JP2674163B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention includes one or a plurality of document reading sections and image recording sections having a divided structure, and communicates these with one line connection section wirelessly. The present invention relates to a facsimile machine adapted to perform transmission / reception with a facsimile machine of a partner via a line connection unit.

2. Description of the Related Art Facsimile apparatuses usually have a structure in which a document reading unit and an image recording unit are vertically integrated. The transmission operation of this facsimile apparatus is performed as follows. That is,
The image data of the original read by the original reading unit is converted into an electric signal, and the converted electric signal is transmitted to the other party via a line connecting unit for connecting a line with the facsimile apparatus of the other party. On the other hand, the receiving operation has a configuration in which an electric signal transmitted from the other party through the line connection unit is converted into image data and recorded in the image recording unit.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, when the document reading unit and the image recording unit are integrated, a plurality of facsimile devices are required, for example, in a business office that frequently uses facsimile devices.
There is a drawback that equipment costs increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile machine that is particularly effective in business establishments and the like that frequently use facsimile machines.

Means for Solving the Problems A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes one or a plurality of document reading units and image recording units having a divided structure, and communicates these with one line connection unit wirelessly, A facsimile machine adapted to perform transmission / reception with a facsimile machine of the other party through a line connection section, wherein the document reading section and the image recording section are provided with means for setting a device code for identifying them. In addition, the line connection unit is equipped with a device for designating the device code and setting a communication permission code for performing wireless communication with the document reading unit or the image recording unit having the corresponding device code, according to the communication permission code. It is characterized in that the document reading unit or the image recording unit having the apparatus code is communicated with the line connecting unit.

When appropriate, wireless communication is performed between the document reading unit or the image recording unit that has the device code specified by the communication permission code and the line connection unit, and the transmission / reception with the other party's facsimile device is performed via the line connection unit. Reception will be performed.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing a schematic structure of a document reading portion, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing its circuit configuration, and FIG. 4 is a document. FIG. 5 is an external view showing an operation panel of a controller equipped in the reading unit, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing its circuit configuration, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the image recording unit, and FIG. 7 is its schematic structure. FIG. 8 is a front sectional view shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, this facsimile apparatus includes three document reading units 1a, 1b and 1c and two image recording units 2a and 2b.
And one line connection unit 3. The document reading units 1a, 1b, 1c, the image recording units 2a, 2b and the line connection unit 3 are provided with wireless communication transmitters / receivers 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b, 30 respectively. Receiver 10a, 10b, 10c, 2
Communication (transmission / reception) can be performed via 0a, 20b, 30. As the transmitter / receiver, for example, a wireless microphone is preferable, and communication is performed with FM having a frequency of 70 MHz. The numbers of the document reading section and the image recording section are not limited to the examples shown in the figure, and any number can be selected respectively. Further, any one of them may be integrated with the line connection unit 3.

Each document reading unit 1a, 1b, 1c has the same configuration,
The document reading section 1a shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described below as a representative. The document reading section 1a is an original reading apparatus of a system in which the optical system is moved, by setting the original P ₁ on the platen glass 11, which was irradiated with light exposure lamp 12, the reflected light from the original P ₁ Is a mirror system 13 composed of first, second and third mirrors.
Is focused on the lens 14, and the original image focused on this is CCD
The optical / electrical conversion unit 15 composed of, for example, reads the image data as image data and converts the read image data into an electrical signal.

This reading operation is performed according to the control signal from the controller 16, and the electric signal photoelectrically / electrically converted by the optical / electrical conversion unit 15 is output to the processing unit 17 where it is converted into a time-series binary signal. After that, it is output to the compressor 18. Compressor 18
Is a time series binarized signal for MR (Modified Read) and MH (M
It is compressed by a band compression method such as odified Huffman) and the compressed encoded data is output to the transmitter / receiver 10a.

Then, when the above-mentioned wireless communication is performed between the transmitter / receiver 10a and the transmitter / receiver 30 of the line connection unit 3 and the transmission permission described later is given, the encoded data is the facsimile machine of the other party. Will be sent to. The series of signal processing is performed by a control signal from the controller 16.
One controller 16 is provided, and one controller 16 controls the transmission of the three document reading units 1a, 1b, 1c.

Now, as shown in FIG. 5, the controller 16 has a CPU 160 which is a control center of the document reading section 1a, and a key matrix 162 which inputs various information to the CPU 160 (this key matrix 162).
Is provided in each of the three document reading sections 1a, 1b, 1c) and a dip for setting a device code (recognition number) for making the CPU 160 recognize the distinction between each document reading section 1a, 1b, 1c And a switch 163. DIP switch 1
63 is three setting switches, as shown in FIG.
The device code of the corresponding document reading unit 1a, 1b, 1c can be set by turning on / off each setting switch. Details of this device code will be described later.

The details of the controller 16 will now be described in detail.
The key matrix 162 is an operation panel 161 shown in FIG. 4 (of course, this operation panel 161 is also used for each document reading unit 1a, 1
b, 1c), and a numeric keypad 162a for inputting various information such as the telephone number of the facsimile machine of the other party to the CPU 160 via the input port 160a,
Send key 162b for sending to any of the document reading sections
Etc. are provided. Further, a transmission prohibition lamp 164 for notifying the operator of the transmission prohibition state of the document reading section is provided on each operation panel 161. The transmission prohibiting lamp 164 is turned on via the output port 160b.

Next, the image recording units 2a and 2b will be described. Both image recording units 2a and 2b have the same configuration, and the image recording unit 2a shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described below as a representative. First,
The circuit configuration of the image recording unit 2a will be described with reference to FIG. When a reception signal (encoded data) is given to the transmitter / receiver 20a from the facsimile machine of the other party via the line connection unit 3, the transmitter / receiver 20a stores the encoded data in the memory 21.
Will be written in.

When the amount of data written in the memory 21 reaches the required amount, the decoder 22 reads the accumulated data in the memory 21,
The read encoded data is converted into a time-series binary signal and output to the printer 23. The series of signal processing is performed by a control signal from the controller 24.
Like the controller 16, the controller 24 is also provided with a dip switch (not shown). By turning on / off the setting switch of the dip switch, the device codes of the image recording units 2a and 2b are set in the same manner. It can be set. Details of this device code will also be described later.

The printer 23 has the schematic structure shown in FIG. That is, when the time-series binary signal is given from the decoder 22,
An electric / optical conversion unit 25 including a laser optical system converts this electric signal into an electric light, and the obtained scanning light exposes the photosensitive drum 27 via the fourth mirror 26.

Prior to exposure, the photosensitive drum 27 is charged by the charger 28.
Therefore, the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the transmitted image data is formed by the exposure. Subsequently, a developing device (not shown) supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and the transfer charger 28 and the paper P ₂ (see FIG. 4) sent from the paper feeding unit 29 are timing. Then, the toner image is transferred to this. The paper P ₂ after transfer is separated from the photoconductor drum 27, is sent to the thermal fixing device 201 by the conveyor belt 200, and undergoes the fixing process, and then the paper discharge tray 202.
Will be discharged from the aircraft.

Next, the configuration of the line connection unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG. This line connection unit 3 includes the transmitter / receiver 30 described above,
Sending to / from the other party's fax machine via a line not shown
It has a modulator / demodulator 31 for receiving and a controller 32 which is a control center of the whole line connecting section 3. controller
Reference numeral 32 controls wireless communication between the transmitter / receiver 30 and the respective transmitters / receivers 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b of the document reading units 1a, 1b, 1c and the image recording units 2a, 2b, and also the other party. In order to control transmission / reception with the facsimile machine, the connection of the line (not shown) is switched and controlled.

The modulator / demodulator 31 FM-modulates (or AM-modulates) the data transmitted from the document reading units 1a, 1b, 1c via wireless communication based on a control command signal from the controller 32, and sends the data to a facsimile machine of the other party. At the same time, it receives data transmitted from the facsimile machine of the other party, demodulates the received data, and sends it to the image recording units 2a and 2b via wireless communication.

After that, the controller 32 sends a communication permission code for permitting wireless communication between the line connection unit 3 and one of the document reading units 1a, 1b, 1c and the image recording units 2a, 2b. The line connection unit 3 and any one of the document reading units 1a, 1b, 1c or the image recording units 2a, 2b can be communicated according to the communication permission code. Thus, wireless communication can be performed without causing a problem such as interference.

The communication permission code is set, for example, by writing information from the setting switch, to an address of a register (not shown) built in the controller 32, and is shown in Tables 1 and 2 below. As shown, it corresponds to the above-mentioned device codes of each document reading unit and each image recording unit. Table 1 shows the relationship between the communication permission code and the corresponding device, and Table 2 shows the relationship between the setting switches, and the document reading sections 1a, 1b, 1c and the image recording sections 2a, 2b. There is. However, these tables show examples in the case of a facsimile apparatus having seven document reading units and image recording units, respectively.

The contents of Tables 1 and 2 will be described a little now. For example, as shown in the second column in the left column of Table 2, when the setting switch on the document reading section side is turned on independently, When the device code of the document reading unit is specified as 0001 as shown in the second column in the middle column and only the setting switch on the image recording unit side is turned on independently, the second column in the right column of Table 2 is displayed. The device code of the image recording unit at this time is 10
It will be specified as 00 and will be written to the corresponding address in each of the above registers.

When the device code is 0001, as shown in the second column of Table 1, the corresponding communication permission code 0001 is transmitted, the first document reading section is driven, and this and the line connection section 3 are connected. Will be communicated with. Also, the device code is
In the case of 1000, as shown in the ninth column of Table 1, the communication permission code 1000 is transmitted, the first image recording section is driven, and communication with this and the line connection section 3 is performed. become.

The details of the communication operation between the document reading unit and the line connection unit 3 are as follows. That is, when the document reading section issues a communication request command signal and a device code to the controller 32 of the line connection section 3, at this time, the controller 32 issues a communication permission code as a response signal, and the document reading section which receives this code. The controller 16 compares the communication permission code with the device code, and if the two match, communication is performed.

Further, the following Table 3 shows ID (Identification) codes transmitted from the calling side, that is, the facsimile machine of the other party, and the corresponding image recording section is designated by this ID code. That is, for example, when the ID code is 001, the controller 32 specifies the image recording unit of the device code 1000, that is, the first image recording unit.

Next, a specific control operation of each of the above-mentioned parts will be described. First, the control operation of the line connection unit 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 (a), 9 (b) and 9 (c). However, FIG. 9 (a) shows a main routine of the line connection unit 3, and FIGS. 9 (b) and 9 (c) are flowcharts showing an interrupt routine.

First, the operator initializes the controller 32, more specifically, the CPU (not shown) of the controller 32 (S1). Next, the controller 32 determines whether or not the received signal from the facsimile machine of the other party is received (S2), and when the incoming state is confirmed (detected) (in this case, the facsimile machine of the other party is the calling side). The facsimile apparatus of the present invention is the called party. On the other hand, in the opposite case, the apparatus of the present invention is the calling party and the other party is the called party.), And the processing of the called party shown in step S3 is executed. After execution, the process returns to step S2.

The detection of the incoming call state shown in step S2 will be performed only after the execution of the interrupt routine shown in FIG. 9 (b), the details of which will be described later. The processing on the called side will be described later according to the subroutine shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the incoming call status cannot be confirmed, it is judged whether or not there is a communication request from any of the document reading sections 1a, 1b, 1c (S4), and if it is confirmed that there is a communication request, the processing of the calling side is performed. Is executed (S5), and after execution, the process returns to step S2. If the communication request cannot be confirmed in step S4, the process returns to step S2. Note that the processing on the calling side shown in step S is shown in FIG.
It will be described later according to the subroutine shown in.

Next, the interrupt routine shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C will be described. In the interrupt 1 shown in FIG. 9 (b), the modulator / demodulator 31 detects an incoming signal from the facsimile machine of the other party (S6), and this detection causes the above-mentioned steps.
S2 progresses. Further, in the interrupt 2 shown in FIG. 9 (c),
Communication request signals from the document reading sections 1a, 1b, 1c and image recording section
Step S7 for receiving the print permission signal from 2a and 2b is executed, but the step S4 is executed only after this step S7.

Next, the processing on the called side and the processing on the calling side of the controller 32 will be described according to the subroutines shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b).

The processing on the called side is performed as follows. That is, the controller 32 first specifies the corresponding image recording unit based on the ID code transmitted from the calling side, and transmits the corresponding communication permission code (S101). Thus,
Only wireless communication of the image recording unit is permitted, communication with other devices is prohibited, and the transmission prohibition lamp provided on each operation panel is turned on. In addition, in the state before the communication permission code is transmitted, each device is set to the state in which the communication between all the document reading section and the image recording section and the line connection section 3 is permitted. The code is 0000 as shown in the first column of Table 1 above.

Then, the controller 32 transmits a print request signal to the corresponding image recording unit (S102), and the image recording unit that receives the print request signal returns a print permission signal instructing that printing is possible to the controller 32. The controller 32 judges whether or not the print permission signal is returned, that is, there is a response (S103), and when confirming that there is a response, the image data is wirelessly transmitted to the image recording unit via both the transmitter and receiver. Will be done (S104). And then
It is determined whether transmission of all image data has been completed (S1
05), confirming the completion, communication permission code 0000
To set all devices to a state in which they can communicate (S1
06), will return.

On the other hand, the processing on the calling side is performed as follows. That is, the controller 32 first issues a communication permission code corresponding to the document reading unit that has made the transmission request, and sets a communication enabled state only with this document reading unit (S111). Then, the line with the called side (in this case, the facsimile machine of the called party) is connected (S112), and it is determined whether the connection is completed (S113).

Then, when the completion of the connection is confirmed, a transmission request signal is issued to the corresponding document reading unit and the image data from this is received (S114). Next, this image data is transmitted to the called side via the line (S115), and then it is judged whether or not the transmission of all the image data is completed (S116). Then, when the transmission completion is confirmed, the communication permission code 0000 is issued in the same manner as described above, all the devices are set to the communicable state (S117), and the process is returned.

Next, the specific operation contents of the document reading section will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b). However, FIG. 11 (a)
Is a flowchart showing a main flow, and FIG. 11 (b) is a flowchart showing an interrupt routine.

First, when the controller 16 is initialized (S20
1) This checks the communication permission code issued from the controller 32 (S209). It should be noted that this check is performed only after the interruption process shown in FIG. 11 (b). That is, the communication permission code is checked only after the reception process (S208) in which the communication permission signal is transmitted from the line connection unit 3 to the controller 16.

Now, in step S209, when it is confirmed that all the devices are in a communicable state, or that the document reading unit to be communicated is in a communicable state, the operation panel 16
The on / off state of the transmission key 162b provided above 1 will be determined (S202). Then, when the ON state of the transmission key 162b is confirmed, the communication request signal is transmitted to the line connection unit 3 (S203) and the corresponding device code is transmitted (S204).

Next, the controller 16 determines whether or not the communication permission signal, which is a response signal, has been transmitted from the controller 32 of the line connection unit 3 (S205), and when it confirms that the communication permission signal has been transmitted, transmits the image data to the line connection unit 3. Will be done (S20
6). Then, after that, it is determined whether or not the transmission of all the image data is completed (S207), and if it is confirmed that the transmission is completed, the process returns to the step S209.

Next, specific operation contents of the image recording unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b). However, FIG. 12 (a) shows
12 is a flowchart showing a main flow, and FIG. 12 (b) is a flowchart showing an interrupt routine.

First, when initializing the controller 24 (S301),
This checks the communication permission code issued from the controller 32 (S309). Note that this check is performed only after the interrupt processing shown in FIG. 12 (b). That is, a reception process in which a print request signal is transmitted from the line connection unit 3 to the controller 24 (S308)
Only then can the communication authorization code be checked.

Now, in step S309, when it is confirmed that all the devices are in a communicable state, or that the image recording unit of the communication object is in a communicable state, it is determined whether or not the print request signal is present (S302). When it is confirmed that the print request signal is received, the preparation operation such as a predetermined process required for the recording operation of the printer 23 is performed (S303).

Then, it is determined whether or not the preparation operation is completed (S30
4) When the completion is confirmed, a print permission signal is transmitted to the controller 32 of the line connection unit 3 (S305). Next, the printer 23 is drive-controlled to execute recording on the paper P ₂ , that is, printing operation (S306). And then
It is judged whether or not the print operation is completed (S307), and if the completion is confirmed, the process returns to step S309.

According to the present invention described above, according to the designation of the communication permission code set in the line connection unit, the original reading unit or the image recording unit having the designated device code through the line connection unit and the facsimile of the destination. Since transmission / reception with the device is performed, reliable transmission / reception can be performed without causing trouble such as interference at one communication frequency.

In addition, complicated and cumbersome line construction is not required, and various types of facsimile transmission can be performed with a low cost device configuration.
The effect is that reception can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing a schematic structure of a document reading section,
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing its circuit configuration, FIG. 4 is an external view showing an operation panel of a controller equipped in the document reading section, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing its circuit configuration, and FIG. 6 is image recording. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the line connection section, FIG. 7 is a front sectional view showing the schematic structure thereof, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the line connection section, and FIG. 9 is a main routine and interrupts of the line connection section. Flowchart showing the routine, No. 10
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine relating to the processing on the called side and the processing on the calling side shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation contents of the document reading section, and FIG. 12 is showing the operation contents of the image recording section. It is a flowchart. 1a, 1b, 1c ... original reading unit, 10a, 10b, 10c ... sending / receiving unit, 15 ... optical / electrical conversion unit, 16 ... controller, 160
...... CPU, 161 …… Operation panel, 162 …… Key matrix, 163 …… Dip switches, 2a, 2b …… Image recording area, 20a, 20b …… Transmit / receiver, 23 …… Printer, 24 ……
Controller, 3 ... Line connection part, 30 ... Transmitter / receiver,
32 …… Controller.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hideo Muramatsu 2-30, Azuchi-cho, Higashi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigenobu Fukushima 2-30, Azuchi-cho, Higashi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Address: Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshio Tsuboyi 2-30 Azuchi-cho, Higashi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor: Kanako Morita 2 Azuchi-cho, Higashi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 30-chome Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A document reading unit and an image recording unit having a divided structure are provided, and these are communicated with one line connection unit wirelessly, and the facsimile of the other party is also connected via the line connection unit. A facsimile device adapted to perform transmission / reception with an apparatus, wherein the document reading unit and the image recording unit are equipped with means for setting a device code for identifying them, and the line connection unit is provided with the device. Equipped with means for designating a code and setting a communication permission code for performing wireless communication with the document reading section or the image recording section having the corresponding device code, and according to the communication permission code, the document reading section having the device code or A facsimile apparatus characterized in that it is configured to communicate between an image recording section and a line connection section.