JP6848914B2 - An image reader and an image forming apparatus provided with the image reader. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image reader and an image forming apparatus including the image reader.

Conventionally, an image reading device including a document feeding device that automatically feeds a document has been known. The document feeding device has a document transport path that passes from the paper feeding port to the upper surface side of the automatic reading glass and reaches the paper ejection port. The image scanning position is set directly above the automatic scanning glass in the document transport path. At the time of automatic scanning, the image reading unit stationary on the lower surface side of the automatic scanning glass optically reads the original image passing through the image scanning position. The original image read by the image reading unit is photoelectrically converted and stored in the data storage unit as image data.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-205273

In the image reading device provided with the document feeding device described above, it is possible to read the document image while continuously feeding the documents set in the document placing unit. If a jam (clogged document) occurs during continuous paper feeding of documents, the user needs to open the outer cover of the document transport device to remove the document, and then reload the document in the document mounting section. At this time, if the originals that have already been ejected from the paper ejection port are set, the time required for re-reading the originals becomes longer. Therefore, in many cases, the user determines that the image of the document completely ejected from the document feeding device has been read, and sets only the other documents in the document placing unit.

However, for a document that has stopped while passing through the paper ejection slot, it is possible to determine whether or not the image has been read (that is, whether or not the rear end of the document has passed through the image reading position). Can not. If such a manuscript is excluded from the manuscript for resetting, the image data corresponding to the manuscript may be lost, and conversely, if such a manuscript is included in the manuscript for resetting, the manuscript includes the manuscript. There is a risk that the corresponding image data will be saved in duplicate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to re-read a document after a jam occurs in an image reading device provided with a document feeding device that automatically feeds a document. At times, the purpose is to prevent the original image data from being lost or duplicated.

The image reading device according to the present invention has a document transport path from the paper feed port to the paper ejection port through the upper surface side of the automatic reading glass, and the document set in the document placing portion is the document. The automatic scanning glass captures the original image on one side of the original paper feeding device that conveys the paper along the conveying path and the original image that passes through the first scanning position set on the upper surface side of the automatic scanning glass in the original conveying path. It is provided with a first reading unit that reads from the lower surface side of the paper, and an image data processing unit that converts the original image read by the first reading unit into image data and stores it.

Then, a first predetermined mark is provided in the margin on the upstream side in the document transport direction from the image forming region on one surface of the document, which is provided on the downstream side in the document transport direction from the first scanning position in the document transport path. When the first predetermined mark to be added and the first predetermined mark provided in the vicinity of the paper ejection port of the original document feeding device and attached to the margin of the original document pass through the paper ejection port. The image data processing unit further includes a first mark erasing unit for erasing the mark, and whether the first predetermined mark exists in the image data of the original image on one side of the original image read by the first reading unit. It is configured to determine whether or not it exists, and if it is determined that it exists, the image data is deleted.

According to the present invention, in an image reading device provided with a document feeding device that automatically feeds a document, the document image data may be lost or duplicated when the document image is re-read after a jam occurs. Can be prevented.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus including an image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the image reading device. FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view showing an enlarged document feeding device mounted on the image reading device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a predetermined mark (first predetermined mark) is added to a margin on the rear end side of an image forming region on the surface of a document. FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing an enlarged mark-imparting portion. FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing the details of the mark assignment control executed by the control unit. FIG. 6B is a flowchart showing details of document feeding control including a jam detection process executed by the control unit. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which image reading of the original is completed when the original is stopped while the original is passing through the paper ejection port. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which image reading of the original is not completed when the original is stopped while the original is passing through the paper ejection port. FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 showing the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a predetermined mark (second predetermined mark) is added to the margin on the rear end side of the image forming region on the back surface of the original document. FIG. 12A is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 6A showing the second embodiment. FIG. 12B is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 6B showing the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which reading of the original image on the back surface and the front surface of the original document is not completed in the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the back surface of the original document has been read and the front surface has not been read in the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state in which reading of both the front surface and the back surface of the document is completed in the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

<< Embodiment >>
FIG. 1 shows a multifunction device Y including an image reading device X according to an embodiment. The multifunction device Y includes an image reading unit 1, a document feeding device 2, an image forming unit 3, a control unit 4, an operation unit 5 (shown only in FIG. 2), and the like. The image reading device X is composed of the image reading unit 1 and the document feeding device 2.

The multifunction device Y can also be used as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper based on the image data read by the image reading unit 1 or the image data input from an external information processing device such as a personal computer. Function.

The image forming unit 3 includes a paper feed cassette 30, a photoconductor drum 31, a charging device 32, a developing device 33, a toner container 34, a transfer roller 35, a static elimination device 36, a fixing roller 37, a pressure roller 38, and a paper ejection tray. It has 39 and so on.

Then, the image forming unit 3 forms an image on the paper supplied from the paper feed cassette 30 by the following procedure. Specifically, first, the photoconductor drum 31 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the charging device 32. Next, a laser scanning unit (LSU) (not shown) irradiates the surface of the photoconductor drum 31 with light based on the image data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 31. Then, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 31 is developed as a toner image by the developing device 33. Toner is replenished to the developing device 33 from the toner container 34.

The toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 31 is transferred to the paper by the transfer roller 35. After that, the toner image transferred to the paper is heated by the fixing roller 37 and melt-fixed when the paper passes between the fixing roller 37 and the pressure roller 38. The potential of the photoconductor drum 31 is eliminated by the static elimination device 36.

The image reading unit 1 includes a contact glass 11, a reading unit 12, mirrors 13 and 14, an optical lens 15, and a CCD sensor 16.

The contact glass 11 is provided on the upper surface of a rectangular box-shaped case body that constitutes the outer wall of the image reading unit 1. The contact glass 11 is composed of a fixed reading glass 11a that occupies most of the upper surface thereof, and a rectangular plate-shaped automatic reading glass 11b that is located on the left side of the fixed reading glass 11a and extends in the front-rear direction.

The reading unit 12 is housed in the case and has an LED light source 121 and a mirror 122. The reading unit 12 is configured to be movable in the left-right direction (sub-scanning direction) in FIG. 1 by a drive mechanism (not shown) using a drive motor such as a stepping motor. Then, when the reading unit 12 is moved in the sub-scanning direction by the drive motor, the light emitted from the LED light source 121 to the contact glass 11 is scanned in the sub-scanning direction.

The mirror 122 reflects the reflected light when the original P passing through the reading position 12A from the LED light source 121 is irradiated with light toward the mirror 13. Then, the light reflected by the mirror 122 is guided to the optical lens 15 by the mirrors 13 and 14. The mirrors 13 and 14 are mounted on a carriage (not shown) and move in the sub-scanning direction at half the speed of the reading unit 12 during the reading operation by the sheet fixing method described later.

The optical lens 15 collects the incident light and causes it to enter the CCD sensor 16. The CCD sensor 16 converts the reflected light from the original image into analog image data by photoelectric conversion and outputs it to the control unit (image data processing unit) 4. The control unit 4 converts the original image into digital data (image data) based on the analog image data received from the CCD sensor 16 and stores it in the image data storage unit 6 (see FIG. 2).

The document feeding device 2 is an automatic document feeding device including a document feeding tray (document placing portion) 21, a plurality of transport rollers 22, a document holder 23, and a paper ejection tray 24. Further, the document feeding device 2 can be opened and closed with respect to the contact glass 11.

The document feeding device 2 transports the document P set in the document feeding tray 21 along a predetermined document transport path T by driving each transport roller 22 by a motor (not shown). The document transport path T is a substantially U-shaped transport path from the paper feed port 2a of the document paper feed device 2 to the paper ejection port 2b through the automatic reading glass 11b. The document paper feed tray 21 is provided on the transport upstream side of the paper feed port 2a, and the paper discharge tray 24 is provided on the transport downstream side of the paper discharge port 2b. The original documents P discharged from the paper ejection port 2b are sequentially loaded on the paper ejection tray 24. A reading position 12A is set on the upper side of the automatic reading glass 11b in the document transport path T.

There are two types of methods for reading the original image by the image reading device X: a sheet-through method and a fixed method. In the sheet-through method, the document P is read by the document feeding device 2 on one side in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the scanning position 12A while the scanning unit 12 is stationary on the lower surface side of the automatic scanning glass 11b (reading position 12A). The image of each document P is read by moving and transporting the original P to the other side. On the other hand, in the image reading operation by the sheet fixing method, the image of the original P is read by moving the reading unit 12 from one side to the other in the sub-scanning direction while the original P is fixed on the fixed reading glass 11a. In the sheet fixing method, the document feeding device 2 simply functions as a document holding member.

As shown in FIG. 3, a mark giving portion 25 for imparting a predetermined mark M to the document P that has passed through the reading position 12A is provided on the side downstream of the reading position 12A in the document transport path T. .. Further, a heater unit 26 as a mark erasing unit for erasing a predetermined mark given to the document P is provided in the vicinity of the paper ejection port 2b of the document feeding device 2.

The mark-imparting portion 25 imparts a predetermined mark M to the rear end portion of the document P by using ink that becomes transparent and invisible when heat is applied (for example, commercially available friction ink or the like). FIG. 4 shows an example of a predetermined mark M given to the document P by the mark giving unit 25. As shown in the figure, the mark-imparting portion 25 is formed in the margin R2 on the rear end side of the original document with respect to the image forming area R1 (the area where an image can be formed) in the original document P. In this example, the predetermined mark M is formed at the center of the margin R2 in the document width direction, but is not limited to this, and may be formed at one end in the document width direction, for example. Further, the predetermined mark M has a solid triangular shape as an example, but is not limited to this, and any mark having a size and density that can be read by the reading unit 12 can be used. Good.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing the mark giving portion 25 in an enlarged manner. The mark-imparting portion 25 has a trapezoidal columnar main body case portion 25a extending in the document width direction (vertical direction of the paper surface in FIG. 5) and an ink hole 25b for ejecting ink. The upper surface 25c of the main body case portion 25a is an inclined surface that becomes higher from the upstream side to the downstream side in the document transport direction, and also functions as a guide surface for guiding the document P. The ink holes 25b are formed at the end of the upper surface 25c of the main body case portion 25a on the upstream side of the transport. The closer the ink hole 25b is to the reading position 12A, the better. If the mark-imparting portion 25 (ink hole 25b) is too close to the reading position 12A, the scanned image may be shaded. Therefore, it is a condition that the illuminance at the reading position 12A does not decrease below a predetermined value. A mechanism (for example, a piezo element) for ejecting ink from the ink hole 25b is built in the main body case portion 25a.

In the present embodiment, the heater portion 26 is provided in the vicinity immediately below the paper ejection port 2b. The heater unit 26 has a trapezoidal columnar shape when viewed from the width direction of the document. For example, an electric heater is built in the heater unit 26. The upper surface of the heater unit 26 is an inclined surface that rises from the upstream side to the downstream side in the document transport direction. The upper surface of the heater unit 26 also functions as a guide surface for guiding the document P. The heater unit 26 is configured to be capable of generating heat so as to make the predetermined mark M attached to the document P passing over the upper surface thereof transparent.

The dimension of the heater unit 26 in the document width direction is set to be the same as or slightly larger than the width of the predetermined mark M. The heater unit 26 is slidable between the first position and the second position in the document width direction. The first position is a position where the central portion (the portion where the predetermined mark M is provided) of the document P in the paper width direction passes through the heater portion 26, and the predetermined mark M is made transparent by the heat of the heater portion 26. It is a possible position. The second position is, for example, a position where the heater unit 26 is located outside the positions at both ends of the document P in the width direction, and the predetermined mark M cannot be made transparent by the heat of the heater unit 26. The heater unit 26 is used at the first position during document transfer (image reading) by the document feeding device 2.

The operation of the mark giving unit 25 and the heater unit 26 is controlled by the control unit 4. The control unit 4 is a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The control unit 4 operates the mark giving unit 25 to give a predetermined mark M to the document P when the automatic reading control of the document P (reading control by the sheet-through method described later) is executed. When the automatic reading operation is restarted after the original P is jammed, the control unit 4 determines the presence or absence of the predetermined mark M and deletes or saves the image data.

The details of the mark addition control executed by the control unit 4 at the time of automatic document feeding will be described with reference to FIG. 6A.

In step SA1, the heater unit 26 is operated after the power of the image reading device X is turned on.

In step SA2, based on the operation signal from the operation unit 5, it is determined whether or not the user has given an automatic reading instruction for the document P (that is, a reading instruction by the sheet-through method), and if this determination is NO, a return is made. On the other hand, if YES, the process proceeds to step SA3.

In step SA3, the document feeding device 2 is operated to transport the documents P set on the document feeding tray 21 one by one along the document transport path T.

In step SA4, the position of the document P is calculated based on the signal from the document detection sensor (not shown) provided in the document transport path T and the transport speed. Then, when it is determined that the margin R2 (see FIG. 4) at the rear end of the document P has reached the ink hole 25b of the mark-imparting portion 25, the mark-imparting portion 25 is operated to eject ink from the ink hole 25b. .. Then, a predetermined mark M is added to the margin (see FIG. 4).

Next, with reference to FIG. 6B, the details of the document automatic paper feed control including the jam detection process in the control unit 4 will be described.
In step SA101, it is determined whether or not a jam (jam jam) has occurred based on a signal from a jam sensor (not shown) provided in the document feeding device 2, and if this determination is NO. Goes to step SA107, while if YES, goes to step SA102.

In step SA102, the automatic document feeding operation (that is, the automatic reading operation) by the document feeding device 2 is interrupted.

In step SA103, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to restart the automatic reading of the document P based on the operation signal from the operation unit 5, and if this determination is NO, the process of this step SA103 is executed again. If YES, the process proceeds to step SA104.

In step SA104, after restarting the automatic reading, it is determined whether or not the predetermined mark M exists in the original image data of the first read original P, and if this determination is NO, the process proceeds to step SA106, while proceeding to step SA106. If YES, the process proceeds to step SA105.

In step SA105, the original image data in which the predetermined mark M exists is erased from the memory without being stored in the image data storage unit 6, and then returned.

In step SA106, the manuscript image data is stored in the image data storage unit 6 together with the page information, and then returned.

In step SA107, which proceeds when the determination in step SA101 is NO, it is determined whether or not the image reading is completed for all the originals P initially set in the original paper feed tray 21. If this determination is NO, the process proceeds to step SA109 to continue the automatic paper feeding operation of the document P, read the document image by the CCD sensor 16 of the image reading unit 1, and then return. On the other hand, if this determination is YES, the process proceeds to step SA108 to stop the automatic paper feeding operation of the document P, and the process proceeds to the end.

The image reading unit 1 configured as described above is automatically scanning the document P (document feeding device 2).
If a paper jam occurs during paper feeding operation), the user opens the outer cover of the document feeding device 2 to eliminate the cause of the paper jam, and then sets the document P in the document feeding tray 21 again. Need to be redone. At this time, if the original P that has already been ejected from the paper ejection port 2b is set, the time required for re-reading the original P becomes longer. Therefore, many users assume that the image reading of the document P completely ejected from the document feeding device 2 has been completed, and set only the other documents P in the document feeding tray 21 again.

However, as shown by the thick lines in FIGS. 7 and 8, whether or not the image reading of the document P stopped while passing through the paper ejection port 2b is completed (that is, the rear end of the document P is the reading position). It is not possible to determine (whether or not it has passed 12A). If such a manuscript P is excluded from the manuscript for resetting, the image data of the manuscript P may be lost. Conversely, if such a manuscript P is included in the manuscript for resetting, the manuscript P may be lost. There is a risk that the image data of will be saved in duplicate.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the mark adding portion 25 is provided on the downstream side in the document transport direction from the scanning position 12A in the document transport path T, and the margin R2 at the rear end of the document P that has passed through the scanning position 12A is provided. (See FIG. 4) is given a predetermined mark M. Then, after the jam occurs and the reading operation of the document P is restarted, the control unit 4 determines whether or not the predetermined mark M exists in the document image data, and if it is determined to exist (YES in step SA104). In the case of), the original image data is deleted. Therefore, as shown by the thick line in FIG. 7, it is possible to prevent the image data of the document P stopped in the state where the reading of the document image is completed from being duplicated and stored in the image data storage unit 6. On the other hand, when the control unit 4 determines that the predetermined mark does not exist in the original image (NO in step SA104), the image data of the original P is stored in the image data storage unit 6. Therefore, as shown by the thick line in FIG. 8, the image data of the document P stopped in the state where the reading of the document image is not completed is not saved and is not lost.

When the original P is ejected from the paper ejection port 2b, the predetermined mark M given to the original P is made transparent by the heat of the heater unit 26, so that the original P ejected to the paper ejection tray 24 becomes transparent. The predetermined mark is not unnecessarily left and the original P is not polluted.

Further, in the present embodiment, the heater unit 26 has a first position where the predetermined mark M attached to the document P discharged from the paper ejection port 2b can be erased and a second position where the predetermined mark M cannot be erased. It is configured so that it can be slid between.

According to this configuration, the heater unit 26 is moved from the first position to the second position when the document P (see the thick line in FIGS. 7 and 8) stopped while passing through the paper ejection port 2b due to the occurrence of jam is taken out. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the predetermined mark M from being unintentionally disappeared by the heat of the heater unit 26.

Further, in the present embodiment, the mark giving portion 25 gives a predetermined mark M using ink that is made transparent by heat (ink that can be erased by heat), and the given predetermined mark M is generated by the heat of the heater portion 26. It will be erased.

According to this configuration, the predetermined mark M can be easily erased without leaving a trace of the predetermined mark M on the document P as much as possible.

<< Embodiment 2 >>
FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 showing the second embodiment. The image reading device X of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it can read images on both sides (front surface and back surface) of the document P fed by the document feeding device 2. In the following description, the upper surface of the original document P set in the original document feeding tray 21 is defined as the front surface (one surface), and the lower surface of the original document P is defined as the back surface (the other surface). Further, in the following embodiments, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the image reading device X of the present embodiment, a contact image sensor 27 for reading a document image on the back surface of the document P is provided on the side of the document transport path T in the document feeding device 2. The contact image sensor 27 is arranged so as to face the reading position 12B set between the two transport rollers 22 on the upstream side of the curved portion of the U-shaped document transport path T. The contact image sensor 27 is provided adjacent to the inside of the U-shaped document transport path T. In the present embodiment, the CCD sensor 16 corresponds to the first reading unit, and the contact image sensor 27 corresponds to the second reading unit. Further, the reading position 12A corresponds to the first reading position, and the reading position 12B corresponds to the second reading position.

The contact image sensor 27 includes a box-shaped sensor housing extending in the document width direction (main scanning direction). Optical system elements such as a line sensor and a light source (none of which are shown) are housed in the sensor housing. As shown in FIG. 10, the contact image sensor 27 is connected to the control unit 4 via a signal line.

The control unit 4 receives the image signal of the back surface image of the document P from the contact image sensor 27, and receives the image signal of the front surface image of the document P from the CCD sensor 16. Based on these signals, the control unit 4 saves the manuscript image of the manuscript P together with the page information and the front and back information. The page information is information indicating which number of the original P is the image of the original image, and the front and back information is information indicating whether the original image is the front surface or the back surface of the original P. is there. The control unit 4 displays the saved original images on the display screen (not shown) by arranging them in page order and front and back order as needed.

A mark giving portion 28 is provided on the downstream side of the contact image sensor 27. In the following description, the mark-imparting portion 25 provided on the downstream side of the reading position 12A is referred to as a first mark-imparting portion, and the mark-imparting portion 28 on the downstream side of the contact image sensor 27 is referred to as a second mark-imparting portion.

The first mark giving portion 25 imparts a predetermined mark M (hereinafter referred to as the first predetermined) to the margin R2 at the rear end of the surface of the document P. As shown in FIG. 11, the second mark imparting unit 28 imparts a predetermined mark m (hereinafter referred to as a second predetermined mark) to the margin r2 on the rear end side of the original document with respect to the image forming region r1 on the back surface of the original document P. In the present embodiment, the second predetermined mark m given by the second mark giving portion 28 is different from the first predetermined mark M given by the first mark giving portion 25, and is formed, for example, in a solid circular shape. There is. The first predetermined mark M and the second predetermined mark m may be the same mark.

The second mark-imparting unit 28 operates in a manner of ejecting ink from the ink holes in the same manner as the first mark-imparting unit 25. The surface of the second mark applying portion 28 on the ink ejection side is a flat surface along the document transport path T and functions as a guide surface for guiding the document P. The closer the ink hole of the second mark giving portion 28 is to the contact image sensor 27, the better.

A first heater unit 26 (first mark erasing unit) and a second heater unit 29 (second mark erasing unit) are provided in the vicinity of the paper ejection port 2b of the document feeding device 2. The first heater unit 26 heats off the first predetermined mark M imparted to the surface of the document P. Since the configuration of the first heater unit 26 is described in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted. The second heater unit 29 is arranged so as to face the first heater unit 26 with the document transport path T interposed therebetween. The second heater unit 29 heats off the second predetermined mark m imparted to the back surface of the document P. The second heater unit 29 has an electric heater built-in like the first heater unit 26.

The first heater section 26 and the second heater section 29 are connected via a connecting member (not shown). The first heater unit 26 and the second heater unit 29 are slidable between the first position and the second position in the document width direction. The first position is a position where the central portion (the portion where the first and second predetermined marks M and m are provided) of the document P in the paper width direction passes through the first and second heater portions 26 and 29. The first and second predetermined marks M and m are positions that can be made transparent by the heat of the first and second heater units 26 and 29. The second position is, for example, a position where the first and second heater portions 26 and 29 are located outside the positions at both ends in the width direction of the document P, and the first and second predetermined marks M are placed on the respective heaters. It is a position that cannot be made transparent by the heat of parts 26 and 29. The heater units 26 and 29 are used at the first position during document transfer (image reading) by the document feeding device 2.

Next, with reference to FIG. 12A, the details of the mark assignment control executed by the control unit 4 of the present embodiment at the time of automatic document feeding will be described.

In step SB1, the first heater unit 26 and the second heater unit 29 are operated after the power of the image reading device X is turned on.

In steps SB2 and SB3, the same processing as in steps SA2 and SB3 of the first embodiment is executed.

In step SB4, the position of the document P is calculated based on the signal from the document detection sensor (not shown) provided in the document transport path T and the transport speed. Then, when it is determined that the margin r2 (see FIG. 11) at the rear end of the back surface of the document P has reached the ink hole of the second mark-imparting portion 28, the mark-imparting portion 28 is operated to apply ink from the ink hole. Discharge. Then, the second predetermined mark m is given to the margin r2.

In step SB5, when it is determined that the margin R2 (see FIG. 4) at the rear end of the surface of the document P has reached the ink hole 25b of the first mark giving portion 25, the first mark giving portion 25 is operated. Ink is ejected from the ink hole 25b. Then, the first predetermined mark M is given to the margin R2, and then the return is made.

Next, with reference to FIG. 12B, the details of the document automatic paper feed control including the jam detection process in the control unit 4 of the present embodiment will be described.

In steps SB101 to SB103, the same processing as in steps SA101 to SA103 of the first embodiment is executed.

In step SB104, after resuming automatic reading, it is determined whether or not the first predetermined mark M or the second predetermined mark m is present in the first read original image data. If this determination is NO, the process proceeds to step SB106, while if YES, the process proceeds to step SB105.

In step SB105, the original image data of the surface (front surface or back surface) on which the marks M and m exist is erased.

In step SB106, the manuscript image data is stored in the image data storage unit 6 together with the page information and the front and back information, and then returned.

In steps SB107 to SB108, the same processing as that of SA107 to SA108 of the first embodiment is executed.

In step SB109, the automatic paper feeding operation of the document P is continued, the document image reading operation by the contact image sensor 17 and the CCD sensor 16 is executed, and then the document P is returned.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 4 determines whether or not the first predetermined mark M is present in the image data of the original image first read by the image reading device X after the jam occurs. When it is determined that the image data does not exist, the image data is stored in the image data storage unit 6, while when it is determined that the image data exists, the image data is deleted. Further, when the control unit 4 determines whether or not the second predetermined mark m exists in the image data of the original image first read by the image reading device X after the jam occurs, and determines that the second predetermined mark m does not exist. Is configured to store the image data in the image data storage unit 6 while erasing the image data when it is determined that the image data exists.

According to this, the states of the document P stopped while passing through the paper ejection port 2b are (I) the first state (the state of FIG. 13) in which both the back surface and the front surface have not been read, and (II) the back surface. It corresponds to either the second state (the state of FIG. 14) in which the reading is completed and the reading of the front surface is not completed, and (III) the third state (the state of FIG. 15) in which the reading of both the front surface and the back surface is completed. Depending on the situation, the original image data can be appropriately saved and erased to prevent the scanned image from being missing or duplicated after the original P is reset.

That is, in the first state (state of FIG. 13), since the rear end portion of the document P has not finished passing through the first mark imparting portion 25 and the second mark imparting portion 28, the rear end portion of the document P is present. Neither the first predetermined mark M nor the second predetermined mark m is given. Therefore, after resuming the reading of the document P, the document image data of the document P is stored in the image data storage unit 6 by the control unit 4 (step SB106). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the original image data from being lost.

In the second state (state of FIG. 14), although the rear end portion of the document P has passed through the second mark giving portion 28, it has not reached the first mark giving portion 25. Therefore, the second predetermined mark m is attached to the back surface of the original document P, but the first predetermined mark M is not attached to the front surface of the original document P. Therefore, after resuming reading of the document P, the control unit 4 erases the image data on the back surface of the document P (SB105), while the image data on the front surface of the document P is stored in the image data storage unit 6 (step SB106). ). Therefore, it is possible to prevent duplicate storage of the image data on the back surface of the document P.

In the third state (state of FIG. 15), since the rear end portion of the document P has passed through the first mark imparting portion 25 and the second mark imparting portion 28, the first predetermined mark is placed on the surface of the document P. M is given, and a second predetermined mark m is given to the back surface of the manuscript P. Therefore, after resuming the reading of the document P, the control unit 4 erases both the image data on the front surface and the back surface of the document P (step SB105), so that duplicate storage of the image data can be prevented.

Further, in the present embodiment, the second predetermined mark m given to the back surface of the document P is different from the predetermined mark M given to the front surface. Therefore, even if the operator mistakenly sets the front and back of the document P in reverse when rereading the document image, this error can be recognized based on the shape of the predetermined mark read by the control unit 4. When the control unit 4 recognizes an error on the front and back sides when the document is reset, an error display may be displayed or the front and back information accompanying the document image may be corrected to correct information.

<< Other Embodiments >>
In the above embodiment, the predetermined marks M (first and second predetermined marks M, m in the second embodiment) are erased by heat, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the predetermined marks M (first and second predetermined marks M, m) are not limited to this. The second predetermined mark M, m) may be formed of a substance that can be erased by irradiation with light. In this case, the mark erasing unit is composed of a light irradiation unit that irradiates light toward predetermined marks M (first and second predetermined marks M, m).

In the above embodiment, the predetermined marks M (first and second predetermined marks M, m in the second embodiment) are erased by making them transparent, but the predetermined marks M (first and second predetermined marks M) are erased. The marks M and m) may be erased by directly scraping them off with an eraser or the like. That is, the transparency of the predetermined marks M (first and second predetermined marks M, m) is merely an example of means for erasing the predetermined marks M (first and second predetermined marks M, m), and any other method. The method may be adopted.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, whether the predetermined mark M (the first and second predetermined marks M and m in the second embodiment) exists in the manuscript image data of the manuscript P first read after the automatic reading is restarted. It is determined whether or not the image data is deleted / saved, but the process is not limited to this, and the process is executed for all the originals P read after the automatic reading is restarted. You may.

In the above embodiment, the multifunction device Y has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the image forming apparatus may be, for example, a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, or the like.

As described above, the present invention is useful for an image reader and an image forming apparatus including the image reader.

M: Predetermined mark P: Original R1: Image forming area R2: Margin r1: Image forming area r2: Margin T: Original transfer path X: Image reading device Y: Multifunction device (image forming device)
2: Original paper feeding device 2a: Paper feeding port 2b: Paper ejection port 4: Control unit (image data processing unit)
6: Image data storage unit 11b: Glass for automatic reading 12: Reading unit 12A: Reading position (first reading position)
12B: Reading position (second reading position)
16: CCD sensor (first reading unit)
21: Document paper feed tray (document loading section)
25: Marking unit 26: 1st heater unit (1st mark erasing unit)
27: Contact image sensor (second reader)
29: 2nd heater section (2nd mark erasing section)

Claims (5)

It has a document transport path from the paper feed port to the paper ejection port through the upper surface side of the translucent member for automatic reading, and transports the document set in the document loading unit along the document transfer path. The original image of one side of the document passing through the document feeding device and the first scanning position set on the upper surface side of the automatic scanning translucent member in the document transport path is captured by the lower surface of the automatic scanning transmissive member. An image reading device including a first reading unit that reads from the side and an image data processing unit that converts the original image read by the first reading unit into image data and saves the image.
A first predetermined mark is provided in the margin on the upstream side in the document transport direction from the image forming region on one surface of the document, which is provided on the downstream side in the document transport direction from the first scanning position in the document transport path. The first mark giving part and
A first that is provided in the vicinity of the paper ejection port of the document feeding device and erases the first predetermined mark when the first predetermined mark attached to the margin of the document passes through the paper ejection port. Equipped with a mark eraser
The image data processing unit determines whether or not the first predetermined mark is present in the image data of the original image on one side read by the first reading unit, and if it is determined that the first predetermined mark is present. It is configured to erase the image data,
The first mark erasing unit is attached to the margin on one side of the document.
The first position where the first predetermined mark can be erased and the first place when the paper passes through the paper ejection port.
It is configured so that the fixed mark can be slid to and from the second position where it cannot be erased, and the above manuscript supply
Manuscript conveyance by the paper system Ru is used in the first position, the image reading apparatus. In the image reading apparatus according to claim 1,
The first mark-imparting portion imparts the first predetermined mark using ink that is made transparent by heat.
The first mark erasing unit is an image reading device including a heater unit that generates heat enough to make the first predetermined mark transparent. It has a document transport path from the paper feed port to the paper ejection port through the upper surface side of the translucent member for automatic reading, and transports the document set in the document loading unit along the document transfer path. The original image of one side of the document passing through the document feeding device and the first scanning position set on the upper surface side of the automatic scanning translucent member in the document transport path is captured by the lower surface of the automatic scanning transmissive member. An image reading device including a first reading unit that reads from the side and an image data processing unit that converts the original image read by the first reading unit into image data and saves the image.
It is provided on the downstream side in the document transport direction from the first scanning position in the document transport path.
The first predetermined space in the margin on the upstream side in the document transport direction with respect to the image forming region on one surface of the document
The first mark giving part to give a mark and
The above, which is provided in the vicinity of the paper ejection port of the document feeding device and is attached to the margin of the document.
Erasing the first mark that erases the first predetermined mark when the first predetermined mark passes through the paper ejection port
With more departments
The image data processing unit is used to display an image of the original image on one side of the original image read by the first reading unit.
It is determined whether or not the above-mentioned first predetermined mark exists in the data, and if it is determined that it exists, it is determined.
It is configured to erase the image data
The document is placed at a second scanning position different from the first scanning position in the document transport path.
A second reader that reads the original image on the other side,
It is provided on the downstream side in the document transport direction from the second scanning position in the document transport path.
A second predetermined space is set in the margin on the upstream side in the document transport direction with respect to the image forming region on the other surface of the document.
The second mark giving part that gives a mark, and
It is provided in the vicinity of the paper ejection port of the document feeding device, and is attached to the margin on the other side of the document.
When the second predetermined mark passes through the paper ejection port, the second predetermined mark is erased.
Equipped with an eraser
The image data processing unit is used to display an image of the original image on the other side of the original image read by the second reading unit.
It is determined whether or not the above-mentioned second predetermined mark exists in the data, and if it is determined that it exists, it is determined.
It is configured to erase the image data
The second mark erasing unit is a first position capable of erasing the second predetermined mark when the second predetermined mark attached to the margin on the other side of the original document passes through the paper ejection port. An image reading device that is configured so that the second predetermined mark can be slidably moved to and from a second position that cannot be erased, and is used at the first position during document transfer by the document feeding device. In the image reading apparatus according to claim 3,
The second mark-imparting portion imparts the second predetermined mark using ink that is made transparent by heat.
The second mark erasing unit is an image reading device including a heater unit that generates heat enough to make the second predetermined mark transparent. An image forming apparatus including the image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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