JPH0759030B2 - Equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of arbitrarily adjusting the time from the transmission of image information of the last line of one page to the transmission of a post message command.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus, image information is transmitted and received while exchanging control signals with a counterpart apparatus according to a predetermined procedure, such as CCITT's fax-related recommendations. For example, after sending the control return signal (RTC) consisting of a predetermined number of line terminators (EOL) after sending the image information of the last line of one page, a multi-page signal (MPS), message after 75 ± 20 msec End signal (EOM),
Image information is transmitted and received according to a predetermined procedure such as sending a post message command such as a procedure end signal (EOP) to advance facsimile communication.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention By the way, in communication by such a facsimile device, a predetermined time (for example, CCITT) is received between the reception side device receiving a predetermined command and the next command.
According to the facsimile-related recommendations in (1), it is general that a communication error occurs when 6 seconds have elapsed. As a result, when a plurality of originals are transmitted, an original start-type facsimile apparatus or a manual-type facsimile apparatus in which the originals must be manually set each time the originals are read, and a reading start instruction is issued each time. However, this instruction operation may take time, and in such a case, a predetermined operation cannot be completed within a specified time, and a communication error may occur. As a countermeasure against this, a stationary original facsimile apparatus is provided with an automatic paper feed mechanism equipped with an original sensor so that the presence of the next original can be determined by the original sensor, or the number of originals to be transmitted can be set in advance and a counter Count the number of originals sent in, and determine whether there is an original next,
It is conceivable to transmit a predetermined signal without delay after the transmission of the image information to prevent a communication error. However, providing such an additional device such as an automatic paper feeding mechanism complicates the device and increases the cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a facsimile apparatus in which the time from the end of transmission of image information of one page to the transmission of a post message command can be adjusted with a simple configuration and a communication error does not easily occur. With the goal.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention, after the image information of the last line for one page is transmitted, the compressed information of the white pixels for one line, the fill signal, and the line. It has means for repeatedly sending out a series of signals composed of terminal codes and then sending out RTC.

Operation When the image information of the last line of one page is sent, the compressed information of white pixels for one line is formed. Then, a series of signals in which a fill signal and a line termination code are added to this white compression information is formed. After this series of signals is transmitted a predetermined number of times, the RTC is transmitted. A post message command is sent following this RTC.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This facsimile apparatus has a CPU1 for controlling each circuit of the apparatus, a timer 2 which starts counting by a start signal of the CPU1 and which interrupts the CPU1 when a preset set value is reached and notifies the count-up, and a timer 2 An operation panel 3 for operating the apparatus, a scanner 4 for reading image information, a scanner drive unit 5 for driving the scanner 4, and image information read by the scanner 4 are temporarily stored under the control of the line memory control unit 6. The line memory 7 is connected to the encoding unit 8 for compressing the image information read from the line memory 7 via the line memory control unit 6, and the encoding unit 8 and the communication line 10 for transmission control, modulation / demodulation, and network. And a communication unit 9 for performing control and the like. In the present embodiment, the line memory control unit 6 and the encoding unit 8 generate white pixel compression information and add a fill signal and a line termination code to the white compression information for one line (hereinafter referred to as a series of signals). , A dummy signal) is formed, the dummy signal is repeatedly transmitted, and then the control return signal (RTC) is transmitted.

The operation of the facsimile apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 2 and the signal sequences of FIG. 3 and FIG. In the present embodiment, a stationary original facsimile machine without an automatic paper feed mechanism will be described as an example, but the invention is not limited to this.

First, a document is placed on a document table, various settings are made on the operation panel 3, and then a transmission button is pressed to start communication. (ST100) The instruction to start this communication is the CPU
Enter 1. The CPU 1 operates the scanner driving unit 5 based on this instruction signal. By this operation, the scanner driving unit 5 drives the scanner 4 to read the image information of the document.
The read image information is once fetched into the line memory 7 line by line by the line memory control unit 6. Then, the image information is sent from the line memory 7 to the encoding unit 8 as needed, and the required encoding is performed. Thereafter, the encoded image information is sent to the communication line via the communication unit 9.

In parallel with the transmission of the predetermined amount of image information, it is determined whether the reading of one page of the document is completed (ST101). If it is determined that the process has been completed (Y), the CPU 1 resets the timer 2 and then outputs a count start signal to start counting (ST102). After that, the CPU 1 outputs a line memory clear signal to the line memory control unit 6, and the line memory control unit 6 which has received this line memory clear signal writes “0” to the line memory 7 and all the lines are white. Image information. Then, the signal in which the image information of all one line is white is compression-encoded by the encoding unit 8 and the white compression information of one line is filled and EOL
Are added to form a series of signals (dummy signals). This dummy signal is sent to the communication line 10 via the communication unit 9 (ST103).

This dummy signal is sent until either the line button or the stop button (which may be shared with the send button) on the operation panel 3 is pressed, or the timer 2 counts up and the CPU 1 is interrupted. It is repeated. (The operation repeatedly feeds back to ST101).
That is, when the transmission of the read image information is completed, the line button or the stop button is pressed, or the timer 2
The device (S) on the sending side sends a series of signals (dummy signals) consisting of image information of all lines, fill, and EOL to the receiving device (R) until one of the states occurs. Keep sending.

Here, the fill is the total time of the data signal, the fill signal, and the EOL of each line confirmed by the transmission control procedure 1
It is a variable length signal string of "0" added to exceed the minimum transmission time of the line. EOL indicates the end of data on each line, and is a signal "000000000001". Further, the time set in advance in the timer 2 should be set in consideration of the time required to replace the original.

While the dummy signal is being sent, when the column button on the operation panel 3 is pressed (“Y” in ST104), the CPU 1 is interrupted and the RTC signal is output as shown in FIG. 3 (ST105). It should be noted that this RTC indicates that it returns to the transmission control procedure for transmitting / receiving the control signal again. After this RTC transmission, MPS (multi-page signal: one page end and indicating that there is a document to be continuously transmitted) is transmitted (ST106), and the operation returns to the step of ST100.

On the other hand, during the dummy signal transmission, if the time-out occurs in the timer 2 without pressing the queue button (“Y” in ST107), the CPU 1 is interrupted. Then,
The RTC is transmitted as shown in FIG. 4 (ST108). This RTC
Subsequently, the EOP (procedure end signal) indicating the end of one page and the fact that there is no document to be continuously sent is sent (ST109),
End the transmission.

Also, by pressing the stop button during the dummy signal transmission (ST110), it is determined that there is no line connection, and similarly to the timer timeout, after the RTC is transmitted, the EOP is transmitted and the transmission is terminated.

The maximum length of one block of dummy signal is, for example, CCIT.
According to T recommendation T4, it is specified that the time is up to 5 seconds. Therefore, when the timer 2 is set to 5 seconds or more, a dummy signal of several blocks is transmitted.

In the present embodiment, the document stationary type facsimile apparatus having no automatic paper feeding mechanism has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the line reservation can be performed separately from the line button in the present embodiment. A button is provided, and when the line reservation is made by the line reservation reservation button in advance when transmitting, the present invention is implemented only when the line reservation is made. When the line reservation is not made (half-line transmission) ), The present invention is not carried out, and the communication is ended by sending the RTC and EOP immediately after the end of the one-page communication.

In the present embodiment, instead of the judgment of the simplex communication by turning on the automatic communication button (ST104 in FIG. 2), the original cover is opened / closed to judge the simplex or simplex. That is, when the document cover is opened before the timer times out (before “Y” in ST107 of FIG. 2) after the communication of one page is completed, it is determined that the document is in line, and after RTCMPS is transmitted, the next Start page communication (ST100 in FIG. 2).

In a hand-held fax machine without an automatic paper feed mechanism,
When the sensor that detects that the document is set is turned on, the same operation as that of the line button is turned on in this embodiment. That is, even if the column contact button is not pressed, the column document is determined by inserting the next original before the timer times out.

Thus, the present invention is not limited to the above three examples, and various facsimile machines can be constructed using the present invention. Further, according to the present embodiment, a series of signals consisting of compressed information of white pixels for one line, a fill signal, and EOL is simply sent repeatedly after sending the image information of the last line of one page. The number of recording sheets discharged by the receiving side device is also limited to a predetermined number of lines, and waste is extremely suppressed.

As described above, according to the present invention, after the image information of the last line of one page is transmitted, a series of signals including a white compressed signal for one line, a fill signal and EOL is repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times. After that, the RTC is sent out, and during this time, the receiving side device sends a predetermined command within the specified time. Trouble such as communication error that occurs when communicating is not caused.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the facsimile apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a signal sequence when operating a line button in the facsimile apparatus. FIG. 4 shows a signal sequence when the facsimile apparatus times out. 1 ... CPU, 2 ... timer, 6 ... line memory control section, 8 ... encoding section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sequence of signals is generated by generating white pixel compression information, adding a fill signal and a line termination code to one line of white compression information, and repeatedly outputting this sequence of signals. After that, a means for sending a control return signal is provided, and in response to opening and closing of the original cover after sending the final image information for one page of the original to the line, the series of signals is sent a predetermined number of times to output the image signal. A facsimile machine characterized in that the time from the end of transmission to the start of transmission of a post message command is adjusted and the originals are lined up.