JP2004023604A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile machine that increases an electric power saving effect by keeping a standby state as long as possible without repeatedly starting the machine due to printing when a fax is received during a user's absence. <P>SOLUTION: This facsimile machine is provided with an operating means 80 for switchingly setting a presence/absence mode, a storing means 50 for storing received image data, and a signal processing means 1 for storing image data in the storing means 50 without printing the received image when the image data are received in the absence mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement in a facsimile apparatus that enters a sleep state when there is no print operation for a predetermined time in order to suppress power consumption.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional facsimile machines equipped with an electrophotographic printer using thermal fixing require a sleep (standby) state by stopping the fixing unit or lowering the heater temperature if there is no printing operation for a predetermined time in order to reduce power consumption. Those having a power saving effect are widely used.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in this type of facsimile apparatus, if facsimile reception is performed frequently and startup and standby are repeated, a large amount of electromotive force is consumed, so that not only the power saving effect is reduced but also the power is wasted, which is an adverse effect. There are even.
[0004]
FIG. 7 shows an example of a time chart of the operation of the conventional facsimile machine. As shown in the figure, when the reception of the image data is repeated three times in the sleep state, the activation for printing is also repeated three times.
[0005]
The present invention has been proposed to solve such a problem, and its object is to keep the standby state as long as possible without repeating the start-up of the apparatus by printing the received data when a fax is received when the user is absent. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of improving the power saving effect.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 is a facsimile apparatus that automatically enters a sleep state when there is no printing operation for a predetermined time, and an operation unit that can switch between a presence mode and an absence mode. Storage means for storing the received image data, and signal processing means for storing the image data in the storage means without printing the received image when the image data is received in the absence mode.
[0007]
That is, once the user sets the absence mode, the received image data is not printed during that time and is stored in the storage unit, and thereafter, all the image data stored in the storage unit can be printed collectively. As a result, the sleep state can be maintained for a long time, and the power saving effect can be dramatically improved.
[0008]
According to a second aspect, the image processing apparatus further includes a notifying unit for notifying that the print is suspended when the image data received in the absence mode is stored.
[0009]
Thus, when the user returns, it is immediately apparent that the received data has been accumulated.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the setting is changed from the absence mode to the presence mode, the signal processing means returns the apparatus from the sleep state to the normal state, and prints the image data stored in the storage means. I do.
[0011]
According to the fourth aspect, the signal processing means returns the apparatus from the sleep state to the normal state when image data is first received after the setting mode is changed from the absence mode to the presence mode, and is stored in the storage means. The printing of the image data received together with the image data is performed.
[0012]
According to the fifth aspect, the signal processing means returns the apparatus from the sleep state to the normal state when a predetermined operation is performed after the setting change from the absence mode to the presence mode, and the signal processing means is stored in the storage means. The image data is printed.
[0013]
According to the sixth aspect, when the remaining capacity of the storage unit falls below a predetermined amount due to the image data received in the absence mode, the signal processing unit returns the apparatus from the sleep state to the normal state and is stored in the storage unit. The printing of the image data is started.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a main configuration of a facsimile machine F of the present invention.
[0016]
Here, a facsimile apparatus having a facsimile transmission / reception function will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a facsimile apparatus having a copy function, an Internet facsimile apparatus, or the like may be used.
[0017]
In the figure, reference numeral 1 designates a signal processing means, a main control unit which controls the following units, 2 an NCU which controls connection to the telephone line L, 3 a modem which modulates and demodulates signals for performing facsimile communication, 4 Is an image memory for temporarily storing image data, 5 is a RAM for storing various data, 50 is storage means for temporarily storing image data received in the absence mode described later, 6 is a ROM in which control programs and the like are stored in advance, and 7 is a ROM. A display unit composed of a liquid crystal screen, an LED, etc., 8 is an operation unit composed of various operation keys and the like, 80 is a switch setting switch that constitutes an operation means capable of switching between presence / absence mode, and 9 is image data from a document. A reading unit 10 for reading an image is a recording unit of an electrophotographic system using heat fixing, which records image data received by facsimile on a recording sheet.
[0018]
In the facsimile apparatus F, a reading unit 9 reads a document image and transmits the read image data via the NCU 2 and the modem 3 by a facsimile transmission function, and the recording unit 10 stores the image data received via the NCU 2 and the modem 3 by the recording unit 10. And a FAX reception function for printing out on recording paper.
[0019]
Further, the facsimile apparatus F has a power saving function in which when the facsimile is not received and printing is not performed for a predetermined time, the temperature of the fixing unit heater of the recording unit 10 is lowered to put the printer in a sleep state.
[0020]
The facsimile apparatus F of the present invention is devised so as to keep this sleep state as long as possible, and realizes this by operating the switch setting switch 80 to switch between the presence / absence mode.
[0021]
Specifically, when a fax is received when the change setting switch 80 is in the absence mode, even if the apparatus is in the sleep state, printing is not performed without activating the recording unit 10 and returning to the normal state. The data is temporarily stored in the storage means 50, and thereafter, the stored image data can be collectively printed.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the facsimile machine F when receiving image data.
[0023]
When the image data is received, it is determined whether the mode is present or absent (steps 101 and 102). When the absence mode is set, the received data is stored in the storage means 50, and The remaining capacity is checked, and if it is less than the predetermined amount, the received data and the stored data stored at that time in the storage means 50 are printed together (steps 107 to 109). If the remaining capacity is equal to or larger than the predetermined amount, the display unit 7 notifies the display unit 7 that the received data has been stored (step 110).
[0024]
On the other hand, when the recording mode is set to the sleep mode, if the recording unit 10 is in the sleep state, after the recording unit 10 is started, if the image data is stored in the storage unit 50, the print-held image is stored. The data is printed together with the received data (steps 102 to 105), and if not in the sleep state, the received data is printed (step 106).
[0025]
Here, the printing order of the batch printing is not limited. That is, the data stored in the storage unit 50 may be output first, or the received image data may be output first.
[0026]
As described above, if the absence mode is set, all the image data received in the absence mode is stored in the storage unit 50 and is not printed each time it is received. The power effect can be improved. After that, when the user returns and changes to the presence mode, when the image data is received for the first time, the accumulated data and the received data are printed together, so that when the user is present. Can refer to the held image data.
[0027]
In addition, since the configuration is such that the print is held, the user can see the display unit 7 to know that the received data is stored when the user returns to his or her seat.
[0028]
FIG. 3 shows an example of informing the display unit 7 of the print suspension.
[0029]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a time chart of the operation of the facsimile machine F of the present invention.
[0030]
As can be seen from a comparison between FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 (conventional diagram), according to the facsimile apparatus F, even if the reception of the image data is repeated three times from the sleep state, the activation is in the current mode. You only need to do it once.
[0031]
In the example of FIG. 2, after the setting is changed to the presence mode, batch printing is performed at the first image data reception. At the timing when the setting is changed to the presence mode, the apparatus is returned from the sleep state to the normal state, and the batch printing is performed. It may be performed.
[0032]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the facsimile machine F when batch printing is performed when the mode is changed.
[0033]
That is, when the mode is changed to the present mode, the mode data managed in the RAM 5 or the like is changed, the recording unit 10 is started, and all the print-held storage data stored in the storage unit 50 is printed. (Steps 201 to 205). On the other hand, when the mode is changed to the absence mode, the mode data is changed (steps 202 and 206).
[0034]
When the mode is changed to the presence mode, the image data that has been held for printing is printed in a batch, so if the user returns to the seat and only performs the mode change operation, all the image data received while absent can be referenced immediately. it can.
[0035]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of batch printing at another timing.
[0036]
Here, the image data stored in the storage unit 50 is printed collectively when a print instruction is issued by a predetermined operation after the mode is changed to the presence mode (steps 301 to 304).
[0037]
Since the image data held for printing by a predetermined operation is printed in a batch, even if the user returns to the seat, the sleep state is continued as long as there is no intention of the user, further reducing the power consumption. Can be raised.
[0038]
As another mode, the timing of printing out the stored data and the timing of returning from the sleep state to the normal state may be different. That is, it is also possible to automatically return to the normal state when the mode is changed to the present mode, and thereafter to output the stored data collectively at some timing (reception, user operation, etc.).
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As can be understood from the above description, the facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 has a configuration in which, when image data is received in the absence mode, the received image is not printed and the image data is stored in the storage unit. Therefore, even if a fax is received when the user is absent, the sleep state can be maintained, and the power saving effect can be improved.
[0040]
According to the second aspect, the fact that the print is held is reported, so that when the user returns to his / her seat, it is possible to immediately know that the received data is stored.
[0041]
According to the third aspect, when the setting is changed from the absence mode to the presence mode, the user returns from the sleep state to the normal state and collectively prints the image data on hold, so the user returns to the seat. If only the mode change operation is performed later, all the image data received in the absence can be immediately referred to.
[0042]
According to the fourth aspect, when the image data is received for the first time after the setting is changed from the absence mode to the presence mode, the printer is returned from the sleep state to the normal state, and the print-held image data and the received image data are compared. Since the printing is performed in a lump, the sleep state can be maintained even after the mode is set, and the power saving effect can be further improved.
[0043]
According to the fifth aspect, after the setting is changed from the absence mode to the presence mode, when an output instruction operation is performed by the user, the apparatus is returned from the sleep state to the normal state, and the print-held image data is collectively printed. Therefore, the sleep state can be continued by the user's intention, and the power saving effect can be further improved.
[0044]
According to the present invention, when the remaining capacity of the storage means falls below a predetermined amount due to the image data received in the absence mode, the stored image data is printed, so that the storage means is filled with the print-held data. Trouble can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a main part of a facsimile machine F of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of the facsimile apparatus when receiving image data.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification of print suspension on a display unit.
FIG. 4 shows a time chart example of the operation of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a basic operation of the facsimile apparatus when batch printing is performed when a mode is changed.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of the facsimile apparatus when batch printing is performed by a predetermined operation.
FIG. 7 shows an example of a time chart of the operation of a conventional facsimile machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
F: facsimile machine 1: main control unit (signal processing means)
7 Display unit (notification means)
10 recording unit 50 storage unit 80 switching operation unit

Claims (6)

In a facsimile apparatus which automatically enters a sleep state when there is no printing operation for a predetermined time, an operation means capable of setting the presence / absence mode, a storage means for storing received image data, and receiving image data in the absence mode A facsimile apparatus, which sometimes includes a signal processing unit that does not print the received image but saves the image data in a storage unit. In claim 1,
A facsimile apparatus further comprising a notifying unit for notifying that a print is held when image data received in the absence mode is stored. In claim 1 or 2,
The signal processing means, when the setting is changed from the absence mode to the presence mode, returns the apparatus from the sleep state to the normal state, and performs printing of the image data stored in the storage means. Facsimile machine. In claim 1 or 2,
The signal processing means, when the image data is received for the first time after the setting is changed from the absence mode to the presence mode, the apparatus returns from the sleep state to the normal state, and the image processing apparatus stores the image data together with the image data stored in the storage means. A facsimile apparatus for printing received image data. In claim 1 or 2,
The signal processing means returns the apparatus from the sleep state to the normal state when a predetermined operation is performed after the setting change from the absence mode to the presence mode, and prints the image data stored in the storage means. A facsimile machine. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
The signal processing means returns the apparatus from a sleep state to a normal state when the remaining capacity of the storage means falls below a predetermined amount by the image data received in the absence mode, and stores the image data stored in the storage means. Facsimile machine, characterized by starting printing.

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