METHOD FOR ADJUSTING STOP POSITION OF READING UNIT PROVIDED IN IMAGE READING APPARATUS

• US 20170214816A1
• Filed: 01/06/2017
• Published: 07/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamakawa, Fumika, Seki, Satoshi, Oka, Yushi
• Application Number:
  US15/400,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20170214816A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00891 Switching on or off, e.g. for saving power when not in use H04N1/00896 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/04 Scanning arrangements , i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versaH04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1061 Details relating to flat picture-bearing surfaces, e.g. transparent platen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/125 the sheet feeding apparatus serving an auxiliary function, e.g. as a white reference
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4076 dependent on references outside the picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/04755 by controlling the position or movement of a scanning element or carriage, e.g. of a polygonal mirror, of a drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/04789 in the main-scan direction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/04791 in the sub-scan direction

Abstract

A movement unit moves a reading unit in a first direction and a second direction. A control unit controls the movement unit so that the reading unit is positioned in a predetermined region in a case when a transition is made from an operation mode to a non-operation mode and controls the movement unit to cause the reading unit to move from the predetermined region to a position at which a white reference plate can be read in a case when a transition is made from the non-operation mode to the operation mode. The control unit causes movement of the reading unit by the movement unit to stop when a movement amount of the reading unit measured by a measurement unit becomes a movement amount corresponding to a distance from the boundary to a position at which a white reference plate can be read.

Claims

1. An image reading apparatus having an operation mode in which the image reading apparatus performs a reading of an image and a non-operation mode in which the image reading apparatus does not perform a reading of an image, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a reading unit provided inside the housing and configured to be capable of respectively moving in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite the first direction;

a movement unit configured to cause the reading unit to move in the first direction or the second direction;

a light transmissive plate on which an original is set;

a white reference plate provided upstream of the light transmissive plate in the first direction;

a detection unit configured to detect that the reading unit is positioned in a predetermined region that is upstream of a position at which the white reference plate can be read in the first direction;

a control unit configured to control the movement unit so that the reading unit is positioned in the predetermined region in a case when a transition is made from the operation mode to the non-operation mode and to control the movement unit to cause the reading unit to move from the predetermined region to a position at which the white reference plate can be read that is outside the predetermined region in a case when a transition is made from the non-operation mode to the operation mode; and

a measurement unit configured to start a measurement of a movement amount of the reading unit upon ascertaining, based on a result of a detection of the detection unit, that a boundary between the inside of the predetermined region and the outside of the predetermined region has been crossed by the reading unit moving in the first direction, wherein

the control unit is further configured to cause movement of the reading unit by the movement unit to stop when the movement amount of the reading unit measured by the measurement unit becomes a movement amount corresponding to a distance from the boundary to a position at which the white reference plate can be read.

2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the movement unit to cause the reading unit to move in the second direction in a case when the control unit ascertains that the reading unit is not positioned in the predetermined region based on a result of a detection of the detection unit acquired when a transition is made from the non-operation mode to the operation mode, control the movement unit to cause the reading unit to move in the first direction upon ascertaining that the reading unit is positioned in the predetermined region based on a result of a detection of the detection unit, and control the movement unit to cause the reading unit to stop at the position at which the white reference plate can be read when the movement amount of the reading unit measured by the measurement unit becomes a movement amount corresponding to the distance from the boundary to a position at which the white reference plate can be read.

3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the movement unit so that the reading unit is positioned at a standby position in the predetermined region in a case when the transition is made from the operation mode to the non-operation mode.

4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the movement unit to cause the reading unit to stop at the standby position when a movement amount of the reading unit measured from when the boundary is passed by the reading unit moving in the second direction becomes a movement amount corresponding to a distance from the boundary to the standby position.

5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a distance from the standby position to the boundary is a distance that is necessary for a rotating speed of the movement unit to accelerate to a predetermined rotating speed when the image reading apparatus transitions from the non-operation mode to the operation mode.

6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit, when the image reading apparatus transitions from the non-operation mode to the operation mode, changes a movement direction of the reading unit from the first direction to the second direction if a movement amount measured by the measurement unit from when the reading unit starts movement in the first direction to when it passes the boundary is less than a movement amount corresponding to a distance from the standby position to the boundary, and, when a movement amount measured by the measurement unit from when the boundary is passed becomes the movement amount corresponding to the distance from the boundary to the standby position, changes the movement direction of the reading unit from the second direction to the first direction and causes the reading unit to head toward the position at which the white reference plate can be read.

7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a power OFF mode and a power saving mode are included in the non-operation mode, and

the control unit is further configured to cause the reading unit to move to a first standby position of the predetermined region by controlling the movement unit in a case when a transition is made to the power OFF mode and causes the reading unit to move to a second standby position of the predetermined region by controlling the movement unit in a case when a transition is made to the power saving mode, and

a distance from the boundary to the first standby position is longer than a distance from the boundary to the second standby position.

8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first standby position is a position at which a fixing member can be attached to the reading unit from outside of the housing in order to fix the reading unit.

9. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the fixing member is a screw, and a screwing portion into which the screw is screwed is provided in the reading unit housing.

10. The image reading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is further configured to excite the movement unit when a transition is made to the power saving mode.

11. An image reading apparatus having an operation mode in which the image reading apparatus performs a reading of an image and a non-operation mode in which the image reading apparatus does not perform a reading of an image, the apparatus comprising:

a housing,

a reading unit provided inside the housing and configured to be capable of respectively moving in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite the first direction;

a light transmissive plate provided on a top surface of the housing and on which an original is set to face the reading unit; and

a white reference plate provided upstream of the light transmissive plate in the first direction, wherein

the reading unit is further configured to move to a predetermined region that is a reference for measuring a position of the reading unit in a case when a transition is made from the operation mode to the non-operation mode, and

the reading unit is further configured to move from the predetermined region to a position at which the white reference plate that is outside the predetermined region can be read if the reading unit is positioned in the predetermined region in a case when the transition is made from the non-operation mode to the operation mode, and move from the predetermined region to a position at which the white reference plate can be read after moving to the predetermined region if the reading unit is not positioned at the predetermined region in a case when a transition is made from the non-operation mode to the operation mode.