JP3164186B2 - 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, and more particularly, to a facsimile apparatus in which a white line at the end of a received image is not recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a received image is recorded on a recording sheet in a facsimile apparatus, the length of one page of the received image in the sub-scanning direction and the length of the recording sheet set in the facsimile apparatus in the sub-scanning direction are determined. When the length of the received image is longer than the length of the recording paper, the received image of one page is
Techniques have been proposed for split recording on one sheet of recording paper and for reducing recording on one sheet of recording paper. For example, JP-A-61
JP-A-242168 discloses that when the length of a received image in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the length of the recording paper, the received image is reduced and recorded at a reduction ratio corresponding to the length of the received image and the length of the recording paper. A facsimile apparatus has been proposed in which a received image is divided and recorded when the length of the image is longer than a predetermined value.

[0003] Among such facsimile machines, there are 1
When the received image information of the line is all white pixels (hereinafter, referred to as
This is called an all-white line). To save the consumption of recording paper and ribbon, it is possible to omit the recording of an all-white line or to make the length of the received pixel in the sub-scanning direction smaller than the length of the recording paper. In some cases, when the excess exceeding the length of the recording paper is all white lines, the excess is excluded from recording. Further, some facsimile apparatuses have been put to practical use so as to perform recording on cut recording paper using a ribbon having substantially the same width as the recording paper.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, CC
ITT Recommendation T. According to No. 4, it is necessary to read 216 mm (1728 pixels) per line as a reading width of the received image reading means, and the area which can be used as image information needs to be at least 205 mm. By the way, C
CITT Recommendation T. Reproducible area should ensure defined by appendix 4 to receive image which can not be actually recorded even received as images information only have <br/> in the 196.6mm in the main scanning direction is present Become.

Therefore, the length of the received image in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the length of the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction. In this case, although there is no image information actually recorded, the line cannot be identified as an all-white line, so that unnecessary reduction of the received image information is performed as shown in FIGS. Alternatively, there is a problem in that the data is divided and recorded, so that the characters become small, or the recording paper without the image information is divided and output. In particular, in a facsimile apparatus of a type in which recording is performed using an ink ribbon having substantially the same width as recording paper, the ink ribbon is consumed even when recording paper having no image information is output. Increase.

On the other hand, in a facsimile apparatus, received image information is temporarily stored in a reception buffer once,
The data is output to the thermal head of the recording unit through processes such as a binarization process, a decoding process, and a parallel / serial conversion.
In order to determine whether or not all the excess areas are white lines, while the recording by the recording unit is interrupted and waiting, the received image information is continuously supplied to the reception buffer, while the image information of the reception buffer is supplied. Is not output to the subsequent processing, so that the reception buffer overflows and a reception error occurs. The white line is a line in which the received image information of the recordable area in the main scanning direction is all white pixels, and the all white line is also included in the white line.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problem. When the amount of received image information of one page is larger than a predetermined value, all excess lines exceeding the predetermined value become white. An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus in which excess recording is omitted only when the line is a line, and wasteful reduction processing or division processing can be prevented. Further, as another object, the recording of the excess is omitted only when the excess in the received image information of one page is equal to or less than the second predetermined value and all the excess lines are white lines. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of preventing a reception buffer from overflowing.

[0008]

To SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object,請 Motomeko 1 of the facsimile apparatus, the facsimile apparatus having a recording means for recording the received image information on recording paper, 1-line images information Is a white line discriminating means for checking whether all the pixels are white pixels, and when all the pixels are white pixels, a counting means for counting the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction of the received image information of one page. When the count value of the counting means reaches a first predetermined value corresponding to the length of the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction, the recording means records the received image information up to the line of the first predetermined value,
If the end value of the count value is greater than a first predetermined value and
Control means for preventing the recording of the received image information of the excess portion when the white line determining means determines that all the lines exceeding the first predetermined value are white lines when the value is less than the predetermined value. It is. Here, the control unit may be configured such that when the count value of the counting unit reaches a second predetermined value, the recording unit starts recording of a line exceeding the first predetermined value ( claims dependent on claim 1 2). Also, the white line discriminating hand
The row records the received image information of one line in the main scanning direction.
The white line is determined based on the image information within the specified width.
It may be configured to perform another (dependent on claim 1 or 2).
Claim 3).

[0009]

[Action] In the facsimile apparatus 請 Motomeko 1, white line determination means, one image information do all white pixels not within recordable predetermined width in the main scanning direction by the recording means among the received image information of the line And if all are white pixels,
The line is determined as a white line. The counting means is 1
The number of lines in the sub-scanning direction of the received image information of the page is counted. The control means causes the recording means to record the received image information up to the line of the first predetermined value when the count value of the counting means reaches a first predetermined value corresponding to the length of the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction. In addition, when the end value of the count value is larger than the first predetermined value and smaller than the second predetermined value, and when the white line determining means determines that all the lines exceeding the first predetermined value are white lines, The recording of the received image information of the excess part is not executed.

[0010] In the facsimile apparatus of claim 2 ,
The control means determines that the count value of the counting means is a second value.
When the predetermined value is reached, the recording means is started to record the line that exceeds the first predetermined value. Claim 3
In the case of the kushimi machine, the white line discriminating means includes:
A place in the received image information of the line that can be recorded in the main scanning direction
The white line is determined based on the image information within the fixed width.
U.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a facsimile machine, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the same machine. Main unit 1 of facsimile machine
Numeral 0 includes a container-shaped lower cover 12, an upper cover 14 placed on the lower cover 12, and a frame (not shown) provided therein. On the lower cover 12,
A receiver 16 is attached. In the lower cover 12, a recording paper cassette 20 capable of storing a large number of recording papers 18 made of fixed-size cut paper is set.

The recording paper 18 is sent out one by one from a recording paper set 20 by a paper feed roller 22, and is then sent to a recording device 30 by a recording paper feeder 28 composed of a paper guide 24, a pair of feed rollers 26 and the like. Sent to
Images such as figures are recorded. The feed roller 26 is driven to rotate by a driving device (not shown). The leading edge of the recording paper 18 sent out from the recording paper cassette 20 is detected by a recording paper leading edge sensor 32, and the recording start timing of the recording device 30 is determined based on the detection signal. The recording paper size detection sensor 21 detects the type of the recording paper cassette 20 mounted on the facsimile apparatus among the recording paper cassettes 20 prepared for the various recording papers 18 having different sizes, and based on the detection result. The recording control is performed by the system controller 1 (see FIG. 4).

A recording device 30 is provided in the upper cover 14. The recording device 30 is rotatable between a recording head 34 controlled by a recording head controller 33 shown in FIG. Platen 3 provided
6 and an ink ribbon device 38. The recording head 34 is a thermal head, has a large number of heating elements arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the recording paper 18 is fed, and has a position determined based on a signal supplied to the recording head controller 33. Are heated. Platen 3
Reference numeral 6 denotes a recording device 18 which is driven to rotate around a center line by a driving device (not shown). The ink ribbon device 38 has a thermal ink ribbon 40 having a width corresponding to the recording range of the recording head 34 and an ink ribbon feeding device 42 for feeding the thermal ink ribbon 40. The thermal ink ribbon 40 is fed in synchronization with the recording paper 18, and the recording paper 18 is fed by feeding the thermal ink ribbon 40 and the recording paper 18 and pressing the thermal ink ribbon 40 against the recording paper 18 by the recording head 34.
The image is recorded on the.

The recording paper 18 on which the image has been recorded is guided by a paper guide 52, sent to a paper discharge tray 54, and discharged out of the apparatus. The recording paper discharge sensor 56 detects the discharge of the recording paper 18, and detects that the recording paper 18 on which the image is recorded is completely discharged by the recording paper discharge sensor 56 when a plurality of recordings are continuously performed. After that, the system controller 1 controls the conveyance of the recording paper 18 so that the next recording paper 18 is sent out from the recording paper cassette 20, thereby avoiding a paper jam.

An image reading device 62 for reading an image recorded on a document 60 is provided in the upper cover 14. The document 60 is placed on a document receiver 64 detachably attached to the upper cover 14 and set between a pair of document guides 66 shown in FIG. The leading end of the set document 60 is detected by a document sensor 68 provided in the upper cover 14, and the document 60 is scanned by a document feeder 74 including a feed roller 70, a paper guide 72, and a feed roller 73. The document is sent to a document reading position 62. The feed rollers 70 and 73 are each composed of a pair of rollers, and are driven by motors 78 and 80 (see FIG. 4), respectively. The motors 78 and 80 are connected to the system controller 1 via drive circuits 84 and 86 (see FIG. 4), respectively, and are controlled so that the rotation speeds of the motors 78 and 80 are always the same.

The image reading device 62 includes a light source 88 as a light emitter, a lens 89, mirrors 90 and 92, and a plurality of charge coupled devices as light receivers.
(Hereinafter, abbreviated as a CCD) 94 and the like.
After the reflected light from the mirror 9 is collected by the lens 89, the mirror 9
The image is read by the CCD 94 at 0, 92 and received by the CCD 94 to read the image on the original 60 one line at a time. A pixel is a minimum unit constituting an image, and is a region (area) on the document 60 read by one CCD 94.

The size of one pixel is the size of the CCD 94,
Although determined by various factors such as the positions and angles of the mirrors 90 and 92, the position and the focal length of the lens 89, in the facsimile apparatus, the size in the main scanning direction is determined to be 0.13 mm, and the size in the sub-scanning direction. The length is determined by the feed amount of the document 60 while the image is read by the image reading device 62 for one line. In this facsimile apparatus, the feed amount of the original 60 is 0.26 mm, 0.13
mm and 0.065 mm, and the size (area) of one pixel when each of these feed amounts is selected.
Are 0.13 mm × 0.26 mm and 0.13 mm, respectively.
mm × 0.13 mm and 0.13 mm × 0.065 mm. As the feed amount decreases, the area of one pixel decreases, and the resolution increases.

The CCD 94 is a photoelectric conversion element that outputs a voltage corresponding to the intensity of the received reflected light. Image data obtained by converting a signal representing the magnitude of the output voltage into digital data is supplied to the system controller 1. Then, binarized image data is created from the image data. In this facsimile machine capable of reading A4 size originals, the CC
At least 1,728 D94s are arranged in a line. The document leading edge sensor 96 detects the leading edge of the document 60, and reading is started based on the detection of the leading edge of the document 60 by the document leading edge sensor 96. After reading, the document 60 is discharged out of the opening 98.

FIG. 3 shows an operation panel 99 provided on the upper cover 14. The liquid crystal display 1 is located at the rear of the operation panel 99.
00 is provided, and a keyboard 1 is provided at the front and the center.
06 is provided. The numeric keypad 108 is located on the left side of the keyboard 106, the copy key 110 and the start key 114 are located on the right side, and various keys such as the memory key 116, the function key 118, the set key 120, and the cursor keys 122 and 124 are located in the center. Is provided. The copy key 110 is a key for instructing copying of a document and instructing the start of copying. The start key 114 is a key for instructing the start of various processing operations. A function key 118 is a key for instructing display of various functions that can be executed in the facsimile apparatus. Function selection is performed by operating the ten keys 108 and the cursor keys 122 and 124. The set key 120 is a key for instructing confirmation of selection, and the memory key 116 is a key for instructing selection of memory transmission.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the facsimile apparatus. The facsimile apparatus is controlled by a system controller 1. The system controller 1 mainly includes a CPU 2a, a ROM 2b storing a plurality of control programs for controlling the facsimile apparatus, and a RAM.
2c. RAM2c
Is a reading buffer for storing image data read and digitized by the image reading device 62, a transmission buffer for temporarily storing compressed and encoded image data to be transmitted, a reception buffer for temporarily storing received compressed and encoded image data, It has an area such as a recording buffer for temporarily storing image data obtained by decoding the compression-encoded image data.

The system control unit 2 is connected via a bus 3
Binarization circuit 4, threshold circuit 5, parallel / serial conversion circuit 6, encoding / decoding control circuit 7 for compression-encoding and decoding image data, and transmission / reception for transmitting and receiving compression-encoded image data The control circuit 8 and the like are connected.
The system control device 1 is connected to an image reading device 62, an operation panel 99, a recording head control device 33, a recording paper size detection sensor 21, a line 9a, driving circuits 84 and 86, and the like. Further, although not shown in FIG. 4, various devices necessary for the operation of the facsimile apparatus, such as the recording paper leading edge sensor 32, the recording paper discharging sensor 56, the document sensor 68, and the document leading edge sensor 96, are connected.

The binarizing circuit 4 converts the image data read by the image reading device 62 and converted into digital data into binary image data. While the image data read by the image reading device 62 is supplied to the binarization circuit 4, the threshold data is supplied from the threshold circuit 5, and the image data is compared with the threshold data. Generates binary image data. If the image data is larger than the threshold data, it is set to 0 (white), and if it is smaller, it is set to 1 (black), so that binary image data is created. 2 for one line
When the digitized image data is created, it is stored in a reading buffer (not shown) of the RAM 2c. The threshold circuit 5 stores threshold data and supplies the data to the binarization circuit 4 based on a command.

The parallel / serial conversion circuit 6 converts a parallel signal into a serial signal. System control unit 2
Are converted into serial signals and supplied to the printhead controller 33. The encoding / decoding control circuit 7 compresses and encodes the binarized image data, decodes the compressed and encoded image data input from the outside, and supplies the decoded data to the RAM 2c. When the line 9a between the facsimile machine on the transmitting side (own apparatus or the other apparatus 9b) and the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side (the other apparatus 9b or own apparatus) is connected, the transmission / reception control circuit 8 Is to communicate.

Next, the received received image information for one page is recorded. The outline of the recording process control will be described. In this facsimile apparatus, since the recording is performed using the thermal ink ribbon 40 having substantially the same width as the recording paper 18, the ink ribbon 40 is consumed even when the recording paper 18 is fed without performing any recording in the recording operation. In order to save the ink ribbon 40 and to prevent occurrence of a reception error due to overflow of the reception buffer as described in the above-mentioned problem column, the following recording processing is performed. is there.

As shown in FIG. 8, the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction of one page of received image information is equal to a first predetermined value (for example, A4 size recording paper 18) in the sub-scanning direction. When the value is equal to or less than the value (Ra excluding the upper and lower margin amounts from the recording paper), the received image information for one page is recorded on one recording paper 18 at the same magnification. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction of the received image information for one page is equal to the first predetermined value Ra.
If it is larger and less than the second predetermined value Rc, for example, if it corresponds to the length of the legal size recording paper, the first line to the Ra-th line are counted when the number of lines up to the first predetermined value Ra is counted. The image data up to the line is recorded on a single sheet of recording paper 18 at the same magnification, and when all of the (Ra + 1) th and subsequent lines are white lines that do not include black pixels in the effective recording range in the main scanning direction. The recording of the image data of the (Ra + 1) th and subsequent lines is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction of the received image information for one page is larger than the first predetermined value Ra and equal to or larger than the second predetermined value Rc, for example, the legal size If the length is longer than the length of the recording paper, the image data from the first line to the Ra-th line is recorded on the single recording paper 18 at the same size when the number of lines up to the first predetermined value Ra is detected. , (Ra + 1) th and subsequent lines, even if they are all white lines or include lines other than white lines, when the number of lines of the second predetermined value Rc is counted, the (Ra + 1) th and subsequent lines are counted. The recording of the image data of the line is started. As a result, it is possible to prevent a reception error from occurring due to overflow of the reception buffer. However, when the (Ra + 1) th and subsequent lines are all white lines, the recording operation is started as described above, but since the white line is used, the recording paper 18 on which nothing is recorded is output as the second sheet.

Here, a counter R for counting the number of lines of the received image information for one page in the sub-scanning direction (the count value is R), and a continuous counter for counting the number of continuous white lines in the sub-scanning direction. A white line number counter W (the count value is W) and various counters described later
AM2c. In these counters and pointers, the reference value indicates the count value and the point value. Further, the second predetermined value Rc is:
It is a predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value Ra, and (Rc−
Even if recording is interrupted and waited for the number of lines within Ra),
The value is set to an appropriate value so that the reception buffer does not overflow.

Next, the recording processing control routine in the facsimile apparatus thus configured will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that reference symbols Si (i = 1, 2,...) In the figure indicate each step.
The partner device 9b on the transmitting side and the facsimile device on the receiving side are connected by a line 9a, and the partner device 9b sends a transmission command to transmit one page of compression-encoded image data, and the facsimile device receives the transmission command. Then, the recording process control is started, and first, the RAM 2c
, The reception line number counter R and the continuous white line number counter W provided in the RAM 2c are cleared (S1).
Is performed to convert the reception data stored in the reception buffer into pixel data one line at a time (S
2).

Here, regarding the decoding processing of one line,
This will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG.
The number of pixels for one line of image information transmitted from the partner device 9b is 1728 pixels, and the effective recording range in the main scanning direction that can be actually recorded on the recording paper 18 is a range from the pointer P1 to the pointer P2. is there. The received data is composed of a set of codes corresponding to the black and white pattern of the pixel group of the received image read by the partner device 9b, and each of those codes is the black and white pattern of the pixel group and the code of the pixel group. The number of pixels is different.

First, the color information flag LC of one line provided in the RAM 2c is all white, and the bit development pointer PN is 0.
Is set (S100). Next, one code of the received data is decoded (S101), and based on the output result, the color and the number of pixels are set to BC and RL, respectively (S101).
102). Next, it is checked whether or not the bit development pointer PN is within the range of the effective recording range pointers P1 and P2 (S103, S104). If it is within the effective recording range in the main scanning direction (Yes in S103, Yes in S104
), When the color BC of the pixel is black (Yes in S105)
) The presence of black is set in the color information flag LC of one line (S106), and the flow shifts to S107.

On the other hand, if the bit development pointer PN is not within the effective recording range in the main scanning direction (No in S103 or No in S104), or the bit development pointer PN
If the pixel color BC is not black even if is in the effective recording range in the main scanning direction (No in S105), the process of S106 is skipped and the process proceeds to S107. In S107, the color BC of the pixel is set to the address [PN] indicated by the bit development pointer PN. Next, PN and RL are updated by incrementing the bit expansion pointer PN by 1 and decrementing the number of pixels RL by 1 (S1).
08), it is determined whether or not the number of pixels RL is 0 or less (S10).
9). In this case, since the number of pixels RL is not 0, S1
03, until the number of pixels RL becomes 0, that is, until the decoding process of one code is completed, S103 to S109
repeat. When the decoding process for one code of the received data is completed (Yes in S109), it is determined whether or not the bit expansion pointer PN is equal to 1728, that is, whether the decoding process for one line of the received data is completed. Is determined (S110).

In this case, since the decoding process for one line has not been completed yet (No in S110), S101 to S101 are not executed until the decoding process for one line of the received data is completed.
Step 110 is repeatedly executed. As a result, when it is determined that the decoding process for one line is completed (S1
Yes at 10), this process ends, and the flow shifts to S3 in FIG. When one line of recording data is obtained by the above-described decoding processing, the reception line number counter R is incremented (S3), and it is determined whether or not the color information flag LC of the decoded one line is completely white (S3). S4) If the color information flag LC is all white (Yes in S4), the continuous white line number counter W is incremented (S5), and if the color information flag LC is not all white (No in S4), The continuous white line number counter W is cleared (S6).

Next, it is determined whether or not a flag F set at S13 to be described later is 1 (S7).
Is not 1 (No in S7), the process proceeds to S10, and S10
It is determined whether or not the reception line number counter R has reached the first predetermined value Ra corresponding to the length of the recording paper 18 in the sub-scanning direction. Since the determination is No at first, the process proceeds to S14. , One page of recording data (that is, one page of received data)
Page) is determined. This determination is made based on whether or not there is an RTC command indicating a page end in the recording data. At first, since the determination is No, the process shifts from S14 to S2, and S2 to S14 are repeatedly executed.
Becomes Ra, the determination in S10 becomes Yes, and the routine goes to S11. In S11, a divided recording process for recording the recording data from the first line to the Ra-th line on the first recording paper 18 is executed. Next, the reception line number counter R and the continuous white line number counter W Are cleared to 0 (S12), and the flag F is set to 1 (S1).
3).

Next, in S14, it is determined whether or not the recording process for one page of the recording data has been completed in the same manner as described above.
If the recording process for one page has been completed (S1
4), it is determined whether or not the reception line number counter R is equal to the continuous white line number counter W (S15).
Since it is not = W, the flow shifts to S16, and if there is remaining data in the recording data for one page, the recording processing of the remaining data is executed, and then this recording processing control ends. On the other hand, S1
If the determination of No. 4 is No, that is, if the recording process for one page has not been completed, the process returns to S2 and returns to S2 to S1.
4 is repeatedly executed. In this case, since the flag F is set to 1, the process shifts from S7 to S8, and
8, the reception line number counter R indicates (Rc−R
The process of determining whether or not a) is performed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the number of lines for one page is
If less than the second predetermined value Rc, S2 to S8, S1
While repeating 0 and S14, the reception line number counter R reaches the maximum value (end value), the determination in S14 becomes Yes, and the process proceeds to S15. In this case, if all the lines after the first predetermined value Ra are white lines, the reception line number counter R and the continuous white line number counter W become equal, so the determination in S15 becomes Yes, and the steps from S15 to S1
Step 6 is skipped and the recording process control ends. Accordingly, in this case, since the second recording paper 18 on which nothing is recorded is not output, the recording paper 18 and the ink ribbon 4 are not output.
0 can be saved.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the number of lines for one page is equal to or larger than the second predetermined value Rc, S2 to S8,
While repeating S10 and S14, the determination in S8 is Ye
s In that case, in S9, a recording start process for starting recording of the recording data of the (Ra + 1) th line and thereafter is executed. As described above, even if all the lines from the (Ra + 1) th line to the Rcth line are white lines or include lines other than the white line, after waiting without recording up to the Rcth line, Since the recording on the recording paper 18 is started, it is possible to reliably prevent the reception buffer from overflowing and causing a reception error.

Thereafter, since the determination in S10 is No, S10
The process proceeds from S10 to S14, and repeats S2 to S14. When the recording process for one page of the recording data is completed, the process proceeds from S14 to S15. Then, the reception line number counter R
Is determined to be equal to the continuous white line number counter W (Yes in S15), that is, if it is determined that all the lines from the (Ra + 1) th line to the Rcth line are white lines, the process proceeds to S9. Since it is not necessary to continue the started recording, S16 is skipped and the recording process control ends. In this case, although recording is started on the second recording paper 18, nothing is actually recorded on the recording paper 18 and the recording paper 18 is output. In this case, it is possible to reliably prevent a reception error from occurring due to overflow of the reception buffer.

On the other hand, if the determination in S15 is No, since lines other than the white line are included in the lines from the (Ra + 1) th line to the Rcth line, (S16) A remaining data recording process for recording the remaining data of the recording data from the (Ra + 1) th line to the Rcth line is executed, and then the recording process control ends.

The operation of the recording process control in the facsimile apparatus described above will be briefly described. When the number of lines of the received image information for one page is larger than the first predetermined value Ra and smaller than the second predetermined value Rc, That is, (Ra + 1)
If all of the subsequent lines are white lines, R
For the lines up to the a-th line, the recording is output on the first recording paper 18, but the recording on the second recording paper 18 is omitted, so that the recording paper 18 and the ink ribbon 40 may be wasted. Absent.

When the number of lines of the received image information for one page is equal to or more than the second predetermined value Rc, even if the (Ra + 1) th and subsequent lines are all white lines, lines other than the white line However, when the number of lines is counted up to the second predetermined value Rc, the recording of the (Ra + 1) th and subsequent lines is started on the second recording paper 18, and the received image from the reception buffer is received. Since the output of information is promoted, it is possible to reliably prevent the reception buffer from overflowing and occurrence of a reception error by continuously interrupting the recording on the second recording paper 18.

As shown in FIG. 11, the first predetermined value Ra
And a second predetermined value Rc, a third predetermined value Rb is set, and 1
From the third line to the line of the third predetermined value Rb,
If reduced recording can be performed on one recording paper 18,
When the number of lines of the received image information for one page is larger than the first predetermined value Ra and equal to or less than the third predetermined value Rb, (Ra
When lines other than the white line are included in the lines subsequent to the (+1) th line, the recording may be performed on one recording sheet 18 by reduced recording.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the thermal transfer system is employed as the recording means has been described. However, it goes without saying that a page printer such as a laser printer may be employed. In other words, when a laser printer is employed, generally, printing a blank (not printed) recording paper is a waste of the recording paper, so that the recording operation is performed only when all white data is used. Is not performed.

More specifically, the recording data transmitted from the partner device 9b is temporarily stored in a receiving buffer, is developed as dot image data in an image buffer via an intermediate buffer or the like, and the recording processing is performed based on the image data. Done. The data to be actually printed on the recording paper is stored in the developed dot image data area for one page of the recording paper.
If there is one, the recording operation is started when the data of one page of the recording paper is expanded, and after the recording operation is completed, the data is erased from the image buffer, and the next recording data is read from the reception buffer. Issued and expanded in the image buffer. However, if the data developed in the image buffer is all white data (data that is not actually printed on the recording paper), the recording operation is not started even if the data for one page of the recording paper is developed.

Therefore, even if the all-white data is continuously transmitted and expanded in the image buffer, the recording operation is not executed. Therefore, the expanded all-white data is not erased from the image buffer and stored in the reception buffer. Since the recorded data cannot be expanded in the image buffer, it is impossible to store the recorded data sequentially sent from the partner device 9b in the receiving buffer. That is, the reception buffer overflows and a reception error occurs. In particular,
If the recording capacity of the image buffer is not very large
Occurs frequently .

For this reason, when the length of one page of the received image information in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the second predetermined value, the excess portion of the received image information exceeding the first predetermined value is:
Even when all the lines are determined to be white lines, the recording operation is started, the excess portion is set as white line data, and the recording paper is fed. As a result, the recorded white line data is erased from the image buffer, the next print data can be expanded, and the reception buffer does not overflow.

[0046]

As described above in detail, according to the facsimile machine 請 Motomeko 1, and white line determination means, counting means, provided with control means, one page of the received image information in the sub-scanning direction When the number of lines reaches a first predetermined value corresponding to the length of the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction, the received image information up to the line of the first predetermined value is recorded by the recording means, and the end value of the count value is changed. , When greater than the first predetermined value and less than the second predetermined value,
When the white line discriminating means determines that all the lines exceeding the first predetermined value are white lines, the recording means is configured not to execute the recording of the received image information of the excess portion. It is possible to prevent output of recording paper that does not record anything as recording paper, thereby saving recording paper. In the case of a facsimile apparatus of a type that performs recording using an ink ribbon, the ink ribbon can also be saved.

The count value end value (corresponding to the length of the received image information in the sub-scanning direction) is limited to a case where the count value is larger than the first predetermined value and smaller than the second predetermined value. Since the control is only executed, the recording of the received image information is interrupted and waited until the end value of the count value becomes equal to or greater than the second predetermined value, thereby preventing a reception buffer from overflowing and causing a reception error. can do.

Further, according to the facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means, when said count value reaches a second predetermined value, starts the recording of the lines exceeds a first predetermined value in the recording means Therefore, if the second predetermined value is set appropriately, it is possible to reliably prevent the reception buffer from overflowing and causing a reception error as described above. According to the facsimile apparatus of claim 3
If the white line discriminating means determines that the received image of one line
Image of information within a specified width that can be recorded in the main scanning direction
The white line can be determined based on the information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of the facsimile machine.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel of the facsimile machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the facsimile machine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a main routine of recording processing control.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a one-line decoding process accompanying the recording process control.

7 is a view to view the valid recording range in one line read image information.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating received image information and a recording state of the received image information on a recording sheet.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating received image information and a recording state of the received image information on a recording sheet.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating received image information and a recording state thereof.

FIG. 11 shows received image information and its recording state in a modified example.
It is an illustration of.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of received image information and its recording state in the related art.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of received image information and a recording state thereof in the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System control apparatus 2 System control part 2a CPU 2b ROM 2c RAM 33 Recording head control apparatus 62 Image reading apparatus

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] In the facsimile apparatus having a 1. A recording means for recording the received image information on the recording sheet, images information of one line is checked whether or not all white pixels, in the case of all white pixels, white the line White line discriminating means for discriminating a line, counting means for counting the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction of the received image information of one page, and the count value of the counting means corresponds to the length of the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction. When the first predetermined value is reached, the received image information up to the line of the first predetermined value is recorded by the recording means, and the end value of the count value is larger than the first predetermined value and smaller than the second predetermined value. A control unit that, when the white line determination unit determines that all the lines exceeding the first predetermined value are white lines, does not execute the recording of the received image information of the excess portion. Facsimile apparatus according to claim and. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein when the count value of the counting device reaches the second predetermined value, the control device causes the recording device to start recording on a line that exceeds the first predetermined value. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein 3. The white line discriminating means receives one line.
Of the image information within a predetermined width that can be recorded in the main scanning direction.
Distinguishes white lines based on image information
The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein