Patent Application
20170142272
The present invention relates generally to image forming apparatuses and methods and more specifically to image forming apparatuses and methods for performing original document media boundary scans, that is, to check or determine original or document boundaries.
Many users typically use image forming apparatuses to copy or scan original document media. A user that wishes to copy or scan an original document media begins by placing that document on a document receiving surface of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus might be a copier, scanner, multifunction device, etc.
Often, the original document media is a regular sized document. For example, the original document size may be an 8.5 by 11 inches, A4, etc. The user places the regular-sized original document media on the document receiving surface, selects a paper size corresponding to the original document and then begins the scanning or copying operation.
At other times, the user might wish to scan an irregular-sized original document. The dimensions of an irregular-sized original document are not standard. The user also begins by placing the irregular-sized original on the document receiving surface. The user then selects an appropriate scan or paper size after which the irregular-sized original document is scanned and its image output on the paper size selected by the user. Here, the user might then realize that the selected scan size or output paper does not match the size of the irregular original document. That is, parts of the original document may be cut off in the output document.
The user then discards the printed document and begins the scanning operation again. The user places the irregular-sized document on the document receiving surface, selects a corresponding paper size for the scanning operation and then scans the document again.
Upon viewing the output document, the user may again realize that an appropriate size or appropriate scan size was not selected to match the original document. The user must then again discard the printed paper. The user then repeats the process over again until a scan size that matches the irregular original document is selected such that the user is satisfied with the output.
It is within the aforementioned context that a need for the present invention has arisen. Thus, there is a need to address one or more of the foregoing disadvantages of conventional systems and methods, and the present invention meets this need.
In a first embodiment, a light source assembly comprises a first light source movable in a first direction, a second light source movable in a second direction; and a control unit that determines an amount of movement travelled by both the first light source in the first direction and the second light source in the second direction; wherein the control unit initiates the movement in the first direction and in the second direction, wherein said movement in the first direction moves the first light source to illuminate a first boundary of a scan size selected for scanning and/or copying the document, said first boundary being indicated on a document receiving surface on which the document is placed and wherein said movement in the second direction moves the second light source to illuminate a second boundary of the document scan size, said second boundary being indicated on the document receiving surface.
In a second embodiment, a method comprises providing a first light source movable in a first direction, and a second light source movable in a second direction; and using a control unit to determine an amount of movement travelled by both the first light source in the first direction and the second light source in the second direction; and using the control unit to initiate movement in the first direction and in the second direction wherein said movement in the first direction moves the first light source to illuminate a first boundary of a scan size selected for scanning and/or copying the document, said first boundary being indicated on a document receiving surface on which the document is placed and wherein said movement in the second direction moves the second light source to illuminate a second boundary of the document scan size, said second boundary being indicated on the document receiving surface.
In a third embodiment, a light source assembly for an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus for scanning and/or copying a document, the light source assembly comprises a first light source that illuminates a boundary of a scan or copy size selected for the document wherein the first light source is movable in a first direction; a control unit that determines an amount of movement travelled by the first light source in the first direction from a rest position of the first light source to a target position of the first light source; and wherein the control unit initiates movement in the first direction to move the first light source from said rest position of the first light source to said target position of the first light source to illuminate a first boundary of the selected scan size wherein the first light source travels in the first direction but illuminates the boundary of the selected scan size in a different direction.
A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention herein may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the attached drawings. Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with respect to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the one embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as to not unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.
In
As shown in
Image forming apparatus 100 further comprises image reading unit 108 and operational panel 110 operable by user 102 for initiating copying, scanning, and /or scan boundary checking in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. As shown, image reading unit 108 is disposed underneath document receiving surface 104, and is movable to copy and/or scan original documents.
Image forming apparatus 100 further includes main body 112 and a plurality of paper trays 114 holding standard-sized papers that correspond to original document sizes to be copied and/or scanned. Although not shown, the interior of main body 112 includes a paper discharge section; and an image forming unit, a CPU and a laser line assembly that will be discussed with reference to
In operation, user 102 begins by placing an original document on document receiving surface 104 ensuring that the original document edge is aligned with reference mark R109. However, R109 can be conveniently located at other corners or sides of document receiving surface 104. User 102 is now ready to begin a copying or scanning operation. However, if the original document is not a standard size (i.e., 8.5×11 or 8.5×14 inches), prior to this scanning or copying operation, user 102 may wish to perform a boundary scan check of the document to be copied or scanned.
A check boundary scan button (not shown) on operation panel 110 may be selected by user 102 to initiate the check scanning boundary operation that determines whether a copy or scan paper size selected by the user corresponds or is appropriate for the document that is being scanned or copied.
If the check boundary scan determines that the original document size matches the selected scan size, user 102 can then begin a scanning or copying operation as needed. Further elements of operation and components of the present invention will be described below with reference to
In
More specifically, memory 122 includes scan size information 124, which holds scan size information selected by user 102. That is, operation panel 110 includes scan size buttons 121 that can be selected by user 102 to select particular scan sizes for an original document prior to a scanning or copying operation. This scan size information is stored in memory by scan size information 124 as further illustrated in
In
In
Referring now to
In
In one embodiment, there is no check scan boundary releaser 132. In such a case, user 102 may select and continue to hold down check scan boundary button 130 until the check scan boundary operation is completed, after which check scan boundary button 130 is released to terminate the check scan boundary operation.
In another embodiment, check scan boundary button 130 initiates and terminates the scan boundary checking process. Specifically, check scan boundary button 130 may be pressed to initiate operation and can then be pressed again to terminate operation. In further embodiments, check scan boundary button 130 and check scan boundary button releaser 132 can be initiated and/or released by opening and/or closing cover 106 of
For example, when cover 106 is closed, check scan boundary button releaser 132 may be selected to terminate the check scan boundary operation. In another embodiment, when cover 106 is closed, a releasing unit may be configured to automatically release the check scan boundary button according to the detected result from a detecting unit. In another embodiment, the releasing unit is embedded on the cover 106 so that the releasing unit protrudes toward platen glass (that is, downward direction) and can push the scan boundary button to release, when the cover 106 is closed.
Referring now to
In
Here, vertical light source 150 and horizontal light source 154 can be any light source type that is consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention. Preferably, however, vertical light source 150 and light source 154 are laser light sources.
Laser light sources are preferable because they differ from other light sources in that lasers emit light that is coherent and collimated. This spatial coherency and collimation enables light sources 150 and 154 to emit narrow light beams that are focused and avoid the divergence associated with other light sources. In this manner, light emitted from the light sources can better illuminate original media objects in the light path and also avoid reflection of light into the eyes of user 102.
Referring now to
In
When directed by the main controller 144 (of
Main controller 144 similarly directs vertical servo 148 (of
Operation of image forming apparatus 100 will now be described with reference to
In operation, user 102, wishing to make a copy or scan of irregular-sized original 660 (of
User 102 is now ready to copy or scan irregular-sized original 660. Unlike conventional systems where user 102 begins to directly make copies by selecting a paper size corresponding to irregular-sized original 660 and then scanning or copying for several cycles until a satisfactory paper size that matches the irregular-sized document is obtained, the present invention allows user 102 to scan the boundaries of an irregular-sized original before the actual copying or scanning operation is started.
In this manner, considerable time and effort are saved by avoiding several cycles of copying and scanning by determining an appropriate paper size before the actual copying or scanning process is started. A copying or scanning operation that would take a few seconds using the present invention would take several minutes using conventional imaging systems. Moreover, in an environmentally conscious world, considerable waste of paper or other media is avoided because the copy or scan is made only once, avoiding waste of paper that occurs from making several unwanted copies using conventional systems.
After irregular-sized original 660 is placed on document receiving surface 104, user 102 initiates the copy or scanning process by selecting scan size button 121 (of
Upon scan size selection, user 102 then initiates the scan boundary operation by pressing check scan boundary button 130. Upon receiving the user input signal from user 102, main controller 144 of
At target position V2, vertical light source 150 illuminates the horizontal boundary (direction Hi) of irregular-sized original 660. In this manner, user 102 can begin to determine whether the selected scan size is acceptable. The direction of illumination Hi and the direction V of movement of vertical light source 150 are substantially perpendicular. That is, the direction of illumination is horizontal while the direction of movement is vertical as further discussed with reference to
Although not necessary, rest position V1 and reference mark R109 may coincide. However, rest position V1 may be located elsewhere along the vertical axis in direction V.
Here, as shown, the position of rest position V1 does not coincide with reference mark R109. Here, R109 is located on the upper left hand corner of document receiving surface 104 (with respect to a user standing in front of the image forming apparatus 10) while rest position VI is located on the lower left corner of document receiving surface 104. In such a case, the amount of movement (distance in vertical direction) Dv traveled by vertical light source 150 is the vertical length of the document receiving surface 104 minus the length of the vertical side of the selected scan or paper size (not shown). For example, if the selected paper scan size is A4, then the amount of movement Dv is the length of the vertical side of document receiving surface 104 minus 210 mm or 8.27 inches.
After travelling by the amount of movement Dv, vertical light source 150 arrives at target position V2. That is, target position V2 depends upon the amount of movement Dv by vertical light source 150 in the vertical direction V.
Preferably, target position V2 is configured to coincide with the horizontal edge of the selected scan or paper size. As previously noted, at target position V2, vertical light source 150 emits scan lines that illuminate the horizontal boundary (Hi direction) of irregular-sized original 660. The scan lines determine the scan area for the irregular-sized original 660.
Although the emitted scan line is not normally visible, if any portion of irregular-sized original 660 or any other scanning media falls above the scan line, the scan line would be visible to user 102 since the scan line is cast onto irregular-sized original 660. In this manner, user 102 knows how much of irregular-sized original 660 is being cut off so that user 102 can select a scan size that matches irregular-sized original 660 within the scanning area. Note also that user 102 can choose any preferable size if the user doesn't need some portion outside the indicated boundaries to scan/print.
The corollary is if irregular-sized original 660 fits entirely within the scan area, although user 102 cannot observe the scan line, user 102 knows that irregular-sized original 660 is within the scan boundary (since the scan lines are not visible). In that case, user 102 selects a different scan size that's smaller to match irregular-sized original 660.
Referring to
Upon arrival at target position H2, horizontal light source 154 is triggered and illuminates the vertical boundary Hi of irregular-sized original 660. The vertical boundary is illuminated to determine the scan area for the irregular-sized original 660. If irregular-sized original 660 is within the scan area, emitted light or light emitted from original light source 154 will not be visible to user 102.
If irregular-sized original 660 is beyond the scan area, user 102 can observe light emitted from horizontal light source 154 and can therefore make adjustments to horizontal light source 154. Specifically, user 102 can select a different paper size that appropriately matches irregular-sized original 660.
Although not necessary, rest position H1 and reference mark R109 of
If rest position H1 and reference mark R109 coincide, the longest amount of movement Dh traveled by horizontal light source 154 is the length of the horizontal side of the selected scan size. For example, if rest position H1 and reference mark R109 coincide, and the selected scan paper size is A4, then the amount of movement Dh in the horizontal direction H is about 297 mm or 11.69 inches.
If rest position H1 and reference mark R109 do not coincide and the rest position H1 is further along the horizontal axis before the end of the length of a horizontal side of the selected scan size, then the longest amount of movement Dh by horizontal light source 154 is less than the length of a horizontal side of the selected scan size.
The target position H2 of horizontal light source 154 is reached after an amount of movement Dh is traveled by horizontal light source 154, which amount is determined by the scan size selected by user 102 and by rest position H1. Target position H2 is also dependent upon the amount of movement Dh by horizontal light source 154 in the horizontal direction.
For example, if the selected scan size is A4 and the rest position H1 is at reference mark R109, then the target position H2 is about 297 mm or 11.69 inches. Preferably, target position H2 is configured to coincide with the vertical edge of the selected scan or paper size.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the direction of illumination of both light sources is away from user 102. Thus, in
Similarly, the direction of illumination Hi of vertical light source 150 is away from user 102. Specifically, the direction of light emitted by vertical light source 150 is horizontal H as shown in
Another aspect of the present invention is that the direction of illumination Hi and the direction of movement Vm of vertical light source 150 are substantially perpendicular, since Hi is horizontal and Vm is vertical as shown in
Note that the direction of illumination and the direction of movement need not be substantially perpendicular. However, it is preferred that the direction of illumination and the direction of movement remain substantially perpendicular because both light sources can directly move from their rest to their target positions. Upon reaching the target positions, the direction of illumination is then along the edges of the selected scan size. In this manner, a substantially perpendicular angle between the directions of illumination and movement is obtained.
Referring to
After vertical and horizontal light sources 150 and 154 reach their target positions and illuminate corresponding boundaries of the selected scan size, user 102 can then determine whether the selected scan size matches the irregular-sized original 660 and may make adjustments as necessary.
If satisfied with the selected scan size, user 102 can now begin the copying or scanning process. In particular, user 102 uses a start button (not shown) to initiate image forming unit 134 which forms the image of irregular-sized original 660. Printing unit 140 then prints out the formed image for output.
As stated earlier, unlike traditional systems where user 102 runs through several cycles of copying or scanning an irregular-sized original 660 before obtaining a satisfactory print, the system and method of the present invention facilitates quicker copying or scanning by enabling user 102 to scan boundaries of irregular-sized originals before the actual copying or scanning operation is started.
In this manner, considerable time and effort are saved by avoiding several cycles of copying and scanning by determining an appropriate paper size before the actual copying or scanning process is started. A copy or scanning operation would thus take less time and conserve media resources that are valuable for the environment.
At block 802, vertical servo 148 and horizontal servo 152 (of
At block 804, user 102 places irregular-sized original 660 (of
At block 806, user 102 selects an original scan size button (e.g., scan size 230 of
At block 808, user 102 presses and holds check scan boundary boundaries button 130 (of
At block 810, main controller 144 (of
At block 812, vertical light source 150 and horizontal light source 154 reach their target positions and illuminate the boundaries of the selected scan size. Note that flow proceeds to block 822 if during block 808, block 810 or block 812, user 102 releases the check scan boundary button 130, after which method 800 returns to block 802.
At decision block 814, user 102 determines whether the original scan size selected is appropriate for or matches irregular-sized original 660. If not, method 800 proceeds to 816, where user 102 selects another scan size. After another size is selected, flow then returns to block 808.
At decision block 814, if user 102 determines that the selected scan size is appropriate for irregular-sized original 660, then flow proceeds to block 818 to turn off the light sources and thereafter to block 820, where user 102 initiates a copying or scanning operation.
While the above is a complete description of exemplary specific embodiments of the invention, additional embodiments are also possible. For example, although the image forming apparatus 100 has been described with reference to two light sources, image forming apparatus may have only a single light source as illustrated with reference to
In
Here, horizontal light source 954 travels the length or horizontal direction of document receiving surface 904 from rest position H1 to target position H2 to illuminate irregular-sized original 660 in the vertical direction V. That is, the direction of illumination Vi is substantially perpendicular to the movement direction from V1 to V2.
An advantage of the present invention is that no vertical light source is employed since the boundary scanning process is only based on the horizontal length of the selected scan size. As an example, if user 102 selects scan size A4, horizontal light source 954 need only move about 297 mm or 11.69 inches from rest position H1 to target position 2. Therefore, because no vertical light source is employed, fewer components are needed thus simplifying image forming apparatus 900 of the present embodiment.
In one embodiment, computer system architecture 1000 comprises system bus 1020 for communicating information and processor 1010 coupled to system bus 1020 for processing information. Computer system architecture 1000 further comprises a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device 1025 (referred to herein as main memory), coupled to system bus 1020 for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 1010. Main memory 1025 may also be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by processor 1010. Computer system architecture 1000 may also include a read only memory (ROM) and/or other static storage device 1026 coupled to system bus 1020 for storing static information and instructions used by processor 1010.
A data storage device 1021 such as a magnetic disk or optical disc and its corresponding drive may also be coupled to system bus 1020 for storing information and instructions. Computer system architecture 1000 can also include a second bus 1050 coupled via I/O interface 1030 to system bus 1020. A plurality of I/O devices may be coupled to bus 1050, including display device 1043, an input device (e.g., alphanumeric input device 1032 and/or cursor control device 1041).
Communication device 1040 allows for access to other computers (e.g., servers or clients) via a network. Communication device 1040 may comprise one or more modems, network interface cards, wireless network interfaces or other interface devices such as those used for coupling to Ethernet, token ring, or other types of networks.
Other variations are as follows:
In some embodiments, the boundaries that indicate the scan size can be shown in their entirety in each of scanned directions. In other embodiments, only a portion of the entire length of the boundaries that indicate the scan size are shown. Boundaries can be shown only for those corresponding to edges of selected paper size.
In yet other embodiments, the vertically moving structure (including vertical servo 148) may be between a scanning unit for scanning original document placed on the document receiving surface 104 (for example) and an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) scanning unit for scanning original documents set on the ADF. The ADF scanning unit may be, for example, equipped with a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) based image scanning unit or CIS (Contact Image Sensor) based image scanning unit.
In some embodiments, rest positions of locations of the servos before starting movement to the target positions can be different from the reference mark R109 in the above described embodiments.
In some embodiments, a user can register nonstandard paper sizes based on demand. The user can choose or change order of scan size buttons displayed on the operation panel. This enables a user to choose sizes which the user expects to use more frequently to display preferentially ordered. In yet other embodiments, these buttons can be ordered automatically according to usage histogram. Yet, other example embodiments, these buttons can be displayed differently in size according to preference of the user.
In some example embodiments, the user can change laser strength and angle. This change in laser strength can be performed via the operation panel.
In one example embodiment, the user may be prompted to check scan size boundaries only when the user is determined to select a paper size which the user has never selected. In some other embodiments, the user may be prompted to check the boundaries when the user selects a paper size which the user has not frequently selected, for example, which the user has selected a certain times less than a predetermined threshold. In yet some other example embodiments, the user may be prompted to check the boundaries when the user selects a paper size which the user has selected before but has not selected recently. In these example embodiments, whether the user is prompted to check is determined based on usage history of each of user.
And this usage history information may be collected for each of printing devices. The usage history information may also be collected for a plurality of printing devices, such as all printing devices in the user's office. The usage history information may be collected for some printing devices which are located physically away from each other but managed by the same administrative entity. In this case, the usage history may be stored on the cloud server and the printing devices may access the cloud server to retrieve the usage history information for the user who logs into the printing device.
Thus, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
