JPH06152817A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a facsimile equipment operated simply almost without mis-operation by transferring the mode to the transmission mode automatically when a detection means detects an original to start the transmission. CONSTITUTION:When an original detection section 20 detects the presence of an original in an original tray, a CPU 18 controls it so that the transmission mode is automatically selected and the transmission is started, and when a facsimile number is inputted from a ten-key input section 6, the transmission is automatically implemented. Thus, since the transmission is automatically implemented without depression of an operation button, it is not required to provide an operation button and simple operation is attained and the possibility of mis-operation is almost precluded.

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 Conventionally, a facsimile machine has three main functions of transmission, reception and copying, and the above three functions have been selected by an operator. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the operation buttons are composed of a send button 30, a receive button 31, and a copy button 32, and each function has an independent function.

As shown in FIG. 13, the facsimile machine determines which of the transmission / reception and copy buttons 30 to 32 has been pressed in steps S12 to S14, and determines which button has been pressed. I decided to decide the mode of the device.

In FIG. 12, reference numerals 33 to 35 are display lamps for displaying the transmission / reception and copy modes.

[0005]

However, in the facsimile apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, it is necessary to provide separate buttons for transmission / reception and copying, which complicates the operation panel and complicates manufacturing. A process is required. In addition, the area of the operation panel occupying the device becomes large.
Further, the operator needs to select three buttons at the time of operation, which makes the operation troublesome.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 25469/1989, depending on the state of the hook, the presence / absence of a document, the presence / absence of a recording sheet, etc. when operating one operation button. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a facsimile machine capable of selecting transmission, reception, and copy modes.

FIG. 14 shows the operation panel of the facsimile apparatus disclosed in the above publication, 36 is an operation button, and 37 to 39 are display lamps for indicating that the transmission / reception / copy mode has been entered, respectively.

However, in the case of the above-mentioned facsimile apparatus, since transmission and copying are performed with one operation button, there are cases in which copying is erroneously performed when transmission is desired. That is, in the case of a device having a function of transmitting without lifting the handset, the operation button may be accidentally pushed without confirming that it is off-hook, and transmission is not performed and copying is performed. Furthermore, there are many requests from users that the copy function of the facsimile machine is unnecessary because it is rarely used.

The present invention focuses on such problems of the present situation,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which can be operated very easily and which has few erroneous operations.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a facsimile apparatus of the present invention is provided with a detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a document, and when a document is detected, it automatically shifts to a transmission mode and transmits. It is characterized by starting.

[0011]

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the transmission mode is automatically set depending on the presence / absence of a document, and the transmission is automatically started.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a facsimile apparatus main body, 2 is a retractable document guide, 3 is a display unit, 4 is a document / recording paper discharge port through which documents and recording paper are discharged, 5 is a receiver, and 6 is a ten-key input unit. ing. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the openable document guide 2 is opened.
Is a document tray on which documents are placed during transmission.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the open / close type document guide 2 is removed from the apparatus main body 1, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. The columnar protrusions 8 provided on both sides of the open / close type document guide 2 are fitted into the mounting holes 9 provided on the main body 1 side so that the document guide 2 is rotatably supported by the protrusions 8 and the mounting holes 9. .

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the facsimile apparatus main body 1 showing a state in which the openable document guide 2 is opened. The document guide 2 is rotatably supported by the protrusion 8 and the mounting hole 9, and the rear end back surface 11 of the document guide 2 is locked by the slope 10 provided at the lower part of the document tray 7, whereby the document guide 2 is gently inclined. It is stationary while being given.

According to the open / close type document guide 2 described above, when the document is not transmitted, the document guide is closed so that it does not take up a space and becomes compact, and a visual effect can be expected.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment. R is a reading unit including a contact image sensor 12 and a reading roller 13, and K is a thermal head 15.
A recording unit composed of a platen roller 16 and a document detecting unit 20 for detecting the presence of the document D on the document tray 7, 28.
Indicates a recording paper detection unit that detects the presence of the recording paper P. Original D placed on original tray 7 during transmission
Is the contact image sensor 1 by the reading roller 13.
The sheet is conveyed while being in close contact with the sheet 2, is read, and then is discharged from the document / recording sheet discharge port 4 by the discharge roller 14. On the other hand, at the time of reception, the received image information is recorded by the thermal head 15 on the recording paper P wound in a roll shape that is conveyed by the platen roller 16. The recording paper P after recording is cut by a cutter (not shown) provided between the document / recording paper discharge port 4 and the discharge roller 17, and is discharged from the document / recording paper discharge port 4 by the discharge roller 17.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment. A main controller (CPU) 18 controls the operation of the entire facsimile apparatus. Reference numeral 19 is an off-hook detection unit that detects that the handset 5 is raised, 20 is a document detection unit that detects that a document is on the document tray, and 21 is a ring tone having a predetermined frequency (16 Hz) through the telephone line. 6 is a numeric keypad input section for inputting a telephone number and a fax number, 22 is a bell sound counting section for counting how many times the ringing bell of the telephone is ringing, 2
3 is a modulator / demodulator (MODEM) that performs modulation and demodulation, L is a telephone line, 25 is a telephone, 24 is a telephone 25 and a MODE.
A network control unit (NCU) for switching the connection of the telephone line L to the M23, 26 is a read only memory (ROM) which stores an operation program of the CPU, and 27 stores flag data and the like necessary for the operation of the CPU. Random access memory (RAM), 3 is a display unit for displaying the operation state of the facsimile apparatus, R is a document reading unit for reading a document, K is a recording unit for recording image information sent on a recording sheet through a telephone line, Reference numeral 28 is a recording paper detection unit for detecting the presence of recording paper, and 29 is a message transmission unit using an IC memory or the like for transmitting a predetermined message to the other party (caller) through the telephone line L.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show the flow of the operation procedure of the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above. In FIG. 8, when it is detected that the document is on the document tray 7 (step S1), the transmission mode is immediately entered, and the fax number is entered through the ten-key input unit 6 to automatically perform the transmission. Also, no original is detected and the handset 5
If the number is up (step S2), the telephone line L is connected to the telephone 25 side by the NCU 24 to enter the call mode, and the call is made after waiting for the input of the telephone number from the ten-key input unit 6. If the handset 5 is not picked up, the telephone or fax communication from the other party is on standby, and when a ringing tone is detected through the telephone line L (step S3), the ringing bell of the telephone 25 is rung (step S4). If the handset 5 is picked up while the call bell rings five times (step S5), the telephone line L is connected to the telephone 25 side by the NCU 24 and the telephone call mode is set. If the receiver cannot be picked up even if the ringing bell rings five times (step S6), the message sending unit sends a predetermined message ("I called but I am not near, please call again after a while." Press the start button. ") Is sent to the other party through the telephone line L (step S7), the telephone line L is connected to the fax side by the NCU 24, the reception mode is started, and the receiving operation is started.

All the modes are displayed on the display unit 3. That is, in the transmission mode, "Transmitting" is displayed on the display unit 3, in the receiving mode, "Fax receiving", and in the call mode, "Telephone" is displayed. Further, information such as the telephone number or fax number of the other party and the transmission or reception time is also displayed.

FIG. 9 shows a procedure for notifying that the recording paper has run out. When it is not detected that there is a recording sheet in FIG. 9 (step S8), the display unit 3 displays the recording sheet running out (step S9).

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the operating procedure of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the telephone 25 has an answering machine function. The operation procedure of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart. First, when the document detection unit 20 detects that the document D is on the document tray 7 (step S10), the transmission mode is set, and the transmission is automatically started. When there is no document D on the document tray 7 and the handset 5 is lifted (step S11), the telephone line L is connected to the telephone 25 by the NCU 24.
It is connected to the other side and becomes a call mode. If the handset 5 is not picked up, it will be in a reception or telephone call waiting state, and when a ringing sound of 16 Hz through the telephone line L is detected (step S12), a predetermined message ("I am calling now, please wait for a while. If you are a fax user, please press the start button. ") Is sent from the message sending unit to the other party (caller) through the telephone line L (step S13), and the CNG signal or within a predetermined time, or
When no sound is detected (step S14), the telephone line L is connected to the fax side by the NCU 24, the reception mode is set, and reception is started. CNG even after a predetermined time
If no signal is detected or a message is sent from the other party, the telephone line L is set by the NCU 24.
Is connected to the side of the telephone 25 to enter the call mode and the message of the other party is recorded. Since the CNG signal is an optional signal, the operation procedure of this embodiment is the telephone set 25.
Is limited to those that have an answering machine function, but if the partner machine is known in advance to send out a CNG signal during transmission, if the CNG signal is not detected, NCU2
4, the telephone line L is connected to the telephone 25 side, and the telephone can be normally talked by ringing the telephone 25 using a pseudo bell generating means or the like.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the operation procedure of still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment,
The telephone line L is provided separately from the telephone 25 for the facsimile machine. Therefore, the NCU 24 becomes unnecessary. A description will be given below according to the flowchart. Document D on the document tray 7
When the document detection unit 20 detects that there is a sheet (step S
16) The transmission mode is set, and transmission is automatically started. When there is no document on the document tray 7, the reception standby state is entered, and when a ringing sound is detected (step S17), the reception mode is entered and reception is started.

In the present embodiment, the copy function is not provided, but the copy function can be provided by separately providing a copy button. Also, the communication procedure at the time of reception is not limited to that of the present embodiment, and various ones can be considered depending on the application.

[0024]

As described above, in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, since transmission and reception are automatically performed without pressing the operation button, it is not necessary to provide an operation button, and the operation can be performed extremely easily. There is almost no risk of erroneous operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an example.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an example.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of still another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an operation panel of a conventional facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a conventional facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an operation panel of a conventional facsimile apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile device main body 3 Display unit 12 CPU 19 Off-hook detection unit 20 Original detection unit 26 Recording paper detection unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a document,
A facsimile machine characterized in that, when the detecting means detects a document, it automatically shifts to a transmission mode and starts transmission.