JPH03296366A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent transmission of defective picture element data and to prevent defective white level correction by providing a control means which discriminates it that a transparent plate and/or a white level correction board has a dirt when an image sensor reads the white level correction board in a prescribed timing and the density detected by the image sensor exceeds a preset density. CONSTITUTION:When an operator sets an original 12 to a paper stand 14 and depresses a start switch 22 for transmission or copy, an MPU confirms whether or not the original 12 is set by a signal from a document sensor 10. When the original 12 is set, a light radiates from an LED array 48 to a white level correction board 42 to check the dirt on a glass plate 44. This check is implemented by each image sensor element being component of the image sensor 46. The density detected by each image sensor element is compared with a white level criterion density of the white level correction board 42. When the density detected by all the image sensor elements is kept within the density criterion, the MPU makes normal transmission or copy.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to facsimile devices.

(Prior Art) In a facsimile machine, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used to read a document to be sent or copied.
This is done using an image sensor in which image sensor elements (Device) elements are arranged in an array. In other words, the shading of the original is detected as the output of each image sensor element constituting the image sensor, and is used as white or black pixel data. In the case of transmission, originals can be transmitted and received by transmitting pixel data and reproducing the pixel data on the receiving side.

There are two types of image sensor installation, called a contact type, in which the image sensor is installed close to the document, and a reflective type, in which the image sensor is installed at a position away from the document, and the image sensor is connected to the image sensor via a reflective mirror. Some send an image of the original. In either the contact type or the reflective type, the original is read through a transparent glass plate provided to prevent the image sensor from becoming dirty.

Further, a white correction plate is provided for setting a reference density of white to be detected by the image sensor, and the image sensor can set the reference density of white by detecting the density of the white correction plate.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above facsimile apparatus has the following problems.

If the above-mentioned glass plate is dirty, sufficient light from the document may not enter the image sensor element, resulting in light reception failure. If the image sensor element does not receive light, the corresponding area is determined to be "black" and pixel data corresponding to black is continuously transmitted, resulting in black lines appearing on the reproduced document on the receiving side. These black lines make it difficult for the receiving side to read the document, and also make it look bad. Furthermore, when it comes to the receiving side, it becomes necessary to retransmit the problem to the sending side, and there is also the problem that the sending side cannot detect that the problem is on its own side.

Furthermore, if the white correction plate is dirty, the white correction of the image sensor element corresponding to the dirty area will be insufficient, making it impossible to send correct pixel data. There is a problem in that this dirt on the white correction plate cannot be detected on the transmitting side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile machine that can detect dirt on a glass plate or a white correction plate on the sending side.

(Means for solving problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes the following configuration.

That is, the first configuration is a facsimile machine that includes a reading means consisting of an image sensor through a transparent plate, and a white correction plate for setting the reference density of white detected by the image sensor. a control means for reading the white correction plate with the image sensor and determining that the transparent plate and/or the white correction plate is contaminated if the density detected by the image sensor exceeds a preset certain density; , and a notification device driven by the control device to notify an operator of an abnormality, and a second configuration is characterized in that in the facsimile machine, the control device controls each image constituting the image sensor. If the detected density of the sensor element is sequentially detected and the detected density exceeds a preset certain density, the position of the image sensor element is detected, and the notification means detects the position of the image sensor element and the transparent A third configuration is characterized in that the display is capable of displaying the position of the white correction plate, and a third configuration is the facsimile apparatus according to the second configuration, in which the control means is configured to remove dirt due to the detected density detected by the image sensor element. A fourth configuration is characterized in that in the facsimile apparatus of the second configuration or the third configuration, the display is a dot matrix type liquid crystal display.

(effect) The effect will be explained.

In the facsimile apparatus of the first configuration, when the control means detects dirt on the glass plate and/or the white correction plate based on the detected density, the notification means notifies the operator of the abnormality. In the second configuration, since the detected density of the image sensor elements is sequentially checked, it is possible to know the location of the dirt based on the position of the image sensor element corresponding to the dirt location. In the third configuration, the degree of dirt detected from the density detected by the image sensor element can also be displayed.

Furthermore, in the fourth configuration, since the display is a dot matrix type, the display mode can be changed to character display,
Graphic display etc. can be set as desired.

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

First, the configuration will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

A document sensor 10 detects whether a document 12 is present at a paper end sensor.

The state shown in FIG. 2 is a state in which the original 12 is detected, and the sensor piece 16 is in a state in which it is rotated downward. Manuscript work 2
If there is no sensor piece 6, the sensor piece 6 rotates clockwise around the shaft 18. The document sensor 10 generates a detection signal when it detects the original document 2.

A feed roller 20 is rotated counterclockwise by a motor (not shown) when the start switch 22 is pressed. The feed rubber 2 is rotated by the feed roller 20.
4 and the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller 20, the originals 12 are fed one by one. Note that the feed rubber 24 is constantly pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller 20 by a feed spring 26.

28 is a paper end sensor, and guide 30.32
The feeding start end and the paper end (paper end) of the document 12 fed along are detected.

The paper end sensor 28 has the same configuration as the document sensor 10, and when the sensor piece 34 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 36 from the state shown in FIG. generates a detection signal. Further, the end of the document 12 is detected by the return of the sensor piece 34.

38 are rollers, which are provided to prevent the document 12 from sagging when passing through the reading section 40, which is a reading means. The reading unit 40 is provided with a white correction plate 42 that serves as a reference for white density detected by an image sensor, which will be described later, and a glass plate 44 that is an example of a transparent plate that prevents the image sensor from becoming dirty.

46 is an image sensor, which is formed by arranging image sensor elements in an array. The image sensor 46 reads the original 12 sent onto the glass plate 44 of the reading unit 40 (not on the glass plate 44 in FIG. 2) using the LED array 48.
The reflected light A from the original 12 is transmitted to the image sensor 46 via the reflecting mirror 50 and the lens 52.
This is possible by entering the system.

Reference numeral 54 denotes a dot matrix type liquid crystal display, which is an example of a notification means, and is capable of displaying characters and graphics. Further, the display 54 is capable of displaying the entire field of view of the image sensor 46. In addition,
The display 54 may have a scroll display function to display the entire field of view.

Next, the control system will be explained with reference to FIG.

A microprocessor (MPU) 56 is a control means, and controls the facsimile machine according to a control program stored in a memory 58.

In addition, the memory 58 can store the detected density of the document 12 or the like detected by the image sensor 46 for each image sensor element.

Reference numeral 60 indicates various motors, which drive the aforementioned feed roller 20, rollers 38, and so on.

An alarm 62 is an example of a notification means, and is sounded to alert the operator.

Note that the detection signals from the document sensor 10 and the paper end sensor 28 are sent to the MPU 56.
6 control data.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment will be explained with further reference to FIG.

First, when the power is turned on (step 100), the memory 58
The control program is loaded to the MPU 56 from
56 performs white correction of the image sensor 46 (step 1)
02). That is, the image sensor 46 detects the density of the white correction plate 42, and uses the detected density as the reference density of white.

When the operator sets the document 12 on the paper stand 14 and presses the send or copy start switch 22,
The MPU 56 checks whether the original 12 is set based on the signal from the document sensor 10 (step 10).
6). If the original 12 is not set, it will wait,
If the original 12 is set, the position is L relative to the white correction plate 42.
The glass plate 44 is checked for dirt by irradiating light from the ED array 48 (step 106). This check is performed sequentially for each image sensor element constituting the image sensor 46. The detected density for each image sensor element is compared with the white reference density of the white correction plate 42, which is a constant density (
Step 108). Note that the constant density value does not necessarily have to be the white density of the white correction plate 42, and can be set arbitrarily. If the detected densities of all image sensor elements do not exceed the reference density, the MPU 56 performs normal transmission or copying operations (step 120);
When all the originals 12 have been read, the operation is ended (step 122).

In step 108, if a density exceeding the reference density is detected for at least one image sensor element, the position of the image sensor element on the image sensor 46 is detected (step 110), and the dirt image sensor 46 is detected.
The position on the glass plate 44 or the white correction plate 42 corresponding to
). A display example of this display 54 is shown in FIG. The position of the dirt is indicated by the position of dot 64 in the X-axis direction,
The degree of contamination (density) is indicated by the number of dots 64 in the Y-axis direction. This display method is, of course, not limited to the example shown in FIG.

When dirt is displayed on the display 54, the MP'LI56
sounds the alarm 62 to notify the operator of the abnormality (step 114).

After notifying the operator of the presence of dirt, the MPU 56 waits until the operator finishes cleaning (step 116), and when the operator confirms that the operator has cleaned and reset, returns to step 106 and checks for dirt again.

Note that since the operator can recognize the degree of contamination, if cleaning is not necessary, such as when the degree of contamination is small, it may be possible to reset without cleaning.

Various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and the image sensor may be disposed in close contact with the image sensor, and the notification means may be displayed on the display. It goes without saying that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as only an alarm or only an alarm, or in the case of a display, a flashing character or the like as the notification method.

(Effects of the Invention) By using the facsimile device according to the present invention, it is possible to detect dirt on the transparent plate or white correction plate on the sending side, thereby preventing the transmission of defective pixel data and preventing defective white correction. It becomes possible. If the configuration of claim 2 is adopted, it becomes possible to notify the operator of the location of dirt. Also, claim 3
By adopting this configuration, it becomes possible to notify the operator of the level of dirt as well. Furthermore, if the structure of claim 4 is adopted, it will be possible to select various modes of notification.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view thereof, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control system, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the display, and FIG. A flowchart showing the operation of the MPU. 40...Reading unit, 42...White correction plate, 44...
Glass plate, 46... Image sensor 54... Display, 56... MPU, 62... Alarm.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a facsimile machine having a reading means consisting of an image sensor through a transparent plate and a white correction plate for setting a reference density of white detected by the image sensor, at a predetermined timing: A control means for reading the white correction plate with the image sensor and determining that there is dirt on the transparent plate and/or the white correction plate if the density detected by the image sensor exceeds a preset certain density. 1. A facsimile apparatus comprising: and a notification means driven by the control means for notifying an operator of an abnormality. 2. The control means sequentially detects the detected density of each image sensor element constituting the image sensor, and if the detected density exceeds a preset constant density, detects the position of the image sensor element. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification means is a display capable of displaying the position of the transparent plate and/or white correction plate corresponding to the image sensor element. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means displays the degree of contamination on the display based on the detected density detected by the image sensor element. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the display is a dot matrix type liquid crystal display.