A system and method for aligning documents for scanning includes a multifunction peripheral with a controller having a processor and associated memory. The controller issues instructions controlling operation of a scanner. A tangible document is placed on a surface of a scanner platen, and a sensor determines its location relative to the platen. An optimal position of the document relative to the platen is determined. The processor then generates a graphical rendering on an associated display indicative of a directed repositioning of the document on the platen in accordance with a determined optimal position of the document relative to the platen.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for processing a digital image of a document, for example, to determine whether the document is a long document. An exemplary method generally includes obtaining a plurality of digital images of the document, segmenting at least a first digital image of the plurality of images into pixels associated with a foreground of the first digital image and pixels associated with a background of the first digital image, detecting a plurality of contours in the segmented first digital image, deciding, for each detected contour of the plurality of contours, whether that contour is an open contour or a closed contour, and determining that one or more sides of the document is out-of-bounds based, at least in part, on the decisions.

A reading unit is configured to capture an image of a shadow generated at a leading end of a document, and a control unit is configured to estimate a thickness of the document based on a pixel value of the shadow. A multifeeding error is displayed on a display unit when it is determined as thin paper in a thick paper determination. The control unit turns multifeeding detection to OFF and stands by until a feeding is completed, and upon completion, returns the multifeeding detection to ON.

According to an example, a scanner apparatus may include a housing, a scan panel positioned on the housing and a lid rotatably mounted to the housing. The lid may be moved between a closed position and an open position, in which in the closed position, the lid covers the scan panel and in the open position, the lid is extended away from the scan panel. The scanner apparatus may also include an optical sensor to detect media placed on the scan panel and a media engine to determine whether the optical sensor has detected a media on the scan panel while the lid is in the open position.

A system and method for aligning documents for scanning includes a multifunction peripheral with an intelligent controller having a processor and associated memory. The controller issues instructions controlling operation of a scanner. A tangible document is placed on a surface of a scanner platen, and a sensor determines its location relative to the platen. An optimal position of the document relative to the platen is determined. The processor then generates a graphical rendering on an associated display indicative of a directed repositioning of the document on the platen in accordance with a determined optimal position of the document relative to the platen.

A document reading apparatus includes a scanner, an input device receiving an input of a width and length, and a processor configured to scan an area specified based on the input length and generate a first image, generate a second image by removing a part of the first image so that a width of the second image is equal to or greater than the input width, detect a background or non-background area in the second image, determine whether the input is appropriate based on whether all sides of an area specified based on the input width and length overlap the background area or none of the sides overlaps the non-background area on the second image, and when the input is appropriate, output a third image in which the background area is removed or the non-background area is extracted from the second image.

An image reading apparatus includes a transport section configured to transport at least one sheet of paper along a transport path; a sonic wave detection section including a sonic wave transmitter and a sonic wave receiver that are disposed at positions between which the transport path is interposed, the sonic wave detection section being configured to output an output signal having a value that varies in accordance with a reception intensity with which the sonic wave receiver has received a sonic wave transmitted from the sonic wave transmitter; and a controller configured to determine a possibility of an occurrence of multi-feeding based on a result of comparing an output signal by the sonic wave detection section and two threshold value.

A document reading apparatus includes a scanner, an input device receiving an input of a width and length, and a processor configured to scan an area specified based on the input length and generate a first image, generate a second image by removing a part of the first image so that a width of the second image is equal to or greater than the input width, detect a background or non-background area in the second image, determine whether the input is appropriate based on whether all sides of an area specified based on the input width and length overlap the background area or none of the sides overlaps the non-background area on the second image, and when the input is appropriate, output a third image in which the background area is removed or the non-background area is extracted from the second image.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a display, a reading unit configured to read a reference image formed on a test sheet by the image forming unit, wherein the reference image includes a mark corresponding to a reading order, a controller configured to control the image forming unit to form the reference image, cause the reading unit to execute a first reading operation, determine whether first read data is obtained, inform of a reading error if the first read data is not obtained in the first reading operation, cause the reading unit to execute a second reading operation, determine whether second read data is obtained, and inform of a reading error if the second read data is not obtained in the second reading operation, and an adjustment unit configured to adjust image forming positions based on the first read data and the second read data.

An image scanning apparatus comprises a pair of regulating members that regulates a position of the document sheet stacked on a stacking unit, at least one of the regulating members being movable in a width direction; and units that detects a length in the width direction between the regulating members, and detects the width of the document sheet conveyed by a conveyance unit; wherein in a case where a difference between the detected length and the detected width of a document sheet is smaller than a threshold, a first sheet-to-sheet interval is set, and in a case where the difference between the detected length and the detected width of the document sheet is larger than the threshold, a second sheet-to-sheet interval which is larger than the first sheet-to-sheet interval is set.