JPH0654939B2 - Equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement of a facsimile apparatus using sheet paper as recording paper.

[Technical background of the invention]

In recent years, facsimile machines have been rapidly spread with the promotion of office automation, but the facsimile machines generally use roll paper as recording paper. The facsimile machine using the roll paper has an advantage that the paper feed mechanism can be simplified, but on the other hand, it requires a storage space for the maximum diameter of the roll paper, which makes it difficult to downsize the apparatus. That is, in general, many roll papers have a length of 100 to 200 m, but the diameter of such roll paper becomes 100 to 150 mm or more, and the diameter of the roll paper determines the height of the device, and It cannot be miniaturized.

Therefore, recently, there has been considered an apparatus for recording information by using sheet paper cut into a predetermined size one by one as recording paper and supplying the sheet paper to a recording head. According to such an apparatus, since the height of the case for accommodating the sheet paper is generally around 5 cm, the height of the apparatus can be reduced and it is not necessary to provide a recording paper cutting mechanism in the apparatus. The device can be downsized.

[Problems of background technology]

However, in the conventional device of this type, the case for accommodating the sheet cannot be inserted deeply into the device because of the space in the device and the operability of attaching and detaching the case, and the device is separated from the recording head to some extent. There is no choice but to place it in the right position. Therefore, it takes time until the sheet is supplied to the recording position of the recording head after the start of the recording operation, and this time becomes a dead time and the time required for the recording operation becomes long. Depending on the situation, the dead time may not be allowed and immediate communication may not be possible, which is very undesirable.

Therefore, it is conceivable to convey the sheet paper in advance just before the recording head before starting the recording operation. However, in this case, the sheet paper may be conveyed in duplicate due to a power reset or the like, which may cause a paper jam. there were.

[Object of the Invention]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention enables recording on a sheet immediately after the start of a recording operation, thereby reducing dead time and shortening the recording time, and at the same time, it is possible to always reliably perform reception recording regardless of the communication control means. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which prevents occurrence of paper jam and has high operation reliability and economical efficiency.

[Outline of Invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention sets the leading edge of the sheet paper in advance at a recording position of the recording head or a predetermined position immediately before the recording head in preparation for the next recording, and waits at the above position. A means for detecting whether or not a sheet is set is provided, and when the sheet is detected by this means, the sheet feeding control operation by the sheet feeding mechanism is prohibited. It is a thing.

Example of Invention

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a recording head, and 2 is a cassette case in which sheet sheets 3 as recording sheets are stacked and accommodated. The cassette case 2 is guided by a guide (not shown) and is detachably housed in the direction of arrow A from the outside of the apparatus. A recording roller 4 is arranged at a position facing the recording surface of the recording head 1, and a pair of conveying rollers 51, 52 are arranged in a sheet paper conveying path between the cassette case 2 and the recording head 1. Has been done. The recording roller 4 and the conveying roller 51 are driven by the step motor 6 in synchronization with each other. Further, a paper feed roller 7 is provided at a position facing the sheet paper 3 of the cassette case 2.
Is provided. The paper feed roller 7 is a DC motor 8
Driven by.

On the other hand, this apparatus is provided with two control units, which are a main control unit 10 and a recording control unit 20, as circuits for controlling the sheet paper feeding operation. These control units 10 and 20 are composed of a microcomputer, and the main control unit 10 has a function of comprehensively controlling various operations of the facsimile apparatus such as communication control and recording control. Further, the recording control unit 20 performs various controls relating to the recording operation in accordance with the instruction of the main control unit 10. In addition to the recording head control function 21 and the sub-scanning control function 22 for the sheet 3 as shown in FIG. It has a load control function 23 and a load prohibition control function 24 for the sheet 3. Sheet paper 3 load control function 2
Reference numeral 3 is for loading the sheet paper 3 housed in the cassette case 2 to a position immediately before the recording head 1 at a predetermined timing when the power of the apparatus is turned on, when the cassette case 2 is inserted, and when the recording operation is performed. Is. The load prohibition control function 24 prohibits the loading of the sheet paper 3 when it is detected that the sheet paper 3 is set and it is determined that loading is unnecessary. In the figure, 30 is an operation panel used when the operator performs various operations on the apparatus, 9 is a motor drive circuit for driving each of the step motor 6 and the DC motor 8 in accordance with an instruction from the recording control unit 20, Reference numerals 31 and 32 respectively denote a sheet paper sensor for detecting whether or not the sheet paper 3 is loaded at a predetermined position and a cassette sensor for detecting whether or not a cassette case is inserted.

Next, the operation of the apparatus configured as described above is controlled by the main controller 1
0 and the control procedure of the recording control unit 20 will be described.
When the power is turned on, the main control unit 10 first initializes its own operating state (at this time, the flag FG is set to "0") and the operating state of each unit of the apparatus, and then, in Step 3a of FIG. The output signal of the sensor 32 is input and it is determined in step 3b whether or not the cassette case 2 is set at a predetermined position. If the cassette case 2 is not set, the process waits for the cassette case 2 to be set. On the other hand, if the cassette case 2 is already set, the process directly proceeds to step 3c, and the flag FG = 0 is determined in this step 3c. For example, in step 3d, an instruction to load the sheet paper 3 is issued to the recording control unit 20.

Now, when this load instruction is issued, the recording control unit 20
Recognizes the arrival of the load instruction in step 4b of FIG. 4, and thereafter executes load control of the sheet paper as follows. That is, first, in step 5a of FIG. 5, the detection signal of the sheet paper sensor 31 is input, and in step 5b it is determined whether or not this detection signal is "1". It is determined that the sheet has not been loaded yet, and the process proceeds to step 5d. On the other hand, if the detection signal of the sheet paper sensor 31 is "1", it is determined that the sheet of paper 3 has already been loaded and the step is performed. 5c, where a load unnecessary signal is output to the main control unit 10.

When the process proceeds to step 5d, the recording control unit 20 first drives the DC motor 8 (M2) in the normal direction by the motor drive circuit 9 to rotate the paper feed roller 7 in the normal direction in step 5d.
As a result, the conveyance of the uppermost sheet paper of the sheet papers 3 accommodated in the cassette case 2 is started. During this time, the time is monitored in step 5e, and when the predetermined time T1 elapses, the leading end portion of the sheet paper 3 is conveyed by the conveyance rollers 51,
When it is determined that the sheet has reached 52, the stepper motor 6 (M1) is driven by the motor drive circuit 9 in step 5f to rotate the conveying roller 51 in the forward direction, whereby the sheet 3
Is further conveyed toward the recording head 1. Then, in step 5g, the output of the sheet paper sensor 31 is monitored, and when the output becomes "1", the sheet paper 3 is conveyed by the transport roller 5
Step 5 when it is judged that it was securely clamped between 1,52
The DC motor 8 is stopped at h, and at the time when it is determined at step 5i that the predetermined time T2 has elapsed, it is determined that the leading edge of the sheet of paper 3 has reached the position immediately before the recording head 1, and step 5j is performed. The motor 6 is stopped, and thereafter, in step 5k, a load end signal is output to the main controller 10 to end the load control operation of the sheet 3.

On the other hand, during this load control period, the main control unit 10 repeatedly monitors the arrival of the load end signal and the load unnecessary signal at step 3e and step 3k, respectively, and when the load end signal arrives, the main control unit 10 arrives at this signal at step 3e. Is recognized, the flag FG is subsequently set to "1" in step 3f, and then the process proceeds to step 3g. Then, in this step 3g, it is judged whether or not the recording operation accompanying the reception of the image signal or the request for copying is necessary, and if not necessary, the process returns to step 3a.

On the other hand, if reception occurs at this time and a recording operation is required due to this, the main control unit 10 causes the main control unit 10 to perform step 3h in FIG.
Then, a recording start instruction is output to the recording control unit 20. On the other hand, the recording control unit 20 recognizes the arrival of the recording start instruction in step 4a of FIG. 4, and subsequently executes the recording control shown in FIG. That is, first, in step 6a, the stepper motor 6 is driven by the motor drive circuit 9 to cause the transport roller 51 and the recording roller 4 to rotate in the normal direction,
As a result, the sub-scanning of the sheet paper 3 is started. At this time, the recording control unit 20 outputs the image signals received and reproduced at the same time to the recording head 1 to cause the recording head 1 to perform main recording scanning.

Then, the recording on the sheet paper 3 proceeds, and step 6b
When it is detected that the output of the sheet paper sensor 31 has become “0”, the recording control unit 20 determines that the recording on the sheet paper 3 has come to an end, and the motor drive circuit 9 causes the direct current to be applied in step 6c. The motor 8 is driven to rotate the paper feed roller 7 in the normal direction, whereby the sheet paper 3 is loaded from the cassette case 2 in preparation for the next recording or the recording of the next page. At this time, if the speed of the DC motor 8 is appropriately set, it is possible to load and set the leading end of the sheet paper 3 to the position immediately before the recording head 1 substantially at the same time when the recording operation on the sheet paper 3 is completed. is there. Then, the recording on the sheet 3 is completed, and when this is recognized in step 6d, the recording controller 20 stops the driving of the step motor 6 and the DC motor 8 in step 6e, and the recording of the next page in step 6f. If it is determined that there is a return, the control operation is repeated by returning to step 6a, and if it is determined that there is no, a recording end signal is output to the main control unit 10 at step 6g, and then the load instruction arrival monitoring (step of FIG. 4) is performed. 4b) Return to operation and arrival of recording start instruction (step 4a). The main controller 10 returns to step 3a at the time when the arrival of the recording end signal is recognized in step 3i, and then enters the recording standby state. In this recording standby state, the flag FG is set to "1" and the determination result in step 3c is NO. Therefore, the main control unit 10 determines that the sheet paper 3 has been loaded, and from step 3d. The procedure up to step 3f is skipped, and the process proceeds to step 3g to monitor the generation of a recording request. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated unless the cassette case 2 is pulled out and the flag FG becomes "0".

In the recording standby state, if the operator temporarily pulls out the cassette case 2 to change the size of the sheet or replenish the sheet, the flag FG is set to "0" at step 3j at this point. Become. Therefore, when the cassette case 2 is inserted after this, the determination result of step 3c is YES, and therefore the main control unit 10 determines
The control for loading the sheet of paper in step 3f from step d is executed, and as a result, the sheet of paper 3 is controlled by the recording control unit 20.
Is loaded.

By the way, when a power failure occurs with the sheet paper 3 being loaded and then the power is automatically restored, or when the cassette case 2 is taken in and out, the already loaded sheet paper 3 is used as a device. Since the sheets are present inside the sheet, if the sheets are unconditionally automatically loaded in this state, the sheets will be fed in duplicate, which may cause a paper jam. However, in this apparatus, even if the main control unit 10 issues a sheet paper loading instruction to the recording control unit 20, the recording control unit 20 inputs the detection signal of the sheet paper sensor 31 in step 5a of FIG. This detection signal is "1" in 5b
If it is “1”, it is determined that the sheet paper 3 has been loaded, and the load control of step 5d and subsequent steps is not executed and the main control unit 10 does not need to be loaded in step 5c. Output a signal. Then, the main control unit 10 recognizes the arrival of the load unnecessary signal in step 5k, and directly shifts to the recording request generation monitoring in step 5g. Therefore, when the sheet paper 3 is already loaded, the unnecessary loading of the sheet paper 3 is prohibited.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by using the sheet paper as the recording paper, it is possible to obtain the effects that the apparatus can be downsized and the operations such as changing the size of the paper and replenishing the paper can be simplified. That is, when the power is turned on, when the cassette case 2 is inserted, and at a predetermined timing before the recording of one sheet is completed, the sheet paper 3 is automatically loaded at the position immediately before the recording head 1 When a request is made, it is possible to immediately perform the recording operation on the sheet paper 3, thereby reducing the dead time and the recording time. Further, even when the communication procedure set to perform the immediate recording operation from the time of reception is used, the recording can be surely performed without the communication being disabled, and the invention can be applied to any model. Further, by providing the load prohibition control means, even if a power failure occurs or the cassette case 2 is taken in and out while the sheet paper 3 is already loaded, the sheet paper 3 is not double-fed. It is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a paper jam. Further, since it is not necessary to remove the loaded sheet paper 3 in the apparatus each time, the labor of the operator can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the sheet may be loaded so that the leading end of the sheet is set at the recording position of the recording head 1. A step motor may be used instead of the DC motor as the sheet feeding motor. Other configurations and control procedures of the main control unit, the recording control unit, the contents of the sheet paper load control and the load prohibition control, the sheet paper load detection means, and the like are variously modified without departing from the scope of the present invention. it can.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, in preparation for the next recording, the leading edge of the sheet is set in advance at the recording position of the recording head or a predetermined position immediately before the standby position and the sheet is waited at the position. Means is provided to detect whether or not the sheet is set, and when the means detects that the sheet is set, the sheet feeding control operation by the sheet feeding mechanism is prohibited. is there.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to immediately perform the recording on the sheet paper after the recording operation is started, thereby reducing the dead time and the recording time, and at the same time, the reception recording is always performed reliably without using the communication control means. In addition, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a paper jam, and it is possible to provide a facsimile apparatus which is highly reliable and economical in operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a portion of the apparatus relating to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a recording control unit. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control operation procedure of the main control section, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are flow charts showing the control operation procedure of the recording control section. 1 ... Recording head, 2 ... Cassette case, 3 ... Sheet paper, 4 ... Recording roller, 51, 52 ... Conveying roller,
6 ... Step motor, 7 ... Paper feed roller, 8 ... DC motor, 9 ... Motor drive circuit, 10 ... Main control unit, 2
0 ... Recording control unit, 21 ... Recording head control function, 22
...... Sheet paper sub-scanning control function, 23 ...... Sheet paper load control function, 24 ...... Load prohibition control function, 30 ......
Operation panel, 31 ... Sheet paper sensor, 32 ... Cassette sensor.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yukio Tsuda, 1-chome, 3-1, Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo Inside the Toshiba Hino Plant, a manufacturing company (72) Inventor Masayoshi Aihara 3-1-1, Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo Incorporated company Toshiba Hino factory (72) Inventor Fumio Owada 1-3-1, Asahigaoka, Hino city, Tokyo Incorporated company Toshiba Hino factory

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus for removably accommodating a case accommodating a recording sheet, from which a sheet is conveyed to a recording head one by one by a sheet feeding mechanism for recording. In preparation for this, the paper feed control means for driving the paper feed mechanism is set in advance so that the leading edge of the sheet paper is set at the recording position of the recording head or a predetermined position immediately before the recording head, and the sheet by the paper feed control means. Sheet paper detection means for detecting whether or not paper is set, and sheet feed control operation by the paper feed control means when the sheet paper detection means detects that the sheet is set And a paper feed prohibiting means for prohibiting the above. 2. A paper feed control means drives the paper feed mechanism at power-on of the apparatus, at the time of mounting a case, and at a predetermined timing during recording on a sheet of paper one sheet before. The facsimile apparatus according to claim (1).