JPS60165172A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a facsimile equipment with simple operation and low communication cost by providing a high speed recording means where a transmitted picture is recorded onto plural recording paper sheets so as to realize multi- copying operation conducting plural recordings with one picture data. CONSTITUTION:The information relating to the multi-copy mode is stored in a data block A3. In the storage of mode designation information B to an information area I, a recording density is stored in a block B1, a recording paper sheet size is stored in a block B2, a multi-copy mode control parameter information is stored in a block B3 and number of sheets of recording per page in case of the multi-copying is stored in a block B4. A possible value for the said information is decided by a control section 1 of the caller side based on the called station information A. When the multi-copy mode is designated from the caller side, picture information on one page is recorded by the designated sheet number. When the called party side has a sorter 5, sorting is conducted and the bundle of recording paper sheets having each page of picture information is formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine with a recording function.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, facsimile machines have not performed a so-called multi-copy operation in which received image information is recorded on multiple sheets of recording paper. Therefore, in company M1-ori etc., 1
There were many inconveniences, such as the need to recopy recording paper using a copying machine when distributing images received by a single facsimile machine to multiple departments.

One of the reasons for this is that conventional devices employ inexpensive, low-speed printers as recording devices.

Thermal printers, which are commonly used in conventional facsimile machines, have a very slow recording speed compared to the communication speed, so a large memory capacity that can store all the received image data is required for multi-copying. become. It is not very practical to provide a large capacity memory just for the multi-copy function. Another option would be to interrupt the communication and perform a recording operation, making the other party wait for that time, but in a switched telephone network, charges are made for the communication time, so this method is also ineffective in terms of communication costs. It's the economy.

[Objective] The present invention has been made in view of the following two points, and provides a facsimile machine that can realize multi-copy operations that perform multiple recordings of the same image data, is easy to operate, and has low communication costs. The purpose is to provide.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main structure of a facsimile machine employing the present invention.

In FIG. 1, what is indicated by the reference numeral 1 is a control section,
Modulator/demodulator, line control section, communication control section, encoder and υ′・
It consists of a decoder, memory, etc. This control unit
A reading unit 3 using a COD image sensor or the like and a recording unit 4 comprising a high-speed printer such as a laser beam printer are connected to.

The recording unit 4 is provided with a sorter 5 for convenience during multi-copy operations. The sorter 5 is similar to a known type used in copying machines and the like, and performs the operation of sorting copies by a designated number of copies.

The image read by the reading unit 3 is encoded by the control unit 1.
After undergoing predetermined processing such as modulation, it is sent out to a transmission path 2 such as a telephone line. Further, the image data transmitted from the other party via the transmission path 2 is subjected to predetermined processing such as demodulation and decoding in the control section 1, and then sent to the recording section 4 and recorded.

Furthermore, the control unit 1 performs communication procedures based on a predetermined protocol before and after image transmission, exchanges data necessary for communication with the other party, adjusts the modulator/demodulator, etc. As for the protocol, a known protocol such as a CCjTTm binary procedure or a mini-fax procedure may be used. These standards provide an extended information area that allows optional control information to be added to the procedure signal, so the control detailed below is performed by using the information area of this procedure signal. You can do it like this.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the state of communication in the present invention. Here, the case in which an image is transmitted from the calling station 11a to the called station is sidetracked.

In the communication of the present invention, first, called station information A is transmitted from the called station to the calling station. CCIT is used to transmit this called station information A.
For one T-binary hand, a DIS (digital identification) signal or the like can be used.

The called station information A is loaded onto the information area (2) of the DIS signal in the order shown in FIG. 3(A), for example. Data blocks A1 and A2 store information on known control parameters such as recording density and recording paper size of the called side. In the present invention, information regarding the multi-copy mode is stored in data block A3. However, here A1-A3
The reference numerals are added for ease of explanation and do not indicate specific areas of specific signals. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the order in which information is stored is not limited to the order exemplified here.

The information stored in data block A3 may include, for example, whether or not a multi-copy mode is present, whether a sorter is present, and the number of copies that can be processed.

Subsequently, mode designation information B is transmitted from the calling station. This information is called DTC (Digital Transmission Command) in the CCITT procedure.
Transmit using information areas such as signals. An example of how mode designation information B is stored in the first information area (2) is shown in FIG. 3(B). Here, the recording density of PRO-AC B1, the recording paper size is stored in block B2, the control parameter information of multi-copy mode is stored in block B3, and the number of recording copies per page in the case of multi-copying is stored in block B4. Possible values of these pieces of information are determined by the control unit 1 on the calling side based on the called station information A mentioned above.

After the above procedure is performed, the image data C read by the reading section 3 on the calling side is transmitted to the called station. At this time, the image data is transmitted while satisfying the conditions such as the scanning line length and density determined in the previous procedure.

If multi-copy mode is specified by the calling party,
One page of image information is recorded for each specified number of copies. If the called party has a sorter 5, sorting is performed to form a sheet of paper having one sheet for each page of image information.

In the above operation, the processing procedure of the control unit 1 on the called side when transmitting the called station information A is shown in FIG. 4(A).

In step 31 of FIG. 4(A), it is determined whether the recording section 4 is provided with a sorter 5 or not.

This may be done by checking the state of the signal line or, if the sorter 5 is installed by plug-in method, by detecting the attachment of the sorter 5 using a sensor such as a microswitch. This step is not necessary in an apparatus in which the sorter 5 is permanently installed. If step SL is negative, the process jumps to step S3.

In step S2, control information regarding the multi-copy mode is set at a predetermined location in the information area (2) of the signal used in the procedure, as shown in FIG. 3(A).

Next, in step S3, other possible recording density, recording paper size information, etc. are set at predetermined locations in the information area.

Next, in step S4, a procedure signal in which the above information is set in the information area is sent out.

Next, FIG. 4(B) shows the control procedure of the control unit 1 in the transmission operation of the mode designation information B on the image transmitting side (in the example of FIG. 2, the calling station).

In step s5 of FIG. 4 CB), the transmitted called station information is checked to determine whether the receiving side device has a multi-copy mode. If this step is negative, the process jumps to step s7.

In Stella 7'S6, the image receiving side has a multi-copy mode, so it is necessary to decide how many copies to record in the multi-copy mode and set the parameter specifying the multi-copy mode in the information area of the procedure signal. do. Multi-copy can be specified from the operation panel.

Next, in step S7, information such as scanning line density and image information size is stored in a predetermined area of the procedure signal according to the called station information transmitted from the image receiving side, and is set as described above in step S8. The mote specification information having the specified information is sent.

Further, FIG. 41(C) shows the controller 11'1 of the control section 11 during reception and recording operations on the image receiving side (the called station in the example of FIG. 2).

In step S9 of FIG. 4(C), data in a predetermined area of the transmitted mote designation information is checked to determine whether multi-copy mode has been designated by the transmitting side. If this step is negative, the process jumps to step Sll.

In step SlO, data in a predetermined area of the transmitted mode designation information is checked, and the number of records 88 for multi-copying is set.

In step Sll, the mode designation information is similarly checked and other recording control information such as whether or not to perform sorting is set. Recording unit 4 determined in step S10, Sll
The control parameters are stored in a predetermined area of the memory in the control section 1, and the recording operation of the recording section 4 in step S12 is controlled based on this information. Step S12
In the recording operation, while recording is performed multiple times on one document image for multi-copying, if necessary, a predetermined signal is sent to the image sending side to interrupt the procedure, and the image data is interrupt the transmission.

In the manner described above, the transmitted image can be multi-copied onto a plurality of recording sheets on the receiving side.

This makes it extremely easy for corporate organizations to perform tasks such as distributing documents received by a single facsimile machine to multiple departments.

As mentioned above, the reading unit 3 is composed of a laser beam printer, etc., and in some cases, it is possible to communicate at a speed exceeding the communication speed. Sufficient communication speed can be obtained even if transmission is interrupted during recording.

Further, in the packet switching network whose service has recently started, charges are charged according to the amount of information transmitted, so if the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine connected to the packet switching network, it is advantageous in terms of line usage charges.

Although the above example illustrates the procedure recommended by CCITT,
Of course, the present invention can be implemented in the same manner using other procedures. In addition, although the above embodiment shows an example in which both images are sent from the calling side to the called side, the same technique can be used to perform multi-copy operation when transmitting images to the calling side using a well-known polling operation or the like. can be done.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the number of copies to be recorded for multi-copying is determined by the control of the sending side, but the number of copies to be recorded may be controlled by the operator on the receiving side.

Further, in addition to the above-described embodiments, by adding a conventionally known document copying function, the apparatus can be used as a copying machine. The document copy function of conventional facsimile machines that use a thermal printer or similar device as a recording device is not practical in terms of speed or image quality, but when a laser beam printer is used as a recording device, the copy function is comparable to that of a copier. Since this can be realized, it is also possible to reduce the burden of equipment investment on the user.

[Effects] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, since a configuration is adopted that includes a high-speed recording means for recording transmitted images on a plurality of sheets of recording paper, it is possible to multiplex received images. It is possible to provide an excellent facsimile device that can perform copying, reduce communication costs and user burden, and operate at high speed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of main parts of a facsimile device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing communication operations in the facsimile device according to the present invention, and FIGS.
) are explanatory diagrams showing communication procedure signals in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, FIGS. 4(A), (B), and CC, respectively.
) are flowchart 1 diagrams for explaining the main control procedures of the IIJI control section in FIG. ■...11J control section 2...Transmission line 3...Reading section 4...Recording section 5...Sorter Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A facsimile machine designated as 44145 is equipped with a high-speed recording means for recording transmitted images on a plurality of sheets of recording paper. (2) A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the high-speed recording means is provided with means for sorting a plurality of recorded sheets of recording paper. (3) For the high-speed recording speed recording 1-stage sorting described in Eiij, a communication procedure means is provided to send and receive information such as the presence or absence of means and control parameters necessary for operation control between the image sending and receiving irises.
41 + Claims 1.1 or 2.1. (4) The high-speed recording means is a laser beam printer.