JPH0612915B2 - Fax machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention has a function of visually displaying received information stored in an external storage device on a display device or printing it on a recording medium as a hard copy. The present invention relates to an integrated facsimile device.

Furthermore, the present invention not only prints the received information as a hard copy on a recording medium, but also stores it in an external storage device,
The present invention relates to a facsimile device that can be visually displayed on a display device.

[Prior Art] In recent years, facsimile machines have rapidly become popular mainly for office use. The advantages of these facsimile machines are: (1) Characters, charts, and pictures can be easily sent to a remote place immediately. (2) Received information is automatically printed on paper and remains as a record even if no person is present at the time of reception. And so on.

Especially, the advantage of (2) above is that even when you are busy
You do not have to interrupt the work you are doing to receive it, you do not miss the necessary information even when you are out, and because the printed information has a list, you need to return the tape in sequence like an answering machine and listen Since there is no such demand, it is expected that there will be demand for general households in the future depending on information and prices.

Such a facsimile device is not limited to a so-called telephone type facsimile device that operates via a telephone line, but a so-called broadcasting type facsimile device that transmits various types of information using radio waves is also conceivable.

In the case of a broadcasting type facsimile machine, the communication direction is one-way, but it is possible to send information from one broadcasting station to a large number of receiving side facsimile machines at the same time. For example, for sending newspapers or advertisements. Thought to be available.

When such a facsimile machine has spread to general households, a conventional facsimile machine that receives and prints anything has the following problems.

(1) It is unreasonable that the facsimile receiver must bear the cost of ink and printing paper even for unnecessary information.

(2) These pieces of information are likely to be transmitted at midnight due to low call charges in the case of telephone type facsimiles and also in the case of broadcasting type facsimiles, because there is a high possibility of being transmitted at midnight. If it becomes, it may not be possible to replenish it due to the absence of a person, and it may not be possible to receive the necessary information.

Some countermeasures have been proposed to address these problems. The contents will be described below.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 49-91713: This is a facsimile communication system for the purpose of full automation, and the state of the output recording medium on the receiving side is automatically checked, and the switching of the recording medium can be automated depending on the state. Even if the recording paper mode is designated by the transmitting side, if the recording paper is abnormal, the device is automatically switched to the magnetic tape mode, and the received data is written to the magnetic tape device. However, this is not sufficient to completely solve the above-mentioned problem (1) because the receiving side cannot judge the necessity of the received information.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-151854: This relates to a television facsimile receiver that receives a broadcast radio wave by superimposing a facsimile signal on a television signal, and demodulates and derives a multiplexed facsimile signal to obtain a hard copy by a recording device. In addition, the received signal can be recorded on a cassette tape, and then the cassette tape can be read out to make a hard copy by a recording device. However, since this also does not have a display device, it is not possible to temporarily display the received information visually and determine whether or not the hard copy can be made while judging the necessity of the received information. It is not sufficient to completely solve the problem (1).

JP-A-48-101818: This is because there is no need to record a received signal, a signal that one wants to see immediately is drawn by a cathode ray tube, and what needs recording is once recorded in a magnetic recording / reproducing device. It can be played back later. However, this merely selects whether to display or record the received information, and is not intended to solve the problems (1) and (2) described above, which are the problems to be solved by the present invention.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] An object of the present invention is to completely eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional facsimile apparatus, temporarily display the received information on the display device, and receive the information while confirming the necessity. Information that is unnecessary for the recipient even if the information is provided is to provide a facsimile apparatus integrally incorporating a function that enables the recorded information to be deleted only by displaying and not printed on paper.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus in which the reception side can set whether to print out or store the facsimile reception information by the setting of the recipient.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, an external storage device and a display device are organically added to a facsimile device, and the information stored in the external storage device is sequentially displayed on the display device. The external storage device and the display device can be viewed so that only the necessary information can be extracted and printed out on paper, and unnecessary information in the external storage device can be deleted. Alternatively, the connection state with the printing device is switched so that unnecessary information is not wastefully printed and necessary information is not missed.

Another object of the present invention is to enable the receiving side to select in advance whether to print the received information directly on a sheet or to temporarily store it in an external storage device. In this selection, it is possible to select whether to store in the external storage device only when the paper is out, or to store in the external storage device even when the paper is out.

[Operation] A facsimile reception signal supplied from the outside can be stored in the storage means in the storage mode. The information stored in the storage means can be temporarily displayed visually on the display device, and the information stored in the storage means can be printed and output as a hard copy by the printing device.

The information stored in the storage means is operated by operating keys so as to sequentially display the stored information for retrieval, and desired information is temporarily displayed visually on the display device. While checking the information displayed on the display device to confirm whether the received information is necessary or not, if the displayed information is necessary, the information is instructed to be printed out as a hard copy, and the displayed information is displayed. When unnecessary, the storage of the information is instructed to judge whether the received information is necessary or not, and only the necessary information is instructed to be printed out as a hard copy, and the unnecessary information is deleted from the storage. I am able to do that.

Further, by providing a setting switch capable of selectively setting whether the facsimile reception signal is printed out as a hard copy from the printing device or is recorded in the storage means, the operation mode can be set on the receiving side. This makes it possible to select whether to print out or record the received signal, and determine whether the recorded received information is necessary or unnecessary while instructing to print out only the necessary information as a hard copy, and Allows you to delete it from memory.

[Embodiment] A specific embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration centering on the receiving section of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, in which 1 is a received signal, 2 is a demodulation circuit, 3 is a switching circuit, 4 is a setting switch, 5 is a switching control circuit, and 6 is a CRT display. A device, 7 is a printing device, 8 is an external storage device, 9 is a paper out signal, and a, a, c and d are signal terminals of the switching circuit 3, respectively.

The reception signal 1 is a signal that has been phase-modulated and transmitted via a telephone line, or a signal that has been amplitude-modulated or frequency-modulated as broadcast radio waves and has been transmitted. The received signal 1
Are demodulated by the demodulation circuit 2 and input to the A terminal of the switching circuit 3. On the other hand, the setting switch 4 as an operating means that gives an operation display to the switching control circuit 5 and can set the mode in advance is a 2-bit mode switch for receiving / non-receiving and printing / storing,
It consists of several operation keys, the state of which is input to the switching control circuit 5. The switching control circuit 5 refers to the state of the setting switch 4 and the state of the out-of-paper signal 9 indicating that the paper from the printing device 7 has run out, and as described below, The switching circuit 3 as a connecting means for achieving the connection relation of is controlled.

In the switching circuit 3, terminal a is an input / output terminal connected to the printing device 7, terminal c is an input / output terminal connected to the external storage device 8, and terminal d is an output terminal connected to the CRT display device 6. The signal terminal eye is switched and connected as follows depending on the state of the setting switch 4.

When the setting switch 4 and the state are the receiving mode and the printing mode, the terminal A and the terminal A are normally connected, and when the setting switch 4 and the state are the receiving mode and the storage mode, the terminal A and the terminal C are connected. Further, even in the print mode, when the paper is out, the connection between terminal A and terminal C is automatically switched by the paper out signal 9. In the non-reception mode and the storage mode, the terminal C and the terminal D are connected, and the information stored in the external storage device 8 is sequentially stored from a designated page by an operation key (not shown) on the separately provided setting switch 4. CR
It is displayed on the T display device 6 for retrieval and selection. Next, when the print mode of the non-reception mode is designated by the not-shown instruction means, the terminal C and the terminal B are connected, and the external storage device 8 is connected.
The information of the designated page in the above is output as a hard copy by the printing device 7.

The external storage device 8 is a large-capacity readable / writable device and is configured to be able to delete unnecessary information. Further, unless the information is deleted, new information is recorded while erasing the oldest information as soon as the information is full, so there is little risk of missing the received information.

Next, a second specific example according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram thereof, and the components having the same numbers as those in FIG. 1 show the same contents. The newly added component in FIG. 2 is a microcomputer 10 which replaces the switching control circuit 5 and the switching circuit 3 in FIG.

The microcomputer 10 interprets the state of the setting switch 4, controls the input / output to / from the printing device 7, the external storage device 8 and the CRT display device 6, and receives from the demodulation circuit 2 more than in the first embodiment (FIG. 1). With a simple structure, more efficient operation. FIG. 3 shows a schematic flow chart of the processing performed by the microcomputer 10.

In FIG. 3, the receiving mode and the printing mode are obtained by reading the state of the setting switch 4. Whether or not the signal is received is determined by the signal from the demodulation circuit 2, and whether or not the signal is output is determined by the state of the operation key in the setting switch 4.

[Effects of the Invention] By implementing the present invention, in an integrated facsimile apparatus, the received information is temporarily displayed visually, the necessity of the information is judged, and the necessary information is printed out. Since unnecessary information is only displayed and deleted from the memory, only the information that is really needed can be printed as a hard copy, and waste of paper and ink can be eliminated, which is very economical. In fact, even in the conventional facsimile communication, it is considered that there is an extremely large amount of information that can be read through once, and the information that needs to be printed and stored is limited.

Also, by configuring to check for out of paper,
It is a new function that the user does not have to worry about receiving the necessary information even if he / she is not near the out-of-paper state as in the past, and the present invention greatly improves the usability of the facsimile apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, the setting switch 4 capable of setting the mode on the receiving side is provided with a 2-bit mode switch of reception / non-reception and printing / storage, so that the usability of the facsimile can be greatly improved. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing operation of the microcomputer in FIG. Explanation of symbols 1 ... Received signal, 2 ... Demodulation circuit, 3 ... Switching circuit, 4
...... Setting switch, 5 …… Switch control circuit, 6 …… CRT
Display device, 7 ... Printing device, 8 ... External storage device, 9 ...
… Out of paper signal

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tamotsu Ito 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Home Appliances Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Takuo Koyama 292, Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa (56) Reference JP-A-58-44855 (JP, A) JP-A-58-80959 (JP, A) JP-A-49-91713 (JP, A) JP-A-55- 151854 (JP, A) JP-A-54-100620 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus directly connected to a facsimile reception signal supplied from the outside, the facsimile apparatus including a demodulation circuit for demodulating the facsimile reception signal and a memory for storing the demodulated signal. A device, a printing device for printing a signal demodulated by the demodulation circuit or a signal stored in the storage device, and a signal temporarily stored in the storage device after being demodulated by the demodulation circuit. Further, the facsimile device is provided on the downstream side of the demodulation circuit and on the upstream side of the storage device, the printing device, and the display device, and the facsimile device, the storage device, the printing device, and Connection means for achieving a connection relationship between each device with respect to the display device, and a control device for controlling the connection relationship of the connection means In addition, the facsimile device is provided with an operating means for giving an operation instruction to the control device in the own facsimile device, and the operating means is for receiving / non-receiving and printing / storing the facsimile device. Each mode can be selectively set, and the connection relationship between the storage device and the printing device or the display device in the connection means is controlled by a mode setting instruction from the operation means. The connection means controls the connection with the storage device by the control device according to the mode setting instruction of the operation means, and when the setting mode of the operation means is set to the non-reception state, Printing the stored information by directly connecting the printing device so that the information stored in the storage device is printed without passing through the demodulation circuit. Connection state that enables input power and connection that enables the stored information and temporary display output by directly connecting the display device so that the information stored in the storage device is displayed without going through a demodulation circuit. And a search display means for outputting an operation instruction signal for searching and displaying the information stored in the storage device on the display device. A print instruction unit for outputting an operation instruction signal for instructing the printing apparatus to print necessary information out of the information displayed on the display apparatus; and unnecessary information among the information displayed on the display apparatus. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a deletion instruction unit that outputs an operation instruction signal for instructing deletion from the storage device. 2. A facsimile apparatus directly connected to a facsimile reception signal supplied from the outside, the facsimile apparatus including a demodulation circuit for demodulating the facsimile reception signal and a memory for storing the demodulated signal. A device, a printing device for printing a signal demodulated by the demodulation circuit or a signal stored in the storage device, and a signal temporarily stored in the storage device after being demodulated by the demodulation circuit. Further, the facsimile device includes an operating means capable of selectively setting the reception / non-reception mode and the printing / storing mode of the facsimile device in the facsimile device itself, and the operating device according to the setting mode of the operating device. It is equipped with a microcomputer that switches the connection state by receiving the mode set by the above operating means. In the state, the connection state of the microcomputer is such that the facsimile reception information supplied from the outside via the demodulation circuit is stored in the storage device, and the facsimile reception information is printed without passing through the demodulation circuit. The connection state for printing out by the device is configured to be switched by an instruction from the operation means, and when the mode set by the operation means is the non-reception state, the connection state of the microcomputer is the storage device. The information stored in the storage device is directly connected to the printing device so as to print the stored information without passing through the demodulation circuit, and the information stored in the storage device is demodulated by the demodulation circuit. And a connection state that enables the temporary display and output of stored information by directly connecting the above-mentioned display device so as to display without passing through And a means for outputting an operation instruction signal for instructing the microcomputer to perform the switching, and the information stored in the storage device for displaying the information. Means for outputting an operation instruction signal for searching and displaying on the apparatus to the microcomputer, and an operation instruction signal for instructing the printing apparatus to print necessary information out of the information displayed on the display apparatus. And a means for outputting an operation instruction signal for instructing the microcomputer to delete unnecessary information from the information displayed on the display device to the microcomputer. A facsimile machine characterized by.