JPH0983713A - MFP - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Problem] To enable the host user to confirm the device mode,
Moreover, the mode of the device can be switched on the host side. When information from a host is received (S
1), the CPU stores the received information in the temporary memory (S
2). The apparatus informs the host of the current mode status information (printer / FAX mode) (S3) and requests whether to switch the apparatus mode. The CPU waits for the reply of the device mode input information from the host user (S4). If a reply comes back within a certain time,
The CPU determines whether the information received from the host is printer output information or FAX transmission information (S5), and in the case of printing, the stored information is read and printing is performed (S5).
6). In the case of FAX, when the CPU recognizes the information that matches the information of the transmission destination from the stored information (S7), the CPU reads the communication device number of the transmission destination from the memory and automatically transmits the information from the host to the communication device of the transmission destination. It is transmitted (S8).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite device such as a fax machine, a printer, a scanner and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a main body of a composite machine of a printer and a scanner to which the present invention is applied.
The recording paper 2 which is fed from the pair of rollers toward the pair of registration rollers is conveyed by the registration rollers 3 to the latent image carrier composed of the photosensitive drum 4 in a timed manner. The photoconductor 4 is driven to rotate counterclockwise, and at this time, the charging charger 5
The surface is charged by the laser beam and is irradiated with the laser beam from the laser optical system 6 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor. This latent image is visualized by toner as it passes through the developing device 7, and this visible image is transferred by the transfer charger 8 to the recording paper 2 conveyed to the photoconductor 4 and is transferred onto the recording paper. The visual image is fixed by the fixing device 9, and is ejected and stored in the paper ejection unit 11.

On the other hand, after the visible image is transferred, the residual toner is removed from the photoconductor 4 by a cleaning device having a cleaning blade 12, and the toner removed from the photoconductor is collected and stored in a toner recovery tank 13. . When the scanner is operating, the document 2 fed from the paper feeding device 1 is
It is conveyed to the reading head 19. Read head 19
The data is read in, and the original 2 is discharged and stored in the paper output unit 11.

[0004]

In the multifunction machine as described above, when the conventional control means prints out the information created by the host, the host user stands up from the host, The printer / FAX mode of the device must be manually switched to the printer mode, and if the device is in FAX mode, the host user sends the information created by the host to the device with the intention of printing out. However, if the CPU recognizes certain specific information that matches the information of the transmission destination registered in advance, a problem occurs that the information is automatically transmitted to the communication device of the transmission destination.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer device for forming an image on a recording sheet, a scanner device for reading an original with a reading head (CCD, equal magnification sensor) and replacing it with data, and a FAX. A device having a communication function of transmitting and receiving image data to and from a communication device such as
Information on destination and destination (company name, department name, name, address, communication device number of destination, destination, destination, etc.)
Information that can be registered in the memory, the information that you want to send to the destination created by the host, the information that you want to send to the destination that is input to the character recognition device, or the document that you want to send that is read by the scanner device. If the CPU recognizes certain specific information that matches the previously registered information of the destination among the information of (1), the After the transmitted information is received by the device, mode status information (printer / FA
(X mode) to the host user, and the device requests the host user whether or not to switch the device mode, and can switch the device mode based on the input information of the host user. This enables the host user to confirm the device mode, and enables the host to switch the device mode, thereby solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology.

According to the control means of the first aspect, even if the composite device requests the host user whether or not to switch the device mode, in the unlikely event that the host user returns a reply of the device mode information to the device. If not, the apparatus waits for a reply, which hinders printing of information transmitted from another host user or fax execution processing.

Therefore, a second aspect of the present invention is directed to a printer device for forming an image on a recording sheet, a scanner device for reading an original with a reading head (CCD, equal-magnification sensor) and replacing it with data, and a communication device such as a FAX. And a device equipped with a communication function to send and receive image data to and from a host, and information on the destination and destination (company name, department name, name,
Addresses, communication device numbers of destinations, destinations, destinations, etc.) can be registered in the memory in the information created by the host, or the destination input to the character recognition device. When the CPU recognizes certain information that matches the information of the destination registered in advance in the information to be transmitted or the information of the original document to be transmitted read by the scanner device, the communication device of the destination is notified. If the input information (printer / FAX mode information) from the host user is not replied within a certain period of time in a multifunction device having a function of automatically transmitting, cancel the execution process of the information transmitted from the host,
Means for requesting the host user to transmit the information again is provided, and the problem of the invention of claim 1 is solved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a printer device for forming an image on a recording sheet, a scanner device for reading an original with a reading head (CCD, 1x sensor) and replacing it with data, a communication device such as a FAX, and a host. A device equipped with a communication function to send and receive image data to and from, etc., and a memory of the destination and destination information (company name, department name, name, address, communication device number of destination, destination, destination, etc.) in advance. In the device that can be registered in, the information that you want to send to the destination created by the host, the information that you want to send to the destination that has been input to the character recognition device, or the information of the original that you want to send read by the scanner device. A function of automatically transmitting to the communication device of the destination when the CPU recognizes certain specific information that matches the information of the destination registered in advance Means capable of identifying whether the information transmitted from the host is the print output information or the information desired to be transmitted to the destination by transmitting the printer / FAX mode control command together with the information transmitted from the host in the provided multifunction device By including the above, the problem of the above-mentioned conventional technology is solved by means different from the invention of claim 1.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a laser printer and a scanner compound machine as an embodiment of a recording apparatus of the present invention. Here, 14 is connected to the external device 20 and sends image information to the recording device,
Alternatively, it is a controller that transmits and receives image information to and from the external communication device 17. Reference numeral 21 denotes a microcomputer-type CPU that controls the printing apparatus, and corresponds to a processing procedure for executing processing described later with reference to FIG.
It is connected to the OM 22 and has a work RAM and the like. The communication function circuit 16 is connected to the external communication device 17 via a communication line, transmits information from the controller 14 to the external communication device 17, or receives information from the external communication device 17, and receives the information from the controller 14. It is a circuit to send to. Reference numeral 23 denotes a main motor drive circuit that drives a main motor 24 that conveys a recording medium such as paper. 29
Is a polygon motor drive circuit for driving the polygon motor 30, and has a detection circuit for an FG signal for detecting the rotation speed of the polygon motor 30. Reference numeral 25 is a drive circuit of a paper feed clutch 26 that drives a paper feed roller that feeds a recording medium, 27 is a drive circuit of a registration clutch 28 that drives a registration roller, and 32 is generated from an image signal WDATA from the controller 14. Image signal VIDEO
A laser drive circuit for driving the laser device 31 by
Reference numeral 4 indicates a synchronization detector 3 according to the rotation of the polygon motor 30.
3, the main scanning synchronization signal LSYNC and the main scanning write effective area signal LGAT
E, an optical writing signal control circuit for obtaining the sub-scanning writing effective area signal FGATE and sending it to the controller 14. Further, the laser device 31 includes a semiconductor laser unit that outputs a laser beam according to the driving of the laser driving circuit 32,
And a light receiving element provided to adjust the light amount.

The CPU 21 and the controller 14 are connected by a bidirectional serial interface composed of a reception data signal PERXD, a transmission data signal PETXD, a reception ready signal PEDTR, and a transmission ready signal PECTS, and CP
The state of the recording device judged by U21 is sent to the controller 14, or the controller sends a command for controlling the recording device. The character recognition device 35 is a device that recognizes a drawn character by tracing the device screen with a pen or the like.

In the configuration described above, the CPU 21
Informs the controller 14 that the recording device is in a recording operation enabled state or a communication operation enabled state. The controller 14 confirms that the recording operation is possible or the communication operation is possible, and sends a recording operation or communication operation start command to the CPU 21. When the recording operation start signal is received, the CPU 21 turns on the polygon motor drive signal PMST immediately to start the recording operation and rotates the polygon motor 30. The polygon motor 30 outputs an FG pulse having a frequency corresponding to its rotation speed, this pulse is detected by the FG signal detection circuit, is sent to the polygon motor drive circuit, and has the same frequency as the polygon motor reference clock PMCK. , The polygon motor speed is controlled. At the same time, the main motor drive signal MMST is turned on to rotate the main motor 24. When receiving the communication operation start signal, the CPU 21 immediately starts the communication operation, and in the case of the transmission operation, when the information created by the external device 20 is transmitted to the controller 14, the CPU 21 immediately performs the transmission operation and performs the communication. Communication function circuit 1 via line
6 to the external communication device 17. Further, in the case of the receiving operation, when the information sent from the external communication device 17 via the communication line is received by the communication function circuit 16, the CPU 21
Is transmitted to the external device 20 via the received information.

The controller 14 receives the recording density information input according to the switch operation of the external device or the operator depending on the image content regardless of the recording operation, and the CPU 14
21 to send a recording density designation command. In response to this, the CPU 21 sends a rotation speed control signal PMCON to the polygon motor drive circuit 29. Speed control signal PMC
ON is a signal that determines the polygon motor reference clock PMCK and is the reference clock itself or a signal that selects one of the plurality of clocks provided in the polygon motor drive circuit 29 as the reference clock.

The polygon motor drive circuit 29 controls the polygon motor 30 so that the cycle of the FG pulse becomes a constant level.
The rotation of the polygon motor 30 can be stabilized by controlling the current to the polygon motor 30. Therefore, the CPU 21
After receiving the recording density designation command, the rotation speed control signal P
By switching MCON, polygon motor 30
It is possible to switch the number of rotations according to the specified recording density. Further, the polygon motor drive circuit 29 turns on the polygon motor lock signal PMLK when the polygon motor 30 reaches the steady rotation speed corresponding to the recording density, and C
It is sent to the PU 21.

When the recording operation is started, the CPU 21 turns on the paper feed clutch drive signal FDCL, drives the paper feed roller, and conveys the recording medium stored in the cassette or the like to the registration roller position. After confirming that the polygon motor lock signal PMLK is turned on, the sub-scanning write effective area signal FGATE is sent to the controller 14.
Is sent. The controller 14 synchronizes with the turning on of FGATE, and after a predetermined time, the image signal WDATA.
Is sent. The CPU 21 sends out FGATE, turns on the registration clutch drive signal RGCL after a predetermined time, conveys the recording medium toward the recording position of the photosensitive drum or the like, and forms an image at the predetermined position of the recording medium.

The CPU 21 adjusts the amount of laser light when the FGATE signal is off. The light amount signal fed back from the light receiving element of the laser device 31 is compared with a predetermined level by the comparator in the laser drive circuit, and is input to the CPU 21 as a binarized LDCT signal. CPU
21 changes the laser drive signal using digital-analog conversion so that the laser light amount reaches a predetermined value, and LDCT
When the signal changes, the laser light amount is held and the laser light amount is adjusted. In addition, by irradiating the mirror on the rotating polygon motor 30 with the laser, the synchronous detector 3
Reference numeral 3 detects a synchronization signal of constant synchronization according to the rotation of the polygon motor.

The optical writing controller 34 controls the sync detection signal D
By inputting ETP, an image writing clock WCLK synchronized with DETP is generated. At the same time, the WCLK signal is counted, and when the predetermined count is reached, the main scanning synchronization signal LSYNC and the main scanning write effective area signal LGATE are counted.
Occurs. Further, the sub-scanning write effective area internal signal FSYNC from the CPU 21 is input, and the sub-scanning write effective area signal FGATE is generated in synchronization with the LSYNC signal. At the time of writing an image in which the LGATE signal and the FGATE signal are turned on, the image signal WDATA from the controller 14 is fetched in synchronization with the WCLK signal,
It is converted into a VIDEO signal for driving the laser device 31 and transmitted to the laser drive circuit 32. The scanner unit reads a document from the reading head 19 and, via the CPU 21,
Data is sent to the controller 14, and data processing and storage are performed. The transport path at this time is the same as that during the printing operation.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the inventions of claims 1 and 2, and when the controller receives the information transmitted from the host (S1), the CPU receives the received information regardless of the operating / standby state of the apparatus. Stored in temporary memory (S
2), the device informs the host of the current device mode status information (printer / FAX mode) (S3),
In addition, the CP is requested to switch the device mode,
U waits for the reply of the device mode input information from the host user (S4). If the reply is returned within a certain time, the CPU determines whether the received information from the host is the printer output information from the device mode input information from the host.
Alternatively, it is determined whether the information is FAX transmission information (S5), and if it is print output information, the received information stored in the memory is read and print output processing is executed (S6). FA
In the case of X transmission information, from the reception information stored in the memory,
When the CPU recognizes the information that matches the information of the destination registered in advance (S7), the CPU reads the communication device number of the destination from the memory (automatically recognizes), and the information from the host is transmitted to the communication device of the destination. Automatically send to (S8)
(Claim 1). If the reply is not returned within a certain time, the CPU discards the received information stored in the memory, cancels the execution process (S9), and the device requests the host to send the information again. Etc. are transmitted (S10) (Claim 2).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the invention of claim 3, wherein when the controller receives the printer / FAX control command transmitted from the host and the information created by the host (S11), the CPU transmits from the control command. Whether the output information is printer output information or FA
If it is the X transmission information (S12), and if it is the print output information, a print output process of the information received from the host is executed (S13). When it is determined that the information is the FAX transmission information, when the CPU recognizes the information matching the information of the destination registered in advance from the information received from the host (S14), the CPU reads the communication device number of the destination from the memory. (Automatically recognized), the information from the host is automatically transmitted to the destination communication device (S15).

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, means for notifying the host user of the mode status information (printer / FAX mode) of the device after receiving the information transmitted from the host, and the device, Since there is a means for requesting whether to switch the device mode and switching the device mode based on the input information of the host user, the host user can check the device mode without standing up and checking the device mode. The user can check and switch the device mode (printer / FAX mode) on the host.
The work and the operation of the apparatus can be made more efficient, and the information transmitted from the host can be subjected to the printer / FAX processing intended by the host user.

According to the invention of claim 2, when the input information (printer / FAX mode information) from the host user is not replied within a certain period of time, the execution process of the information transmitted from the host is canceled and the host user Since the host user does not reply to the device with the device mode information reply, the device will request the host user to send the information again. By requesting the transmission of the information created by the above, it is possible to prevent the device execution processing of the information transmitted from the other host user to the device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by transmitting the printer / FAX mode control command together with the information transmitted from the host, whether the information transmitted from the host is the print output information or the information desired to be transmitted to the destination. By providing the means capable of identifying the above, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the invention of claim 1 by the control means different from the invention of claim 1.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a laser printer and a scanner multifunction machine as an example of a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the inventions of claims 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the invention of claim 3;

FIG. 4 is a multifunctional peripheral of a printer and a scanner as an example of a multifunctional peripheral to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Paper feeding device, 2 ... Recording paper, 3 ... Registration roller pair, 4
... Photoconductor, 5 ... Charging charger, 6 ... Laser optical system, 7
... developing device, 8 ... transfer charger, 9 ... fixing device, 10
... Printer main body, 11 ... Paper discharge section, 12 ... Cleaning blade, 13 ... Toner recovery tank, 14 ... Controller, 16 ... Communication function circuit, 17 ... External communication device, 19 ...
Read head, 20 ... External device, 21 ... CPU, 22
... ROM, 23 ... Main motor drive circuit, 24 ... Main motor, 25 ... Paper feed clutch drive circuit, 26 ... Paper feed clutch, 27 ... Registration clutch drive circuit, 28 ... Registration clutch, 29 ... Polygon motor drive circuit, 30 ... Polygon motor, 31 ... Laser device, 32 ... Laser drive circuit, 33 ... Synchronous detector, 34 ... Optical writing signal control unit,
35 ... Character recognition device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printer device for forming an image on a recording sheet, a scanner device for reading an original with a reading head and replacing it with data, and a communication function for transmitting / receiving image data to / from a communication device such as a FAX or a host. In the device and the device capable of preliminarily registering the information of the transmission destination and the reception destination in the memory, the information to be transmitted to the transmission destination created by the host, or the information to be transmitted to the transmission destination input to the character recognition device, Alternatively, when the CPU recognizes certain specific information that matches the information of the destination registered in advance in the information of the document to be transmitted read by the scanner device, the information is automatically transmitted to the communication device of the destination. In the multifunction device having the function to perform, after the device receives the information transmitted from the host, the mode status information of the device is transmitted to the host device. A means for notifying the user and a means for enabling the device to request the host user to switch the device mode and switch the device mode based on input information from the host user. Multifunction machine. 2. A printer device for forming an image on a recording sheet, a scanner device for reading an original with a reading head and replacing it with data, and a communication function for transmitting / receiving image data to / from a communication device such as a FAX or a host. In the device and the device capable of preliminarily registering the information of the transmission destination and the reception destination in the memory, the information to be transmitted to the transmission destination created by the host, or the information to be transmitted to the transmission destination input to the character recognition device, Alternatively, when the CPU recognizes certain specific information that matches the information of the destination registered in advance in the information of the document to be transmitted read by the scanner device, the information is automatically transmitted to the communication device of the destination. If the input information from the host user is not replied within a certain period of time in the multifunction device that has the function to send, it is sent from the host. A multi-function peripheral comprising means for canceling the execution processing of the stored information and requesting the host user to transmit the information again. 3. A printer device for forming an image on a recording sheet, a scanner device for reading an original by a reading head and replacing it with data, and a communication function for transmitting / receiving image data to / from a communication device such as a FAX or a host. In the device and the device capable of preliminarily registering the information of the transmission destination and the reception destination in the memory, the information to be transmitted to the transmission destination created by the host, or the information to be transmitted to the transmission destination input to the character recognition device, Alternatively, when the CPU recognizes certain specific information that matches the information of the destination registered in advance in the information of the document to be transmitted read by the scanner device, the information is automatically transmitted to the communication device of the destination. By sending a printer / FAX mode control command together with the information sent from the host, the multifunction device with the function to A multi-function peripheral comprising a means capable of identifying whether the information transmitted from the storage is print output information or information desired to be transmitted to a destination.