JP3039067B2 - 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 function of reducing waste of facsimile paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The transmission and reception characteristics of a facsimile apparatus are CC
Group 1 devices are classified into Group 4 devices according to the ITT recommendation. The transmission control procedure of the facsimile apparatus is standardized by CCITT Recommendation T.30.

FIG. 11 shows a transmission control procedure of a facsimile apparatus based on CCITT Recommendation T.30. First, a partner station, which is a message transmitting station, intermittently transmits a 0.5 second CNG signal (ringing tone) of 1100 Hz to its own station, which is a receiving station, with a pause of 3 seconds. After confirming this, the receiving station transmits a 2100 Hz CED signal (called station confirmation signal) to the transmitting station for 2.6 to 4.0 seconds. As described above, a line is established from the transmitting station to the receiving station.

Next, the receiving station transmits a CSI signal (called terminal identification signal) indicating its own station by an international telephone number,
A DIS signal (digital identification signal) indicating that it has the reception function of the CITT standard is transmitted to the transmitting station. Upon receiving this, the transmitting station issues a TSI signal (transmitting terminal identification signal) indicating its own station by an international telephone number and a command indicating a function set from among the standard functions indicated by the DIS signal from the receiving station. A DCS signal (digital command signal), which is a signal, is transmitted to the receiving station.

[0005] The transmitting station that has received the DCS signal from the receiving station performs a TCF (training check) on the receiving station and checks whether a message can be transmitted at the current speed to the modem of the receiving station. In response, the receiving station transmits to the transmitting station a CFR signal (reception preparation confirmation signal) notifying the transmitting station that the procedure before sending the message is completed and that message transmission may be started. The above CFR
The transmitting station that has received the signal transmits a facsimile message to the receiving station in the order of training and message signals.
When all the messages have been transmitted, the transmitting station returns to EO.
The P signal (procedure end signal) is transmitted to the receiving station. On the other hand, the receiving station transmits an MCF signal (message confirmation signal) notifying the transmitting station that the message has been completely received to the transmitting station. The transmitting station that has received the MCF signal
By transmitting the CN signal (line disconnection signal) to the receiving station,
End the communication.

As can be understood from the description of the transmission control procedure based on the CCITT Recommendation T.30, normally, all transmitted facsimile messages are printed out regardless of the recipient's intention.

[0007]

However, information that is actually transmitted includes information such as direct mail that is discarded after being read, and a letterhead part.
There are some things that are only discarded (greetings). However, the facsimile paper used for the reception must be borne by the receiver, and the receiver incurs unnecessary expenditure.

Further, the conventional facsimile apparatus returns a non-delivery notice to the other station when the number of originals transmitted from the other station is larger than the set facsimile paper, or returns the remaining notice to the other station. After performing processing such as storing data in a memory unit, the line is disconnected. For this reason, the user on the receiving side needs to newly receive or print out the facsimile paper after setting it again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus having a function of reducing waste of facsimile paper.

[0010]

A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention combines a memory section for storing a received facsimile message and a plurality of pages of the received facsimile message stored in the memory section into a one-page image. Mode setting means for setting to print, and execution condition setting means for setting an execution condition for executing the above mode,
When the mode is set by the mode setting means, and when the execution condition set by the execution condition setting means is satisfied, a plurality of pages of the received facsimile message stored in the memory unit are read. Output means for printing out a composite image of one page.

Further, the facsimile apparatus further comprises, for example, a registration unit for registering a partner station for normal reception, and the execution condition setting unit determines that the partner station is not registered in the registration unit. It is characterized by the following. Further, in the facsimile apparatus, for example, the execution condition setting means sets the fact that the remaining amount of facsimile paper is small as an execution condition. Further, the facsimile apparatus prints out the received facsimile message at the same size when the above execution condition is not satisfied. Further, the facsimile apparatus further includes, for example, an image calling means for printing out the received facsimile message stored in the memory unit at the same magnification.

[0012]

In this facsimile apparatus, the user sets the mode by the mode setting means and sets the execution condition by the execution condition setting means, thereby enabling the user to receive the facsimile message received under the predetermined execution condition. A print output in which a plurality of pages are combined into an image of one page can be obtained. Therefore, the user can save the number of facsimile sheets to be used. Further, the user can print out the necessary facsimile message again at the same magnification by the image calling means.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the image monitor mode of the present embodiment, the image data for four pages of the received facsimile message is combined with a one-page image and printed out on facsimile paper. (a) Facsimile machine configuration (b) Operation panel (c) Facsimile machine control (d) Image monitor mode (e) Main routine (f) Reception mode discrimination processing (g) Image composite processing (h) Image recall processing

(A) Configuration of Facsimile Machine FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the configuration of a facsimile machine of the present invention. This facsimile apparatus is roughly divided into a printer section 11 and an image reader (IR) section 1 provided with an automatic document feeder 20 disposed above the printer section. An operation panel 50 and a telephone 60 are provided on the automatic document feeder 20.

In the image reader unit 1 with the automatic document feeder 20, a document placed on a document tray 22 is detected by a document sensor 21, and is moved to a predetermined position on the platen glass 2 by rollers 23 and 24 and a transport belt 25. Up to 1
It is sent one by one. Subsequently, the scanner 4 scans the original on the platen glass 2 irradiated by the light source 3. Light reflected from the document is sequentially reflected by mirrors 7a, 7b and 7c and input to a linear CCD image sensor 6 via a lens 5. The output signal of the linear CCD image sensor 6 is digitized after being digitized. After the reading of the document image is completed, the document is discharged to a discharge tray 27 by a transport belt 25 and a discharge roller 26.

On the other hand, in the printer unit 11, the light emission of the semiconductor laser is modulated by the laser optical system 12 in accordance with the image data signal of the received facsimile message, and is incident on the photoconductor 13. Thereafter, the printer unit 11 performs development, transfer, and fixing on the facsimile paper by a well-known electrophotographic process, and prints out a message image.

The image reader unit 1 and the printer unit 11
Since the original image reading operation and the received image printing operation in the above are the same as those of the conventional electrophotographic laser printer, detailed description is omitted here.

(B) Operation Panel FIG. 2 is a front view of the operation panel 50 of the facsimile machine. The operation panel 50 includes a one-touch key 51 for starting transmission to a partner station registered with one touch.
And a numeric keypad 52 for the telephone, which includes numeric keys 0 to 9 and an asterisk key "*" and a sharp key "#" for selecting various modes and inputting a fax number of a designated partner station; A start key 53 for instructing to read a document image placed in a facsimile, convert it to a facsimile signal, and transmit the facsimile signal to a designated partner station, and a clear key for instructing to stop reading, transmitting and receiving processes / Stop key 54, image reading density switching key 55, and image reading density display L
ED56, image reading and print density switching key 5
7, an image reading and print density display LED 58, an image type switching key 59, and an image type display LED 60
And a liquid crystal display for displaying a message to a user
(Hereinafter, referred to as LCD) 70 and a setting key 70 a for selecting a message displayed on the LCD 70.

The user can switch the image reading density in the order of normal / fine / superfine by pressing the image reading density switching key 55. Further, the user can switch the image reading and printing density in the order of dark / normal / light by pressing the image reading and printing density switching key 57. Further, by pressing the image type switching key 59, the user can switch the image type of the document to be read in the order of only characters / mix of characters and photos / only photos. Further, the user can set the image monitor mode and the image call mode by operating the setting key 70a according to the display on the LCD 70.

(C) Control of Facsimile Machine FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the facsimile machine according to the present embodiment. The image reader (IR) unit 1 includes a start key 53 on an operation panel 50 (see FIG. 2). After the button is pressed, it is determined whether or not the original to be read is set. If the original is set, the original is read and a process of converting the original into an image data signal is performed. In the read signal processing unit 103, the image reader unit 1
The image data signal converted in step (1) is subjected to image data processing such as edge processing or smoothing, and the result is output to the control unit 105. NCU (Network Control
Unit) unit 110 is connected to the telephone line and controls transmission and reception of facsimile message signals. Modem unit 107
Connects the NCU unit 110 and the control unit 105, and
It performs reception and demodulation of code data and modulation and transmission of image data according to a protocol procedure defined in the TT recommendation.
The memory unit 104 temporarily accumulates image data of a facsimile message input from the image reader unit 1 or the modem unit 107 via the control unit 105, attaches a text number and a page number, and stores the image data on the hard disk 111. The hard disk 111 manages image data with text numbers and page numbers. The compression / decompression processing unit 108 decompresses the received image data by the set encoding method in the modem unit 107, and compresses the image data in the memory unit 104 to create data to be transmitted by the modem unit 107. (Note: Includes code memory storage.) The printer unit 11 prints and outputs image data from the memory unit 104 on fed paper in response to a print start command from the control unit 105. The operation panel 50 communicates the operation command input by the user to the control unit 105. Further, the operation panel 50 displays an operation state and the like of the facsimile machine. The control unit 105 includes a RAM for registering a telephone number of a specific partner station whose application of the image monitor mode is canceled by the user.

FIG. 4 is a bit map memory for one page, and is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration inside the memory unit 104. The first memory 104a stores image (code) data obtained by the image reader unit 1 and the read signal processing unit 103 or image data of one page obtained by the NCU unit 110, the modem unit 107, and the compression / decompression unit 108. I do. When the image monitor mode is set, the reduction circuit 104b stores the first memory 1
The image data stored in the image data 04a is reduced to a predetermined size (for example, the image data is reduced to 1/4 times using an information amount compression process such as thinning out pixels at a fixed rate).
After that, address control is performed (for example, the image data of four pages reduced to 1/4 is organized into one page of image data) and transferred to the second memory 104c, and the image monitor mode is set. If not, the data is transferred to the second memory 104c at the same magnification. The second memory 1
A bit map memory 04c stores and outputs the output of the reduction circuit 104b for one page. Select 1
A circuit 04d selects image data to be output according to the set reception mode (normal reception mode or image monitor mode).

(D) Image Monitor Mode The image monitor mode is a mode in which a plurality of pages of a received facsimile message are combined into a one-page image and printed out. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of image combination when the image monitor mode is executed. As shown in FIG. 5, in the image monitor mode, the received facsimile messages A,
The image data amounts of B, C and D are each reduced to 1/4 times,
The reduced image data of each of the messages A, B, C and D is represented by a message A at the upper left of the image of one page, a message B at the upper right, a message C at the lower left, and a message D at the lower right.
The composite image is printed out in this order.

The image monitor mode is set by the user operating the setting key 70a according to the display on the LCD 70 on the operation panel 50. In this embodiment, the user further considers that the facsimile message from the partner station registered in the RAM in the control unit 105 in FIG. 3 has little unnecessary information as an execution condition of the image monitor mode. It is possible to set the closed area normal reception mode in which the application of the image monitor mode is canceled and the printout is performed in the normal reception mode.

When the image monitor mode is executed, first, each image data of the four pages of the received facsimile message stored in the hard disk 111 of FIG. 3 is called to the first memory 104a of FIG. Here, the first memory 104a sequentially inputs the respective image data to the reduction circuit 104b of FIG. In the image data input to the reduction circuit 104b, pixels are thinned out at a fixed rate to reduce the image data amount to 1/4, and the start address of the image data is specified to be combined into one page image. Later the second in FIG.
Output to the memory 104c. The image data designated by each address in the reduction circuit 104b is stored in the second memory 104c.
Are combined into a one-page image and output to the printer unit 11 in FIG. The printer unit 11 prints out the image as an output in the image monitor mode.

In the group 4 facsimile apparatus according to the CCITT recommendation, 200 × 200 dpi is standard, and 400 × 400 dpi, 300 × 300 dpi, 20
A scanning density on a communication line such as 0 × 100 dpi is recommended. For example, the image density of an image received by a facsimile machine capable of printing and outputting at 400 × 400 dpi is 200 ×
In the case of 200 dpi, a facsimile message of 4 pages can be input to the second memory 104b as it is.
It is possible to print on facsimile paper, and it is not necessary to reduce the image and convert the density when the image data is input to the first memory 104a. However, in this case, the size of each character is reduced to 1/4.

(E) Main Routine FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment when receiving a facsimile message. In this flow, first, the image data signal of the facsimile message transmitted from the partner station is received in accordance with the communication procedure of the CCITT Recommendation T.30, and all the facsimile messages are stored in the first memory 104a in the memory unit 104 of FIG. Via the hard disk 111.
Next, it is determined whether the image monitor mode is set. Here, the execution condition of the image monitor mode set by the user, that is, in this embodiment, the message is from a person other than the partner registered by the user, or the remaining amount of facsimile paper is small. If the condition is satisfied, image composite processing is performed, and a composite of several pages of the received facsimile message into a one-page image is printed out as shown in FIG. 1x print output of Similarly, when the image monitor mode has not been set, normal normal-size printing is output, and the reception processing ends.

Hereinafter, the flow of FIG. 6 will be described in more detail. In S100, a connection request for a facsimile line is received from the partner station, and the line is connected.
D indicating the function of the receiving facsimile machine according to the recommendation
The CS signal is communicated, and a communication mode (for example, communication group, communication image density, communication speed, and the like) to be performed is determined. In S101 and S102, all the code data received based on the communication mode determined in S100 are stored in the hard disk 111 via the first memory 104a in the memory unit 104 of FIG. Here, the above-mentioned code data is managed in the hard disk 111 by adding a sentence number for each sentence and a page number for each page. (See the file management diagram on the hard disk 111 in FIG. 7). For this reason, the text number and the page number are output as a composite in a part of the output page (for example, the upper right corner) in either the image monitor mode or the normal mode.

In the next reception mode discrimination processing (S103), the reception mode to be executed at the time of the main reception is determined based on the reception conditions input by the user from the operation panel 50 in FIG. 2, and the image monitor mode is set. When executing, the mode parameter P = 1 is output, and when executing the normal reception mode, the mode parameter P = 0 is output. Next, in S104, code data for each page of the received image stored in the hard disk 111 of FIG. 3 is input to the compression / decompression unit 108, and the code data is converted into image data. Next, in S105, the image data converted by the compression / decompression unit 108 is stored in the first memory in the memory unit 104.
Input to the memory 104a. Next, in S106, the parameter P output in S103 is checked, and the reception mode to be executed is the image monitor mode (P = 1) according to the present invention or the normal reception mode (P = 0). Is determined.

When the image monitor mode is executed in S106 (P = 1), the next composite processing (S10
7) is performed, and when not executed (P = 0), the normal reception mode is executed, and the received image is printed at the same magnification and output. S
At 108, it is determined whether the composite processing of the image in the image monitor mode has been completed. That is, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the facsimile message of four pages reduced to a predetermined position is correctly combined into one page. The image for which it is determined in S108 that the image combining process has been completed is printed out in the next S110 and S111.
If four pages of facsimile messages are not completely combined (for example, only three pages of facsimile messages are combined), it is determined in step S109 whether there is another image to be output. Investigation is performed, and if there is an image to be subsequently output, the above-described composite processing is repeated. If there is no image to be output, the image in that state is printed out in the next steps S110 and S111. S
In step 112, similarly to step S109, it is determined whether there are any pages to be printed out. If there are pages to be printed out, the process returns to step S103 and returns to step S103.
To S111 are repeated. If all the facsimile messages to be printed out have been output in S112, the reception output operation ends.

(F) Reception mode determination processing FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the reception mode determination processing (S103) described in the main routine. Here, the user performs the normal reception mode by operating the setting key 70a in accordance with the display of the LCD 70 on the operation panel 50 of FIG. 2 and checking the input and set mode and the image monitor mode execution condition, that is, It is determined whether to print in the same size or output or to execute the image monitor mode. When the normal reception mode is executed, the parameter P = 0 is output. When the image monitor mode is executed, the parameter P is output. Outputs P = 1.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the reception mode discriminating process is executed, first, the user operates the operation panel 50.
Then, it is determined whether the received image monitor mode is set (S121). Here, when the reception image monitor mode is not set, the parameter P = 0 is output so as to execute the normal reception mode (S127).

If the image monitor mode has been set, the image monitor mode execution condition set by the user is further checked. First, in S122, it is determined whether the paper remaining amount check mode is set. If the paper remaining amount check mode is set, the remaining number of facsimile papers is checked in the next step S123. Here, when the remaining amount of facsimile paper is small, the parameter P is set to execute the image monitor mode.
= 1 is output (S128). If the paper remaining amount check mode is not set, or if it is set but the required amount of facsimile paper remains, the process proceeds to next S124.

In step S124, the partner station registered in advance by the user checks whether the closed area normal reception mode for canceling the application of the image monitor mode is set.
If the closed area normal reception mode is set, S1
At 25, it is determined whether or not the partner station has been registered in advance by the user when receiving the facsimile message. Here, when the counterpart station is registered, unnecessary information is considered to be small, so that the parameter P = 0 is output so as to execute the normal reception mode (S12).
7). If the partner station has not been registered, a parameter P = 1 is output to execute the image monitor mode in order to prevent waste of paper (S12).
8). If the closed area normal reception mode is not set, the parameter P = 1 is output so as to execute the image monitor mode for all the received facsimile messages (S128).

(G) Image Composite Processing Routine FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the image composite processing in S107 of FIG. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the image data A, 4 of page 4 of the received facsimile message
The size of each of B, C, and D is reduced to 1/4 times, and is further subjected to address control to be combined with image data of one page and output.

As shown in the flow of FIG. 9, when the image combining process is executed, first, in S141, a reduction magnification is set. That is, when the image data of the facsimile message for four pages is combined with the image data of one page, it is set to 1/4 times. In the next step S142, it is set to which address in the second memory 104c of FIG. 4 the reduced image data is to be combined. In the next S143, the first memory 10 in FIG. 4 is stored in the reduction circuit 104b in FIG.
The image data of the facsimile message stored in 4a is input, reduced, and transferred to the second memory 104c in FIG. Thus, the image data of the composite image shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. When the reduction and transfer processing is completed (S
144), returning, and ending the image compounding process.

(H) Image Retrieval Processing FIG. 10 shows a specific received image from the received image stored in the hard disk 111 of FIG. It is a figure showing the flow of the sentence extraction processing for output. In the hard disk 111, as shown in FIG. 7, the received facsimile message is stored with a text number and a page number for each other party. For this reason, the user operates the setting key 70a on the operation panel 50 of FIG. 2 to switch the LCD 70 to the text extraction screen, and inputs the text number and page number to be extracted using the numeric keypad 52 so that the desired party can transmit. Only the pages required by the facsimile message can be retrieved.

In order for the user to retrieve and print out the desired text, the user operates the setting key 70a on the operation panel 50 to switch the LCD 70 to the document retrieval screen. Next, the user inputs a document number using the numeric keypad 52 in accordance with the description displayed on the LCD 70 (S30).
1) In S302, the hard disk 111 is checked to see if the corresponding document is stored. Here, when the corresponding text is not stored in the hard disk 111, the fact is displayed on the LCD 70 and the processing is terminated (S305 and S306). If the corresponding text is stored in the hard disk 111, L
The CD 70 switches to a page number input display. When the user inputs a page number (S303), it is determined in S304 whether the page is stored. Here, if the corresponding page is not stored, the user is prompted to input a page number again on the LCD 70. If a page corresponding to the input page is stored, the code data of the relevant page of the relevant text is read out from the hard disk 111 and input to the compression / decompression unit 108 in FIG. (S307). Next, the image data is input to the first memory 104a in FIG. 4, passes through the reduction circuit 104b, and is input to the second memory 104c while maintaining the same magnification (S3).
08). After the preparation of the printer is completed (S309), printing is performed (S310). With the end of the printout of the image, the LCD 70 switches to the text number input display screen and waits for the next input. In this way, the user can obtain the same size print output for a predetermined page of a desired text number.

[0038]

By executing the above-described mode provided in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention when the execution conditions are satisfied, a plurality of pages of the received facsimile message are combined into a one-page image and printed out. can do. Further, in this case, since the received facsimile message is stored, the facsimile message required by the user can be printed in the same size and output after execution of the mode. As a result, waste of facsimile paper due to unsolicited direct mail or the like, which has conventionally been a problem, can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration sectional view of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation panel of the facsimile machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control block diagram of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of a memory unit 104 in the control block diagram of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a received facsimile message 4 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a composite example in which pages are combined into an image of one page.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a main routine of the embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a file management diagram showing a management state of each facsimile message stored in the hard disk 111 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a reception mode determination processing routine in the main routine of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an image composite processing routine in the main routine of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image retrieval processing routine for printing out a designated page in a facsimile message from a partner desired by the user at an equal size.

FIG. 11: CCITT Recommendation T. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a transmission control procedure based on the H.30.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image reader (IR) part 11 ... Printer part 50 ... Operation panel 52 ... Numeric keypad 70 ... Liquid crystal display device 70a ... Setting key 104 ... Memory part 111 ... Hard disk

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hideo Kumaghiro 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. In-house (56) References , U) Hikaru 2-145872 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/387-1/393 H04N 1/21

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A memory unit for storing a received facsimile message, and a mode setting unit for setting a mode for printing a plurality of pages of the received facsimile message stored in the memory unit into a single page image. An execution condition setting unit for setting an execution condition for executing the mode; and a case where the mode is set by the mode setting unit and the execution condition set by the execution condition setting unit is satisfied. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a plurality of pages of a received facsimile message stored in the memory unit; 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a registration unit for registering a counterpart station for normal reception, wherein said execution condition setting unit executes that the counterpart station is not registered in the registration unit. A facsimile machine characterized by conditions. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said execution condition setting means sets a small remaining amount of facsimile paper as an execution condition. 4. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said execution condition is not satisfied.
A facsimile apparatus which prints out a received facsimile message at the same magnification. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image calling means for printing out a received facsimile message stored in said memory unit at a normal size.