JP3205994B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that saves power consumption.

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, a facsimile apparatus is always in a power-on state in order to keep the facsimile apparatus ready for reception at any time.

However, in order to reduce power consumption in the standby state,
Power is supplied only to a communication control unit or the like necessary for reception, and power is not supplied to other parts, particularly a recording unit, or only low power for standby is supplied (for example, JP-A-63-1492).

By the way, a so-called memory-receivable facsimile apparatus is used in which received data is temporarily stored in a memory, and data read from the memory is expanded after receiving at least one page of data and recorded on paper. Have been.

In such a conventional facsimile apparatus, upon reception, for example, by detecting a called signal, power is normally supplied to the entire apparatus including the recording unit.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

For this reason, although the received signal is input from the other party, there is no content to be received and recorded due to some mistake, or the content was transmitted from the other party but there were many errors, resulting in poor image quality, For example, when normal recording cannot be performed on the recording side, power is wasted because power is supplied to the recording unit as usual. In particular, in a recording unit of an electrophotographic system such as a laser beam printer, there is a problem in that wasteful power consumption becomes extremely large because power consumption of a heater for fixing and the like is large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to reduce power consumption in a facsimile apparatus capable of receiving a memory.

[Means for solving the problem]

A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention has a recording unit, a reading unit, and a communication control unit in order to solve the above-described problems.
The power supply to the recording unit is configured to be switchable between a normal mode for operating the recording unit and a power saving mode for waiting the recording unit, and at the time of reception, at least reception data is received. When it is determined that the image data for one page is normal, the power supply to the recording unit is switched to the normal mode.

(Operation)

At the time of reception standby, the power necessary for the reception is supplied, but the recording unit is in the power saving mode in which only the minimum necessary power for standby is supplied or no power is supplied at all. ing.

When the called signal is detected and the received data is received, the received data is checked, at least one page of the received data is checked, and it is determined whether or not the image data is normal enough to be recorded. You.

When it is determined that the image data for one page is normal, or after all of the received data has been received, the power necessary for performing normal operations to the recording unit is supplied. Is done.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the mechanism of the facsimile machine 1 according to the present invention.

The facsimile apparatus 1 includes a recording unit 5 composed of a laser beam printer, and a reading unit 6 installed above the recording unit 5.

First, the configuration of the recording unit 5 will be briefly described along with its operation.

Photoreceptor drum rotated by a motor (not shown)
The photoreceptor on the photoreceptor 11 is uniformly charged by the charger 12 and thereafter irradiated with a laser beam according to image data by the optical system 13, whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor. The toner of the developing device 14 adheres to the electrostatic latent image and is developed.

On the other hand, cut paper is loaded in the paper feed cassette 17, and the loaded cut paper is fed one by one toward the photosensitive drum 11 by a roller or the like.

The toner attached to the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred to the transfer charger.
After being transferred to the cut sheet by 15 and fixed by the fixing device 18, the cut sheet is discharged to a tray 19. The untransferred toner is collected by the cleaner 16, and one printing operation is completed.

Next, the configuration of the reading unit 6 will be briefly described along with its operation.

Documents placed on the document tray 21 are detected by the sensor 22 and fed one by one to the position of the sensor 25 by the rollers 23. Next, a roller by a motor (not shown)
The document is sent by the rotation of 24, and in synchronization with this, reading by the contact linear image sensor 26 is performed. The read document image is converted by the communication control unit 30 into digital image data. After scanning is completed,
The sheet is discharged to a discharge section 28 by a discharge roller 27.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the facsimile machine 1 according to the present invention.

The facsimile device 1 has a handset for talking in addition to the recording unit 5, the reading unit 6, and the communication control unit 30 described above.
50, an operation panel 60 for performing an operation is provided.

The control unit 30 includes a line counter 31, an error line counter 32, a recording page counter 33, an image buffer 34, a reception page counter 35, a compression / expansion unit 36, and a compressed data memory.
37, a modem 38, an NCU 39, a control unit 40, and a power control unit 41 are provided.

The line counter 31 counts the number of normal lines in which no error has occurred when the received data is expanded.

The error line counter 32 counts the number of lines on which an error has occurred. The count value of the error line counter 32 is a predetermined number set in advance,
Alternatively, when the preset ratio with respect to the number of lines of one page is reached, it is determined that the page has not been normally received, for example, the received data of the page is discarded, and a corresponding response signal Is transmitted to the transmitting side.

The recording page counter 33 counts the number of pages when recording in the recording unit 5. The recording page counter 33 counts up by one when the line counter 31 counts a predetermined number.

The image buffer 34 is a memory capable of storing image data for several lines to one page of a document. The image buffer 34 is shared by the recording unit 5 and the reading unit 6.

The reception page counter 35 counts the page signal sent from the transmission side at the time of reception.

The compression / decompression unit 36 decompresses the received compressed data into data of a real image by a predetermined coding algorithm, or compresses the image data for transmission.

The compressed data memory 37 is a memory for storing received compressed data (received data) and compressed data (transmitted data) obtained by compressing image data for transmission,
For example, it has a capacity of about 30 pages. At the time of reception, the received data demodulated by the modulator / demodulator 38 is temporarily stored in the compressed data memory 37 instead of performing the recording by the recording unit 5 simultaneously with the reception of the data, and after receiving all the received data or After receiving at least one page of received data, the recording unit 5 performs recording in parallel with the reception, that is, so-called memory reception. During the recording of the data received earlier or the recording of the management report,
The received data is stored in an empty area of the compressed data memory 37.

In the facsimile machine 1 of the present embodiment, a transmission interrupt is possible in which the recording operation is interrupted by the operation of the operator during recording and processing for transmission is performed, but if the transmission interrupt is performed, The transmission data is stored in an empty area of the compressed data memory 37 while the unprocessed received data is held in the compressed data memory 37. That is,
In the compressed data memory 37, reception data and transmission data can be mixed. Further, by storing the transmission data in the compressed data memory 37, transmission at a preset time, that is, so-called timer transmission can be performed.

The control unit 40 controls the entire facsimile machine 1 such as the recording unit 5, the reading unit 6, the communication control unit 30, the handset 50, and the operation panel 60. The control unit 40 is realized by using, for example, an appropriately programmed MPU or the like.

The power control unit 41 supplies power to the recording unit 5, the reading unit 6, and the communication control unit 30, and controls the supply state.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the power supply control unit 41 and a power supply system.

The power supply control unit 41 includes a recording unit power supply 45 for supplying power to the recording unit 5, a main power supply 46 for supplying power to the reading unit 6 and the communication control unit 30, and an AC input of the recording unit power supply 45. And a relay 47 for turning on and off the switch.

The main power supply 46 always operates when a main power switch (not shown) of the facsimile apparatus 1 is turned on, and always supplies power to the reading unit 6 and the communication control unit 30 during that time.

The recording section power supply 45 operates only when the recording section 5 operates. That is, in the standby state for reception, the power supply 45 for the recording unit is used.
The AC input to the recording unit 5 is interrupted by the relay 47, and during this period, the power supply to the recording unit 5 is stopped (power saving mode). If it is confirmed that the received data for the page is normal, the power supply
Is switched, the AC input is applied to the recording unit power supply 45, the supply of predetermined power to the recording unit 5 is started, and the operation of the recording unit 5 is enabled (normal mode).

If a transmission interrupt occurs during recording of received data by the recording unit 5 or recording of a communication report or a management report, the power supply control signal S1 is used after the recording of one page being recorded is completed. The relay 47 is switched, the power supply 45 for the recording unit is turned off, and the supply of power to the recording unit 5 is stopped. The transmission interruption is performed when a document is set on the document tray 21 or when a key input for the transmission interruption is performed from the operation panel 60.

After the transmission interrupt processing is completed, the recording unit power supply 45 is turned on again to restart recording of the remaining received data and the like, and the recording by the recording unit 5 is restarted.

Also, if a reception interrupt occurs during the recording of the reception data by the recording unit 5 or the recording of the management report or the like, the power supply 45 for the recording unit is kept on as it is,
The recording operation by the recording unit 5 is continued. The reception interrupt is
This is performed when the called signal is detected or when the receiver is picked up.

As described above, the facsimile apparatus 1 enables transmission interruption and reception interruption during recording, improves the line operation rate, and operates the power supply control unit 41 to use the unnecessary power to the recording unit 5. Is prevented, and the power consumption of the facsimile machine 1 is reduced.

In the reception standby mode, only when it is confirmed that the received data of one page received is normal,
Since the supply of power to the recording unit 5 is started, it is possible to prevent power from being supplied even when the recording unit 5 does not operate, such as in the case of a reception error, and wasteful power consumption is prevented. Is prevented.

Further, if a transmission interrupt occurs during recording, the recording section power supply 45 is turned off after the recording of one page being recorded is completed, so that recording of the page is not disturbed and recording of the next page is performed. Is surely restarted.

Next, the operation of the facsimile machine 1 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The facsimile procedure in the flowchart is CC
Based on ITT Recommendation T30.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the facsimile machine 1.

In steps # 11 and # 12, the start of the transmission operation or the reception operation is constantly monitored. During this time, reception is always possible and reception is in a standby state.

If an incoming signal is received from NCU 39 during reception standby (YES in step # 12), control unit 40 sets a reception mode such as a communication speed, a density, and a size by a predetermined pre-procedure (step # 12). 13) The received data is processed (step # 14), and then the recording process is performed by the recording unit 5 (step # 15).

On the other hand, when the transmission operation is started by the input from the operation panel 60 or the setting of the document (Yes in step # 11), the control unit 40 changes the transmission mode such as the resolution and the density based on the information from the operation panel 60. Set (Step #
16), processing of transmission data is performed (step # 17), and data transmission processing is performed (step # 18).

If there is unprocessed data to be recorded (Yes in step # 19), the recording process in step # 15 is performed, and if all the recording processes are completed, the process ends.

Further, if there is a transmission interrupt, the process starts from step # 16, and if there is a reception interrupt, the process starts from step # 13.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of transmission data in step # 17.

The binarized image data read by the reading unit 6 is stored in the image buffer 34 (step # 2).
1). The image data stored in the image buffer 34 is sent to a compression / expansion unit 36, where a predetermined compression scheme (MH scheme, MR
Data compression is performed (step # 22). The compressed data is stored in the compressed data memory 37 (Step # 23).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the data transmission process in step # 18.

A line connection to a target transmission destination is performed by dial information from the operation panel 60 (step # 31), and then a predetermined facsimile procedure is performed.

In the facsimile procedure, after a predetermined pre-procedure is performed,
The compressed data is read from the compressed data memory 37 and modulated by the modem 38 (step # 32), and the modulated signal is sent out from the NCU 39 to the line (step # 33).
When the transmission of the data for one communication is completed, the transmission operation is terminated by a predetermined post-procedure (step # 34).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of the received data in step # 14.

In this flowchart, the presence / absence of an error in the received data is checked, and 1 is sent from the partner (transmitting side).
After confirming that the data for the page has been normally received, the power supply to the recording unit 5 is started.

First, receive page counter 35, record page counter 3
3. Initial setting of the error line counter 32 and the line counter 31 is performed (steps # 41 to # 44).

At the time of reception, all received data is temporarily stored in the compressed data memory 37.
It is determined whether there is received data in 37 (step # 45). In step # 45, the presence / absence of received data for the same one page (one page on the transmission side) is determined. When the processing for one page ends, the determination in this step is NO. Become.

If there is received data, it is sent to the compression / decompression device 36 to perform decompression processing (step # 46).

Simultaneously with this decompression processing, the number of dots per line of the decompressed data is checked by the control unit 40, and the presence or absence of a line error is determined (step # 47).

In other words, when an error occurs in the received data, the number of dots per line of the decompressed data does not reach the predetermined number. By determining this, the presence or absence of an error in the line is determined.

If normal (Yes in step # 47), the line counter 31 is counted up (step # 48), and the received data corresponding to the line is held in the compressed data memory 37 (step # 49).

The processing from step # 45 is repeated until the count value of the line counter 31 reaches the predetermined value. When the count value reaches the predetermined value (Yes in step # 50), the recording page counter 33 is counted up (step # 51). Then, the processing jumps to step # 44, and the subsequent processing is repeated until the check of the received data for the one page is completed.

If it is determined in step # 47 that the line is an error line, the error line counter 32 is counted up (step # 61), and the received data corresponding to this line is discarded. If the count value of the error line counter 32 has not reached the predetermined number (NO in step # 62), the process jumps to step # 45.

If the count value of the error line counter 32 has reached a predetermined number, the received data of this page is discarded (step # 63), and a so-called post-procedure signal such as "MPS", "EOP", or "EOM" is waited ( In step # 64), "RTN", which is a response signal indicating that the reception was not performed normally, is transmitted (step # 65), and the reception process ends.

When the check of the received data for one page is completed and it is confirmed that the reception has been normally completed, the result of the determination in step # 45 is NO, and the control unit 40 waits for a post-procedure signal (step # 71).
The respective count values of the recording page counter 33 and the line counter 31 are stored (step # 72), and the power supply 45 for the recording section is turned on to start supplying power to the recording section 5 (step # 7).
3) Then, "MCF", which is a response signal indicating that the reception was successful, is transmitted (step # 74). When there is a next page to be received (Yes in step # 75), the reception page counter is sent.
Count up 35 (step # 77) and step # 42
And the reception processing of the next page is continued.

When the processing of the last received page is completed (step #
(No at 75), the count value of the reception page counter 35 is stored in the control unit 40 (step # 76), and the reception processing ends.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the recording process in step # 15.

First, the received data (compressed data) stored in the compressed data memory 37 is sent to the compression / decompression device 36 to perform decompression processing (step # 81), and the image data obtained by decompression is stored in the image buffer 34. (Step # 82).

When the image data for one page has been prepared (Yes in step # 83), it waits for the recording unit 5 to be ready (step # 84), sends the contents of the image buffer 34 to the recording unit 5, and prints. Perform (Step # 85).

If the printing has been performed normally (YES in step # 86), the corresponding received data is deleted from the compressed data memory 37 (step # 87).

If there is no transmission interruption and no reception interruption (No in Steps # 88 and 89), and if there is reception data for the next page (Yes in Step # 90), the process jumps to Step # 81 to execute the recording processing for the next page. If there is no received data of the next page (No in Step # 90), the supply of power to the recording unit 5 is stopped (Step # 91), and the recording process ends.

After the processing of one page in step # 87, if there is a transmission interruption in step # 88, the supply of power to the recording unit 5 is stopped (step # 92), and the flow chart of FIG. Jump to step # 16 to start the transmission process.

If a reception interrupt has occurred in step # 89, the flow jumps to step # 13 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 to start the reception process while the power supply to the recording unit 5 is continued.

If an error such as a jam occurs in step # 86, the process jumps to an error process (not shown).

In the above embodiment, the supply and stop of the power to the recording unit 5 are controlled by turning on and off the AC input to the recording unit power supply 45. However, the AC input to the recording unit power supply 45 is always performed. Alternatively, the output from the recording unit power supply 45 may be turned on and off. In addition, instead of supplying or stopping all of the necessary power to the recording unit 5, only a part of the necessary power, for example, only a power to a heater for fixing, which consumes a large amount of power, is stopped. Is also good. That is, the state of power supply to the recording unit 5 is controlled by the power control unit 41,
What is necessary is just to be able to switch between the normal mode for operating the recording unit 5 and the power saving mode for making the recording unit 5 stand by. Also, the reading unit 6 and the communication control unit 30
A dedicated power supply may be provided for each.

In the above embodiment, when the received data for one page is normal, the power supply to the recording unit 5 is started immediately, but all the received data sent from the other party is received. After that, the supply of power to the recording unit 5 may be started. The power of the recording unit 5 is turned on after the normal reception of the data for one page is confirmed, and the recording is immediately performed when the recording unit 5 becomes operable (for example, when the temperature of the fixing unit is completed). The operation may be started.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration, structure, shape, dimensions, circuit, capacity, and contents of the flowchart, and the like of the recording unit 5, the reading unit 6, the power control unit 41, the communication control unit 30, and other units of the facsimile apparatus 1 are as follows. Various changes other than those described above can be made.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, power consumption can be reduced in a facsimile apparatus capable of receiving a memory.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power supply control unit and a power supply system, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a mechanism of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 to FIG. 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the facsimile machine. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Facsimile apparatus, 5 ... Recording part, 6 ... Reading part, 30 ... Communication control part, 40 ... Control part, 41 ... Power supply control part, 45 ... Power supply for recording part, 47 ... Relay .

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Toshio Tsuboi 2-3-18 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-72766 (JP, A) Kaihei 1-209872 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A recording section, a reading section, and a communication control section, wherein a power supply to the recording section is reduced in a normal mode for operating the recording section, and a power supply for standby of the recording section is reduced. Power supply mode, and when receiving, when it is determined that image data of at least one page of received data is normal, power supply to the recording unit is switched to a normal mode. Facsimile machine characterized by the above-mentioned.