JP3078968B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an image communication function and a copying function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus mainly has a configuration in which image information of a document is encoded into black and white information by binarization, and the encoded signal is modulated and transmitted. The image processing circuit to be mounted is a processing circuit for binarization (for example,
Generally, only a processing circuit using a dither method, an error diffusion method, or the like is used. On the other hand, in a copier having a digital image processing circuit, a reader unit reads information of a document as high-resolution image data of 400 dpi or the like as multi-gradation image data of 256 gradations or the like, and forms a image by using a printer unit such as a laser printer. The main configuration is to reproduce the information with the same high resolution and multiple gradations as at the time of reading.

Recently, multifunction peripherals having a digital copying function and an image communication function have been developed. In these multifunction peripherals, when copying, an image is formed by the above-described high-resolution and multi-tone image processing. At the time of communication, image information is obtained by a binarization process as in the conventional image communication apparatus. For this reason, the copy mode and the communication mode can be set alternatively, so that the original cannot be copied using the binarization processing circuit for image communication.

[0004]

For this reason, in the conventional multifunction peripheral, it is not possible to confirm whether or not the original image information is missing in the transmitted image data. Had occurred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has an image forming function having an image communication function and a copying function capable of confirming image information to be transmitted when performing image communication. It is intended to provide a device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an image communication function and a copying function.
An image forming apparatus that performs image data processing by two functions by different image processing methods, wherein a selection key for selecting an image communication mode for executing the image communication function and a copy mode for executing the copy function is provided. In an image forming apparatus having an operation unit provided, when the image communication mode is selected by the selection key, control means for controlling so as to copy using image data processed by an image processing method using the image communication function It is characterized by having.

[0007]

When the image communication mode is selected by the selection key, the control means controls to copy the original using the image data processed by the image processing method using the image communication function. Thereby, it is possible to confirm whether or not the transmitted image information has a loss or the like.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an operation unit of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a power switch, and 2 denotes a group of push buttons for setting a telephone number and the like. 3
Is a copy mode key, and when the key 3 is pressed, the operation mode of the apparatus of this embodiment is switched to a copy mode (copy mode). Reference numeral 4 denotes a fax mode key. When the key 4 is pressed, the operation mode of the apparatus of this embodiment switches to the fax mode (image communication mode).
Reference numeral 5 denotes a start button for starting an operation such as an image communication mode or a copy mode set by the mode keys 3 and 4. Reference numeral 6 denotes a display unit for displaying various data. Reference numeral 7 denotes a setting key group for setting the number and size of sheets in the copy mode, the resolution in the fax mode, and the like.

After the power is turned on by the power switch 1, the copy mode key 3 is depressed to enter the copy mode, and the display section 6 displays the text "Copy is possible". When the fax mode key 4 is depressed, the fax mode is set, and the display section 6 displays characters "Please set a telephone number".

When the start button 5 is pressed after setting various data such as the resolution of the communication image without setting the telephone number in the fax mode, the image is copied and printed according to the setting.

In this embodiment, an image which has been subjected to a binarization process when transmitting a normal original, and an image which has been processed using an error diffusion processing method in a halftone mode for transmitting a photograph or the like. Print out.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, in a step S201, it is determined whether or not a fax mode is set. If the fax mode is not set, the process proceeds to a copy mode. If the mode is the fax mode, the flow advances to step S202 to input the telephone number of the transmission destination by the push button group 2 or to set the setting key group 7.
The operation waits for the input of the various data by the operation.

When at least one of the push button group 2 and the setting key group 7 is operated, the process proceeds to step S203, where it is determined whether or not the start button 5 has been pressed. S2
In step S202, it is determined whether a telephone number has been input in step S202. If the telephone number has not been entered, the process proceeds to step S205, and after the original is copied in accordance with the various data set in step S202, the process proceeds to step S202.
Return to In this manner, the user can confirm whether or not the image information to be transmitted has a lack of information of the original document.

If it is determined in step S203 that the start button 5 has not been pressed, the process returns to step S202. If it is determined in step S204 that the telephone number of the transmission destination has been input, the process proceeds to step S206, where image information is transmitted in accordance with the various data set in step S202.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the key arrangement of the operation unit is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, after the power is turned on by the power switch 1, the fax mode key 4 is depressed and the push button group 2 is set in the fax mode.
After setting the telephone number and the various data by operating the setting key group 7 and the setting key group 7, the copy mode key 4 is depressed to enter the copy mode. In the copy mode, the setting key group 7 is not operated. When the start button 5 is depressed, the display unit 6 displays the text “output a fax mode image”. When the start button 5 is pressed again in this state, image information according to the various data set in the fax mode is printed out. When the character is displayed on the display unit 6, the start button 5
If the copy mode key 4 is pressed again without pressing, an image in a high-resolution and multi-gradation copy mode is printed out.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, in step S301, it is determined whether the mode is the fax mode. If the mode is not the fax mode, the process proceeds to the copy mode. If it is in the fax mode, the process proceeds to step S302, where the telephone number of the transmission destination and the various data are waited for input,
If these transmission data are input, step S303
Move to

In step S303, it is determined whether or not the operation mode has been switched, and the answer is negative (N
O), that is, if the copy mode key 3 is pressed thereafter, the process proceeds to step S304, and it is determined whether the first button or key operated on the operation unit after setting the copy mode is the start button 5. If the first pressed button or key is not the start button 5, the process proceeds to the copy mode as it is, and if it is the start button 5, the process proceeds to step S305 to determine whether the start button 5 has been pressed again. If the button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S306, and copying is performed according to the various data set in step S302. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, the user can confirm whether or not the image information to be transmitted has a lack of the original document information.

If the operation mode has not been switched in step S303, the flow advances to step S307 to determine whether or not the start button 5 has been pressed. If the start button 5 has been pressed, the flow advances to step S308. Image information is transmitted according to the telephone number and the data relating to the image communication input in S302. Step S
If the start button 5 is not pressed at 307, the process returns to step S302.

If it is determined in step S305 that the start button 5 has not been pressed again, the flow advances to step S309.
It is determined whether or not the copy mode key 3 has been pressed, and if so, processing in a high-resolution and multi-gradation copy mode is performed. If the copy mode key 3 has not been pressed, the process returns to step S301.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment. FIG. 4 differs from FIG. 1 in that a test blind key 8 is added.

In the present embodiment, after the telephone number and various data are set in the fax mode, the test print key 8 provided on the operation unit is pressed, whereby the first and second embodiments are performed. Similarly to the above, the copying operation in the fax mode is executed.

In FIG. 5, in step S401, it is determined whether or not the mode is the fax mode. If the mode is not the fax mode, the process proceeds to the copy mode. If the mode is the fax mode, the flow advances to step S402 to wait for input of a telephone number and various data for image communication by operating the push button group 2 and the setting key group 7.

Here, when the destination telephone number and various data are set, the flow advances to step S403 to determine whether the test print key 8 has been pressed. If the button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S404, and the process proceeds to step S404.
An image in the fax mode is copied according to various data set in 402. If it is determined in step S403 that the test print key 8 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S4.
Proceeding to 05, it is determined whether or not the start button 5 has been pressed. If the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S406,
Image information is transmitted according to the transmission data input in step S402. If it is determined in step S405 that the start button 5 has not been pressed, the process returns to step S401.

[0030]

As described above in detail, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming apparatus has an image communication function and a copying function, and performs image data processing by the two functions by different image processing methods. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an operation unit provided with a selection key for selecting an image communication mode for executing the image communication function and a copy mode for executing the copy function. When the image communication mode is selected, control means is provided for controlling copying using the image data processed by the image processing method using the image communication function. It is possible to confirm whether or not there is a loss of information, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the reception side from having a defect in the received image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation unit of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation unit of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Push dial 3 Copy mode key 4 Fax mode key 5 Start key 6 Display 8 Test print key

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] An image communication function and a copying function are provided.
An image forming apparatus that performs image data processing by two functions by different image processing methods, wherein a selection key for selecting an image communication mode for executing the image communication function and a copy mode for executing the copy function is provided. In an image forming apparatus having an operation unit provided, when the image communication mode is selected by the selection key, control means for controlling so as to copy using image data processed by an image processing method using the image communication function An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to start the image communication operation or the copying operation when the image communication mode is selected by the selection key and the destination telephone number of the image data is not set. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the key is pressed, control is performed so as to copy using image data processed by the image processing method using the image communication function. 3. The control means, when the image communication mode is selected by the selection key and a telephone number of a destination of image data is set, when a specific key on the operation unit is pressed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to copy using image data processed by an image processing method using the image communication function. 4. The control means selects a copy mode by the selection key after the image communication mode is selected by the selection key, and operates the image communication operation or the copy key first in the copy mode. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the start key is used to start an operation, control is performed so as to copy using image data processed by an image processing method using the image communication function.