IMAGE READING APPARATUS

• US 20110181925A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PFU Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: PFU Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: IKEDA, Minoru
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/498
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0057 Conveying sheets before or after scanning arrangements for conveying sheets as part of the scanning operation H04N1/04 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00591 from the scanning position H04N1/00572 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00602 Feed rollers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00633 selectively to one of a plurality of output trays H04N1/00641 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00649 Control or synchronising different handling operations H04N1/00657 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0066 Aligning or positioning related to handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00663 Indicating relating to handling of media
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00925 Inhibiting an operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1215 Feeding using one or more cylindrical platens or rollers in the immediate vicinity of the main scanning line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 Portable devices

Abstract

An image reading apparatus includes: a conveyor roller configured to come in contact with a sheet-like medium and to convey the contacted medium in a conveyance direction in which the medium is conveyed; an image pickup device configured to pick up an image of the conveyed medium; a control device configured to control the conveyor roller and the image pickup device; an apparatus main unit that accommodates the conveyor roller, the image pickup device, and the control device; and a state detecting device configured to detect whether the apparatus main unit is in a stationary state in which the apparatus main unit is stationary or in a non-stationary state in which the apparatus main unit is not stationary, wherein the control device is configured to change contents of the control of at least the conveyor roller based on a result of the detection by the state detecting device.

Claims

1. An image reading apparatus, comprising:

a conveyor roller configured to come in contact with a sheet-like medium and to convey the contacted medium in a conveyance direction in which the medium is conveyed;

an image pickup device configured to pick up an image of the conveyed medium;

a control device configured to control the conveyor roller and the image pickup device;

an apparatus main unit that accommodates the conveyor roller, the image pickup device, and the control device; and

a state detecting device configured to detect whether the apparatus main unit is in a stationary state in which the apparatus main unit is stationary or in a non-stationary state in which the apparatus main unit is not stationary, wherein

the control device is configured to change contents of the control of at least the conveyor roller based on a result of the detection by the state detecting device.

2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the conveyor roller comprises a plurality of rollers arranged successively in the conveyance direction,

the plurality of rollers comprise:

a paper feed roller arranged upstream of the image pickup device in the conveyance direction and configured to convey the medium inserted into the apparatus main unit; and

a paper ejection roller arranged downstream of the image pickup device in the conveyance direction and configured to eject the image-picked-up medium from the apparatus main unit,

the control device is configured to cause the paper ejection roller to eject the image-picked-up medium from the apparatus main unit when the control device determines that the apparatus main unit is in the stationary state based on the result of the detection by the state detecting device, and

the control device is configured to cause the paper ejection roller to hold the image-picked-up medium when the control device determines that the apparatus main unit is in the non-stationary state based on the result of the detection of the state detecting device.

3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the control device is configured to cause the conveyor roller to rotate before starting the picking up of an image of the conveyed medium by the image pickup device to perform pre-pull-in control of causing the conveyor roller to hold a leading end in the conveyance direction of the medium inserted into the apparatus main unit, and

the control device is configured to make a non-stationary pre-rotation speed that is a rotation speed of the conveyor roller in the pre-pull-in control in the non-stationary state of the apparatus main unit smaller than a stationary pre-rotation speed that is a rotation speed of the conveyor roller in the pre-pull-in control in the stationary state of the apparatus main unit.

4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an image processing unit configured to generate picked-up image data corresponding to the image of the conveyed medium picked up by the image pickup device; and

a storage unit configured to store the picked-up image data, wherein

the control device is configured to control the image processing unit and the storage unit, and

the control device is configured to cause the generated picked-up image data to be stored in the storage unit when the control device determines that the apparatus main unit is in the non-stationary state based on the result of the detection by the state detecting device.

5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a communication device configured to be communicatable with an external electronic device, wherein

if the communication device is not communicatable with the external electronic device, the control device causes the generated picked-up image data to be stored in the storage unit when the control device determines that the apparatus main unit is in the non-stationary state, and

if the communication device becomes communicatable with the external electronic device after the control device determines that the apparatus main unit has changed from the non-stationary state to the stationary state, the control device causes the communication device to output the stored picked-up image data to the electronic device.

6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication device configured to be communicatable with an external electronic device, wherein

the control device is settable by the electronic device via the communication device as to whether to perform the change in the contents of the control based on the result of the detection by the state detecting device.

7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scan button for instructing the control device to start scanning of the medium, wherein

the state detecting device is a switch provided at a bottom of the apparatus main unit,

at least a part of the switch is configured to be exposed to outside with respect to the apparatus main unit, and

the control device is configured to start the scanning upon operation of the switch when the control device determines that it is certain that the apparatus main unit is in the non-stationary state.