JP3076158B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile apparatus, a single-sided printing printer that prints on only one side of a sheet is applied, and an incoming original is divided into pages and output separately.

[0003]

Therefore, there is a need for a facsimile apparatus that outputs an incoming document by double-sided printing in order to reduce the cost of paper. However, if two-sided printing is performed over another communication, each incoming document cannot be divided, and a problem arises in that the incoming document cannot be distributed to each destination.

[0004]

Output control means for storing, in a memory, image data received via a modem connected to a communication line, and then outputting the stored image data to a two-sided printing printer; Two-sided printing control means for performing two-sided printing by a two-sided printing printer limited to the same communication and two-sided printing control means for performing two-sided printing over another communication are provided. A selection means for selecting the print control means or the separate communication double-sided print control means is provided.

[0005]

The image data (incoming original) stored in the memory is output to the duplex printer by the output control means, and the incoming original is output in duplex printing by the duplex printer. When the setting is made so that the communication is limited to the same communication, the same communication double-sided printing control means is selected by the selection means, the double-sided printing printer is controlled by the same communication double-sided printing control means, and the last page of the incoming document is printed on the front side Even if the recording paper (printed at least on one side) is printed on one side,
This recording paper is discharged from the double-sided printing printer as it is in single-sided printing. On the other hand, if the setting is made so that the duplex printing by the duplex printer is performed over another communication, the duplex communication control means is selected by the selection means, the duplex printer is controlled by the duplex communication control means, and the incoming original is printed. If the last page is printed on the front side and the recording paper is printed on one side, this recording paper is kept in the duplex printer until the next incoming document is printed on the back side of the recording paper.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided between an original tray 2 on which an original to be transmitted is set and a discharge tray 3 for storing read originals, as shown in FIG. An arranged document scanner unit 4 is provided. One end of a paper cassette 5 for storing printing paper is inserted into the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, and a recording paper discharge tray 6 for storing printed recording paper, and a temporarily-printed paper tray 5. A recording paper storage section 7 for storing recording paper is formed. In addition to the paper cassette 5, a paper storage unit 8 for storing paper is provided below the apparatus main body 1.

An operation panel 9 is provided on the front of the apparatus main body 1.
Is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 9 includes ten keys 10, function keys 11, select keys 12, start keys 13, a liquid crystal display 14, and the like.

Next, internally, as shown in FIG.
In the document scanner section 4, a document transport path 15 is formed from the document tray 2 to the paper discharge tray 3, and a scanner 16 is provided along the document transport path 15.

In the apparatus main body 1, a double-sided printing printer 17 is formed, and a recording paper transport path 18 is formed from the paper cassette 5 to the recording paper discharge tray 6. Then, a paper pull-out roller 19, a printing unit 20 for transferring toner to the paper, a fixer 21 for fixing the toner transferred to the paper in the printing unit 20, a paper discharge roller 22, and the like are arranged along the recording paper transport path 18. They are arranged in order. Here, the printing unit 20 includes a photosensitive drum 23
, A toner box 24, a cleaning device 25 for collecting toner, and a laser beam scanner 26. Further, a paper transport path 27 is formed from the paper storage unit 8 to the printing unit 20, and a paper extraction roller 28 is provided.
Are provided along the paper transport path 27.

A transport path branching switch 29 provided downstream of the fixer 21 controls the recording paper transport path 18.
The recording paper reversing conveyance path 30 is formed by branching from the printing section 20 and joining the recording paper conveyance path 18 upstream of the printing unit 20. The recording paper reversing conveyance path 30 is connected to the recording paper storage section 7 serving as a turning path via conveyance path branching switches 31 and 32. The recording paper storage section 7 switches back the recording paper. Is used to turn the recording paper upside down.

Next, as shown in FIG.
The document scanner unit 4, an I / O port 35 to which a motor driver 34 for driving a paper feed motor 33 is connected, a system RAM 36 (Random Access Memory),
RAM 37 and ROM 38 serving as buffers during image processing
(Read Only Memory), an ASIC 39 (A) that exchanges commands and status with the duplex printer 17
pplication Special Integrated Circuit), density conversion reduction circuit 40, page memory 41 serving as image memory,
A sensor block 42 for detecting a document placed on the document tray 2; a keyboard block 43 corresponding to each key provided on the operation panel 9;
, A display block 44 corresponding to the liquid crystal display 14 and an NCU 46 (Network) connected to a public line 45.
modem block 47 to which k Control Unit is connected,
Then, a CODEC 48 (Cod
erand Decoder) is the CPU49 (Central Processing)
Unit).

The double-sided printing printer 17 is connected to the page memory 41 via the density conversion reduction circuit 40 for inputting image data.

Further, a line control circuit 50 is connected to the page memory 41, and the line control circuit 50 has a scan line synchronization signal LSYNC (hereinafter referred to as LSYNC) output from the double-sided printing printer 17.
Is written).

The CPU 4 which operates as output control means according to the program written in the ROM 38.
9 in accordance with the instruction output from the printer 9.
Output a LSYNC for each scan line and a pixel synchronization signal VCLK (hereinafter, referred to as VCLK) for each pixel.
In synchronization with the LSYNC and VCLK, the pixel data becomes VD
ATA is input to the duplex printer 17 and printing is performed.

A power supply unit 51 for supplying power is connected to each power supply terminal (not shown).

Further, in this embodiment, the same communication duplex printing control means for controlling the duplex printer 17 so as to perform duplex printing limited to the same communication, and to perform duplex printing over separate communications. A separate communication duplex printing control means for controlling the duplex printing printer 17 is provided, and a selection means for selecting the same communication duplex printing control means or the separate communication duplex printing control means in accordance with the setting of the operator is provided. I have.

Further, this embodiment has the following features. 1. One-sided or two-sided printing 2. Do you print double-sided printing marks on double-sided printing paper? A single-sided printing means for controlling the double-sided printing printer 17 to perform single-sided printing, which can be set by the operator as to whether the recording paper remaining in the double-sided printing printer is forcibly discharged by a timer, and selected based on this setting A two-sided printing mark printing means for controlling the two-sided printing printer to print a two-sided printing mark; and a forcibly discharging recording paper waiting for backside printing in the two-sided printing printer 17 for a set time. Timer discharging means for controlling the double-sided printing printer 17 is provided.

In addition, display means for displaying on the liquid crystal display 14 that the recording paper is waiting in the double-sided printing printer, and forcible discharging means for forcibly discharging the waiting recording paper are provided. Is provided.

In such a configuration, at the time of single-sided printing, paper is pulled out from the paper cassette 5 or the paper storage unit 8, and this paper is printed by the printing unit 20, then fixed by the fixer 21 and passed through the paper discharge roller 22. Then, the recording paper is discharged to the recording paper discharge tray 6.

On the other hand, at the time of double-sided printing, after being fixed by the fixer 21, it is guided to the recording paper reversing conveyance path 30 by the conveyance path branch switch 29, passes through the conveyance path branch switches 31 and 32, and is turned for recording paper. It is sent to the storage unit 7. Then, when the communication of the next page is completed, the conveyance path branch switch 32 switches back to the recording paper conveyance path 18 and guides it, and the back side is printed. Then, the recording paper is guided again to the recording paper reversal conveyance path 30 to correct the upper and lower sides of the recording paper, is switched back by the recording paper storage unit 7, and is then discharged to the recording paper discharge tray 6. When printing on the back side, the page memory 4
1 is output from the end.

Next, the setting operation of the facsimile machine will be described. First, a function that can be set each time the function key 11 is pressed is displayed on the liquid crystal display 14. In FIG. 6, "Polling transmission" (Setting 2) is displayed first, followed by "confidential transmission" (Setting 3). And
When the "select print mode" is displayed (setting 4), pressing the select key 12 allows the print mode to be set, and "single-sided printing?"
Is displayed (Setting 5). If one-sided printing is selected, the start key 13 (confirmation button) is pressed here. In the case of single-sided printing, the setting is completed here, and the start key 13 is pressed again to end the setting (setting 14). When selecting double-sided printing, pressing the select key 12 displays "Do you want double-sided printing?". (Setting 6) The start key 13 is pressed here. Next, "Do you want to print double-sided printing mark?" Is displayed (Setting 7). To print a double-sided printing mark, the start key 13 is pressed. Select key 12 when not printing double-sided printing mark
Is pressed, "Does not print double-sided printing mark?" Is displayed (setting 8). Here, the start key 13 is pressed. Subsequently, "Do you want to limit double-sided printing to the same communication?" Is displayed (Setting 9). When the communication is limited to the same communication, the start key 13 is pressed. If the selection is not limited to the same communication, pressing the select key 12 displays "Do you want to perform double-sided printing over another communication?"
0) Here, the start key 13 is pressed. Then,
"Do you want to perform forced discharge by timer?" Is displayed (setting 11). The select key 12 is used when the timer for forcibly discharging the recording paper waiting in the recording paper storage unit 7 by the timer is not performed.
Press. In the case of performing the forced discharge by the timer, when the start key 13 is pressed, a time setting of the timer is requested (setting 12). Here, the time is set (setting 1).
3) Press the start key 13 to end the setting (setting 14).

Next, the program written in the ROM 38 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This program allows the CPU 49 to execute the same communication duplex printing control means, another communication duplex printing control means,
It operates as a selection unit, a single-sided printing unit, a double-sided printing mark printing unit, a timer discharging unit, and a display unit.

Since the duplex printer 17 used in this embodiment is a laser printer, it is impossible to control the synchronization speed of the printer in accordance with the communication speed. Is completed, that is, after the communication for one page is completed, the printing operation is started (step 1). At this time, first, it is determined whether there is recording paper in the recording paper storage unit 7 (step 2). If there is, the recording paper is taken from the recording paper storage unit 7 (step 3) and printed on the back of the recording paper. (Step 4) The recording paper is discharged onto the recording paper discharge tray 6 (Step 5). If there is no paper, paper is taken in from the paper cassette 5 or the paper storage unit 8 (step 6).

Then, the paper cassette 5 or the paper storage unit 8
After the paper is loaded, it is determined whether double-sided printing has been set (step 7). If double-sided printing has not been set, printing is performed on the surface of the extracted paper (step 4). The recording paper is discharged (step 5).

On the other hand, when double-sided printing is set,
It is determined whether double-sided printing is limited to the same communication or is performed over another communication (step 8). If limited to the same communication, it is determined whether the communication of the next page is continued (step 9) and the processing is continued. If not, after printing on the surface of the paper taken out in step 6 (step 4), the recording paper is discharged to the recording paper discharge tray 6 (step 5).

If it is determined in step 9 that communication of the next page is continuing, and if it is determined in step 8 that double-sided printing is to be performed over another communication,
It is determined whether printing of the double-sided printing mark is set (step 10). According to this determination, the double-sided printing mark is printed on the sheet taken out in step 6 (step 11), and the front side of this sheet is printed (step 12). Then, the recording paper is made to wait in the recording paper storage unit 7 until the communication of the next page is completed, and the fact that the recording paper is waiting in the recording paper storage unit 7 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 14 (step 14).

If it is set to forcibly discharge the paper after a lapse of a predetermined time (step 15), it is determined whether or not the next communication has been received (step 17) until the lapse of a predetermined time (step 16). If there is no reception within the time, the recording paper waiting in the recording paper storage unit 7 is discharged to the recording paper discharge tray 6 (step 18).

When the start key 13 is pressed while the recording paper is waiting in the recording paper storage section 7, the recording paper waiting in the recording paper storage section 7 is discharged to the recording paper discharge tray 6. The CPU 49 operates as a forcible discharge means in accordance with an interruption program similar to the subroutine of step 18 to forcefully discharge the recording paper waiting in the recording paper storage unit 7 to the recording paper discharge tray 6.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the cost of paper by performing double-sided printing. However, by setting such that double-sided printing is limited to the same communication, double-sided printing can be performed by another communication. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the incoming document is not distributed to the respective destinations due to the repeated steps. On the other hand, by making settings so that double-sided printing is performed over another communication, it is possible to further increase the effect of reducing the cost of paper. Also, setting to print double-sided printing marks during double-sided printing will print the double-sided printing marks on the double-sided printed recording paper. Can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to forcibly discharge the recording paper waiting in the recording paper storage unit 7 by means of the forcible discharge means unless the next communication is started and the printing is performed on the back side. This can be prevented.
Further, by displaying on the liquid crystal display 14 that the recording paper is waiting in the recording paper storage section 7, it is possible to confirm that the recording paper is waiting in the recording paper storage section 7, and to forget to take out the recording paper. Can be prevented. Further, by setting the timer to forcibly discharge the recording paper waiting in the recording paper storage unit 7, it is possible to prevent the recording paper waiting in the recording paper storage unit 7 from being forgotten to be discharged.

Incidentally, the double-sided printing printer can adopt a known recording system such as an ink jet recording system or a thermal transfer recording system instead of the electrophotographic recording system such as the laser printer of the present embodiment.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost of paper by duplex printing of an incoming original with a duplex printer, and to limit duplex printing by the duplex printer to the same communication. The same communication duplex printing control means for performing the same communication duplex printing control means and the different communication duplex printing control means for performing the duplex printing over another communication are provided. If the setting is made so that double-sided printing is limited to the same communication, double-sided printing will be performed over another communication, and it will not be possible to distribute incoming documents to each destination. If the setting is made so that double-sided printing is performed over another communication, there is an effect that the cost of paper can be reduced more effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an operation panel.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an internal structure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating settings performed according to a setting unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

17 double-sided printing printer 41 memory 47 modem 49 output control means, same communication double-sided printing control means,
Separate communication duplex printing control means, selection means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An output control unit that stores image data received via a modem connected to a communication line in a memory, and outputs the stored image data to a duplex printer; The same communication double-sided printing control means for performing double-sided printing limited to the same communication, and another communication double-sided printing control means for performing this double-sided printing over another communication are provided, and the same communication double-sided printing control means or A facsimile apparatus, further comprising a selection unit for selecting the separate communication duplex printing control unit.