JP2835886B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a memory for storing image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent facsimile apparatuses, an apparatus for recording a received image on plain paper in place of conventional thermal recording paper has been increasing.

[0003] As this recording method, there are a method of thermally transferring an ink sheet to recording paper, an ink jet method of spraying ink, and a recording toner transfer method using a laser beam or the like.

Further, in such a plain paper facsimile apparatus, a method of performing page printing using cut paper instead of roll paper is also used.

[0005]

In a plain paper facsimile apparatus as described above, a consumable part for a recording medium such as an ink sheet, ink, and toner is compared with an apparatus using a thermal head and a thermosensitive recording paper. Are newly generated and the running cost tends to increase.

[0006] Consumables such as ink and toner are:
Because there is a problem that it disappears during reception,
A workaround for storing the received image in the memory is required.

On the other hand, as such a facsimile apparatus, an apparatus having a large-capacity image memory has been provided, and a function for effectively confirming a large number of received image data stored in such an image memory is required. Become.

According to the present invention, an image once received in a memory is
It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of performing recording output and checking without consuming a large amount of ink or toner.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus equipped with a memory for storing image data.
A recording unit for recording and outputting an image to a recording medium; a designation unit for designating an image confirmation mode by an operator; a conversion unit for converting the density in the recording unit; and an image confirmation mode for recording an image in the recording unit. In some cases, the apparatus has a recording control unit for performing recording at a density lower than the density at the time of memory storage.

[0010]

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

The control unit 1 controls the operation of the entire apparatus, and includes a microprocessor, a program RO
M, a work area RAM, and the like.

The reading section 2 is constituted by a CCD image sensor, a document conveying mechanism, etc., reads a document and outputs digital image data, and the recording section 3 is constituted by, for example, an ink jet printer, and records image data. It is to be recorded and output on a medium.

The communication control unit 4 includes a modem for modulating and demodulating transmitted / received data, an NCU (network control unit) for controlling line connection, and the like, and controls a communication operation with a facsimile apparatus of the other party. is there.

The operation unit 5 is composed of a keyboard or the like, and is used by an operator to perform various key operations.
Is constituted by an LCD or the like, and displays various information to an operator. The operation unit 5 is provided with an image confirmation mode setting key for instructing to output an image stored in an image memory 7 described later for confirmation. When the setting key is pressed once, the apparatus is set to the image confirmation mode. When the setting key is pressed again, the image confirmation mode is released.

The image memory 7 is a dedicated memory for storing images, and stores image data read by the reading unit 2 and received image data received from the communication control unit 4 in an encoded and compressed state.

The ink remaining amount detecting section 8 detects the remaining amount of ink in the recording section 3, and when the remaining amount reaches a level described later, notifies the control section 1 of a signal to that effect.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the outline of the operation for recording an image stored in the image memory 7.

First, when the recording is started, the control unit 1 stores the label of the image file whose recording is instructed by the image memory 7.
Then, the linear density at the time of accumulation is extracted and stored in the RAM (S1).

Next, it is determined whether or not the mode is the image checking mode (S2). If the mode is the image checking mode, the remaining amount level from the ink remaining amount detector 8 is read (S3).

In this embodiment, the remaining level to be detected is 3
Level, and if there is still enough ink,
Then, the process without changing the linear density is performed. Also, if it is not the image confirmation mode in S2, the process proceeds to S4 and the same processing is performed.

If it is determined in S3 that there is not enough ink, but there is ink, the flow advances to S5 to lower the linear density by one rank. That is, to lower by one rank means that, for example, if the linear density during memory storage is 15.4 lines / mm, the linear density during recording is 7.7 lines / mm, and the linear density during memory storage is 7.7 lines / mm. If it is 7 lines / mm, the linear density at the time of recording is set to 3.85 lines / mm. When the linear density at the time of memory storage is 3.85 lines / mm,
Since it cannot be less than this, it remains as it is.

If it is determined in step S3 that the remaining amount of the ink is almost exhausted, the flow advances to step S6 to lower the linear density by two ranks. In other words, lowering by two ranks means that if the linear density at the time of memory storage is 15.4 lines / mm, the linear density at the time of recording is 3.85 lines / mm, and the linear density at the time of memory storage is 7.7. If it is line / mm, the linear density at the time of recording is also set to 3.85 line / mm.

An image is recorded based on the linear density determined as described above (S7). Here, as a method of converting the line density of an image, it is possible to adopt a known technique such as thinning of an image line or changing a transfer clock.

In this way, it is possible to output a confirmation image according to the remaining amount of ink, thereby saving ink and reducing occurrence of ink exhaustion.

In the above embodiment, the recording linear density is changed according to the remaining amount of ink. However, the rank may be forcibly lowered in the image checking mode.

Further, the detection level of the remaining amount of ink may be made finer, and the reduction amount of the linear density may be determined. That is, in the above embodiment, the recording linear density was reduced only to two ranks, but may be finely reduced according to the capability of the recording unit.

In the above embodiment, an ink jet printer has been described as an example, and the case where the consumable agent is ink has been described. However, the same applies to a case where LBP is used in the recording section and the consumable agent is toner. It is of course applicable.

[0028]

According to the present invention, when an image is recorded, in the image confirmation mode, the recording density is reduced so that the consumption of ink and toner for image confirmation can be reduced, and the running cost can be reduced. Can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of an operation during image recording in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part, 2 ... Reading part, 3 ... Recording part, 4 ... Communication control part, 5 ... Operation part, 6 ... Display part, 7 ... Image memory, 8 ... Ink remaining amount detection part.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus equipped with a memory for storing image data, a recording unit for recording and outputting an image on a recording medium, a designating unit for designating an image confirmation mode by an operator, and a conversion of a linear density in the recording unit. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a conversion unit for performing a recording operation when recording an image in the recording unit in the image checking mode; 2. The recording device according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit configured to detect a remaining amount of the consumable agent in the recording unit, wherein the recording control unit controls a recording density in an image checking mode according to the remaining amount of the consumable agent. Facsimile machine characterized by controlling 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the consumable is ink or toner.