JPS6129267A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the loss of stored picture data by limiting power source OFF condition of the titled equipment under the condition that picture reading data from the transmitting side is stored. CONSTITUTION:In such a case that a printer cover 31 at the receiving side is opened and printer action is interlocked by the detection of opening condition of the cover, picture data transmitted from a facsimile equipment of other party are received regardless of the above case, and stored at a picture memory 23, so a controller 25 outputs a high level signal to a line 252. Therefore, even if the operator puts a switch PSW on OFF state later, it is ignored within a power controller 5 to prevent power source from lowering.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and particularly to a facsimile machine, which includes an image memory that can store received image data, a printer that records the image data read from the image memory on paper, and a printer that can turn off the power. The present invention relates to a facsimile machine having a limitable power supply control section and a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of certain artificially created printer inoperability conditions.

[Prior art] Early facsimile machines had slow data transmission speeds and were single-function devices, so the image was read on the sending side, the encoded and transmitted image signal was immediately decoded and played back on the receiving side, and recorded as is in real time.・With this type of device, the receiving device must be kept operational at all times, which is inconvenient in that, for example, inspection of printers and the like cannot be carried out freely. In other words, even if this type of device receives a data transmission request from the sending side, if the receiving printer is under inspection and the operation interlock is activated by detecting the open state of the device cover, the sending side will also be unable to read the image. There was an inconvenience that transmission was not possible.

Advances in data compression technology in recent years have made it possible to transmit substantially large amounts of image information in a short period of time. There is no information in the receiving device.
In order to solve the problem that the own reproduction/recording means cannot keep up with such a substantially large amount of single-image input information, some devices are equipped with a considerable amount of buffer image memory. but,
Even with recent advances in facsimile equipment, significant progress has been made in terms of improving image quality, such as increasing the density by 1 and expressing halftones. However, as mentioned above, the receiving equipment is still under inspection. There is no improvement in the inconvenience in terms of use and maintenance, such as the fact that the sending device cannot read and transmit images when it cannot be used.

Specific examples of such problems in use are as follows. Figure 2 is a timing chart explaining the reception print procedure of a facsimile machine having a conventional image memory. It is a communication control procedure to declare. The contents declared in [Transmission request] are the encoding method, document size, transmission speed, etc. of the sending side, and the contents declared in [Receiving function] are the encoding method, paper size, recording speed, etc. of the receiving side. The presence or absence of paper, etc. but,
If the receiving device is in some inoperable state at the time of receiving the [transmission request], the 4-wire inoperable state is indicated as L reception function]. The reception-inoperable state is, for example, a case where the receiving device is inspecting the printer and is interlocked by opening the protective cover. Alternatively, the printer may be placed in offline mode for test printing. In this case, the sending device cannot send image data until the receiving device becomes inoperable, so the sending device is either forced to wait for the receiving device to send data or the sending device interrupts communication, which is an inconvenience. was there.

Further, even if data transfer was performed reliably, there was no guarantee that it would be reliably recorded. For this reason, there is an inconvenience that the image data that has been stored is not recorded and is lost when the operator turns off the power.

[(1) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and its purpose is to prevent a facsimile machine on the receiving side from being artificially rendered inoperable to a certain degree. Regardless of this, the image reading data from the sending device is received and stored, and by restricting the power off of the device under the stored state, the stored image data can be recorded by the operator's power off operation. To provide a facsimile machine that does not have to be worried about being lost without being sent.

Specifically, even if the printer cover of the receiving facsimile device is opened for maintenance and inspection and the printer operation interlock is activated by detecting the open state of the cover, the image from the sending device is By receiving and storing data, preferably disconnecting the transmitting device immediately after receiving the image data, and restricting the operator from turning off the device under the stored state, the operator can power off the device after printer maintenance and inspection. To provide a facsimile machine that does not have to worry about losing stored image data due to an off operation.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1(A) is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main receiving print path in a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Although not shown, the apparatus of this embodiment may be a so-called facsimile transmitting/receiving apparatus that further includes a document image reading section and a transmission control section for the read image data.

In the figure, l is a data communication line, 2 is a control board equipped with a control unit, 3 is an electrostatic recording heat fixing printer unit, 4 is a microswitch that detects the open/closed state of the protective cover 31 of the printer unit 3, Reference numeral 5 denotes a power controller that controls power supply and power supply timing to each part of the apparatus, and 6 an operation panel that includes a power on/off switch of the apparatus main body and means for notifying various states.

Inside the control board 2, a functional block configuration for executing various functions is shown. 21 is a receiving circuit that receives communication control messages and encoded image data from the transmitting device;
2 is a transmitting circuit that transmits a response message to the transmitting side; 23
2 is an image memory that stores received encoded image data;
4 is a decoder that decodes the encoded image data read out from the image memory 23, and 25 is a control unit that centrally controls the entire apparatus. The control unit 25 includes a ROM containing a program, a RAM necessary for control, and a P for inputting and outputting control data.
It includes IO, etc., and is mainly composed of a 1-chip CPU. Further, the decoder 24 is a device that decodes and reproduces encoded image data compressed and transmitted using, for example, a run-length method, and simultaneously performs a decoding test.

The printer section 3 is an electrostatic recording type that forms an electrostatic latent image on a charging drum using the reproduced image signal from the decoder 24, develops it by applying toner to it, transfers it to plain paper, and then thermally fixes it. It is a thermal fixing printer. Of course, various other types of printers may be used. In general, a printer section is made up of a precise mechanism and may also use high pressure, so it is isolated from the outside by a protective cover 31 as in this embodiment. In order to ensure this safety, a microswitch 4 that interlocks with the protective cover 31 is provided, and the open/closed state of the protective cover 31 is detected by the ON10FF operation of the switch 4, and based on this detection signal, the A certain operational interlock state occurs, such as stopping power supply to the unit 3.

Of course, there are cases where the housing cover plays the role of such a protective cover.

Power controller 5 supplies power to printer section 3 via line 51 and to the remaining sections via line 52. In this case, the control board 2 is constantly supplied with power even when it is not printing because a [transmission request] may arrive from the sending side at any time. On the other hand, while the printer section 3 is not printing, power is not supplied to the printer section 3 except for necessary portions in order to save power.

The operation panel 6 is the power on/off switch PS of the main body of the device.
W and various status notification means. The means of notification is
For example, an LED that visually or audibly informs the operator when certain conditions described below occur.
and a speaker. Also power on/off switch PSW
is an operation switch for turning on and off power to the entire device.

FIG. 1(B) is a circuit diagram of a configuration for controlling power on/off to the entire device, and is included in the power controller 5. In the figure, when the PSW is turned on, the level of the litter 61 is set to HI by the pull-up resistor R.
GH, turns on the solid state relay SSR via the NOR gate, and connects the AC input AC-I to the AC output AC-〇. Also, when the PSW is set to the OFF side, 12, □Yo. 547B from NDaO#mc, v) v
'Bell goes LOW and SSR via NOR gate
When in the OFF state, the connection between AC-I and AC-0 is interrupted.

cut off However, even in this case, while the control section 25 outputs a HIGH level through the line 252 due to a certain condition described later, the NOR gate output is kept at a LOW level, and the connection between AC-I and AC-,0 is cut off. Not done.

With the above configuration, its operation will be explained below.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart illustrating the reception print procedure of the apparatus of this embodiment. When a [transmission request] is issued from the image transmitting side, the receiving side of this embodiment immediately declares the "receiving function" without checking for a certain artificially created inoperable state. When the sending side receives the [receiving function], it receives the [receiving function].
Send [reception command] and continue [encoded image data]
Send. When the control unit 25 receives the [reception command], it activates writing in the image memory 23 via the line 253, and subsequently writes the received encoded image data.

Let it start. The writing is performed independently of the control unit 25 using DMA. After transmitting the [encoded image data], the transmitting side then transmits [end of transmission]. The control unit 25, which has received the message [END OF TRANSMISSION], checks whether the protective cover 31 is open at this point. If it is an oven, the received value is sent to the transmitting side to notify that the encoded image and image data have been successfully received, without operating the decoder 24 and printing unit 3.

The certificate will be sent back.

This point differs from the conventional example shown in FIG. In other words, obey.

Previously, a [reception confirmation] was sent back after playback and recording.

This is because the decoder performs a decoding check on the image data during reproduction and recording on the receiving side, and returns a [reception confirmation] as a final confirmation including the presence or absence of errors. On the other hand, in the case of the device of this embodiment as well, if the protective cover 3
1 is closed, a [receipt confirmation] is returned after reproduction and recording in the same manner as in FIG. Protective cover 3 mentioned above
Differences in control depending on the open/closed state of No. 1 will be clarified by the explanation of the flowchart described later.

Now, according to FIG. 3, the transmitting side that has received the [receipt confirmation] is released after transmitting [end of communication]. You are also free to make new communications with other facsimile machines. On the other hand, the receiving device waits until the protective cover 31 is closed even after receiving the [Communication End] message. When the protective cover 31 is closed and the printer section 3 becomes ready for recording, the control section 25 energizes the decoder 24 via line 254 and starts the printer section 3 via line 255. The decoder 24 reads encoded image data from the image memory 23 and outputs an image signal to the printer section 3 while decoding and reproducing the data, and the printer section 3 records the image signal on paper.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the above-described received printing process performed by the control section 25.

In step S1, the process waits for a [transmission request] from the other party. When the receiver accepts the [transmission request], the process advances to step S2 and transmits the [receiving function] to the sending side. In step S3, a [reception command] from the sending side is waited for.

When the receiver receives the [receive command], the process advances to step S4, and writing to the image memory 23 is activated. In step S5, the process waits for [end of transmission] from the transmitting side, for example, waits for the end of receiving encoded image data for one page.

When the receiver accepts [End of transmission], the process advances to step S6 and writing to the image memory 23 is disabled. In step 57, it is determined whether the protective cover 31 is open. - This determination is made by checking the signal from the microswitch 4. When the determination is No, the protective cover is closed and printing can be performed immediately. The flow is step S
In step S8, the decoder 24 is energized, and in step S9, driving of the printer section 3 is started. The encoded image data read out from the image memory 23 in this state is decoded by the decoder 24 and reproduced into an image signal. The image signal is sent to the printer section 3, and an image for one page is recorded on a sheet of paper. During this interval, the decoder 24 also checks for decoding errors. The control unit 25 executes step S10 and waits for the series of recording operations described above to be completed. At the end of recording, it is also determined whether a decoding error has occurred. Normally, when the data is decoded without error and reproduced and recorded, the process ends normally, and the flow proceeds to step S11, where a [receipt confirmation] is sent. Step 31
In step 2, wait for [end of communication] from the sending side. [Communication ended]
When the request is received, the process returns to step S1 and waits for the next [transmission request].

If it is determined in step S7 that the protective cuff ~-31 is in the oven (YES), printing is not possible and the blowing process proceeds to step 313.

Such a situation occurs, for example, when the printer section 3 is being inspected. However, the other device is not made to wait at all. In step SL3, a [reception confirmation] is immediately transmitted. Although it is not known at this point whether a decoding error will occur later, such processing is originally permissible due to the redundancy of the image signal. Further, even if a decoding error is detected later and an abnormality is found in the recorded image, a retransmission request can be made using other appropriate communication means (telephone, etc.). In step SL4, the process waits for the end of communication from the sending side. After the sending device sends [Communication End], it is released. When the receiving side receives [Communication End], it proceeds to step S15 and restricts power off. That is, since the control section 25 outputs a HIGH level to the line 252, even if the operator turns the PSW to the OFF side thereafter, it will be ignored within the power controller 5, and the power will not be turned off. In step S16, the notification means is energized. When the receiver is unable to record captured image data because the protective cover is open, it is necessary to notify the operator of this in some way. Specifically, a speaker is made to sound or an LED is turned on. However, the operator only needs to be aware of this, and there is no need to immediately complete maintenance and inspection of the printer. In step 317, the process waits for the protective cover 31 to be closed. When the maintenance and inspection of the printer is completed and the protective cover 31 is closed, the process proceeds to step 318 and the decoder 24 is activated. In step S19, driving of the printer unit 3 is started, and in step S20, the end of recording is waited for.

When the recording ends, the process advances to step S21 and the notification means is deactivated.

This is because the image memory 23 no longer holds important data to be recorded. In step S22, the power off restriction is canceled. If the operator has already turned the PSW to the OFF side, the power to the device will be automatically turned off. If not, the process returns to step S1 and waits for a [transmission request] from the other party's device.

[Effects] As described above, according to the present invention, the printer cover of the receiving facsimile machine is opened for maintenance and inspection, and the printer operation is enabled by detecting the open state of the cover, even when the printer is locked. Irrespective of this, since the image data transmitted from the other party's facsimile machine is received and stored in the image memory, the transmitter's apparatus can read and transmit the image without waiting at all. Moreover, it restricts the operator from turning off the power of the device under memorized conditions.
There is no worry that the stored image data will not be recorded and will be lost due to the operator's power off operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1(A) is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main receiving/printing path for a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(B) is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main receiving/printing path for a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a timing chart explaining the receiving print procedure of a facsimile machine having a conventional image memory; FIG. 3 is a timing chart explaining the receiving print procedure of the apparatus of this embodiment; The figure is a flowchart illustrating the reception print processing performed by the control section. Here, 1... data communication line, 2... control board, 3... printer section, 4... micro switch, 5
...Power controller, 6...Operation panel, 21
...reception circuit, 22 ... transmission circuit, 23 ... image memory, 24 ... decoder, 25 ... control section.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) a communication control unit that performs data communication according to a predetermined communication control procedure; an image memory unit that stores received image data; and a printer unit that records the image data read from the image memory unit on paper; In the facsimile machine, the facsimile apparatus includes a power supply control section capable of restricting power off, a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a certain artificially created printer inoperability state, and a control section for controlling each of the sections and means, wherein the control section receives the image data transmitted from the other party's facsimile machine and stores it in the image memory unit even when the detection means detects the existence of a certain artificially created printer inoperable state; A facsimile device characterized by restricting power off of the device under certain conditions. (2) The control unit, after receiving the image data and storing it in the image memory unit, immediately transmits a response signal indicating normal reception completion to the other party's facsimile machine. facsimile machine. (3) Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the artificially created predetermined printer inoperability state is a printer operation interlock state for safety due to opening of the printer unit device cover. Facsimile machine as described.