JP3291166B2 - 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 apparatus having an electrophotographic recording means for recording image information on ordinary roll paper, and more particularly, to a method for receiving image information when a thermal roll paper is erroneously set. It is about prevention of loss.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of transferring image information received by a facsimile apparatus to recording paper, a thermal or thermal transfer method using a thermal head has been often used. As described above, in a recording method using a thermal head, a heat-sensitive paper having a coloring layer that develops a color when heated is used. If plain paper is used in a facsimile apparatus using this thermal paper, the received image information cannot be transferred.For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. A heating head and a color detection sensor are provided in a recording paper path leading to a certain thermal head, and the surface of the recording paper sent from the paper feeding unit is heated by the heating head, and a color detection sensor detects the presence or absence of color development of the heated recording paper. If the thermal paper is set in the facsimile apparatus using the thermal head, it is determined that the thermal paper is used when the color is developed, and it is determined that the thermal paper is used when the color is not developed. Is being detected. When the thermal paper is not set, the receiving side is notified that the recording paper is not set correctly, and the transmitting side is notified that the communication was not performed, thereby preventing transmission omission.

Further, a facsimile apparatus using an electrophotographic recording system for recording image information on plain paper has been developed which can use plain roll paper instead of regular cut paper.

[0004]

However, roll paper is mainly heat-sensitive roll paper, and a heat-sensitive roll is erroneously used in a facsimile apparatus which records received image information on ordinary roll paper by an electrophotographic recording system. -When the paper is set and used,
The coloring layer changes color to black due to the heat of the heater in the fixing unit of the electrophotographic recording system, and the received image information is lost.

In order to prevent the loss of the received image information, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-62-256560, roll paper whose surface is heated when recording the received image information is disclosed. The presence or absence of the color is detected to detect whether the proper roll paper is set, and even if an error message is displayed when the proper roll paper is not set, the facsimile machine is not Does not always have an operator,
If the error display cannot be confirmed immediately, reception cannot be performed for a long time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a disadvantage, and it is possible to reliably detect that the type of roll paper has been set erroneously, and to set a proper roll paper when it is not set. However, it is an object of the present invention to obtain a facsimile apparatus capable of receiving data reliably.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus comprising: a recording section of an electrophotographic recording system;
A fixing unit having a fixing heater to be welded to the recording paper.
Page in a facsimile machine
A color control section for energizing the fixing heater during a cycle;
It is provided after the fixing section of the recording paper transport path, and
Color detection means for detecting the presence / absence, and detection from the color detection means.
In response to the signal, normal roll paper is set or not.
A recording paper determination unit that determines whether or not paper has been set;
The paper determination section determines that the thermal roll paper is set.
To store image information received when
To the image memory according to the output instruction from the force processing unit and the operation unit
A receiving image information reading unit for sending the stored image information to the recording unit;
It is characterized by having .

[0008] facsimile apparatus according to the second invention, b
-The paper feed unit, the standard paper feed unit, and the
Recording section, roll paper feeding section, standard paper feeding section, and toner image.
A fixing unit having a fixing heater to be welded to the recording paper.
Facsimile machine, and a page after setting roll paper.
A color control section for energizing the fixing heater during a cycle;
It is provided after the fixing section of the recording paper transport path, and
Color detection means for detecting the presence / absence, and detection from the color detection means.
In response to the signal, normal roll paper is set or not.
A recording paper determination unit that determines whether or not paper has been set;
The paper determination section determines that the thermal roll paper is set.
The recording paper is sent from the standard paper feeder when
It has a paper selection unit .

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

In the present invention, the fixing heater for fusing the toner image to the recording paper is energized by the color control section during the paper cycle after the roll paper is set, and the recording is performed during the paper cycle. Heat is applied to the paper to cause the heat-sensitive roll paper to develop color when the heat-sensitive roll paper is set by mistake, and whether the set roll paper is ordinary roll paper or heat-sensitive roll paper. Clarify.

Further, the presence or absence of coloration of the recording paper heated during the paper cycle is detected by the color detection means, and based on the signal detected by the color detection means, whether the normal roll paper is set in the recording paper determination unit or not. Make sure that the thermal roll paper is set.

[0015]

Further, the recording paper determining section determines that the heat-sensitive roll paper is set, and all the image information received before the roll paper is replaced is stored in the image memory by the output processing section. I do.

Further , the heat-sensitive roll paper is set in the recording paper judgment section.
When it is determined that the paper has been set, the recording paper selection unit switches from the roll paper feeding unit to the standard paper feeding unit, sends out the standard paper, records the received image information on the standard paper, Prevents loss of received image information.

The received image information is output to a recording unit by an image information output unit and is stored in an image memory. When an operator who confirms the output recording paper gives an output instruction from an operation unit, the received image information is output. The information reading unit sends the image information stored in the image memory to the recording unit and outputs it, and records the normal received image information on the recording paper.

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus 1 includes a CPU 2, a ROM 3, a RAM 4, an image memory 5, an operation display unit 6, a scanner unit 7, a plotter unit 8, an encoding / decoding unit 9, a communication control unit 10, a color control unit 11, It has a color detection sensor 12, a recording paper determination unit 13, an output processing unit 14, a warning display unit 15, and a buzzer 16. The CPU 2 controls and manages the entire apparatus. The ROM 3 stores control programs for various processing functions. The RAM 4 stores various control data and the like. The image memory 5 stores the image data read by the scanner unit 7 and the received image data. Operation display section 6
Has various keys such as an operation keypad, a one-touch key, and a reading speed designation key, and designates a telephone number and transmission conditions, and displays a menu of various messages and various functions relating to the operation. . The scanner unit 7 reads the set original in accordance with an operation input on the operation display unit 6 and stores the read original image data in the image memory 5 as transmission image data. 2, the plotter section 8 includes a laser exposure section 81 having a laser diode, an fθ lens, a rotating polyhedron, a mirror, and the like, a transfer belt 821, a developing roller 823, and the like. And a fixing unit 83 having a fixing heater 831 and a fixing roller 832 for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording paper by forming a toner image and transferring the toner image to the recording paper. And a roll paper feeding section 84 for feeding the roll paper 17 as recording paper. The encoding / decoding unit 9 encodes the image data to be transmitted and restores the received image data. The communication control unit 10 decodes the communication control information and connects to an external line.

The color forming control section 11 fixes the fixing paper during the paper cycle after the roll paper 17 is set in the roll paper feeding section 84.
Switch on the power. As shown in FIG. 2, the color detection sensor 12 is provided downstream of the fixing unit 83 and detects the presence or absence of color of the recording paper. The recording paper determination unit 13 receives a detection signal from the color detection sensor 12 and determines whether normal roll paper or heat-sensitive roll paper has been set in the roll paper feeding unit 84. The output processing unit 14 stores the received image information in the image memory 5 when the recording paper determination unit 13 determines that the thermal roll paper is set in the roll paper feeding unit 84. When the heat-sensitive roll paper is set in the roll paper feeding section 84, the warning display section 15 displays that fact, and the buzzer 16 issues an alarm.

The operation when the roll paper is set in the roll paper feeding section 84 in the facsimile apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The roll paper 17 set in the roll paper feeding section 84 is exhausted, and the roll paper 17 is replaced in order to replace the roll paper 17.
When the cover of the roll paper feed unit 84 is opened and closed, a cover open / close sensor provided in the roll paper feed unit 84 detects the cover open / close (step S1). When the cover opening / closing of the roll paper feeding unit 84 is detected, a paper cycle starts, and the roll paper feeding unit 84 passes through the transfer unit 82 and the fixing unit 83 as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. A fixed amount of recording paper is sent out through the recording paper conveyance path (step S2). Simultaneously with the start of this paper cycle, the color control section 11 supplies power to the fixing heater 831 of the fixing section 83 to heat the fixing roller 832 (step S3). The recording paper is discharged through the heated fixing roller 832. Send out a certain amount of recording paper and paper
When the cycle ends, the color control section 11 controls the fixing heater 8
31 (steps S4 and S4).
5). The operator confirms the recording paper discharged at the time of this paper cycle, and the roll paper feeding unit 8
In step 4, it can be immediately known whether the normal roll paper is set or the heat-sensitive roll paper is set. That is, when ordinary roll paper is set in the roll paper feeding unit 84, no color is formed even when the heat passes through the heated fixing roller 832, but when heat-sensitive roll paper is set, heating is not performed. Fixing roller 8
The entirety of the recording paper discharged through 32 is colored, for example, black. Therefore, just by checking the color of the recording paper discharged during the paper cycle, the set roll paper 1 can be read.
You can know if 7 is appropriate.

As described above, if the suitability of the roll paper 17 set in the roll paper feeding section 84 is judged visually by the operator, sometimes the suitability of the roll paper 17 is not judged. In some cases, the judgment may be incorrect. Therefore, it is preferable to issue an alarm when the heat-sensitive roll paper is set in the roll paper feeding section 84 to call attention to the operator.

The operation in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The cover opening / closing sensor provided in the roll paper feeding section 84 detects the cover opening / closing, and the paper cycle starts, and the coloring control section 11 energizes the fixing heater 831 to fix the fixing roll. When heating the wire 832 (Steps S11 to S11)
S13) The color detection sensor 12 detects the color state of the recording paper sent from the fixing roller 832, and sends a detection signal to the recording paper determination unit 13. The recording paper determination unit 13 determines whether the entire recording paper sent from the fixing roller 832 is colored black, for example, based on the sent detection signal (step S14). If the entire recording paper sent out from the fixing roller 832 is colored black, for example, it is determined that the heat-sensitive roll paper is set in the roll paper feeding unit 84 and the roll is determined. A paper abnormal signal is output (step S15). The CPU 2 sends the roll paper abnormality signal output from the recording paper determination unit 13 to the warning display unit 15, displays the roll paper abnormality on the warning display unit 15, and sounds the buzzer 16 for a certain period of time to operate the operator. Is notified of a roll paper abnormality (step S16). When the recording paper determination section 13 determines the detection signal and finds that the recording paper sent from the fixing roller 832 has no color, the roll paper feeding section 84 sets ordinary roll paper. And a roll paper normal signal is output (step S17). When the predetermined paper cycle is completed (step S18), the color control section 11 cuts off the current flowing to the fixing heater 831 (step S19). When a roll paper abnormal signal or a roll paper normal signal is output and the current flowing to the fixing heater 831 is cut off, the CPU 2 puts the entire apparatus in a standby state.
Also, when the roll paper abnormal signal is output, the CPU 2
The warning display unit 15 until the cover open / close sensor detects that the cover of the roll paper feed unit 84 has been opened to replace the roll paper 17 set in the roll paper feed unit 84. N
Display the paper error.

As described above, when the roll paper 17 is set in the roll paper feeding section 84, it is immediately determined whether or not the roll paper 17 is appropriate. To the operator, the operator knows that the heat-sensitive roll paper is set before facsimile reception, and can replace it with normal roll paper, losing the received image information. Can be prevented.

When the thermal roll paper is erroneously set in the roll paper feeding section 84 as described above, the operator is immediately notified of that fact, but the operator still erroneously sets the thermal roll. If the user does not notice that the roll paper has been set, or if facsimile reception is performed before replacing the roll paper 17, the received image information is lost. Therefore, if facsimile reception is performed in such a case, the output processing unit 14
Temporarily stores all the received image information in the image memory 5 and displays the fact on the operation display unit 6. When it is determined that the recording paper is normal after replacing the normal roll paper, the output processing unit 14
Automatically reads and outputs the image information stored in the image memory 5, or when the operator operates the operation display section 6 after replacing the roll with ordinary roll paper, the image information stored in the image memory 5 is read. Is read and output. In this way,
By storing the image information received when the roll paper is set incorrectly in the image memory 5, even if the operator does not notice that the thermal roll paper has been set by mistake, the received image information is lost. Can be reliably prevented.

The above embodiment describes a case where the image information received when the operator does not notice that the thermal roll paper is set by mistake is temporarily stored in the image memory 5 and stored. However, when the roll paper feeding section 84 and the standard paper feeding section 85 are provided in the plotter section 8 as shown in FIG. 2, when the thermal roll paper is set by mistake. Alternatively, the paper supply may be switched from the roll paper supply unit 84 to the standard paper supply unit 85 and the recording paper may be sent out from the standard paper supply unit 85.

When the roll paper feeding section 84 and the standard paper feeding section 85 are provided, a recording paper selecting section is used instead of the output processing section 14 as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1
8 is provided. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, if there is facsimile reception, the CPU 2 measures the number of lines of the received image information and calculates the image length from the line density (steps S21 to S23). The recording paper selection unit 18 determines whether the calculated image length is the same as the size of the standard paper set in the standard paper supply unit 85 (step S24). If the image length is the same as the size of the standard paper, the standard paper is fed from the standard paper feeding unit 85 and the received image information is recorded (step S25). When the normal length paper is set in the roll paper feeding unit 84 when the image length is different from the size of the standard paper, the recording paper is sent out from the roll paper feeding unit 84 to receive the received image information. Recording is performed (steps S26 and S27). If the image length is different from the size of the standard paper, a roll paper abnormality signal is output from the recording paper determination unit 13 and if a roll paper abnormality is displayed on the warning display unit 15, the standard paper is fed. The recording paper is sent out from the unit 85 and the received image information is recorded on the standard paper (steps S26 and S26).
25). As described above, when the heat-sensitive roll paper is erroneously set in the roll paper feeding section 84, the recording paper of plain paper is sent out from the standard paper feeding section 85. It is possible to output reliably.

In each of the above embodiments, a case has been described in which the presence or absence of coloring of the recording sheet sent from the fixing roller 832 is determined to prevent the loss of the received image information.
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 7, the color information detecting sensor 12 for detecting that the thermal roll paper is set by mistake is not provided at the subsequent stage of the fixing section 8, and the image information received with a simple configuration is obtained. It can also prevent loss.

In this case, when the image information is received, the image information output section 19 outputs the received image information to a recording sheet, attaches a management number, and stores it in the image memory 5. When the received image information is output to the recording paper, if the heat-sensitive roll paper is erroneously set in the roll paper feeding unit 84, the output recording paper is all output in black. The operator who has confirmed the output recording paper is a roll paper feeding unit 84.
After exchanging the roll paper 17 set in, with the normal roll paper, the operation display section 6 is operated to output a communication management report. When the operator finds that there is image information that is received in the output communication management report but is not recorded and output correctly, the operator checks the management number,
The operation display section 6 is operated to enter the image information output mode, and the management number is input. When entering the image information output mode and inputting the management number, the received image information reading section 20 reads out the image information of the corresponding management number from the image memory 5, sends it to the plotter section 8, and records it again on the recording paper. In this way, even if heat-sensitive roll paper is erroneously set in the roll paper feeding section 84, loss of received image information can be prevented with a simple configuration, and the entire apparatus can be manufactured at low cost. can do.

[0031]

According to the present invention, as described above, the toner
The fixing heater for fusing the image to the recording paper is energized during the paper cycle after the roll paper is set, and heat is applied to the recording paper during the paper cycle, whereby the heat-sensitive roll paper is erroneously removed. Since the heat-sensitive roll paper is colored when it is set, it is determined whether the roll paper set when the roll paper is set is normal roll paper or heat-sensitive roll paper. It can be clarified immediately and can be replaced with a normal roll before facsimile reception. Therefore, loss of the received image information can be prevented.

Also, the presence or absence of coloring of the recording paper heated during the paper cycle is detected by the coloring detection means, and based on the signal detected by the coloring detection means, whether the normal roll paper is set in the recording paper determination unit is determined. Since it is clear whether the thermal roll paper has been set or not, it is possible to automatically judge the suitability of the set roll paper before receiving the image information.

[0033]

Further, it is determined that the heat-sensitive roll paper is set, and all the image information received before the roll paper is replaced is stored in the image memory and stored. Even if the user does not notice that the thermal roll paper has been set, the received image information can be prevented from being lost.

When the heat-sensitive roll paper is set,
If it is determined that the image information is lost by switching from the roll paper feeding unit to the standard paper feeding unit and sending out the standard paper and recording the received image information on the standard paper. It is possible to output the received image information immediately.

The received image information is output to the recording unit and stored in the image memory, and the image stored in the image memory is output when the operator who has confirmed the output recording paper gives an output instruction from the operation unit. By recording and outputting information,
It is possible to prevent loss of received image information with a simple configuration without using a color detection sensor for detecting that thermal roll paper is set by mistake, and to reduce the cost of the entire apparatus. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 CPU 8 Plotter unit 11 Coloring control unit 12 Coloring detection sensor 13 Recording paper determination unit 14 Output processing unit 15 Warning display unit 16 Buzzer 18 Recording paper selection unit 19 Image information output unit 20 Received image information reading unit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An electrophotographic recording section and a toner image
And a fixing section having a fixing heater for welding the recording paper to the recording paper.
In a facsimile machine, the paper after the roll paper is set
A color control section for energizing the fixing heater during a power cycle;
Is provided at the stage after the fixing section of the recording paper transport path,
Color detection means for detecting the presence or absence of color, and color detection means
Of normal roll paper in response to the detection signal of
A recording paper determining unit for determining whether roll paper has been set;
The recording paper judgment unit judges that heat-sensitive roll paper is set.
The image information received when the
Output processing unit, and an image memo by an output instruction from the operation unit.
Receiving image information reading unit that sends the image information stored in the memory to the recording unit
And a facsimile machine having: A roll paper feeder, a fixed paper feeder, and an electronic paper feeder.
Photo recording system recording unit, roll paper feeding unit and standard paper feeding
And a fixing heater for fusing the toner image to the recording paper.
Facsimile apparatus having a fixing unit,
Turn on the fixing heater during paper cycle after paper setting
Color control unit and a fixing unit in the recording paper transport path.
Color detection means for detecting the presence or absence of color on the recording paper;
Normal roll paper is set in response to the detection signal from the detection means
Record to determine whether or not thermal roll paper has been set
The thermal roll paper is set in the paper determination section and the recording paper determination section.
From the standard paper feeder when it is determined that
A recording paper selecting section for feeding the paper.
Fax machine.