CN107018279B

CN107018279B - Image forming apparatus with a toner supply unit

Info

Publication number: CN107018279B
Application number: CN201610859012.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 友野启太郎
Original assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-30
Filing date: 2016-09-28
Publication date: 2020-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-28
Also published as: JP6610134B2; CN107018279A; JP2017069754A

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: an original document table on which an original document is placed; a reading unit that reads an image of a document placed on a document table; a cover which moves between an open position and a closed position for exposing and covering the document table; a cover sensor that detects a cover position; an operation section; a notification unit; an output section; a control unit. An acceptance process is performed to accept an operation performed by a user through the operation unit. The continuous reading process is performed in accordance with an instruction operation for receiving an instruction to the reading unit to sequentially read the N document images, and the following steps are repeated: a detection process in which a cover sensor detects an opening/closing action in which a cover is moved to an open position and then moved to a closed position; a reading process of causing a reading section to read an original image placed on an original platen in response to detection of an opening/closing operation; the notification section notifies a first notification process of setting a next document on the document table. Output processing is performed to collectively output a plurality of images read by the sequential reading processing by an output unit in accordance with the N times of reading processing.

Description

Image forming apparatus with a toner supply unit

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for reading and outputting an image recorded on an original.

Background

Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus capable of performing a so-called copying operation of reading an image recorded on a document placed on a document table and recording the image on a sheet. As a means for simplifying the operation of a user in a continuous reading process for sequentially reading a plurality of documents, for example, patent document 1 discloses an image reading apparatus which starts a reading process by triggering the opening and closing of a cover which exposes or covers a document table.

In the image reading apparatus disclosed in patent document 1, if the continuous reading time has elapsed without performing the copying operation, the mode is changed from the continuous reading mode in which the reading process is triggered due to the opening and closing of the cover to the normal reading mode in which the reading process is triggered due to the pressing of the operation button or the like. With the above configuration, in patent document 1, it is possible to suppress the start of the reading process from being triggered by the user inadvertently opening the closing lid.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2005-79926

Disclosure of Invention

However, since the timing at which the mode is changed from the continuous reading mode to the normal reading mode varies depending on, for example, the operation speed of the user using the image reading apparatus, the type of the document, and the like, it is not easy to set the optimum value of the continuous reading time in advance. If the continuous reading time is shorter than expected by the user, there is a possibility that the mode is changed to the normal reading mode before the entire document is read. This problem is particularly significant when processing is performed to collectively output a plurality of images that are sequentially read.

Here, the "collectively outputting a plurality of images read in sequence" includes, for example, a process of recording a plurality of images on a single sheet (hereinafter referred to as "collective copy"), a process of generating single image data including a plurality of images, a process of recording a plurality of images on a sheet in an order reverse to the reading order (hereinafter referred to as "reverse copy"), and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately determining the end of a continuous reading process when collectively outputting a plurality of images read by the continuous reading process.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising: an original document table for placing an original document; a reading section for reading an image recorded on an original placed on the original platen; a cover movable between an open position exposing the document table and a closed position covering the document table; a cover sensor for detecting a position of the cover; an operation section; a notification unit; an output section; and a control section. The control unit performs an acceptance process of accepting an operation performed by a user via the operation unit. In response to the reception processing receiving an instruction operation instructing the reading unit to sequentially read images recorded on N documents, the control unit performs continuous reading processing that repeats processing of N being an integer of 2 or more: a detection process of detecting an opening/closing action of the cover moving to the open position and then to the closed position by the cover sensor; a reading process of causing the reading section to read an image recorded on a document placed on the document table in response to the detection process detecting the opening/closing operation; and a first notification process of causing the notification portion to notify that a next original is set on the original platen. In correspondence with the reading process being performed N times, the control section performs an output process of causing the output section to collectively output the plurality of images read in the continuous reading process.

According to the above configuration, since the reading process is performed using the detection of the opening/closing of the cover as a trigger, the user operation in the continuous reading process can be simplified. Further, output processing is performed in correspondence with the N times of reading processing designated before the start of the continuous reading processing. That is, the end of the continuous reading process can be appropriately determined.

The present invention also provides an image forming apparatus comprising: an original document table for placing an original document; a reading section for reading an image recorded on an original placed on the original platen; a cover movable between an open position exposing the document table and a closed position covering the document table; a cover sensor for detecting a position of the cover; an operation section; a notification unit; an output section; and a control section. The control unit performs an acceptance process of accepting an instruction operation performed by the operation unit to instruct the reading unit to sequentially read images recorded on a plurality of documents. In response to the reception processing receiving the instruction operation, the control unit performs continuous reading processing that repeats: a detection process of detecting an opening/closing action of the cover moving to the open position and then to the closed position by the cover sensor; a confirmation process of confirming whether or not a document is placed on the document table in response to the detection process detecting the opening/closing operation; a reading process of causing the reading section to read an image recorded on the original placed on the original platen, in correspondence with the confirmation process being capable of confirming the presence of the original; and a first notification process of causing the notification portion to notify that a next original is set on the original platen. In response to the confirmation processing failing to confirm the presence of the original, the control portion performs output processing that causes the output portion to collectively output the plurality of images read in the continuous reading processing.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of the mfp 10, in which (a) shows a state in which the plate cover 33 is located at the open position, and (B) shows a state in which the plate cover 33 is located at the closed position.

Fig. 2(a) is a diagram schematically showing the internal structure of the printing section 20, and (B) is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the scanning section 30.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the complex machine 10.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the main process.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of the document inspection process.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of the collective copy processing.

Fig. 7 is an example of print and recycle instruction processing.

Fig. 8 is an example of sort copy processing.

Fig. 9 shows a display example of the display unit 41, in which (a) shows a menu screen and (B) shows a setting screen.

Fig. 10 is a display example of the display section 41, in which (a) shows the placement instruction screen 1 and (B) shows the placement instruction screen 2.

Fig. 11 shows an example of display of the display unit 41, in which (a) shows the collection instruction screen 1 and (B) shows the collection instruction screen 2.

Fig. 12 is a display example of the display section 41, in which (a) shows the placement instruction screen 3 and (B) shows the placement instruction screen 4.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately changed within a range not changing the gist of the present invention.

[ Overall Structure of Complex machine 10 ]

As shown in fig. 1, the complex machine 10 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The mfp 10 includes a printing unit 20, and a scanner unit 30 disposed above the printing unit 20. The printing section 20 is used to perform a printing operation of recording an image represented by image data on the sheet 12. As a recording method of the printing section 20, a known method such as an ink jet method or an electrophotographic method can be used. The scanner unit 30 performs a scanning operation for reading an image recorded on a document to generate image data.

[ printing section 20]

As shown in fig. 2(a), the printing section 20 includes: a sheet feed tray 21 for placing the sheet 12; a paper feed roller portion 23 for feeding the sheet 12 placed on the paper feed tray 21 to the conveying path 22; a conveying roller portion 25 and a discharge roller portion 26 for conveying the sheet 12 on the conveying path 22 in the conveying direction 24; a platen 27 for supporting the sheet 12 on the conveying path 22; a recording portion 28 for recording an image on the sheet 12 supported by the platen 27; and a discharge tray 29 for placing the sheet 12 discharged by the discharge roller portion 26. The printing unit 20 is an example of an output unit and a recording unit, and the discharge tray 29 is an example of a discharge unit.

[ transport roller section 25, discharge roller section 26]

The transport roller portion 25 is disposed upstream of the recording portion 28 in the transport direction 24. The transport roller portion 25 transports the sheet 12 nipped by the

rollers

25A, 25B in the transport direction 24 by rotating the

rollers

25A, 25B by a motor, not shown. The discharge roller portion 26 is disposed downstream of the recording portion 28 in the conveyance direction 24. The discharge roller portion 26 rotates the

rollers

26A and 26B by a motor, not shown, and conveys the sheet 12 nipped by the

rollers

26A and 26B in the conveying direction 24.

[ platen 27, recording section 28]

The platen 27 and the recording portion 28 are disposed between the transport roller portion 25 and the discharge roller portion 26 in the transport direction 24. The platen 27 and the recording unit 28 are disposed to face each other in the vertical direction. The recording section 28 includes a carriage 28A and a recording head 28B. The recording portion 28 ejects ink from nozzles provided on the lower surface of the recording head 28B in the process of reciprocating the carriage 28A in the main scanning direction by a motor, not shown. Thereby, an image is recorded on the sheet 12 supported by the platen 27.

[ scanning section 30]

As shown in fig. 2(B), the scanner unit 30 includes: a contact glass 31 for placing an original; a reading section 32 for reading an image recorded on an original placed on the contact glass 31; a flat plate cover (FB cover) 33; and a lid sensor 34 (see fig. 3). That is, the scanner unit 30 adopts a so-called flatbed (flatbed) system. However, an Auto Document Feeder (ADF) may be further provided on the upper surface of the flat plate cover 33. The contact glass 31 is an example of an original table.

The reading section 32 has a Contact Image Sensor (CIS) 32A. The reading section 32 reads an image recorded on an original placed on the contact glass 31 by the contact image sensor 32A while being moved from the standby position 32B to the return position 32C by a motor not shown. The reading section 32 that has finished reading the image by the contact image sensor 32A is driven by a motor, not shown, to move from the folded-back position 32C to the standby position 32B again.

However, instead of the contact image sensor 32A, the reading section 32 may include a Charge-Coupled Device (abbreviated as CCD), a light source, and a mirror. With the reading section 32 having such a structure, for example, the ccd is fixed at the standby position 32B, and the light source and the mirror are moved between the standby position 32B and the return position 32C. In the course of the light source and the mirror moving between the standby position 32B and the return position 32C, light output from the light source and reflected by the original is read by the charge coupled device through the mirror.

The flat plate cover 33 is configured to be movable between an open position shown in fig. 1(a) and a closed position shown in fig. 1 (B). More specifically, the flat plate cover 33 is rotatably supported at an outer edge portion of the scanner section 30. A white plate 33A is attached to the lower surface of the flat cover 33 in the closed position, which faces the contact glass 31. The color of the panel 33A is an example of a reference color having a higher luminance value than that of the general sheet 12, for example.

The open position is a position where the contact glass 31 is exposed. That is, when the plate cover 33 is in the open position, the user can set the original on the contact glass 31 and can take out the original set on the contact glass 31. On the other hand, the closed position is a position where the contact glass 31 is covered. That is, when the plate cover 33 is located at the closed position, the user cannot place the original on the contact glass 31 and cannot take out the original placed on the contact glass 31.

The cover sensor 34 is used to detect the position of the flat cover 33. More specifically, the cover sensor 34 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the position of the flat plate cover 33. The cover sensor 34 may be an optical sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, for example. The cover sensor 34 outputs a detection signal according to whether or not the light receiving portion receives the light output from the light emitting portion. The light output from the light emitting portion can be received by the light receiving portion by the flat plate cover 33 in the open position leaving the optical path from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion. On the other hand, the flat cover 33 located at the closed position is disposed in the optical path from the light emitting section to the light receiving section, and thus light output from the light emitting section is blocked. However, the cover sensor 34 may be a mechanical sensor or the like.

[ display part 41]

The display unit 41 has a display screen for displaying various information. As the Display portion 41, a Liquid Crystal Display (Liquid Crystal Display), an Organic Electro-Luminescence Display (Organic Electro-Luminescence Display), or the like can be used. The display unit 41 is an example of a notification unit. However, the specific example of the notification unit is not limited to the display unit 41, and may be a speaker that outputs a guidance sound or a buzzer sound, or may be an LED lamp that is turned on or off.

[ operation part 42]

The operation unit 42 is used for receiving an operation performed by a user to specify an object displayed on the display screen of the display unit 41. Specifically, the operation unit 42 has buttons, and outputs various operation signals to the CPU 51 in accordance with the pressed buttons. The operation unit 42 may have a film-like touch sensor that overlaps with the display screen of the display unit 41. That is, the display unit 41 may be configured as a touch panel display.

The "object" refers to an image that can be specified by the user operating the operation unit 42. As an example, the objects may be character strings displayed on the display 41, one of the objects may be highlighted by pressing a direction key of the operation section 42, and the highlighted object may be designated by pressing a decision button of the operation section 42. As another example, in the case where the operation unit 42 is a touch panel, the object may be an icon, a radio button, a check box, a pull-down menu, a link, or the like displayed on the display unit 41, and the object displayed at the touched position may be specified.

The operation unit 42 implemented by a touch panel receives an operation performed by a user touching the display screen of the display unit 41. The operation unit 42 outputs position information indicating a position touched by the user on the display screen. The position information may be represented by coordinates (x, y) on an x-y plane with the upper left end of the display screen as the origin, the right direction as the positive x-axis direction, and the downward direction as the positive y-axis direction, for example. The touch sensor may be of a known type such as a capacitive type or a resistive type.

In this specification, the term "touch" includes all operations performed on an input medium by touching a display screen. That is, the following operation is an example of "touch": a push (tap) operation of separating the touched input medium from the display screen within a predetermined time; a long press (long tap) operation of making the touched input medium still on the display screen; a slide operation of sliding the touched input medium on the display screen; a quick slide (flick) operation in which the acceleration of the input medium sliding on the display screen is equal to or higher than a threshold value; a close (ping in) operation of sliding two input media touched at different positions on a display screen close to each other; a pinch out operation of sliding two input media touched at different positions on the display screen away from each other; and so on.

The concept of "touch" may include bringing the input medium close to a position at which the input medium is very close to the display screen, although the input medium does not contact the display screen. The "input medium" may be a finger of the user, or may be a touch pen or the like. Hereinafter, a position where an icon displayed on the display unit 41 is pressed will be described as an example of a user operation for specifying the icon.

[ control section 50]

The control unit 50 controls the operation of the mfp 10. As shown in fig. 3, the control unit 50 includes: a CPU 51; a ROM 52; a RAM 53; an EEPROM 54; and an ASIC 55. The respective constituent members constituting the control portion 50 are connected to each other by an internal bus 56. The ROM52 stores programs and the like for controlling various operations of the CPU 51. The RAM 53 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording data, signals, and the like used when the CPU 51 executes the above-described programs, or an operation area for data processing. The EEPROM 54 stores settings, flags, and the like that can be held even when the power supply is turned off. Hereinafter, the ROM52, the RAM 53, and the EEPROM 54 may be collectively referred to as a storage unit.

The EEPROM 54 stores, for example, a document setting flag and size information. The original setting mark indicates whether or not an original is set on the contact glass 31. The document set flag is set to a first value (hereinafter, referred to as "ON") corresponding to the presence of a document that can be confirmed by document inspection processing described later, or a second value (hereinafter, referred to as "OFF") corresponding to the absence of a document that cannot be confirmed by document inspection processing. The size information is information indicating the size (for example, a4, B5, L edition, or the like) of the original placed on the contact glass 31.

The CPU 51 controls the operation of the mfp 10 by reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 52. The ASIC 55 outputs control signals to the supply roller portion 23, the transport roller portion 25, the discharge roller portion 26, the recording portion 28, the reading portion 32, and the display portion 41 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 51. The ASIC 55 notifies the CPU 51 of the image data obtained from the reading section 32, the detection signal obtained from the cover sensor 34, and the operation signal obtained from the operation section 42.

The supply roller portion 23, the transport roller portion 25, and the discharge roller portion 26 rotate in accordance with a control signal output from the ASIC 55. The recording unit 28 moves the carriage 28A in accordance with a control signal output from the ASIC 55, and ejects ink from the recording head 28B. The reading section 32 moves between the standby position 32B and the return position 32C in accordance with a control signal output from the ASIC 55, and the contact image sensor 32A reads the document placed on the contact glass 31. The display unit 41 displays various screens on the display screen in accordance with the control signal output from the ASIC 55.

The storage unit may be a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory (non-transitory) medium. The non-transitory medium includes a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or the like in addition to the above examples. The non-transitory medium is also a tangible (deformable) medium. On the other hand, the electric signal for carrying the program downloaded from the server of the internet is one of computer-readable signal media, but is not included in the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

The program stored in the ROM52 is executed by the CPU 51. However, in this specification, the CPU 51 may be omitted to describe the operation of each program. That is, in the following description, the expression "program execution process a" or the like means "the CPU 51 executes the process a recorded in the program".

[ operation of the composite machine 10 ]

The operation of the mfp 10 will be described with reference to fig. 4 to 12. The multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment sequentially reads a plurality of documents by the scanner unit 30, and collectively outputs image data generated by the scanner unit 30 to the printer unit 20.

First, the control unit 50 of the mfp 10 displays a menu screen on the display unit 41 (S11). Fig. 9(a) is an example of a menu screen. The menu screen shown in fig. 9(a) includes a "two-in-one copy" icon 61, a "four-in-one copy" icon 62, a "sort copy" icon 63, and a "setting" icon 64. The control unit 50 receives a user operation performed by the operation unit 42 pressing down at the icon position included in the menu screen (S12). The processing of step S12 is an example of the acceptance processing.

The "two-in-one copy" icon 61 corresponds to the following indication: images recorded on two documents are sequentially read by the scanner unit 30, and the two images read by the scanner unit 30 are recorded on one sheet 12 by the printer unit 20. The "four-in-one copy" icon 62 corresponds to the following indication: images recorded on four originals are sequentially read by the scanner unit 30, and the four images read by the scanner unit 30 are recorded on one sheet 12 by the printer unit 20. These processes are an example of so-called "collective copy". However, the number of images collectively recorded on one sheet 12 is not limited to 2, 4, and may be 6, 9, 12, or the like. The user operation of pressing the position of the "two-in-one copy" icon 61 or the "four-in-one copy" icon 62 is an example of an instruction operation of instructing the reading unit to sequentially read images recorded on N (N is an integer of 2 or more) documents.

The "sort copy" icon 63 corresponds to the following indication: the plurality of images sequentially read by the scanner section 30 are recorded on the sheet 12 by the printer section 20 in an order different from the reading order. For example, a process of performing recording in the reverse order to the reading order, or a process of recording images in units of copies in the case of recording images on the plurality of copies of sheet 12, is an example of so-called "sort copy". The user operation of pressing the position of the "sort copy" icon 63 is an example of an instruction operation of instructing the reading section to sequentially read images recorded on a plurality of documents. The "set" icon 64 corresponds to the following indication: the settings related to the operation of the mfp 10 are changed.

The collective copy and the sort copy are the same in that the printing operation is performed after the scanning operation is performed a plurality of times. On the other hand, the collective copy is to collectively record a plurality of images on one sheet 12, and the sort copy is to record one image on one sheet 12. The number of documents is designated in advance by collective copying, and the number of documents is indeterminate at the time of starting the processing by sort copying.

Next, in response to receiving the user operation of pressing the position of the "two-in-one copy" icon 61 by the operation unit 42 (S12: gather icon), the control unit 50 performs the gather copy process in which the number of documents N is 2 (S13). In response to receiving the user operation of pressing the "copy by four" icon 62 by operation unit 42 (S12: gather icon), control unit 50 performs the gather copy process in which the number of documents N is 4 (S13). A detailed description of the collective copy processing will be described later with reference to fig. 6. In response to receiving the user operation of pressing the "sort copy" icon 63 via the operation unit 42 (S12: sort icon), the control unit 50 performs the sort copy process (S14). The detailed description of the sort copy process will be described later with reference to fig. 8.

In response to receiving the user operation of pressing the position of the "set" icon 64 by the operation unit 42 (S12: set icon), the control unit 50 displays a setting screen image on the display unit 41 (S15). Fig. 9(B) shows an example of the setting screen. The setting screen shown in fig. 9(B) includes

trigger icons

65 and 66. The trigger icon 65 corresponds to an instruction to trigger the scanning operation by opening and closing the flat cover 33. The trigger icon 66 corresponds to an instruction to trigger a scan action by an operation of the operation panel or a touch of the scan icon. The control unit 50 receives a user operation of pressing the icon position included in the setting screen image via the operation unit 42 (S16). The processing of step S16 is an example of the acceptance processing.

In response to receiving the user operation of pressing the trigger icon 65 by the operation unit 42 (S16: sensor icon), the control unit 50 causes the scanner unit 30 to execute a scanning operation triggered by opening and closing the flat cover 33 in the later-described collective copy process and the later-described sort copy process (S17). On the other hand, in response to receiving the user operation of pressing the trigger icon 66 by the operation unit 42 (S16: panel icon), the control unit 50 causes the scanner unit 30 to perform a scanning operation triggered by the operation of the operation panel or the pressing of the scan icon in the later-described intensive copy process and the later-described sort copy process (S18). In the present embodiment, a case where the position of the trigger icon 65 is pressed will be described.

[ original document inspection processing ]

When the multifunction peripheral 10 is in the standby state, the control section 50 performs document inspection processing. The original inspection process is a process of confirming whether or not an original is placed on the contact glass 31. The standby state of the multifunction peripheral 10 is, for example, a state when the printer unit 20 and the scanner unit 30 are not operating, or a state when a menu screen or a setting screen shown in fig. 9 is displayed. The document inspection process is described in detail with reference to fig. 5.

First, the control section 50 monitors the movement of the plate cover 33 to the open position and thereafter the movement of the plate cover 33 to the closed position (S21). More specifically, the control unit 50 monitors the following detection signals: a detection signal output from the cover sensor 34 corresponding to the flat plate cover 33 being located at the open position; and then a detection signal output from the cover sensor 34 corresponding to the flat plate cover 33 being in the closed position. The process of step S21 is an example of the detection process.

Then, in response to the detection of the opening/closing operation of the flat cover 33 by the cover sensor 34 (S21: YES), the controller 50 causes the scanner 30 to perform a part of the scanning operation (S22). More specifically, the control unit 50 moves the reading unit 32 from the standby position 32B to the confirmation position 32D, and causes the contact image sensor 32A to read the image. Based on the ratio of the reference color included in the image generated by the scanner unit 30 at step S22, the control unit 50 determines whether or not a document is placed on the contact glass 31 (S23). The processing of steps S22, S23 is an example of the confirmation processing.

In response to the ratio of the reference color being equal to or greater than the threshold value (e.g., 95%) (step S23: yes), control unit 50 sets the document set flag to "ON" (S24). Based on the size and shape of the non-reference color region in the image generated by the scanner section 30 in step S22, the control section 50 determines the size of the original placed on the contact glass 31 (for example, a4, B5, L-plate, etc.). The control section 50 stores size information indicating the determined document size in the EEPROM 54 (S25). On the other hand, in response to the ratio of the reference color being smaller than the threshold (NO in step S23), control unit 50 sets the document set flag to OFF (S26). That is, a value indicating the result of the latest confirmation processing is set in the document set flag.

[ collective copy processing ]

First, the control unit 50 sets a variable n indicating the number of times the scanning operation is performed to 0 (S31). Next, the control section 50 confirms the value of the document set flag (S32). In response to determining that the document set flag is set to "ON" (S32: ON), control unit 50 causes scanner unit 30 to perform a scanning operation (S40). That is, the control section 50 moves the reading section 32 from the standby position 32B to the return position 32C, reads the document with the contact image sensor 32A while the reading section 32 is moving, and then moves the reading section 32 from the return position 32C to the standby position 32B again. The control unit 50 temporarily stores the image data generated by the reading unit 32 in the storage unit. The process of step S40 is an example of the reading process.

Next, the control unit 50 increases the variable n by 1 (S41). Next, the control section 50 compares the variable N with the number N of documents (S42). In response to determining that the variable N is smaller than the number of documents N (S42: no), the control unit 50 performs the processing of step S33 and subsequent steps. On the other hand, in response to determining that the variable N has reached the number of documents N (S42: YES), the control section 50 performs print and collection instruction processing (S43).

In response to determining that the variable N is smaller than the number of documents N (S42: no), or in response to determining that the document placement flag is set to "OFF" (S32: OFF), the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display the placement instruction screen 1 (S33). Fig. 10(a) shows an example of the placement instruction screen 1. The placement instruction screen 1 shown in fig. 10(a) includes a message "please open the flat cover, set the original" and "cancel" icon 71. The "cancel" icon 71 corresponds to an instruction to end the processing of steps S32 to S42 before the reading processing is performed N times. The process of step S32 is an example of the determination process, and the process of step S33 is an example of the first notification process.

Next, the control section 50 detects based on a detection signal output from the cover sensor 34 when the user moves the flat plate cover 33 to the open position on the placement instruction screen 1 (S35). In response to detection of the movement of the flat cover 33 to the open position (S35: YES), the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display the placement instruction screen 2 (S36). Fig. 10(B) shows an example of the placement instruction screen 2. The placement instruction screen 2 shown in fig. 10(B) includes a message "please place the original, close the flat cover" and a "cancel" icon 72. The "cancel" icon 72 corresponds to an instruction to end the continuous reading process before the reading process is performed N times. The process of step S36 is an example of the first notification process.

Next, the control section 50 performs detection S38) based on a detection signal output from the cover sensor 34 by the user moving the flat plate cover 33 to the closed position on the placement instruction screen 2). In response to detection of the movement of the flat cover 33 to the closed position (S38: YES), the control section 50 performs the document inspection process (S39). Since the document inspection process has already been described in detail, a description thereof again is omitted. However, since the opening/closing operation of the plate cover 33 is detected in steps S35 and S38, the process of step S21 is omitted. That is, the processing of steps S35, S38 is an example of the detection processing.

After the document inspection process (S39), the control unit 50 performs the process of step S32 again (S32). In response to determining that the document set flag is set to "ON" (S32: ON), the control unit 50 performs the processing of step S40 and thereafter. On the other hand, in response to determining that the document set flag is set to "OFF" after the document checking process (S39) (S32: OFF), control unit 50 performs the process of step S33 and thereafter again.

In response to the user operation of pressing the "cancel"

icon

71 or 72 by the operation unit 42 being accepted (yes in S34: yes/S37: yes), the processing in steps S32 to S42 is suspended, and the print and collection instruction processing is performed (S43). That is, the control unit 50 repeats the processing of steps S32 to S42 until the reading processing is performed N times (S40) or until the position of the "cancel"

icon

71 or 72 is pressed. The processing of steps S32 to S42 is an example of the continuous reading processing. The user operation of pressing the position of the "cancel"

icons

71, 72 is an example of a cancel operation for instructing to suspend the continuous reading process.

[ printing and recovery instruction processing ]

As shown in fig. 7, the control unit 50 causes the printing unit 20 to perform a printing operation (S51). That is, the control portion 50 causes the paper feed roller portion 23, the transport roller portion 25, and the discharge roller portion 26 to transport the sheet 12, and the recording portion 28 collectively records the n images read by the reading portion 32 by repeating step S40 on the sheet 12. The process of step S51 is an example of the output process. However, the control portion 50 ends the process of step S51 in a state where the sheet 12 is nipped between the

rollers

26A, 26B of the discharge roller portion 26. That is, the user cannot take out the sheet 12 on which the image is recorded from the mfp 10 at this point in time.

Next, the control unit 50 causes the display unit to display the collection instruction screen 1 (S52). Fig. 11(a) shows an example of the collection instruction screen 1. The collection instruction screen 1 shown in fig. 11(a) includes a message "please open the platen cover, collect the document" and a "continue" icon 75. The "continue" icon 75 corresponds to an instruction to perform a new collective copy process. The process of step S52 is an example of the second notification process.

Next, the control unit 50 detects the movement of the flat cover 33 to the open position on the basis of the detection signal output from the cover sensor 34 by the user on the recovery instruction screen 1 (S54). In response to detection of the movement of the flat cover 33 to the open position (S54: YES), the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display the collection instruction screen 2 (S55). Fig. 11(B) shows an example of the collection instruction screen 2. The collection instruction screen 2 shown in fig. 11(B) includes a message "please collect the document, close the platen cover" and a "continue" icon 76. The "continue" icon 76 corresponds to an instruction to perform a new collective copy process. The process of step S55 is an example of the second notification process.

Next, the control unit 50 detects the movement of the flat cover 33 to the closed position on the basis of the detection signal output from the cover sensor 34 by the user on the recovery instruction screen 2 (S57). In response to detection of the movement of the flat cover 33 to the closed position (S57: YES), the control section 50 performs the document inspection process (S58). Since the document inspection process has already been described in detail, a description thereof again is omitted. However, since the opening/closing operation of the plate cover 33 is detected in steps S54 and S57, the process of step S21 is omitted. That is, the processing of steps S54, S57 is an example of the detection processing.

Next, the control section 50 confirms the value of the document set flag (S59). In response to determining that the original set flag is set to "OFF" (S59: OFF), the control portion 50 causes the sheet 12, on which the image was recorded in step S51 and which is nipped by the

rollers

26A, 26B, to be discharged to the discharge tray 29 by the discharge roller portion 26 (S60). The process of step S60 is an example of the discharge process. ON the other hand, in response to determining that the document set flag is set to "ON" (S59: ON), control unit 50 performs the processing of step S52 and thereafter again.

In response to the user operation of pressing the "continue"

icon

75 or 76 by the operation unit 42 (yes at S53/yes at S56), the discharge process is performed (S61), the document set flag is set to "OFF" (S62), and the process of step S11 and subsequent steps in fig. 4 is performed. That is, when the position of the "continue"

icon

75 or 76 is pressed, the document set flag is set to "OFF" regardless of whether or not a document is set on the contact glass 31.

[ sorting copy processing ]

First, as shown in fig. 8, the control section 50 confirms the value of the document set flag (S71). In response to determining that the document set flag is set to "ON" (S71: ON), control unit 50 causes scanner unit 30 to perform a scanning operation (S72). The process of step S72 may be the same as the process of step S40. On the other hand, in response to determining that the document set flag is set to "OFF" (S71: OFF), control unit 50 skips the process of step S72. The process of step S71 is an example of the determination process, and the process of step S72 is an example of the reading process.

Next, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display the placement instruction screen 3 (S73). Fig. 12(a) shows an example of the placement instruction screen 3. The placement instruction screen 3 shown in fig. 12(a) includes a message "please open the flat cover and set the document" and a message "please collect the document when the end. The process of step S73 is an example of the first notification process.

Next, the control section 50 detects the placement of the flat plate cover 33 on the basis of a detection signal output from the cover sensor 34 when the user moves the flat plate cover 33 to the open position on the placement instruction screen 3 (S74). In response to detection of the movement of the flat cover 33 to the open position (S74: YES), the control unit 50 causes the display unit 41 to display the placement instruction screen 4 (S75). Fig. 12(B) shows an example of the placement instruction screen 4. The set instruction screen 4 shown in fig. 12(B) includes a message "please set the document, close the flat cover" and a message "please collect the document when the end. The process of step S75 is an example of the first notification process.

Next, the control section 50 detects the placement of the flat plate cover 33 on the basis of a detection signal output from the cover sensor 34 when the user moves the flat plate cover to the closed position on the placement instruction screen 4 (S76). In response to detection of the movement of the flat cover 33 to the closed position (S76: YES), the control section 50 performs the document inspection process (S77). Since the document inspection process has already been described in detail, a description thereof again is omitted. However, since the opening/closing operation of the plate cover 33 is detected in steps S74 and S76, the process of step S21 is omitted. That is, the processing of steps S74, S76 is an example of the detection processing.

Next, the control section 50 confirms the value of the document set flag (S78). In response to determining that the document set flag is set to "OFF" (S78: OFF), control unit 50 causes printer unit 20 to perform a printing operation (S79). The process of step S79 may be the same as the processes of steps S51, S60. ON the other hand, in response to determining that the document set flag is set to "ON" (S78: ON), control unit 50 performs the processing of step S72 and thereafter again. That is, the control section 50 repeats the processing of steps S72 to S78 until the flat cover 33 is closed in a state where no document is placed on the contact glass 31. The processing of steps S72 to S78 is an example of the continuous reading processing.

[ technical effects of the present embodiment ]

According to the concentrated copy processing of the above embodiment, since the reading processing (S40) is triggered by detecting the opening/closing of the flat cover 33, the user operation in the continuous reading processing can be simplified. Further, in correspondence with the reading processing being performed N times designated before the start of the continuous reading processing, the printing and recovery instruction processing is performed (S43). Further, according to the collective copy processing of the above-described embodiment, in correspondence with the explicitly indicated cancel operation (S34: YES/S37: YES), the continuous reading processing is suspended before the N times of reading processing is performed, and the printing and collection instruction processing is performed (S43). That is, the end of the continuous reading process can be appropriately determined.

According to the collective copy processing of the above embodiment, the processing of step S33 and subsequent steps is repeated until the presence of a document is confirmed by the document check processing. This can prevent reading processing from being performed in a state where no document is placed on the contact glass 31. As a result, the print and recovery instruction processing can be restarted after all the images that need to be read have been read (S43). However, in the centralized copy processing, the processing in the case where the document check processing cannot confirm the presence of the document (S39 → S32: OFF) is not limited to the above-described example.

For example, the control unit 50 may stop the continuous reading process and perform the printing and collection instruction process in response to the presence of the original not being confirmed in the original checking process (S43). In this example, an operation of closing the flat cover 33 without placing an original on the contact glass 31 is accepted as a cancel operation. This simplifies the user operation for ending the continuous reading process, and can appropriately determine the end of the continuous reading process.

According to the print and recovery instruction processing of the above embodiment, when the last original is not taken out from the contact glass 31, the sheet 12 on which the image is recorded is not discharged to the discharge tray 29. As a result, forgetting to take out the document can be suppressed. However, the timing of performing step S60 is not limited to the example of fig. 7. For example, the control unit 50 may perform the process of step S60 in response to the detection of the opening of the flat cover 33 on the collection instruction screen 1 by the cover sensor 34 (S54: YES). The process of step S54 in this case is an example of the opening detection process. As another example, the control unit 50 may perform the process of step S60 immediately after step S51.

In step S51, the control unit 50 may reduce the n images read in step S40 and collectively record the reduced n images on one sheet. On the other hand, in the case of so-called two-in-one ID copying in which double-sided images such as a driver' S license, a insurance certificate, and the like are recorded on one sheet, the control portion 50 records the two images read in step S40 on one sheet without reducing them in step S51. In this case, the control unit 50 may further perform the following process in the document checking process of step S39.

That is, the control portion 50 may compare the size of the original document placed on the contact glass 31 with the size of the sheet 12 placed on the paper feed tray 21. The control portion 50 sets the original set flag to "ON" corresponding to the original size being 1/N or less of the size of the sheet 12. On the other hand, the control portion 50 sets the original set flag to "OFF" corresponding to 1/N of the original size larger than the size of the sheet 12. The size of the sheet 12 placed on the sheet feed tray 21 may be determined based on, for example, a sensor provided on the sheet feed tray 21 or based on an input by the user through the operation section 42.

According to the print and recovery instruction processing of the above embodiment, since the reading processing is triggered to be performed (S72) by detecting the opening and closing of the flat plate cover 33, the user operation in the continuous reading processing can be simplified. Further, the continuous reading process is ended in response to the flat cover 33 being moved to the closed position without the document placed on the contact glass 31 (S78: OFF), and the image read so far is subjected to the output process (S79). That is, the end of the continuous reading process can be appropriately determined.

According to the concentration copy processing and the sort copy processing of the above embodiment, at the time point when the processing is started, the document set flag is set to "ON", that is, in a state where the document is placed ON the contact glass 31, the reading processing (S40, S72) is performed for the first time in correspondence with the icons 61 to 63 being pressed, without performing the processing of steps S33 to S39, S73 to S78 for the first time. Thus, since one document is placed on the contact glass 31, when the icons 61 to 63 on the menu screen are pressed, the process for notifying that one document is placed is omitted.

ON the other hand, according to the collective copy processing and the sort copy processing of the above embodiments, at the time point when the processing is started, the setting of the document set flag is set to "OFF", that is, in a state where no document is set ON the contact glass 31, the setting of the document ON the contact glass 31 is notified in correspondence with the pressing of the icons 61 to 63 (S33, S36/S73, S75), and the scanning operation is performed by confirming the setting of the document (S32: ON → S40/S78: ON → S72). That is, the continuous reading process is appropriately performed regardless of who first places one document on the contact glass 31 and presses the icons 61 to 63.

In the collective copy processing and the sort copy processing according to the above-described embodiment, the processing of steps S33, S73 may also be started in correspondence with the reading section 32 reaching the switchback position 32C in the reading processing (S40, S72), or during the reading section 32 moving from the switchback position 32C to the standby position 32B. Thus, the user can exchange the document placed on the contact glass 31 while the reading unit 32 is returned to the standby position 32B for the next reading process. As a result, the throughput of the continuous reading process can be improved. In the above embodiment, either one of steps S33 and S36 may be omitted. Similarly, any of steps S73 and S75 may be omitted.

In the collective copy processing and the sort copy processing in the case where the trigger icon 66 shown in fig. 9(B) is designated, the control section 50 may further include a "scan" icon in the placement instruction screens 2 and 4. The "scan" icon corresponds to an instruction to cause the scanner unit 30 to perform a scanning operation. The control section 50 can perform the reading process in response to receiving the user operation of pressing the "scan" icon position by the operation section 42. In the collective copy processing and the sort copy processing in this case, the processing of steps S35, S57, S74, S76 may also be omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, the collective copy and the sort copy have been described as an example of the output processing, but a specific example of the output processing is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 50 may store image data including a plurality of images read in the continuous reading process in a removable recording medium (for example, a USB memory or the like) attached to the mfp 10 in the output process.

In the multifunction peripheral 10 according to the above-described embodiment, the CPU 51 executes various programs stored in the ROM52, thereby explaining an example of each process performed by the control unit that realizes the present invention. However, the configuration of the control unit is not limited to this, and a part or all of the control unit may be implemented by hardware such as an Integrated Circuit (abbreviated as IC).

The present invention can be realized not only as the mfp 10 but also as a program for processing in the mfp 10. The program may be provided by being stored in a non-transitory storage medium. The non-transitory storage medium includes a storage unit that is provided in a server and is connectable to the mfp 10 via a communication network, in addition to a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and the like. The program stored in the storage unit of the server may be transmitted as information or a signal indicating the program through a communication network such as the internet.

Description of the reference numerals

10 combination machine

20 printing part

30 scanning unit

31 contact glass

32 reading part

33 Flat plate cover

34 cover sensor

41 display part

42 operating part

50 control part

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus includes:

an original document table for placing an original document;

a reading section for reading an image recorded on an original placed on the original platen;

a cover movable between an open position exposing the document table and a closed position covering the document table;

a cover sensor for detecting a position of the cover;

an operation section;

a notification unit;

an output section; and

a control part for controlling the operation of the display device,

the control unit performs reception processing for receiving an operation performed by a user via the operation unit,

in response to the reception processing receiving an instruction operation instructing the reading unit to sequentially read images recorded on N documents, the control unit performs continuous reading processing that repeats processing of N being an integer of 2 or more:

a detection process of detecting an opening/closing action of the cover moving to the open position and then to the closed position by the cover sensor;

a reading process of causing the reading section to read an image recorded on a document placed on the document table in response to the detection process detecting the opening/closing operation; and

a first notification process of causing the notification section to notify that a next original is set on the original table,

in correspondence with the reading process being performed N times, the control section performs an output process of causing the output section to collectively output the plurality of images read in the continuous reading process.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control section suspends the continuous reading process and performs the output process in correspondence with the accepting process accepting a cancel operation instructing suspension of the continuous reading process in the first notification process.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control section performs a confirmation process of confirming whether or not an original is placed on said original platen, in correspondence with said detection process detecting said opening and closing operation,

the control section performs the reading process in correspondence with the confirmation process being capable of confirming the presence of the original,

the control unit performs the first notification process again in response to the confirmation process failing to confirm the presence of the original.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control section performs a confirmation process of confirming whether or not an original is placed on said original platen, in correspondence with said detection process detecting said opening and closing operation,

the control unit suspends the continuous reading process and performs the output process in response to the confirmation process failing to confirm the presence of the original document.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the output section includes a recording section for recording an image on a sheet and a discharging section for discharging the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording section,

the control section causes the recording section to record the plurality of images read in the continuous reading process for the sheet in the output process,

in response to the end of the output process, the control section performs a second notification process of causing the notification section to notify that the document placed on the document table is collected,

the control section performs a confirmation process of confirming whether or not a document is placed on the document table in response to the detection process detecting the opening/closing operation in the second notification process,

the control portion performs a discharge process of discharging the sheet on which the image is recorded by the output process from the recording portion to the discharge portion, in correspondence with the confirmation process failing to confirm the presence of the original.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the output section includes a recording section for recording an image on a sheet and a discharging section for discharging the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording section,

the control section performs an opening detection process of detecting, by the lid sensor, that the lid is moved to the open position in the second notification process,

in correspondence with the opening detection process detecting the opening of the cover, the control portion performs a discharge process of discharging the sheet on which the image is recorded by the output process from the recording portion to the discharge portion.

7. An image forming apparatus includes:

an original document table for placing an original document;

a cover sensor for detecting a position of the cover;

an operation section;

a notification unit;

an output section; and

a control part for controlling the operation of the display device,

the control section performs an acceptance process of accepting an instruction operation performed by the operation section to instruct the reading section to sequentially read images recorded on a plurality of documents,

in response to the reception processing receiving the instruction operation, the control unit performs continuous reading processing that repeats:

a confirmation process of confirming whether or not a document is placed on the document table in response to the detection process detecting the opening/closing operation;

a reading process of causing the reading section to read an image recorded on the original placed on the original platen, in correspondence with the confirmation process being capable of confirming the presence of the original; and

in response to the confirmation processing failing to confirm the presence of the original, the control portion performs output processing that causes the output portion to collectively output the plurality of images read in the continuous reading processing.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 7, wherein said control section performs, in a standby state of said image forming apparatus:

the detection processing; and

a confirmation process of confirming whether or not a document is placed on the document table in correspondence with the detection process detecting the opening/closing operation,

in response to the acceptance process accepting the instruction operation, the control section performs a determination process of determining whether or not a document is placed on the document table based on a result of the immediately preceding confirmation process,

the control section performs the detection process for a first time in response to the determination process determining that no document is placed on the document table,

the control section performs the reading process for the first time, but does not perform the detecting process for the first time, corresponding to the determination process determining that the document is placed on the document table.

9. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3, 4, and 7, wherein a color of a surface of the cover facing the original table at the closed position is a reference color,

the control unit causes the reading unit to perform a part of the reading process in the confirmation process, and confirms a ratio of the reference color included in the image read by the part of the reading process.

10. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 7, wherein the reading section moves from a standby position to a switchback position while reading an image recorded on an original placed on the original table in the reading process, and moves from the switchback position to the standby position after reading the image,

the control section starts the first notification process in correspondence with the reading section reaching the switchback position or while the reading section is moving from the switchback position to the standby position.

11. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, 7, wherein the output section includes a recording section for recording an image on a sheet,

the control section causes the recording section to record, in the output process, the plurality of images read in the continuous reading process for a single sheet.

12. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, 7, wherein the output section includes a recording section for recording an image on a sheet,

the control section causes the recording section to record the plurality of images read in the continuous reading process for the sheet in an order different from a reading order in the output process.