JP2011020834A - Sheet processing device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing device and method for significantly improving user-friendliness. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet processing device performs predetermined processing of sheets simultaneously driven to be fed while being separated one by one and detects whether a sheet feeding failure occurs or not, in accordance with intervals for the adjacent sheets, while detecting whether sheet processing setting is changed or not, and changing a predetermined first criterion threshold value as a criterion for detecting whether the sheet feeding failure occurs or not into a second criterion threshold value greater than the first criterion threshold value when the sheet processing setting is changed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus such as a scanner or a printer and a sheet processing method.

Conventionally, in an image reading apparatus such as a scanner which is an example of a sheet processing apparatus, a conveyance device for conveying a document is mounted. As such a transport apparatus, for example, an automatic document transport apparatus that feeds and transports the sheets one by one while separating them from the document table is used. As such an automatic document feeder, for example, a type in which a paper feed unit and a paper discharge unit are always driven simultaneously using a single drive source (hereinafter referred to as a simultaneous drive type) is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

Here, in the image reading apparatus equipped with such a simultaneous drive type automatic document conveyance device, there is a merit that the manufacturing cost can be reduced by using a single drive source, but on the other hand, there is a paper feeding unit and a conveyance unit. There is a demerit that cannot be driven individually. That is, there is a problem that the distance between the preceding document and the succeeding document cannot be controlled.

As described above, in the simultaneous drive type image reading apparatus, since it is difficult to control the distance between the originals, for example, the subsequent original may exceed the image reading position, which causes inconvenience in reading the subsequent original. There's a problem.

For example, when the subsequent document is changed to a reading setting different from the reading setting of the preceding document, if the subsequent document exceeds the image reading position, the excess portion cannot be read by the changed reading setting. There is.

As described above, when the subsequent document exceeds the image reading position, the subsequent document cannot be read by changing to a desired reading setting, or a plurality of documents can be read one by one or selectively. There is also a problem that the setting cannot be changed as appropriate and the convenience for the user is very poor.

The above-described problem does not occur only in the image reading apparatus, and may occur in other sheet processing apparatuses such as a printer as well. In addition, the problem that the sheet spacing cannot be controlled does not occur only in the automatic document feeder using the single driving source described above, and the same applies to the case of simultaneous driving even with different driving sources. May occur.

In recent years, sheet processing apparatuses have been downsized, and accordingly, management of sheet intervals and the like becomes very difficult. For this reason, the above-described problem becomes particularly prominent with the downsizing of the sheet processing apparatus.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-113385

In view of the circumstances described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus and a sheet processing method capable of dramatically improving user convenience.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is based on sheet feeding means for feeding sheets by simultaneous driving while separating sheets one by one, sheet interval detecting means for detecting an interval between adjacent sheets, and a sheet interval. Sheet feeding failure detection means for detecting the presence or absence of sheet feeding failure, sheet processing means for performing a predetermined process on the conveyed sheet, and sheet for detecting whether or not the sheet processing setting by the sheet processing means has been changed A sheet feeding failure detection unit that is a reference for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet feeding failure when a change in the sheet processing setting is detected by the sheet processing setting detection unit. The predetermined first reference threshold value is changed to a second reference threshold value that is larger than the first reference threshold value.

According to the present invention, when the sheet processing setting is changed by a user or the like, the predetermined first reference threshold that is a reference for detecting the presence or absence of sheet feeding failure is set to a second reference threshold that is larger than the first reference threshold. Changed so that sheet feeding failure detection is executed under strict conditions, so subsequent sheets are not processed with the processing settings of the preceding sheet, and subsequent sheets are processed reliably with the changed processing settings Therefore, it is possible to dramatically improve user convenience.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a reading start state by the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where a document is continuously conveyed by the image reading unit according to the first embodiment (a state where a leading edge of a subsequent document is detected by a registration sensor). FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a document is continuously conveyed by the image reading unit according to the first embodiment (a state where the trailing edge of the preceding document reaches the reading end position Q and the leading edge of the succeeding document reaches the reading start position P). FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a document is continuously conveyed by the image reading unit according to the first embodiment (a state in which a trailing end of a preceding document reaches a position before a reading end position Q). FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a document is continuously conveyed by the image reading unit according to the first embodiment (a state in which the leading end of a succeeding document reaches a reading start position value P during reading of a preceding document). It is a schematic block diagram of the vertical image reading apparatus of other embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image reading apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the image reading apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is a scanner apparatus that can read an image by sequentially transporting a plurality of originals one by one while sequentially separating them and simultaneously reading the image. It is an example.

Specifically, the original is taken into the apparatus by the paper feed roller 101 and is fed to a conveyance path directed downstream thereof. The document is sequentially conveyed by a first conveyance roller pair 102 and a second conveyance roller pair 103 arranged on the downstream side of the paper feed roller 101, and then discharged to the outside of the apparatus.

In the present embodiment, the rollers 101, 102, and 103 are simultaneously driven by the same drive source (for example, one drive motor) (not shown) for feeding and discharging documents.

Here, in the upper part of the paper feed roller 101, that is, the part facing the paper feed roller 101, a separation pad 104 is attached to feed the originals one by one to the conveyance path. The sheet feeding roller 101 and the separation pad 104 are an example of a sheet feeding unit that feeds a document while separating the documents one by one. Although the separation pad 104 is illustrated here, for example, a separation roller may be used.

Further, image reading means (first reading unit and second reading unit) 105 and 106 for reading an image of the conveyed document are opposed to each other between the first conveying roller pair 102 and the second conveying roller pair 103 described above. Is provided. The image reading unit 105 is a sensor that reads the first surface of the document, and the image reading unit 106 is a sensor that reads the second surface of the document. For example, in the present embodiment, the image reading units 105 and 106 are CIS (contact image sensors).

Further, the image reading units 105 and 106 are set at different positions in the image reading position along the transport direction. For example, in the present embodiment, the image reading position of the image reading unit 105 is provided to be upstream of the image reading position of the image reading unit 106.

In this embodiment, the image reading units 105 and 106 read an image in conjunction with the drive source. Specifically, the paper feed roller 101, the first transport roller pair 102, and the second transport roller pair 103 are driven by power from a single drive source (pulse motor or the like) (not shown). Therefore, the paper feed roller 101, the first conveyance roller pair 102, and the second conveyance roller pair 103 cannot be driven individually, and can be driven only at the same time.

Here, the image reading cycle is changed in conjunction with the conveyance speed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-87500. That is, the image reading cycle is synchronized with the rotation of the pulse motor that is the driving source.

The amount of movement of the document fed from the document table 107 is calculated from the count value obtained by counting the number of pulses after the leading edge of the document reaches the registration sensor 108. The counted number of pulses may be used as the movement amount as it is.

Such a movement amount counter and registration sensor 108 is a unit that detects the arrival and passage of a document and calculates the interval between documents that are continuously conveyed based on the number of pulses.

Therefore, the movement amount counter and the registration sensor 108 are an example of a sheet interval detection unit that detects the arrival and passage of documents and detects the interval between adjacent documents.

The document table 107 on which a plurality of documents are placed is provided with a document detection sensor 109 that detects whether or not a document is placed, for example, in this embodiment. The document detection sensor 109 is a sensor that detects whether or not a document is present at the paper feed port of the document table 107, but is not necessarily required in the present embodiment.

In the image reading apparatus 100 of this embodiment having such a configuration, when it is determined that the leading edge of the document has reached the reading start position P in the conveyance path based on the movement amount of the document, the image reading unit 105. 106 start reading the image. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when it is determined that the trailing edge of the document has reached the reading end position Q in the conveyance path based on the movement amount, the image reading units 105 and 106 end the image reading. It has become.

Here, the “reading start position P” may be substantially the same position as the image reading position of the image reading units 105 and 106, or may be a position upstream of the image reading position. For example, in the present embodiment, the reading start position P is set to a predetermined position upstream of the image reading position of the image reading unit 105 (a position near the end of the image reading unit 105).

The “reading end position Q” may be substantially the same position as the image reading position of the image reading units 105 and 106, or may be a position downstream of the image reading position. For example, in the present embodiment, the reading end position Q is set to a predetermined position downstream of the image reading position of the image reading unit 106 (a position near the end of the image reading unit 106).

The image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment described above is connected to an information processing apparatus such as a computer, and the reading operation is controlled by an operation from the information processing apparatus. Actually, the user can set image reading conditions such as the resolution, the number of colors, the number of gradations, the reading surface, and the reading area based on the control screen of the information processing apparatus. Such an image reading apparatus 100 executes a reading operation in accordance with setting conditions designated by the user.

Here, as a usage form of the user, there is a case where the reading setting is changed between the preceding document and the subsequent document. For example, the reading density of the preceding document may be set to a low resolution, and the reading density of the subsequent document may be set to a high resolution. In some cases, the reading mode of the preceding document is black and white, and the reading mode of the subsequent document is color.

In order to cope with these cases, it is preferable that the reading of the preceding document is finished before the leading edge of the succeeding document enters the image reading start position P in the conveyance path. That is, in the above-described case, it is preferable that after the reading of the preceding document is completed, the driving method of the image reading units 105 and 106 is changed and reading of the subsequent document is started.

In the image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, in order to flexibly cope with the above-described usage pattern of the user, a feeding failure detection unit (sheet feeding failure detection) that detects the presence or absence of document feeding failure will be described in detail later. An example of means) is provided.

The “original feeding failure” here is, for example, a so-called feeding error state in which the interval between continuously fed documents is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (distance). In this embodiment, the document feeding failure detection unit changes the threshold value that is a criterion for document feeding failure when, for example, the image reading setting is changed by a user or the like. ing.

That is, the image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment dramatically improves user convenience by providing at least two reference thresholds in order to detect document feeding failure in multiple stages. Specifically, based on a change state of the image reading setting by the user or the like, it is possible to switch between a predetermined first reference threshold that is a criterion for document feeding failure and a second reference threshold that is larger than the first reference threshold. It has become.

Here, the “predetermined first reference threshold value” refers to, for example, the arrangement of the registration sensor 108, the arrangement of the image reading units 105 and 106, the reading position, the size, and the like regardless of the image reading conditions set by the user or the like. It is a threshold that can be set in advance with appropriate consideration, and that can be arbitrarily changed.

That is, the first reference threshold value is basically a threshold value suitable for the continuous scan mode in which image reading is performed without changing the image reading setting for a plurality of documents. In this embodiment, for example, the interval (distance) between the image reading positions of the image reading units 105 and 106 can be set as the first reference threshold value.

Thus, if the first reference threshold is set to a relatively small value, high-speed processing can be realized in the continuous scan mode. Note that the minimum value of the first reference threshold is not particularly limited to the above as long as it is a dimension (distance) at which continuous documents can be separated.

On the other hand, the “second reference threshold value” is a threshold value larger than the first reference threshold value. For example, in the present embodiment, the image reading start position P or the image reading is performed while the registration sensor 108 detects the arrival and passage of the continuously conveyed document based on the image reading condition set by the user or the like as the second reference threshold. The threshold value can be set as appropriate based on the interval between documents that can be read smoothly from the position.

Here, as the second reference threshold, for example, the distance between the image reading start position P and the reading end position Q may be set, or the registration sensor 108 located upstream of the reading start position P and the reading end may be set. You may set by the distance with the position Q. The registration sensor 108 can employ a mechanical type, an optical type, or the like as appropriate, but both detect the arrival and passage of the document, and can serve as a reference for setting the second reference threshold.

When a document size detection sensor or the like is installed upstream from the registration sensor 108, the document size detection sensor or the like may be used as a setting reference for the second reference threshold. Since such a second reference threshold value is a threshold value larger than the first reference threshold value, a threshold value suitable for an individual scan mode for performing image reading by appropriately changing the image reading setting of the document by the user or the like. Become.

As described above, the image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can appropriately change the condition for detecting a defective document feeding in accordance with the timing of image reading setting or setting change by the user or the like. Since at least two reference thresholds are provided as detection criteria, the convenience for the user is drastically improved.

For example, in a state where a plurality of originals are image-read in the continuous scan mode, smooth high-speed reading can be realized even if the interval between the originals is very narrow. On the other hand, in the individual scan mode, even when the image reading setting of the subsequent document is changed by the user or the like during the image reading of the preceding document, the document is fed by changing from the first reference threshold to the second reference threshold. The failure detection condition is executed under severe conditions.

For this reason, contrary to the intention of the user or the like, the subsequent document is not read by the reading setting of the preceding document. As a result, the subsequent document can be reliably read with the changed reading setting.

Therefore, according to the image reading apparatus of the present embodiment, it is difficult to control the document interval while applying the simultaneous driving method to simplify the apparatus structure, reduce the cost, reduce the size, and save power. Even below, it is possible to dramatically improve the convenience of the user to use.

Hereinafter, the control operation of the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 401 is a unit that comprehensively controls each unit of the image reading apparatus 100. The ROM 402 is a memory that stores control programs and data. A RAM 403 is a work area of the CPU 401. The drive circuit 404 controls the motor 405 in accordance with instructions and commands from the CPU 401.

The motor 405 is a single drive source, and is assumed here to be a pulse motor. The synchronization circuit 406 is a circuit that adjusts the reading cycle of the image reading units 105 and 106 in accordance with a pulse from the motor 405. Since the reading cycle is adjusted even if the conveyance speed fluctuates, the image does not expand or contract basically.

The CPU 401 functions as various means by executing a control program. The movement amount counter 411 measures the movement amount of the document by counting the number of pulses of the motor 405. The registration sensor 108 detects the arrival and passage of the document, and detects the interval between the continuously conveyed documents based on the movement amount of the document by the movement amount counter 411.

The determination unit 412 determines whether the reading setting applied to the preceding document is the same as the reading setting applied to the subsequent document. Note that the reading settings (number of readings, reading size, etc.) applied to the document are transmitted as setting data from the host PC, for example. The host PC and the image reading apparatus 100 can be connected by, for example, a USB cable, a SCSI cable, a LAN cable, or wirelessly.

In this embodiment, the CPU 401 functions as the document feed failure detection unit 413. This document feed failure detection means 413 has a first mode for determining the presence or absence of document feed failure based on a predetermined first reference threshold as a criterion for document feed failure, and a second reference greater than the first reference threshold. It is possible to switch between the second mode for determining whether there is a document feeding failure based on the threshold value.

In the first mode, the document interval is detected by the registration sensor 108 and the movement amount counter 411. For example, when the document interval is equal to or smaller than the first reference threshold value or smaller than the first reference threshold value, it is determined that the document feeding is defective. be able to. On the other hand, in the second mode, the first reference threshold value in the first mode is changed to the second reference threshold value, and the document interval is detected by the registration sensor 108 and the movement amount counter 411. If it is equal to or smaller than the reference threshold value or smaller than the second reference threshold value, it can be determined that the document feeding is defective.

Such switching between the first mode and the second mode is automatically executed in synchronization with the change in the image reading setting from the determination unit 412 described above. For example, switching from the first mode to the second mode is automatically executed when the reading setting applied to the subsequent document by the determination unit 412 is different from the reading setting of the preceding document. Thereby, according to the image reading apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, as described above, the document feeding failure detection unit 413 detects the document feeding failure according to the timing of the image reading setting or setting change by the user or the like. These conditions can be changed as appropriate. Thereby, a user's convenience can be improved dramatically.

Hereinafter, the control method of the image reading apparatus 100 of the present embodiment described above will be described in detail. 3 and 4 are control flowcharts of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 5 to 9 are schematic diagrams showing the positional relationship between the preceding document and the succeeding document. Specifically, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state before reading is started. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state before the leading edge of the succeeding document reaches the reading start position P when the trailing edge of the preceding document passes the reading end position Q. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the leading edge of the succeeding document reaches the reading start position P before the trailing edge of the preceding document passes the sensor 106 that reads the second surface.

First, it demonstrates along the flowchart of FIG. 3, referring FIG. In step S501, driving of the motor 405 is started. Specifically, the CPU 401 sends a start instruction to the drive circuit 404 to start driving the motor 405. The drive circuit 404 starts driving the motor 405 in response to the start instruction. The motor 405 drives the paper feed roller 101, the first transport roller pair 102, and the second transport roller pair 103 simultaneously (see FIG. 1). The paper feed roller 101 feeds the original to the conveyance path while separating the originals one by one by the frictional force between the separation pad 104 and the original (see FIG. 5). Subsequently, the first conveyance roller pair 102 and the second conveyance roller pair 103 convey the document.

In step S <b> 502, the CPU 401 detects the leading edge of the document being conveyed by the registration sensor 108. When the registration sensor 108 detects the leading edge of the document, the CPU 401 uses the movement amount counter 411 to count the number of pulses of the motor 405 as the movement amount of the document.

In step S503, when the CPU 401 recognizes that the moving amount of the document has reached a value corresponding to the distance between the registration sensor 108 and the reading start position P (that the leading edge of the document has reached the reading start position P), the image reading is performed. The units 105 and 106 are caused to start reading an image.

In step S <b> 504, the CPU 401 detects that the trailing edge of the document has passed the registration sensor 108. When the registration sensor 108 detects passage of the trailing edge of the document, the process proceeds to step S505.

In step S505, the CPU 401 recognizes that the amount of movement of the document has reached a value corresponding to the distance between the registration sensor 108 and the reading end position Q (the trailing end of the document has reached the reading end position Q). The image reading units 105 and 106 end the image reading.

In step S <b> 506, the CPU 401 uses the registration sensor 108 to detect whether the leading edge of the subsequent document has reached the reading start position P. If the leading edge of the subsequent document has not reached the reading start position P (see FIG. 5), the process waits for the leading edge of the subsequent document to reach the reading start position P in step 502.

On the other hand, when it is detected in step S506 that the leading edge of the subsequent document has reached the reading start position P by the registration sensor 108 (FIGS. 6, 7, and 8), the determination unit 412 leads in step 507. It is determined whether or not the reading setting is changed between the original and the subsequent original.

<No Change in Image Reading Settings> Here, a case will be described in which the reading settings are not changed between the preceding document and the succeeding document, but before the reading of the document loaded on the document table 107 is started, the host is set in advance. It is assumed that it is transmitted as setting data from a PC or the like.

If it is determined in step 507 that the reading setting is not changed between the preceding document and the succeeding document, in step 508, the trailing edge of the preceding document and the leading edge of the succeeding document are detected by the feeding failure detection unit 413. It is determined whether or not the distance is less than or equal to the first reference threshold. As the first reference threshold, the distance between the image reading positions of the sensor 105 that reads the first surface of the document and the sensor that reads the second surface of the document is set.

If it is determined in step 508 that the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding document and the leading edge of the succeeding document is greater than the first reference threshold (see FIG. 8), the amount of movement of the succeeding document is registered in step S503. When recognizing that a value corresponding to the distance between the sensor 108 and the reading start position P has been reached (the leading edge of the document has reached the reading start position P), the image reading means 105 and 106 start reading the image. That is, if the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding document and the leading edge of the succeeding document is in a state as shown in FIG. 8, image reading is continued. Accordingly, even when the document interval is relatively small, it is not determined as a feeding error and smooth reading can be performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 508 that the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding document and the leading edge of the succeeding document is smaller than the first reference threshold (see FIG. 9), the leading edge of the succeeding document is read. In step 509, the CPU 401 sends a stop instruction for stopping the driving of the motor to the drive circuit 404. The drive circuit 404 stops driving the motor 405 in accordance with the stop instruction. Thereafter, for example, an error is notified to the host PC or the like. That is, when the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding document and the leading edge of the succeeding document is in a state as shown in FIG. 9, image reading is stopped.

<There is a Change in Image Reading Settings> Here, a case will be described in which the reading setting is changed between the preceding document and the succeeding document. However, before the reading is started one by one, the setting data is received from the host PC or the like each time. Is sent as

If it is determined in step 507 that the reading setting is changed between the preceding document and the succeeding document, the document feeding error threshold (first reference threshold) is automatically changed to a second reference threshold larger than this. To do. In step S510, it is determined whether the second reference threshold is satisfied. Here, when the document interval is larger than the second reference threshold, for example, when it is determined that the preceding document has passed the reading end position Q (see FIG. 7), the amount of movement of the subsequent document in step 503 is the registration sensor. When it is recognized that a value corresponding to the distance between 108 and the reading start position P is reached (here, the leading edge of the document has reached the reading start position P), the image reading means 105 and 106 start reading the image. . That is, if the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding document and the leading edge of the succeeding document is in the state as shown in FIG. 7, image reading is continued.

On the other hand, if the document interval is shorter than the second reference threshold value in step 510, for example, if it is determined that the preceding document has not passed the reading end position Q, the leading edge of the succeeding document is read. A stop instruction for stopping the drive is sent to the drive circuit 404. The drive circuit 404 stops driving the motor 405 in accordance with the stop instruction. Thereafter, for example, an error is notified to the host PC or the like. That is, when the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding document and the leading edge of the succeeding document is in a state as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, image reading is stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the subsequent document from being read by the preceding document reading setting.

Next, a case where the reading setting is changed between the preceding document and the succeeding document will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 with reference to FIG.

When setting conditions are received from the host PC or the like in step S601 and an image reading start instruction is received from the host PC or the like in step S602, the CPU 401 sends a start instruction to the drive circuit 404 to start driving the motor 405 in step S603. Then, the document feeding starts.

In step S <b> 604, the CPU 401 detects the leading edge of the document being conveyed by the registration sensor 108. When the registration sensor 108 detects the leading edge of the document in step S604, the CPU 401 uses the movement amount counter 411 to count the number of pulses of the motor 405 as the movement amount of the document. And

In step S605, the CPU 401 recognizes that the amount of movement of the document has reached a value corresponding to the distance between the registration sensor 108 and the reading start position P (here, the leading edge of the document has reached the reading start position P). In step S606, the image reading units 105 and 106 start reading images.

In step S607, the CPU 401 determines whether the leading edge of the subsequent document is detected by the registration sensor 108, detects the leading edge of the subsequent document by the registration sensor 108, and starts reading the leading edge of the subsequent document in step S608. It is determined whether or not the position P has been reached.

When the leading edge of the subsequent document reaches the reading start position P in step S608, it is determined in step S609 whether the reading setting for the subsequent document is received as setting data from the host PC or the like. When the reading setting for the subsequent document is received as setting data from the host PC or the like, the process returns to step S606 and the reading is continued.

When the reading setting for the subsequent document is not transmitted as setting data from the host PC or the like, the CPU 401 sends a stop instruction for stopping the driving of the motor to the driving circuit 404 and generates a feeding error to the host PC or the like. Notice.

For example, if the reading density of the preceding document is low and the reading density of the succeeding document is changed to a high resolution, the leading end portion of the succeeding document is read at a low resolution that is the reading density of the preceding document. May end up.

Such an unexpected phenomenon by the user or the like is that the leading edge of the succeeding document is already at the reading start position before the trailing edge of the preceding document passes through the reading end position Q where the image reading of the preceding document ends. Occurs when P has passed.

If a part of the leading edge (leading edge) of the succeeding document is read by the preceding document reading setting, the leading edge portion is discarded, and the leading edge portion is read again by the subsequent document reading setting. It must be very cumbersome and burdensome for the user.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the reading setting of the document is changed by the user, the document feeding failure is strictly detected based on the second reference threshold value changed from the first reference threshold value. Thus, the image reading can be stopped before a part of the succeeding document is read with the reading setting of the preceding document. Note that after detecting a document feeding failure in this way, a feeding error is notified to the host PC or the like.

Similarly, when the reading mode of the preceding document is monochrome and the reading mode of the succeeding document is color, the leading end portion of the succeeding document is read in the preceding document reading mode (monochrome). For this reason, image reading is stopped and a feeding error is notified to the host PC or the like.

Further, similarly to the case where the reading surface of the preceding document is single-sided and the reading surface of the succeeding document is double-sided, the leading end portion of the succeeding document is read on one side which is the reading surface of the preceding document. For this reason, image reading is stopped and a feeding error is notified to the host PC or the like.

Similarly, for example, when the reading width area of the preceding document is 100 mm and the reading width area of the succeeding document is 200 mm, the leading end portion of the succeeding document is 100 mm, which is the reading width area of the preceding document. Therefore, the image reading is stopped and a feeding error is notified to the host PC or the like.

As described above, in the image reading apparatus and the image reading method according to the present embodiment, depending on whether or not the reading setting is changed between the preceding document and the subsequent document, the trailing edge of the preceding document is changed. The feeding error detection threshold based on the distance from the leading edge of the subsequent document is changed.

Thus, the image reading is smoothly continued when the document interval is such that it is not necessary to stop the document conveyance and stop the image reading. Further, in the present embodiment, when the reading setting of the preceding document and the subsequent document is changed, the threshold value for detecting the presence or absence of document feeding is changed from the first reference threshold value to the second reference threshold value that is larger than this. In addition, since the conditions for detecting defective document feeding are stricter, it is possible to reliably prevent image reading contrary to the will of the user or the like, i.e., reading of the subsequent document in the reading setting of the preceding document. it can. For this reason, the convenience of the simultaneous drive type image reading apparatus (sheet through scanner) can be dramatically improved.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on Embodiment 1, this invention is not limited to Embodiment 1 mentioned above. For example, in the first embodiment described above, the description has been made on the assumption that the document is fed straight, but the present invention is of course not limited to this, and can be effectively applied even when the document is conveyed obliquely. .

For example, the image reading start position P and the reading end position Q on the conveyance path are determined by a predetermined distance from the image reading units 105 and 106 by taking these positions P and Q into consideration when the document is conveyed while being skewed. It may be set to the front. In this case, reading of the first surface of the document from the image reading unit 105 is started using the time when the registration sensor 108 detects the leading edge of the document as a reference. Using the time when the registration sensor 108 detects the trailing edge of the document as a reference, reading out the second surface of the document after a predetermined distance from the image reading unit 106 is completed, thereby suppressing image omission due to the skew of the document. Processing can be performed.

Note that the image reading start position P and the reading end position Q described above may be fixed positions or positions that can be changed as appropriate. In the latter case, based on a margin amount (a user-specified value or the like) for setting an image reading area capable of absorbing the skew of the original, the margin amount is added to obtain the reading start position value P, reading The end position Q may be changed as appropriate. In this case, it is preferable to change, for example, the second reference threshold value, which is a reference for detecting defective document feeding, to a threshold value that is larger than the first reference threshold value and added with a margin amount. As a result, it is possible to satisfactorily perform image reading in consideration of the skew of the original or detection of defective feeding of the original.

In the first embodiment described above, an image reading apparatus that reads an image by conveying a document substantially horizontally has been described as an example. The present invention can also be applied to an image reading apparatus having a mold conveyance path. The image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 10 is entirely constituted by a scanner main body S, and a paper feed roller 1 is provided therein. The paper feed roller 1 is connected to a motor 2. Further, a transport roller 3 is disposed on the downstream side of the paper feed roller 1. Further, a first image reading sensor 4 for reading one side of the document is disposed on the downstream side of the conveying roller 3. A paper discharge roller 7 is provided on the downstream side of the first image reading sensor 4. A second image reading sensor 9 for reading the other side of the document is provided in front of the paper discharge roller 7. In such a vertical image reading apparatus, the paper feed roller 1, the transport roller 3 and the paper discharge roller 7 are simultaneously driven by the motor 2. A separation roller 13 is disposed on the opposite side of the paper feed roller 1. As a result, the documents from the document table 5 are fed by the sheet feed roller 1 while being separated one by one. A registration sensor P <b> 2 that detects the arrival and passage of the document is disposed at a position corresponding to the space between the conveyance roller 3 and the second image reading unit 9. The above-described first embodiment can also be applied to such a vertical image reading apparatus.

In the first embodiment described above, the image reading apparatus that performs double-sided reading of a document has been described. However, the present invention is of course not limited thereto, and can be applied to single-sided scanning of a document, for example. For example, when the image reading start position P and the reading end position Q are set in advance before and after the image reading position by the image reading means, the interval (distance) between these positions P and Q is determined as a document feeding failure. It can be set as a first reference threshold that is a reference for detecting the presence or absence. Thus, for example, it is effective even when the reading setting of the succeeding document is changed to the duplex mode from the single-side mode which is the reading setting of the preceding document. That is, the first reference threshold set by the distance between the reading start position P and the reading end position Q is changed to a second reference threshold that is larger than the first reference threshold, and the detection of document feeding failure is strictly performed. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the subsequent original from being read in the single-sided mode. Thereby, the convenience for the user can be further improved.

The present invention can also be applied to an aspect in which the peripheral device can be used by causing the information processing device to execute a control program stored in the peripheral device connected to the information processing device such as a computer. In this case, the peripheral device includes a storage area (storage unit) that stores a control program for controlling the peripheral device by the information processing device. This control program is sent to the storage area of the information processing device via the communication unit of the peripheral device when the information processing device and the peripheral device are connected or when the power of the peripheral device is turned on. In the information processing apparatus, the peripheral device can be controlled by executing the received control program. Thereby, the convenience for the user can be further improved.

Here, “store the control program for controlling the peripheral device in the storage area of the peripheral device” includes, for example, storing the control program in a storage means such as a ROM, a RAM, or a flash memory. It is done. The above-mentioned “send the control program to the storage area of the information processing device when the information processing device and the peripheral device are connected or when the peripheral device is powered on” In order to protect the control program from being tampered with in addition to transferring the control program from the ROM of the peripheral device to the RAM 124 of the information processing device after the information processing device is recognized as a storage device or the like, The case where the data is once transferred (or copied) to the RAM 203 and transferred from the RAM 203 of the peripheral device to the RAM 124 of the information processing device is also included.

Further, “control the peripheral device by the information processing device” means, for example, that the operation of the peripheral device is controlled based on the instruction information written from the information processing device to the storage area of the peripheral device by executing a control program. Can be mentioned.

The instruction information corresponds to scan setting information when the peripheral device is a scanner, for example. Examples of such scan setting information include various setting information such as reading mode (white, black, color, etc.), paper size, resolution, reading surface, and the like.

As described above, in the present invention, the information processing apparatus executes the control program, and the operation settings of the peripheral devices can be appropriately changed based on, for example, the control screen displayed on the information processing apparatus. Such a change in the operation setting of the peripheral device can be determined based on the instruction information described above. That is, whether or not the processing setting of the document processed by the peripheral device has been changed can be detected by the processing setting detection unit based on the content of the instruction information written in the storage unit by the execution of the control program by the information processing device. It becomes possible.

The feeding failure detection means provided in the peripheral device is a predetermined reference which is a reference for detecting the presence or absence of feeding failure of the document when the processing setting detection means detects a change in the document processing setting. The first reference threshold can be changed to a second reference threshold that is larger than the first reference threshold.

As described above, the control program may be sent from the storage unit of the peripheral device to the information processing device and executed, or may be installed in the information processing device in advance.

As described above, when the information processing device and the peripheral device are connected, the present invention sends the control program for the peripheral device to the storage area of the information processing device and causes the information processing device to execute the control program. Is also applicable, and user convenience can be further improved.

Accordingly, the peripheral device can be used from the information processing device without installing a program for controlling the peripheral device in the information processing device. For this reason, for example, even a peripheral device in which installation of a device driver or application software is restricted or a user who has not obtained a program can use the peripheral device. Further, since necessary software is stored in the peripheral device, it is freed from the problem that the CD-ROM cannot be used due to loss.

In the control of the peripheral device having such an autorun function, when the reading setting is changed between the preceding document and the succeeding document by monitoring the writing state of the instruction information in real time or periodically, Depending on the case of not changing, it is possible to change the feeding error detection threshold based on the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding document and the leading edge of the succeeding document.

Therefore, as in the first embodiment described above, the image reading is smoothly continued when the document interval is such that it is not necessary to stop the document conveyance and stop the image reading. Further, when the reading settings for the preceding document and the subsequent document are changed, the threshold value for detecting the presence or absence of document feeding failure can be changed from the first reference threshold value to the second reference threshold value that is larger than this. This makes it possible to reliably prevent the following document from being read by the image reading contrary to the intention of the user, that is, the reading setting of the preceding document, by strictly setting the detection condition of the document feeding failure. From the above, by applying the present invention to a peripheral device having an autorun function, the convenience of the simultaneous drive type peripheral device can be greatly improved.

In the first embodiment, the description has been made based on the simultaneous drive type image reading apparatus using a single drive source. However, the present invention is of course not limited to this, and for example, a feed roller and a transport roller in the transport path. Even in an image reading apparatus in which each roller is driven by a separate drive source in a transport system in which the above and the like are arranged, the present invention can be applied when transporting by simultaneously driving each roller. Thereby, the effect similar to Embodiment 1 mentioned above can be acquired.

In the first embodiment described above, the image reading apparatus (sheet-through scanner) that reads an original has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various printers, facsimiles, bills, checks, etc. The present invention can also be widely applied to other check scanners, sheet processing apparatuses such as copying machines and multifunction machines, and sheet processing methods. The present invention can be applied not only to the above-described sheet processing apparatus and sheet processing method, but also to various peripheral devices having a simultaneous sheet feeding function, and also connects the information processing device and the peripheral device. This information processing system is also widely targeted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image reading apparatus 101 Paper feed roller 102 1st roller pair 103 2nd roller pair 104 Separation pad 105 Image reading means (1st reading part) 106 Image reading means (2nd reading part) 107 Document base 108 Registration sensor

Claims (7)

A sheet feeding unit that feeds the sheets by simultaneous driving while separating the sheets one by one, a sheet interval detecting unit that detects an interval between adjacent sheets, and a sheet feeding that detects whether there is a sheet feeding defect based on the sheet interval A sheet feeding detection unit; a sheet processing unit that performs a predetermined process on the conveyed sheet; and a sheet processing setting detection unit that detects whether or not a sheet processing setting by the sheet processing unit has been changed. The feeding failure detection means sets a predetermined first reference threshold that is a reference for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet feeding failure when the change of the sheet processing setting is detected by the sheet processing setting detection means. A sheet processing apparatus having a second reference threshold value that is greater than the threshold value. The sheet feeding unit includes a drive motor that applies a rotational force to a feeding roller that feeds the sheet, and the sheet interval detection unit detects arrival and passage of the sheet, and includes rotation information of the drive motor. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet interval is detected based on the sheet processing. The sheet processing unit includes a first reading unit that reads an image on one side of the sheet, and a first reading unit that reads an image on the other side of the sheet on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction from the first reading unit. The first reference threshold value is determined based on an interval between a first reading start position by the first reading unit and a second reading start position by the second reading unit. Sheet processing device. The sheet processing means comprises an image reading means for reading an image on the sheet, and the sheet processing setting detection means is selected from the group consisting of resolution, number of colors, number of gradations, reading surface, and reading area as the sheet processing setting. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus detects a setting change for at least one item. Margin amount receiving means for receiving a margin amount for setting an image reading area including a margin at least at the leading edge of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction;
The sheet feeding failure detection means adds the margin amount to the predetermined first reference threshold value larger than the first reference threshold value when the change of the sheet processing setting is detected by the sheet processing setting detection means. 5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus detects the presence or absence of a sheet feeding defect by changing to the second reference threshold value.   Whether or not the sheet processing setting has been changed when performing predetermined processing on sheets fed by simultaneous driving while separating sheets one by one and detecting the presence or absence of sheet feeding failure based on the interval between adjacent sheets When the sheet processing setting is detected and the sheet processing setting is changed, a predetermined first reference threshold that is a reference for detecting the presence or absence of sheet feeding failure is changed to a second reference threshold that is larger than the first reference threshold. Sheet processing method. A storage unit for storing a control program for controlling a peripheral device connected to the information processing device;
A communication unit that transmits the control program from the storage unit to the information processing apparatus;
A control unit that controls the operation of the peripheral device based on instruction information written in the storage unit by execution of the control program by the information processing device;
A sheet feeding unit that feeds the sheets by simultaneous driving while separating the sheets one by one, a sheet interval detecting unit that detects an interval between adjacent sheets, and a sheet feeding that detects whether there is a sheet feeding defect based on the sheet interval Defective sheet detection means, sheet processing means for performing predetermined processing on the conveyed sheet, and sheet processing by the sheet processing means based on instruction information written in the storage unit by execution of the control program by the information processing apparatus Sheet processing setting detection means for detecting whether the setting has been changed,
The sheet feeding failure detection unit sets a predetermined first reference threshold value that is a reference for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet feeding failure when the change of the sheet processing setting is detected by the sheet processing setting detection unit. A peripheral device characterized in that the second reference threshold value is changed to be larger than the first reference threshold value.

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