JP2001268375A - Multi-color facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a multi-color facsimile machine capable of forming an image at a reception side in an image formation color intended by a transmission side. SOLUTION: This multi-color facsimile machine is provided with a facsimile transmission and reception controlling means 2 for controlling the transmission and reception of a facsimile signal, an image reading means 1 for converting an original document into an image signal for transmission, and an image forming means 3 for forming an image for reception by an image forming medium such as multi-color toner. When any symbol for designating an image formation color such as a specific pattern or character capable of designating the image formation color at a reception side is drawn at a specific position in a transmission image at a transmission side, the reception side is provided with a function to operate image formation by using the image formation color following the symbol. Even when any symbol for designating the image formation color is not actually drawn at the specific position in the original document, the transmission side can transmit the same image as the signal for designating the image formation color as additional synthetic picture data to the specific position of the document image by facsimile equipment at the transmission side when transmitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-color facsimile apparatus, for example, a multi-color image such as a color toner such as a digital color multifunction machine having a color copying function, a color printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The present invention relates to a multi-color facsimile apparatus which enables an image forming color to be specified from a transmitting side to a receiving side in image formation using a forming medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multi-color facsimile apparatus has, in particular,
The present invention relates to a color facsimile machine that has been rapidly expanding in use in recent years. More specifically, for example, as the Ricoh digital color MFP imagio color 2800 series,
There is a facsimile machine having a color toner of a color image forming medium. Further, a method of forming an image of a received image or a report in a color different from a normal color using toner that can be used in the case of running out of toner is disclosed in, for example,
65500 and the like.

[0003] Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 200
No. 0-32828, "Image Forming Apparatus", describes a content for designating an image forming color by actually printing or attaching a symbol to a part of a document.

[0004] When the sender wants to inform the receiver of "importance" or "urgency", the same image forming color as that of other receivers is buried in other receivers, and the effect is sufficiently described. May not be communicated. Similarly, in the case of a facsimile which aims at an advertising effect such as direct mail, effective advertising cannot be performed with the same image forming color as that of other received items. Therefore, when image formation is performed on the receiving side, it is convenient if the transmitting side can specify an image forming color.

[0005]

However, in the above prior art, a facsimile protocol for transmitting and receiving a full-color original as a full-color image is not widely used. Further, according to the method described in the prior art, as in JP-A-8-265500, only the image forming color is switched by the judgment of the receiving side only, and cannot be specified by the transmitting side.

In the method of Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-32828 "Image forming apparatus", an important document is stained or damaged in order to actually print or attach a symbol to a part of the document. May be. Further, the work of printing and attaching the symbol is involved, and the trouble in the transmission work is increased.

An object of the present invention is to provide a higher quality multicolor facsimile apparatus. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multicolor facsimile apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems and enables a receiving side to form an image with an image forming color intended by a transmitting side.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a multi-color facsimile apparatus of the present invention comprises a facsimile transmission / reception control means for controlling transmission / reception of facsimile signals, and an image reading means for converting an original into an image signal for transmission. When,
Image forming means for forming an image for reception or the like with an image forming medium such as a color toner of a plurality of colors, a specific pattern capable of specifying the image forming color of the receiving side at a specific position in the transmitting image of the transmitting side, In the case where the receiving side has an image forming color designation symbol such as a character, the receiving side is a multicolor facsimile machine having a function of forming an image using an image forming color according to the symbol. Even if the image forming color designation symbol is not actually drawn at a specific position in the document, the transmitting side uses the facsimile device on the transmitting side to transmit the same symbol as the image forming color designation signal at the specific position of the document image at the time of transmission. Is capable of being transmitted as additional combined image data.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, it is preferable that selection of transmission / non-transmission can be made as necessary as additional combined image data by using a symbol for specifying an image forming color as additional combined image data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the image forming color designating symbol and the indicating color are a pair, and are set to an industry standard or a standard unified and determined in advance by a manufacturer. Good to do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the image forming color designation symbol preferably includes information on a mixing ratio of black, yellow, cyan, and magenta of the primary colorants.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the symbol for designating an image forming color is variable by arbitrarily designating, and the method is performed by a specific method based on a predetermined mixing ratio of colorants. It is characterized in that a color can be specified on the operation unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the image forming color designation symbol is variable by being designated by a user, and the method is such that the mixing ratio of the colorant can be designated by the operation unit. Features.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, it is preferable that the receiving side can select whether or not the image forming color designation symbol is image-formed at a corresponding position in the output image.

According to the invention described in claim 8, in claim 1, the receiving side forms / does not form an image in the designated color even if the receiving side determines that the image forming color designation symbol is located at a specific position in the received image. Should be selectable.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a multicolor facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown one embodiment of the multicolor facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a multicolor facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment. The multicolor facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an image reading unit 1, a facsimile transmission / reception control unit 2, an image forming unit 3, an image recognition unit 4, a transmission image addition / synthesis unit 5, an operation unit 6, and a system control unit 7. Be composed.

Image reading means 1 converts an optical signal of a document image into an electric signal. The facsimile transmission / reception control means 2 converts the electric image signal obtained by the image reading means 1 into transmission facsimile data, converts the received facsimile data into image signals for the image forming means 3 and the image recognizing means 4, and Performs overall control of facsimile transmission and reception.

The image forming means 3 forms an image on an image forming medium such as a transfer sheet based on the received image signal obtained by the facsimile transmission / reception control means 2.

The image recognizing means 4 is an image recognizing section for recognizing the image information of the obtained received image signal.

The transmission image addition / synthesis unit 5 adds and synthesizes image information desired by the user at the time of transmission by the facsimile transmission / reception control unit 2 to original read image information and transmits the resultant image information.

The operation unit 6 is a general user interface that allows the user to specify image information desired by the facsimile transmission / reception control unit 2 at the time of transmission.

The system control means 7 includes an image reading means 1, a facsimile transmission / reception control means 2, an image forming means 3,
It is a system control unit that controls and controls the image recognition unit 4, the transmission image addition / synthesis unit 5, and the operation unit 6.

At the time of transmission, the image signal of the document read by the image reading means 1 is input to the facsimile transmission / reception control means 2 via the transmission image addition / synthesis means 5. The facsimile transmission / reception control means 2 converts the image signal into transmission facsimile data and transfers the transmission facsimile data to a communication line (not shown).

The transmission image addition / synthesis means 5 performs addition / synthesis control of an image forming color designation symbol on the original image signal in accordance with an instruction of addition / non-addition. At the time of reception, facsimile data received from a communication line (not shown) is converted into an image signal by the facsimile transmission / reception control means 2, passes through the image recognition means 4, and forms an output image in the image forming means 3.

The image forming means 3 comprises a plurality of black,
It has an image forming medium for outputting cyan, magenta and yellow color images. The image recognizing means 4 recognizes the image forming designation color symbol and transmits the information to the system control means 7. The user sets / controls the operation of the apparatus using the operation unit 6, and the contents of the setting / control are notified to the system control unit. The system control means 7 manages and controls each of the above-described means. A thick line indicates image data, and a thin line indicates control data.

(Embodiment 1) With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, transmission and reception using an image forming color designation symbol will be described. FIG. 3 shows an example of the transmission original. When the transmitting user wants to specify the image forming color on the receiving side, the image forming color designating symbol intended on the transmitting side can be arranged, for example, in a place as shown in FIG. Then, the transmission image addition / combination means 5 of FIG. 1 performs image addition / combination, and is used as transmission facsimile image data.

On the other hand, the receiving side can recognize the image forming color designation symbol located at the specific coordinate position in the received image information by the image recognizing means 4 of FIG. 1, and the system control means 7 of FIG.
The image forming color is instructed to the image forming means 3 of FIG. The received image is a color image output of the same color over the entire surface.

(Embodiment 2) A method of adding / not combining an image forming color designation symbol will be described with reference to FIGS. In a command medium in the operation unit 6 shown in FIG. 1, for example, in a mode in which the image data is added / combined using an additional combination key of an image forming color designation symbol, image data as shown in FIG. 2 is transmitted. In addition, in the mode in which the addition is not performed, the image data of the original as shown in FIG. 3 is transmitted.

(Embodiments 3 and 4) In the case of an industry standard,
An example of a mixing ratio between an image forming color designation symbol and a colorant primary color in the case of a manufacturer-unified standard is shown. For example, when a symbol such as a barcode is used, the barcode is expressed by arranging the mixing ratio in the order of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). 0, 100, 0, 100 with barcode
If it is expressed, it means "dark green", 0, 0, 5
If it is expressed as 0 or 0, it indicates "pink".

(Embodiment 5) A method of specifying a specific color in the method of specifying an image forming color will be described with reference to FIG. During the facsimile transmission operation flow for the user, an image as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the operation unit. The operation unit is assumed to be capable of displaying an image such as a liquid crystal panel. The user can specify a specific color by pressing a key of a desired color.

(Embodiment 6) With reference to FIG. 5, a method of specifying a color material mixture ratio in a method of specifying an image forming color will be described. During the facsimile transmission operation flow for the user, an image as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the operation unit. It is assumed that the operation unit is capable of displaying an image like a liquid crystal panel, and is capable of designating a numerical value like a numeric keypad, for example. The user can specify the mixing ratio of the color materials by pressing the numeric keypad.

(Embodiment 7) The presence / absence of image output of an image forming color designation symbol on the receiving side will be described with reference to FIG. When the image output of the image formation designation symbol is performed, the process is the same as described above.
The system control unit instructs the image forming unit not to output the image forming color designation symbol. In this case, the image forming unit performs control so as not to output an image at a specific coordinate position where the image forming color designating symbol is located, and does not output the image forming color designating symbol. In this case, as compared with FIG. 2, the same image as the original on the transmitting side as shown in FIG. 3 is output.

(Embodiment 8) Rejection of designated output color on the receiving side will be described. If the user rejects with a command medium, for example, a mode of rejecting with a transmission-side designated output color rejection key, even if the color designation symbol is recognized by the recognition means, the color is not used and a preset default color is used. An image is formed.

[0035]

As is apparent from the above description, the multicolor facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a specific image forming apparatus capable of designating a receiving side image forming color at a specific position within a transmitting side transmitting image. If the receiving side has a color designating symbol (picture, character), the receiving side forms the image using the image forming color according to the symbol, so that the transmitting side does not have the fixed color determined by the receiving side but the intention of the transmitting side. It is possible to output the image on the receiving side in the image forming color thus obtained. For example, if there is "urgency", it is "red", if it is "important", it is "orange", or if there is a unique original color set by the company, the receiving side judges at a glance It can be done, and the advertising effect can be expected.

Further, even if the image forming color designation symbol is not actually drawn at a specific position in the document, the transmitting side uses the facsimile machine on the transmitting side to place the symbol and the symbol at the specific position on the document image at the time of transmission. By transmitting the same image as additional combined image data, it is possible to easily specify an image forming color.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect,
The user can select whether or not to transmit the image forming color designation symbol as additional combined image data as necessary, so that depending on whether the receiving side has the function of the present invention or not, It is possible to use the transmission image properly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect,
The relationship between the symbol for specifying the image forming color and the indicating color is one-to-one,
The receiving side image is output in the image forming color intended by the transmitting side without the necessity of personal agreement between the transmitting side and the receiving side because it is an industry standard or a standard unified and determined in the maker. It becomes possible.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the symbols for designating image forming colors are black, yellow,
By including information on the mixture ratio of cyan and magenta, it is possible to use a mixed color other than the primary colorant, such as light pink or dark green.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the image forming color designation symbol in the first aspect is variable by being designated by the user, various colors can be designated. Since a specific color based on the determined mixing ratio of the colorant can be designated on the operation unit, it is possible to automatically generate a symbol for the specific color without the user calculating the mixing ratio.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, since the image forming color designation symbol is variable by being designated by the user, various colors can be designated. Since the mixing ratio of the agent can be specified on the operation unit, it is possible to specify various colors according to the user's preference, such as a subtlely bright color or a dark color.

According to the invention of claim 7, in claim 1,
The receiving side can select whether or not the image forming color designation symbol is formed / not formed at the corresponding position in the output image, so that the receiving side does not output an unnecessary part of the image as the received image. Becomes possible.

According to the invention of claim 8, in claim 1,
Even if the receiving side determines that the image forming color designation symbol is located at a specific position in the received image, the receiving side can select whether or not to form the image with the designated color, so that the image forming color designated by the transmitting side can be selected. Can be rejected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a multicolor facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of transmission image data to which an image forming color designation symbol is added and combined, or an output image of a reception side thereof.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a document output from the transmission image data shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an example of a part of an operation unit, showing one specific color designation method as a designation method of an image forming color designation symbol.

FIG. 5 is an example of a part of an operation unit showing one method of specifying a color material mixture ratio as a method of specifying a symbol for specifying an image forming color.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reading means 2 Facsimile transmission / reception control means 3 Image forming means 4 Image recognition means 5 Transmission image addition / synthesis means 6 Operation unit 7 System control means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/387 G03G 21/00 382 5C079 9A001 F term (Reference) 2H027 EJ15 FA28 FD10 ZA07 2H030 AD07 AD13 AD16 5B057 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16 CE08 CE16 CH18 DB02 DB06 DB09 DC09 5C062 AA02 AB02 AB17 AB22 AC04 AC24 AE02 AF14 5C076 AA14 AA26 BA02 BA06 CA02 5C079 HA02 HB03 KA17 LA02 LA31 LA40 MA19 NA17 A27 BB01 9

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile transmission / reception control unit for controlling transmission / reception of a facsimile signal, an image reading unit for converting a document into an image signal for transmission, and image formation of a reception image or the like using an image forming medium such as color toner of a plurality of colors. If the receiving side has an image forming color designation symbol such as a specific pattern or character at a specific position in the transmission image on the transmission side, which can designate the image forming color of the receiving side, the receiving side has the symbol. In the multi-color facsimile apparatus having a function of forming an image using an image forming color according to the above, the transmitting side transmits even if the image forming color designation symbol is not actually drawn at a specific position in the document. In this case, the same image as the image forming color designation signal can be transmitted as additional combined image data to a specific position of a document image by the facsimile machine on the transmission side. The color facsimile machine. 2. A multi-color facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming color designation symbol can be selected as transmission / non-transmission as additional combined image data as required. 3. The multicolor facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming color designation symbol and the indicating color are a pair, and are set to an industry standard or a standard unified and determined by a manufacturer in advance. . 4. The multicolor facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming color designation symbol includes information on a mixing ratio of black, yellow, cyan, and magenta as primary colorants. 5. The image forming color designation symbol is variable by arbitrarily designating, and the method is characterized in that a specific color based on a predetermined colorant mixture ratio can be designated on an operation unit. The multicolor facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 6. The multi-color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming color designation symbol is variable by being designated by a user, and in the method, a mixing ratio of a colorant can be designated on an operation unit. Facsimile machine. 7. The multi-color facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving side can select whether or not the image forming color designation symbol is image-formed at a corresponding position in an output image. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving side can select whether or not to form an image in a designated color even if it determines that the image forming color designation symbol is at a specific position in the received image. The multicolor facsimile apparatus according to claim 1.