Abstract:
The present invention provides a transporting device that includes: a transport unit that transports a document placed on a document tray; a detector that detects the width of the document placed on the document tray; a controller that controls the transport unit to transport the document when the width of the document detected by the detector is a predetermined definite size, and prohibits the transport unit from transporting the document when the width of the document detected by the detector is a predetermined size that is different from the definite size; and a cancellation unit that cancels the prohibition on the document transportation imposed by the controller.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-030270 filed on Feb. 12, 2009. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a transporting device, an image reading device, method and a program storage medium. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    In a conventional image reading device that transports document sheets of a multi-page document from a document tray in a one-by-one manner, the image reading device determines whether the first page of the document is an A4R sheet or a 8.5×11R sheet. Thereafter, the image reading device starts reading the document, and continues to read the document, with the document size of the pages following the first page being set according to the determination result above. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An aspect of the invention is a transporting device that includes: a transport unit that transports a document placed on a document tray; a detector that detects the width of the document placed on the document tray; a controller that controls the transport unit to transport the document when the width of the document detected by the detector is a predetermined definite size, and prohibits the transport unit from transporting the document when the width of the document is a predetermined size that is different from the definite size; and a cancellation unit that cancels the prohibition on the document transportation imposed by the controller. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an external structure of an image processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the document tray provided in the image processing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a drawing showing the structure of a scanner device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the electrical components of the image processing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing an operation flow according to a document transporting program of the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a situation where the operation panel of the exemplary embodiment displays a message to the effect that transportation of documents having a certain width is prohibited; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates a situation where the operation panel of the exemplary embodiment displays a message to the effect that document transportation has been stopped. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , the external structure of an image processing apparatus  10  according to an exemplary embodiment is described. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image processing apparatus  10  includes an image reading device  12 , an image forming device  14 , a feeding tray  16 , and an operation panel  18 . 
         [0017]    The image reading device  12  takes in document sheets placed on a document tray  22  one by one, and reads the image formed on the surface of each of the document sheets. After acquiring an image data representing the read image, the image reading device  12  discharges each document sheet onto a discharge tray  24 . 
         [0018]    A pair of guides  26 A and  26 B and a document detection sensor  28  are provided on the document tray  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , one of the guides  26 A and  26 B is movable in the width direction of the document placed on the document tray  22  (or in the direction perpendicular to the document transporting direction, or the direction indicated by the arrow A in  FIG. 2 ). The guides  26 A and  26 B guide the document placed on the document tray  22  as it is being transported. The document detection sensor  28  detects the document being placed on the document tray  22 . 
         [0019]    In the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment, the guide  26 A is fixed, while the guide  26 B is movable. 
         [0020]    A document width detection sensor  29  for detecting the width of each document is provided under the guide  26 B. 
         [0021]    The document width detection sensor  29  according to this exemplary embodiment includes photo couplers  29 A that are arranged at predetermined intervals along the document width direction. When the guide  26 B moves, the photo coupler  29 A located immediately below the guide  26 B becomes an ON state. On the other hand, the photo couplers  29 A not located immediately below the guide  26 B are in an OFF state. In this manner, the document width detection sensor  29  detects the width of the document placed on the document tray  22 , based on the ON or OFF states of the photo couplers  29 A that change as the guide  26 B moves according to the width of the document placed on the document tray  22 . 
         [0022]    In the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment, a sensor that optically detects the document placed on the document tray  22  using a photo coupler is used as the document detection sensor  28 . However, other sensors such as a sensor that mechanically detects a document with the use of a mechanical switch or the like may be used as the document detection sensor  28 . 
         [0023]    A document width notifying unit  30  that notifies the user that the detected document width is one of predetermined regular sizes is provided on the upper face of the image reading device  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    In the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment, the predetermined regular sizes include widths of the A series (such as A3 and A4) and the B series (such as B4 and B5). Accordingly, if the document width detection sensor  29  detects a document having a letter-size width, for example, the document width notifying unit  30  does not notify the user. 
         [0025]    In the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment, a LED (Light Emitting Diode) that blinks when a document having an A-series width or a B-series width is detected is used as the document width notifying unit  30 . However, a speaker that emits a sound to notify the user of the detected width of a document having an A-series width or a B-series width may also be used. Alternatively, a touch panel display  34  may also serve as the document width notifying unit  30 , and display the detected width when a document having an A-series width or a B-series width is detected. 
         [0026]    Meanwhile, the image forming device  14  takes out one of recording sheets contained in the feeding tray  16 , and forms an image on the recording sheet based on the image data acquired through the image reading device  12 . Thereafter, the recording sheet having the image formed thereon is discharged onto a discharge tray  32 . 
         [0027]    The operation panel  18  includes the touch panel display  34  that displays an image, and switches  36 . Through the touch panel display  34  and the switches  36 , a user inputs various commands, such as to cause the image reading device  12  to read a document, and to cause the image forming device  14  to form an image on the recording sheet. The touch panel display  34  further displays necessary information. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the structure of the image reading device  12  according to this exemplary embodiment is described. 
         [0029]    The image reading device  12  includes a document transport unit  40  that transports the document placed on the document tray  22 , and an image reading unit  42  that reads the image formed on the document and outputs the read image as image data. 
         [0030]    The document transport unit  40  at the upper side includes: a tray lifter  44  that lifts up and down the document tray  22 ; a nudger roller  46  that touches the upper face of the uppermost sheet of the document on the document tray  22  lifted up by the tray lifter  44 , and takes in the document sheets one by one; and feed rollers  50  that transport the document sheets taken in by the nudger roller  46  to a transportation path  48 . 
         [0031]    Take-away rollers  52 , pre-registration rollers  54 , registration rollers  56 , a platen roller  58 , and out rollers  60  are provided along the transportation path  48  through which each document sheet is transported. The take-away rollers  52  transport each document sheet toward the downstream side in the transporting direction (the direction indicated by the arrow B in  FIG. 3 ). The pre-registration rollers  54  further transport the document sheet toward the downstream side so that the document sheet forms a curve. The registration rollers  56  feed the document sheet while making a registration adjustment on the document reading unit. The platen roller  58  assists the transportation of the document sheet from which an image is being read. The out rollers  60  further transport the document sheet from which an image has been read to the downstream side. A baffle  62  and discharge rollers  64  are also provided on the transportation path  48 . The baffle  62  rotates about a fulcrum in accordance with the curve formed by the document sheet being transported. The discharge rollers  64  are located closer to the downstream side than the out rollers  60  in the document transporting direction, and discharge the document sheet onto the discharge tray  24 . 
         [0032]    The image reading device  12  according to this exemplary embodiment further includes a back-face image reading unit  66  that is disposed between the platen roller  58  and the out rollers  60 . The back-face image reading unit  66  reads an image formed on the back face of each document sheet. 
         [0033]    Next, the document transporting operation of the image reading device  12  according to this exemplary embodiment is described. 
         [0034]    When not transporting a document and standing by, the nudger roller  46  is lifted up and is held at a stand-by position. When transporting a document, the nudger roller  46  is lifted down to the nip position (the document transporting position), and transports the uppermost sheet of documents placed on the document tray  22 . The pre-registration rollers  54  push the top end of the document sheet against the registration rollers  56  that are inactive. In this manner, the document sheet forms a curve. Thereafter, the baffle  62  rotates about the fulcrum into an open position, so as not to hinder the document from forming a curve. The take-away rollers  52  and the pre-registration rollers  54  maintain the curve while images are being read. Through the curve formation, the timing with which the image is read is adjusted, and the skew accompanying the document transportation at the time of image reading is restricted. Accordingly, the positioning of the document is improved. When the image reading begins, the inactive registration rollers  56  are activated to start rotating and the document sheet is transported. The transported document sheet is pressed against the second platen glass  70 B which is described later by the platen roller  58 , so that the image formed on the document sheet is read from below. 
         [0035]    The image reading unit  42  includes a first platen glass  70 A and a second platen glass  70 B, both of which are transparent. A document sheet is placed on the first platen glass  70 A. The second platen glass  70 B forms an optical aperture for reading the document being transported by the document transport unit  40 . 
         [0036]    A light source  72 , a first reflection mirror  74 , a second reflection mirror  76 , and a third reflection mirror  78  are provided under the first platen glass  70 A and the second platen glass  70 B. The light source  72  emits illumination light onto the surface of the document. The first reflection mirror  74  receives the light reflected by the surface of the document. The second reflection mirror  76  bends the course of the reflected light received through the first reflection mirror  74  by 90 degrees. The third reflection mirror  78  further bends the course of the reflected light received through the second reflection mirror  76  by 90 degrees. 
         [0037]    In the image reading device  12  according to this exemplary embodiment, a fluorescent lamp is used for the light source  72 . However, some other type of light source may be used such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) arranged in the direction perpendicular to the document transporting direction and the like. 
         [0038]    The image reading unit  42  further includes a lens  80  and an image reading sensor  82 . In the image reading unit  42 , the light reflected by the third reflection mirror  78  is imaged onto the image reading sensor  82  through the lens  80 . In this way, the image formed on the document is read by the image reading sensor  82 . 
         [0039]    In the image reading device  12  according to this exemplary embodiment, the back-face image reading unit  66  and the image reading sensor  82  are CCD line sensors that are structured by CCDs (Charge Coupled Devices). However, solid-state image sensors such as CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) image sensors may be used for the back-face image reading unit  66  and the image reading sensor  82 . 
         [0040]    In the image reading device  12  according to this exemplary embodiment, the light source  72  and the first reflection mirror  74  may be moved in the direction of the arrow C shown in  FIG. 3  by a carriage  83 A, and the second reflection mirror  76  and the third reflection mirror  78  may be moved in the direction of the arrow C by a carriage  83 B. Accordingly, when a document is placed on the upper face of the first platen glass  70 A, the light source  72  emits illumination light to the document, and the light source  72 , the first reflection mirror  74 , the second reflection mirror  76 , and the third reflection mirror  78  are moved in the direction of the arrow C. In this manner, the image recorded on the document is read. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  illustrates the structure of the electrical components of the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment. 
         [0042]    The image processing apparatus  10  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  84 , a ROM (Read Only Memory)  86 , a RAM (Random Access Memory)  88 , and a HDD (Hard Disk Drive)  90 . The CPU  84  controls the operation of the entire image processing apparatus  10 . Various programs, various parameters, various kinds of table information, and the likes are stored into the ROM  86  in advance. The RAM  88  is used as the work area when the CPU  84  executes the various programs. The HDD  90  stores various kinds of information, such as image data for images read by the image reading device  12 , and image data received through the later described external interface  96 . 
         [0043]    The image processing apparatus  10  further includes an image reading controller  92 , an image formation controller  94 , and an external interface  96 . The image reading controller  92  is connected to the image reading device  12 , and controls optical image reading operations performed by the image reading device  12 . The image formation controller  94  is connected to the image forming device  14 , and controls formation of images performed by the image forming device  14 . The external interface  96  is connected to an external terminal device, and exchanges various kinds of information including image data with the external terminal device. 
         [0044]    The CPU  84 , the ROM  86 , the RAM  88 , the HDD  90 , the image reading controller  92 , the image formation controller  94 , the external interface  96 , and the operation panel  18  are electrically connected to one another via a system bus  98 . Accordingly, the CPU  84  is capable of accessing the ROM  86 , the RAM  88 , and the HDD  90 , grasping the operational state of the operation panel  18 , displaying various kinds of messages on the operation panel  18 , controlling the operations of the image reading controller  92  and the image formation controller  94 , and exchanging various kinds of information with the terminal device via the external interface  96 . 
         [0045]    When the image formed on a document placed on the document tray  22  is read, and an operation is performed to form an image on a recording sheet based on the read image (hereinafter referred to as the “copying operation”), the CPU  84  of this exemplary embodiment transmits a begin transportation signal to the image reading controller  92  to begin transporting the document placed on the document tray  22 . 
         [0046]    When a letter-size document of 8.5 inches (215.9 mm) in width and 11 inches (279.4 mm) in length is placed on the document tray  22  in a conventional structure, the document width detection sensor  29  may wrongly determine that the letter-size document is an A4 document (210 mm in width, 297 mm in length) which has a width close to the width of the letter-size document. Consequently, side registration misalignment of the image formed on the recording sheet through the copying operation may result. 
         [0047]    Therefore, in the image processing apparatus  10 , when the width of a detected document is a predetermined size (hereinafter referred to a “designated width”) that differs from any of the regular sizes, a designated width transportation prohibition mode for prohibiting the transportation of a document of a designated width may be set through the operation panel  18 . 
         [0048]    In the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment, the designated width is 8.5 inches, which is a letter-size width. 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the operation of the image processing apparatus  10  of this exemplary embodiment is described.  FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing an operation flow of a document transporting program that is executed by the CPU  84  when the power is supplied to the image processing apparatus  10  that is set in the designated width transportation prohibition mode. The document transporting program is stored beforehand in a predetermined location of the ROM  86  that serves as a storage medium. 
         [0050]    First, at step  100 , the image reading controller  92  is set to prohibit transportation of letter-size documents having the designated width (hereinafter referred to as the “designated width transportation prohibition setting”). Further, a designated width transportation prohibition flag that indicates that the designated width transportation prohibition setting has been set. 
         [0051]    At step  102 , the image processing apparatus  10  is in a stand-by state until the document detection sensor  28  detects that a document is placed on the document tray  22 . 
         [0052]    At step  104 , the image processing apparatus  10  is in a stand-by state until a user inputs a begin copying command through the operation panel  18 . 
         [0053]    At step  106 , a begin transportation command signal is transmitted to the image reading controller  92 . 
         [0054]    Upon receipt of the begin transportation command signal, the image reading controller  92  transmits the document width detected by the document width detection sensor  29  to the CPU  84 . 
         [0055]    When the designated width transportation prohibition setting has been set, after the image reading controller  92  receives the begin transportation command signal, the document transport unit  40  transports the document if the document width detected by the document width detection sensor  29  is of the A series, and prohibits document transportation if the document width detected by the document width detection sensor  29  is the designated width. 
         [0056]    In the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment, the nudger roller  46  for transporting a document placed on the document tray  22  is not activated even when the begin transportation command signal is received. In this manner, transportation of the document is prohibited. Further, other rollers such as the feed rollers  50  and the take-away rollers  52  may also be deactivated in this manner. 
         [0057]    At step  108 , it is determined whether the document width detected by the document width detection sensor  29  is the designated width. When the determination result is positive, the operation moves on to step  110 . When the determination result is negative, the operation moves on to step  124 . 
         [0058]    At step  110 , it is determined whether the designated width transportation prohibition setting has been cancelled. When the determination result is positive, the operation moves on to step  124 . When the determination result is negative, the operation moves on to step  112 . In the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment, the above determination result is positive when the designated width transportation prohibition flag is set while the above determination result is negative when the designated width transportation prohibition flag is reset. 
         [0059]    In a case where the designated width transportation prohibition setting has been cancelled, the document transport unit  40  transports the document when the image reading controller  92  receives the begin transportation command signal, even if the width of the document detected by the document width detection sensor  29  is the designated width, regardless of whether the document transport unit  40  is in the designated width transportation prohibition mode. 
         [0060]    At step  112 , the document width detection sensor  29  detects the document of the designated width, and notifies that transportation of documents having the designated width is prohibited (or stopped). 
         [0061]    In the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment, the touch panel display  34  gives the notification by displaying a message to the effect that transportation of the document is prohibited and the width of the document is detected as 8.5 inches, as shown in  FIG. 6 . However, the notification may also be given by a speaker (not shown). 
         [0062]    At step  114 , it is determined whether a user has input a command to continue the document transportation. When the determination result is positive, the operation moves on to step  116 . When the determination result is negative, the operation moves on to step  120 . A case in which the user inputs a command to continue the document transportation, for example, is when the user has placed a letter-size document of 8.5 inches in width on the document tray  22 . 
         [0063]    In the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment, when the image of a “continue” button displayed on the touch panel display  34  shown in  FIG. 6  is pressed by the user, the determination result is set positive. However, the determination result may be set positive also in a case where the user presses a switch  36  designed specifically for inputting of a continue command. 
         [0064]    At step  116 , the designated width transportation prohibition imposed on the image reading controller  92  is cancelled. Thereafter, when a document width detected by the document width detection sensor  29  is the designated width, the document transport unit  40  does not prohibit transportation of the document, but transports the document. Further, the designated width transportation prohibition flag is reset. 
         [0065]    At step  118 , the begin transportation command signal is transmitted to the image reading controller  92 , and the operation moves on to step  124 . Receiving the begin transportation command signal, the image reading controller  92  causes the document transport unit  40  to begin transporting the document placed on the document tray  22 . 
         [0066]    At step  120 , it is determined whether the user has input an instruction to stop the document transportation. When the determination result is positive, the operation moves on to step  122 . When the determination result is negative, the operation returns to step  114 . For example, when the user has placed an A4 document on the document tray  22 , the user stops the document transportation. 
         [0067]    In the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment, the determination result is positive when the image of a “stop” button displayed on the touch panel display  34  shown in  FIG. 6  is pressed by the user. However, the determination result may be positive also in a case where the user presses a switch  36  designed for inputting a stop command. 
         [0068]    At step  122 , a notification that the document transportation has been stopped is transmitted, and the operation moves on to step  124 . In the image processing apparatus  10  according to this exemplary embodiment, the notification is given by the touch panel display  34  by displaying a message to the effect that the document transportation has been stopped. However, the notification may also be given by a speaker (not shown). 
         [0069]    Thereafter, when the user places an A4 document on the document tray  22 , for example, the user moves the guide  26 B while checking the notification from the document width notifying unit  30 . In this manner, the document width detection sensor  29  detects that the document placed on the document tray  22  has the A4 width, and the image processing apparatus  10  restarts the copying operation. 
         [0070]    At step  124 , it is determined whether the power supply to the image processing apparatus  10  has been stopped. When the determination result is positive, the execution of this program is ended. When the determination result is negative, the operation moves on to step  102 . The power supply to the image processing apparatus  10  is stopped in a case in which the image processing apparatus  10  is deactivated such as when the power switch of the image processing apparatus  10  is put into a non-operating state, when the power switch of the image processing apparatus  10  is switched off, or when the image processing apparatus  10  enters a power saving mode or the like. 
         [0071]    Although the exemplary embodiment has been described so far, the technical scope of the invention is not limited by the description of the exemplary embodiment. Various changes and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the changes and modifications should be included in the technical scope of the invention. 
         [0072]    The exemplary embodiment does not limit the invention, and not all the combinations of features described in the description of the exemplary embodiment are essential to the means for solving a technical problem according to the invention. Various stages of the invention are included in the exemplary embodiment, and a number of inventions may be developed from the combinations of the components disclosed above. Even if some of the components are removed from all the components disclosed above, the combinations of the remaining components may be developed as inventions. 
         [0073]    For example, in the exemplary embodiment, the A-series widths and B-series widths are employed as the predetermined regular sizes, and the letter-size width, which is 8.5 inches, is employed as the designated width. However, the letter-size width may be employed as a predetermined regular size, and an A4 width may be employed as the designated width, for example. 
         [0074]    In the exemplary embodiment, the guide  26 B is movable in the width direction of the document placed on the document tray  22 . However, the both guides  26 A and  26 B may be made movable in the width direction of the document placed on the document tray  22 . 
         [0075]    In the exemplary embodiment, a notification is issued to notify the user that document transportation is prohibited. However, a notification may also be issued to notify the user that a document is being transported when the document is transported. 
         [0076]    The structure of the image processing apparatus  10  of the exemplary embodiment (see  FIGS. 1 through 4 ) is merely an example, and unnecessary parts may be removed from the structure or some new part may be added to the structure without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0077]    The operation flow according to the document transporting program described in the exemplary embodiment (see  FIG. 5 ) is also merely an example, and unnecessary steps may be removed from the operation flow, or some new step may be added to the operation flow, or the processing order may be changed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0078]    The document transporting program according to the exemplary embodiment may not be stored beforehand into the ROM  86 , but may be stored beforehand into the HDD  90 , or may be provided through a computer-readable storage medium, or may be distributed through a wire or wireless communication unit, for example.