Image reading apparatus

Claim 2

An image reading apparatus for reading an image of an original, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original, said image reading means including a movable member which reciprocates within a scanning range for scanning said original, said scanning means being located at a initial position which is outside said scanning range before a scanning operation; drive means for driving said movable member; detecting means for detecting presence of said movable member at the initial position; setting means for setting a scanning start position at a position distant from said initial position by a predetermined distance; signal supply means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to move the movable member from the initial position to the scanning start position before initiating reciprocating movement of the movable member and to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member within the scanning range with reference to said scanning start position; and means for stopping operation of said drive means when said detecting means detects said movable member at the initial position during said reciprocating movement.

Claim 3

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a stepping motor; said setting means sets the predetermined distance based on a preset number of pulses; and said signal supply means generates a periodic pulse signal to be supplied to said stepping motor.

Claim 4

An image reading apparatus for reading an image of an original, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original, said image reading means including a movable member for scanning said original; drive means for driving said movable member, said drive means includes a stepping motor; detecting means for detecting an initial position of said movable member; setting means for setting a scanning start position at a position distance from said initial position by a predetermined distance, said setting means sets the predetermined distance based on a preset number of pulses; signal supply means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member with reference to said scanning start position, said signal supply means generates a periodic pulse signal to be supplied to said stepping motor; and means for stopping operation of said drive means when said detecting means detects said movable member during said reciprocating movement.

Claim 5

An image reading apparatus for reading an image of an original, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original, said image reading means including a movable member for scanning said original; drive means for driving said movable member, said drive means includes a stepping motor; detecting means for detecting an initial position of said movable member; setting means for setting a scanning start position at a position distance from said initial position by a predetermined distance, said setting means sets the predetermined distance based on a preset number of pulses; signal supply means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member with reference to said scanning start position, said signal supply means generates a periodic pulse signal to be supplied to said stepping motor; and means for stopping operation of said drive means when said detecting means detects said movable member during said reciprocating movement.

Claim 6

A color copying apparatus for reading an image of a color original a plurality of times for respective colors and forming a color image, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original, said image reading means including a movable member which reciprocates within a scanning range for scanning said original, said scanning means being located at a initial position which is outside said scanning range before a scanning operation; drive means for driving said movable member; detecting means for detecting presence of said movable member in an initial position; setting means for setting a scanning start position at a position distant from said initial position by a predetermined distance; signal supply means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to move the movable member from the initial position to the scanning start position before initiating reciprocating movement of the movable member and to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member within the scanning range with reference to said scanning start position; and means for stopping operation of said drive means when said detecting means detects said movable member at the initial position during said reciprocating movement.

Claim 7

A color copying apparatus for reading an image of a color original a plurality of times for respective colors and forming a color image, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original, said image reading means including a movable member which reciprocates within a scanning range for scanning said original, said scanning means being located at a initial position which is outside said scanning range before a scanning operation; drive means for driving said movable member; detecting means for detecting presence of said movable member in an initial position; setting means for setting a scanning start position at a position distant from said initial position by a predetermined distance; signal supply means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to move the movable member from the initial position to the scanning start position before initiating reciprocating movement of the movable member and to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member within the scanning range with reference to said scanning start position; and means for stopping operation of said drive means when said detecting means detects said movable member at the initial position during said reciprocating movement.

Claim 8

A color copying apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said drive means includes a stepping motor; said setting means sets the predetermined distance based on a preset number of pulses; and said signal supply means generates a periodic pulse signal to be supplied to said stepping motor.

Claim 9

A color copying apparatus for reading an image of a color original a plurality of times for respective colors and forming a color image, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original, said image reading means including a movable member for scanning said original; drive means for driving said movable member, said drive means includes a stepping motor; detecting means for detecting presence of said movable member in an initial position; setting means for setting a scanning start position at a position distant from said initial position by a predetermined distance, said setting means sets the predetermined distance based on a preset number of pulses; signal supply means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member with reference to said scanning start position, said signal supply means generates a periodic pulse signal to be supplied to said stepping motor; and means for stopping operation of said drive means when said detecting means detects said movable member during said reciprocating movement.

Claim 10

A color copying apparatus for reading an image of a color original a plurality of times for respective colors and forming a color image, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original, said image reading means including a movable member for scanning said original; drive means for driving said movable member, said drive means includes a stepping motor; detecting means for detecting presence of said movable member in an initial position; setting means for setting a scanning start position at a position distant from said initial position by a predetermined distance, said setting means sets the predetermined distance based on a preset number of pulses; signal supply means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member with reference to said scanning start position, said signal supply means generates a periodic pulse signal to be supplied to said stepping motor; and means for stopping operation of said drive means when said detecting means detects said movable member during said reciprocating movement.

Claim 11

An image reading apparatus for reading an image of an original, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original, said image reading means including a movable member for scanning said original; drive means for driving said movable member; first position setting means for setting a first position where said movable member starts scanning; means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member with respect to said first position; second position detecting means for detecting a second position where said movable member terminates the reciprocating movement; abnormality detecting means for measuring a data related to a difference between said first and second positions, comparing the measured data with a first predetermined value, and detecting abnormality of said apparatus when said measured data exceeds said first predetermined value.

Claim 12

An image reading apparatus for reading an image of an original, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original, said image reading means including a movable member for scanning said original; drive means for driving said movable member; first position setting means for setting a first position where said movable member starts scanning; means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member with respect to said first position; second position detecting means for detecting a second position where said movable member terminates the reciprocating movement; abnormality detecting means for measuring a data related to a difference between said first and second positions, comparing the measured data with a first predetermined value, and detecting abnormality of said apparatus when said measured data exceeds said first predetermined value.

Claim 13

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising detecting means for detecting presence of said movable member in an initial position, and said drive means includes a stepping motor, said signal supply means generates a periodic pulse signal, said first position setting means sets the first position based on a preset number of pulses, said number of pulses being the number of pulses necessary for driving said movable member from said initial position to said first position, and said second position detecting means counts the number of pulses necessary for driving said movable member from said second position to said initial position.

Claim 14

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 8, further comprising means for stopping the movement of said movable member caused by said drive means, when said detecting means detects said movable member during scanning.

Claim 15

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said second position detecting means detects said second position after a predetermined time from an end of the reading of said image.

Claim 16

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising means for instructing a start of detecting operation of said second position detecting means.

Claim 17

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising means for changing a scanning condition of said movable member in response to the detection of the abnormality by said abnormality detecting means.

Claim 18

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said scanning condition changing means decreases a maximum value of a scanning speed of said movable member.

Claim 19

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said scanning condition changing means decreases a maximum value of a speed of return of said movable member.

Claim 20

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said scanning condition changing means forbids operation of said movable member.

Claim 21

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 12, further comprising means for displaying a change of the scanning condition by said scanning condition changing means.

Claim 22

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 12, further comprising control means for controlling said drive means to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member with reference to said first position under the scanning condition changed by said scanning condition changing means, third position detecting means for detecting a third position where said movable member terminates the reciprocating movement, and abnormality detecting means for detecting abnormality of said apparatus when a data related to difference between said first and third positions exceeds a second predetermined value,

Claim 23

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein said third position detecting means detects said third position in response to a first image reading request after the change of said scanning condition.

Claim 24

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein said third position detecting means detects said third position each time before reading of said image after the change of said scanning condition.

Claim 25

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising scanning condition limiting means for comparing said measured data with a third predetermined value when said abnormality detecting means detects abnormality, and limiting a moving speed of said movable member when said measured data does not exceed said second predetermined value.

Claim 26

An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising for comparing said difference with a second predetermined value when said abnormality detecting means detects abnormality, and forbidding operation of said movable member when said difference exceeds said second predetermined value.

Claim 27

An image reading apparatus for reading an image of an original, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original by scanning said original; original placing member where said original is placed, and moving together with said original; drive means for moving said original placing member; first position setting means for setting a first position where scanning of said original starts; means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to cause reciprocating movement of said original placing member with reference to said first position; second position detecting means for detecting a second position where said original placing member terminates the reciprocating movement; and abnormality detecting means for detecting abnormality of said apparatus when a data related to a difference between said first and second positions exceeds a first predetermined value.

Claim 28

An image reading apparatus for reading an image of an original, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original by scanning said original; original placing member where said original is placed, and moving together with said original; drive means for moving said original placing member; first position setting means for setting a first position where scanning of said original starts; means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to cause reciprocating movement of said original placing member with reference to said first position; second position detecting means for detecting a second position where said original placing member terminates the reciprocating movement; and abnormality detecting means for detecting abnormality of said apparatus when a data related to a difference between said first and second positions exceeds a first predetermined value.

Claim 29

A color copying apparatus for reading an image of a color original a plurality of times for respective colors, forming a color image, and changing a copy magnification by changing a scanning speed, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original, said image reading means including a movable member for scanning said original; driving means for driving said movable member; first position setting means for setting a first position where said movable member starts scanning; means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member with respect to said first position; second position detecting means for detecting a second position where said movable member terminates the reciprocating movement; abnormality detecting means for measuring a data related to a difference between said first and second positions, comparing the measured data with a first predetermined value, and detecting abnormality of said movable member when said measured data exceeds said first predetermined value; and means for changing a copy condition in response to the detection of abnormality by said abnormality detecting means.

Claim 30

A color copying apparatus for reading an image of a color original a plurality of times for respective colors, forming a color image, and changing a copy magnification by changing a scanning speed, comprising: image reading means for reading the image of the original, said image reading means including a movable member for scanning said original; driving means for driving said movable member; first position setting means for setting a first position where said movable member starts scanning; means for supplying a drive signal to said drive means to cause reciprocating movement of said movable member with respect to said first position; second position detecting means for detecting a second position where said movable member terminates the reciprocating movement; abnormality detecting means for measuring a data related to a difference between said first and second positions, comparing the measured data with a first predetermined value, and detecting abnormality of said movable member when said measured data exceeds said first predetermined value; and means for changing a copy condition in response to the detection of abnormality by said abnormality detecting means.

Claim 31

A color copying apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein said color copying apparatus is capable of changing a reduction copy magnification, and said copy condition changing means limits changeable values for said reduction copy magnification.