is slightly higher than the upper surface 16a of the housing 11.

[0037] As shown in Figure 6, the upper surface 41a of the main body, which is the upper surface of the cover member 40, has a first region 42 and a second region 43 arranged side by side in the transport direction D2. The upper surface 41a of the main body may be divided into two in the depth direction Y by the first region 42 and the second region 43. The first region 42 may be located at the tip 45a of the opening / closing end 45, rather than at the second region 43. The boundary position between the first region 42 and the second region 43 may be shifted in the opposite direction to the depth direction Y from the midpoint of the upper surface 41a in the depth direction Y. When the upper surface 41a of the main body is viewed from above, the area of ​​the second region 43 on the upper surface 41a may be larger than the area of ​​the first region 42 on the upper surface 41a. The portion of the second region 43 that is close to the boundary with the first region 42 may be located at the opening / closing end 45. The second region 43 may be aligned with the document supply opening 61 in the vertical direction Z.

[0038] The cover body portion 41 may be made of a light-transmitting material. Examples of materials for the cover body portion 41 include plastic. A light-shielding sheet 44 may be attached to the second region 43. The sheet 44 does not need to be attached to the first region 42. In this case, the first region 42 may be light-transmitting. The second region 43 may be light-shielding.

[0039] The upper surface 41a of the main body may have a scale 46 in the width direction X. The scale 46 is formed at each end of the upper surface 41a of the main body in the depth direction Y. The scale 46 may be formed in both the first region 42 and the second region 43, or in either one of them.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3, when the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the portion of the opening / closing end 45 that faces the bottom surface 45b is called the opposing portion 11b. The opposing portion 11b may be part of the housing 11. In other words, the housing 11 has the opposing portion 11b. The bottom surface 45b of the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing portion 11b may face each other in the vertical direction Z. The opposing portion 11b may be part of the base portion 67. The opposing portion 11b may be located in the portion of the base portion 67 that forms the first transport path FR1.

[0041] When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, a gap 11c is formed between a part or all of the bottom surface 45b of the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing part 11b through which the document 95 can pass. The gap 11c may be a space formed by the bottom surface 45b and the opposing part 11b. The dimension of the gap 11c in the vertical direction Z may be greater than the thickness of the document 95. The dimension of the gap 11c in the width direction X may be greater than the dimension of the document 95 in the width direction X.

[0042] When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the portion facing the tip 45a of the opening / closing end 45 is called the tip-facing portion 11d. The tip-facing portion 11d is the portion of the housing 11 that faces the opening / closing end 45 in the depth direction Y when the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2. The tip-facing portion 11d may be a surface that extends perpendicular to the depth direction Y. When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the opening / closing end 45 and the tip-facing portion 11d may be separated from each other. Of the housing 11, the surface extending between the facing portion 11b and the tip-facing portion 11d is called the intermediate surface 11e. The intermediate surface 11e is shifted in the vertical direction Z as it approaches the tip-facing portion 11d from the facing portion 11b in the depth direction Y. When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the intermediate surface 11e does not have to face the opening / closing end 45.

[0043] <Regulatory body> As shown in Figure 7, the reading device 10 includes a regulating mechanism 105 that restricts the displacement of the cover member 40. The regulating mechanism 105 may include a first protrusion 110. The first protrusion 110 is part of the cover member 40. The first protrusion 110 may extend vertically in the Z direction from the cover body 41. The first protrusion 110 may extend from between the end and the opening / closing end 45 in the depth direction Y of the cover member 40. The first protrusion 110 may be shaped to be shifted in the depth direction Y the further it is from the cover body 41 in the vertical direction Z. Multiple first protrusions 110 are located spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. The first protrusions 110 are provided at least on the central portion 40b in the width direction X of the cover member 40, and on the spaced portions 40c located away from the central portion 40b in the width direction X and on both sides of the central portion 40b in the width direction X. The cover member 40 of this embodiment has three first protrusions 110. The first protrusions 110 are located in the central portion 40b and the spaced portions 40c, respectively.

[0044] As shown in Figure 8, the first protrusion 110 may have a first contact portion 111. That is, the regulating mechanism 105 may have a first contact portion 111. The first contact portion 111 is located on the cover member 40. Similar to the first protrusion 110, there are multiple first contact portions 111 located spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. There are multiple regulating mechanisms 105 located spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. The regulating mechanisms 105 are provided on the central portion 40b and the spaced portion 40c of the cover member 40. Since the cover member 40 of this embodiment has three first protrusions 110, there are three first contact portions 111 located spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. The reading device 10 is equipped with three regulating mechanisms 105. The first contact portion 111 is the portion of the end of the first protrusion 110 in the vertical direction Z that is located in the depth direction Y. In the cover member 40, the distance between the pivot shaft 40a and the first contact portion 111 may be shorter than the distance between the pivot shaft 40a and the opening / closing end portion 45.

[0045] The regulating mechanism 105 may have a first contact portion 112. The first contact portion 112 is located on the housing 11. Multiple first contact portions 112 are located spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. The housing 11 will have three first contact portions 112 spaced apart from each other in the width direction X.

[0046] When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the first contact portion 111 and the first contacted portion 112 come into contact with each other. When the cover member 40 is displaced from a state not in the closed position P2 to the closed position P2, the first protruding portion 110 is displaced in the depth direction Y so as to approach the first contacted portion 112. When the cover member 40 is displaced to the closed position P2, the first contact portion 111 comes into contact with the first contacted portion 112. The regulating mechanism 105 restricts the displacement of the cover member 40 from the closed position P2 in the closing direction by the contact between the first contact portion 111 and the first contacted portion 112 when the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2. As a result, when the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the regulating mechanism 105 restricts the displacement of the cover member 40 in the closing direction while a gap 11c is formed between a part or all of the bottom surface 45b of the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing portion 11b.

[0047] As shown in Figure 9, the first protrusion 110 may have a second contact portion 121. That is, the regulating mechanism 105 may have a second contact portion 121. The second contact portion 121 is located on the cover member 40. Multiple second contact portions 121 are located spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. Since the cover member 40 of this embodiment has three first protrusions 110, it will have three second contact portions 121 spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. The second contact portion 121 is the end portion of the first protrusion 110 in the vertical direction Z, located in the direction opposite to the depth direction Y.

[0048] The regulating mechanism 105 may have a second contact portion 122. The second contact portion 122 is located on the housing 11. Multiple second contact portions 122 are located spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. The housing 11 will have three second contact portions 122 spaced apart from each other in the width direction X.

[0049] When the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, the second contact portion 121 and the second contacted portion 122 come into contact with each other. When the cover member 40 is displaced from a state not in the open position P1 to the open position P1, the first protrusion 110 is displaced to approach the second contacted portion 122. When the cover member 40 is displaced to the open position P1, the second contact portion 121 comes into contact with the second contacted portion 122. The regulating mechanism 105 restricts the displacement of the cover member 40 from the open position P1 in the opening direction by the contact between the second contact portion 121 and the second contacted portion 122 when the cover member 40 is in the open position P1.

[0050] <Maintenance mechanism> As shown in Figure 7, the reading device 10 may include a retention mechanism 106 for maintaining the cover member 40. The retention mechanism 106 may include a second projection 130. The second projection 130 is part of the cover member 40. The second projection 130 may extend vertically Z from the cover body 41. The second projection 130 may extend from between the end and the opening / closing end 45 in the depth direction Y of the cover member 40. The shape of the second projection 130 may shift in the depth direction Y the further it is from the cover body 41 in the vertical direction Z. The second projection 130 may be a snap-fit. Multiple second projections 130 may be located far apart from each other in the width direction X. The second projections 130 are provided on the cover member 40 at positions between multiple first projections 110 in the width direction X. The cover member 40 of this embodiment has two second projections 130. The second protrusion 130 is located at a position offset in the width direction X from the first protrusion 110 located in the central part 40b, and at a position offset in the opposite direction to the width direction X from the first protrusion 110 located in the central part 40b.

[0051] As shown in Figure 10, the second projection 130 may have a sliding portion 131. That is, the retention mechanism 106 may have a sliding portion 131. The sliding portion 131 is located on the cover member 40. Similar to the second projection 130, there are multiple sliding portions 131 located spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. There are multiple retention mechanisms 106 located spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. The retention mechanisms 106 are provided on the cover member 40 at positions between multiple regulating mechanisms 105 in the width direction X. Since the cover member 40 of this embodiment has two second projections 130, there are two sliding portions 131 located spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. The reading device 10 is equipped with two retention mechanisms 106. The sliding portion 131 is the end of the second projection 130 in the vertical direction Z.

[0052] The retention mechanism 106 may have sliding surfaces 132. The sliding surfaces 132 are located on the housing 11. Multiple sliding surfaces 132 are located spaced apart from each other in the width direction X. The housing 11 will have sliding surfaces 132 at two locations spaced apart from each other in the width direction X.

[0053] The sliding surface 132 has a sliding region 133. The sliding portion 131 is slidable in the sliding region 133. The sliding region 133 has a central region 134, a first sliding region 135, and a second sliding region 136 located opposite the first sliding region 135, with the central region 134 in between. The sliding surface 132 is a convex surface with the central region 134 projecting toward the cover member 40. The central region 134 may be located between the first sliding region 135 and the second sliding region 136 in the depth direction Y. The second sliding region 136 may be a region of the sliding region 133 that is located further in the depth direction Y than the central region 134. The first sliding region 135 may be a region of the sliding region 133 that is located in the opposite direction to the depth direction Y than the central region 134. The central region 134 may be located above the first sliding region 135 and the second sliding region 136.

[0054] When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the sliding portion 131 is located in the second sliding region 136. When the cover member 40 is displaced from the open position P1 to the closed position P2, the sliding portion 131 is displaced while changing the position of the sliding region 133, which slides in the order of the first sliding region 135, the central region 134, and the second sliding region 136. When the sliding portion 131 slides through the central region 134, the second protrusion 130 may bend and move over the central region 134. The maintenance mechanism 106 maintains the cover member 40 in the closed position P2 when the sliding portion 131 is located in the second sliding region 136. The maintenance mechanism 106 maintains the cover member 40 in the closed position P2 when the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2. The maintenance mechanism 106 suppresses the displacement of the cover member 40 to the open position P1 when the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, thereby maintaining the cover member 40 in the closed position P2.

[0055] As shown in Figure 11, when the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, the sliding portion 131 is located in the first sliding region 135. When the cover member 40 is displaced from the closed position P2 to the open position P1, the sliding portion 131 is displaced while changing the position of the sliding region 133, which slides in the order of the second sliding region 136, the central region 134, and the first sliding region 135. When the sliding portion 131 slides through the central region 134, the second protrusion 130 may bend and move over the central region 134. The maintenance mechanism 106 maintains the cover member 40 in the open position P1 when the sliding portion 131 is located in the first sliding region 135. The maintenance mechanism 106 maintains the cover member 40 in the open position P1 when the cover member 40 is in the open position P1. The maintenance mechanism 106 suppresses the displacement of the cover member 40 to the closed position P2 when the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, thereby maintaining the cover member 40 in the open position P1.

[0056] <Drive source and power transmission mechanism> As shown in Figure 3, the drive source 47 displaces the cover member 40 between an open position P1 and a closed position P2. The control unit 29 may be capable of displacing the cover member 40 between the open position P1 and the closed position P2 by the drive source 47. The drive source 47 may be a motor. The drive source 47 displaces the cover member 40 by driving the power transmission mechanism 48. The power transmission mechanism 48 includes a drive gear 49, first gears 51 to seventh gears 57, and a cover transmission unit 58. The drive gear 49 is fixed to the drive shaft 47a of the drive source 47. The first gear 51 and the second gear 52 rotate together as a single unit by being fixed to a common gear shaft 51a. The cover transmission unit 58 has teeth 58a. Power can be transmitted from the seventh gear 57 to the cover transmission unit 58 because the teeth 58a mesh with the seventh gear 57. The cover transmission unit 58 may be fixed to the cover member 40. The cover member 40 is displaced in accordance with the displacement of the cover transmission unit 58.

[0057] The drive source 47 may be switched between forward and reverse rotation by the control unit 29. When the drive source 47 rotates forward, the power from the drive source 47 is transmitted in the following order: drive gear 49, first gear 51, second gear 52, third gear 53, fourth gear 54, fifth gear 55, sixth gear 56, seventh gear 57, and cover transmission unit 58. Upon receiving power from the seventh gear 57, the cover transmission unit 58 is displaced as its teeth 58a mesh with the seventh gear 57. As the cover transmission unit 58 is displaced, the cover member 40 is displaced to the closed position P2.

[0058] As shown in Figure 4, when the drive source 47 is driven in reverse, the power from the drive source 47 is transmitted in the following order: drive gear 49, first gear 51, second gear 52, third gear 53, fourth gear 54, fifth gear 55, sixth gear 56, seventh gear 57, and cover transmission unit 58. The rotational directions of the drive gear 49 and the first gears 51 to seventh gears 57 are opposite to those when the drive source 47 is driven in forward rotation. Upon receiving power from the seventh gear 57, the cover transmission unit 58 is displaced with its teeth 58a meshing with the seventh gear 57. As the cover transmission unit 58 is displaced, the cover member 40 is displaced to the open position P1.

[0059] When the control unit 29 displaces the cover member 40 to the open position P1 by the drive source 47, it may notify the user that the cover member 40 has been moved to the open position P1 using the display unit 33 or a buzzer, which acts as a notification unit. By providing this notification, the user can be informed that the cover member 40 has been displaced to the open position P1.

[0060] When the cover member 40 is displaced under conditions where power is not being transmitted from the drive source 47 to the power transmission mechanism 48, such as when the user manually displaces the cover member 40, power is transmitted from the cover transmission section 58 to the seventh gear 57 in accordance with the displacement of the cover member 40. The power is transmitted in the following order: seventh gear 57, sixth gear 56, fifth gear 55, fourth gear 54, third gear 53, second gear 52, first gear 51, and then the drive gear 49. The drive shaft 47a may be rotatable in accordance with the power transmitted to the drive gear 49.

[0061] <Department Head> As shown in Figure 12, the control unit 29 controls various operations performed by the reader 10. The control unit 29 may be configured as a circuit including α: one or more processors that perform various processes according to a computer program, β: one or more dedicated hardware circuits that perform at least some of the various processes, or γ: a combination thereof. The hardware circuit is, for example, an application-specific integrated circuit. The processor includes a CPU 101 and memory 102 such as RAM and ROM, and the memory 102 stores program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU 101 to perform the processes. The memory 102, i.e., the computer-readable medium, includes any readable medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or dedicated computer.

[0062] The control unit 29 may be electrically connected to the display unit 33. The control unit 29 may also be electrically connected to the input unit 32. When input is received in the input unit 32, a signal is output from the input unit 32 to the control unit 29. When a predetermined input is received in the input unit 32, a copy request signal is output from the input unit 32 to the control unit 29. When the control unit 29 receives the copy request signal, it operates the reading and transport unit 62 and reads the original document 95 with the reading unit 63 to generate image data. The control unit 29 operates the recording unit 22 and the transport unit 28 to print and copy the image based on the generated image data onto the medium 20. Based on the user's input to the input unit 32, the control unit 29 may control the movement and stopping of the recording head 25 by controlling the drive of the carriage motor 23a in the recording unit 22.

[0063] The control unit 29 may be electrically connected to the detection unit 104. The detection unit 104 detects the presence of an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11. The detection unit 104 is, for example, a human presence sensor. Examples of the outer surface of the housing 11 include the upper surface 16a of the upper wall 16 and the front surface of the front wall 12. The detection unit 104 detects the presence of an object when a user is at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11.

[0064] The control unit 29 may be electrically connected to a position detection sensor 103, which acts as a position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member 40. In this embodiment, the position detection sensor 103 corresponds to a position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member 40. A signal is output from the position detection sensor 103 to the control unit 29 when the cover member 40 is in the open position P1 and when the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2. The position detection sensor 103 may be provided inside the housing 11 or outside the housing 11. That is, the reading device 10 may be equipped with a position detection sensor 103. The position detection sensor 103 may be provided at one position capable of detecting that the cover member 40 is in the open position P1 and at one position capable of detecting that the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2.

[0065] The control unit 29 may displace the position of the cover member 40 using the drive source 47 according to the position of the cover member 40. The control unit 29 may execute a predetermined process if the result detected by the position detection sensor 103 indicates that the cover member 40 has been displaced. The control unit 29 may execute the first, second, third, and fourth processes described later.

[0066] Next, the control method for the reading device 10 will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in Figures 13 to 16. Here, the order of the steps in each control method can be arbitrarily rearranged as long as it does not deviate from the purpose of each control method.

[0067] <First Processing> The routine for the first process will be described with reference to Figure 13. The first process may be executed periodically while the power supply of the reading device 10 is turned on.

[0068] As shown in Figure 13, in step S101, the control unit 29 determines whether or not there is an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11. If the detection unit 104 does not detect that there is an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11, the control unit 29 determines that there is no object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11, and step S101 becomes NO. The control unit 29 terminates the first processing routine. If the detection unit 104 detects that there is an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11, the control unit 29 determines that there is an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11, and step S101 becomes YES. The control unit 29 proceeds to step S102.

[0069] In step S102, the control unit 29 determines whether the detection unit 104 has detected the presence of an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11 for a predetermined detection time T1. The control unit 29 measures time from the moment the detection unit 104 detects the presence of an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11. Based on the measured time, the control unit 29 may determine in step S102 whether the detection by the detection unit 104 has continued for a detection time T1 or longer. Note that the detection time T1 may be a preset value. The detection time T1 may be the time during which it can be assumed that the user is at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11 in order to operate the reader 10. If the time during which the detection unit 104 detected the presence of an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11 is shorter than the detection time T1, step S102 becomes NO. The control unit 29 terminates the first processing routine. If the detection unit 104 detects the presence of an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11 for a detection time T1, step S102 becomes YES. The control unit 29 moves the process to step S103. In step S103, the control unit 29 displaces the cover member 40 to the open position P1 using the drive source 47. The control unit 29 then terminates the first processing routine.

[0070] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 12, in the first process, the control unit 29 displaces the cover member 40 to the open position P1 using the drive source 47, based on the detection unit 104's detection of an object being located opposite the outer surface of the housing 11. When the detection unit 104 does not detect an object being located opposite the outer surface of the housing 11, the cover member 40 does not displace. In this case, if the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the cover member 40 remains in the closed position P2 and does not displace.

[0071] In the first process, when the detection unit 104 detects that an object is located opposite the outer surface of the housing 11 for a predetermined detection time T1, the control unit 29 displaces the cover member 40 to the open position P1 using the drive source 47. Even if the detection unit 104 detects that an object is located opposite the outer surface of the housing 11, if the detection by the detection unit 104 is less than the detection time T1, the cover member 40 does not displace. In this case, if the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the cover member 40 remains in the closed position P2 and does not displace.

[0072] <Second Processing> The routine for the second process will be described with reference to Figure 14. The second process may be executed periodically while the power supply of the reading device 10 is turned on.

[0073] As shown in Figure 14, in step S201, the control unit 29 determines whether the cover member 40 is in the open position P1. When the position detection sensor 103 detects that the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, the control unit 29 determines that the cover member 40 is in the open position P1. When the position detection sensor 103 detects that the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, or when it detects that the cover member 40 is not in either the open position P1 or the closed position P2, the control unit 29 determines that the cover member 40 is not in the open position P1. If the control unit 29 determines that the cover member 40 is not in the open position P1, step S201 becomes NO. The control unit 29 terminates the second processing routine. If the control unit 29 determines that the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, step S201 becomes YES. The control unit 29 proceeds to step S202.

[0074] In step S202, the control unit 29 determines whether or not the reading of the document 95 by the reading unit 63 has been performed. If the control unit 29 has ordered the reading unit 63 to read the document 95, the control unit 29 determines that the reading unit 63 is in the process of reading the document 95 and that the reading by the reading unit 63 is being performed. If the control unit 29 has not ordered the reading unit 63 to read the document 95, the control unit 29 determines that the reading unit 63 is not in the process of reading the document 95 and that the reading by the reading unit 63 has not been performed. If the control unit 29 determines that the reading by the reading unit 63 is being performed, step S202 becomes NO. The control unit 29 terminates the second processing routine. If the control unit 29 determines that the reading by the reading unit 63 has not been performed, the process moves to step S203.

[0075] In step S203, the control unit 29 determines whether the time during which the reading unit 63 has not performed reading exceeds a predetermined time Tp. The control unit 29 measures time from the moment it determines that the reading unit 63 has not performed reading. Based on the measured time, the control unit 29 may determine in step S203 whether the state in which the reading unit 63 has not performed reading has continued beyond the predetermined time Tp. The predetermined time Tp may be a preset value. The predetermined time Tp may be the time during which it can be determined that there is a risk of foreign matter entering the housing 11 from the document supply opening 61 if the state in which the reading unit 63 has not performed reading and the cover member 40 is in the open position P1 continues beyond the predetermined time Tp. If the control unit 29 determines that the time during which the reading unit 63 has not performed reading has not exceeded the predetermined time Tp, step S203 becomes NO. The control unit 29 terminates the second processing routine. If the control unit 29 determines that the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit 63 exceeds a predetermined time Tp, step S203 becomes YES. The control unit 29 proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the control unit 29 displaces the cover member 40 to the closed position P2 using the drive source 47. The control unit 29 terminates the second processing routine.

[0076] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 12, in the second process, the control unit 29 controls as follows. Specifically, when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit 63 exceeds a predetermined time Tp, and the position detection sensor 103 detects that the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, the control unit 29 displaces the cover member 40 to the closed position P2 using the drive source 47. More specifically, in the second process, when the state in which the cover member 40 is in the open position P1 and no reading is performed by the reading unit 63 exceeds a predetermined time Tp, the control unit 29 displaces the cover member 40 to the closed position P2 using the drive source 47.Therefore, if the cover member 40 is in the open position P1 even though no reading has been performed by the reading unit 63 due to the user forgetting to close the cover member 40, etc., the cover member 40 can be displaced to the closed position P2.

[0077] <Third Processing> The routine for the third process will be described with reference to Figure 15. The third process may be executed periodically when the power to the reading device 10 is turned on.

[0078] As shown in Figure 15, in step S301, the control unit 29 determines whether the reading unit 63 is reading or not. If the control unit 29 determines that the reading unit 63 is not reading, step S301 becomes NO. The control unit 29 terminates the third processing routine. If the control unit 29 determines that the reading unit 63 is reading, step S301 becomes YES. The control unit 29 proceeds to step S302.

[0079] In step S302, the control unit 29 determines whether the cover member 40 is in an abnormal position. In step S302, an abnormal position refers to the position of the cover member 40 between the open position P1 and the closed position P2. In step S302, if the position detection sensor 103 detects that the cover member 40 has been displaced and is in a position between the open position P1 and the closed position P2, the control unit 29 may determine that the cover member 40 is in an abnormal position. In step S302, if the position detection sensor 103 detects that the cover member 40 is in either the open position P1 or the closed position P2, the control unit 29 may determine that the cover member 40 is not in an abnormal position. If the control unit 29 determines that the cover member 40 is not in an abnormal position, step S302 becomes NO. The control unit 29 terminates the third processing routine. If the control unit 29 determines that the cover member 40 is in an abnormal position, step S302 becomes YES. The control unit 29 proceeds to step S303.

[0080] In step S303, the control unit 29 causes the first position abnormality to be reported. In step S303, the control unit 29 causes the display unit 33, which acts as a notification unit, to make a notification. The control unit 29 may, for example, cause the display unit 33 to make a notification by displaying an error message on the display unit 33. The error message may be the same as or different from an error message reported in other processes. The control unit 29 moves the process to step S304. In step S304, the control unit 29 displaces the position of the cover member 40 to the open position P1 using the drive source 47. This process in step S304 corresponds to the open drive process. The control unit 29 moves the process to step S305.

[0081] In step S305, the control unit 29 determines whether the cover member 40 is in the open position P1. If the control unit 29 determines that the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, step S305 becomes YES. The control unit 29 terminates the third processing routine. If the control unit 29 determines that the cover member 40 is not in the open position P1, step S305 becomes NO. The control unit 29 proceeds to step S306.

[0082] In step S306, the control unit 29 causes the second position anomaly to be reported. In step S306, the control unit 29 causes the display unit 33, which acts as a notification unit, to make a notification. The control unit 29 may, for example, cause the display unit 33 to make a notification by displaying an error message on the display unit 33. The error message may be the same as or different from an error message reported in other processes. After reporting the second position anomaly in step S306, the control unit 29 terminates the third processing routine.

[0083] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 12, in the third process, the control unit 29 detects, by the position detection sensor 103, that the cover member 40 has been displaced to a position between the open position P1 and the closed position P2 while the reading unit 63 is reading. When it is detected that the cover member 40 has been displaced to a position between the open position P1 and the closed position P2, the control unit 29 causes the display unit 33 to notify it of the abnormal position of the cover member 40 as a predetermined process. Therefore, even when the reading unit 63 is reading the cover member 40 but the cover member 40 is not in the open position P1, the user can be notified of the abnormal position of the cover member 40.

[0084] In the third process, if the control unit 29 detects that the cover member 40 has been displaced to a position between the open position P1 and the closed position P2, it performs an open drive process as a predetermined process, using the drive source 47 to displace the cover member 40 to the open position P1. If, as a result of the open drive process, the control unit 29 detects that the cover member 40 is not in the open position P1 using the position detection sensor 103, it notifies the display unit 33 of the abnormal position of the cover member 40. Therefore, if the cover member 40 does not displace to the open position P1 even when the drive source 47 displaces the cover member 40 due to an object being placed on it, the abnormal position of the cover member 40 can be notified to the user.

[0085] <Fourth Processing> The routine for the fourth process will be described with reference to Figure 16. The fourth process may be executed periodically while the power to the reading device 10 is turned on.

[0086] As shown in Figure 16, in step S401, the control unit 29 determines whether the reading unit 63 is currently reading or not. If the control unit 29 determines that the reading unit 63 is not currently reading, step S401 becomes NO. The control unit 29 terminates the fourth processing routine. If the control unit 29 determines that the reading unit 63 is currently reading, step S401 becomes YES. The control unit 29 proceeds to step S402.

[0087] In step S402, the control unit 29 determines whether the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2. In step S402, if the position detection sensor 103 detects that the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the control unit 29 may determine that the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2. If the position detection sensor 103 detects either that the cover member 40 is in a position between the open position P1 and the closed position P2, or that the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, the control unit 29 may determine that the cover member 40 is not in the closed position P2. If the control unit 29 determines that the cover member 40 is not in the closed position P2, step S402 becomes NO. The control unit 29 terminates the fourth processing routine. If the control unit 29 determines that the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, step S402 becomes YES. The control unit 29 proceeds to step S403.

[0088] In step S403, the control unit 29 stops reading by the reading unit 63. The control unit 29 proceeds to step S404. In step S404, the control unit 29 notifies of the third position anomaly. In step S404, the control unit 29 notifies the display unit 33, which acts as a notification unit. The control unit 29 may notify the display unit 33 by, for example, displaying an error message on the display unit 33. The error message may be the same as or different from an error message notified in other processes. After performing the process in step S404, the control unit 29 terminates the fourth processing routine.

[0089] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 12, in the fourth process, if the control unit 29 detects that the cover member 40 has been displaced to the closed position P2 by the position detection sensor 103 while the reading unit 63 is reading, it causes the reading unit 63 to stop reading as a predetermined process. In the fourth process, when the control unit 29 causes the reading unit 63 to stop reading as a predetermined process, it causes the display unit 33 to notify the user of the abnormal position of the cover member 40. In the fourth process, the stopping of reading by the reading unit 63 occurs while the user is performing the reading operation of the reading device 10 to read the document 95. By providing notification by the display unit 33 under such circumstances, the user can be made aware that the reading by the reading unit 63 has been stopped due to an abnormal position of the cover member 40.

[0090] <Operation of the Embodiment> The operation of this embodiment will now be described. When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the cover member 40 closes the document feed opening 61. Therefore, compared to when the document feed opening 61 is always open, it is less likely for foreign objects to enter the housing 11 from the document feed opening 61.

[0091] When the reading device 10 reads the document 95, the cover member 40 is displaced to the open position P1 by the user's manual operation of the cover member 40 or by the user's input to the input unit 32. When the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, the document supply opening 61 is opened. By opening the document supply opening 61 when the reading device 10 reads the document 95, it is easier for the user to supply the document 95 to the document supply opening 61.

[0092] During the reading of the document 95 by the reading device 10, the cover member 40 may be displaced to the closed position P2. Such displacement of the cover member 40 to the closed position P2 occurs, for example, when a user accidentally displaces the cover member 40 to the closed position P2 manually. According to this embodiment, when the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, a gap 11c is formed between the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing part 11b. Therefore, even if the cover member 40 is displaced to the closed position P2 while the document 95 is being supplied from the document supply port 61, the document 95 can still pass through the gap 11c. After passing through the gap 11c, the document 95 is transported along the reading transport path FR and read by the reading unit 63. Even if the cover member 40 is displaced to the closed position P2 while the document 95 is being supplied from the document supply port 61, the reading of the document 95 by the reading device 10 can continue.

[0093] <Effects of the Embodiment> The effects of this embodiment will now be explained. (1) When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, a gap 11c is formed between the open / closed end 45 of the cover member 40, which is located upstream of the transport direction D2 of the document 95 supplied from the document supply port 61, and the opposing part 11b of the housing 11, which is the part facing the bottom surface 45b of the open / closed end 45, through which the document 95 can pass. Therefore, if the cover member 40 is displaced to the closed position P2 while the document 95 is being supplied from the document supply port 61, the document 95 is less likely to be caught between the cover member 40 and the housing 11 at the document supply port 61. Thus, an increase in the transport resistance of the document 95 from the document supply port 61 into the inside of the reading device 10 can be suppressed.

[0094] (2) When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the regulating mechanism 105 restricts the cover member 40 to a position where a gap 11c is formed between the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing part 11b. Therefore, the regulating mechanism 105 can more reliably form the gap 11c between the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing part 11b.

[0095] (3) When the cover member 40 is displaced to the closed position P2, the first contact portion 111 contacts the first contacted portion 112, thereby restricting the displacement of the cover member 40 from the closed position P2 in the closing direction. When the cover member 40 is displaced from the closed position P2 in the closing direction, the gap 11c between the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing portion 11b narrows. By restricting the displacement of the cover member 40 in the closing direction through contact between the first contact portion 111 and the first contacted portion 112, the gap 11c between the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing portion 11b can be formed more reliably.

[0096] (4) When the cover member 40 is displaced to the open position P1, the second contact portion 121 contacts the second contacted portion 122, thereby restricting the displacement of the cover member 40 from the open position P1 in the opening direction. If the cover member 40 is displaced from the open position P1 in the opening direction, there is a risk of collision noise being generated as the cover member 40 collides with the housing 11. By restricting the displacement of the cover member 40 in the opening direction through contact between the second contact portion 121 and the second contacted portion 122, the generation of collision noise caused by the cover member 40 colliding with the housing 11 can be suppressed.

[0097] (5) The regulating mechanism 105 is provided in the central portion 40b in the width direction X of the cover member 40, and in the separated portions 40c located away from the central portion 40b in the width direction X and on both sides of the central portion 40b in the width direction X. Therefore, even in cover member 40 material with large dimensions in the width direction X, the regulating mechanism 105 can more reliably form the gap 11c.

[0098] (6) When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the retention mechanism 106 suppresses the displacement of the cover member 40 to the open position P1 and maintains the cover member 40 in the closed position P2. When the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, the retention mechanism 106 suppresses the displacement of the cover member 40 to the closed position P2 and maintains the cover member 40 in the open position P1. Therefore, the maintenance of the cover member 40 in the open position P1 and the closed position P2 can be made more reliable.

[0099] (7) When the sliding portion 131 is in the first sliding region 135, the cover member 40 is maintained in the open position P1. When the sliding portion 131 is in the second sliding region 136, the cover member 40 is maintained in the closed position P2. When the cover member 40 is displaced between the open position P1 and the closed position P2, the sliding portion 131 needs to overcome the convex central region 134. Therefore, the cover member 40 is less likely to be easily displaced between the open position P1 and the closed position P2.

[0100] (8) The retention mechanism 106 is provided on the cover member 40 at a position between the multiple restricting mechanisms 105 in the width direction X. Therefore, even with a cover member 40 that has a large dimension in the width direction X, the retention mechanism 106 and the restricting mechanisms 105 can more reliably maintain the cover member 40 in the closed position P2.

[0101] (9) When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the upper surface of the cover member 40 is at the same height as the upper surface 16a of the housing 11. Therefore, when the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the upper surface 16a of the housing 11 can be used as a surface for placing objects.

[0102] (10) The upper surface of the cover member 40 has a scale 46. The upper surface of the cover member 40 has a first region 42 and a second region 43 arranged in the transport direction D2. The second region 43 is light-shielding. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the sensor's performance caused by light entering the inside of the housing 11 from the document supply port 61 hitting the sensor located inside the housing 11. When a document 95 is supplied from the document supply port 61, the scale 46 allows the user to recognize the size of the document 95.

[0103] (11) Because the first region 42 is translucent, when the document 95 is supplied from the document supply port 61, the user can see the document 95 through the first region 42 of the cover member 40. (12) When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, a gap 11c is formed between the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing part 11b. Therefore, when the cover member 40 is displaced from the open position P1 to the closed position P2, the generation of collision noise caused by the cover member 40 colliding with the housing 11 can be suppressed.

[0104] (13) After the cover member 40 is displaced from the closed position P2, which closes the document supply opening 61, to the open position P1, which opens the document supply opening 61, if no document 95 is supplied to the document supply opening 61, there is a risk that foreign matter may enter the housing 11 from the document supply opening 61. According to this embodiment, when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit 63 exceeds a predetermined time Tp, the control unit 29, when the position detection sensor 103 detects that the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, displaces the cover member 40 to the closed position P2 with the drive source 47. Therefore, the time during which the cover member 40 is in the open position P1 even though no reading is performed by the reading unit 63 can be shortened, thereby suppressing the entry of foreign matter into the housing 11 from the document supply opening 61.

[0105] (14) The control unit 29 executes a predetermined process when the result detected by the position detection sensor 103 indicates that the cover member 40 has been displaced. Therefore, it is possible to execute a predetermined process in accordance with the displacement of the cover member 40.

[0106] (15) If the control unit 29 detects that the cover member 40 has been displaced to a position between the open position P1 and the closed position P2 by the position detection sensor 103 while the reading unit 63 is reading, it will perform a predetermined process by notifying the display unit 33 of the abnormal position of the cover member 40. This will allow the user to be prompted to displace the cover member 40 to the open position P1.

[0107] (16) If the control unit 29 detects that the cover member 40 has been displaced to a position between the open position P1 and the closed position P2 by the position detection sensor 103 while the reading unit 63 is reading, it performs an open drive process as a predetermined process. Therefore, the reading unit 63 can perform reading while the cover member 40 is in the open position P1.

[0108] (17) If the position detection sensor 103 detects that the cover member 40 is not in the open position P1 as a result of the opening drive process, the display unit 33 is notified of the abnormal position of the cover member 40. This allows the user to be prompted to manually displace the cover member 40 to the open position P1.

[0109] (18) If the control unit 29 detects that the cover member 40 has been displaced to the closed position P2 by the position detection sensor 103 while the reading unit 63 is reading, it performs a predetermined process by instructing the reading unit 63 to stop reading. This suppresses bending of the original document 95 that may occur when reading is performed with the cover member 40 in the closed position P2.

[0110] (19) The control unit 29, as a predetermined process, causes the reading unit 63 to stop reading, and then causes the display unit 33 to notify it of an abnormality in the position of the cover member 40. This allows the user to be informed that the reading unit 63 has stopped reading due to a predetermined process.

[0111] (20) Based on the detection unit 104's detection that there is an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11, the control unit 29 displaces the cover member 40 to the open position P1 using the drive source 47. Therefore, when a user is at a position facing the outer surface of the housing 11 in order to operate the reading device 10, the cover member 40 can be displaced to the open position P1 without the user having to operate it.

[0112] (21) When the detection unit 104 detects that an object is located opposite the outer surface of the housing 11 for a predetermined detection time T1, the drive source 47 displaces the cover member 40 to the open position P1. Therefore, when the user is not operating the reading device 10, or when the user is only in a position opposite the outer surface of the housing 11 for a short time, the cover member 40 is not displaced to the open position P1, thereby suppressing the unnecessary opening of the cover member 40.

[0113] [Example of changes] This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0114] When the detection unit 104 detects that there is an object facing the outer surface of the housing 11, the control unit 29 may displace the cover member 40 to the open position P1 using the drive source 47, regardless of the time detected by the detection unit 104. In this case, step S102 is omitted from the first processing routine shown in Figure 13.

[0115] The control unit 29 may omit the execution of the first processing routine shown in Figure 13. • When the control unit 29 instructs the reading unit 63 to stop reading as a predetermined process, it does not need to notify the notification unit of the abnormal position of the cover member 40. In this case, step S404 is omitted from the fourth processing routine shown in Figure 16.

[0116] • If the control unit 29 detects that the cover member 40 has been displaced to the closed position P2 by the position detection mechanism while the reading unit 63 is reading, it may omit the predetermined process of stopping the reading by the reading unit 63. In this case, step S403 is omitted from the fourth processing routine shown in Figure 16.

[0117] The control unit 29 may omit the execution of the fourth processing routine shown in Figure 16. If the control unit 29 detects, as a result of the opening drive process, that the cover member 40 is not in the open position P1 using the position detection mechanism, it does not need to notify the notification unit of the abnormal position of the cover member 40. In this case, steps S305 and S306 are omitted from the third processing routine shown in Figure 15.

[0118] The control unit 29 does not need to perform an opening drive process to displace the cover member 40 to the open position P1. In this case, steps S304 to S306 of the third processing routine shown in Figure 15 are omitted.

[0119] • If the control unit 29 detects that the cover member 40 has been displaced to a position between the open position P1 and the closed position P2 by the position detection mechanism while the reading unit 63 is reading, it does not need to notify the notification unit of the abnormal position of the cover member 40. In this case, step S303 is omitted from the third processing routine shown in Figure 15.

[0120] The control unit 29 may omit the execution of the third processing routine shown in Figure 15. The control unit 29 may, when it detects that the cover member 40 has been displaced in the opening direction from the open position P1 by the position detection mechanism, notify the notification unit of the abnormal position of the cover member 40. This process can suppress deformation of the cover member 40 caused by the displacement of the cover member 40 in the opening direction from the open position P1. This process may be performed periodically when the power of the reading device 10 is on. An example of a situation in which the cover member 40 is displaced in the opening direction from the open position P1 is when a user accidentally displaces the cover member 40 in the opening direction from the open position P1.

[0121] The number of position detection sensors 103 provided in the reading device 10 may be one or three or more. The position detection mechanism is not limited to the position detection sensor 103. For example, the position detection mechanism may be an encoder.

[0122] The notification unit that provides information is not limited to the display unit 33. For example, the notification unit may provide information by voice, or by flashing lights, etc. If there is no need for the notification unit to notify information, the notification unit may be omitted from the reading device 10.

[0123] In the second processing routine shown in Figure 14, the control unit 29 may displace the cover member 40 to the closed position P2, provided that the state of not having performed a read exceeds a predetermined time Tp. In this case, in the second processing routine shown in Figure 14, the processing of step S201 is moved between steps S203 and S204. When the second processing routine is started, the control unit 29 determines in step S202 whether or not there is a read that has not been performed. If step S202 is YES, the processing moves to step S203. In step S203, the control unit 29 determines whether or not the state of not having performed a read has exceeded a predetermined time Tp. If step S203 is YES, the processing moves to step S201. In step S201, the control unit 29 determines whether or not the cover member 40 is in the open position P1. If step S201 is YES, the processing moves to step S204. In step S204, the control unit 29 displaces the cover member 40 to the closed position P2 and then terminates this routine. In this second processing routine as well, if the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member 40 is in the open position P1 when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit 63 exceeds a predetermined time Tp, the control unit 29 can displace the cover member 40 to the closed position P2 using the drive source 47.

[0124] The control unit 29 may omit the execution of the second processing routine shown in Figure 14. The scale 46 on the upper surface of the cover member 40 may be omitted. The upper surface of the cover member 40 may consist of only one of the first region 42 and the second region 43. If the upper surface of the cover member 40 consists only of the first region 42, the entire upper surface of the cover member 40 is light-transmitting. If the upper surface of the cover member 40 consists only of the second region 43, the entire upper surface of the cover member 40 is light-shielding.

[0125] When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the upper surface of the cover member 40 may be lower than the upper surface 16a of the housing 11. When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the upper surface of the cover member 40 may be higher than the upper surface 16a of the housing 11.

[0126] In the cover member 40, the distance between the pivot shaft 40a and the first contact portion 111 may be greater than or equal to the distance between the pivot shaft 40a and the opening / closing end portion 45. The position of the retaining mechanism 106 is not limited to a position between the multiple regulating mechanisms 105 in the width direction X of the cover member 40. For example, the retaining mechanism 106 may be located at both ends of the cover member 40 in the width direction X. In this case, the multiple regulating mechanisms 105 may be located between the retaining mechanism 106 located at one end and the retaining mechanism 106 located at the other end in the width direction X.

[0127] The retention mechanism 106 is not limited to having a sliding portion 131 located on the cover member 40 and a sliding surface 132 located on the housing 11. For example, the retention mechanism 106 may consist of a contact portion and a contacted portion that abut each other. The position of the cover member 40 may be maintained by the contact portion and the contacted portion abutting each other when the cover member 40 is in the open position P1 and when it is in the closed position P2.

[0128] The number of maintenance mechanisms 106 provided in the reading device 10 may be one or three or more. The retention mechanism 106 may be omitted from the reading device 10.

[0129] The regulating mechanism 105 may be located in one or more places on the cover member 40 other than the central portion 40b and the separated portion 40c. The formation of the regulating mechanism 105 on at least one of the central portion 40b and the separated portion 40c may be omitted. In short, the regulating mechanism 105 only needs to be located in multiple places separated from each other in the width direction X.

[0130] The second contact portion 121 and the second contacted portion 122 may be omitted from the regulating mechanism 105. In this case, the regulating mechanism 105 can restrict the cover member 40 from being displaced in the closing direction from the closed position P2 by the contact between the first contact portion 111 and the first contacted portion 112 when the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2.

[0131] The regulating mechanism 105 is not limited to having a first contact portion 111, a first contacted portion 112, a second contact portion 121, and a second contacted portion 122. For example, the regulating mechanism 105 may consist of a sliding portion and a sliding portion that slide against each other. When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the sliding of the sliding portion and the sliding portion may restrict the displacement of the cover member 40 from the closed position P2 in the closing direction. When the cover member 40 is in the open position P1, the sliding of the sliding portion and the sliding portion may restrict the displacement of the cover member 40 from the open position P1 in the opening direction.

[0132] The number of regulatory mechanisms 105 provided by the reading device 10 may be one, two, or four or more. The regulatory mechanism 105 may be omitted from the reading device 10.

[0133] The cover member 40 is not limited to being displaced between an open position P1 and a closed position P2 by rotating around the pivot axis 40a as the pivot point. For example, the cover member 40 may slide between the open position P1 and the closed position P2.

[0134] When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the gap 11c formed between the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing part 11b may be smaller than the thickness of the document 95. When the cover member 40 is in the closed position P2, the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing part 11b are in contact, so a gap 11c may not be formed between the opening / closing end 45 and the opposing part 11b.

[0135] [Note] The technical concepts and their effects that can be understood from the embodiments and modifications described above are described below.

[0136] (A) A reading device comprising: a reading unit for reading information from a document; a housing for housing the reading unit; a document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing for supplying the document; a cover member disposed on the housing and displaceable between an open position for opening the document supply port and a closed position for closing the document supply port; a drive source for displacing the cover member between the open position and the closed position; a position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member; and a control unit, wherein the control unit is capable of displacing the cover member between the open position and the closed position by the drive source, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when no reading is performed by the reading unit for a predetermined period of time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position.

[0137] If a document is not supplied to the document feed slot after the cover member has been displaced from the closed position to the open position, there is a risk of foreign matter entering the housing through the document feed slot. With this configuration, when the control unit detects that the cover member is in the open position using the position detection mechanism when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. Therefore, the time during which the cover member is in the open position even when no reading is performed by the reading unit can be shortened, thereby suppressing the entry of foreign matter into the housing through the document feed slot.

[0138] (B) In the reading device, the control unit executes a predetermined process if the result detected by the position detection mechanism indicates that the cover member has been displaced. In this configuration, the control unit executes a predetermined process when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member has been displaced. Therefore, it is possible to execute a predetermined process in accordance with the displacement of the cover member.

[0139] (C) The reading device is equipped with a notification unit that notifies information, and the control unit, when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member has been displaced to a position between the open position and the closed position during reading by the reading unit, causes the notification unit to notify of the abnormal position of the cover member as a predetermined process.

[0140] In this configuration, if the control unit detects that the cover member has been displaced to a position between the open and closed positions by the position detection mechanism while the reading unit is reading, it will perform a predetermined process by notifying the notification unit of the abnormal position of the cover member. This allows the user to be prompted to displace the cover member to the open position.

[0141] (D) In ​​the reading device, if the control unit detects that the cover member has been displaced to a position between the open position and the closed position by the position detection mechanism during reading by the reading unit, the control unit performs an open drive process as a predetermined process, in which the drive source displaces the cover member to the open position.

[0142] In this configuration, if the control unit detects that the cover member has been displaced to a position between the open position and the closed position by the position detection mechanism while the reading unit is reading, it performs an open drive process as a predetermined process, displacing the cover member to the open position using a drive source. Therefore, the reading unit can perform readings while the cover member is in the open position.

[0143] (E) The reading device is equipped with a notification unit that notifies information, and if the control unit detects that the cover member is not in the open position as a result of the opening drive process, the control unit notifies the notification unit of the abnormal position of the cover member.

[0144] With this configuration, if the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is not in the open position as a result of the opening drive process, the notification unit will notify the notification unit of the abnormal position of the cover member. Therefore, the user can be prompted to manually displace the cover member to the open position.

[0145] (F) In the reading device, if the control unit detects that the cover member has been displaced to the closed position by the position detection mechanism while the reading unit is reading, the control unit causes the reading unit to stop reading as a predetermined process.

[0146] In this configuration, if the control unit detects that the cover member has been displaced to the closed position by the position detection mechanism while the reading unit is reading, it performs a predetermined process by stopping the reading unit. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the bending of the original document that occurs when reading is performed while the cover member is in the closed position.

[0147] (G) The reading device is equipped with a notification unit that notifies information, and when the control unit causes the reading unit to stop reading as a predetermined process, it causes the notification unit to notify the abnormal position of the cover member.

[0148] In this configuration, the control unit, after stopping the reading unit as a predetermined process, notifies the notification unit of an abnormality in the position of the cover member. Therefore, the user can be notified that the cessation of reading by the reading unit is due to a predetermined process.

[0149] (H) The reading device includes a detection unit that detects the presence of an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing, and the control unit, based on the detection unit's detection of the presence of an object at a position facing the outer surface of the housing, displaces the cover member to the open position using the drive source.

[0150] In this configuration, the control unit displaces the cover member to the open position using a drive source based on the detection unit's detection of an object located opposite the outer surface of the housing. Therefore, when a user is positioned opposite the outer surface of the housing to operate the reading device, the cover member can be displaced to the open position without any user intervention.

[0151] (I) In the reading device, when the detection unit detects that the object is located opposite the outer surface of the housing for a predetermined detection period of time, the control unit displaces the cover member to the open position using the drive source.

[0152] In this configuration, when the detection unit detects the presence of an object facing the outer surface of the housing for a predetermined detection period, the drive source displaces the cover member to the open position. Therefore, when the user is not operating the reading device, or when the user is only in a position facing the outer surface of the housing for a short time, the cover member is not displaced to the open position, thereby suppressing unnecessary opening of the cover member.

[0153] (J) In the reading device, when the cover member is in the closed position, the upper surface of the cover member is at the same height as the upper surface of the housing or lower than the upper surface of the housing. In this configuration, when the cover member is in the closed position, the top surface of the cover member is at the same height as or lower than the top surface of the housing. Therefore, when the cover member is in the closed position, the top surface of the housing can be used as a surface for placing objects.

[0154] (K) In the reading device, the cover member has an opening / closing end on the upstream side in the transport direction of the document supplied from the document supply port, the upper surface of the cover member has a scale in the width direction intersecting the transport direction, the upper surface of the cover member has a first region and a second region arranged side by side in the transport direction, the first region is located at the tip of the opening / closing end more than the second region, the first region is light-transmitting, and the second region is light-shielding.

[0155] In this configuration, the top surface of the cover member has markings. The top surface of the cover member has a first region and a second region arranged side by side in the transport direction. The second region is light-shielding. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the degradation of sensor performance caused by light entering the inside of the housing from the document feed slot hitting the sensor located inside the housing. When a document is fed from the document feed slot, the user can recognize the size of the document by the markings.

[0156] (L) A control method for a reading device comprising: a reading unit for reading information from a document; a housing for housing the reading unit; a document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing for supplying the document; a cover member disposed on the housing and displaceable between an open position for opening the document supply port and a closed position for closing the document supply port; a drive source for displacing the cover member between the open position and the closed position; and a position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, wherein when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position, and the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position.

[0157] If a document is not supplied to the document feed slot after the cover member has been displaced from the closed position to the open position, there is a risk of foreign matter entering the housing through the document feed slot. With this method, if the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. Therefore, the time during which the cover member is in the open position even when no reading is performed by the reading unit can be shortened, thereby suppressing the entry of foreign matter into the housing through the document feed slot.

[0158] (M) A multifunction printer comprising: a recording unit for recording on a medium; a reading unit for reading information from a document; a housing for housing the recording unit and the reading unit; a document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing for which the document is supplied; a cover member disposed on the housing and displaceable between an open position for opening the document supply port and a closed position for closing the document supply port; a drive source for displacing the cover member between the open position and the closed position; a position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member; and a control unit, wherein the control unit is capable of displacing the cover member between the open position and the closed position by the drive source, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when no reading is performed by the reading unit for a predetermined period of time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position.

[0159] If a document is not supplied to the document feed slot after the cover member has been displaced from the closed position to the open position, there is a risk of foreign matter entering the housing through the document feed slot. With this configuration, when the control unit detects that the cover member is in the open position using the position detection mechanism when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. Therefore, the time during which the cover member is in the open position even when no reading is performed by the reading unit can be shortened, thereby suppressing the entry of foreign matter into the housing through the document feed slot. [Explanation of symbols]

[0160] D2... Conveying direction, P1... Open position, P2... Closed position, Tp... Determined time, X... Width direction, 10... Reading device, 11... Housing, 16a... Top surface, 20... Medium, 22... Recording unit, 29... Control unit, 40... Cover member, 42... First area, 43... Second area, 45... Opening / closing end, 45a... Tip, 46... Scale, 47... Drive source, 61... Document supply port, 63... Reading unit, 95... Document, 103... Position detection sensor, 104... Detection unit.

Claims

1. A reading unit that reads information from the manuscript, A housing for the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, It comprises a control unit and, The control unit, The drive source can displace the cover member between the open position and the closed position, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. If the result detected by the position detection mechanism indicates that the cover member has been displaced, a predetermined process is executed. The reading device is characterized in that, during reading by the reading unit, if the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member has been displaced to a position between the open position and the closed position, the predetermined process involves performing an open drive process to displace the cover member to the open position using the drive source.

2. Equipped with a broadcasting unit to disseminate information, The reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that, if the control unit detects, as a result of performing the opening drive process, that the cover member is not in the open position, it causes the notification unit to notify of the abnormal position of the cover member.

3. A reading unit that reads information from a document, A housing for the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, Control unit and The system includes a detection unit that detects the presence of an object at a position opposite the outer surface of the housing, The control unit, The drive source can displace the cover member between the open position and the closed position, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. A reading device characterized in that, based on the detection unit detecting that the object is located opposite the outer surface of the housing, the drive source displaces the cover member to the open position.

4. The reading device according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit displaces the cover member to the open position using the drive source when the detection unit detects that the object is located opposite the outer surface of the housing for a predetermined detection period of time.

5. A reading unit that reads information from a document, A housing for the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, Control unit and It is equipped with a broadcasting unit that broadcasts information, The control unit, The drive source can displace the cover member between the open position and the closed position, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. If the result detected by the position detection mechanism indicates that the cover member has been displaced, a predetermined process is executed. A reading device characterized in that, when it is determined that the reading unit is performing a reading, and the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member has been displaced to a position between the open position and the closed position, the notification unit notifies the notification unit of the abnormal position of the cover member as a predetermined process.

6. A reading unit that reads information from a document, A housing for the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, It comprises a control unit and, The control unit, The drive source can displace the cover member between the open position and the closed position, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. If the result detected by the position detection mechanism indicates that the cover member has been displaced, a predetermined process is executed. A reading device characterized in that, when it is determined that the reading unit is performing a reading and the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member has been displaced to the closed position, the reading unit is stopped as a predetermined process.

7. Equipped with a broadcasting unit to disseminate information, The reading device according to claim 6, characterized in that when the control unit causes the reading unit to stop reading as a predetermined process, it causes the notification unit to notify the notification unit of an abnormality in the position of the cover member.

8. The reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that when the cover member is in the closed position, the upper surface of the cover member is at the same height as or lower than the upper surface of the housing.

9. The cover member has an opening / closing end on the upstream side in the transport direction of the document supplied from the document supply opening, The upper surface of the cover member has a scale in the width direction intersecting the transport direction, The upper surface of the cover member has a first region and a second region arranged side by side in the transport direction. The first region is located further forward than the second region, at the tip of the opening / closing end. The first region is translucent, The reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the second region has light-shielding properties.

10. A reading unit that reads information from a document, A housing for the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A control method for a reading device comprising a position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, When the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, and the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. If the result detected by the position detection mechanism indicates that the cover member has been displaced, a predetermined process is executed. A control method for a reading device, characterized in that, during reading by the reading unit, if the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member has been displaced to a position between the open position and the closed position, the predetermined process involves performing an open drive process to displace the cover member to the open position using the drive source.

11. A reading unit that reads information from a document, A housing for the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, A control method for a reading device comprising a detection unit that detects the presence of an object at a position opposite the outer surface of the housing, When the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, and the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. A control method for a reading device, characterized in that, based on the detection unit detecting that the object is located at a position opposite the outer surface of the housing, the drive source displaces the cover member to the open position.

12. A reading unit that reads information from a document, A housing for the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, A control method for a reading device comprising a notification unit for notifying information, When the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, and the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. If the result detected by the position detection mechanism indicates that the cover member has been displaced, a predetermined process is executed. A control method for a reading device, characterized in that, when it is determined that the reading unit is performing a reading, and the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member has been displaced to a position between the open position and the closed position, the notification unit is notified of the abnormal position of the cover member as a predetermined process.

13. A reading unit that reads information from a document, A housing for the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A control method for a reading device comprising a position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, When the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, and the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. If the result detected by the position detection mechanism indicates that the cover member has been displaced, a predetermined process is executed. A control method for a reading device, characterized in that, when it is determined that the reading unit is performing a reading operation and the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member has been displaced to the closed position, the predetermined process is to stop the reading unit from performing the reading.

14. A recording unit that records on a medium, A reading unit that reads information from the manuscript, A housing that houses the recording unit and the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, It comprises a control unit and, The control unit, The drive source can displace the cover member between the open position and the closed position, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. If the result detected by the position detection mechanism indicates that the cover member has been displaced, a predetermined process is executed. The multifunction printer is characterized in that, during reading by the reading unit, if the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member has been displaced to a position between the open position and the closed position, the predetermined process involves performing an open drive process in which the drive source displaces the cover member to the open position.

15. A recording unit that records on a medium, A reading unit that reads information from the manuscript, A housing that houses the recording unit and the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, Control unit and The system includes a detection unit that detects the presence of an object at a position opposite the outer surface of the housing, The control unit, The drive source can displace the cover member between the open position and the closed position, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. A multifunction device characterized in that, based on the detection unit detecting that the object is located opposite the outer surface of the housing, the drive source displaces the cover member to the open position.

16. A recording unit that records on a medium, A reading unit that reads information from the manuscript, A housing that houses the recording unit and the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, Control unit and It is equipped with a broadcasting unit that broadcasts information, The control unit, The drive source can displace the cover member between the open position and the closed position, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. If the result detected by the position detection mechanism indicates that the cover member has been displaced, a predetermined process is executed. A multifunction device characterized in that, when it is determined that the reading unit is performing a reading and the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member has been displaced to a position between the open position and the closed position, the notification unit notifies the notification unit of the abnormal position of the cover member as a predetermined process.

17. A recording unit that records on a medium, A reading unit that reads information from the manuscript, A housing that houses the recording unit and the reading unit, A document supply port formed on the upper surface of the housing through which the document is supplied, A cover member is disposed on the housing and is displaceable between an open position that opens the document feed opening and a closed position that closes the document feed opening. A drive source that displaces the cover member between the open position and the closed position, A position detection mechanism for detecting the position of the cover member, It comprises a control unit and, The control unit, The drive source can displace the cover member between the open position and the closed position, and when the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member is in the open position when the time during which no reading is performed by the reading unit exceeds a predetermined time, the drive source displaces the cover member to the closed position. If the result detected by the position detection mechanism indicates that the cover member has been displaced, a predetermined process is executed. A multifunction printer characterized in that, when it is determined that the reading unit is performing a read operation and the position detection mechanism detects that the cover member has been displaced to the closed position, the reading unit is stopped as a predetermined process.

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