JP2016063371A - Image reading device, image forming apparatus, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect the sizes and shapes of various documents.SOLUTION: An image reading device moves a first capacitive sensor included in a reading part in a predetermined direction with respect to a document platen glass, and determines the size and shape of a document on the basis of the difference between the capacitance detected by the first capacitive sensor according to the movement and the capacitance detected by a second capacitive sensor provided at a position not being affected by capacitance due to the presence/absence of a document placed on the document platen glass.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading technique in which an image of a document placed on a platen glass is read by a reading unit.

  Some conventional copying machines detect a document setting position and document size by rotating a unit including a lens, a light emitting element, and a light receiving element within a detection region (Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, the detection operation is started when the document pressing plate is closed by a predetermined closing operation angle by an angle detection unit that detects the binding operation angle of the document pressing plate. As a result, since the detection operation is started when the external light is almost no incident on the light receiving element, the detection of the document size and the document placement position is realized while preventing the erroneous detection due to the incident of the external light. Yes.

JP-A-8-194270

  However, in the configuration in which the document size is detected using the light emitting element and the light receiving element, it is possible to determine the size and shape of an irregular document such as a non-standard document and a cut document with a part cut off due to the configuration. Have difficulty.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image reading technique capable of accurately detecting the sizes and shapes of various originals.

In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
An image reading device that reads an image of a document placed on a platen glass by a reading unit,
A first capacitance sensor provided in the reading unit;
A second capacitance sensor provided at a position not affected by capacitance depending on the presence or absence of a document placed on the platen glass;
Determination means for determining the size and shape of the document based on the difference in capacitance detected by each of the first capacitance sensor and the second capacitance sensor.

  According to the present invention, various document sizes and shapes can be accurately detected.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system. 1 is an enlarged view of an overall configuration of an image reading apparatus of an image forming system. It is an enlarged view of the whole structure of the image reading unit of the image reading apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration in the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the electrostatic capacitance change when the punch hole is opened. It is a figure which shows the positioning mechanism of a punch unit. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by image forming apparatus A including document detection processing.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the already demonstrated part and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.

[Configuration of image forming system]
The image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes a post-processing device B connected to an image forming device A that forms an image on a recording medium such as cut paper, and a paper discharge port of the image forming device A. 3 is connected to the carry-in port 23a of the post-processing apparatus B. The recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus A is configured to be stored in the stack tray 21 or the saddle tray 22 by the post-processing apparatus B performing post-processing such as stapling.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
The image forming apparatus A is configured to convey a recording medium from the paper feeding unit 1 to the image forming unit 2, print the recording medium on the recording medium by the image forming unit 2, and then discharge the recording medium from the paper discharge port 3. The paper feed unit 1 includes paper feed cassettes 1 a and 1 b that store recording media of a plurality of sizes, and separates the designated recording media one by one and feeds them to the image forming unit 2. The image forming unit 2 includes, for example, an electrostatic drum 4, a laser light emitter 5 disposed around the electrostatic drum 4, a developing device 6, a transfer charger 7, and a fixing device 8. The image forming unit 2 forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic drum 4 with the laser emitter 5, attaches toner to the developer 6, transfers the image onto the recording medium with the transfer charger 7, and fixes it. Fixing by heating with a vessel 8. The recording medium on which the image is formed in this manner is sequentially carried out from the paper discharge port 3 to the post-processing apparatus B. In the case of duplex printing, the recording medium printed on the front side is turned upside down from the fixing device 8 via the switchback path 10 and then fed again to the image forming unit 2 via the circulation path 9. Is printed on the back side of the recording medium, and is then carried out from the paper discharge port 3.

  The image forming apparatus A includes an image reading device 11, and scans an original sheet set on an original platen glass 12 with a scan unit 13 and electrically reads it with a photoelectric conversion element (not shown), thereby forming an image on the original sheet. Generate data. The image data is digitally processed by the control unit 121 including the image processing unit 124 (FIG. 4), for example, and then transferred to the data storage unit 14, and an image signal corresponding to the image data is transmitted to the laser emitter 5. Is done. The document transport device 15 is a feeder device that feeds document sheets stored in the stack tray 16 to the document table glass 12.

  The image forming apparatus A is provided with a control unit (controller) 150 for controlling various operations relating to the image forming apparatus A. Further, the image forming apparatus A includes an operation unit 18 including a touch panel and various operation buttons, for example. The user can set image forming conditions such as sheet size designation, print number designation, single-sided / double-sided printing designation, enlarged / reduced printing designation, and the like via the operation unit 18. The user can also input and specify post-processing conditions simultaneously with the image forming conditions via the operation unit 18. Various operation buttons in the operation unit 18 include a numeric keypad, a copy button, a post-processing mode designation button, and a power button.

  In the image forming apparatus A, image data read by the scan unit 13 or image data transferred from an external network is accumulated in the data storage unit 17. Image data is transferred from the data storage unit 17 to the buffer memory 19, and data signals are sequentially transferred from the buffer memory 19 to the laser emitter 5.

[Configuration of post-processing equipment]
The post-processing apparatus B receives the recording medium on which an image has been formed from the paper discharge port 3 of the image forming apparatus A, and executes post-processing on the recording medium in accordance with designated post-processing conditions. Examples of the post-processing conditions include:
(I) a mode in which the recording medium is accommodated in the stack tray 21 without post-processing (print-out mode),
(Ii) a mode in which recording media from the paper discharge outlet 3 are aligned in a bundle and stapled, and then stored in the stack tray 21 (binding finish mode);
(Iii) A mode (booklet finishing mode) in which the recording media from the paper discharge port 3 are aligned in a bundle and the center is stapled and then folded into a booklet and stored in the saddle tray 22
There is.

  Note that the processing executed by the post-processing apparatus B is controlled by the control unit 160.

  The casing (apparatus frame) 20 of the post-processing apparatus B is provided with a carry-in port 23a, and this carry-in port 23a is connected to the paper discharge port 3 of the image forming apparatus A. Then, in the casing 20, the first processing unit BX1 that collects and stacks the recording media from the carry-in port 23a and finishes the binding, and the second process that completes and stacks the recording media from the carry-in port 23a and finishes the booklet. Part BX2 is provided. A first transport path P1 is provided between the first processing unit BX1 and the carry-in entrance 23a. Further, a second transport path P2 is provided between the second processing unit BX2 and the carry-in entrance 23a. The recording medium from the carry-in entrance 23a is distributed and guided to the first processing unit BX1 and the second processing unit BX2 through the first transport path P1 and the second transport path P2. In addition, the carry-in entrance 23a is provided with a carry-in roller 23, a sheet sensor S1, and a path switching unit 24 that distributes the recording medium to the first transport path P1 or the second transport path P2.

  A buffer path P3 is provided between the punch unit 60 and the processing tray 29 in the first transport path P1. This buffer path P3 is sent to the carry-in port 23a during this post-processing operation when post-processing such as stapling is performed on a stack (hereinafter referred to as a sheet bundle) of recording media that are partly stacked on the processing tray 29. The subsequent recording medium is temporarily retained. For this reason, the buffer path P3 is branched in the vertical direction of the casing 20 on the upstream side of the path to the processing tray 29 in the first transport path P1. The recording medium from the first transport path P1 is switched back and stays in this path. Therefore, when the post-processing (edge binding process) is performed on the sheet bundle that is aligned and stacked on the processing tray 29, the subsequent recording medium sent to the carry-in port 23a is temporarily retained, and the preceding sheet processed in the processing tray 29 is stored. Can be transferred to the processing tray 29.

  The first transport path P1 is arranged substantially horizontally in the upper part of the apparatus housing constituted by the casing 20, and the first processing unit BX1 is disposed downstream of the first transport path P1, and the stack tray 21 is disposed downstream thereof. Has been placed. In the first transport path P1, the punch unit 60 is disposed between the carry-in port 23a and the first processing unit BX1. The first transport path P1 is provided with a paper discharge roller 25 and a paper discharge outlet 25x at the exit end of the path, and a paper discharge sensor S2 is disposed at the paper discharge outlet 25x, and passes through the first transport path P1. The recording medium to be detected is detected, jam detection and the number of passing sheets are counted. A processing tray 29 is disposed with a step formed downstream of the paper discharge port 25x.

  The second transport path P2 is disposed substantially vertically in the lower portion of the casing 20, the second processing unit BX2 is disposed on the downstream side of the second transport path P2, and the saddle tray 22 is disposed on the downstream side thereof. Has been. A trimmer unit (cutting unit) 90 is disposed between the second processing unit BX2 and the saddle tray 22 in the second transport path P2. Furthermore, a transport roller 27 is provided in the second transport path P2, and a stacking guide 45 is disposed with a step formed downstream thereof.

[Configuration of first processing unit and second processing unit]
The first processing unit BX1 includes a processing tray 29 disposed on the first transport path P1, an end binding unit 31 disposed on the processing tray 29, and an aligning unit 51. The processing tray 29 is formed of a synthetic resin plate or the like and includes a sheet support surface on which a recording medium is stacked and supported. The sheet support surface is disposed with a step formed downstream of the paper discharge port 25x of the first transport path P1, and is configured to stack and store recording media from the paper discharge port 25x. The sheet support surface is formed to have a length shorter than the length of the sheet in the sheet discharge direction, supports the rear end portion of the sheet from the sheet discharge port 25x, and supports the sheet front end portion on the uppermost sheet of the stack tray 21 ( Bridge support).

  The processing tray 29 is provided with a sheet end regulating portion, and abuts and aligns the sheet rear end (or the front end) from the sheet discharge outlet 25x. Above the processing tray 29, a switchback roller (movable roller 26a and driven roller 26b) for transferring the recording medium carried on the tray to the sheet end regulating portion, an aligning portion 51, and a side aligning portion 34 are arranged. Yes.

  The stack tray 21 is an elevating tray configured to move up and down according to the amount of sheets stacked. The stack tray 21 is configured in a tray shape for loading recording media, and is configured to protrude from the side wall of the casing 20 to the outside of the apparatus. For this reason, the tray base end portion is provided with guide rollers at two upper and lower portions, and this guide roller is fitted and supported by an elevating guide provided on the casing 20.

  The second processing unit BX2 includes a stacking guide 45 disposed in the second transport path P2, a saddle stitching staple unit 40 disposed in the stacking guide 45, a folding processing mechanism (center folding unit) 44, and a trimmer unit (cutting unit). 90.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the image reading apparatus 11. In FIG. 2, a capacitance unit 114 </ b> A is arranged in a line along the main scanning direction in the scan unit 13 included in the image reading apparatus 11 as shown in FIG. 3. The electrostatic capacitance sensor 114 </ b> A arranged in a line shape is used for detecting the size and determining the shape of the document sheet placed on the document table glass 12 by scanning the scan unit 13. In the scan unit 13, a light guide 115 that guides light to a photoelectric conversion element (not shown) for reading a document sheet by the scan unit 13 is arranged in parallel with the capacitance sensor 114A. Yes. The photoelectric conversion elements are arranged along the main scanning direction under the light guide 115, and further, light sources (for example, a plurality of LEDs) are arranged along the photoelectric conversion elements in the main scanning direction. Yes.

  The scanning unit 13 serving as a reading unit irradiates light from the light source to the document through the document table glass 12 while moving in a predetermined direction (sub-scanning direction), and reflects the light reflected from the document to a plurality of mirrors and a light collecting unit. A document image on the platen glass 12 is read through an optical system such as a lens. The photoelectric conversion element converts the detected light into an electrical signal.

  Here, the main scanning direction is the Y direction in FIG. As described above, the capacitance sensor 114A and the light guide 115 are arranged side by side along the main scanning direction in the main scanning direction. The sub-scanning direction (X direction), which is a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, is also the scanning direction when the scan unit 13 reads the document on the document table glass 12.

  The document table glass 12 is sufficiently large to place a document of a standard size (for example, standard sizes such as A3, A4, A5, B3, B4, and B) or an irregular size and can be read by the scan unit 13. It is composed of a large rectangular glass member. The rectangular platen glass 12 has one side (long side in FIG. 2) parallel to the sub-scanning direction (X direction) and the other side (short side in FIG. 2) in the main scanning direction (Y direction). Are arranged in parallel to each other.

  The characteristics of the capacitance sensor 114A will be described. Each material has a different dielectric constant. Utilizing this fact, electrostatic induction occurs when different substances come into contact with or come close to each other. And the sensor which can detect the change of the electrostatic capacitance at the time of this electrostatic induction is an electrostatic capacitance sensor. A capacitance sensor is a set of two electrodes, and detects a change in capacitance between the electrodes. The capacitance changes depending on whether or not an original is placed on the glass platen glass 12. Therefore, by disposing a plurality of detection units using electrostatic capacitance sensors in the vicinity of the original platen glass 12, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of a document from a change in capacitance detected by the arranged detection units.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, in addition to disposing the electrostatic capacity sensor 114A (first electrostatic capacity sensor) in the scan unit 13, as shown in FIG. A capacitance sensor 114B (second capacitance sensor) is arranged. The electrostatic capacity sensor 114 </ b> B serves as a reference portion that detects a reference electrostatic capacity (reference electrostatic capacity) in the document table glass 12. Here, the predetermined position at which the electrostatic capacity sensor 114B serving as the reference portion is arranged is a position that is not affected by the electrostatic capacity detected by the presence or absence of the original on the platen glass 12, and the predetermined position is For example, it is the position of the corner end of the document table glass 12.

  On the other hand, the capacitance sensor 114 </ b> A serves as a detection unit that detects the capacitance over the entire surface of the document table glass 12 in units of lines in accordance with the scan of the scan unit 13. Then, the difference between the capacitance detected by the reference unit and the capacitance detected by the detection unit is compared, and if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, there is a document at or near that position. It becomes possible to judge.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming system. In FIG. 4, in particular, a configuration relating to the document detection unit for detecting the size and shape of the document sheet, which is realized by the scan unit 13, is extracted and shown. In FIG. 4, the capacitance sensor 114 </ b> A and the capacitance sensor 114 </ b> B shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are collectively referred to as the capacitance sensor 114.

  The scan unit 13 functioning as a document detection unit includes a control unit 121 in addition to the capacitance sensor 114 (the capacitance sensor 114A and the capacitance sensor 114B). Here, the capacitance sensor 114A functions as a detection unit that detects the capacitance on the platen glass 12, and at least two detection units are configured. The electrostatic capacitance sensor 114B functions as a reference portion that detects a reference electrostatic capacitance on the platen glass 12, and the detected capacitance is not affected by the presence or absence of the original on the platen glass 12. It is placed at a position that does not change. Furthermore, the capacitance sensor 114 includes a difference detection unit 114C, and the difference detection unit 114C detects a difference between detection results from a plurality of detection units and detection results from the reference unit.

  In addition to being involved in the detection of the document size, the control unit 121 controls the reading operation by the scan unit 13 based on a user instruction from the operation unit 18. The control unit 121 is provided with a dedicated calculation unit 123 that calculates the document size based on the output from the difference detection unit 114C. Further, the control unit 121 includes an image processing unit 124 for performing image processing on an image obtained by a reading operation by the scan unit 13. Examples of image processing executed by the image processing unit 124 include various types of processing such as shading correction.

  The control unit 121 includes an MPU 122A, a RAM 122B, and a ROM 122C. The ROM 122C stores a program for controlling the operation of the calculation unit 123 and the image processing unit 124 by the MPU 122A. The RAM 122B functions as a buffer memory that temporarily stores a work area when the MPU 122A executes a program and an image obtained by image reading.

  For example, the control unit 150 of the image forming apparatus A takes out a designated recording medium from the paper feeding unit 1 based on an image obtained by a reading operation by the image reading device 11, and an image by the image forming unit 2 for the recording medium. Control the forming operation. The control unit 150 is provided with a dedicated calculation unit 223 for executing processing related to the image forming operation. The control unit 150 includes an MPU 222A, a RAM 222B, and a ROM 222C. The ROM 222C stores a program for controlling the operation of the arithmetic unit 223 by the MPU 222A. The RAM 222B functions as a buffer memory that temporarily stores a work area when the MPU 222A executes a program and an image for image formation.

  The control unit 160 of the image forming apparatus A controls, for example, a post-processing operation (for example, punching of a document by the punch unit 60) performed on a recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus A. The control unit 160 is provided with a dedicated calculation unit 323 for executing processing related to the post-processing operation. The control unit 160 includes an MPU 322A, a RAM 322B, and a ROM 322C. The ROM 322C stores a program for controlling the operation of the arithmetic unit 323 by the MPU 322A. The RAM 322B functions as a work area when the MPU 322A executes a program.

  Next, document sheet size detection by the scan unit 13 functioning as a document detection unit will be described.

  The control unit 121 of the scan unit 13 serving as a document detection unit drives the scan unit 13 in which the capacitance sensor 114A is arranged, and the capacitance sensor 114A arranged in a line on the main scanning side has a capacitance. The document size is detected based on the change detection position. On the other hand, when the scanning unit 13 scans in the sub-scanning direction, the sub-scanning side detects the document size based on the time during which the capacitance sensor 114A detects a change in capacitance and the moving speed of the scanning unit 13. To do. Here, the change in capacitance is determined by comparing the difference between the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor 114B and the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor 114A.

  As described above, by acquiring the change distribution of the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor 114A over the entire surface of the document table glass 12 by the scanning of the scan unit 13, the document size of the document sheet can be determined. Note that the document placed on the document table glass 12 is not necessarily placed parallel to the sides of the document table glass 12 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. In this case, the document size is determined after correcting the inclination of the capacitance change distribution according to the angle of the portion corresponding to the side of the document obtained by the capacitance change distribution with respect to the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. To do.

  Further, when the document size can be specified as one of a plurality of types of standard sizes from the detected shape of the document, the standard size that can be specified is determined as the document size. On the other hand, if the detected original shape cannot be specified as one of a plurality of standard sizes, the smallest standard size including the original shape is selected as the original size of the original. Judge as size.

  Next, document sheet shape detection by the scan unit 13 functioning as a document detection unit will be described.

  For example, in the case of a document sheet with a punch hole, as shown in FIG. 5, a change in capacitance occurs where the document is located, and a change in capacitance occurs where a hole is formed by a punch hole. do not do. Similarly, in the case of a document sheet that is partially missing, since the capacitance does not change at the missing location, the shape of the document sheet is determined based on information regarding the location where the change does not occur. It can be performed. That is, the shape of the original sheet can be determined by acquiring the change distribution of the electrostatic capacitance detected by the electrostatic capacitance sensor 114A over the entire surface of the original table glass 12 by the scanning of the scanning unit 13.

  As described above, when information on the original such as a part of the original having a hole, a missing portion, or a cut-out portion is detected, the detection result (size and shape of the original sheet) is sent to the operation unit 18. Is displayed. The user can apply post-processing to, for example, a document cut-out portion via the operation unit 18.

  An example of post-processing will be described. For example, when the original sheet has a cut portion / punch hole, the image of the cut portion / punch hole is output to the recording medium as a blacked image (black image). Therefore, for example, the image processing unit 124 of the control unit 121 performs post-processing as image processing in which the black-painted image is replaced with an image having the same color as the original color / background image color / peripheral image color (for example, white). Thus, it is possible to print an image in which unnecessary black portions do not appear on the recording medium.

  On the other hand, if there is a punch hole in the document sheet, it is possible to select to execute post-processing for outputting the punch hole on the recording medium. In the case of this embodiment, a punch unit 60 is disposed between the carry-in roller 23 and the paper discharge roller 25 in the first transport path P1 of the post-processing apparatus B, and punch holes are formed in a sheet passing through the first transport path P1. Can be perforated.

  A detailed configuration of the punch unit 60 will be described with reference to FIG. The punch unit 60 includes a punch member 62, a blade receiving member (die) 63, a drive cam 64, and a drive motor MX. A plurality of punch members 62 are arranged on the unit frame 61 at intervals in the sheet width direction, and are supported by bearings so as to be vertically movable in the punching direction. Each punch member 62 is engaged with a drive cam 64 (slide groove cam, eccentric rotation cam, etc.), and punch holes are punched by moving up and down with the drive cam 64 connected to the drive motor MX. Further, the blade receiving member 63 is disposed to face the punch member 62 with a sheet passing through the first transport path P1 interposed therebetween.

  As described above, when the image forming apparatus A detects information about a document such as a part of the document having a hole, a missing portion, or a cutout portion, the image forming apparatus A responds to the detection result (size or shape of the document sheet). An operation screen related to post-processing is displayed on the operation unit 18. Then, according to the operation screen, the user performs image processing for replacing the image of the cut portion or punch hole in the read image with the background image color, and punch processing for punching the punch hole in the recording medium on which the read image is printed. Selection can be instructed as processing. Alternatively, it can be instructed not to perform post-processing.

  Next, processing executed by the image forming apparatus A including document detection processing executed by the image reading apparatus 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that this flowchart is executed, for example, when the control unit 150 and the control unit 121 cooperate and the MPU 122A of the control unit 121 executes a control program stored in the RAM 122B. Further, here, when the user presses the copy button, the reading operation of the original on the platen glass 12 is executed, and the designated original or the recording medium of the detected size is fed from the paper feeding unit 1. A process until an image obtained by the reading operation is printed will be described.

  First, in S <b> 1, the image forming apparatus A determines whether the size (original size) of the recording medium output by the user is designated via the operation unit 18. When the size is designated (YES in S1), the process proceeds to S4. On the other hand, when the size is not designated (NO in S1), the process proceeds to S2. In S <b> 2, the image forming apparatus A detects pressing of the copy button in the operation unit 18. In S3, the image forming apparatus A scans the scan unit 13 that is a document detection unit, and the electrostatic capacitance sensor 114A electrostatically covers the entire surface of the document table glass 12 including the document placed on the document table glass 12. Get the change distribution of capacity. Then, the document size and shape are detected from the obtained change distribution of capacitance. The details of this process are as described in FIG.

  In S3, simultaneously with the detection of the document size, the scanning unit 13 also executes the reading operation of the document on the document table glass 12 in parallel.

  In S4, the image forming apparatus A determines whether the document placed on the document table glass 12 is a standard document according to the specified document size (YES in S1) or the detected document size and shape (S3). Determine whether. Here, the standard document means a document of a standard size (or a document having a size of a recording medium that can be fed from the paper feed unit 1). However, although the size of the entire document is a standard size, a document in which a part of the document has a hole or a cut-out portion, that is, a document in which the change in electrostatic capacitance is not uniform over the entire document. Is determined not to be a standard document.

  If the result of the determination is that the document is a standard document (YES in S4), in S5, the image forming apparatus A finally determines the designated document size or the detected document size as the document size used for printing. In S <b> 6, the image forming apparatus A feeds a recording medium corresponding to the determined document size from the paper feeding unit 1. In S7, the image forming apparatus A prints an image obtained by the reading operation on the fed recording medium. In S8, the image forming apparatus A discharges the recording medium on which the image is printed.

  If the result of the determination is that the document is not a standard document (NO in S4), it is determined whether or not the document is a variant document. Here, the variant original means an original that can be regarded as a standard original by post-processing. This is, for example, an original including a cutout part in which a part of the original is perforated or missing. These originals are post-processed (for example, image processing for replacing an image of a cut portion or a punch hole with a background image color, punch processing for punching a punch hole in a recording medium on which a read image is printed, and cutting for cutting the cut portion. By executing the processing, a standard document is obtained.

  As a result of the determination, if the original is not an irregular original (NO in S9), that is, if it is an irregular original that is not a standard size, in S5, the image forming apparatus A finally prints the size detected in S3. Confirm the original size to be used. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus A executes the processes of S6 to S8 for the recording medium corresponding to the determined document size.

  If the result of the determination is that the document is a variant document (YES in S9), in S10, the image forming apparatus A displays an operation screen for selecting the processing content of the post-processing for the detected variant document on the operation unit 18. In response to an operation on the operation screen, it is determined whether or not to execute post-processing.

  If the post-processing is not executed as a result of the determination (NO in S10), in S5, the image forming apparatus A finally determines the size detected in S3 as the document size used for printing. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus A executes the processes of S6 to S8 for the recording medium corresponding to the determined document size.

  If post-processing is executed as a result of the determination (YES in S10), in S11, the image forming apparatus A finally determines the size detected in S3 as the document size used for printing, and sets the determined document size to the determined document size. The corresponding recording medium is fed from the paper feeding unit 1. In S12, the image forming apparatus A performs post-processing (image processing) on the image obtained by the reading operation according to the post-processing designated via the operation screen. Thereafter, in S7, the image forming apparatus A prints the post-processed image on the fed recording medium. In S8, the image forming apparatus A discharges the recording medium on which the image is printed.

  In FIG. 7, since the post-processing is image processing for an image obtained by the reading operation, the recording medium is fed in S11, and then post-processing (image processing) is executed in S12. The later image is printed in S7. However, as described above, punch processing and cutting processing can be designated as post-processing. In this case, an image obtained by the reading operation is printed on the recording medium fed in S11, and the post-printing processing is performed. As post-processing for the recording medium, punch processing and cutting processing are executed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the size and shape of the document can be detected with high accuracy, and appropriate post-processing can be executed in accordance with the detected size and shape of the document. .

  In addition, the function of the above embodiment is realizable also with the following structures. That is, it is also achieved by supplying a program code for performing the processing of the present embodiment to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus executing the program code. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code also realizes the function of the present embodiment.

  Further, the program code for realizing the function of the present embodiment may be executed by one computer (CPU, MPU), or may be executed by a plurality of computers cooperating. Also good. Further, the program code may be executed by a computer, or hardware such as a circuit for realizing the function of the program code may be provided. Alternatively, a part of the program code may be realized by hardware and the remaining part may be executed by a computer. Further, the CPU is not limited to the one that performs all the processing by one CPU, and a plurality of CPUs may perform the processing while appropriately cooperating.

  A: Image forming device, B: Post-processing device, 1: Paper feeding unit, 2: Image forming unit, 3: Paper discharge port, 11: Document detection unit, 12: Document glass, 13: Scan unit, 114A and 114B : Capacitance sensor, 114C: Difference detection unit, 115: Light guide, 18: Operation unit, 121: Control unit, 122B: MPU, 122C: RAM, 122D: ROM, 123: Calculation unit, 124: Image processing unit , 60: punch unit

Claims (13)

An image reading device that reads an image of a document placed on a platen glass by a reading unit,
A first capacitance sensor provided in the reading unit;
A second capacitance sensor provided at a position not affected by capacitance depending on the presence or absence of a document placed on the platen glass;
And determining means for determining the size and shape of the document based on a difference in capacitance detected by each of the first capacitance sensor and the second capacitance sensor. Image reading device. The first capacitance sensor is composed of a plurality of capacitance sensors arranged in the main scanning direction in the reading unit,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit moves in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction to read a document on the platen glass. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display an operation screen related to post-processing executed after a reading operation of the reading unit based on a determination result of the determination unit. . Image forming means for forming an image obtained by a reading operation by the reading unit on a recording medium;
4. A post-processing unit that executes post-processing on a recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming unit based on a determination result of the determination unit. 5. 2. An image reading apparatus according to item 1. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the post-processing unit performs at least one of a punching process for punching holes in the recording medium and a cutting process for cutting the recording medium. The post-processing means for performing post-processing on an image obtained by the reading operation of the reading unit based on the determination result of the determining means. Image reading apparatus. The post-processing means executes image processing for replacing the color of the image of the cut-out portion with the color of the peripheral image when the image of the cut-out portion is included in the original as a result of the determination by the determining means. The image reading apparatus according to claim 6. Image forming means for forming an image obtained by a reading operation by the reading unit on a recording medium;
First post-processing means for performing post-processing on a recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming means, based on a result of the judgment by the judging means;
Second post-processing means for performing post-processing on an image obtained by the reading operation of the reading unit based on a result of determination by the determination means;
8. A display means for displaying an operation screen for selecting a plurality of types of post-processing including at least post-processing by the first post-processing means and post-processing by the second post-processing means. The image reading apparatus according to any one of the above. The determination means is configured to determine the shape of the original and the shape of the document based on a change distribution of capacitance obtained from a difference in capacitance detected by each of the first capacitance sensor and the second capacitance sensor. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size is determined. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet feeding unit configured to feed a recording medium for forming an image obtained by the reading operation of the reading unit corresponding to the size of the document determined by the determining unit. 10. The image reading device according to any one of items 1 to 9. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
Image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium based on an image read by the image reading device;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A method for controlling an image reading apparatus that reads an image of a document placed on a platen glass by a reading unit,
A moving step of moving a first capacitance sensor provided in the reading unit in a predetermined direction with respect to the original platen glass;
It is provided at a position where it is not affected by the capacitance depending on the capacitance detected by the first capacitance sensor according to the movement in the movement step and the presence or absence of the document placed on the document table glass. And a determination step of determining the size and shape of the document based on a difference from the capacitance detected by the second capacitance sensor.   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the image reading apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 10.

Images