JP2010251935A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile machine capable of satisfying a variety of information presentation requests of the receiving side. <P>SOLUTION: An original image receiving part 75 receives an original image transmitted by facsimile from a transmitting side. A printing format determining part 77 performs determination regarding the printing format of the original image to recording paper when the original image receiving part 75 receives the original image over a plurality of pages. When determination to the effect that transmission source information should be added to each original image over the plurality of pages and printed on the same recording paper as a result of the determination of the printing format is to be made, an original information adding part 81 adds original information of the receiving side, to at least one piece of the transmission source information to be added to each original image over the plurality of pages, in place of the form information of the transmitting side. A printing control part 83 performs control, to print on the same recording paper the original image over the plurality of pages with the transmitting-side information or the original information which is added respectively thereto. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that can print on the same recording paper by adding transmission source information to each of a plurality of document images transmitted by facsimile from a transmission side, for example, corresponding to double-sided printing or aggregate printing. In particular, the present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that can satisfy various information presentation requests on the receiving side.

  2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus is known in which a transmission side can specify that a document image is formed on both the front and back sides of a recording sheet in a facsimile apparatus on a reception side when a document image covering a plurality of pages is transmitted by facsimile.

  As an example of such a double-sided recording designation transmission technique, Patent Document 1 discloses a case where an image to be transmitted by designating double-sided recording and an image to be transmitted by designating single-sided recording are mixed and transmitted from the communication unit to the receiving side. The main control unit adds, for example, a white image as an image on the other side of the image to be transmitted by designating single-sided recording, and designates and transmits all of the double-sided recording. You can send an image related to single-sided recording using the same communication procedure as it is, and every time you switch from a communication procedure that specifies and sends double-sided recording to a communication procedure that specifies and sends single-sided recording, A technique that eliminates waste of communication time such as returning to phase B is disclosed.

  According to the technique according to Patent Document 1, the communication time can be shortened when an image to be recorded on both sides of a recording sheet and an image to be recorded on one side are mixed.

  By the way, in the original image related to the facsimile, in addition to the original image data read by the transmission source, the transmission source information (company name, affiliation name, facsimile number, date, date and time, document in the predetermined position of each page) Number, page number, etc.). On the receiving side, for example, the sender information is printed at the head portion (header portion) of each page (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  However, for example, when performing facsimile transmission by applying the sender information addition technique described in Patent Document 2 to a facsimile apparatus that supports double-sided printing described in Patent Document 1, the transmitting-side facsimile apparatus is an odd number. The page (front side) and even-numbered page (back side) are transmitted with almost the same source information added. In this case, in the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side, the content that only needs to glance at the odd pages (front side) is also printed on the even pages (back side).

  It should be noted that the above phenomenon in which the same sender information is printed on the same recording paper can occur in the same manner when the receiving facsimile apparatus is compatible with aggregate printing. That is, for example, when performing facsimile transmission to a facsimile apparatus that supports aggregate printing by applying the transmission source information addition technique described in Patent Document 2, the transmission-side facsimile apparatus uses an odd page (for example, the left side toward the left). ) And even-numbered pages (the image on the right side) are added with almost the same source information and transmitted. In this case, in the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side, the content that only needs to glance at the odd pages (the image on the left side toward the left) is also printed on the even pages (the image on the right side toward the right).

  As described above, for example, in a fax machine that can print a plurality of pages of original images on the same recording paper, together with the transmission source information, corresponding to double-sided printing or aggregate printing, the same transmission source information is duplicated on the same recording paper. As a result, it was impossible to meet various information presentation requests on the receiving side.

JP 2000-175014 A JP 2002-101292 A

  The problem to be solved is that a facsimile apparatus capable of printing on the same recording paper by adding sender information to each of a plurality of pages of a document image transmitted by facsimile from the transmission side, has various information presentation requests on the reception side. It was a point that was not able to meet.

  The present invention provides a document image receiving unit for receiving a document image transmitted by facsimile from a transmission side, and a document image receiving unit for the purpose of obtaining a facsimile apparatus that can satisfy various information presentation requests on the reception side. A print format determination unit for determining a print format of the document image on a recording sheet when receiving a document image covering a plurality of pages; and, as a result of the print format determination, transmission source information for each document image covering the plurality of pages When it is determined that printing should be performed on the same recording paper, at least one of the transmission source information added for each original image over the plurality of pages is replaced with the standard information on the transmission side. An original information adding unit for adding original information on the receiving side, and the original image over the plurality of pages to which the source information or the original information is added, respectively. And the most important features to be configured with a print control unit that controls to print on paper the same recording, the.

  According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, for example, in double-sided printing, content that only requires an odd-numbered page (front side) is not duplicated on even-numbered pages (back side). The content that only needs to glance at the odd pages (the left side of the consolidated original) is not duplicated on the even pages (the right side of the consolidated original). In addition, since the original information on the receiving side is printed instead of the source information that has been printed in the past, the facsimile apparatus capable of satisfying various information presentation requests on the receiving side is obtained. it can.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram around a facsimile apparatus (digital color multifunction peripheral) according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view of an operation panel unit mounted on the facsimile apparatus. FIG. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the facsimile apparatus. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a document image printed in a duplex printing mode. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram related to an odd-numbered page (front surface) document image to which fixed form information is added, and FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram relating to an even page (back side) document image to which original information is added instead of the standard information. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram relating to a manuscript image printed in a consolidated printing format.

  The purpose of obtaining a facsimile machine that can satisfy various information presentation requests on the receiving side is to print on the same recording paper by adding sender information for each original image across multiple pages as a result of the printing format determination When the determination is made, an original information adding unit that adds the original information on the receiving side instead of the standard information on the transmitting side to at least one of the transmission source information added for each document image over the plurality of pages. Realized by.

  Hereinafter, a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Hereinafter, as a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a digital color multifunction machine having various functions relating to image formation such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, etc. in addition to a facsimile communication function will be described as an example. To do.

[Schematic Configuration of Facsimile Apparatus (Digital Color Multifunction Machine) According to Embodiment of the Present Invention]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus (digital color multifunction peripheral) according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external view of an operation panel unit in the facsimile apparatus (digital color multifunction peripheral).

  The facsimile apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is compatible with double-sided printing, aggregate printing, and the like, and prints on the same recording paper by adding sender information to each of a plurality of document images transmitted by facsimile from the transmission side. Has the function of

  That is, the apparatus 10 can use various functions including a copy job, a print job, or a network transmission (email transmission or data transmission) job in addition to a facsimile communication job, such as a microcomputer and a dedicated hardware circuit. It is controlled by the main control part 11 comprised from these.

  As an input / output device connected to the main control unit 11 and responsible for various functions, the apparatus 10 includes a scanner unit 21, an image processing unit 31, an engine unit 41, an operation panel unit 51, an HDD (hard disk drive) 61, a network I / O. An F (interface) unit 63 and a facsimile communication unit 65 are provided.

  The main control unit 11 includes a scanner controller 13 that performs operation control for realizing a scanner function, a copy controller 15 that performs operation control for realizing a copy function, and a printer controller 17 that performs operation control for realizing a printer function. In addition, a facsimile controller 19 that performs operation control for realizing the facsimile function is incorporated, and the overall operation of the apparatus is controlled.

  The scanner unit 21 includes an image irradiation lamp 23 and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor 25 constituting a scanner (not shown). The scanner unit 21 irradiates the document with the image irradiation lamp 23, receives the reflected light with the CCD sensor 25, reads an image from the document, and outputs image data corresponding to the read image to the image processing unit 31. .

  The image processing unit 31 includes a correction unit 33, an image processing unit 35, and an image memory 37. The image processing unit 31 processes the image data read by the scanner unit 21 with the correction unit 33 and the image processing unit 35 as necessary, and stores the processed image data in the image memory 37, the engine unit 41, Output to the facsimile communication unit 65 or the like. The correction unit 33 performs predetermined correction processing such as level correction and gamma correction on the image data read by the scanner unit 21. The image processing unit 35 performs various types of processing such as image data compression or expansion processing and enlargement or reduction processing.

  The engine unit 41 includes a sheet conveying unit 43 including a sheet feeding cassette and a sheet feeding roller (not shown), an image forming unit 45 including a photosensitive drum, an exposure device, a developing device, and the like, a transfer roller (not illustrated), and the like. And a fixing unit 49 including a fixing roller (not shown). The engine unit 41 includes image data read by the scanner unit 21, image data transmitted from a client PC (personal computer) or the like by a LAN (Local Area Network) via the network I / F unit 63, and a facsimile communication unit 65. The image is printed on a sheet using image data such as fax data received from an external facsimile machine. Specifically, the paper transport unit 43 transports the paper to the image forming unit 45, the image forming unit 45 forms a toner image corresponding to the image data, the transfer unit 47 transfers the toner image to the paper, The fixing unit 49 fixes the toner image on a sheet to form an image.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation panel unit 51 includes a touch panel unit 53 and an operation key unit 55. The operation panel unit 51 is used for a user to perform operations related to a facsimile function, a scanner function, a printer function, a copy function, and the like, and gives an operation command or the like by the user to the main control unit 11.

  The touch panel unit 53 includes a touch panel unit that combines a touch panel and a color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays various operation screens, for example, information regarding the document size, copy size, number of copies, and the like when executing the copy function. In addition, operation buttons for inputting various operation commands are displayed by the user touching the corresponding part.

  The operation key unit 55 includes a plurality of operation keys for accepting user operation inputs. For example, a key input of a required function is selected from various functions such as a facsimile function, a copy function, a printer function, and a scanner function. Used when the user selectively executes the operation. Specifically, for example, it is used when a user performs a numeric keypad input operation for selecting a transmission destination fax number when using a facsimile function, or when performing an input operation related to a one-touch dial or an abbreviated dial.

  An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 61 stores image data read by the scanner unit 21 and various data such as an output format set in the image data. The image data stored in the HDD is not only used inside the image forming apparatus, the program, and the recording medium, but also confirmed from the client PC or the like via the network I / F unit 63 as necessary, It is transferred to a predetermined folder such as a PC or FTP server.

  The network I / F unit 63 uses a network interface (10 / 100Base-TX) or the like to control transmission / reception of various data to / from a user terminal 67 such as a client PC connected via a LAN.

  The facsimile communication unit 65 constituting a part of the “original image receiving unit” in the present invention transmits the image data of the original read by the scanner unit 21 to the counterpart machine 73 via the public line network 71, 73 has a function of receiving image data transmitted from 73, and includes an encoding / decoding unit 67, a modem unit 68, and a network control unit 69.

  The encoding / decoding unit 67 has a function of compressing and encoding image data related to a document and expanding and decoding received image data.

  The modem unit 68 has a function of modulating the compressed / encoded image data into an audio signal and demodulating the received audio signal into the image data.

  The network control unit 69 corresponds to an NCU (Network Control Unit), and has a function of performing network control such as sending a dial signal to the public network 71.

  In order to provide a facsimile apparatus that can satisfy various information presentation requests on the receiving side, the facsimile controller 19 built in the main control unit 11 receives a document image that has been facsimile-transmitted from the transmitting side. When a document image covering a plurality of pages is received by the receiving unit 75, the document image receiving unit 75, a printing format determination unit 77 that performs a determination relating to a printing format of the document image on a recording sheet, and an original prepared on the receiving side When the original information storage unit 79 for storing information and the result of the print format determination, when it is determined that the source information is added to each original image over a plurality of pages and printing is performed on the same recording paper, At least one of the transmission source information added to each original image over a plurality of pages is replaced with the original information storage unit 79 instead of the standard information on the transmission side. The original information adding unit 81 for adding the original information on the receiving side read out from the receiving side, and the print control unit 83 for performing control for printing the original image over a plurality of pages to which the source information or the original information is added on the same recording paper. And is configured.

  The fixed information includes, for example, one or more of a sender company name, a sender affiliation name, a sender facsimile number, a sending date, a sending date and time, a sending document number, and a page number of a sending manuscript. Combinations can be employed.

[Operation of Facsimile Apparatus According to Embodiment of Present Invention]
Next, an operation flow of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the facsimile apparatus 10, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a document image printed in a duplex printing format, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a document image printed in a consolidated printing format.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the facsimile communication unit 65 performs a facsimile transmission from the transmission side (the partner machine 73) through negotiation with the partner machine 73 on the transmission side in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol. The image is received and the received document image is transferred to the document image receiving unit 75. In response to this, the document image receiving unit 75 determines whether or not a document image covering a plurality of pages has been received (step S11).

  When it is determined in step S11 that only one original image has been received ("No" in step S11), the facsimile controller 19 jumps the process flow to step S14.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S11 that the document image covering a plurality of pages has been received, the printing format determination unit 77 relates to the printing format of the received document image covering the plurality of pages on the recording paper. A determination is made (step S12). Note that the printing format determination in step S12 can be performed by referring to the setting contents of the facsimile apparatus 10 or the designation contents from the transmission side. Here, it is assumed that the double-sided printing style is set as the setting content related to the printing style of the facsimile apparatus 10, and the following description will be made.

  Now, the facsimile controller 19 sequentially processes each page of a document image covering a plurality of pages. In this sequential processing, the facsimile controller 19 performs odd / even page determination regarding whether the document image to be processed is an even page or an odd page (step S13).

  As a result of the odd / even page determination in step S13, it is determined that the document image is an odd page (“No” in step S13), or as a result of the determination in step S11, only one document image is selected. When it is determined that it has been received (“No” in step S11), the facsimile controller 19 advances the process flow to step S14. On the other hand, as a result of the odd / even page determination in step S13, when it is determined that the document image is an even page, the facsimile controller 19 advances the process flow to step S15.

  In step S14, the facsimile controller 19 includes, for example, a sender company name, a sender affiliation name, a sender facsimile number, a transmission date, a transmission date and time, a transmission source document number, and a page number of the transmission original as the transmission source information. Among them, a manuscript image (FIG. 5) in which fixed information (sender information transmitted from the transmission side) relating to one or two or more combinations is added to the head portion (header portion) of the manuscript image on the odd page (front side). 4 (1)).

  On the other hand, in step S15, the original information adding unit 81 replaces the sender information (the fixed information transmitted from the transmission side) with the original information in the first portion (header portion) of the original image on the even page (back side). ) Is created (see FIG. 4B).

  Here, as the original information on the receiving side, for example, as information related to facsimile communication, communication mode information (for example, F code communication, broadcast communication, confidential communication, timer reservation communication, direct communication, Polling communication, etc.), F-code confidential information, F-code address information, broadcast destination address information, front / back information on whether the facsimile document is front or back, mark on the receiving company, slogan, commercial message, date received Information related to one or two or more combinations selected from the information group such as fortune-telling information, printing date / time, document image receiving date / time, or editable information appropriately created by the receiving user. Of these, appropriate information may be set as appropriate in consideration of various circumstances on the receiving side.

  Specifically, for example, when a facsimile document on the receiving side is distributed to the customer, a mark, a slogan, a commercial message related to the company on the receiving side, or a thank-you message to the customer is used as original information. It can be added. In this way, in addition to being able to effectively use the space related to the sender information without waste, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of information presentation and satisfy various information presentation requests on the receiving side. .

  Next, the print control unit 83 performs control to print both sides of the original image on the front and back sides of the same recording paper with a plurality of pages to which the transmission source information or the original information is added (step S16). As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the standard information is added to the leading portion (header portion) of the original image on the odd page (front side), while the original on the even page (back side). It is possible to obtain a printed matter in which original information is added to the head portion of the image.

  The facsimile controller 19 monitors whether or not the processing for all the document images has been completed each time the processing for printing one page of the document image is performed (step S17). As a result of the monitoring in step S17, the facsimile controller 19 returns the flow of processing to step S13 when it is determined that the processing for all document images has not yet been completed, and the following processing is sequentially performed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the processing for all the document images has been completed, a series of fax reception processing is terminated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the double-sided printing style is set as the setting content related to the printing style of the facsimile apparatus 10 has been described. However, the present invention is the setting content related to the printing style of the facsimile apparatus 10. Even when the aggregate printing format is set, it can be effectively applied. Here, “aggregated printing” means that, for example, two pages of received images are aggregated (2 in 1) on one page of recording paper.

  When the aggregate print format is set as the setting content related to the print format of the facsimile apparatus 10, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the first portion (header portion) of the odd-numbered page (the left side of the consolidated document) of the document image. While the standard information is added, it is possible to obtain a printed matter in which the original information is added to the head portion of the original image of the even page (the right side of the aggregated original).

[Effect of Example]
As described above, in the facsimile apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the document image receiving unit 75 receives the document image transmitted by facsimile from the transmission side. When the document image receiving unit 75 receives a document image covering a plurality of pages, the print format determination unit 77 performs a determination related to the print format of the document image on the recording paper. As a result of the determination of the printing format, when it is determined that the source information is added to each original image over a plurality of pages and printing is performed on the same recording paper, the original information adding unit 81 covers the plurality of pages. Original information on the receiving side is added instead of the standard information on the transmitting side to at least one of the transmission source information added for each original image. Then, the print control unit 83 performs control to print a document image over a plurality of pages to which transmission source information or original information is added, on the same recording paper.

  As described above, according to the facsimile machine 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, for example, in double-sided printing, the content that only needs to glance at odd pages (front side) may be printed on even pages (back side). In addition, in aggregate printing, content that only needs to glance at odd pages (the left side of an aggregated document) is not duplicated on even pages (on the right side of the aggregated document).

  In addition, since the original information on the receiving side is printed instead of the source information that has been printed in the past, the facsimile apparatus capable of satisfying various information presentation requests on the receiving side is obtained. it can.

  Also, for example, when a facsimile document on the receiving side is distributed to the customer, a mark, a slogan, a commercial message related to the company on the receiving side, or a message of thanks to the customer is added as original information. If configured, the space related to the sender information can be effectively utilized without waste, and the degree of freedom of information presentation can be increased to satisfy various information presentation requests on the receiving side.

  Further, in the facsimile apparatus 10 having the user authentication function, for example, either or either of the user name related to access via the user authentication function or the department name to which the user belongs can be adopted as the original information. .

  In addition, in the facsimile machine 10 having the department management function, for example, both or one of the department name related to access via the department management function and the manager name of the department may be adopted as the original information.

  With this configuration, it is possible to clearly indicate the access route to the printed document relating to the facsimile document, so even if the facsimile document is left on the discharge tray, the possession through the access route The person can be easily identified. Therefore, from the viewpoint that the owner of the facsimile document can be specified, it is possible to expect a secondary effect such as preventing the lost of the facsimile document.

[Others]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the invention or the technical idea that can be read from the claims and the entire specification. Is also included in the scope of the technical scope of the present invention.

  That is, for example, the original information disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention is merely an example of listing. Therefore, the present invention can adopt any information as long as it is original information other than that disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention and is preferable information presented to the receiving side.

  Finally, in the embodiment of the present invention, the example has been described in which the standard information is added to the odd-numbered pages while the original information is added to the even-numbered pages. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. Needless to say, the aspect of adding the standard information to the even pages while adding the original information is also included in the scope of the technical scope of the present invention.

11 Main control unit 19 Facsimile controller 65 Facsimile communication unit (original image receiving unit)
73 Counterpart (Sender)
75 Document Image Receiving Unit 77 Print Style Determination Unit 79 Original Information Storage Unit 81 Original Information Adding Unit 83 Print Control Unit

Claims (6)

A document image receiving unit for receiving a document image transmitted by facsimile from the transmission side;
A print format determination unit that performs a determination related to a print format of the document image on a recording sheet when the document image reception unit receives a document image that covers a plurality of pages;
As a result of the determination of the printing style, when it is determined that the source information is added to each original image over the plurality of pages and printing is performed on the same recording paper, the information is added for each original image over the plurality of pages. At least one of the source information to be sent, instead of the standard information on the transmission side, an original information addition unit for adding the original information on the reception side,
A print control unit for performing control to print the original image over the plurality of pages to which the transmission source information or the original information is added on the same recording paper;
A facsimile apparatus comprising: The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1,
The printing format to be printed on the same recording paper by adding sender information for each document image over the plurality of pages is a printing format based on double-sided printing or aggregate printing.
A facsimile machine characterized by the above. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The original information on the receiving side includes one or a combination of F code confidential information, F code address information, printing date and time, or document image receiving date and time.
A facsimile machine characterized by the above. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The receiving side original information is created based on the user needs of the receiving side,
A facsimile machine characterized by the above. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Has a user authentication function,
The original information on the receiving side is either or both of a user name related to access via the user authentication function or a department name to which the user belongs,
A facsimile machine characterized by the above. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Has department management function,
The original information on the receiving side is a department name related to access via the department management function or an administrator name of the department, or both of them,
A facsimile machine characterized by the above.