JP2952232B2 - Color image communication apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a color image communication apparatus capable of transmitting an image as color or monochrome.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a color image communication apparatus which can selectively transmit an image as a color image or a monochrome image according to a function of a communication partner.

[0003] For example, when the transmitting side attempts to transmit an image of one spelling as a color, if the result of recognizing the function of the receiving side by the protocol is found to be only a monochrome receiving function, all the original images are copied. A technique for transmitting a monochrome image is known. On the other hand, if the receiving side can receive an image as a color, the entire original image is transmitted as a color image.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, one spelled image can be communicated in only one of the communication modes. Therefore, even if the recording unit on the receiving side runs out of ink in the middle, a transmission error occurs. Alternatively, there is a problem that recording is stopped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable color image communication capable of appropriately coping with any request from a user or a receiving side during communication. With the goal.

[0006]

According to a color image communication apparatus of the present invention, a generating means for generating image data (for example, corresponding to the image sensor 301 of the present embodiment) is provided. A transmitting unit (similarly corresponding to the transmission unit 305) for transmitting the image data using the color communication mode or the monochrome communication mode, and the transmitting unit transmits a predetermined instruction (similarly to the setting by the key 240 in S92 or the absence of ink in S81). (Corresponding to the signal reception shown), it is possible to switch to the other communication mode while transmitting image data using one of the communication modes (similarly to the change to monochrome recording in S96). Equivalent).

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiments of the present invention described below, an image recording apparatus having a remote function and a local function is disclosed. However, the present invention is not limited to such an apparatus, and for example, a facsimile communication function is provided. The present invention can be applied to a device having the above.

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

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a diagram in which two image recording apparatuses of the present invention are connected.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an operation unit; 102, a cassette for storing recording paper; and 103, a tray from which recording output is discharged. Reference numeral 104 denotes a cable for the device A and the device B.
Are connected electrically or optically. Reference numeral 105 denotes a telephone connected to a public line, for example.

Hereinafter, A is added as a suffix in the case of the device A, and B is suffixed in the case of the device B. For example, 101A and 101B for the operation unit.

FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram of the operation unit shown in the operation unit 101 (A or B) of FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 201 denotes a start key for copying or transmitting, 202 denotes a stop key for stopping copying or transmitting and receiving, and 203 denotes a reset key. When the key 203 is turned on, the apparatus is initialized. . Reference numeral 204 denotes a cleaning key, which is a command key for performing cleaning of an ink head described later. A dial button group 205 of the telephone 105 has a numeric keypad.
Reference numerals 210, 220, 230, 240, and 250 denote various changeover switches. Each time these switches are pressed once, the display corresponding to the switch (for example, the display 211, 212 or the like corresponding to the switch 210) is switched. ing. An image quality adjustment key 210 switches between a sharp image and a soft image by switching edge enhancement. 211 is a sharp image selection display, and 212 is a soft image selection display. A magnification setting key 220 switches the set magnification each time the key is turned on. Reference numerals 221, 222, and 223 indicate that each set magnification is selected in the magnification display. Reference numeral 230 denotes a density setting key, and in the present embodiment, three-stage settings of dark, standard, and light are represented by 231, 232, and 233. Reference numeral 240 denotes a color, monocolor, for example, black and white selection key of the recorded image. Which of 241 and 242 is selected is displayed. Note that the two modes may be automatically selected depending on the transmission / reception protocol regardless of the operation of the key 240. Reference numeral 250 denotes a mode setting key.
Further, the telephone selection is switched. These selection states are represented by displays 251, 252, and 253. Reference numeral 261 denotes a paper jam display, which is a warning when the recording paper is not normally conveyed or discharged. Reference numeral 262 indicates that the recording paper has run out. 271,272,273,27
Reference numeral 4 denotes a display for notifying the operator that the ink has run out. In the apparatus according to the present embodiment, a display is performed for each of the four colors of ink.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes an image sensor unit for reading a document placed on the document table 109A, and outputs, for example, R, G, and B 8-bit image data for each pixel. An image processing unit 302 converts the output from the image sensor 301 into four colors of Y, M, C, and K, and further performs binarization, for example, a halftone process of a density preserving type. The transmission unit switches between outputting the converted signal to the device B and outputting the signal to the head driver 304. The transmission unit 305 has the same configuration as the transmission unit in the device B, and performs predetermined communication with each other to mutually communicate the state of each device. The status of such a device is sent to the controller 303. 304 is a head 306
To 309, the transmission unit 30
5, the heads 306 to 309 are driven in accordance with the output. Reference numeral 310 denotes a sensor unit for determining whether or not ink remains in each of the heads 306 to 309. The sensor outputs the remaining amount of ink in each of the heads individually. 311
Is a main scanning motor 312 for scanning the image sensor 301 in both main scanning and sub-scanning directions with respect to the original, a motor driver for driving the sub-scanning motor 313, and 314 is a carriage on which the heads 306 to 309 are mounted. The motor driver 31 is a motor driver for driving the main scanning motor 315 and the sub-scanning motor 316 for scanning the paper recording material in both main scanning and sub-scanning directions.
4 and 315, the drive timing of each is controlled by the controller 303.

Next, the configuration near the heads 306 to 309 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the heads 306 to 309, the main scanning motor 315, and the sub-scanning motor 316. The heads 306 to 309 are mounted on a carriage 401, and the carriage 401 is conveyed by a belt 402. The belt 402 is driven by a main scanning motor 315. Reference numeral 404 denotes a paper feed roller, which is provided to convey the recording medium 403, and
The rotation is controlled by 6.

Next, the configuration of the sensor 310 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the sensor 310 shown in FIG. Here, reference numeral 11 denotes an ink discharge unit having a function of discharging ink, and reference numeral 12 denotes a plate conductor for arranging the ink discharge unit 1 on the ink discharge unit 1 for electrical connection with the liquid jet recording head via, for example, wire bonding. Wiring members (hereinafter referred to as lead frames), 13A and 1
Reference numeral 3B denotes a remaining amount detection electrode which is incorporated in the lead frame 12 as shown in FIG. 10 and detects the remaining amount of ink as will be described later. Reference numeral 14 denotes an ink for supplying ink from the ink tank 2 to the ink ejection unit 11. The supply section 16 is a partition wall that partitions between the ink tank 2 and the ink supply path 14.

Here, the lead frame 12 is buried in, for example, a resin housing 17 of a unit in which the ink tank 2 and the ink discharge section 11 are integrated, and among them, the remaining ink detecting electrodes 13A and 13B Only the ink is exposed to the ink supply path 14 via the conductive portion 18,
Power is supplied between the electrodes via a resistor R. Also,
The ink supply path 14 is connected to the ink tank 2 as shown in FIG.
And an ink supply port 19, and ribs 20A, 20B and 20C are provided alternately from above and below.

Then, the ink guided from the ink tank 2 to the supply path 14 via the ink supply port 19 is guided to the next section beyond the first rib 20A by a capillary (not shown).
From here, the ink is supplied to the ink ejection unit 11 via the path indicated by the arrow, and the ink is ejected from the ejection unit 11 at the time of recording and at the time of the head re-moving operation. When the ink is no longer guided to 14, the liquid surface is in the state shown in FIG. 11, and the remaining ink amount detecting unit 13A is exposed on the liquid surface and the detecting unit 13A,
The electrical continuity between 13B is cut off.

Therefore, it is possible to detect that the remaining amount of ink has reached the limit value due to the fact that the current stops flowing during that time. Since a small amount of current flows as long as the conductive ink film remains between the detection electrodes, if the detection circuit is configured so that a constant current flows, the current flows between the voltage V and the remaining ink amount 1 as shown in FIG. Since the relationship shown in (1) is obtained, it is also possible to configure so as to detect the amount of the remaining ink amount l.

When the lead frame 12 is buried in the housing 17, it is desirable to perform insert molding or the like in order to prevent the occurrence of ink leakage. It is preferable to apply gold plating or the like, or to use a stainless steel material in order to obtain the following. With this configuration, it is not necessary to provide a detecting means or connect a lead wire to the detecting electrode as in the related art, only by exposing a part of the lead frame 12 to the supply path 14. In addition, accurate and reliable detection of the remaining ink amount can be realized.

As the sensor 310 shown in FIG. 3, an ink remaining amount detecting mechanism as shown in FIG.
It is provided in. Therefore, the sensor 310 can detect the remaining amount of ink for each head.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present apparatus will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.

When the operator places a document to be recorded on a document table (not shown) and presses a start key 201, the apparatus is initialized once (S1), and document exposure scanning is started by an optical system (not shown) (S3). . The scanning drive is performed by the motor driver 311 rotating the main scanning motor 312 at a predetermined speed in accordance with a command from the controller 303. The image sensor 301 receives the amount of reflected light of the document, and the document reflection density data color-separated by the red, blue, and green filters is sequentially sent to the image processing unit 302 at a predetermined timing.
The image processing unit converts an analog signal of the image sensor 301 into digital data, performs predetermined processing, converts the signal into a signal format suitable for an ink head drive described later, and sends the signal to the transmission unit 305.

If the local mode is set by the switch 250 of the operation unit 101, the flow proceeds to S7.
Then, the process branches to S9, and is directly transmitted as a recording signal to the head driver in the own apparatus A by signal switching in the transmission unit 305, and recording processing shown as S9 in the flow is performed.

The head driver 304 supplies a drive signal to each of the four color C head 306, M head 307, Y head 308, and Bk head 309 in synchronization with the recording timing. The heads 306 to 309 have four color heads 306 to 309 as shown in the conceptual diagram of the vicinity of the head in FIG.
309 is fixedly arranged on the carriage 401. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the belt 402 transmits the rotation of the main scanning motor 315 to the carriage. The carriage moves in the main scanning in synchronization with the driving of the main scanning motor 315 in the reading operation.

When one main scan from the corner of the recording medium (recording paper) 403 to one corner is completed, the main scanning motor 3
15, the carriage 401 moves to the recording start position again. Further, the rotation drive of the sub-scanning motor 316 is transmitted to the paper feed roller 404, and the recording paper 403 is fed by a predetermined amount. After that, the main scanning is started again, and printing with a predetermined printing width is performed. By repeating this operation, the recording paper 4
03, the recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray upon completion, and the recording process is terminated (S13).

Although the description will be made before and after, in S17 to be described later, the recording may be continued without prohibiting the recording. That is, even if it is detected that the remaining amount of ink is low as described above, it does not mean that no ink remains,
In many cases, there is a slight amount of ink remaining. Further, in the local mode as shown in S17, the operator is often close to the apparatus. Therefore, in S17, by continuing printing without prohibiting printing, the remaining amount of ink can be used effectively.

During the above printing operation, the remaining amount of ink is detected in step S11 by, for example, the detecting means shown in FIG. 9, and the sensor 310 notifies the controller 303 that the ink has run out. Controller 3
03 is an ink-out indication 271, 272,
In the first display mode, a display corresponding to the type of ink for which the absence of ink is detected among 273 and 274 is displayed.
For example, in the embodiment of the present invention, the period is ON for 0.2 seconds,
This is performed with a flicker of 0.8 seconds OFF (S15).

This display may be performed immediately after the detection, or may be performed only after the predetermined operation of the apparatus is completed, for example, when the recording of one image is completed. After the warning of the absence of ink in S15, post-processing, for example, disabling of the next operation is performed, and the image recording is prevented more than the absence of the ink (S1).
7). On the other hand, when the remote mode is set by operating the switch 250 of the operation unit 101 and the display 252 is turned on, the flow branches from S7 to S19, the transmission unit 305 is switched, and the other device is switched through the cable 104. B is transmitted as a recording signal to the head driver in the device B having the same configuration via the transmission unit in B (S1).
9).

In this case, the same processing as the operation in the local mode is performed, and the recording is performed in the apparatus B (S21). Here, since the detection of the ink amount in the head of the apparatus B is performed in the same manner, if the sensor and the controller in the apparatus B detect that there is no remaining amount of ink, it is determined that there is no ink in the apparatus B side. The second state, for example, a cycle of 0.8 s, is displayed on the ink-out display
Display at ecON, 0.2 secOFF. At the same time, it is detected that the ink-out state of the apparatus B is transmitted to the controller 303 of the apparatus A through the cable 104 as the transmission path (S23), and the same second ink-out display section in the operation section 101 of the apparatus A is displayed on the same second ink-out display section. Display in the state of (S
25). That is, the display on the operation unit 101 of the apparatus A is used both for displaying the remaining amount of ink in the apparatus A and for displaying the remaining amount of ink in the apparatus B. The two display states are changed. Therefore, not only can the apparatus be simplified, but also the state of the recording apparatus on the receiving side can be determined well.

After the apparatus B has detected that there is no ink in the remote mode in this manner, post-processing, for example, stopping the transmission of color data, setting the apparatus B to the remote mode, and the controller 301 of the apparatus A Determines whether to switch the mode to the local mode (S2).
9). Such switching may be performed automatically by the controller 301 or by an operator using a changeover switch (not shown). The mode changeover switch 25 provided in the above-described operation unit may be used.
It may also be used for switching by 0. When the display is automatically switched, the displays 251, 252, and 253 are naturally switched accordingly.

After switching to the local mode, the flow branches from S29 to S9, and the above-described operation is continued, and the above-described printing operation is continued as long as any ink in the apparatus A is not exhausted. In this case, the recording operation is performed with the ink-out display in the second display state as it is, and it is possible to distinguish it from the ink-out state in the normal local mode.

Further, there is a case where ink runs out during recording in the local mode after the switching, and in this case, the display is switched to the first display mode showing the ink-out display in the normal local mode.

In this case, after performing various processes during printing, the apparatus A displays that there is no ink and does not accept the next printing operation.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of operation of the apparatus described above.

In this embodiment, in the local mode, when a signal indicating that there is no ink is received from the apparatus B in S23, the transmission of the image signal for recording is prohibited. It is possible to prevent an image signal from being transmitted even though the image signal cannot be transmitted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to display the ink-out state of the remote recording section in a place where the operator cannot see it, in a display state different from the normal ink-out state of the recording section. Accordingly, there is an effect that the communication of information to the operator can be ensured, and further, the subsequent recording can be executed locally as required.

Next, the operation of another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a modification of the embodiment of FIG. In FIG. 6, S1 and S3 are the same as S1 and S3 described in FIG. In S61 following S3, it is determined whether or not color processing is specified. If color processing is specified, the image signal read by the sensor 301 is subjected to color image processing (S63). If the processing is not specified, the image signal read by the sensor 301 is processed so that monochrome processing, for example, black and white recording can be performed. As such processing, for example, when the image signal output from the sensor 301 has three components of R, G, and B, the luminance signal Y is calculated as Y = 0.3R + 0.6G + 0.1
A process for calculating B is performed. S6 following S63
In step 5, it is determined whether or not the apparatus is in the local mode. In the local mode, full-color image printing is performed using all of the heads 306 to 309.

During full-color printing, the remaining amount of ink in each head is detected by the sensor 310 (S69). When the decrease in the remaining amount of ink is detected by the sensor 310, there is no ink. Is displayed (S
70), for example, a process of stopping the printing operation is performed. By switching the image processing instead of the stop processing, even if there is no ink color, replacement may be performed with other various inks.

When it is determined that the full-color printing has been completed, the flow exits from step S72 and the recording ends.

When it is detected in S69 that there is no remaining amount of any of the yellow, magenta and cyan inks, printing may be performed using only black ink in S70.

Note that whether or not to perform such processing may be manually set in advance.

Further, when switching to black ink, the driving conditions of the head may be switched according to the characteristics of the recording head and the ink.

When it is determined in S65 that the local mode has not been set by the mode setting key 250 and the remote mode has been set, the transmission line 1
The transmission unit 305 of the device A is controlled so that the image signal is transmitted to the transmission unit 305 of the device B via the device 04 (S73). Next, the apparatus A waits until the apparatus A receives a signal indicating that reception is possible from the transmission path 305 of the apparatus B (S74). Here, a signal indicating any of the following five modes is received from the device B based on the result of detecting the remaining ink amount of each ink head in the device B. That is, the first mode in which the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks all have a sufficient remaining amount and can receive any of the color mode and the monochrome mode, or there is the black ink but the yellow, magenta, and cyan inks The second mode, in which only the monochrome mode in which the remaining amount of at least one type of ink is insufficient is sufficient, or there is no black ink but there is a sufficient remaining amount in any of the yellow, magenta, and cyan inks, A third mode in which only mode reception is possible,
Further, a signal indicating a fourth mode in which all remaining amounts of the four inks are not present, and a fifth mode which is not included in any of the first to fourth modes is determined.

In this embodiment, the case where the signal of the first mode is received will be described. In such a case, it is again confirmed whether or not the mode set by the key 240 on the apparatus A side is the color mode (S
77). In the case of the color mode, the signal read in S3 is transmitted, and the apparatus B performs a recording operation (S3).
79). Next, when it is determined in S81 that the remaining amount of the color ink of the device B is exhausted during the printing of the device B, the flow branches to a flow S85. If all the color inks are present, the flow returns to S79 until the printing ends, and the printing operation is performed.

If the mode set in S77 is the monochrome mode, the flow branches to steps after C in FIG.

During the color image recording, S
When the process branches from 81 to S85, the display 242 indicating the monochrome mode on the device A side is blinked. By the blinking display, the user of the device A can know that the communication in the color mode has been disabled.

Here, following the blinking display, the key 240
It is determined whether or not the monochrome mode has been set (S9).
2) When the monochrome mode is set, the display 242 indicating the monochrome mode is displayed (S9).
4).

The switching to the black and white mode may be performed automatically without manual operation of the key 240.

That is, if it is determined in step S81 that the signal indicating that there is no color ink is transmitted from the device B, step S92 is omitted and the steps from step S94 are automatically executed. Good.

Next, a command to drive only the black ink head on the device B side is transmitted (S96), and black and white recording is performed.

In the case of such monochrome recording, the information transmitted from the device A to the device B is changed from color data to monocolor data.

For example, as described above, the color data R, G,
An operation for combining B with each other, for example, Y = 0.3R +
Perform 0.6G + 0.1B to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted.

In S96, as described above, the data to be transmitted without changing the information to be transmitted from color data to monocolor data is color image data, for example, R, G, B.
May be transmitted by adding only a command for performing black and white recording.

In S98 and S99, S69 and S72
And the same except for the following points. That is, in S69, it is determined whether there is a color ink of yellow, magenta, cyan, or the like, but in S98, it is determined whether there is a black ink.

In S100, as in S70, the fact that there is no ink is displayed. As such a display, it may be displayed that there is no black ink.

If the mode is not switched to the black-and-white mode in S92 described above, the flow moves to S93 to stop transmission / reception.

If color processing has not been set in S61, the flow moves to S62 to execute processing for monochrome recording, and the flow ends.

The black-and-white recording operation is performed in steps S96 to S96.
The operation is the same as the operation shown in S100, and the description is omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, before determining whether or not the mode is the local mode in S65, it is determined whether or not the color processing is performed in S61. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the configuration is such that the local mode cannot be set unless the color processing mode is set once.

This configuration is designed to execute the color processing with priority in the local mode.

However, the steps of S61 to S62 and S65 may be interchanged to determine whether or not the local mode is performed before the determination of the setting of the color processing / black and white processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operator is notified of the absence of the color ink in the remote recording unit in a place where the operator cannot see the color ink, and in accordance with the request of the operator, By switching the recording to the one using black ink, the recording can be continued and the recording information can be transmitted remotely.

In this embodiment, as described above,
When an operation failure situation occurs, a person in the vicinity of a remote device can be called using the telephone 105 provided to confirm the situation.

The telephone may be connected by a public line independent of a control system in the device, or may be connected to the device by being taken into the device for exclusive use and collectively arranged in the cable. The present invention can be similarly applied in any case.

In the above embodiment, the case where the amount of the color ink becomes low during the transmission in the color mode has been described.
For example, a case in which the amount of black ink becomes low during transmission in the black and white mode will be described with reference to FIG.

The steps after C in FIG. 7 are performed in C of FIG.
This is a flow that branches off from the previously described steps.

In such a case, a mono-color mode, for example, a black-and-white mode, is selected.
When the detection of the remaining amount of black ink is performed by 10, a predetermined process for detecting the remaining amount of the black ink is performed on the device A side, and the operator is notified of the absence of ink in S 110, and the device B side is also notified. If it is determined that there is color ink (S112), a print command using the C, M, and Y inks is sent to the driver of the device B (S114), and the printing operation is continued (S116).

In this case, the composition ratio of the inks of the respective colors C, M, and Y is appropriately determined according to the recording characteristics. Also, the recording conditions for the head are appropriately changed. Whether such an operation is performed in the middle of the printing operation or after the printing of the cycle is completed may be appropriately determined in consideration of the margin of the ink remaining amount detection level and the like.

If there is no color ink in S112, the recording is stopped (S120). When "black and white" is selected on the operation unit 101 of the apparatus A, the display of the operation unit 101 is changed to "black and white" to indicate that the above-described operation is being performed. (For example, lighting → flicker, etc.).

Further, according to the present embodiment, the operator is notified of the absence of black ink at the time of remote white / black recording in a place where the operator cannot visually recognize, and the remaining three colors are automatically displayed. By using this to perform black recording, there is an effect that interruption of recording can be avoided.

Further, in the above embodiment, an apparatus without an image memory has been described. However, the present invention receives at least one of a color image signal and a monochrome image signal as shown in FIG. The same can be applied to a device that can be stored in the memory 360.

For example, in the flowchart of FIG.
When the color ink runs out in S81, the mode is switched to the black-and-white recording mode. However, instead of S85, a step of performing alternate reception in the memory 360 is provided. You can do color recording.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a memory 360 for four colors of yellow, magenta and cyan, each having a capacity of a plurality of pages is used as the memory 360.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an image is being transmitted in one of the color communication mode and the monochrome communication mode, a request is received from the user or the receiving side. Can perform image communication by switching to a communication mode appropriately addressing these demands.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a connection state of a device and a line according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation unit of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram near the recording heads 306 to 309.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a communication and recording operation;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a communication and recording operation;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a communication and recording operation;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modification of the internal configuration inside the apparatus.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a sensor 310.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a sensor 310.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a sensor 310.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a sensor 310.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 operation unit 250 mode designation key 251 local mode designation display unit 252 remote mode designation display unit 253 telephone designation display unit 306 C recording head 307 M recording head 308 Y recording head 309 Bk recording head 310 Sensor

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A transmitting unit configured to transmit the image data by using a color communication mode or a monochrome communication mode, wherein the transmitting unit is configured to: While transmitting image data using one of the communication modes,
A color image communication device capable of switching to the other communication mode. 2. The color image communication device according to claim 1, wherein the case where the predetermined instruction is issued is a case where the other communication mode is set by a manual operation. 3. The color image according to claim 1, wherein the case where the predetermined setting is made is a case where a signal indicating that there is no color ink at the transmission destination of the image data is received. Communication device. 4. Generating image data, transmitting the image data using a color communication mode or a monochrome communication mode, and, when a predetermined instruction is given, generating image data using one of the communication modes. A color image communication method characterized in that it is possible to switch to the other communication mode while transmitting the image.