JPS62216465A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform a copying and the reception of a facsimile properly by temporarily saving respective information for a copying operation and interrupting the copying operation when called and received during the copying operation. CONSTITUTION:When a receiving is started when being called during the copying operation, if the using ratio of a picture memory 15 reaches 80%, the copying operation executed at that time is forcedly interrupted and a received picture is read from the picture memory 15, recorded and outputted. The received picture read at this time is deleted and when the using ratio of the picture memory 15 is lowered to a prescribed value, for instance, 10%, the interrupted copying operation is resumed, and when all the copying operation is completed, the remaining received picture is recorded and outputted. Respective parameters (for instance, size of a recording paper, the number of copying devices, the number of copied sheets, density or the like) for the copying operation during the interruption are internally saved so as to resume the copying operation after it is interrupted and during the resumption, the respective parameters are internally reset.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a facsimile device formed by adding a communication function to a so-called digital copying machine.

[Prior Art] In recent years, digital copying machines have been proposed that are configured by combining a document reading device that digitally reads document images and a page printer (for example, a laser printer) that records images page by page at a predetermined resolution. I'll keep it.

By using such a digital copying machine, in addition to simple copying operations, it is possible to copy an edited image, or to copy an image that has been processed by adding some processing.

Furthermore, this digital copying machine can be used as a hard copy device for an information processing device such as a personal computer, or can be used as a facsimile device by adding one communication function.

However, when a digital copying machine is added with a communication function and used as a facsimile machine, the following problems may occur.

That is, suppose that when a call is made from one of the transmitting apparatuses during a copying operation and the machine enters the receiving state, when facsimile reception is completed, the copying operation is resumed in the same mode as when receiving the facsimile.

If the original copying mode and the recording paper selection mode when receiving the facsimile were different.

It takes time and effort to set the mode again.

[Objective] The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile device that can appropriately perform copying even when a call is made during a copying operation. purpose.

[Configuration] In order to achieve this object, the present invention temporarily saves various information for the copy operation at that time and interrupts the copy operation when a call is made during a copy operation and the reception state is entered. When the receiving operation is finished, the saved various information is restored and the copying operation is restarted.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This facsimile machine includes a document conveying device 100 that conveys a document to a contact glass (described later), a scanner 200 that decomposes an image of the document positioned on the contact glass at a predetermined resolution, and converts the image into electricity.
The copying machine 300 records the image read by the printer on recording paper of any size stored in three paper cassettes, and is equipped with a double-sided copying function, and is basically a well-known so-called digital copying machine. It has the same configuration as the machine.

In the document conveyance device 100, documents placed on a document table 101 are fed one by one by a feed roller 102, and are positioned at a predetermined position on a contact glass 201 by a conveyance belt 103. After the image of the original is read, the original is removed from the contact glass 201 by the conveyor belt 103 and ejected onto the ejection tray 104.

In the scanner 200, an image of a document positioned on a contact glass 201 is scanned in the direction of the arrow by an optical system 202, and the image obtained by scanning (hereinafter referred to as scan light) is focused on a line image sensor 203. It is imaged.

The line image sensor 203 decomposes the scan light of the scan line of the optical system 202 into a predetermined number of pixels and photoelectrically converts the image of each pixel, thereby forming electrical image information. The resolution of this scanner 200 is
15.4 dots/m+a in the main scanning direction and 1 in the sub scanning direction
It is set at 5.4 lines/am (400 dots/inch). This resolution is 2 in the main scanning direction compared to the standard resolution of facsimile machines (3.85 dots/mm in the main scanning direction and 7.7 lines/m+w in the sub scanning direction).
It has a high resolution (7.7 dots/mm in the main scanning direction and 7.7 lines/+ in the sub scanning direction).
+m) in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

In the copying apparatus 300, the laser beam output from the laser writing section 301 that scans the laser beam modulated according to image information has a drum-like appearance.

The light body 302 is irradiated with light. Note that the recording resolution of the copying apparatus 300 is set to the same resolution as that of the scanner 200.

This photoreceptor 302 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, and
The surface is uniformly IF charged by the charger 303, and the charged surface is exposed to laser light to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the recorded image (image information). 304, the toner is developed.

On the other hand, the recording paper stacked in the selected one of the three paper feed cassettes 305, 306, 307 is picked up by the paper feed rollers 308, 309, 310 corresponding to the respective paper feed cassettes 305, 306, 307. The sheets are sent out one by one starting from the one at the top. The recording paper sent out by the paper feed rollers 308, 309, and 310 in this manner is sent out to the photoreceptor 302 by the registration roller 311 at the timing when its leading edge coincides with the leading edge of the toner image.

The recording paper sent to the photoreceptor 302 is brought into close contact with the photoreceptor 302 by a transfer charger 312 and a toner image is transferred thereto, and then separated from the photoreceptor 302 by a separation charger 313.Further, the toner image is transferred to the photoreceptor 302 by a fixing device 314. fixed on the surface. Then, the recording paper that has been fixed is transferred to the distribution section 3.
15 and a reversing section 316, and is conveyed to a discharge roller 317 and discharged outside the machine.

The recording paper discharged outside the machine is sorted 318 into either a stacker 319 that stacks recording paper on which a copy image is recorded during a copying operation, or a stacker 320 that stacks recording paper on which a received image is recorded during facsimile reception. Can be sorted.

Further, the distribution section 315 sorts the recording sheets on which images have been recorded to either the reversing section 316, the discharge roller 317, or the conveying section 321, and the conveying section 321c.

This is for conveying the recording paper on which the image on the first side is recorded to the registration rollers 311 again during double-sided copying.

Further, residual toner on the surface of the photoreceptor 302 is removed by a cleaning unit 322, and residual charge is removed by a static elimination lamp 32.
removed by 3.

An example of the distribution section 315 is shown in FIG.

In the same figure, 315a, 315b, 315c, 315
d is a conveyance roller for conveying the recording, and 315e and 315f are branch plates for switching the conveyance path of the recording paper.

When the recording paper is discharged in an inverted state, that is, with the side on which the image is recorded facing down, the first branch plate 315e is biased in the A1 direction, and the branch plate 315f is biased in the A3 direction.

Then, the recording paper passes sequentially through the conveyance paths A11B, H2, and E, is conveyed to the discharge roller 317, and is discharged outside the machine.

When the recording paper is discharged as it is, that is, with the image recording surface facing up, the branching plate 315e is biased in the A2 direction. Then, the recording paper passes through the conveyance path, is conveyed to the discharge roller 317, and is discharged outside the machine.

When sending the recording paper to the transport section 321, the branch plate 315e
is biased in the A1 direction, and the branch plate 315f is biased in the A4 direction. Then, the recording paper sequentially passes through the transport paths A, C, C, II, G, and H and is sent to the transport section 321.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the control system of this facsimile machine.

In the figure, an output image signal from a line image sensor 203 is amplified to a predetermined amplitude by an AGC (variable gain control) amplifier 11, converted to a digital signal with a predetermined number of bits by an analog/digital converter 12, and then sent to an image processing unit 13. added to.

The image processing unit 13 performs a shading correction process that corrects variations in the level of image signals caused by variations in the characteristics of the optical system 202 of the scanner 200 and the light receiving characteristics of each bit of the line image sensor 203.
γ correction processing that corrects the difference between image reading characteristics and human visual characteristics and converts the image read by the scanner 200 into a visually optimal image; MTF correction processing that eliminates image blur; Background removal processing for appropriately extracting images of originals with dark background colors or dirty backgrounds 1 Halftone processing for pseudo-gradation of images, character parts for binarization processing, etc. It realizes character/halftone separation processing for separating images to be subjected to halftone processing, and various other image processing.

The image information processed by this image processing section 13 is as follows.

The image processing section 14 compresses the image using the most efficient method, and image data corresponding to the compressed image information is stored in the image memory 15. This image memory 15 is
It has a storage capacity capable of storing image information of several tens of compressed standard originals (for example, about 20 to 60 images), and its writing and reading operations are controlled by the memory control section 16.

The image data read from the image memory 15 is restored to the original image signal by the image processing section 14, and the restored image signal is applied to the laser diode driver 17, whereby the image is output from the laser diode 18. signal(
A laser beam modulated by the image information) is generated.

Note that this laser diode 18 is provided in a laser writing section 301 of the copying apparatus 300. The image processing unit 14 also executes density conversion processing to convert the linear density of the image and scaling processing to reduce or enlarge the image.

The operation display section 19 includes operation keys necessary for operating the facsimile apparatus as a copying machine and a facsimile machine, and a display for displaying the operating status and operating procedures of the facsimile apparatus. 5 as an operation key
For example, a start key for starting a facsimile transmission operation, a copy key for starting a copying operation, a stop key for stopping a copying operation, a numeric keypad for inputting numerical data such as the number of copies, a telephone number, etc. It includes abbreviation keys for entering numbers, mode keys for setting various operation modes of the facsimile machine, and guidance keys for selecting selection items displayed on the display. Further, a liquid crystal display device or the like having a high degree of display flexibility is used as the display device, and message information of the operating procedure, numerical values input using the numeric keys, the actual number of copies, etc. are displayed.

The DF control unit 20 controls the document transport device lOO, the scanner control unit 21 controls the scanner 200, and the copy control unit 22 controls the copying device 200.
It controls the operation of each part of the system. And these D
F control section 20, scanner control section 21. copy control unit 22,
Image processing section 13, memory control section 15. The operation timing, operation mode, etc. of each laser diode driver 17 are controlled by the system control unit 23.

Furthermore, the memory control section 15 and the copy control section 22 exchange information for synchronizing the operation of the laser writing section 301.

The facsimile control unit 24 executes a transmission control procedure for facsimile transmission, and the image compression/decompression unit 26
, controls the modem 27 and network control device 28 to transmit and receive image information. The facsimile control section 24 also exchanges control information and the like with the system control section 23 and the memory control section 16.

The image compression/expansion unit 26 compresses the image to be transmitted using a code compression method used in facsimile transmission, and also expands the received image into the original image signal, and is capable of performing compression/expansion processing using a plurality of code compression methods. .

The modem 27 modulates digital data into a waveform that can be transmitted via an analog line and demodulates the received signal into the original digital data, and can perform modulation and demodulation processing using a plurality of modulation methods. For example, Gl, G2.
It is composed of units for realizing each modulation/demodulation process in the G3 facsimile mode.

The network control device 28 connects this facsimile device to a transmission line (
In this case, it is used to connect to the public telephone line (public telephone line) and has an automatic call/receive function.

Note that input data from the operation display section 19 is notified to the facsimile control section 24 via the system control section 23, and display data from the facsimile control section 24 to the operation display section 19 is notified to the operation display section via the system control section 23. 19, and is also output from the facsimile control section 24 to the image processing section 13.
．． 14 is also output via the system control unit 23.

Now, the operation during double-sided copying with the above configuration will be explained.

First, the operator places the originals (two or more) to be copied into the original transport bag ji! 100 placed on the document table 101, set the duplex copy mode from the operation display section 19, select the recording paper size corresponding to the original, and when making multiple copies, enter the number of copies using the numeric keypad. input.

In this state, when the operator turns on the print key (
(See FIG. 4(a)), the system control unit 23 instructs the DF control unit 20 to convey the first document, and as a result, the first document is transferred to the contact glass 201 by the 2M document conveyance device 100. transported and positioned (fourth
(See figure (b)). When this conveyance is finished.

The OF control unit 20 notifies the control unit 23 of the completion of conveyance.

Upon receiving this notification, the system control unit 23 causes the scanner control unit 21 to start reading the image, notifies the copy control unit 22 of the size of the recording paper selected at that time, and sends out the recording paper to record the image. Commands to form an image on paper.

As a result, the scanner 200 moves the optical system 202 in the scanning direction, and the line image sensor 203 operates in synchronization with the movement to read the image of the first document. Further, the optical system 201 returns to its original position after one reading is completed (see No. 41(c)), and at the same time, the copy control unit 22 controls the paper feed roller 305
a is activated (see FIG. 4(f)) to feed out one sheet of recording paper, and at the same time execute a predetermined image forming process (see FIG. 4(g)).

At this time, the image signal output from the line image sensor 203 is subjected to predetermined processing by the image processing unit 13, and then compressed by the image processing unit 14 and stored in the image memory 15 (see FIG. 4(d)). reference).

Then, in parallel with the storage in the image memory 15, the image signal before being stored is applied to the laser diode driver 17.

As a result, the first image is recorded on the first side of the recording paper. At this time, the branch plate 315e is urged in the A1 direction (see FIG. 4(j)), and the branch plate 315f is urged in the A1 direction.
Since it is biased in three directions (see FIG. 4(k)), the recording paper on which the image is recorded on the first side is
5 to the reversing section 316 and then to the distributing section 3 again.
15 to the conveying section 321, and this conveying section 321
It is then conveyed to a position immediately in front of the registration rollers 311 (see FIG. 4(h)).

On the other hand, when the image reading of the first original is completed, the OF control unit 20 discharges the original and conveys the second original to the contact glass 201 for positioning. Therefore, when the recorded image on the first surface is repositioned to the registration roller 311, the second
A sheet of original is positioned on the contact glass 201.

In this state, the system control unit 23 controls the scanner drive unit 21.
At the same time, the copy controller 22 is instructed to start reading the image and to form an image on the recording paper waiting just before the registration rollers 311.

At this time, the line image sensor 20 of the scanner 200
The image signal output from 3 is subjected to predetermined processing in an image processing section 13 and then directly applied to a laser diode driver 17 via an image processing section 14.

That is, image information corresponding to the image to be recorded on the second side of the recording paper is not stored in the image memory 15.

As a result, the second original image is recorded on the back side (second side) of the recording paper on which the first original image was recorded on the first side.

At this time, the first branch plates 315e and 315f are respectively A.
Since it is biased in the 2°A4 direction, the recording paper with the original image recorded on both sides is transferred to the distribution section 315 and the reversing section 316.
, passes through the distribution section 315 again and is sent out to the discharge roller 312, thereby being discharged outside the machine (Fig. 4 (i)
)reference).

In this way, one sheet of recording paper with images recorded on both sides is formed and discharged.

At this time, if the operator has set the number of copies to be 2 or more, the system control unit 23 reads out the image of the first side stored in the image memory 15 (the fourth
(See Figure (a)) One image is output to the image decompression unit 16 to be recorded, and since the second original is positioned on the contact glass 201 at this time, this is read and the image on the second side is created. Let it be recorded.

Further, when the copying for the number of copies is completed, the system control unit 23 sends the contact glass 201 to the DF control unit 20.
Commands to eject the original located above.

In this way, while the image of the first original to be double-sided copied is stored in the image memory 15, the second original remains positioned on the contact glass 201, and the first original image of the second and subsequent copies is stored in the image memory 15. When recording the image of the first page, the stored image information is read out and used. Also, since the image of the second page is the one read by the scanner 200, the image of the first page is used. There is no need to store recorded paper internally.

By the way, if the image memory 15 has a large storage capacity and can store a plurality of original images, the image on the first side and the image on the second side can be stored.
Images of the surface can also be stored in the image memo/sound 5.

The operations of each part in this case are as shown in FIGS. 5(a) to 5(k).

That is, the image signal obtained when the second original is read is also stored in the image memory 15, and the uncompressed image signal is applied to the laser diode driver 17 in the same way as the first original. .

By doing so, the time required for double-sided copying can be shortened.

The operation of other parts in this case is shown in Fig. 4(a)-(
Since this is the same as explained with reference to k), the explanation thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation when operating as a facsimile machine will be explained.

Now, in the facsimile transmission procedure, let us take an example of this in the sixth section.
As shown in the figure, when the receiving side receives a call from the transmitting side (calling signal CNG) and the line is established, the receiving side responds with the called station identification signal CHD indicating that it is a non-voice terminal, and then calls itself. It responds with a digital identification signal DIS indicating the reception capabilities of the station.

The sending side selects the function to be used for the facsimile transmission from the contents of the received digital identification signal DIS, displays it in the digital command signal DOS to notify the receiving side, and sets the modem to the transmission speed selected at that time. Set the speed 1
．． Execute 5 seconds of training (Training Check TCP).

If the results of this modem training are good.

The receiving side responds with a reception preparation confirmation signal CFR to the transmitting side,
Prepare to receive images at the modem speed at that time.

Upon receiving the reception preparation confirmation signal CFR, the transmitting side transmits the training signal TNG corresponding to the modem standard training sequence corresponding to the set modem speed, transmits the image information MSG of the first page, and then transmits the subsequent image information MSG. If there is an image, a multi-page signal MPS is transmitted.

If the receiving side can properly receive the received image at that time, it responds with a message confirmation signal MCF and prepares to receive the next page of images.

The transmitting side, which has received the message confirmation signal MCF, transmits the training signal TNG again, then transmits the image information of the second page, and then transmits the procedure end signal EOP when ending the transmission.

The receiving side responds with a message confirmation signal MCF in the same way as for the first page, and when the transmitting side receives this message confirmation signal MCF, it transmits a disconnection command signal DCN to disconnect the line and end the facsimile transmission.

The receiving side that receives this disconnection command signal DCN disconnects the line.

A series of such facsimile transmission procedures is executed to transmit the image. At this time, training check TC
A high-speed modem of 2,400 to 9,600 bps is used to transmit P and image information, and for example, a digital identification signal DIS
300bps for transmission of other transmission control procedure signals such as
A low speed modem is used. Note that the transmission control procedure signal shown here is a part of the transmission control procedure signal defined in the facsimile transmission procedure. This facsimile transmission procedure is standardized by Recommendation T, 30 of the CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee).

The transmission control procedure signal basically has a frame structure of a high-level data link control (HDLC) procedure as shown in FIG. 7, and includes two 8-bit flag sequences F.
, an 8-bit address section A, an 8-bit control section C, an 18-bit facsimile control section FC, an n-bit facsimile information section F1, a 16-bit flag check sequence FC3, and an 8-bit flag F.

Flag F consists of a bit string rolllllloJ.

The address part A consists of a bit string rllllllllllJ of a global address that is sent to an unspecified recipient, and the control part C is sent to an unnumbered frame.
It consists of a bit string OOJ (X is "0" for a non-final frame and "1" for a final frame), and is
C consists of a bit string that generates each transmission control procedure signal, and the facsimile information section FI generates transmission control procedure signals (DIS, DC5, DTC, NSS, N
The flag check sequence FCS consists of a bit string of a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) code obtained by applying a predetermined generator polynomial to the bit string from the address field A to the facsimile information field FI. .

An example of the contents of the facsimile information section FI is shown in Table 1 on the next page. (Left below) Shadow digital identification signal DIS and digital transmission command signal DTC
In the facsimile information field FI of
The facsimile information field FI of the digital command signal DO3 indicates that the function of the bit number whose bit is set to "1" has been selected. Further, when the extension field with bit number 24 is set to "1", it is displayed that an 8-bit extension field is added after it and the number of bits of the facsimile information field FI is 32 bits in total.

Now, when the operator sets the original to be transmitted on the original table 101 of the original transport device 100, selects the facsimile mode on the operation display section 19, inputs the destination, and turns on the start key to start the transmission operation, the system control The unit 23 transmits data inputted by the operator to the facsimile control unit 2.
4 to start the facsimile transmission operation, and also instructs the DF control section 20 to convey the transmission document. As a result, the original to be transmitted is positioned on the contact glass 202 by the original transport device 100, and its size is determined.The DF controller 20 sends the result to the facsimile controller 20 via the system controller
will be notified.

Now, the operator selects the immediate transmission mode and selects one destination.
If one is selected, the facsimile control unit 24 transfers the destination's telephone number to the network control device 28 to make a call to the destination, and when the line is established, executes the above-mentioned transmission control procedure to activate the destination's receiving function. Select the one you want to use and notify the recipient.

At this time, the receivable size of the destination and the size of the transmission original are compared, and if they are different, the image of the transmission original is scaled to the receivable size of the destination and sent. Table 2 on the next page shows the relationship between the receivable size, the size of the transmitted document, and the variable magnification.

(Margin below), Table 1 Note: 1. Normal facsimile machines rarely use recording paper in sizes other than A4 to A3, but as in the device of this embodiment, many types of recording paper are used. Among facsimile machines that are capable of this, recording paper may be selected depending on the recording paper that is actually set, and in that case, a wide range of magnification ratios may be applied. Naturally, in that case, in the pre-transmission procedure, the device notifies itself of its own capabilities using a non-standard device signal or the like, and notifies the other party of all usable recording sheets.

By the way, when reducing an image of a transmission document, if the reduction ratio is too large, the reduced image becomes difficult to see, and the image quality at the destination may deteriorate significantly. Therefore, the facsimile control unit 24 executes the process shown in FIG. 8 to set the reading line density according to the magnification.

In this process, first, a magnification is selected based on the above-mentioned relationship (process 30), and it is checked whether the magnification is 86% or more (judgment 31).
). When the result of this judgment 31 is NO, the magnification is further divided by 71% (decision 32).

If the result of this judgment 32 is YES, the reading linear density set at that time is 3.85 lines/mm.
If the result of this judgment 33 is YES, the reading linear density is set to 7.7 lines/IIIm (processing 34).

If the result of judgment 32 is No, check whether the linear density is set to 15.4 lines/mn+ (judgment 35)
If the result of this judgment 35 is No, the reading linear density is set to 15.4 lines/+am (process 36).

In this way, when the magnification is 71 to 86, reading is performed at a linear density of at least 7.7 lines/ml11 or more, and when the magnification is less than 71%, reading is performed at a linear density of 15.4 lines/mm. That is, the higher the reduction ratio, the higher the resolution is read, so deterioration of the reduced image can be suppressed, and therefore small characters etc. that appear in the received image can be reliably read.

Then, the magnification and reading linear density set in this way are notified to the image processing unit 14 via the system control unit 23, and the scanner 200 is thereby
．． 4 dots/mm 15.4 dots/ll1 in the sub-scanning direction
The image read at a resolution of m is subjected to processing such as predetermined image quality correction by the image processing section 13, and linear density conversion and scaling are performed by the image processing section 14 at the linear density and magnification set at that time.

The data is transferred to the facsimile control unit 24. Then, it is code-compressed by the image compression/decompression unit 26 using the specified encoding method, and is modulated by the modem 27 using the set modulation method. 28 to the destination.

In this manner, when there is one destination in the instant transmission mode, the read image is not stored in the image memo 5, but is directly transferred to the facsimile control unit 24.

Furthermore, when the time-specified transmission mode in which the transmission time is specified and the broadcast transmission mode in which multiple destinations are set, the image of the transmission document read by the scanner 200 is processed by the image processing unit 13 to a predetermined image quality. After undergoing correction and other processing and being compressed by the single image processing unit 14, the image is temporarily stored in the image memory 15. Also, at this time, the conditions for transmission such as the transmission time and destination information input by the operator are stored in the facsimile control unit 24.

Then, the image information is sequentially transmitted to the specified destinations when the specified transmission time is reached in the time-specified transmission mode, or when storage of image information is finished in the broadcast transmission mode.

When transmitting this image information, first, the facsimile control unit 24 selects one destination if one is specified, or selects one destination if multiple destinations are specified, and processes the corresponding one. The telephone number information is transferred to the network control device 28 and a call is made to the destination.

Then, the transmission control procedure is executed in the same manner as described above, and the eighth
The process shown in the figure is executed to select a variable magnification and linear density based on the relationship between the original size and the receivable size, and set the variable magnification and linear density in the image processing section 14.

When starting the transmission of image information, the facsimile control section 24 instructs the memory control section 16 to sequentially read out the accumulated image information from the image memory 15, and also sends the facsimile information to the image processing section 14 through the system control section 23. The controller 24 is commanded to make a selection. This results in
The image information read out from the image memory 15 is sent to the image processing section 1
4, the signal is restored to the original image signal, subjected to density conversion processing and scaling processing, and then applied to the facsimile control section 24.

The image signal applied to the facsimile control unit 24 is
The image is encoded by the image compression/decompression unit 26 and sent to the modem 27.
After being modulated by the network controller 28, it is sent to the destination.

When the transmission of the image information to one destination is completed in this way, if a plurality of destinations are set, the destinations are selected one after another and the same process is repeated to transmit the image information to all the destinations. Then, the image information whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the image memory 15.

Next, the operation when receiving a facsimile will be explained.

Now, since the apparatus of this embodiment basically operates as a copying machine, facsimile reception is realized as an interrupt operation for the copying operation of the copying machine.

Therefore, if you respond to the sender with the size of the recording paper selected during the copying operation as the receivable size, it may cause some inconvenience, so set the receivable size in advance to a standard size, such as A4 size. In the pre-transmission procedure, this set receivable size is responded to the transmitting side. Note that this receivable size setting can be made on the operation display section 1.
It can be input from 9.

Further, the received images are temporarily stored in the image memory 15, and if the received images can be recorded and outputted at that time, they are recorded and outputted when the reception of one image is completed. However, if recording paper of the receivable size set at this time is not set, and if 84-size recording paper is set, the recording will be output at the same size on this 84-size recording paper, and If no recording paper is set, a message will be displayed on the operation display section 19 instructing you to set A4 size recording paper, and the image will not be recorded. can be input from the operation display section 19.

Further, when a call is made during a copying operation and reception is started, the received image is stored in the image memory 15 until the usage rate of the image memory 15 reaches a predetermined value, for example, 80%. %, the copying operation being executed at that time is forcibly interrupted, and the received image is read out from the image memory 15 and recorded and output. At this time, the received image read out from the image memory 15 is deleted from the image memory 15, and when the usage rate of the image memory 15 drops to a predetermined value, for example 10%, the interrupted copying operation is restarted. When all the images are completed, the remaining received images are recorded and output. In addition, various parameters for the copying operation at the time of interruption (for example, recording paper size, number of copies,
The number of copies, density, etc.) are saved internally, and when restarting, the various parameters are restored internally. Note that the recorded matter formed by the copying operation is discharged to the stacker 319, and the recording paper on which the received image at the time of facsimile reception is recorded is discharged to the stacker 320.

An example of the operation at the time of reception is shown in FIG.

First, the facsimile control unit 24 executes a predetermined pre-transmission procedure (40), sets the modem speed and encoding method set there in the modem 27 and the image compression/decompression unit 26, and transmits one page transmitted. It demodulates the image information and restores it to the original image information, and transfers the restored image information to the image processing section 14 and stores it in the image memory 15 (
Processing 41).

Then, the usage rate of the image memory 15 at that time is checked, and if it is 80% or more (the result of judgment 42 is NO), a hail flag FS is sent to indicate that the copy operation has been interrupted.
is set (decision 43), and if the result of determination 43 is NO, it is determined whether a copy operation is currently in progress (decision 44).

If the result of this judgment 44 is NO, image recording processing 45 is executed to record one page of received images, and it is checked in judgment 46 whether or not the reception has been completed, and if the result of this judgment 46 is No, Return to process 41, Yll! In the case of S, it is checked whether the received image stored in the image memory 15 has disappeared (judgment 47), and the result of this judgment 46 is No.
In this case, the process returns to decision 44, and if the result of decision 46 is YES, the process exits from this process.

When the result of the judgment 42 is YES, the copy process being executed at that time is interrupted, a message to that effect is displayed on the operation display unit 19, and at the same time, the data for the copy process at that time is saved (48). , after setting the flag FS (processing 49), image recording processing 50, which is the same as processing 45, is performed.
Execute.

Then, it is checked whether the usage rate of the image memory 15 has become 10% or less (determination 51), and the result of this determination 51 is No.
When this happens, the process returns to the image recording process 50, and when the result of the determination 51 is YES, the process returns to the process 41.

If the result of the judgment 43 is YES, the data for the copy process that was saved is restored, a message to that effect is displayed on the operation display section 19, and the interrupted copy process is restarted (52), and the flag FS is set. Reset (processing 53)
.

Therefore, if a call is made and facsimile reception is started while no copying operation is being performed, process 40.4
After completing Step 1, the result of judgment 42 is NO, the result of judgment 43 is No, and the result of judgment 44 is No. Immediately after receiving one page of images, the received image is recorded and output in process 45. be done. Furthermore, since the result of judgment 46 is No when this process 45 is completed, the process loop from process 41 onward is repeatedly executed until the reception operation is completed.

Also, if the operator starts copying during this reception, the result of judgment 44 becomes YES at that point and the process returns to process 41, so the received image is not recorded, and therefore, the received image for one page is received. Each time, the usage rate of the image memory 15 increases.

If the usage rate of the image memory 15 exceeds 80% during this copy operation, the result of judgment 42 becomes YES, the copy operation is interrupted, the flag FS is set, and the image memory 15
The process 50 is repeatedly executed until the usage rate of is 10% or less. When the usage rate of the image memory 15 becomes 10% or less, the usage rate of the image memory 15 will be 80% or less when the next page of images is received and stored, so the result of judgment 42 is becomes NO, and in this case, the result of judgment 43 becomes YES, so the interrupted copy operation is restarted and the flag FS is reset.

Also, when the copying is completed and the result of judgment 44 becomes No,
If the reception operation has been completed, all remaining received images are recorded and output, and if the reception operation has not been completed, the reception image for one page is recorded and outputted, and then the image of the next page is received6. If facsimile reception is started during a copy operation, the received image of the first page will be stored in the image memory 15, and will be stored when the usage rate of the image memory 15 exceeds 80% or after the copy operation is finished. (8 images are recorded and output in sequence.

FIG. 10 shows an example of processing when one page of received images is recorded and output.

In this process, first, it is checked whether A4 to A84 recording paper is set (judgment 60.61). Selectively process 307 6
2.63), if no recording paper is set, it is displayed that the specified recording paper is not set, and the received image is not recorded at this time (process 64).
). Note that if the usage rate of the image memory 15 as a result of this process 64 exceeds 100%.

Among the recording paper set at that time, if there is an A3 size recording paper that can record the received A4 size image without reducing it, select it. In addition, it is also possible to reduce the size and print it on a B5 size or A5 size recording paper, which requires only one step of reduction.

When A4 or B4 recording paper is selected, it is checked whether the length of the received image to be recorded is shorter than the selected recording paper based on the number of lines of the received image (judgment 65).
), when the result of this judgment 65 is YES, the received image is recorded at the same size (process 66).

When the result of judgment 65 is NO, it is checked whether the length of the received image is 110% or less of the length of the selected recording paper (judgment 67), and the result of judgment 67 is YES.
When this happens, the received image is reduced at a magnification of 90% and recorded on a single sheet of recording paper (process 68). Also judgment 67
If the result is NO, the received image is divided and recorded on a plurality of sheets of recording paper at the same size (process 69).

Then, the received image whose recording has been completed is deleted from the image memory 15.

In this way, the received image for one page is recorded and output, and at the same time, the received image is deleted from the image memory 15.

Note that when the received images are recorded and output in processes 66 , 68 , and 69 , the received images and the scaling factor to be recorded are specified from the facsimile control unit 24 to the system control unit 23 .

The operation mode of the image processing section 14 is set by the system control section 23. As a result, the image data read from the image memory 15 is restored to the original image, subjected to magnification processing, and output to the laser diode driver 17 for recording.

By the way, since the apparatus of the above-described embodiment is capable of double-sided copying, the operator can instruct from the operation display section 19 to select a mode in which two pages of the received image are recorded on both sides of one sheet of recording paper. You can also choose. Further, in the embodiment described above, confidential reception is also possible. Furthermore, the reception process and the recording process of the received image can be executed in parallel.

Further, in the embodiment described above, an image memory with a relatively large capacity is provided, and when a call is made during a copy operation and facsimile reception is started, the received image is stored in the image memory, and the image memory is likely to overflow. Although the copying operation is interrupted only when the image data is received, the same effect can be obtained even if the copying operation is not provided with sufficient image memory by interrupting the copying operation immediately after the reception starts.

[Effects] As explained above, according to one aspect of the present invention, when a call is made during a copying operation and the receiving state is entered.

Various information for the copy operation is temporarily saved, the copy operation is interrupted, and when the reception operation is finished, the saved information is restored and the copy operation is restarted, so that copying and facsimile reception are The effect is that it can be done properly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a reversing mechanism, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system, and FIG. 5 and 5 are waveform diagrams showing the operation of each part during double-sided copying, FIG. 6 is a timing diagram showing an example of a facsimile transmission procedure, and FIG. 7 is a signal arrangement diagram showing an example of the format of a transmission control signal. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the linear density and magnification setting process during transmission, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the reception process, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the image recording process. . 13.14... Image processing section, 15... Image memory. 16... Memory control section, 19... Operation display section, 20
. . . OF (fM document conveyance device) control unit, 21 . . . scanner control unit, 22 . 24...Facsimile control unit, 26...Image compression/expansion unit, 27...Modem, 28...Network control device. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 1 Turn Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure M8 Figure 9 Figure 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a facsimile machine equipped with multiple paper feeding means for feeding sheet-like recording paper, when a call is made and a reception operation is performed during a copying operation, various information for the copying operation at that time is temporarily saved. The copy operation is interrupted in the
A facsimile device characterized in that when the reception is finished, the saved various information is restored and the copying operation is resumed.