JP2007053417A - Image reading apparatus and driver therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading apparatus capable of optionally setting a printing position, and to provide a driver for the image reading apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A user selects a "print setting" button on a TWAIN driver 103, thereby displaying a print setting screen 200. The end user unit 31 of the image processing apparatus 100 designates the lengths (distances) from the front and rear ends of an original, and from a datum level as a reference of print position used for printing on the original. In this way, the end user unit 31 of the image reading apparatus 100 executes required printing on the designated print position on the original. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image reading apparatus driver, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus capable of printing on a document and a driver for controlling the image reading apparatus capable of printing on a document.

  In general, various image forming apparatuses such as a scanner apparatus as an image reading apparatus for reading a document image, a facsimile apparatus provided with an image reading apparatus, a copying apparatus (copier), and a multifunction apparatus having a combined printer / fax / copier function are known. Yes.

In such an image reading apparatus, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707, an end portion of a document is used for the purpose of confirming that the document has been read and searching for the contents of the read document later. Some of them have an endorser device for printing symbols, character strings, etc. on either the back or the back.
JP 2000-069242 A

  In the image reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the first mode in which the printing position by the printing unit is set with respect to the reading range set by the setting unit or the original document in the transport direction from the rear end. The apparatus includes means capable of setting the second mode to be set at a predetermined position and detection means for detecting the length of the original. When the first mode is set, an original having a length shorter than the reading range is detected. When it is detected, the mode is automatically switched to the second mode so that the document that has been read can be marked even if the length of the document is shorter than the reading area.

  However, the image reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a disadvantage that the printing position for printing by the endorser apparatus is fixed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image reading apparatus and an image reading apparatus driver capable of arbitrarily setting a printing position.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention is configured to include means for designating a printing position by a printing means for printing on a document. In this specification, the “image reading apparatus” means not only a single-function apparatus such as a scanner apparatus but also an image forming apparatus including a scanner apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus and a copying apparatus.

  Here, it is preferable that the document leading edge or document trailing edge can be selectively designated as the printing reference edge. In this case, the length from the reference end to the print start position can be designated, or the length from the reference end to the print end position can be designated. Further, it is preferable to determine the print start timing based on the distance that the document is conveyed from a predetermined specific position, the distance from the specific position to the printing unit, and the specified print position. Further, it is preferable that the vicinity of the leading edge and the vicinity of the trailing edge of the document cannot be designated as the printing position.

  Further, it is preferable to change the range that can be designated as the print position based on the size of the document. Further, the printing by the printing unit is preferably performed while the document is being conveyed, and the printing unit can be a unit that prints an image by ejecting droplets of recording liquid.

  An image reading apparatus driver according to the present invention is an image reading apparatus driver for controlling an image reading apparatus including a printing unit that reads an image of a document conveyed by a document conveying unit and prints the document. The computer is configured to execute processing for designating the printing position by the printing means.

  The image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes means for designating a printing position by a printing means for printing on a document, so that printing can be performed at an arbitrary position on the document. The image reading device driver according to the present invention causes the computer to perform a process of specifying a printing position by a printing unit that prints on a document, so that printing is performed at an arbitrary position on the document on the image reading device side. be able to.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of an example of an image reading apparatus controlled by an image reading apparatus driver according to the present invention.
This image reading apparatus is configured to be able to read an original by both a flat bed type for fixing an original to be read and an original moving type for reading an original while conveying the original.

  In the case of fixing the original, the original placed on the original table glass 1 is irradiated by an illumination lamp 3 configured integrally with the first mirror 2, and the reflected light is reflected by the first mirror 2, the second mirror 4, and After passing through a third mirror 5 that is integrated with the second mirror 4, the light is focused by a lens 6, irradiated onto a CCD 7, and photoelectrically converted.

  Here, the 1st mirror 2, the illumination lamp 3, the 2nd mirror 4, and the 3rd mirror 5 can move to the arrow A direction by using the traveling body motor 7 as a drive source.

  On the other hand, in the case of document movement, the documents stacked on the document tray 11 are separated and conveyed one by one by the pickup roller 12, the registration roller pair 13, the conveyance drum 14, and the conveyance roller 15, and after passing through the reading position B, The paper is sent to the conveyance roller pair 16 and the paper discharge roller pair 17 and is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 18.

  When the document passes through the reading position B, the original is irradiated by the illumination lamp 3 that is moved and placed near the reading position B, and as described above, the reflected light is reflected by the first mirror 2, the second mirror 4, Then, after passing through a third mirror 5 that is integrated with the second mirror 4, the light is focused by a lens 6, irradiated onto a CCD 7, and photoelectrically converted.

  The pickup roller 12 and the registration roller pair 13 are driven by a paper feed motor (not shown), and the transport drum 14, the transport roller 15, the transport roller pair 16, and the paper discharge roller pair 17 are driven by a transport motor (not shown).

  In the document movement type operation, a contact image sensor 21 is installed at the reading position C. The contact image sensor 21 includes a lamp (not shown) such as an LED as a light source, a lens, and a sensor element. When the document passes through the reading position C, the opposite surface (back surface) read at the reading position B is irradiated by the LED in the contact image sensor 21 installed at the reading position C, and the reflected light is contacted. The light is focused by a lens on the image sensor 21, irradiated with a sensor element on the contact image sensor 21, and photoelectrically converted.

  Note that a white roller 22 is installed at a facing portion of the contact image sensor 21 across the document conveyance path, and is used as a white reference member for shading correction at the time of reading by the contact image sensor 21.

  Then, an endorser unit (imprinter) 31 that is a printing device that performs printing on a document on the downstream side in the document transport direction with respect to the reading position B, immediately after the downstream of the discharge roller pair 17 and on the discharge port portion 30. Is installed.

  The endorser unit 31 integrates a thermal ink jet head that discharges droplets of recording liquid (ink) by film boiling using an electrothermal converter and an ink tank that holds and supplies ink to the ink jet head. A head-integrated cartridge is provided, and the head-integrated cartridge is provided so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the document transport direction.

  In this way, by using an inkjet head that performs recording (printing) by ejecting recording liquid (ink) droplets as printing means, printing can be performed while the document is being conveyed. However, the productivity does not decrease and the ink can be replenished by exchanging the cartridge, so that the handling becomes easy.

  The document is conveyed via the head of the endorser unit 31 and the endorser unit 31 ejects ink at a printing position designated by the TWIN driver on the host side at a speed linked to the conveyance as will be described later. Then, the required printing such as alphabet letters and numbers is performed on the document surface.

  An example of the endorser unit 31 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a perspective explanatory view of the endorser device, FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view of the endorser device viewed from the opposite side to FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a side explanatory view of the endorser device.

  As described above, the endorser unit 31 is installed immediately downstream of the document discharge portion (discharge roller pair 17) of the image reading apparatus and on the discharge port portion 30. In the endorser unit 31, a slider shaft 33 as a guide member is bridged on the surface side of the base 32 attached to the image reading device (a surface that becomes the outside when attached to the image reading device). A slider 34 is movably mounted, and a cover 36 holding a cartridge (head unit) 35 that is a printing means for printing on a document is slidably held on the slider 34.

  The slider 34 is provided with a catch 21 that holds the cover 36 and a slider friction 42. The cover 36 is provided with a head unit 35, a dripping prevention shutter (not shown), a shutter detection sensor 43, and a paper detection sensor 44, and harnesses from the head unit 35, the shutter detection sensor 43, and the paper detection sensor 44. Are integrated at the relay board 45, and an integrated cable 46 is connected to the relay board 45.

  In addition, a control board 51 is attached to the back side of the base 32 (the surface that is inside when attached to the image reading apparatus). A cable 53 having a connector 52 for connecting to the image reading apparatus main body side is connected to the control board 51. The other end side of the cable 46 drawn from the relay board 45 is connected to the control board 51 via a notch 37 provided in the document width direction of the base 32.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the slider 32 and the cover 36 are rotatably connected via a rotating portion 61, and the cover 36 can be opened and closed in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4 with the rotating portion 61 as a fulcrum. The slider 32 holds it. The cover 36 that can be opened and closed is held in a closed state by being fixedly held by a catch portion 37 provided on the slider 32. In this embodiment, the catch portion 37 is a magnet type, but any type that can hold the cover in a state that can be opened and closed, such as a latch type, may be used.

  As described above, the head unit 35 is formed by integrating the recording head that discharges the recording liquid droplets and the recording liquid tank that supplies the recording liquid to the recording head. The recording head and the recording liquid tank can be configured separately.

  The cover 36 has a frame portion 39 inside, and the dripping prevention shutter, the shutter detection sensor 43 and the paper detection sensor 44 are fixed to the frame portion 39 and the cover 36 together with the head unit 35 as described above.

Next, the configuration of the control unit of the image reading apparatus will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
The reflected light of the original entering the CCD 7 on the SBU (sensor board unit) 70 is converted into an analog signal having a voltage value corresponding to the light intensity in the CCD 7. The analog signal is divided into odd bits and even bits and output. From the analog image signal, an analog processing circuit (not shown) dark potential portion is removed on the SBU 70, and odd bits and even bits are synthesized, gain adjusted to a predetermined amplitude, and then input to an A / D converter for digital input. Signaled.

  The digitized image signal is subjected to shading correction, gamma correction, MTF correction, and the like in the NIPU 73 on the SCU (scanner control unit) 71, and then binarized to generate a page synchronization signal, a line synchronization signal, A video signal is output together with an image clock. The video signal output from the NIPU 73 is output to the option IPU 81 via the connector 74.

  The video signal output to the option IPU 81 undergoes predetermined image processing in the option IPU 81 and is input to the SCU 71 again. The video signal input to the SCU 71 again is input to a selector (not shown). The other input of the selector is a video signal output from the NIPU 73, and can be selected to perform image processing with the option IPU 81.

  The video signal output from the selector (not shown) is input to the SiBC 75 that manages the image data storage means (DRAM) and is stored in the image memory constituted by the DRAM 80. The image data stored in the image memory 80 is sent to the SCSI controller 76 or the network controller 82 and transferred to an external device such as a personal computer.

  On the other hand, the analog image signal photoelectrically converted by the contact image sensor 21 is digitally converted on the RSBU 83. The digitized image signal is subjected to shading correction on the RSBU 83 and then sent to the RCU 84. The RCU 84 is composed of an image memory 80 composed of DRAM and a SiBC 75 that controls the image data memory. The RCU 84 once stores the image data in the image memory 80 and then transfers it to the SCU 71. The image data sent from the RCU 84 to the SCU 71 and the image data output from the SiBC 75 on the SCU 71 can be switched, and one of the image data is selected and transferred to the SCSI controller 76.

On the SCU 71, a CPU 77, a ROM 78, and a RAM 79 are mounted.
77 controls the SCSI controller 76 or the network controller 77 to communicate with an external device such as a personal computer. The CPU 77 also performs timing control of the traveling body motor 8 that is a stepping motor, a paper feed motor (not shown), and a transport motor. The ADU 90 has a function of relaying power supply of electrical components used in an automatic document feeder (ADF) unit.

  The CPU 77 monitors the document state and document position on the inside of the ADF and on the document tray 11 by the sensor group 91 connected to the input port via the ADU 90. Further, the CPU 77 regulates the document bundle in the left-right direction of the document on the document tray 11 and two document length size sensors (not shown) arranged at predetermined positions for the document placed on the document tray 11. From the state of two document width size sensors (not shown) arranged on the side fence (not shown), the document size is determined when the document is placed on the tray.

  An input port connected to the CPU 77 on the SCU 71 is connected to the main body operation panel 95 via the IOB 94. On the main body operation panel 95, a start switch (not shown), an abort switch (not shown), and an LED (not shown) are mounted. When each switch is pressed, the CPU 77 detects that the switch is turned on via the input port. In addition, the status of the device is displayed on the LED.

  The endorser unit (imprinter) 31 converts the character information transmitted from the SCU (main control board) 71 into an ink discharge pattern by the control board (endorser board) 51 and supplies a voltage to the cartridge (head unit) 35. Supply. In the head unit 35, the internal thermal type head is heated by applying voltage from the endorser substrate 51, and ink droplets are ejected from the ejection port, so that alphabetical characters, numbers, symbols, and the like are required for the conveyed document. Print an image.

Next, a system including the image reading apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
The image reading apparatus 100 described above is connected to a personal computer (host) 102 that is an external apparatus via, for example, a SCSI cable 101. The image reading apparatus 100 scans a document in accordance with an instruction from the TWAIN driver 103 which is a driver for the image reading apparatus according to the present invention and is installed as software (program) of the personal computer 102, and transfers the image data to the personal computer 102. Then, the endorser unit 31 performs printing for the designated print position of the document.

  The user uses the TWAIN driver 103 of the host 102 to perform various reading conditions such as reading resolution, and to which position on the document the endorser unit 31 constituting the printing unit of the image reading apparatus (printing position). By designating, it is possible to obtain a desired image and to print on the document as a mark for obtaining the image.

  As described above, the TWAIN driver 103, which is an image reading device driver, allows the image reading device 100 to specify a print position for printing on the original by the endorser unit 31, thereby allowing an arbitrary position on the original. It is possible to perform necessary printing such as confirmed.

A process that the computer performs by the TWAIN driver 103, which is the driver according to the present invention, will be described with reference to FIG.
The TWAIN driver 103 displays the print setting screen 200 shown in FIG.

  In the print setting screen 200, the radio button 201 can be used to select and specify whether the print reference is the leading edge of the document or the trailing edge of the document. The drop-down list 202 is used to select the distance from the reference selected by the radio button 201, which is indicated by the numerical value input in the edit box 203 below the drop-down list 202. Either “start position” or “print end position” (not shown) can be selected. The edit box 204 is for arbitrarily designating a character string to be printed on the original by the endorser unit 31, and can be designated within a range of up to 40 characters.

  When the user uses the print setting screen 200, a “print setting” button on the TWAIN driver 103 is selected although not shown. At this stage, on the TWAIN driver 103, various reading conditions such as reading resolution and ADF are already set.

  When the user selects the “print setting” button, the TWAIN driver 103 inquires the image reading apparatus 100 about the size of the document placed on the document tray 11, and the document size value is changed from the image reading apparatus 100 to the TWAIN driver 103. Will be notified. Thereafter, the TWAIN driver 103 displays the print setting screen 200.

  Then, on the print setting screen 200, the user inputs a print character string into the edit box 204. Next, the reference of the print position to be designated is selected by the radio button 201. When the user selects “document leading edge”, the default selection in the drop-down list 202 is changed to “print start position”. When the user selects “document trailing edge”, the default selection in the drop-down list 202 is changed to “printing end position”. The default selection can be changed and changed to a different one at the user's will. In addition, the user designates the print start position or the print end position with a numerical value in the edit box 203.

  Thereafter, the user can confirm the setting with the OK button 205 after confirming that there is no problem in the setting. A change on the print setting screen can be canceled by a cancel button 206.

  Information regarding the print position designated by the TWAIN driver 103 in this way is given to the image reading apparatus 100, and the image reading apparatus 100 drives and controls the imprinter (endorser unit) 31 to pass through the reading position B. The required printing is performed at the designated printing position on the document.

  By the way, since the print quality deteriorates in the image reading apparatus, printing is performed in a predetermined range (near the front end) from the front end of the document and a predetermined range (near the rear end) from the rear end of the document regardless of the front end reference and the rear end reference. May not be suitable. In the image reading apparatus of this embodiment, printing on the front end of the original 20 mm and the rear end 43 mm of the original is not suitable.

  Further, in the case of the trailing edge reference, after separating and feeding the document on the document tray 11, the trailing edge of the document passes through a registration sensor 91A (see FIG. 5) arranged at a predetermined position in the ADF. Printing on the document cannot be started until the rear end position is grasped. Therefore, in the rear end reference, the distance (for example, 250 mm) from the registration sensor 91A to the print head position of the endorser unit 31 is the printable range, and the front end side cannot be printed. The printing length per character is 2.4 mm.

  Under such conditions, for example, the printable range and the maximum number of printable characters for an A4 vertical document (297 mm) and an A5 horizontal document (148 mm) are as follows.

A4 vertical manuscript (297mm)
Leading edge reference: Up to 40 characters from the leading edge 20 mm to the trailing edge 43 mm. Trailing edge reference: Up to 40 characters from the trailing edge 250 mm to the trailing edge 43 mm. A5 horizontal document (148 mm)
Tip reference: Up to 40 characters from the tip 20 mm to the rear end 43 mm Trailing end reference: Up to 35 characters from the tip 20 mm to the rear end 43 mm

  Therefore, when the user tries to make a setting that does not satisfy this condition, the TWAIN driver 103 displays a warning message to notify the user that the print position cannot be set. In this way, it is possible to prevent printing in a non-printable range or in a document position where printing quality is not good in advance, resulting in a result that the user does not want (such as low-quality printing on a document without substitution). Can be prevented.

  More preferably, an input exceeding the maximum number of characters in the edit box 204 should not be accepted. Further, it is preferable to use a slider instead of the edit position specifying edit box 203 so that the upper and lower limits of the settable range are automatically set.

  For users who are troublesome to set, it is also preferable to provide means that can be selected more easily by combining a plurality of settings.

  The reading conditions and print settings set by the user for the TWAIN driver 103 are transmitted to the image reading apparatus 100 using a SCSI command. At this time, if “printing end position” is selected in the drop-down list 202, the character size (1 character 2.4 mm) and the number N of characters designated in the edit box 204 are set to 2. By shifting the distance of 4 × N to the front end side, it is converted into the print start position and notified to the image reading apparatus 100.

  The image reading apparatus 100 counts the number of output pulses to the stepping motor within the time when the registration sensor 91A upstream of the reading position in the ADF detects the original, thereby conveying the leading end of the original from the registration sensor 91. The distance W is detected. Further, the conveyance distance X from the registration sensor 91A at the trailing edge of the document is detected by counting the number of output pulses to the stepping motor after the registration sensor 91A has detected the document. The distance Y from the registration sensor 91A to the print head position of the endorser unit 31 is fixed in terms of mechanical layout.

Accordingly, the print start timing can be determined as follows.
Designation of printing position with B at the leading edge: When the transport distance W = Y + B from the time when the registration sensor 91A starts to detect the document, designation of printing position with C at the trailing edge: Registration sensor 91A detects the document When the transport distance after finishing X = Y-C

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the print position by the printing unit of the image reading apparatus is specified by the image reading device driver (program) has been described. However, the image reading apparatus itself includes a unit for specifying the printing position by the printing unit. It can also be.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an overall configuration of an example of an image reading apparatus controlled by an image reading apparatus driver according to the present invention. It is a perspective explanatory view of the endorser device. It is the perspective explanatory view seen from the opposite side to Drawing 2 of the endorsor device. It is side surface explanatory drawing of the endorser apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the control part of the image reading apparatus. It is explanatory drawing explaining an example of the system containing the image reading apparatus. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining processing related to designation of a print position that is performed by a computer for an image reading device driver according to the present invention;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Document tray 12 ... Pickup roller 13 ... Registration roller pair 14 ... Conveyance drum 15 ... Conveyance roller 16 ... Conveyance roller pair 17 ... Discharge roller pair 18 ... Discharge tray 31 ... Endorser unit (printing means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Image reading apparatus 102 ... Host (personal computer)
103 ... TWAIN driver (driver for image reading device)

Claims (10)

  An image reading apparatus including a printing unit that reads an image of a document conveyed by the document conveying unit and performs printing on the document, and further includes a unit that specifies a print position to be printed by the printing unit. Image reading device.   2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the leading end or the trailing end of the document can be selectively designated as a reference end for printing.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a length from the reference end to a printing start position can be designated.   3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a length from the reference end to a print end position is designated.   5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein printing is performed based on a distance that the document is conveyed from a predetermined specific position, a distance from the specific position to the printing unit, and a specified print position. An image reading apparatus characterized by determining a start timing.   6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vicinity of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the document cannot be designated as a printing position.   7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a range that can be designated as a print position is changed based on the size of the document.   8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein printing by the printing unit is performed while conveying the original.   9. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing means is means for printing an image by discharging droplets of a recording liquid. In a driver for an image reading apparatus for controlling an image reading apparatus provided with a printing means for reading an image of an original conveyed by an original conveying means and printing on the original, the print position by the printing means of the image reading apparatus is set. A driver for an image reading apparatus, which causes a computer to execute a process for specifying.

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