JP2995182B1 - Image communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely prevent a half-missed original from being transmitted to a partner at the time of A3 original transmission with a simple configuration without making a major change to a conventional configuration.
If you attempt to send a manuscript in the wrong format, be sure to inform the operator of this. SOLUTION: A horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table are discriminated, and the presence or absence of a document conveyed to a document reading position is detected. Even after capturing the number of lines corresponding to the length of the document in the main scanning direction, the presence or absence of a document to be transported to the document reading position is detected, and if a document is detected, the document transport operation is stopped halfway and a document ejection instruction is waited. Then, the document whose conveyance operation has been stopped is discharged, and the stored image data is erased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus for detecting erroneous recognition of a transmission original and preventing erroneous transmission.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional facsimile apparatus reads an original set horizontally long in the original transport direction and reduces the read image data in order to reduce transmission time and prevent waste of recording paper at a transmission destination. Some have a function of rotating and transmitting in a vertically long state. This rotation transmission function reads an A4 original set horizontally long in the original transport direction on the original platen, stores it in a memory, and rotates the A4 original vertically by rotating it by 90 degrees when taking out image data from the memory. And send in the same state as when reading.

There is a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting such an A4 document, in which an A3 document can be set vertically long in the document conveying direction and then transmitted. However, the length in the main scanning direction is the same between the case where the A4 document is set in the landscape orientation and the case where the A3 document is set in the portrait orientation. Can not do. Also, in the case where the B5 document is set horizontally and the case where the B4 document is set vertically, it is not possible to discriminate between the two. Similarly, when the A5 document is set horizontally, and when the A4 document is set vertically, the two cannot be distinguished. Therefore,
In order to identify A4 and A3 documents, B5 and B4 documents, and A5 and A4 documents, respectively, A5 and A4
When 4 originals and B5 originals are set horizontally, OF
A sensor is provided at a position where it is turned on when F, A4, A3 and B4 documents are set vertically.

[0004] Such a conventional facsimile machine will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7A is an overall perspective view of a conventional facsimile machine, and FIG. 7B is a plan view thereof. The facsimile apparatus 701 includes an apparatus main body 702
An operation surface 703 on which an operator gives various instructions;
A document table 704 on which a document to be read is placed.

When the A4 document and the B5 document are set in the landscape orientation, the platen 704 is turned OFF, and the A3 document and the B4 document are set.
An original sub-scanning length sensor 705 that is turned ON when an original is set in a portrait orientation is provided.

In FIG. 7B, original width sensors 706 to 708 detect the width of the original in the transport direction. The document width sensor 706 detects A5 landscape or A4 portrait size, the document width sensor 707 detects B5 landscape or B4 portrait size, and the document width sensor 708 detects A4 landscape or A3 portrait size.

As described above, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, the size of the original is detected by the original width sensor and the original sub-scanning length sensor.

[0008]

However, when an A3 original is set in a portrait orientation, the original sub-scanning length sensor 705 is turned on.
Instead, the facsimile machine recognizes that the A4 document has been set in landscape orientation, reads only the first half of the A3 document, rotates it, and transmits it to the other party. This problem will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional facsimile machine 70.
1 is a front view of FIG. Since the A3 original 801 placed on the original platen 704 is a large original having an area of two A4 originals, it is often folded in half during storage. When the document is spread and set on a platen, the fold portion of the document may rise like a mountain as shown in FIG. Further, the fold portion of the A3 document 801 is located immediately above the document sub-scanning length sensor 705, and does not contact the document sub-scanning length sensor 705, or the force for pushing the document sub-scanning length sensor 705 even if it does. In some cases, the original sub-scanning length sensor 705 remains OFF. In this state, the facsimile machine recognizes that the A4 document has been set horizontally.

[0010] In order to rotate and transmit a horizontally long A4 document, it is necessary to take in the entire A4 document and perform rotation processing. Only the number of lines corresponding to the document length in the scanning direction needs to be secured. Therefore, when it is determined that the set document is an A4 document in a landscape orientation, the number of lines corresponding to the document length in the main scanning direction when the document is in a portrait orientation is set, and the set value is decremented each time the document is read.
When the value becomes 0, the reading is terminated and the rotation process is started.

As described above, when an A4 original is set in a landscape orientation, only a predetermined number of lines are taken in due to the necessity of rotation transmission processing. That is, only minutes of the original will be captured. Therefore, the first half of the A3 document 801 is rotated and transmitted,
On the receiving side, there is a disadvantage that the latter half receives the missing information.

In the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side, if the sensor for discriminating between the A3 original 801 and the A4 original is not turned on, it is only recognized that the A4 original is set in the landscape orientation, and no error occurs. You will not be notified. Therefore, the operator assumes that the A3 original has been transmitted normally, and notices the erroneous transmission only after receiving a message from the receiving side.

As described above, as a result of erroneously recognizing an A3 document as an A4 document, there is a problem that the transmitting side operator does not notice that the transmission is erroneous and the receiving party receives the information that is half missing.

In order to solve such a problem, A3
A3 indicates that the original is set vertically in the transport direction.
The original sub-scanning length sensor 705 may be provided at a position retracted in the original conveying direction so that detection can be performed regardless of the presence or absence of a fold of the original. There is a possibility that the sensor does not reach the sensor 705, which makes it impossible to identify the size of A5 landscape or A4 portrait. It is also conceivable to add another sensor, but it is not preferable because the cost increases.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and it is possible to transmit a half-missing original to the other party when transmitting an A3 original without making a major change to the conventional configuration. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image communication apparatus capable of reliably preventing an original with a simple configuration and, when an original is transmitted in an incorrect format, notifying an operator of the transmission.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention discriminates between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table, detects the presence or absence of a document to be conveyed to a document reading position, and performs the horizontal discrimination by the discrimination. If it is determined that the original is in the original direction, it detects the presence or absence of the original to be conveyed to the original reading position even after capturing the number of lines corresponding to the original length in the main scanning direction when the original in the horizontal direction is set in the vertical direction. When a document is detected, the document transport operation is stopped halfway, and after waiting for a document discharge instruction, the transported document is discharged and the stored image data is erased.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image communication apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first sensor for distinguishing between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table, and transports the document to a document reading position. A second sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a document to be scanned, and a line number corresponding to the document length in the main scanning direction when the document in the horizontal direction is set in the vertical direction when the first sensor determines that the document is in the horizontal direction. Even if the second sensor is in the ON state, it is monitored whether or not the second sensor is in the ON state.

The document discrimination method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a step of discriminating between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table, and the presence or absence of a document conveyed to a document reading position. Detecting the document, and when the document is determined to be a document in the horizontal direction by the discriminating step, the document is read even after the number of lines corresponding to the document length in the main scanning direction when the document in the horizontal direction is set in the vertical direction. A step of detecting the presence or absence of a document to be conveyed to the reading position, and determining a malfunction if the document is detected.

With this configuration, even if the number of lines corresponding to the length of the original in the main scanning direction when the original is in the horizontal direction is fetched, the presence or absence of the original to be conveyed to the original reading position is obtained. By using the existing second sensor to determine whether an erroneous detection is made based on the ON / OFF of the second sensor for detecting the original, it is possible to reliably transmit the half missing original to the other party with a simple configuration. It is possible to avoid such a situation.

An image communication apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a first sensor for distinguishing between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table, and a document conveyed to a document reading position. The number of lines corresponding to the length of the original in the main scanning direction when the original in the horizontal direction is set to be vertical when the first sensor determines that the original is in the horizontal direction and when the first sensor determines that the original is in the horizontal direction. It is also possible to employ a configuration including a control unit that monitors whether the second sensor is in the ON state or not and, if it is in the ON state, stops the transport operation halfway.

According to this configuration, the operator does not notify the error by displaying, alarming, or the like, but instead stops the reading operation of the document in the middle and intentionally leaves it in an abnormal state. This is normal because the machine does not leave the machine until the operation is completed, and if the document is stopped halfway, it will be visually noticed immediately, so that the operator can quickly and reliably recognize that something has gone wrong. You can know.

An image communication apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a first sensor for distinguishing between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table, and a document conveyed to a document reading position. The number of lines corresponding to the length of the original in the main scanning direction when the original in the horizontal direction is set to be vertical when the first sensor determines that the original is in the horizontal direction and when the first sensor determines that the original is in the horizontal direction. A control unit for monitoring whether or not the second sensor is in an ON state, and if it is in an ON state, stopping the conveyance operation in the middle, waiting for a document discharge instruction, and discharging the stopped document. Take the configuration.

With this configuration, unless the operator issues a document discharge instruction, the document remains stopped halfway and remains in an abnormal state, so that even if the operator moves away from the apparatus, the next operation is performed. Since the person cannot use the apparatus, the next person who uses the apparatus notifies the operator or the like, so that the operator can reliably know that there is an abnormality.

An image communication apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a first sensor for distinguishing between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table, and a document conveyed to a document reading position. The number of lines corresponding to the length of the original in the main scanning direction when the original in the horizontal direction is set to be vertical when the first sensor determines that the original is in the horizontal direction and when the first sensor determines that the original is in the horizontal direction. It is also monitored later whether or not the second sensor is in the ON state. If the second sensor is in the ON state, the transport operation is stopped halfway, and after waiting for the document discharge instruction, the transport operation is stopped and the stored document data is discharged. A configuration including a control unit for erasing is adopted.

A document discrimination method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes a step of discriminating between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table, and the presence or absence of a document conveyed to a document reading position. Detecting the document, and when the document is determined to be a document in the horizontal direction by the discriminating step, the document is read even after the number of lines corresponding to the document length in the main scanning direction when the document in the horizontal direction is set in the vertical direction. Detecting the presence or absence of a document to be conveyed to the reading position, stopping the document conveyance operation halfway if a document is detected, discharging the document whose conveyance operation has been stopped after waiting for a document discharge instruction, and storing the image data And a step of erasing.

With this configuration, the operator deletes the image data whose transmission has been interrupted by the document discharge instruction.
It is possible to prevent useless image data from being retained in the apparatus forever without performing a special operation.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Generally, a facsimile apparatus includes a point A sensor for detecting that a document is placed on a platen and a point B sensor for detecting whether the document has reached a reading point. These are not shown.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image communication apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. The document width sensor 1 detects the presence / absence of a document and the document width, and the document sub-scanning length sensor 2 detects whether the document set on a document table (not shown) is placed vertically or horizontally. In the present embodiment, the document placing direction is determined by setting the case where the document is horizontally long in the conveyance direction and setting the case where the document is vertically long in the conveyance direction vertically.

The document size determination unit 3 determines the document size (main / sub scanning length) based on the detection results of the document width sensor 1 and the document sub-scanning length sensor 2, and the document reading unit 4 determines the transmitted document. Read. The document sub-scanning length error detection unit 5 performs the document size determination operation by the document size determination unit 3,
A check is made based on the determination result and ON / OFF of the B point sensor as described later. The encoding / decoding unit 6
It converts read data into communication data and converts received communication data into recording data. The operation unit 7 is an interface for inputting various instructions from the user.
A PU (main control unit) 8 controls the entire operation.

The page memory 9 stores read and record data for one page, the line memory 10 stores read and record data for one line, and the image memory 11 stores encoded and decoded data. I do. The communication control unit 12 controls transmission and reception of communication data via the modem 13, and the modem 13 performs communication with an external line.

Next, the operation of the image communication apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the operation flowcharts shown in FIGS. When the operator sets a document on a document table (not shown), the document width sensor 1 determines whether the A3 width sensor has been turned ON (steps S1 and S2). If the A3 width sensor is not ON, the document is determined to be an A4 document or a B4 document that is vertically long in the transport direction, and reading is started by the document reading unit 4 (step S).
3).

Next, the read data is stored in the page memory 9 (step S4). If the reading of one line has not been completed, this processing is repeated (step S5). It is determined whether the point B sensor is ON (step S6). If the point B sensor is ON, the process returns to step S4 to repeat the process because there is a portion to be read of the document. If the B point sensor is not ON, there is no portion to be read, so the reading operation is stopped and the document is discharged (step S).
7).

Next, the data is stored in the line memory 10 (step S8), the encoding / decoding section 6 performs an encoding process (step S9), and the encoded data is stored in the image memory 11 (step S10). ). It is determined whether all the encoding processes have been completed (step S11). If not completed, the process returns to step S8 to store data in the line memory 10. When the encoding process is completed, the transmission process via the communication control unit 12 and the modem (Step S12)
And the operation is completed (step S1).
3).

On the other hand, if the A3 width sensor is ON in step S2, the document sub-scanning length sensor 2 determines whether the document sub-scanning length sensor 2 is ON (step S14). If it is, it can be determined that the A3 document has been set, and the same processing as above is performed. That is, the process proceeds to step S3 after step S14.

If it is determined in step S14 that the document sub-scanning length sensor 2 is ON, it is possible to determine that the A4 document is set to be landscape, so that the landscape A4 document is rotated to portrait A4. And send it. First, the number N of read lines having a width in the main scanning direction during rotation is set (step S15), and a read operation is started (step S16). The read data is stored in the page memory 9 (step S17). If the reading of one line has not been completed, this process is repeated (step S18). If the reading of one line has been completed, the width in the main scanning direction is obtained. It is determined whether or not the read line number N is 0 (step S19). If N is not 0, the number of lines required for the rotation process is not yet secured, so 1 is subtracted from N (step S20), and the process returns to step S17, and this process is performed until N becomes 0. When N becomes 0, the reading operation is stopped (step S21).

Next, it is determined whether or not the point B sensor is ON (step S22). Point B sensor is ON
If not, it can be determined that all A4 documents set horizontally long in the transport direction have been read.
The original is ejected and rotated for transmission. That is, step 22
Then, the process proceeds to step 23, where the rotation processing data is stored in the line memory 10 (step S23). Next, an encoding process is performed (step S24), and the encoded data is stored in the image memory (step S25). If the encoding process is not completed, the process from step 23 is repeated. On the other hand, when the encoding process is completed, the data is transmitted by the transmission process (step S27), and the operation is terminated (step S28).

If the point B sensor is ON in step S22, it can be determined that an abnormality has occurred. That is, when it is recognized that the A4 document is set in the landscape orientation (steps S2 and S14) and the reading operation is completed (step S21), the document does not exist on the point B sensor. Is OFF
become. Nevertheless, the reason that the point B sensor is ON is that the A4 original is not set horizontally but the A3 original is actually set vertically, so that even after the reading of the horizontal A4 original is completed, the reading is still performed. This is because there are originals that are not included. Therefore, if the transmission process is continued as it is, only the first half of the A3 document will be transmitted to the other party. Therefore, it is necessary to stop transmitting the read data and notify the operator of this, so that step S22 is performed. Then, control proceeds to a step S29.

If the point B sensor is ON (step S22), the document sub-scanning length error detecting section 5 recognizes that the document size has been erroneously detected (step S29), and stops the transmission process and conveys. The operation is stopped and the document is discharged only halfway (step S30). This transport stop state continues until the operator issues a document discharge instruction (step S31). Here, A3
Because the conveyance of the original is stopped after half the ejection,
The operator can recognize at a glance that there is an abnormality. When the operator presses a document discharge button (not shown), the memory storing the read image data is initialized (step S32), the read document is discharged (step S33), and the operation ends. If the operator presses the document discharge button once, the memory can be initialized together with the discharge of the read document.

As described above, according to the image communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the transmission of an A3 original to a half-missed original is greatly changed from the conventional configuration. Without any problem, it is possible to reliably prevent the problem with a simple configuration. Further, by stopping the original reading operation halfway and leaving it in an abnormal state, the operator can quickly and surely know that there is something abnormal.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in the case of a document in the horizontal direction, after taking in the number of lines corresponding to the document length in the main scanning direction when the document is set in the vertical direction. Even if there is a document, the determination is made using the existing second sensor by determining whether the detection is erroneous based on the ON / OFF of the second sensor that detects the presence or absence of the document to be conveyed to the document reading position. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably avoid a situation in which a half missing original is transmitted to the other party.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the image communication apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the image communication apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the image communication apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the image communication apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the image communication apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7A is an overall perspective view of a conventional facsimile apparatus. FIG. 7B is a plan view of the conventional facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the conventional facsimile machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 document width sensor 2 document sub-scanning length sensor 3 document size determining unit 4 document reading unit 5 document sub-scanning length error detecting unit 6 encoding / decoding unit 7 operation unit 8 CPU (main control unit) 9 page memory 10 line memory 11 Image memory 12 Communication control unit 13 Modem

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 1/04-1/207

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A first sensor for discriminating between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table; a second sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a document conveyed to a document reading position;
If the sensor determines that the original is in the horizontal direction, it is determined whether or not the second sensor is in the ON state even after capturing the number of lines corresponding to the original length in the main scanning direction when the original in the horizontal direction is set in the vertical direction. An image communication device comprising: a control unit that monitors and determines that a malfunction has occurred when the monitor is in an ON state. A first sensor for discriminating between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table; a second sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a document to be conveyed to a document reading position;
If the sensor determines that the original is in the horizontal direction, it is determined whether or not the second sensor is in the ON state even after capturing the number of lines corresponding to the original length in the main scanning direction when the original in the horizontal direction is set in the vertical direction. An image communication apparatus comprising: a control unit that monitors and stops the transport operation halfway if the monitor is in an ON state. A first sensor for discriminating between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table; a second sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a document to be conveyed to a document reading position;
If the sensor determines that the original is in the horizontal direction, it is determined whether or not the second sensor is in the ON state even after capturing the number of lines corresponding to the original length in the main scanning direction when the original in the horizontal direction is set in the vertical direction. An image communication apparatus comprising: a control unit that monitors and, if it is in an ON state, stops the conveyance operation halfway and waits for a document discharge instruction to discharge the stopped document. 4. A first sensor for discriminating between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table, a second sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a document to be conveyed to a document reading position, and
If the sensor determines that the original is in the horizontal direction, it is determined whether or not the second sensor is in the ON state even after capturing the number of lines corresponding to the original length in the main scanning direction when the original in the horizontal direction is set in the vertical direction. An image communication apparatus comprising: a control unit that monitors and, if it is in an ON state, stops the conveyance operation halfway, waits for a document discharge instruction, discharges the stopped document, and erases stored image data. 5. A step of discriminating between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table, a step of detecting the presence or absence of a document conveyed to a document reading position, and If the document is determined to be a document, the presence or absence of a document to be conveyed to the document reading position is detected even after the number of lines corresponding to the document length in the main scanning direction when the horizontal document is set in the vertical direction is detected. And a step of determining a malfunction if detected. 6. A step of discriminating between a horizontal document and a vertical document set on a document table, a step of detecting the presence or absence of a document conveyed to a document reading position, and If the document is determined to be a document, the presence or absence of a document to be conveyed to the document reading position is detected even after the number of lines corresponding to the document length in the main scanning direction when the horizontal document is set in the vertical direction is detected. A document discrimination method comprising the steps of: stopping a document conveyance operation when detected, and discharging a document whose conveyance operation has been stopped after a document discharge instruction and erasing stored image data. Method.