Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner apparatus provided with both a flatbed-type mechanism and an ADF-type mechanism. The ADF mechanism can be set at an arbitrary position with an arbitrary orientation for use, whereby convenience for the user is improved while ensuring freedom with regard to the setting place of the apparatus. Further, the scanner apparatus is made such that reading with the ADF unit and reading with the flatbed unit can be performed simultaneously. A movable coupling mechanism is provided at a joint portion between the ADF mechanism and the flatbed mechanism. The movable coupling mechanism does not fix the position and orientation of the ADF mechanism and enables the ADF mechanism to be freely moved and rotated. With this movable coupling mechanism, the ADF mechanism can be disposed at either of the left and right ends of the paper-pressing board of the flatbed unit or at an arbitrarily position in consideration of convenience for a user and the setting place of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner apparatus provided with both a flatbed-type mechanism and an ADF-type mechanism. The ADF mechanism can be set at an arbitrary position with an arbitrary orientation for use, whereby convenience for the user is improved while ensuring freedom with regard to the setting place of the apparatus. Further, the scanner apparatus is made such that reading with the ADF unit and reading with the flatbed unit can be performed simultaneously. A movable coupling mechanism is provided at a joint portion between the ADF mechanism and the flatbed mechanism. The movable coupling mechanism does not fix the position and orientation of the ADF mechanism and enables the ADF mechanism to be freely moved and rotated. With this movable coupling mechanism, the ADF mechanism can be disposed at either of the left and right ends of the paper-pressing board of the flatbed unit or at an arbitrarily position in consideration of convenience for a user and the setting place of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides an image reading apparatus and method capable of performing skew error correction at high speed. In an image reading apparatus that conveys a stacked medium along a conveyance path, reads an image of the medium being conveyed, and discharges the medium after reading the image, the apparatus comprises calculation means for calculating the amount of skew of the medium while being conveyed, and correction means for correcting the amount of skew of the medium in accordance with the amount of skew calculated by the calculation means. The correction means comprise determination means for determining whether correction for the amount of skew should be performed or not, and control means for correcting the amount of skew of the medium. The calculation means comprise medium detection means for detecting the state of the medium conveyed along the conveyance path, and calculate the amount of skew from the detected result of the state of the medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a document feeder, document feed method, and image capture device. The document feeder includes a sheet separation mechanism that restricts the number of sheets to be fed by a pull-in portion. The sheet separation mechanism includes a first separation portion that contacts the sheet, and moves so as to feed the sheet, a second separation portion, located opposite to the first separation portion, which defines a part of a sheet feed path between the second and first separation portions, and moves so as to allow the sheet to be fed, and a brake portion that variably applies to the second separation portion a load allowing the second separation portion to move.

Abstract: The invention provides an image reading apparatus and method capable of performing skew error correction at high speed. In an image reading apparatus that conveys a stacked medium along a conveyance path, reads an image of the medium being conveyed, and discharges the medium after reading the image, the apparatus comprises calculation means for calculating the amount of skew of the medium while being conveyed, and correction means for correcting the amount of skew of the medium in accordance with the amount of skew calculated by the calculation means. The correction means comprise determination means for determining whether correction for the amount of skew should be performed or not, and control means for correcting the amount of skew of the medium. The calculation means comprise medium detection means for detecting the state of the medium conveyed along the conveyance path, and calculate the amount of skew from the detected result of the state of the medium.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a sheet feeding device and method, and image reader which facilitate setting of a sheet pile, serve to separate and feed a sheet succesfully. The present invention provides a separation gate between draw and separation rollers for achieving a multistage separation. The separation gate is made movable in synchronization with the draw roller so as to maintain a certain separation condition, despite of the draw roller that may descend according to the number of piled sheets.

Abstract: A cut sheet feeding device having a function of detecting a skew of the sheet to be fed is incorporated in an image reader, a printing apparatus, etc. The cut sheet feeding device is capable of surely detecting the skew of a document without an operator visually monitoring the same. The cut sheet feeding device has size sensors corresponding to standard sheet sizes, respectively, for detecting the size of a document that is being fed along a feeding path. The detected document size is compared with a set document size stored in advance. If the detected document size is greater than the set document size, it is determined that there is an abnormality in feeding the document. The cut sheet feeding device also has a document passage detector for detecting the passage of the document. The outputs of the document passage sensor and size sensor are compared with each other, to calculate a skew of the document that is being fed. This skew is used to determine whether or not the document is being fed normally.

Abstract: An apparatus having an ink-jet head has a time measuring unit, a recording unit, and a prefiring operation control unit. The time measuring unit is used to measure an elapsed time from execution of prefiring operations for the ink-jet head, and the recording unit is used to record whether or not printing nozzles disposed in the ink-jet head are operated. The prefiring operation control unit determines a number of prefiring operations in accordance with a measurement result obtained by the time measuring unit and operated conditions of the printing nozzles recorded in the recording means, and executes prefiring operations for the ink-jet head. Therefore, the apparatus is capable of executing prefiring operations often enough and sufficient for the actual operated conditions of the printing nozzles disposed in the ink-jet head, and thereby preventing ink from being consumed at enhanced rate by useless prefiring operations.

Abstract: A data transfer method and apparatus for an image reading apparatus suitably used with an image scanner is improved in that a transfer line apparatus is simplified in construction and produced with a reduced cost by an improved transferring technique of data.

Abstract: The invention provides a white level information correction apparatus for an image reading apparatus suitably used as an image scanner, which is improved in that analog to digital conversion can be performed effectively for originals of different ground colors with a high degree of accuracy. In the image reading apparatus, image information of a paper sheet being transported along a paper transport path is optically read at a fixed location of the paper transport path using an optical image reading unit and analog data obtained by the optical image reading unit are converted into digital data using white level information of the image information as an index to a conversion reference.

Abstract: A paper end detection apparatus for an image reading apparatus suitable for use with an image scanner, which is superior in that an end of a paper sheet can be detected accurately.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storing unit for storing a chromaticity measured in advance with respect to a blank printed in a dropout color on a sheet, or with respect to a visual information filled in the blank, and a unit for judging coincidence or non-coincidence of the chromaticity stored in the storing unit with each chromaticity of respective picture elements constituting an image information obtained by reading the sheet. Where the storing unit stores a chromaticity regarding the blank, the image processing apparatus further includes a unit for detecting an arrangement region of the blank on the sheet based on results of the judging, then extracting an image information corresponding to the arrangement region, and carrying out a dropout processing with respect to the extracted image information to thereby extract the visual information.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the transportation speed of a sheet, such as a printed sheet or manuscript, includes a sheet transportation system and a speed controller. The transportation system includes a single drive motor and a plurality of rollers driven by the single motor and arranged in such a manner that a sheet to be transported is held by the rollers one after another. The speed controller includes a sensor for detecting the position of the sheet. The number of rollers which hold the sheet is determined. A speed controller provides the motor with a designated speed command calculated on the basis of the numbers of rollers, so that the actual sheet transportation speed is always constant regardless of the numbers of rollers which hold the sheet.

Abstract: An image scanner-reader has an image read unit, and an employing control unit. The image read unit is used to read an original document and provide image data of the original document. The employing control unit is used to control the relative moving speed between the original document and the image read unit, and when an original document reading operation is suspended, the employing control unit controls the restart of the reading operation after decreasing the relative moving speed to a slow reading speed of the original document. Therefore, when the image data buffer becomes full enough to cause a suspension state, and the read operation is restarted after changing control conditions, so that the quantity of data transferred to the image data buffer is reduced. Namely, according to the present invention, the number of occurrences of the suspension state can be greatly reduced, and thereby the overal reading speed can be improved without increasing the data receiving speed of a host device.