JPS63294174A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the time until the next original is inserted delayable and originals continuously insertable, by suitably inserting dummy data when the information of an original having a less data quantity is sent or when data is transmitted at a high speed. CONSTITUTION:An image written on an original M1 is read by means of an original reading means M2 and stored in a buffer M3. When the image reading is completed, whether or not the image information reaches a prescribed quantity is discriminated by means of an information discriminating means M5 and, when it is discriminated that the information stored in the buffer M3 does not reach the prescribed quantity, a prescribed quantity of dummy data are sent by means of a dummy data sending means M6 through a communication means M4 before the information indicating the completion of picture signals is sent. Therefore, when the image information stored in the buffer M3 is less in quantity at the time of completion of the image reading, the time until the information indicating the completion of image signals is sent is extended and originals can be inserted continuously.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a facsimile machine that temporarily stores read image information in a buffer and then outputs it to the outside via a communication line. It is something.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in this type of facsimile machine, after an image written on a document is read by an image reading means, the data is compressed and temporarily stored in a buffer, and then the data is sent to the destination facsimile machine according to a predetermined procedure. Send image information to.

Such image information transmission is performed page by page, and in so-called phase C, information is transmitted, and then,
A procedure called Phase D is performed to confirm that the information transmission has been completed.

In phase D, an exchange is made to confirm whether or not there was an error in the information transmission and whether or not it is okay to continue transmitting the information. When the transmission of one page of image information is completed and there is no further information to be transmitted, the facsimile machine
In Phases D and E, the destination facsimile machine is notified of this, the communication is terminated, and the communication line is disconnected.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, if the number of originals desired to be transmitted at one time cannot all be loaded onto the image reading means, the following problem occurs. That is, the problem is that while documents are being set for continuous transmission, communication ends and the connection with the destination facsimile machine via the communication line is cut off.

In particular, when the communication speed of the facsimile device becomes high, such as in the so-called G3 mode, and the image information remaining in the buffer is output between strips, the allowance for setting the next document is These problems cannot be overlooked because time is short.

Furthermore, with simple facsimile machines that can only hold one original, when sending two or more originals in succession,
If the communication was terminated every time a single document was sent, the user would have to call back many times, and it would be troublesome to send multiple documents.

The present invention was made to solve such problems.

Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problem) As illustrated in FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes an image reading means M2 that reads an image written on a document M1, and reads the read image information. The facsimile machine is equipped with a communication means M4 that temporarily stores the image information in a buffer M3 and then outputs the image information to the outside via a communication line, and the reading of the document M1 that can be loaded on the image information reading means M2 at one time is completed. When it is determined that the amount of image information stored in the buffer M3 is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, information determining means M5 detects that the amount of image information stored in the buffer M3 is less than or equal to a predetermined amount; Special effects include dummy data sending means M6 for sending out a predetermined amount of dummy data prior to sending out information indicating the end of the signal.

(Function) The facsimile apparatus of the present invention reads the image written on the document M1 by the image reading means M2, and temporarily stores the read image information in the buffer M3. When the image reading is completed, the information determining means M5 determines whether or not the stored image information is less than a predetermined amount, and it is determined that the information stored in the buffer M3 is less than a predetermined amount. Then, the dummy data sending means M6 sends out a predetermined amount of dummy data via the communication means M4 prior to sending out information indicating the end of the image signal.

Therefore, if there is little image information stored in the buffer M3 when image reading is completed, the time until information indicating the end of the image signal is sent out is extended.

(Example) In order to further clarify the configuration of the present invention described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a facsimile machine as an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, this facsimile machine operates under the control of an electronic control unit 1, and conveys a manuscript paper 5 in the direction of the arrow by a paper feed roller 2.3. It has a configuration in which an image is read using a reading head 10 provided opposite to a flat platen 7. The reading head 10 and the platen 7 constitute a reading mechanism.

The electronic control device 1 includes the well-known CPU II, ROM 12, R
AM14. Furthermore, it is configured as a logic operation circuit centering around a transmission buffer 15 etc. that stores image information, and a bus 16
It has a configuration in which it is interconnected with a serial I10 baud (SIO) 17, a human power boat 18, and an output boat 19. The 5I017 is connected to other facsimile machines via the communication line P, and the CPU II sends and receives image data to and from the other facsimile machines via the 5IO17. The manual boat 18 is connected to the reading head 10 via a flexible printed board 20, and the output boat 19 is connected to a stepping motor 22 that rotates the paper feed roller 3.

The reading head 10 connected to the human-powered boat 18 is a close-contact type equipped with an illumination device and a line-type CCD sensor inside.
7.7 [Read in millico pitch dots. The read image data for one line is output to the electronic control device 1 via the flexible printed board 2o,
Read by CPUI 1 via human powered boat 1 day.

A stepping motor 22 connected to one output boat rotates under the control of the CPU II, and conveys the original paper 5 by 1/7.7 [mm] at each step.

When the facsimile machine having the above-mentioned configuration is set with the document paper 5 for reading, it reads the image on the document and sends out the image data according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing communication system 1 wholesale of this embodiment. When the document 5 is inserted into the facsimile machine of the embodiment and G3 mode transmission is selected, first, call control is performed to call the destination facsimile machine, and phase A5 for performing the call setting procedure and the call setting process are performed. The procedure (phase B) performed prior to the transmission of the post-message is executed (step 100). Furthermore, reading of the manuscript begins,
As mentioned above, the transmission data is read line by line,
When the read data is compressed over one page and stored in the transmission buffer 15 (step 110), the original 5
is discharged from the reading mechanism section.

The read data is sent via the communication buffer 15.
It is sent via line P to the connected facsimile machine.

When the ejection of the original 5 is completed, it is determined whether the amount of data remaining in the communication buffer 15 is less than a predetermined amount (step 120), and if it is less, all image information for one page is transmitted. After that, before the RTC code indicating the end of phase C that is added after one page of final data,
A predetermined amount of dummy data ("0" in this embodiment) is sent to the transmission buffer 15 (step 130). After that, put the code RTC indicating the end of the image signal into the buffer (
Step 140).

Further, if the transmission data is sufficiently stored in the transmission buffer (step 1120), the code RT indicating the end of the transmission data is sent without storing dummy data in the buffer.
Buffer C (step 140).

Next, wait until the sending buffer 15 is completely empty (step 150), and when the sending buffer 15 is empty, the
After a delay of 5m5ec (step 160), it is checked whether the next original has been set (step 170).
When the next document is set, as soon as the confirmation signal for the completion of sending the information on the first page is received, a signal MPS is outputted to return to the beginning of phase C (step 200), and the process moves to phase D, where the procedure for confirming the completion of message sending is performed. do. (Step 2
10). Thereafter, the present control routine returns to step 110, reads the next page of message, and repeats the present control routine in the same manner as in the previous case. In this way, information is transmitted over multiple pages.

Further, if it is determined in step 170 that the next document has not been set, the end of the message is confirmed and a signal EOP indicating that no additional message is to be continued is sent (step 180), which is an affirmative signal for this. The message confirmation signal MCF is received and Phase D processing is performed. After confirming the end of information transmission and processing to disconnect the line in phase D and phase E (step 190), this control routine ends.

Here, the signal MPS (multi-page signal) sent out in step 200 indicates the end of one page of facsimile information, and does not indicate that the process returns to the beginning of phase C as soon as confirmation is received. In place of the signal MPS, a signal EOM (message end signal) indicating the end of one page of facsimile information and indicating a return to the beginning of phase B may be sent. Further, the signal EOP (procedure end signal) sent in step 180 indicates the end of one facsimile page, and indicates that phase D processing will be performed after the confirmation signal MCF.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of data sent by the facsimile machine of the embodiment. As shown in the figure, in phase C, the transmission data usually consists of one line of image data and a code (end-of-line EOL) indicating the end of the data.

In this embodiment, if the data accumulated in the transmission buffer 15 is less than a predetermined amount when reading one page of the original is completed, a predetermined amount of dummy Send data “0” to buffer 1
Send it to 5. Therefore, in this case, a certain period of time (
Phase C ends only when dummy data "0" is sent out, and then a signal RTC indicating the end of the transmitted data is sent out.

As a result, the transition to phase D will not be made until the transmission of the image data including the dummy data stored in the transmission buffer 15 is completed, providing sufficient time to set the document to be transmitted next. .

In this embodiment, the image information data of the current page is read, and if it is determined that there is not enough data in the transmission buffer 15, dummy data is inserted. Therefore,
If the amount of transmitted information is less than a predetermined amount at the time one page's worth of information has been read, the buffer amount can be replenished by sending dummy data to the sending buffer 15, which reduces the time it takes to send the next page's information. is delayed,
Enough waiting time can be obtained.

When dummy data is replenished and stored in the transmission buffer 15 in this way, phase C does not end and the transmission line is
Not disconnected. Therefore, since the time until the next original is inserted is delayed, data on a plurality of originals can be transmitted with plenty of time.

As a result, there is no need to dial again to confirm transmission.

In addition, when it is determined that the data necessary for the next information transmission is not stored in the transmission buffer 15 due to one high-speed transmission, by replenishing dummy data, multiple data can be continuously transmitted. It is possible to achieve an extremely excellent effect of being able to transmit the following pages.

According to the present invention, when transmitting information on an original with a small amount of data or when transmitting at high speed, by inserting dummy data as appropriate, the time required until the next original is inserted can be reduced. can be delayed and originals can be inserted continuously. As a result, there is no need to dial again and receive N confirmation of transmission.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a facsimile according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing transmission control in the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of transmission data in the embodiment. 1... Electronic control device 5... Manuscript paper 10
...Reading head 15...Transmission buffer P...
・Communication line

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] The invention comprises an image reading means for reading an image written on a document, and a communication means for temporarily storing the read image information in a buffer and then outputting the image information to the outside via a communication line. A facsimile apparatus comprising: an information amount determining means for detecting that the amount of image information stored in the buffer is less than a predetermined amount when reading of a document that can be loaded at one time on the image information reading means is completed; dummy data sending means for sending out a predetermined amount of dummy data before sending out information indicating the end of the image signal when it is determined that the image information stored in the image signal is less than a predetermined amount.