Image reading apparatus with multi-sheet feed detection

Abstract

An image reading apparatus includes a transport section that can transport original documents along a transport path, a reading section configured to read images of the original documents transported by the transport section, an output controller configured to output data of the original documents read by the reading section, a multi-sheet feed detection sensor configured to detect a multi-sheet feed of the original documents transported by the transport section, and an instruction section configured to issue an instruction to disable multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection section.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image reading apparatus comprising:
 a transport section including a roller configured to transport original documents along a transport path;   a reading section including a sensor configured to read images of the original documents transported by the transport section;   an output controller configured to output data of the original documents read by the reading section;   a multi-sheet feed detection sensor configured to detect a multi-sheet feed of the original documents transported by the transport section;   an instruction section including a switch configured to issue an instruction to disable multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection sensor; and   a transport detection sensor configured to detect the original documents transported by the transport section,   wherein, after a job for sequentially transporting a plurality of original documents to perform a reading operation to read images is interrupted by multi-sheet feed detection performed by the multi-sheet feed detection sensor, the output controller determines whether a disabling mode in which the multi-sheet detection is disabled in accordance with an instruction from the instruction section has been set or not,   when the disabling mode has not been set, the output controller stands by until the disabling mode is set, and when the job is restarted with the disabling mode having been set, the output controller merges first data that is read in the reading operation before the interruption and second data that is read in the reading operation after the restart into a single file and outputs the file,   the disabling mode includes an original document unit disabling mode for disabling the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection sensor until the trailing edges of the original documents pass through the multi-sheet feed detection sensor, and   if the original document unit disabling mode is instructed by the instruction section, in response to detection of the passage of the trailing edges of the original documents through the multi-sheet feed detection sensor based on a detection signal detected by the transport detection sensor, the multi-sheet feed detection performed by the multi-sheet feed detection sensor is enabled.   
     
     
       2. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the disabling mode includes a job unit disabling mode for disabling the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection sensor until the job is complete,
 wherein if the job unit disabling mode is instructed by the instruction section, in response to the job completion, the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection sensor is enabled.   
     
     
       3. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a placement section on which the original documents to be read are mounted;   a placement detection sensor configured to detect the original documents mounted on the placement section; and   a transport detection sensor configured to detect the original documents mounted on the placement section and transported by the transport section,   wherein from the job interruption to the job restart, the disabling mode set in accordance with the instruction from the instruction section is maintained regardless of the detection results of the placement detection sensor and the transport detection sensor.   
     
     
       4. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the disabling mode includes a disable maintaining mode for maintaining the state in which the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection sensor is disabled until the power supply is switched off. 
     
     
       5. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the instruction section issues an instruction for starting the job, and
 the interrupted job is restarted in accordance with the start instruction from the instruction section.   
     
     
       6. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a placement section on which the original documents to be read are mounted; and   a placement detection sensor configured to detect the original documents mounted on the placement section,   wherein the transport detection sensor is further configured to detect the original documents mounted on the placement section and transported by the transport section, and   from the job interruption to the job restart, the disabling mode set in accordance with the instruction from the instruction section is maintained regardless of the detection results of the placement detection sensor and the transport detection sensor.   
     
     
       7. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the disabling mode includes a disable maintaining mode for maintaining the state in which the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection sensor is disabled until the power supply is switched off. 
     
     
       8. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the instruction section issues an instruction for starting the job, and
 the interrupted job is restarted in accordance with the start instruction from the instruction section.   
     
     
       9. An image reading apparatus comprising:
 a transport section configured to transport original documents along a transport path;   a reading section configured to read images of the original documents transported by the transport section;   a multi-sheet feed detection section configured to detect a multi-sheet feed of the original documents transported by the transport section;   an instruction section configured to issue an instruction to disable multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection section based on an operation of the instruction section by a user; and   a transport detection section configured to detect the original documents transported by the transport section,   an output controller configured to output data of the original documents read by the reading section, the output controller determines whether a disabling mode in which the multi-sheet feed detection is disabled in accordance with the instruction from the instruction section has been set or not, after a job for sequentially transporting a plurality of original documents to perform a reading operation to read images is interrupted by multi-sheet feed detection performed by the multi-sheet feed detection section,   the output controller outputs first data that is read in the reading operation before the interruption and second data that is read in the reading operation after the interruption such that the first data and the second data can be saved as a single file,   wherein, the disabling mode includes an original document unit disabling mode for disabling the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection section until trailing edges of the original documents pass through the multi-sheet feed detection section, and   if the original document unit disabling mode is instructed by the instruction section, the multi-sheet feed detection performed by the multi-sheet feed detection section is configured to change from being disabled to being enabled after detecting that the trailing edges of the original documents pass through the multi-sheet feed detection section based on a detection signal detected by the transport detection section.    
     
     
       10. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the disabling mode includes a disable maintaining mode for maintaining the state in which the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection section is disabled until the power supply is switched off.  
     
     
       11. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the instruction section issues a start instruction for starting the job, and
 the interrupted job is restarted in accordance with the start instruction from the instruction section.    
     
     
       12. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the disabling mode includes a job unit disabling mode for disabling the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection section until the job is complete,
 wherein if the job unit disabling mode is instructed by the instruction section in response to the job completion the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection section is enabled.  
 
     
     
       13. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a placement section on which the original documents to be read are mounted; and   a placement detection section configured to detect the original documents mounted on the placement section,   the transport detection section configured to detect the original documents mounted on the placement section and transported by the transport section, wherein   from the job interruption to the job restart, the disabling mode set in accordance with the instruction from the instruction section is maintained regardless of the detection results of the placement detection section and the transport detection section.    
     
     
       14. The image reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising a notification section configured to notify of a selected mode,
 wherein, when the original document unit disabling mode is selected by the user, the output controller is configured to control the notification section to notify that the original document unit disabling mode is being selected.    
     
     
       15. A method of controlling an image reading apparatus comprising:
 transporting original documents along a transport path;   reading images of the transported original documents;   outputting data of the original documents that have been read;   detecting, by a multi-sheet feed detection section a multi-sheet feed of the original documents being transported;   receiving an instruction to disable a multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection section;   detecting the original documents being transported;   determining whether a disabling mode in which the multi-sheet feed detection is disabled in accordance with the instruction from the instruction section has been set or not;   outputting first data that is read in the reading operation before the interruption and second data that is read in the reading operation after the interruption such that the first data and the second data can be saved as a single file,   wherein, the disabling mode includes an original document unit disabling mode for disabling the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection section until trailing edges of the original documents pass through the multi-sheet feed detection section, and   if the original document unit disabling mode is instructed by the instruction, allowing the multi-sheet feed detection performed by the multi-sheet feed detection section to be changed from being disabled to being enabled after detecting that the trailing edges of the original documents pass through the multi-sheet feed detection section based on a detection signal of the original documents.    
     
     
       16. The method of controlling an image reading apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the disabling mode includes a disable maintaining mode for maintaining the state in which the multi-sheet feed detection is disabled until the power supply is switched off.  
     
     
       17. The method of controlling an image reading apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the receiving of the instruction includes receiving a start instruction for starting the job, and
 the interrupted job is restarted in accordance with the start instruction.    
     
     
       18. The method of controlling an image reading apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the disabling mode includes a job unit disabling mode for disabling the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection section until the job is complete,
 wherein if the job unit disabling mode is instructed by the instruction, in response to the job completion the multi-sheet feed detection by the multi-sheet feed detection section is enabled.    
     
     
       19. The method of controlling an image reading apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:
 detecting the original documents mounted on a placement section, wherein   from the job interruption to the job restart, the disabling mode set in accordance with the instruction is maintained regardless of the detection result of the original documents being placed on the placement section and the detection result of the original documents being transported.    
     
     
       20. The method of controlling an image reading apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:
 notifying a notification that the original document unit disabling mode is being selected when the original document unit disabling mode is selected by the user.