JPH0410781B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a facsimile device, and more particularly to a facsimile device having an automatic reception function.

Conventionally, facsimile devices have been known that have an automatic reception function that can automatically receive documents sent from the other party's facsimile transmitter in response to a call signal from the other party's facsimile transmitter. Whether to send a message or receive it manually was done by flipping a switch button on the facsimile panel. Furthermore, facsimile devices are known that automatically set to a predetermined mode (for example, automatic reception mode) when the power is turned on. Generally, in the case of manual reception, it is not connected to a facsimile device,
It is possible to make a call to a telephone set connected to a facsimile machine from a telephone set used for the purpose of telephone calls, for example a public telephone, but once the facsimile machine is set to automatic reception mode You will no longer be able to make calls from a telephone set such as a facsimile machine. On the other hand, if the manual reception mode is set to avoid this inconvenience, problems may arise because automatic reception will no longer be possible, especially if no employees are present after the workday ends. Particularly when there is a lot of communication with overseas countries using facsimile devices, it becomes a problem that automatic reception cannot be performed at night due to the time difference.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example, and has two modes: an automatic reception mode in which images are automatically received in response to a call, and a manual mode in which an operator can manually respond to a call and make a telephone conversation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile device that can automatically switch the facsimile device at a preset time.

In the present invention, a means for setting the time and a control means for determining whether or not the set time has come and switching between automatic reception mode and manual mode are provided, and when the set time comes, the automatic reception mode and manual mode are automatically switched. We adopted a configuration that switches between.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention as a block diagram. Reference numeral 8 denotes a control circuit provided inside the facsimile device. A clock 1 serving as a timekeeping means is connected to this control circuit, and a signal 1-a is input from the clock 1 to the control circuit. . Further, this facsimile device is provided with a time a setting circuit 2 and a time b setting circuit 3 for setting times a and b in advance, respectively, and these setting circuits send signals 2-a and 2-a indicating time a, respectively. Signals 2-b indicating b are output to the control circuit 8, respectively. The control circuit 8 takes in the signal 1-a and the signal 2-a, and when these two signals become equal, that is, at time a, it determines the current mode of the facsimile device (that is, manual reception mode or automatic reception mode). Signal 4- from mode detection circuit 4 that detects
Enter a. The signal 4-a is at a low level when the facsimile apparatus is receiving manually, and is at a high level when the facsimile apparatus is receiving automatically. Further, the reception mode at this time a is stored in the mode storage circuit 5 as a signal line or signal 5-a. In that case, the signal 5-a becomes low level in the case of manual reception, and becomes high level in the case of automatic reception. After outputting the signal 5-a, the control circuit 8 sets the signal 6-a to high level and sets the mode state changing circuit 6 to the automatic reception mode. This mode state change circuit 6
is for changing to the automatic reception mode when the signal 6-a is at a high level, and to the manual reception mode when it is at a low level. Further, a display circuit 7 is connected to the control circuit 8, and when the signal 7-a is at a high level, an automatic reception mode is displayed, and when the signal 7-a is at a low level, a manual reception mode is displayed. Control circuit 8 then compares signals 1-a and 3-a, and when these two signals become equal, that is, at time b, takes in signal 5-b from the mode storage circuit.

When the signal 5-b is at a low level, i.e., in the manual reception mode at time a, the control circuit 8 outputs low-level signals to the signals 6-a and 7-a, while when the signal 5-b is at a high level, i.e., at time a. If the mode in is automatic reception mode, signal 6
-a and 7-a are set to high level, and each time b
Switch the reception mode to automatic reception mode or manual reception mode.

The operation of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, in step 9, it is determined whether or not signals 1-a and 2-a are equal, that is, whether or not time a has arrived. If time a has arrived, in step 10, the mode at time a is set as signal 4-a. input. Subsequently, in step 11, the signal 4-a is
It is determined whether or not the level is high. When the signal 4-a is at a low level, that is, when the mode at time a is manual reception, a low level signal 5-a is output as shown in step 12, and when the mode at time a is automatic reception, a low level signal 5-a is output. Outputs a high level signal. Next, as shown in steps 14 and 15, since time a has arrived, the signals 6-a and 7-
A high level signal is output to the terminal a to set the facsimile apparatus to automatic reception mode, and at the same time, display circuit 7 displays automatic reception mode. Next, in step 16, it is determined whether the signals 1-a and 3-a are equal, that is, whether time b has arrived.
At time b, the mode at time a stored in the mode storage circuit 5 is input to the control circuit 8 as a signal 5-b (step 17). Subsequently, in step 18, the signal 5-
It is determined whether or not b is at a high level, that is, whether or not the mode at time a was automatic reception. If it is manual reception, signals 6-a and 7-a are sent as shown in steps 19 and 20. to low level and set the device to manual reception mode,
The display circuit 7 indicates that the mode is manual reception mode. On the other hand, if the mode at time a is automatic reception, the signals 6-a and 7-a are set to high level, respectively, as shown in steps 21 and 22, and the facsimile apparatus is set to automatic reception mode.

In the above-described embodiment, the automatic reception mode is set from time a to time b, but it is also possible to set the automatic reception mode from time b to time a. This makes it possible to reduce the number of buttons on the panel.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to set two arbitrary times and automatically set the facsimile machine to automatic reception mode between those times. Night hours can be set to automatic reception mode, even if set to manual reception so that calls can be made, for example, from a public phone to a phone connected to a facsimile machine. When the time comes, the facsimile device and the telephone connected thereto can be used more effectively. This can be especially effective at night when there is a lot of communication with other countries.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the preset time comes, the automatic reception mode and the manual mode that allows telephone calls are automatically switched.
There is no need for the operator to set automatic reception mode and manual mode each time, and one telephone line can be effectively used for facsimile communication and telephone communication.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of control of the control circuit of FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Clock, 2... Time a setting circuit, 3... Time b setting circuit, 4... Mode detection circuit, 5... Mode storage circuit at time a, 6... Mode state changing circuit, 7... Display Circuit, 8...control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic reception mode in which images are automatically received in response to a call from the other party, and a manual mode in which an operator can manually answer a call from the other party and make a telephone conversation. A facsimile device having: a clock means for measuring time; a setting means for setting the time; determining whether or not the time measured by the clock means has reached the time set by the setting means; Accordingly, a facsimile apparatus is characterized in that it has a control means for switching between the automatic reception mode and the means mode. 2. The setting means is capable of setting a first time and a second time, and the control means sets the device to automatic reception mode from the first time to the second time. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1.