JP2006148294A - Original reading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an original reading apparatus capable of reading both sides of an original by means of the other image read means even when one image read means cannot read the original because of blur or a failure. <P>SOLUTION: The original reading apparatus is configured to include: an original transporting mechanism 3 provided with an inverting transporting mechanism 6 that inverts the front side of an original into its rear side and carries again the original to an image read position after a first image read means 4 or a second image read means 5 transports the original to the image read position 40 or 50; and a page arranging means 6 that is configured to switch between a double side reading mode wherein both the first and the second image read means read the original and a one-side reading mode wherein either of the first and the second image read means reads the original by activating the inverting transporting mechanism 6 and provides outputs of image information of the original read in the one side read mode in a way of page arrangement. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides a first image reading means for reading a front surface of a document, a second image reading means for reading the back surface of the document substantially simultaneously, and the document at an image reading position by the first and second image reading means. The present invention relates to a document reading apparatus having a document transport mechanism for transporting.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image reading apparatus connected to an external device, wherein a first image reading unit that reads a first side of a document and a reading of the first side of the document by the first image reading unit are substantially simultaneously performed. There has been proposed a document reading apparatus including a second image reading unit that reads a second surface of a document, and a sending unit that sends image data read by each image reading unit to an external device.
JP 2000-188665 A

  However, since the document reading apparatus is characterized in that the reading capability of the second image reading unit is lower than the reading capability of the first image reading unit, the desired reading quality is the second image. When the reading capability of the reading means was exceeded, simultaneous double-sided reading could not be performed.

  Further, when the second image reading unit becomes impossible to read due to a failure or the like, the original is reversed and fed by the document reversing and feeding unit so that both the front and back surfaces are read by the first image reading unit. Thus, it is possible to read both sides with a desired reading ability. However, when the first image reading means becomes impossible to read due to a failure or the like, the original can be read with the desired reading ability. I could not do it.

  In view of the above-described conventional drawbacks, the present invention can read both sides of a document with the other image reading unit even if one of the image reading units becomes unreadable due to dirt or failure. The document reading apparatus is provided.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first characteristic configuration of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a first image reading means for reading the surface of the document as described in claim 1 of the document, and A document reading apparatus comprising: a second image reading unit that substantially simultaneously reads a back surface of a document; and a document transport mechanism that transports the document to an image reading position by the first and second image reading units. The transport mechanism includes a reversal transport mechanism that transports the document to one of the image reading positions by the first or second image reading unit, and then reverses the document and transports the document to the image reading position again. Both-side reading mode for reading a document with both the first and second image reading means, and a single-sided reading mode for reading a document with only one of the first and second image reading means by operating the reversing conveyance mechanism. Lies in the fact that switching can be configured to.

  According to the configuration described above, when reading both sides of a document, even if one of the image reading means cannot be read due to a failure or the like, if the other image reading means is available, the image reading means It is possible to read both sides of the document with only the means, and it is possible to read both sides of the document even before one of the image reading means is repaired.

  As described in claim 2, the second characteristic configuration includes a page alignment unit that outputs the image information of the document read in the single-sided reading mode by performing page alignment in addition to the first characteristic configuration described above. It is in the point which is provided.

  When reading a double-sided original in the single-sided reading mode, the page order may be changed depending on the reading order of the front and back of the original, which image reading means reads from the front and back of the original. Therefore, by providing page alignment means, the pages are aligned and output even if the reading order is changed.

  In the third feature configuration, in addition to the second feature configuration described above, the page alignment means is stored in the memory means and the memory means for storing the image information. It is preferable to provide a memory management means for controlling the output order of the image information. This enables output in page order regardless of the reading order of the front and back sides of the document.

  According to the fourth feature configuration, as described in claim 4, in addition to the second feature configuration described above, the page alignment unit operates the reversing conveyance mechanism provided in the document conveyance mechanism to operate the document. Preferably, the reversing control means for reversing and conveying the page is used, and the pages are aligned by changing the reading order of the front and back sides of the original by the reversing and conveying mechanism based on which image reading means reads the double-sided original. Will be able to.

  In the fifth feature configuration, as described in the fifth aspect, in addition to the second feature configuration described above, the page alignment unit adds page information to the image information and outputs the page information. This makes it possible to perform necessary processing so that the destination of the image information matches the page based on the page information.

  In addition to the fifth feature configuration described above, the sixth feature configuration receives image information to which the page information is added, and forms an image to be printed out in alignment with the page. Means are preferably provided, and the image forming means outputs the pages in an aligned state based on the page information corresponding to the document.

  In addition to the first feature configuration described above, the seventh feature configuration includes document determination means for determining whether the document is single-sided or double-sided. When the original is read by the second image reading unit in the reading mode, if the original discriminating unit determines that the original is a single-sided original, it is preferable to operate the reverse conveyance mechanism to read the original. As a result, the original side of the single-sided original can be accurately read in the page order.

  In the eighth feature configuration, in addition to the first feature configuration described above, a guidance display that displays a setting direction of the document when the document is read in the single-sided reading mode. In this case, since the document is set according to the guidance display, the document can be efficiently read without being reversed and conveyed by the reverse conveyance mechanism.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a document reading apparatus capable of reading both sides by the other image reading means even when one image reading means cannot be read due to dirt or failure. Can now be offered.

  The case where the document reading apparatus according to the present invention is mounted on a copying machine will be described below. The copying machine includes the original reading apparatus and an electrostatic transfer type image forming apparatus (image forming means). As shown in FIG. 1, the original reading apparatus 1 includes an original table 2 on which an original D is placed; A document transport mechanism 3 for transporting the document to the image reading positions 40 and 50, and discharging the read document; a first image reading unit 4 for reading the front side of the document; a second image reading unit 5 for reading the back side of the document; An operation display unit (not shown) is provided.

  The document transport mechanism 3 includes a pickup roller 31 that picks up one document from a plurality of documents, a separation roller 32 that separates a document when the document is fed by the pickup roller 31, and a separated document downstream. A paper feed roller 33 that conveys the document to the side, a registration roller 34 that arranges the leading edge of the document and conveys it to the image reading positions 40 and 50, a paper discharge roller 35 that discharges the read document, and a discharged document. The paper discharge tray 36 and the reverse conveyance mechanism 6 which reverses the original and conveys the original to the image reading positions 40 and 50 again.

  The first image reading unit 4 includes a first light source 41 that illuminates the document, a first mirror 42 that captures reflected light from the document, a second mirror 43, a third mirror 44, and the third mirror 44. A lens 47 for focusing the light beam on a linear CCD (first CCD) 46 and a first CCD 46 for reading image information are provided, and image information of the original is read at a first image reading position 40 on the contact glass 37. read.

  In the image reading apparatus described above, when a document is placed on the document placement contact glass 38, the first light source 41 and the mirrors 42, 43, 44 scan from the front end side to the rear end side of the document (sub-scanning). The first light source 41, the mirrors 42, 43, and 44 are operated when the original image reading means 4 operates in a mirror scanning mode for reading the image information of the original and the original is conveyed by the original conveying mechanism 3. A sheet-through mode in which image information of a document which is fixed at a position indicated by a solid line in the drawing and is conveyed (sub-scanned) by the document conveying mechanism 3 is read by the first image reading unit 4 or the second image reading unit 5. It is comprised so that switching is possible so that it may operate.

  The second image reading means 5 includes a SELFOC lens disposed along the width direction of the document, a linear CCD (second CCD) disposed at the upper end of the SELFOC lens, and a second light source for irradiating the document. The image information of the original is read at the second image reading position 50 on the contact glass 37. Here, both are configured to be capable of color reading at the same resolution as the first image reading means 4.

  The reversing and conveying mechanism 6 includes a first branching claw 61 that switches and guides a document from the image reading positions 40 and 50 to either the intermediate tray 64 or the paper discharge tray 36, and allows the document to enter and exit the intermediate tray 64. A second branching claw 62 for switching and guiding, an intermediate roller 63 for conveying a document to the intermediate tray 64, and the intermediate tray 64 for temporarily storing the document to be turned upside down are configured.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first branch claw 61 is connected to a solenoid, and as shown in FIG. 3, by driving the solenoid, a first position for guiding the originals at the image reading positions 40 and 50 to the paper discharge tray 36, and a solenoid By stopping the driving, the second position guided to the intermediate tray 64 can be switched.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second branch claw 62 is connected to a solenoid, and as shown in FIG. 3, the solenoid is driven to drive the original from the image reading positions 40 and 50 to the intermediate tray 64, and the solenoid is driven. The intermediate roller 63 that is reversely driven and stopped is switched to the first position where the document is guided from the intermediate tray 64 to the paper feed roller 33.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit of the document reading device includes a CPU 7, a ROM 8 storing a control program executed by the CPU 7, a RAM 9 used as a working area, the above-described various rollers, mirrors, and the like. A drive signal output unit 10 that outputs a control signal for a motor to be driven, a first image control signal output unit 45 that outputs a control signal for the first CCD 46, and correction of image information of the first CCD 46 (shading correction, The first correction processing unit 47 that performs background correction, the second image signal output unit 53 that outputs a control signal to the second CCD 52, and the image information of the second CCD 52 are corrected (shading correction, background correction, and the like). The CP includes a second correction processing unit 53, a first branch claw solenoid 61a, and a second branch claw solenoid 62a. 7 serial signal port is connected to the control unit 100 of the image forming means.

  Based on the control program of the original reading apparatus 1, the CPU 7 operates in the sheet through mode when the original is placed on the original table 2, and operates in the mirror scan mode when the original is placed on the contact glass 38. It is configured to be controlled to be switched. Details of the operation in the sheet through mode will be described below.

  When the CPU 7 operates in the sheet-through mode, the CPU 7 operates the double-sided reading mode in which both the first image reading unit 4 and the second image reading unit 5 read the document substantially simultaneously, and the reverse conveyance mechanism 6. Thus, only one of the first image reading unit 4 and the second image reading unit 5 is configured to be switchable to a single-sided reading mode for reading both sides of a document. When the images 4 and 5 do not operate normally, they operate in the single-sided reading mode, and when both the image reading units 4 and 5 operate normally, they operate in the double-sided reading mode. Here, when one of the image reading means 4 and 5 does not operate normally, dust or the like adheres to one reading position and black stripes appear in the read image, or one image reading means fails. And the other image reading means operates normally.

  When both sides of a document are simultaneously read in the duplex reading mode, the document is set on the document table 2 of the document reading apparatus 1 with the front side facing up in a standard state. When a plurality of originals are placed, they are conveyed to the image reading positions 40 and 50 by the pick-up roller 31, the separation roller 32, the paper feed roller 33, and the registration roller 34 sequentially from the first uppermost original. Is done.

  The first image reading unit 4 reads the image on the front side of the document, and the second image reading unit 5 reads the image on the back side of the document substantially simultaneously. The read original is conveyed by the paper discharge roller 35 and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 36 with the surface facing down.

  The read image data is transferred to the image forming means in the reading order in the order of the front side and the back side, and an image is formed on both sides or one side of the recording paper based on the image data, and the first copy operation is completed. The same copying operation is performed for the second and subsequent sheets, and the process is continuously performed up to the final document, completing a series of copying operations.

  When both sides of the document are read only by the first image reading means 4 in the single-sided reading mode, the operation is performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. When a plurality of documents are placed on the document table 2 with the document surface facing up (S1), the documents are fed in order from the first document at the top and read. The original is conveyed to the first image reading position 40 by the pickup roller 31, the separation roller 32, the paper feed roller 33, and the registration roller 34, and after the surface of the original is read by the first image reading means 4. (S2) The document is temporarily stored in the intermediate tray 64 with the intermediate roller 63 facing down (S3).

  The original on the intermediate tray 64 is conveyed again to the first image reading position 40 by the intermediate roller 63, the paper feed roller 33, and the registration roller 34, and the first image reading means 4 reads the back side of the original ( S4), the intermediate roller 63 temporarily stores the original on the intermediate tray 64 with the surface thereof facing up (S5).

  The intermediate roller 63, the paper feed roller 33, the registration roller 34, and the paper discharge roller 35 are discharged to the paper discharge tray 36 with the surface of the original face down (S6), and the reading of the first original is completed. . The same reading operation is continuously performed for the second and subsequent sheets, and the final document is read.

  Next, a double-sided reading operation using only the second image reading unit 5 in the single-sided reading mode will be described with reference to FIG. When a plurality of documents are placed on the document table 2 with the surface of the document facing up (S1), the document is fed and read in order from the first document at the top. The document is conveyed by the pickup roller 31, the separation roller 32, the paper feed roller 33, the registration roller 34, and the intermediate roller 63, and is temporarily stored in the intermediate tray 64 with the surface of the document facing downward ( S2), the sheet is conveyed to the second image reading position 50 by the intermediate roller 63, the paper feed roller 33, and the registration roller 34, and the surface of the original is read by the second image reading means 5 (S3). The document surface is raised up by the roller 63 and temporarily stored in the intermediate tray 64 (S4).

  The document on the intermediate tray 64 is conveyed to the second image reading position 50 by the intermediate roller 63, the paper feed roller 33, and the registration roller 34, and the back side of the document is read by the second image reading means 5 (S5). ), The sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 36 with the sheet discharge roller 35 facing down (S6), and the reading of the first sheet is completed. The same reading operation is continuously performed for the second and subsequent sheets, and the final document is read.

  In this way, when a double-sided original is read by the second image reading means 5, the original is first reversed by the reversing conveyance mechanism 6 and read from the front surface so that the order of the read images is matched. Configured. The page alignment means for aligning and outputting the image information of the document read in the single-sided reading mode is constituted by a reversing control means for operating the reversing conveyance mechanism provided in the document conveying mechanism to reversely convey the document. It will be.

  Further, the document reading device 1 is provided with document determining means for determining whether the document is single-sided or double-sided, and is configured so that the pages of the document read based on the determined document type are aligned. Has been. In the present embodiment, the document discriminating unit is described as being configured with a document type key for selecting whether the document provided on the operation display unit is single-sided or double-sided. The document may be read by the reading units 4 and 5 so as to determine whether the document is a single-sided document or a double-sided document based on the presence or absence of document information.

  A case where the first image reading unit 4 reads a document when it is determined that the document is a single-sided document by the document type key set in the operation display unit will be described. When a plurality of documents are placed on the document table 2 with the document surface up, the pickup roller 31, the separation roller 32, the paper feed roller 34, and the resist are sequentially arranged from the first document at the top. A roller 34 conveys the first image reading position 40.

  At the first image reading position 40, the surface of the original is read by the first image reading means 4, and is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 36 by the paper discharge roller 35.

  The read image data is transferred to the image forming means, an image is formed based on the image data, and the first copy operation is completed. The same copying operation is performed for the second and subsequent sheets, and the process is continuously performed up to the final document, completing a series of copying operations.

  A case where the original is determined by the original determination means to be a single-side original and the original is read by the second image reading means 5 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when a plurality of documents are placed on the document table 2 with the surface of the document facing up (S1), the pickup roller 31 and the separation roller in order from the first document on the top. 32, the paper is fed to the intermediate tray 64 by the paper feed roller 33, the registration roller 34, and the intermediate roller 63 (S2). At this time, the first branch claw 61 is switched to the second position, the second branch claw 62 is switched to the second position, and the document is guided to the intermediate tray 64. The documents are temporarily stored in the intermediate tray 64 with the rear end sandwiched between the intermediate rollers 63 with the front side facing down. By operating the reversing and conveying mechanism 6, the front and back of the original are reversed.

  Next, the second branch claw 62 is switched to the first position, and the document on the intermediate tray 64 is conveyed to the second image reading position 50 by the intermediate roller 63, the paper feed roller 33, and the registration roller 34. The The image is read by the second image reading means 5 after passing through the second image reading position 50 with the surface of the document facing upward (S3).

  The first branch claw 61 is switched to the first position, the second branch claw 62 is switched to the second position, and the read original is conveyed to the intermediate tray 64 (S4), and then the second branch claw. 62 is switched to the first position, and the intermediate roller 63, the paper feed roller 33, the registration roller 34, and the paper discharge roller 35 are discharged onto the paper discharge tray 36 with the document surface down (S5). In this way, the surface of the document is read sequentially.

  Another embodiment will be described below. In the above-described embodiment, the page alignment means that operates in the single-sided reading mode operates the reverse conveyance mechanism 6 provided in the original conveyance mechanism 3 to reversely convey the original (a part of the control program and the execution of the program). The page matching means includes a memory means for storing image information and a memory management for controlling the output order of the image information stored in the memory means. It may be provided with means. In this case, a page memory for at least two pages of the maximum document size is provided as a memory means in the control unit shown in FIG. 2, and a program for controlling the reading order of the two-page document image stored in the page memory ( A memory management means is configured by a memory access circuit (configured by an ASIC or the like).

  This will be described in detail below. When both sides are read by the second image reading means 5 in the one-side reading mode, a plurality of documents are placed on the document table 2 with the document surface facing up, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. (S1), the first document on the top is sequentially conveyed to the second image reading position 50 by the pickup roller 31, the separation roller 32, the paper feed roller 33, and the registration roller 34, and the back side of the document Is read (S2). The read image information (second page) is stored in the memory means (S3). After the document is temporarily stored in the intermediate tray 64 with the back side up by the intermediate roller 63 (S4), the document is transferred to the second image by the intermediate roller 63, the paper feed roller 33, and the registration roller 34. The document is conveyed to the reading position 50 and the surface of the original is read (S5). The read image information (first page) is stored in the memory means (S6).

  When the read image information is output to the image forming means, the output order of the image information is controlled by the memory management means. That is, the image information stored in the memory means in the order of the back and front surfaces (two pages and one page) is output to the image forming means in the order of the front and back surfaces (order of one page and two pages), Images are formed in that order. The page memory may have a capacity of at least two pages of the maximum document size, and may have a capacity larger than that. The page memory is not limited to a semiconductor memory, and may be configured to include a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk.

  Further, the page matching means may be constituted by page information adding means for adding page information to the read image information and outputting it. In this case, as will be described in detail below, the image forming unit can receive image information to which page information is added from the document reading apparatus, and can print out the page by aligning the pages based on the page information. Become.

  A case where the second image reading unit 5 reads and performs a copying operation in the single-sided reading mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a document is placed on the document table 2 with the front side facing up (S1), reading is performed sequentially from the first document at the top of the document, and the document is conveyed to the second image reading position 50. First, the back side of the document is read (S2). The read image information is added with page information that the image information is the back side of the document (S3), and is transferred to the image forming means (S4).

  The document is transported to the intermediate tray 64 (S5), temporarily stored, and then transported again to the second image reading position 50 to read the surface of the document (S6). The read image information is added with page information that the image information is the surface of the document (S7), and is transferred to the image forming means (S8). In the case of duplex copying, the image forming unit forms an image with image information having page information that is the front side of the document as the front side and forms an image with image information having page information that is the back side as the back side ( S9), the first copy operation is completed. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated from the second sheet to the final document, and all the documents are copied.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the original determining unit determines that the original is a single-sided original, the first image reading unit 4 or the second image reading unit 5 performs reading. The original is set in the standard state, and the reverse conveying mechanism 6 as the page alignment unit is operated to align the page. The original is a one-sided original by the original determination unit. If it is determined that the document reading device 1 is, guide display means for displaying the document setting direction may be provided.

  More specifically, when only the first image reading unit 4 is available, the guidance display unit displays a message on the operation display unit so as to set the document with the surface of the document facing up, and the second display When only the image reading unit 5 is available, the guidance display unit displays a message so that the document is set with the surface of the document facing down. Thus, by performing the setting direction as guided, it becomes possible to perform reading at a high speed without operating the reversal transport mechanism 6.

  In the above-described embodiment, the document reading apparatus according to the present invention is described as an example of a copying machine combined with an image forming unit. However, the document reading apparatus alone or a document reading apparatus having a facsimile function is described. The same applies to those provided.

Cross section of the document reader Block diagram of the control unit of the document reader The figure explaining the 1st branch claw and the 2nd branch claw flowchart flowchart flowchart flowchart flowchart

Explanation of symbols

1: Document reading device 3: Document conveying mechanism 4: First image reading means 5: Second image reading means 6: Reverse conveying mechanism

Claims (8)

First image reading means for reading the front side of the original, second image reading means for reading the back side of the original substantially simultaneously, and original conveyance for conveying the original to an image reading position by the first and second image reading means A document reading apparatus having a mechanism,
The document transport mechanism includes a reversal transport mechanism that transports the document to one of the image reading positions by the first or second image reading unit, and then reverses the document and transports the document to the image reading position again. Both-side reading mode for reading a document with both the first and second image reading means, and single-side reading for reading a document with only one of the first and second image reading means by operating the reversing conveyance mechanism A document reading apparatus configured to be switchable to a mode.   2. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising page alignment means for outputting the image information of the document read in the single-sided reading mode with page alignment.   3. The document reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the page alignment unit includes a memory unit for accumulating the image information and a memory management unit for controlling an output order of the image information stored in the memory unit.   3. The document reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the page alignment means is constituted by a reversing control means for reversing and transporting the document by operating the reversing transport mechanism provided in the document transport mechanism.   3. The document reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the page alignment means is constituted by page information adding means for adding page information to the image information and outputting it.   6. The document reading apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising image forming means for receiving the image information to which the page information is added and aligning and printing the pages.   A document discriminating unit for discriminating whether the document is single-sided or double-sided, and when the original is read by the second image reading unit in the single-sided reading mode, The document reading device according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the document exists, the reversing conveyance mechanism is operated to read the document.   A document discriminating unit for discriminating whether the document is single-sided or double-sided, and when reading the document in the single-sided reading mode, 2. A document reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising guide display means for displaying a set direction of the document.

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