JP2002016732A - Digital composite machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital composite machine that can much more simplify a routine job in the case that a transmission matter addressed to a specific destination exists at a specific time as a daily routing job. SOLUTION: A destination FAX number is acquired from stored information (S1), and a transmission time management section retrieves whether or not this FAX number is registered as a group (S2, S3). When the FAX number is not registered in the group, a conventional processing is conducted (S4). When the FAX number is registered in the group, the transmission time set to the group is set to a transmission time of an image going to be stored from now (S5). Storage processing is conducted (S6, S7), and when the transmission time of the registered group comes, the image is transmitted by the same processing as that of the group transmission.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a digital multifunction peripheral,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a storage transmission control technique in a facsimile, and to a technique applicable to a facsimile apparatus and a digital multifunction peripheral (multifunction digital copying machine).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the prior art, image information can be transmitted at a designated time, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-8-223379 and JP-A-10-2.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3235. JP-A-8
The "facsimile apparatus" disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 223379/2000 discloses a method for storing transmission image information in an image information storage unit, in which another image having the same destination as the transmission image information and a predetermined transmission time specified. The search unit of the FAX control unit searches whether or not the information is already stored in the storage unit, and stores the other image information for which the same destination as the transmission image information is specified and for which a predetermined transmission time is specified. If the transmission image information is already stored in the image information storage unit, the FAX control unit transmits the transmission image information together with the other image information at the designated transmission time. If it is set by the key input unit whether or not to immediately transmit the transmission image information, and if it is set to immediately transmit the transmission image information, the FAX control unit transmits the transmission image information to another image of the same destination. Information and Immediately obtained by to transmit collectively also can transmit the image information at any time that real-time or user-specified and make them better use the line.

A "facsimile apparatus" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-23235 is a control unit for controlling each unit of the facsimile apparatus and performing a facsimile transmission control procedure, and a work area required for controlling the control unit. , A parameter memory for storing various information unique to the facsimile machine, various operation keys for giving instructions necessary for the operator to operate the facsimile machine, and an operation state of the facsimile machine. An operation display unit having a display device capable of sequentially displaying various types of information, and decoding received image information compressed and encoded on a transmission path, and encoding a transmission original image read by a scanner or the like. An encoding and decoding unit, an image storage device for storing transmitted or received image information, and a facsimile transmission control unit. A FAX modem having a low or high-speed modem function for row is composed of a facsimile apparatus and a network control unit for connection to a public line, is that to wait until the time specified facsimile transmission.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 8-223379 and 10-23235.
In any of the publications disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H08-27, transmission by time designation is effective only for each destination, and once transmission is performed, if transmission at the same destination at the same time is desired again, the transmission is repeated. , Time specification was required. Therefore, in the case where there is a transmission to a specific destination at a specific time at a specific time as a daily routine, the above-mentioned conventional technology is not satisfactory for performing the transmission efficiently.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and in the case where there is a transmission to a specific destination at a specific time as a routine routine, (1) the routine routine is simplified. (2) To provide a digital multi-function peripheral capable of simplifying routine work by transmitting a plurality of pieces of image information having different destinations collectively. It is.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital multi-function peripheral having a facsimile apparatus, wherein image information storage means for storing image information in facsimile transmission, and the stored image information are grouped. And transmission time management means for setting a transmission time for each group and managing the transmission time for each group.

[0007] The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the grouping is performed based on the destination of the stored image information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set transmission time transmitting means for transmitting the stored image information to the group for which the transmission time is set at the set transmission time. It is characterized by having.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the setting of the transmission time is released, and the time release for transmitting the image information of the group in which the released transmission time is set is transmitted. A transmission means is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital multi-function peripheral including a facsimile apparatus, wherein image information storage means for storing image information in facsimile transmission, and transmission management of the stored image information based on a destination of the image information. Transmission control number attaching means for assigning a number, and transmission time management means for setting a transmission time for each of the attached transmission management numbers and managing the transmission time for each of the transmission management numbers. Things.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an embodiment of a multifunction digital copying machine to which the present invention is applied. This digital copying machine includes a copying machine main body 1, an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as an automatic document feeder). ADF) 100, a 3-bin sorter 200, and a paper feed unit (hereinafter, bank) 300 are provided. Copying machine body 1
Has a scanner, an image processing unit, a plotter, etc., and the scanner has a contact glass 1 on which a document is placed.
The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 11, a first mirror 12, a second mirror 13,
It comprises a mirror 14, a lens 15, a full-color CCD 16, and the like. Exposure lamp 11 and first mirror 12
And a first carriage that is driven by a stepping motor to move at a constant speed when reading a document, and a second mirror 13 and a third mirror 14 that are driven by the stepping motor when reading a document. The second carriage driven at half the speed of the first carriage
It has a carriage.

An original (not shown) on the contact glass 10 is optically scanned by the first carriage and the second carriage, and is passed through an exposure lamp 11, a first mirror 12, a second mirror 13, a third mirror 14, and a lens 15. CC
An image is formed on D16 and photoelectrically converted. The image signals separated into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colors by the CCD are A / D converted by an A / D converter and output to an image processing unit that performs image processing. The image processing unit performs various image processing (binarization, multi-level conversion, scaling, editing, etc.) on the image signal from the AD converter, and converts the image signal into a digital signal. The writing unit includes a laser output unit 20, an fθ lens 21, and a mirror 22. Inside the laser output unit 20, a laser diode as a laser light source and a polygon motor are provided.

The black image signal output from the image processing unit is
The laser beam is converted into a laser beam having an intensity corresponding to the image signal, shaped into a light beam having a predetermined shape by a collimator lens, an aperture, and a cylinder lens, irradiated to a polygon motor, and output from a laser output unit 20.
The laser light output from the laser output unit 20 is applied to the photosensitive drum 30 via the fθ lens 21 and the mirror 22. Further, the laser light that has passed through the fθ lens 21 is applied to a beam sensor that generates a main scanning synchronization detection signal PMSYNC disposed outside the image area. The red image signal output from the image processing unit is buffered in order to match the writing position with the black image signal, sent to the LED writing unit 31 and irradiated on the photosensitive drum 30.

The ADF 100 feeds the documents one by one to the contact glass 10 of the copying machine main body 1, and discharges them after copying. Documents are stacked on a document feed table 101 and are aligned in the width direction by side guides. The document on the document feed table 101 is separated and fed one by one from a lowermost document by a feed roller 102, and is fed onto a contact glass 10 of the copying machine main body 1 by a transport belt 103. After reading the original on the contact glass 10, the conveyance belt 103 and the paper ejection rollers 104
5 is discharged.

When reading a double-sided document, the document feeder 1
01 on the double-sided document
02, one sheet at a time,
3, the document is sent onto the contact glass 10 of the copying machine main body 1, and is set on the contact glass 10 after the document is inverted by the inversion claw 106. After reading the back side of the original,
The document is conveyed by the conveyance belt 103, and is set on the contact glass 10 after the document is inverted by the inversion claw 106. After the reading of the front side of the document, the document is discharged to a discharge tray 105 by a transport belt 103 and a discharge roller 104.

The first tray 50, the second tray 310, the third tray
The transfer papers stacked on the tray 320 and the fourth tray 330 are fed by the first paper feeder 51, the second paper feeder 311, the third paper feeder 321, and the fourth paper feeder 331, respectively. It is transported by the vertical transport unit 340 and the main body vertical transport unit 60. When the leading edge of the transfer paper is detected by the registration sensor 52, the transfer paper is conveyed for a predetermined time and then stopped by the registration roller 53. This transfer paper is sent out onto the photosensitive drum 30 so as to meet the leading edge of an image valid signal (FGATE), and an image is transferred by a transfer charger.
After the transfer paper is separated from the photoreceptor, the transfer paper is conveyed by a conveyance device 54, is fixed by a fixing device 55 having a fixing roller and a pressure roller, and is discharged to a three-bin sorter 200 by a discharge roller 56.

To form an image on the photoreceptor, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating a laser beam with the electric charge charged on the photoreceptor drum 30 by the first charging device.
2, an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 30. Thereafter, the photosensitive drum 30 is charged again by the second charging device, a second-color electrostatic latent image is formed by the LED array 31, and an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 30 by the second developing device 33. I have.

When performing double-sided printing using the double-sided unit 40, the transfer paper from the fixing unit 55 is guided to the double-sided conveyance path 41 by the switching claw 57, passes through the feed roller 42 and the separation roller 43, and is transferred to the double-sided tray. Be accumulated. The transfer papers accumulated in the tray are brought into contact with the feed roller 42 by raising the tray, and are sent to the main body vertical transport unit 60 by the rotation of the feed roller 42,
After the sheet is fed again to the registration roller 53, printing is performed on the back surface. The 3-bin sorter 200 includes a first discharge tray 201, a second discharge tray 202, and a third discharge tray 20.
3. There is a tray 204 for reversing only, which is configured so that the transfer paper can be reversed and output on each tray.

In the case of front-side discharge, the transfer paper discharged from the copying machine main body 1 is guided by the switching claw 207 in the direction of the discharge tray, and discharged to a preset tray.
The second tray switching claw 205 operates to discharge the sheet to the second discharge tray 202, and the third tray switching claw 206 operates to discharge the transfer sheet to discharge to the third discharge tray 203. In the case of reverse sheet ejection, the switching claw 207
When the trailing edge of the transfer sheet passes through the reversal detection sensor 208, the transfer roller 20
9 is reversed, guided in the direction of the paper discharge tray, and discharged to a preset tray. In addition, the first discharge tray 201
Has a function of shifting the tray back and forth and a function of shifting the tray up and down. The shift function is used when sorting transfer papers, and the up / down function is used for stacking a large amount of transfer papers while ensuring sheet alignment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation section in the multifunction digital copying machine according to the present invention. In the center of the operation section 400, a 400 × 256 dot liquid crystal display (LCD) 40 is provided.
1 and a touch panel are provided. The liquid crystal display 401 has functions (copy,
FAX) is displayed, and the user operates the machine according to the display. Switching of functions (copy, FAX) is performed by function switching keys 412 and 413. On the right side of the liquid crystal display unit 401, various numeric keys 402, a clear / stop key 403, a start key 404, and a program key 40 commonly used for copying and facsimile.
5, various keys such as job recall key 406, mode clear / preheat key 407, interrupt key 408, and FAX
Keys such as a pause / redial key 409, an abbreviated key 410, and a reception key 411 that are exclusively used are arranged.
Further, on the left side of the liquid crystal display unit 401, a FAX switching key 412, a copy switching key 413, an initial setting key 414, a guidance key 415, and an LCD density adjustment volume 416 are provided. A display unit 417 dedicated to FAX is provided at a further left portion of the key. The display unit 417 displays various LEDs such as “memory full” during communication and 40 characters (2 characters) indicating the communication status.
An LCD of (0 characters × 2 lines) is provided.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the composite digital copying machine.
An operation unit controller 500 for performing ED control and various key input controls, a main controller 501 for performing sheet feeding, conveyance, fixing, double-sided, process control, and the like, an image processing controller 502 for performing image control / scanner reading control, and an ADF
ADF controller 503 for controlling the printer, sorter controller 504 for controlling the three-bin sorter, paper tray controller 505 for controlling the paper feeding unit, FAX controller 50 for managing FAX transmission / reception and file management
6. G3 controller 50 for controlling G3 protocol
7. G4 controller 50 for controlling G4 protocol
8 and the like.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image processing unit. The CPU 600 of the image processing controller 502 shown in FIG.
When a reading start instruction is issued from the main controller 501, the instruction is transmitted to the scanner control circuit 604. The scanner control circuit 604 turns on the exposure lamp 11 and operates the motor 605 to move the first carriage and the second carriage to the reading reference position, and starts reading after detection by the position sensor 603.
At this time, a sub-scanning valid period signal FGATE (active at the start of reading, negative at the end of reading) is generated and sent to the timing control circuit 606. In the timing control circuit 606, the image synchronization clock CLK, the main scanning synchronization signal LSYN
C: Generate and output a main scanning enable signal LGATE.

The flow of the image is such that the original 607 placed on the contact glass 10 is illuminated by the exposure lamp 11,
The reflected light forms an image on the color CCD 16 and the color CCD 1
The analog image signal separated into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) from 6 is amplified / light quantity corrected by a signal processing circuit 608, converted into a digital multi-value signal by an AD converter 609, and shaded. The shading is corrected by the correction circuit 610 and sent to the image processing unit 611. The image processing 611 includes basic image quality processing such as MTF correction, γ correction, black image generation, color image generation, binary processing, and multi-value processing, and digital-specific image processing such as scaling, editing, and marker detection. Perform black data DATA0-7, color data D
ATAC is output. The image data output from the image processing unit 611, the synchronization signal generated by the timing control circuit 606, and the write reference signal PMSYNC are input to the image selector 612.

In the case of copying, a black image is sent from the writing control unit (black) 613 to the LD 614, and a color image is sent from the writing control unit (color) 615 to the LED 616, and is irradiated on the photosensitive drum to cause image formation. To form When performing FAX transmission, the data is transferred from the selector 612 to a FAX memory inside the main controller 501. The FAX reception output is obtained by expanding the data received from the line and developing the data in the FAX memory, and then inputting the expanded data to the image selector 612 together with the image data and the synchronizing signal.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the flow of an image at the time of facsimile transmission / reception in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the present invention. When storing / transmitting a facsimile image, data read from the scanner is transmitted to the image processing controller 502. After being subjected to various types of image processing, the image data is stored in the image memory 620 in the main controller 501 from the selector 612. Thereafter, the data is compressed into an arbitrary compression code (MH, MR, MMR, JBIG) by the compression / expansion unit 622 and stored in the SAF memory 623 on the FAX controller 506. At this time, if it is more efficient to transmit the data stored in the image memory 620 while rotating the data such as A4 width or B5 width, the rotator 621 transmits the data from the image memory 620 to the compression / expansion unit 622. Use to rotate and compress the image. The data stored in the SAF is transferred to the line buffer 624 in the G3 controller 507 and decompressed again by the compression / decompression device 627. Here, information of the transmitter such as TTI printing is added, and the processing capability of the receiver is added. After being recompressed by the compression / expansion unit 627 in accordance with, the data is transmitted from the NCU 626 via the modem 625. Similarly, in the case of G4, the data is transferred to the line buffer 628 in the G4 controller 508, and
1, the information of the transmitter such as TID printing is added, and the compression / expansion unit 63 is added in accordance with the processing capability of the receiver.
After being recompressed in step 1, it is transmitted via the ISDN control 629 and the transformer 630.

At the time of facsimile reception / printing, data sent from the line is sent to the NCU 626 and the modem 625 via the SA.
Stored in the F memory 623. SAF memory 623
The data stored in the image memory 6 is decompressed by a compression / decompression device 622 on the main controller 501, and
20. If it is more efficient to rotate and print such as A4 landscape or B5 landscape during decompression, use a compression / decompression unit 6
When transferring data from the image memory 22 to the image memory 620, the image is rotated using the rotator 621 to perform expansion. The data developed on the image memory 620 is
The image data is sent to the image processing controller 502 and the selector 61
2 is passed to the writing control and printing is performed.

The transmission time management unit 632 provided in the FAX controller 506 manages a plurality of destination group registrations for dialing a plurality of destinations at one time.
The transmission time can be set for each group. Transmission is managed based on the time set for each group (claim 1). Therefore, the operator who accumulates the transmitted document only needs to accumulate the document merely for specifying the destination, and can simplify the transmission operation. Also, 1
For a destination (destination) that requires periodic transmission a plurality of times a day, registration for a plurality of groups with the same destination enables transmission a plurality of times a day. 2). Here, the transmission time management unit 632 performs group registration / management. However, by attaching additional information such as a marker for each destination instead of the destination, this can be managed as a transmission management number. .
If the transmission time is set for this management number,
Since the transmission time can be set and the transmission can be managed for each management number, the same management as the group registration / management can be performed (claim 5).

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining one embodiment of the operation of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.
5 shows a flow of an image storage process of the X controller 506. F
In the AX image storage, first, the fax number of the destination is acquired from the storage information (S1), and the transmission time
It is searched whether the X number is registered as a group (S2, S3). If the group has not been registered, the conventional processing is performed (S4). If the group has been registered, the transmission time set for the group is set as the transmission time of the image to be stored (S5). Thereafter, the same accumulation processing as in the related art is performed (S6, S7). After the data read from the scanner is subjected to various types of image processing by the image processing controller 502, the data is stored in the image memory 620 in the main controller 501 from the selector 612. Thereafter, the data is compressed into an arbitrary compression code (MH, MR, MMR, JBIG) by the compression / expansion device 622,
It is stored in the SAF memory 623 on the X controller 506. At this time, if it is more efficient to transmit the data stored in the image memory 620 while rotating the data such as A4 width or B5 width, the rotator 621 transmits the data from the image memory 620 to the compression / expansion unit 622. Use to rotate and compress the image.

When the transmission set time of the registered group registration comes, the transmission processing itself is the same as the group transmission. The data stored in the SAF 623 is transferred to the line buffer 624 in the G3 controller 507, and is decompressed again by the compression / decompression unit 627, where the TTI
After information of the transmitter such as printing is added and recompressed by the compression / expansion unit 627 according to the processing capability of the receiver, the modem 6
25 from the NCU 626. Similarly, in the case of G4, the data is transferred to the line buffer 628 in the G4 controller 508 and decompressed again by the compression / decompression device 631, where the information of the transmitter such as TID printing is added.
After being recompressed by the compressor / decompressor 631 in accordance with the processing capability of the receiver, it is transmitted via the ISDN control 629 and the transformer 630. This process is performed for all the image information stored for the destination registered in the group (claim 3).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment of the operation of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. When the image information to be transmitted is already stored and aligned, for example, if the setting of the set transmission time is performed by the release key, the release of the transmission time is notified (S11), and the transmission time is notified. The management unit 632 searches whether the FAX number is registered as a group (S1).
2, S13). If the group has not been registered, the process ends. If the group is registered (NO in S13), the destination registered in the group is acquired (S14). The stored image information for which the destination is specified is extracted (S15), and the image information is transmitted (S16). When all the destinations have been completed, the process ends (S17).

When the image information to be transmitted is already stored and prepared, as described above, the transmission time can be canceled by, for example, using a release key or the like, and the image can be transmitted immediately. The transmission process itself is performed by the same process as the group transmission. The data stored in the SAF 623 is
Line buffer 624 in G3 controller 507
Is transmitted again to the transmission / reception device and expanded again by the compression / expansion device 627. Here, information of the transmitter such as TTI printing is added, and the data is recompressed by the compression / expansion device 627 in accordance with the processing capability of the receiver.
Sent from NCU 626 via modem 625. G
Similarly, in the case of No. 4, the data is transferred to the line buffer 628 in the G4 controller 508 and decompressed again by the compression / decompression device 631, where the information of the transmitter such as TID printing is added, and the processing capacity of the receiver is reduced. Combined compression / decompression device 631
After recompression by ISDN control 629 and transformer 63
0. This processing is performed for all the image information stored at the destination registered in the group (claim 4).

However, since the transmission time setting release operation described above does not release the group registration, when the next image information is accumulated, the image information is transmitted at the next transmission time. Be eligible. When a plurality of transmission times are set for one destination, the next image information for that destination is to be transmitted at the next transmission time.
In this way, daily routine work can be repeated.

[0033]

(1) Effect of the invention of claim 1 Since the transmission time management unit that manages the setting of the transmission time in a group is provided, transmission to a specific destination at a specific time at a specific time is performed as a daily routine. When there is a thing, the routine work can be further simplified, and human work can be reduced.

(2) Effects of the Second Embodiment Since a plurality of transmission times can be set for the same destination, the routine work can be further simplified, and human work can be reduced.

(3) Advantageous Effects of the Third Embodiment All the image information stored for the destination registered in the group is transmitted collectively at the set transmission time. The image information can be transmitted collectively, and the routine work can be further simplified.

(4) Effect of the Invention of Claim 4 Since the set transmission time is canceled and all the image information stored in the destination registered in the group is immediately transmitted collectively, Different image information of multiple destinations can be transmitted collectively according to the convenience of the operator,
The routine work can be further simplified.

(5) Effect of the invention of claim 5 Since a transmission management number for each destination is provided, and a transmission time is set for each destination and transmission management for each destination is performed by the management number,
The routine work can be further simplified, and human work can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a multifunction digital copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation unit in the composite digital copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the composite digital copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image processing unit.

FIG. 5 is a facsimile in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a flow of an image during transmission and reception.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of the operation of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment of the operation of the digital multi-function peripheral according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copy machine main body, 10 ... Contact glass, 16 ... Full-color CCD, 20 ... Laser output unit, 30 ... Photoconductor drum, 40 ... Double-sided unit, 50 ... 1st tray,
55 ... fixing device, 60 ... main body vertical conveyance unit, 100 ...
ADF, 200: 3-bin sorter, 300: Paper feed unit, 400: Operation unit, 500: Operation unit controller, 5
01: Main controller, 502: Image processing controller, 503: ADF controller, 506: FAX controller, 507: G3 controller, 508: G4
Controller, 600 ... CPU, 612 ... selector,
620: Image memory, 621: Rotator, 622
627, 631 ... compressor / expander, 623 ... SAF memory, 624,628 ... buffer, 625 ... modem, 62
6 NCU, 629 ISDN control, 630 transformer, 632 transmission time management unit.

Claims (5)

[Claims] In a digital multi-function peripheral provided with a facsimile apparatus, an image information storage means for storing image information in facsimile transmission, the stored image information is grouped, and a transmission time for each group is set. A digital multifunction peripheral having transmission time management means for managing a transmission time for each group. 2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the grouping is performed based on a destination of the stored image information. 3. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising: a set transmission time transmitting unit that transmits the stored image information for the group for which the transmission time is set, at a set transmission time. A digital multifunction peripheral characterized by the following. 4. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the transmission time is canceled, and the image information of the group in which the canceled transmission time is set is transmitted. A digital multi-function peripheral comprising means. 5. A digital multifunction peripheral provided with a facsimile apparatus, an image information storage means for storing image information in facsimile transmission, and a transmission for attaching a transmission management number to the stored image information based on a destination of the image information. A digital multi-function peripheral comprising: a management number attaching means; and a transmission time management means for setting a transmission time for each of the attached transmission management numbers and managing the transmission time for each of the transmission management numbers.