JPH03190367A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record picture information stored on a recording medium smoothly by providing a storage means of received picture information, a means recording the picture information read from the picture information storage means and a means discriminating and reading the picture information quantity read from the picture information storage means. CONSTITUTION:Received picture information is stored in a picture information storage means 18 and the picture information read from the picture information storage means 18 is discharged and stacked to a storage section (discharge tray) outputted onto recording paper by a recording means 17. Then the picture information quantity read from the picture information storage means 18 is discriminated by an output signal of a detector in the storage section. The read of the picture information from the picture information storage means 18 is stopped in the presence of a signal output by the detector. After the recording paper sheets stacked in the storage section are removed, the picture information is read from the picture information storage means 18 by an output of a readout signal again and the said processing is repeated till all the stored picture information is read out. Thus, the supervision by a person is not required.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a communication device, and particularly to a communication device capable of storing received image information.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art In a well-known facsimile device as an example of a communication device, a commonly used technique is to temporarily store received image information in a storage medium such as a memory, and then read out the image information and record it on recording paper.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, in the conventional method described above, a large amount of image information stored in a storage medium is all continuously read out and recorded and output. As a result, a large number of sheets of recording paper do not fit onto the tray, and are scattered on the floor, making it difficult to understand the order in which the sheets of recording paper are ejected. I was getting paper jams.

Such inconveniences could be solved by having a person monitor the facsimile machine, but such monitoring is inefficient and cannot be implemented in reality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device that eliminates the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art and can smoothly read and record image information stored in a recording medium.

[Means for solving problems]

A communication device according to a first aspect of the invention to achieve the above object includes a receiving means for receiving image information, an image information storage means for storing the received image information, and an image information read out from the image information storage means. The apparatus includes a recording means for recording and outputting the image information on recording paper, and a readout determination means for determining the amount of image information to be read from the image information storage means.

Further, the readout determination means includes a recording paper detector disposed in a storage section that stores the discharged recording paper.

Further, the reading determination means includes a counting means for counting each piece of image information corresponding to one sheet of recording paper.

A communication device according to a second aspect of the invention for achieving the above object includes a receiving means for receiving image information, an image information storage means for storing the received image information, and an image information read out from the image information storage means. A recording means for recording and outputting the image information on recording paper, a management information creation means for creating management information corresponding to the received image information, a management information storage means for storing the management information, and a management information storage means for reading out the management information from the management information storage means. The apparatus further includes readout determination means for determining the amount of image information to be read from the image information storage means.

[Effect]

In the first embodiment of the first invention, the received image information is stored in the image information storage means. The image information read out from the image information storage means by outputting a readout signal is stored and output on recording paper by the recording means, and is discharged and deposited on a storage section (ejection tray).

Then, the amount of image information read out from the image information storage means is determined based on the output signal of the detector in the storage section. When a signal is output from the detector, reading of image information from the image information storage means is stopped. After removing the recording paper accumulated in the storage section, the image information is read out from the image information storage means again by outputting the readout signal, and the above-mentioned process is repeated until all the stored image information is read out. .

Further, in the second embodiment, the received image information is stored in the image information storage means. The stored image information is read out from the image information storage means by outputting a read signal. The read image information is stored and output on recording paper by the recording means, and is discharged and deposited on a storage section (discharge tray).

The image information to be read out is counted by a counter for each image information corresponding to one sheet of recording paper, and when the counter performs a count that matches the amount of recording paper stock in the storage section, the image information is read out from the image information storage means. will be stopped. After removing the recording paper accumulated in the storage section, the image information is read out from the image information storage means again by outputting the readout signal, and the above-mentioned process is repeated until all the stored image information is read out. .

In the embodiment of the second invention, the received image information is stored in the image information storage means, and in addition, management information, that is, manuscript name information On and page number information Pn, is created by the management information creation means for each transmitted manuscript, The information is stored in the management information storage means.

This is executed on each reception.

When reading image information from the image information storage means, management information is read from the management information storage means to determine whether the stored image information amount is less than or equal to the stock amount of recording paper in the storage section (ejection tray). If the amount is less than the stock amount, the information is recorded on recording paper based on the read signal output and discharged and deposited.

If the amount of image information is greater than the stock amount, search for document name information 0n-1 so that it can be read and output in units of documents within the range that does not exceed the stock amount, and retrieve the searched document name information 0n.
The image information up to -1 is recorded and output on recording paper. The above-described process is then repeated until all of the stored image information is read out.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile machine.

This facsimile machine can be equipped with a paper cassette 2 containing cut sheets 1 as recording sheets.

The cut paper 1 is fed out by a feeding roller 3, provided to a print head 5 and a platen roller 6 with timing determined by a timing roller 4, and sent to a discharge tray 8 via a conveying roller 7.

The print head 5 works with a platen roller 6 to sandwich the paper, and prints data on the paper by heating means or pressure means.

The facsimile apparatus further includes a document transport mechanism 9, a document reading optical system IO, a document reading ccDll, and the like.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a specific example of a recording paper detector constituting the reading determination means according to an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the output tray 8, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional end view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. represented.

To explain with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the output tray 8
is equipped with a recording paper detector 24 consisting of a light projecting element 25 and a light receiving element 26. When the recording paper 1 is ejected onto the ejection tray 8 and the number of sheets exceeds a predetermined number, the light emitted from the light projecting element 25 to the light receiving element 26 is blocked by the recording paper 1, and a signal is output. The light emitting element 25 and the light receiving element 26 are connected to the system control section 15, and the system control section 15 determines whether or not the number of ejected recording sheets 1 has reached a predetermined number based on the outputs of these elements 25 and 26. Discern.

The light emitting element 25 and the light receiving element 26 are arranged on the side plates 27 and 28 of the ejection tray 8, and the bottom plate 2 of the ejection tray 8
The height hl from 9 to the light emitting element 25 is different from the height h2 from the bottom plate 29 to the light receiving element 26.

This is devised so that it can be reliably detected when the number of recording sheets 1 stacked parallel to the bottom plate 29 reaches a certain number.

In this embodiment, the recording paper detector 24 is constituted by the light emitting element 25 and the light receiving element 26, but the recording paper ejected to the ejection tray 8 is detected by a micro switch, reflective optical switch, weight switch, etc. It may be possible to detect whether a predetermined number or amount has been reached.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a receiving section of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Encoded data from the communication line 12 is input to the decoder 14 via the communication control section 13. The decoder 14 decompresses the encoded data and stores the image information in the image information storage means 1 through a switch 16 controlled by the system control section 15.

When reading the stored image information, the system control unit 15 switches the switch 16 to the printer 17 side, and transfers the stored image information to the printer 17.

Further, the system control unit 15 is connected to the aforementioned detector 24 for determining the amount of image information to be read out.

Further, the system control section 15 includes an operation section 21 as well as a key input section 22 to which various data can be applied, and a display section 23 for displaying information corresponding to various key operations.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the control operation, and the second
This will be explained with reference to the figures.

Set the facsimile machine to print mode using the print key provided in the key of the operation unit 21 and the manual control unit 22 (
Step 31). When the print mode is set, the display in step S8, which will be described later, is reset (step S2),
It is determined whether or not there is image information stored in the image information storage means 18 (step S3). If image information is stored, the system control unit 15 reads out the image information stored in the image information storage means 18 and transfers it to the printer 17,
The information is recorded and output on recording paper (step S4). Then, it is determined whether a predetermined number of recording sheets 1 have been deposited on the discharge tray 8 based on the output signal of the detector 24 (step S5). If there is no detection output, it is determined in step S6 whether recording and outputting of all image information has been completed, and if outputting has not been completed, steps S4 and subsequent steps are repeated. Step S5
If there is a detection output, the recording output of the image information to the recording paper 1 is stopped (step S7), and a message indicating that the output of the remaining image information is not completed is displayed on the display 23 (step S8).
).

In the above print mode, the output signal of the detector 24 consisting of the light emitting element 25 and the light receiving element 26 was used to control the reading of image information from the image information storage means 18; may be provided to count the number of sheets of recording paper to be recorded and output, and the reading of the image information may be controlled based on this count.

This embodiment will be explained below based on the control circuit shown in FIG. 6 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 7.

In the control circuit of FIG. 6, parts that perform the same control operations as those of the control circuit of FIG. 2 described above are given the same reference numerals.

Note that the counter 30 counts the amount of image information read out from the image information storage means 18 (one count per sheet of recording paper).
are doing.

Next, referring to FIG. 7, the facsimile machine is set to print mode using the print key provided in the key input section 22 of the operation section 21 (step 520).

Once the print mode is set, step S29 will be described later.
The display is reset (step 521) and the counter 30 is initialized (step 522), and it is determined whether or not there is image information stored in the image information storage means 18 (step 522).
Step 523). If image information is stored, the system control unit 15 connects the switch 16 to the printer 17 side, reads out the image information stored in the image information storage means 18, transfers it to the printer 17, and records it on recording paper. Output (
Step 524).

At this time, the counter 30 increments one count by reading out the amount of image information equivalent to one sheet of recording paper (step 525).
). It is determined whether the count of the image information amount by the counter 30 has reached a predetermined stock amount N of the discharge tray 8 (step 526).

When the count value C of the counter 30 does not reach the stock amount N, it is determined whether or not all the image information stored in the image information storage means 18 has been read out (step 527), and all the image information stored in the image information storage means 18 has been read out. If not, repeat steps S24 and subsequent steps.

In step 326, when the count value C of the counter 30 reaches the stock amount N, the reading of image information from the image information storage means 18 is interrupted (step 528), and an operation is performed to indicate that it is necessary to read out the remaining image information. to the person on the display 23 (step 529).

In this case, the recording paper discharged and deposited on the discharge tray 8 is removed, and the process from step 320 is repeated again.

As explained above, the present invention prevents a large number of sheets of recording paper on which image information is recorded from being placed on the tray, scattering them on the floor, etc., making it difficult to understand the order, or recording sheets ejected onto the tray accumulating. This prevents the recording paper from being ejected anew and causing a paper jam.

Next, the second invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

FIG. 10 shows a control circuit of the second invention, and parts that perform the same control operations as the control circuit of FIG. 2 explained in the first invention are given the same reference numerals.

A feature of the circuit configuration of the present invention is that the image information storage means 18 stores an image information area 19 for storing image information and management information such as manuscript name information On and page number information Pn created at the time of storage. It has a management information area 20 as management information storage means.

The details of the control operation will be made clear in the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 9, which will be described later, and will not be described here.

Figure 8 shows the operating procedure of the facsimile machine on the receiving side.
The communication control unit 13 receives the call and establishes a line connection (step 530). Next, the system control unit 15
Pre-procedures (selecting functions, checking acceptance status, etc.)
to prepare for receiving image information (step 5).
31). When the pre-procedure is completed, the system control section 15 switches the switch 16 to the image information storage means 18. Encoded data from the communication line 12 is input to the decoder 14 via the communication control unit 3, the encoded data is decompressed, and the image information is transferred to the image information area of the image information storage means 18 via the switch 16. 19 (step 532).

When storing this image information, the system control unit 15 creates document name information On and page number information Pn for each unit of image information, that is, for each transmitted document, and manages the image information storage means 18 as a management information storage means. It is stored in the information area 20 (
(Step 533).

Next, the system control unit 15 determines whether reception of image information for all pages has been completed (step 534), and M
When the PS signal is received, the processing from step S32 onwards is repeated.

Upon receiving the EOP signal in step S34, the system control unit 15 sends an instruction to the communication control unit 13 to disconnect the line (step 535), and ends the process.

As described above, each area 19.20 of the image information storage means 18
In order to read out the information stored in , the process is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, the facsimile device is set to print mode using the print key provided in the key manual section 22 of the operation section 21 (step 540). When the print mode is set, the display in step S49 to be described later is reset (step 541), and it is determined whether or not image information stored in the image information area 19 exists (step 542). If image information is stored, the system control unit 15 calculates the total image information amount based on the page number information stored in the management information area 20 (step 543). Next, compare the calculated image information amount with the stock amount of the ejection tray 8 (Step 544), and if the image information amount is less than the stock amount, the recording paper will not be able to fit on the ejection tray 8 and will be scattered on the floor. Also, since there is no possibility that the image information will accumulate too much and prevent new recording paper from being ejected, all of the image information is sequentially recorded and output on the recording paper 1 (step 545).

In step S44, if the image information amount exceeds the stock amount of the output tray 8, the document name information On corresponding to the stock amount is searched (step 346), and the document name information immediately before the retrieved document name information On is searched. Search for 0n-1 (
step 547).

Then, the image information up to the searched manuscript name information 0n-1,
That is, the image information of document name information 01 to 0n-1 is recorded and output on recording paper 1 (step 348). Step S49
At this point, if residual image information exists, that fact is displayed on the display 23.

Then, steps 340 and subsequent steps are repeated. If there is no remaining image information, step 349 is skipped.

In this way, when reading image information from the image information storage means, the amount of image information is compared with the amount of stock in the ejection tray 8 in step 344, and the image information to be recorded and output is read out for each document. There is no possibility that too many recording sheets will accumulate on the tray 8 and be scattered on the floor, or that the ejection of new recording sheets will be obstructed. Furthermore, since each document is recorded and output, recording paper can be efficiently managed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the first and second inventions are explained in detail (when image information is recorded and output, as in the past, many sheets of recording paper on which image information is recorded do not fit on the tray and are scattered on the floor etc. This prevents the order of the recording sheets from being lost or the recording sheets ejected onto the tray to pile up too much, which obstructs the ejection of new recording sheets and causes paper jams.

Further, in the second aspect of the invention, efficient management can be performed because each document is read out and recorded.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 7 show the first invention, and FIGS. 8 to 10 show the first invention.
The figure shows the second invention. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the control operation of the first invention, FIG. 2 is a control circuit that governs the control operation, and FIG. 3 is a discharge tray equipped with a detector as a reading determination means. 8, the perspective view of FIG. 4 is along the line I in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile machine; FIG. 6 is a control circuit showing a second embodiment of the control operation of the first invention; 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the receiving operation of the second invention, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control operation, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the control circuit. This is a control circuit that controls the control operation shown in the figure.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Receiving means for receiving image information, image information storage means for storing the received image information, and recording for recording and outputting the image information read from the image information storage means on recording paper. A communication device comprising: means; and readout determination means for determining the amount of image information to be read from the image information storage means. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the reading determination means includes a recording paper detector disposed in a storage section that stores discharged recording paper. 3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the reading determination means includes a counting means for counting each piece of image information corresponding to one sheet of recording paper. 4. receiving means for receiving image information; image information storage means for storing the received image information; recording means for recording and outputting the image information read from the image information storage means on recording paper; A management information creation means for creating management information corresponding to the information, a management information storage means for storing the management information, and a readout determination for reading the management information from the management information storage means and determining the amount of image information to be read from the image information storage means. A communication device comprising means and.