JP2001024859A - Device and method for reading picture and picture forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a line scanning type picture reader to stably restart reading operating from a stopping position without rereading an original from the beginning when the reader restarts the reading operation after temporarily stopping the operation while the reader reads an original. SOLUTION: When a picture reader receives an instruction for temporarily stopping picture reading operation, the reader stops a scanning optical system 208 by returning the system 208 by the distance required for acceleration and keeps the optical system 208 in a standby state. When the reader restarts the reading operation, the reader drives the optical system 208 from the position. When the reader reads an original while the original is moved by using an automatic document feeding device(ADF), the reader also returns the original by the distance required for acceleration and keeps the original in a standby state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus such as an image scanner, and an image forming system such as a copying machine constructed by combining the image reading apparatus with an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image reading apparatus such as an image scanner, a method of scanning an original surface in a line while sequentially moving an optical system relative to the original to read an image of the entire original surface is most often used. General. Such an image reading device may be used alone, for example, for image input of another device such as a personal computer. However, in combination with an image forming device such as a laser beam printer, the image reading device Often used as a part.

In recent years, many digital copiers are connected to a computer or the like and can be used as an image input terminal and an image output terminal of the computer or the like.

[0004]

In the image reading apparatus as described above, during image reading, for some reason, for example, a paper jam or the like occurs in the connected image forming apparatus. The image reading operation may be interrupted. However, in the conventional image reading apparatus, once the image reading operation is interrupted, the scanning optical system must be returned to the initial position and the scanning must be restarted from the beginning when the image reading operation is restarted next. For this reason, reading the image after restarting requires a reading time for one whole document, and furthermore, a plurality of documents are continuously read by an automatic document feeder (ADF) often used in copying machines. In this case, the original whose scanning has been
There was a problem that it had to be set again.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus and method capable of restarting an image reading operation from the interrupted position even when the image reading operation is interrupted during image reading, and an image forming method. Is to provide a system.

[0006]

An image reading apparatus according to the present invention, which solves the above-described problems, scans a document surface while moving an optical system relative to the document, and reads an image on the document surface. In the reading device, when image reading of the document is interrupted halfway, control is performed such that one of the optical system and the document is returned from the interruption position by a predetermined distance with respect to the other, and waits at a position. Having means.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an optical system driving means for moving the optical system with respect to the fixed original, and the control means returns the optical system by a predetermined distance from the interruption position. The optical system driving means is controlled so as to wait at a position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a document driving means for moving the document with respect to the fixed optical system, wherein the control means moves the document to a position at which the document is returned a predetermined distance from the interruption position. The document driving unit is controlled so as to be in a standby state.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises an automatic document feeder driven by the document driver and capable of continuously feeding a plurality of documents sequentially.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus capable of switching and using a plurality of image reading speeds, wherein the control means judges an image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading. A distance for returning one of the optical system and the document from the interruption position is controlled in accordance with an image reading speed.

In one aspect of the present invention, the image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading is such that substantially no time is required to accelerate the one of the optical system and the original to that speed. If the speed is low, the control unit controls the one of the optical system and the document to stop at the interruption position and wait.

Further, according to the image reading method of the present invention, the document surface is scanned while the optical system is moved relatively to the document,
In the image reading method for reading the image of the document surface, when the image reading of the document is interrupted halfway, from the interrupted position, one of the optical system and the document,
On the other hand, control is performed so as to stand by at a position returned by a predetermined distance.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading method for moving the optical system with respect to the fixed document, wherein the optical system is controlled to wait at a position returned a predetermined distance from the interruption position. .

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading method for moving the original with respect to the fixed optical system, wherein the original is controlled so as to wait at a position returned a predetermined distance from the interruption position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of originals are sequentially and sequentially fed by an automatic original feeder.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading method capable of switching to a plurality of image reading speeds,
Judge the image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading,
A distance for returning one of the optical system and the document from the interruption position is controlled in accordance with the image reading speed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading is such that substantially no time is required to accelerate the one of the optical system and the document to that speed. When the speed is low, control is performed so that the one of the optical system and the document is stopped at the interruption position and is on standby.

Further, the image forming system of the present invention scans the document surface while moving the optical system relatively to the document, and reads an image on the document surface, and sends the image from the image reading unit. An image forming apparatus configured to form an output image based on received image data, wherein the image forming apparatus temporarily suspends image reading during image reading by the image reading apparatus. Communication means for transmitting the instruction to the image reading apparatus, and when the image reading apparatus receives the instruction from the image forming apparatus, the image reading of the original being performed at that time is interrupted halfway. And control means for controlling one of the optical system and the document from the interrupted position to stand by at a position returned by a predetermined distance with respect to the other. A.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the image reading device includes an optical system driving unit for moving the optical system with respect to the fixed original, and the control unit controls the optical system to stop the optical system. The optical system driving means is controlled so as to wait at a position returned by a predetermined distance from the position.

In one aspect of the present invention, the image reading device has document driving means for moving the document with respect to the fixed optical system, and the control means moves the document from the interruption position. The document driving means is controlled so as to wait at a position returned by a predetermined distance.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the image reading device has an automatic document feeder driven by the document driver and capable of continuously feeding a plurality of documents sequentially.

In one aspect of the present invention, the image reading device can switch between a plurality of image reading speeds and use the image reading device, and the control means determines the image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading. And controlling a distance for returning one of the optical system and the document from the interruption position according to the image reading speed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading is such that substantially no time is required to accelerate the one of the optical system and the document to that speed. If the speed is low, the control unit controls the one of the optical system and the document to stop at the interruption position and wait.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus has an image memory for storing image data sent from the image reading apparatus before interrupting image reading.

Also, the present invention is an image reading method for scanning an original surface while moving an optical system relative to the original to read an image on the original surface. A storage medium storing a computer program for realizing an image reading method for controlling one of the optical system and the original to return to the other by a predetermined distance from the interruption position when the interruption is performed, from the interruption position including.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described according to preferred embodiments.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an image processing system in which an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention are connected to a host computer.

The image forming apparatus 101 composed of an image scanner is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 composed of a laser beam printer, and constitutes, for example, a copying machine as a whole. This copying machine is connected to a host computer 102 via an image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 has an image controller 103 and an engine controller 104. Image reading device 10
1 or from the host computer 102 to the image forming apparatus 10
0 is sent to the image controller 103.
After being converted into video data in, the data is transmitted to the engine controller 104. Engine controller 10
4 controls the image forming apparatus 100 based on the input video data in order to perform an image forming process using electrophotography.

FIG. 2 shows a main configuration of the image reading apparatus 101.

The original 201 is a transparent original plate 2 made of glass or the like.
02 and is illuminated by a light source 203. Manuscript 2
The light reflected at 01 is incident on a photoelectric conversion element 206 such as a CCD via a reflection mirror 204 and a condenser lens 205, and the photoelectric conversion element 206 converts the received light into an electric signal corresponding to the intensity. . The electric signal output from the photoelectric conversion element 206 is sent to an image data generation unit 207, where image data is generated. Light source 20 described above
3, the reflection mirror 204, the condenser lens 205, and the photoelectric conversion element 206 constitute an optical unit 208. The optical unit 208 is driven by an optical unit drive motor 209, and moves in the horizontal direction in the figure. Reciprocate. The home position sensor 210 detects that the optical unit 208 is at a standby position (home position (HP)) where image reading can be started. The image reading apparatus 101 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) 211 that sequentially conveys a plurality of documents to an image reading position. The document transport operation of the ADF 211 is driven by an ADF drive motor 212. The operation of the entire image reading apparatus 101 including the optical unit 208, the optical unit drive motor 209, the ADF 211, and the like is controlled by the controller 213.

Next, a normal image reading operation in the image reading apparatus 101 will be described.

When the image reading apparatus 101 receives an image reading start signal from, for example, the image forming apparatus 100, the controller 213 confirms that the optical unit 208 is at the HP by the HP sensor 210, and then performs an image reading operation. To start. That is, the original 201 set on the original table 202 is illuminated by the light source 203 and the original 20
After the reflected light from 1 is further reflected by the reflection mirror 204, an image is formed on the photoelectric conversion element 206 by the condenser lens 205. The light incident on the photoelectric conversion element 206 is converted into an electric signal according to the intensity. Based on the electric signal thus obtained, the image data generation unit 207
Generates image data corresponding to one line of the document (main scanning direction).

The controller 213 drives the optical unit drive motor 209 simultaneously with the start of the reading operation to move the optical unit 208 in the sub-scanning direction (to the right in the figure).
To move slowly. Then, while moving the optical unit 208, the above-described image reading for each line and image data generation are performed, and the image reading of the entire document 201 is performed. The image data generated by the image data generation unit 207 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100 via the controller 213.
, And are printed out by the image forming apparatus 100.

Next, a case in which a plurality of documents are continuously read using the ADF 211 will be described.

In this case, the controller 213 keeps the optical unit 208 stopped at a predetermined position while keeping the ADF
The drive motor 212 is driven to convey a plurality of documents 201 set on the ADF 211 one by one at a constant speed. Each original 201 is stopped by the optical unit 208
The paper passes above at a constant speed, and is discharged to a predetermined discharge port. The optical unit 208 performs the same image reading for each line as described above when each document 201 passes. As a result, the images of the plurality of originals 201 are sequentially and sequentially read.

Next, referring to FIG.
An operation of temporarily suspending the image reading operation for some reason, for example, an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus 100 during the image reading in step 1 and resuming the image reading operation after the abnormality is eliminated will be described. .

The image reading apparatus 101 which has received the "image reading start" signal from the image forming apparatus 100 starts the same image reading operation as described above (FIGS. 3A to 3A).
(B)).

However, during the image reading operation, an abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus 100 and the image forming apparatus 1
00 determines that the image data sent from the image reading apparatus 101 cannot be subsequently subjected to the image forming process, the image forming apparatus 100 transmits, for example, the image data through the image controller 104 (see FIG. 1). A “pause for reading” signal is transmitted to the image reading apparatus 101 (FIG. 3).
(C)).

The image reading apparatus 101 which has received the "image reading pause" signal interrupts the current image reading operation. At this time, the controller 213 in the image reading apparatus 101 controls the optical unit drive motor 209 so as to stop the optical unit 208 by returning a predetermined distance from the position where the reading operation was interrupted (FIG. 3).
(D)). Here, the reason why the optical unit 208 is returned by a certain distance is to secure an acceleration time until the optical unit 208 reaches a specified reading operation speed when the image reading is restarted.

When the image forming apparatus 100 eliminates the abnormality inside the apparatus, the image forming apparatus 100 sends an "image reading restart" signal to the image reading apparatus 1.
01 (FIG. 3 (e)).

Upon receiving the "resume image reading" signal, the image reading apparatus 101 drives the optical unit 208 which has been temporarily stopped again, and resumes image reading from the interrupted position (FIG. 3 (f)).

As described above, when the image reading operation is temporarily suspended while the image is being read by the image reading apparatus 101, the optical unit 208 is returned by a predetermined distance to stand by, so that even after the reading is resumed, the optical unit 208 is regulated from the interrupted position. It is possible to drive the optical unit 208 at the reading operation speed of, and as a result, it is possible to perform stable and continuous image reading before and after the interruption.

When the abnormality occurred in the image forming apparatus 100 is an abnormality such as a paper jam, the image data sent from the image reading apparatus 101 before the interruption is provided to the image controller 103, for example. Image memory 300
(See FIG. 1), and the image data sent from the image reading apparatus 101 after resuming reading may be processed continuously with the stored image data.

Next, a case where the reading operation is temporarily stopped when a plurality of originals are continuously read using the ADF 211 will be described with reference to FIG.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
Since the image reading is performed with the optical unit 208 fixed, when the “image reading temporary stop” signal is received from the image forming apparatus 100, the controller 213 in the image reading apparatus 101 controls the ADF driving motor 212 and
As shown in FIG. 4B, the original 201 being read is
Is returned by a fixed distance and stopped. Here, the reason why the document 201 is returned by a fixed distance and stopped is to secure a time period in which the conveyance speed of the document 201 is accelerated until reaching the prescribed reading operation speed, as described above.

By doing so, the ADF 211
Even in the case of continuous reading using, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an image reading apparatus capable of switching the image reading speed to a plurality of speeds.

The reason why the image reading speed is switched to a plurality is that, for example, when reading a photograph or a color original at a high resolution, the reading speed is set to a low speed (low speed reading).
On the other hand, when a monochrome document or the like is read at a low resolution, the reading speed is set to a high speed (high-speed reading) to perform reading in a short time.

FIG. 5 shows a flow of a reading operation process according to the second embodiment. Note that the hardware configuration of the second embodiment may be substantially the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

The image reading apparatus which has received the "image reading start" signal from the image forming apparatus starts the image reading operation as usual (step S501).

On the other hand, during the reading operation, an abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus determines that the image data sent from the image reading apparatus cannot be continuously image-formed thereafter. In this case, the image forming apparatus transmits an “image reading temporary stop” signal to the image reading apparatus.

When the image reading apparatus receives the "image reading pause" signal (step S502), it interrupts the current image reading operation (step S50).
3).

Next, it is determined whether or not the currently performed image reading uses the ADF (step S504).
Next, in step S505, it is determined whether the reading mode is high speed or low speed. If the reading is being performed at a high speed, the process proceeds to step S506, where the optical unit is returned by a predetermined distance, stopped, and put on standby (step S506).
511). On the other hand, if the reading is being performed at a low speed, the process proceeds to step S507, where the optical unit is stopped at the position where the reading was interrupted and waits (step S5).
11). The reason why the optical unit is stopped at the position where the reading is interrupted is that, when reading is performed at a low speed, the optical unit reaches the specified reading speed immediately after resuming reading.

If reading has been performed using the ADF in step S504, the process proceeds to step S504.
Proceeding to 505, it is determined whether the reading mode is high speed or low speed. If the reading is being performed at a high speed, the process proceeds to step S509, where the document is returned by a predetermined distance, stopped, and made to stand by (step S511). On the other hand, if the reading is being performed at a low speed, the process proceeds to step S510, where the document is stopped at the position where the reading was interrupted, and the document is made to stand by (step S511). Here, the reason why the document is stopped at the position where the reading is interrupted is that the document reaches the specified reading speed immediately after the reading is resumed, as described above.

The image forming apparatus transmits an "image reading restart" signal to the image reading apparatus when the internal abnormality is eliminated.

Upon receiving the "resume image reading" signal (step S512), the image reading device drives the optical unit or the document which has been temporarily stopped again, and resumes image reading from the interrupted position (step S51).
3).

In the above description, the reading speed has been described in two types, high speed and low speed, but there may be three or more reading speeds. In that case, the distance for returning the optical unit or the document may be controlled according to the speed.

As described above, when a plurality of reading speeds are provided, the position at which the optical unit or the document is returned is controlled in accordance with the reading speeds. It is possible to always stably resume reading from. Also,
When reading at a low speed that does not require returning the optical unit or the document, driving the optical unit or the document from the interrupted position can shorten the time required for resuming reading.

The program code itself of a computer for operating each unit so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, a storage medium storing such a program are: , Belongs to the category of the present invention. As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be used.

The functions of each embodiment are realized not only by the computer executing the supplied program code, but also by the operating system (OS) or the operating system running on the computer. Such a program code is also included in the present invention when the functions of the embodiments are realized in cooperation with other application software.

Further, after the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or function is stored based on the instruction of the program code. The present invention also includes a system in which a CPU or the like provided in the extension unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the embodiments.

[0062]

According to the present invention, even if the image reading operation is temporarily interrupted while the image of the original is being read, the image reading operation is resumed from the interrupted position without re-reading the original when resuming. It can always be started stably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image processing system in which an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention are connected to a host computer.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a main configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an operation of the image reading device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating another operation of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an image reading process of the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100: Image forming apparatus 101: Image reading apparatus 102: Host computer 103: Image controller 104: Engine controller 201: Document 202: Document table 203: Light source 204: Reflecting mirror 205: Condensing lens 206: Photoelectric conversion element 207: Image data Generation unit 208: Optical unit 209: Optical unit drive motor 210: Home position (HP) sensor 211: Automatic document feeder (ADF) 212: ADF drive motor 213: Controller 300: Image memory

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/00 108 H04N 1/12 A F term (Reference) 2H027 DA23 ED04 ED11 EK04 EK15 FA22 2H076 BA62 EA21 5B047 AA01 BA01 BA02 BA08 CA12 CB07 CB09 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB17 AC02 AC14 AC58 AC66 AC69 AD01 BA04 5C072 AA01 BA03 LA03 LA18 MB04 MB08 NA04 RA04 XA01

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus for scanning an original surface while moving an optical system relative to the original to read an image on the original surface. An image reading apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control one of the optical system and the document from a position to stand by at a position returned a predetermined distance from the other. 2. An optical system driving unit for moving the optical system with respect to the fixed document, wherein the control unit causes the optical system to wait at a position returned by a predetermined distance from the interruption position. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical system driving unit is controlled. 3. An original driving unit for moving the original with respect to the fixed optical system, wherein the control unit comprises:
2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the document driving unit is controlled so that the document is made to stand by at a position returned by a predetermined distance from the interruption position. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an automatic document feeder driven by the document driver and capable of continuously feeding a plurality of documents sequentially. Image reading device. 5. An image reading apparatus capable of switching and using a plurality of image reading speeds, wherein said control means determines an image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading, and according to the image reading speed. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a distance of returning one of the optical system and the document from the interruption position is controlled. 6. When the image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading is so low that substantially no time is required to accelerate the one of the optical system and the original to that speed. 6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit controls the one of the optical system and the document to stop at the interruption position and waits. 7. An image reading method for scanning an original surface while moving an optical system relative to the original and reading an image on the original surface. An image reading method, comprising: controlling one of the optical system and the document from a position so as to wait at a position returned by a predetermined distance with respect to the other. 8. An image reading method for moving the optical system with respect to the fixed document, wherein the optical system is controlled to wait at a position returned by a predetermined distance from the interruption position. The image reading method according to claim 7. 9. An image reading method for moving the original with respect to the fixed optical system, wherein the original is controlled to wait at a position returned a predetermined distance from the interruption position. The image reading method according to claim 7. 10. The image reading method according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of originals are sequentially and sequentially fed by an automatic original feeder. 11. An image reading method capable of switching to a plurality of image reading speeds, wherein the image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading is determined, and the optical system and the document are determined according to the image reading speed. 11. The image reading method according to claim 7, wherein a distance of returning one of the two from the interruption position is controlled. 12. When the image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading is so slow that substantially no time is required to accelerate said one of said optical system and said document to said speed. 12. The image reading method according to claim 11, wherein the control is performed such that the one of the optical system and the document is stopped at the interruption position and is put on standby. 13. An image reading apparatus for scanning an original surface while moving an optical system relative to the original to read an image on the original surface, and based on image data sent from the image reading unit. In an image forming system configured with an image forming apparatus that forms an output image, the image forming apparatus may issue an instruction to the image reading apparatus to temporarily suspend image reading during image reading by the image reading apparatus. A communication unit for transmitting, when the image reading device receives the instruction from the image forming device, interrupts the image reading of the original being performed at that time, and from the interrupted position A control means for controlling one of the optical system and the document so as to stand by at a position returned by a predetermined distance with respect to the other. System. 14. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an optical system driving unit for moving the optical system with respect to the fixed original, wherein the control unit returns the optical system by a predetermined distance from the interruption position. The image forming system according to claim 13, wherein the optical system driving unit is controlled so that the optical system driving unit stands by at a position where the image forming apparatus stands by. 15. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a document driving unit for moving the document with respect to the fixed optical system, wherein the control unit returns the document by a predetermined distance from the interruption position. 14. The image forming system according to claim 13, wherein the document driving unit is controlled so as to make the document stand by. 16. Driven by the document driving means,
The image forming system according to claim 15, wherein the image reading device includes an automatic document feeder that can sequentially and sequentially feed a plurality of documents. 17. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is capable of switching between a plurality of image reading speeds, and wherein the control unit determines an image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading, and determines the image reading speed. And controlling a distance by which the one of the optical system and the document is returned from the interruption position in accordance with the following.
7. The image forming system according to any one of 6. 18. When the image reading speed at the time of interrupted image reading is so slow that substantially no time is required to accelerate the one of the optical system and the document to that speed. 18. The image forming system according to claim 17, wherein the controller controls the one of the optical system and the document to stop at the interruption position and waits. 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said image forming apparatus has an image memory for storing image data sent from said image reading apparatus before image reading is interrupted. The image forming system according to claim 1. 20. An image reading method for scanning an original surface while moving an optical system relative to the original to read an image on the original surface, wherein the image reading of the original is interrupted halfway. A storage medium storing a computer program for realizing an image reading method for controlling one of the optical system and the document to return to the other by a predetermined distance from the interruption position.