JPH0591270A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize the quantity of white line data in recording and transmitting them, to save recording sheets and to shoren transmission time. CONSTITUTION:When it is recognized that image data are stored in a line buffer 5 by means of an interruption program to be executed by a CPU 10, the thermal head 13 of a plotter 6 is heated, an RX motor 14 is driven and the image data are printed on thermosensible paper line by line. Whether or not the image data stored in the line buffer 5 are wholely white line data is checked with a mark. In the case of the wholely white line data, the thermal head 13 is not heated, the RX motor is not driven and the printing processing is stopped. By executing such printing operation for each line, the printing processing is stopped when image data by one line is wholely white data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly, to a facsimile machine which saves recording paper and shortens transmission time by reducing unnecessary recording and transmission of white line data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an information society, image data transmission and
Facsimile devices have become widespread as receiving means. This facsimile apparatus generally has a scanner and a plotter built-in, the transmission original is read by the built-in scanner, and the received image data is recorded and output by the built-in plotter. An image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is generally used as such a built-in scanner, and a thermal recording device using a thermal element is generally used as a built-in plotter. There is.

Further, many facsimile machines are equipped with various image memories for temporarily storing image data when transmitting / receiving these image data. For example, an image for one line is transmitted / received. It is provided as a line buffer for accumulating data.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional facsimile apparatus, in the image data to be transmitted / received, a line in which all the data are white data in the main scanning direction. However, there is a problem in that the blank portion of the recording paper is increased in recording the white line data, the recording paper is wasted, and the transmission time is lengthened in transmission.

That is, this white line data is recorded as a blank portion between lines when a character is a horizontally written document, and is a space between characters when the character is a vertically written document. Although it is recorded and a blank part is necessary in terms of legibility of the characters, too much white line data causes the above problem, so the amount of data is required when recording and transmitting white line data. It is desirable to keep it to a minimum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which keeps the amount of white line data to a necessary minimum when recording and transmitting white line data to save recording paper and shorten transmission time.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
An operation unit that has various operation keys and that inputs various operation instructions such as a transmission operation and a reception operation by operating the operation keys.
A communication unit that executes a facsimile communication procedure to send and receive image data, an image memory that stores the image data received by the communication unit line by line, and an image data stored in the image memory line by line A recording unit for recording and outputting on a recording sheet, and temporarily storing the received image data line by line in the image memory, and then recording and outputting the received image data on the recording sheet, an image stored line by line in the image memory. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that a detecting means for detecting whether or not the data is white line data is provided, and when the detecting means detects the white line data, the recording operation of the recording means is stopped. In the facsimile machine according to 1, the counting means for counting the number of white lines when the detecting means continuously detects white line data, and the counting means. And a comparison value setting means for setting a comparison value for comparing the number of white lines, the number of consecutive white lines is compared with the comparison value, and when the number of white lines does not reach the comparison value, the white line data is 4. A recording amount recorded by the recording means, and when the number of white lines exceeds a comparison value, the recording amount of the white line data is kept below the comparison value.
According to the invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, when the detecting means continuously detects white line data, a counting means for counting the number of white lines and a comparing means for comparing the counted number of white lines Comparing value setting means for setting a value is provided, the number of consecutive white lines is compared with the comparing value, and when the number of white lines does not reach the comparing value, the white line data is recorded by the recording means, When the number of white lines reaches a comparison value, a predetermined number of lines are deleted from the continuous white line data and recorded, and the invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1, 2 or 3. In the facsimile apparatus, an instruction means for instructing the start of each recording operation by the detection of the white line is assigned to a predetermined operation key in the operation means, and the invention according to claim 5 conveys to a reading position. A reading means for reading a document image to be read with a predetermined main scanning width and sequentially outputting the main scanning width as image data for one line; an image memory for accumulating the image data read by the reading means line by line; and a facsimile. A communication device that executes a communication procedure to send / receive image data, and temporarily stores the read image data line by line in the image memory and then transmits the image data to the destination terminal. Is provided with detection means for detecting whether the image data accumulated line by line is white line data, and when the detection means detects white line data, transmission of the white line data from the communication means is stopped. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the detection means continuously detects white line data. In this case, counting means for counting the number of white lines and comparison value setting means for setting a comparison value for comparing the counted number of white lines are provided, and the number of consecutive white lines is compared with the comparison value. When the number of white lines does not reach the comparison value, the white line data is transmitted from the communication means, and when the number of white lines exceeds the comparison value, the transmission amount of the white line data is kept below the comparison value. According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the fifth aspect, when the detecting means continuously detects white line data, a counting means for counting the number of white lines and the counting means. A comparison value setting means for setting a comparison value for comparing the number of white lines, and comparing the number of consecutive white lines with the comparison value. When the number of white lines does not reach the comparison value, the white line data is Sent from the communication means,
When the number of white lines reaches a comparison value, a predetermined number of lines are deleted from the continuous white line data and transmitted, and the invention according to claim 8 is the facsimile apparatus according to claim 5. When the detecting means continuously detects white line data, the counting means counts the number of the white lines, and the counted white color so that the stop time due to the stop of the transmission of the white line data becomes a predetermined time or less. A comparison value setting means for setting a comparison value for comparing the number of lines, and comparing the number of consecutive white lines with the comparison value, and when the number of white lines does not reach the comparison value, from the consecutive white line data It is characterized in that a predetermined number of lines are deleted and transmitted from the communication means, and when the number of white lines reaches a comparison value, white line data is transmitted.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading means for reading the original image conveyed to the reading position with a predetermined main scanning width and sequentially outputting the main scanning width as image data for one line. An image memory for accumulating the image data read by the reading unit line by line and a recording unit for recording and outputting the image data accumulated in the image memory line by line on a recording paper are provided. In a facsimile apparatus that temporarily stores the image data in the image memory and then outputs the data to a recording sheet, a detection unit that detects whether or not the image data stored in the image memory line by line is white line data is provided. When the data is detected, the recording operation of the recording means is stopped, and the invention according to claim 10 provides the facsimile apparatus according to claim 9. Further, when the detection means continuously detects white line data, a counting means for counting the number of white lines and a comparison value setting means for setting a comparison value for comparing the counted number of white lines are provided. , Comparing the number of consecutive white lines and the comparison value, when the number of white lines does not reach the comparison value, the white line data is recorded by the recording means, and when the number of white lines exceeds the comparison value, 12. The recording amount of white line data is kept below the comparison value,
According to the invention described in claim 9, in the facsimile apparatus according to claim 9, when the detection means continuously detects white line data, a counting means for counting the number of white lines is compared with a counting means for comparing the counted number of white lines. Comparing value setting means for setting a value is provided, the number of consecutive white lines is compared with the comparing value, and when the number of white lines does not reach the comparing value, the white line data is recorded by the recording means, When the number of white lines reaches a comparison value, a predetermined number of lines are deleted from the continuous white line data and recorded, and the invention according to claim 12 is characterized in that In the facsimile machine, the communication means for transmitting / receiving the image data by executing the facsimile communication procedure is provided, and the white line data is reduced and the image data recorded is temporarily stored in the image memory line by line. After, and characterized in that transmitted to the destination terminal.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the white line data is detected in the facsimile apparatus which temporarily stores the received image data line by line in the image memory and then records the image data, the recording operation is stopped. In the inventions described in 2 and 3, the white line data detected continuously is counted,
The number of white lines is compared with a set comparison value, and the recording amount of white line data is adjusted based on the comparison result. In the invention according to claim 4, each recording operation according to claim 1, 2 or 3 is performed. Is started by an operation key assigned to the operation means.

Therefore, when the white line data included in the received image data is recorded, the data amount can be reduced by a simple operation, and the recording paper can be saved. According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the white line data is detected in the facsimile device that transmits the read image data line by line in the image memory and then transmits the line data to the destination terminal, the transmission process is stopped. Items 6 and 7
In the described invention, the white line data detected continuously is counted, the number of white lines is compared with the set comparison value, and the transmission amount of the white line data is adjusted based on the comparison result.

Therefore, when transmitting the white line data included in the read original, the amount of data can be reduced and the transmission time can be shortened. In the invention described in claim 8, the continuously detected white line data is counted, and the number of white lines is compared with the comparison value set so that the transmission stop time is set to be the predetermined time or less. ,
The transmission amount of white line data and the transmission stop timing are adjusted based on the comparison result.

Therefore, when transmitting the white line data included in the read original, the data amount can be reduced, the transmission time can be shortened, and the transmission stop time can be prolonged to disconnect the line from the destination terminal. It is possible to reliably avoid interruption of the transmission of the image data. In a ninth aspect of the present invention, when white line data is detected in a facsimile apparatus that temporarily stores read image data line by line in an image memory and then outputs the line on a recording sheet, the recording process is stopped. Item 1
In the invention described in 0 and 11, the white line data detected continuously is counted, the number of white lines is compared with the set comparison value, and the transmission amount of the white line data is adjusted based on the comparison result. It

Therefore, the amount of data can be reduced when recording the white line data included in the read original, and the recording paper can be saved. In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus that performs a recording operation by reducing white line data, image data whose data amount has been reduced at the time of recording is temporarily stored in the image memory line by line and then transmitted to a destination terminal. ..

Therefore, since the print data in which the white line data included in the read original is reduced can be transmitted as it is, the image data in which the data amount is reduced can be transmitted without being read again from the recording paper, and the data can be transmitted when the white line data is transmitted. The amount can be reduced and the transmission time can be shortened.

[0015]

The present invention will be specifically described below based on the embodiments of the present invention. 1 to 8 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus to which the inventions of the present application are applied. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the facsimile apparatus 1. The facsimile apparatus 1 includes a network control unit 2, a FIFO memory 3, a DCR unit 4, a line buffer 5, a plotter 6, a scanner 7, a ROM 8, and the like.
It is composed of a RAM 9, a CPU 10, an operation unit 11 and the like, and each unit is connected by a bus 12.

The network control unit (communication means) 2 is connected to the public telephone line L, etc., and is equipped with a modem.
A facsimile communication procedure with a facsimile terminal (not shown) is executed to send / receive image data, and the received encoded analog image data is converted to digital image data using a modem. .. FIFO (First
In Ferst Out) The memory 3 temporarily stores the encoded digital image data input from the network control unit 2 and also temporarily stores the encoded image data input from the DCR unit 4. ..

The DCR unit 4 encodes (encodes) the image data according to a predetermined encoding method, and also decodes the encoded image data. That is,
The DCR unit 4 decodes the encoded digital image data stored in the FIFO memory 3 into image data of "1" and "0", and stores the image data in the line buffer 5 for each line. The image data read by the scanner 7 and stored in the line buffer 5 for each line is encoded into "1" and "0", and the FIFO
Store in memory 3.

Further, the DCR unit 4 detects whether or not the image data for one line for decoding or encoding the image data is all white, and when it decodes and detects all white data, it is stored in the line buffer 5. When storing, a mark indicating that it is all-white data is added, for example, "1" and "0" for one line of image data.
Data volume is 1728 bits and line buffer 5
If the memory capacity is 2048 bits, there is 320 bits of the remaining portion that does not contain image data, and a specific address of the remaining portion may be used as a data area for marking white line data.

Further, when the DCR section 4 encodes and detects all white data, the data for one line is
It is not stored in the FIFO memory 3. The DCR unit 4 has a function as a detection means. The line buffer (image memory) 5 stores the image data encoded or decoded by the DCR unit 4 or the image data read by the scanner 7 line by line.

As the plotter (recording means) 6, for example, a thermal recording device using a thermal element, that is, a thermal head (T / H) 13 is used, and the plotter is used directly on the thermal recording paper or on the ordinary recording paper. An image is recorded indirectly on the ink sheet. Further, the plotter 6 is provided with an RX motor 14 as a driving mechanism for carrying the recording paper at a predetermined speed.

As the scanner (reading means) 7, for example, an image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used, and the scanner scans a document and reads image information of the document. Further, the scanner 7 is provided with a TX motor 15 as a driving mechanism for carrying the read document to the reading position at a predetermined speed. ROM (Re
The ad only memory) 8 is a basic program for executing the sequence of the facsimile apparatus 1, a management program for the line buffer 5 according to the inventions of the present application, and an interrupt processing program to be described later for executing printing processing of white line data. Also, a transmission processing program, which will be described later, for executing the transmission processing of the white line data, etc.

RAM 9 (Random Access Memory) is a C
The PU 10 temporarily stores various data necessary for executing the above programs, and in this embodiment, the CP 10
It has a line buffer counter for storing the count value of the number of lines of the image data counted by U10, a memory area for setting a comparison value for comparing the count value, and the like. The RAM 9 has a function as comparison value setting means.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 is
In accordance with a basic program, a management program, an interrupt processing program, and a transmission processing program stored in the ROM 8, the respective units are controlled to execute the sequence as the facsimile apparatus 1, and the white line data printing process and the transmission process of each invention of the present application are performed. Run. Also, CPU10
Is when the DCR unit 4 detects white line data,
The number of white lines is counted, and the count value is stored in RAM.
It stores in the line buffer counter in 9.

The CPU 10 and the RAM 9 have a function as counting means. The operation unit (operation means) 11 is provided with various operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key, and the operation unit 9 is operated by operating the operation keys to input various commands such as a transmission command. Further, the operation unit 11 assigns an instruction function for instructing execution of the printing process and the transmission process of the white line data of each invention of the present application to a key for instructing a transmission command among various operation keys.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the print processing of the received image data in the facsimile apparatus 1 will be described. When the network control unit 2 of the facsimile device 1 receives the encoded analog image data via the public telephone line L, the network control unit 2 converts the analog image data into digital image data by a modem and temporarily stores the digital image data in the FIFO memory 3. Is stored. The image data stored in the FIFO memory 3 is D
The CR unit 4 decodes the image data into "1" and "0" and stores the image data in the line buffer 5 for each line. At this time, a main program for managing the line buffer 5 executed when the image data is stored in the line buffer 5 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and a printing operation executed as an interrupt program in the main program. Figure 3 shows the control program
It will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, when the image data reception is started, the interrupt program shown in FIG. 3 is started (step P1), and it is checked whether or not the image data is stored in the FIFO memory 3 (step P2). .. FI
When image data is stored in the FO memory 3, D
The CR unit 4 performs decoding (step P3), and as a result of the decoding, it is checked whether the image data is the final line (step P4). If it is not the last line, check whether it is all white line data (step P
5) If the data is all white line data, a mark indicating that the line data is white line data is added to the empty area of the line buffer 5 and stored in the line buffer 5 (step P6).

Then, the line buffer counter of the RAM 9 is incremented (+1) and the process returns to step P2.
The processing of the image data of the next line is repeatedly executed (step P7). On the other hand, if it is the last line of the image data in step P4, the interrupt process is terminated and this process is terminated (step P8). The line buffer counter is a counter for counting the number of valid data stored in the line buffer 5, and the DCR of the above step P3.
It is incremented when the image data for one line is decoded by the processing of the section 4, and is decremented when printed by the interrupt program.

Next, the interrupt program started in step P1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, upon activation, it is checked that the image data is stored in the line buffer 5 by monitoring the line buffer counter of the RAM 9 (step Q
1) When image data is stored in the line buffer 5,
The line buffer counter is decremented (-1) (step Q2). Next, it is checked by mark whether the image data is white line data (step Q3). If it is not white line data, R in the plotter 6 is checked.
The X motor is driven to execute the printing process for one line as usual (step Q4), and when it is not the white line data, the printing operation is not executed and the process returns to the check of the line buffer 5. The termination of the interrupt program is instructed by the main program, and when the image data is not stored in the line buffer 5 in step Q1, this processing is terminated at the timing of the termination instruction from the main program (step Q5).

Therefore, when it is recognized by the interrupt program executed by the CPU 10 that the image data is stored in the line buffer 5, the thermal head of the plotter 6 is heated and the RX motor is driven to generate an image line by line. While the data is printed on the thermal recording paper,
The mark is used to check whether the image data stored in the line buffer 5 is all-white line data,
When the data is all white line data, the thermal head does not generate heat, the RX motor is not driven, and the printing process is stopped. By executing this printing operation line by line, when one line of the image data is all white data, the printing process is stopped, and as a result, the recording length of the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction becomes shorter, You can save paper.

In the interrupt program shown in FIG. 3, the printing operation is stopped every time the white line data is detected. However, in this processing method, all the white line data is deleted, so that the sub-scanning direction is deleted. There is no space between the characters and the image becomes difficult to read. Therefore, an interrupt program for setting the ratio of printing the white line data will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, the processing of steps R1 to R3 is the same as the processing contents of steps Q1 to Q3 shown in FIG. 3, but when white line data is detected (step R3), the line buffer counter is turned on. Increment (+1) (step R4), and the count value is RAM
It is checked whether it is larger than the comparison value N set to 9 (step R5). This comparison value N can be set arbitrarily.

When the number of white lines is larger than the comparison value N,
The line buffer 5 of step R1 without executing the printing operation
When the number of white lines is smaller than the comparison value N, the RX motor in the plotter 6 is driven to execute the printing process for one line as usual (step R6). On the other hand, when the white line data is not detected in step R3, the line buffer counter is reset (step R7) and the image data of the line is printed (step R6). When no image data is stored in the line buffer 5 in step R1, this process ends at the timing of the end instruction from the main program (step R5).

Therefore, unless N or more white line data are continuously detected, the printing operation of the white line is not stopped, and the ratio of deleting the white line data is reduced by increasing the comparison value N. For example, assume that the black image and the black image are separated by 10 lines in the all-white image.
If N at that time is set to 3, the interval for 10 lines is changed to the interval for 3 lines for printing. As a result, the white line data is appropriately deleted and recorded as an easy-to-read image, and the recording length in the sub-scanning direction is shortened, so that recording paper can be saved.

Further, as a method of controlling the print ratio of the white line data, a method of setting the ratio of the cut amount of the white line data can be considered. In this case, if M white lines are continuous, one of the M white lines is not printed, and M can be set arbitrarily to cut the white line data at various ratios. Also, in fact,
It is conceivable that the white data portion is originally changed to a black image due to stains on the scanner 7 and conversely the number of all white lines is reduced.
In the section 4, the number of black data in one line is counted, and if it is less than a certain fixed amount, it is possible to reduce the white line data by performing control such as handling as all white data.

In the above embodiment, the case where the plotter 6 records on the thermal recording paper by the thermal method has been described, but it is needless to say that the interrupt processing of the present invention can be applied to the case of using other recording methods. In addition, the data amount of one line is 1728 bits, and the memory capacity of the line buffer 5 is 2048b.
Although it is used, these settings can be changed arbitrarily. Further, the address position and the like in the line buffer 5 for marking the white line data can be similarly changed.

By substituting the operation key of the operation unit 11 which is used only during normal transmission as a switch for selecting whether or not to perform the above printing operation at the time of receiving a facsimile, the switch for operating the present invention is specially selected. It is not necessary to provide it, that is, it can be dealt with only by changing the program in the facsimile apparatus 1, and it can be realized at low cost.

Next, the transmission processing of the read image data in the facsimile apparatus 1 will be described. When a transmission instruction is input through the operation unit 11 of the facsimile apparatus 1, the TX motor in the scanner 7 conveys the original document for transmission at a predetermined speed to the reading position, the original image is read, and the read image data is temporarily stored. It is stored in the line buffer 5 temporarily. The image data stored in the line buffer 5 is D
The CR unit 4 encodes the image data of "1" and "0", and stores it in the FIFO memory 3 line by line. At this time, a main program for managing the DCR unit 4 and the line buffer 5 which is executed when the image data is stored in the FIFO memory 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, when the transmission process is actually started, it is first checked whether or not the image data is stored in the line buffer 5 (step S1). This check is performed by checking the count value of the line buffer counter in the RAM 9, and this count value is incremented every time one line of valid image data from the scanner 7 is stored in the line buffer 5. , The DCR unit 4 decrements the effective image data in the line buffer 5 each time the encoding is completed. Therefore, the count value of the line buffer counter is "0".
When it becomes, it is recognized that the transmission process of the image data for one page is completed.

When the image data is stored in the line buffer 5, the DCR unit 4 encodes the image data (step S2) and checks whether the encoded image data is all white data (step S3). When all white data is detected, the line buffer counter is incremented (+1) (step S4), and it is checked whether the count value is larger than a comparison value M that can be set arbitrarily (step S5). When the count value is larger than the comparison value M, it is further checked whether or not the count value is larger than the comparison value N (step S6). When the count value is smaller than the comparison value N, the line buffer counter is decremented (-). 1) (step S7) and the process returns to step S1 to repeatedly check the image data of the next line.

The comparison value M is a threshold value of the number of lines for cutting the white line data, and the white line data is controlled not to be transmitted only when M or more continuous white lines are detected. That is, if transmission of all the white line data is cut off, there is no space between characters in the sub-scanning direction, and the transmitted image becomes difficult to read. Therefore, in this embodiment, an arbitrary comparison value M is set to control the ratio of cutting the transmission of the white line data.

If the count value is smaller than the comparison value M in step S5, the encoded image data is stored in the FIFO.
Stored in the memory 3 and executing transmission processing from the network control unit 2 to the destination terminal via the public telephone line L (step S9),
It is checked whether the encoding for one line is completed (step S10), and when it is completed, the line buffer counter is decremented (-1) (step S7), and the process returns to step S1 to check the image data of the next line. Repeat.

If white line data is not detected in the check in step S3, that is, if even one line includes a line containing black data, the count value of the line buffer counter is reset and transmission processing is performed. To execute (steps S8 to S10), the white line data is M
The transmission of the white line data is not stopped unless it continues for more than one line.

That is, continuous white line data of M lines or less is transmitted as it is as all white data, and at least the M lines are spaced at least between characters (however, the original document image is M lines or less). If there is white line data only at intervals of, it will be sent as is). Here, for example, when M is set to 3, the all-white encoded image data is FIFO until the count value of the line buffer counter reaches 4 by the process of step S5.
It is stored in the memory 3 and transmitted.

The comparison value N in step S6 is
It is a fail-safe at the time of transmission, and is set to keep the transmission stop time within a fixed time. That is, in the facsimile communication, according to CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Advisory Committee) recommendation, if the transmission stop time continues for 5 seconds or more due to the transmission stop of the data during the facsimile communication with the destination terminal, the data is received on the receiving side. It is stipulated that the line cannot be received and the transmission of image data is interrupted because the line cannot be received. Therefore, the comparison value N needs to be set so that the transmission of the white line data is not stopped continuously for 5 seconds or more, and is determined by the correlation with the transmission time.

When the count value is larger than the comparison value N in step S6, the count value of the line buffer counter is reset (step S8), the encoded image data is stored in the FIFO memory 3, and the network control unit 2 sends it to the public. Transmission processing to the destination terminal is executed via the telephone line L (step S9), it is checked whether the encoding for one line is completed (step S10), and when it is completed, the line buffer counter is decremented (-1). Then (step S7), the process returns to step S1 to repeatedly check the image data of the next line.

Therefore, the white line data is continuously M
When the number of lines is equal to or more than N and the number of lines is equal to or more than N, the line buffer counter is reset and transmitted, and transmission of white line data is not stopped until M or more white line data is transmitted. Therefore, the transmission amount of white line data can be reduced to shorten the transmission time, and it is possible to reliably avoid the disconnection of the line by the receiving terminal due to the prolonged stoppage time of white line data transmission. You can

In the above embodiment, when M continuous white line data exist, the transmission of M or more white line data is controlled to be stopped, but one of the M continuous white line data ( Alternatively, by controlling to stop the transmission of a few lines of white line data, it is possible to cut a portion of continuous white line data at a constant rate. In this case, the line buffer counter is reset in the process of step S1. do it.

For example, when M is set to 2, one line is cut when three white line data are consecutive, and the line buffer counter is reset. When this operation is repeatedly executed, 6 white lines are cut and transmitted when 20 consecutive white line data exist, and 3 white lines are transmitted when 10 consecutive white line data exist. Since the white line is cut and transmitted, the transmission amount of the white line data can be reduced in proportion to the size of the range of the white image.

Next, a main program for managing the other DCR unit 4 and line buffer 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this program,
The characteristic is that the transmission stop time, which was set as the comparison value N in 1 above, is directly set by a timer. First, it is checked whether or not the image data is stored in the line buffer 5 (step T1). When the image data is stored, a timer for checking the transmission stop time is set (step T2). Then
The DCR unit 4 encodes the image data (step T
3) It is checked whether the encoded image data is all white data (step T4). When all white data is detected, the line buffer counter is incremented (+1) (step T5), and it is checked whether the count value is larger than a comparison value M that can be arbitrarily set (step T6). When the count value is larger than the comparison value M, the timer set in step T2 is further checked for time-out (step T7), and if not exceeded, the line buffer counter is decremented (-1) (step T8). Returning to step S1, the image data of the next line is repeatedly checked.

When the count value is larger than the comparison value M in step T6, the timer is reset (step T10),
The encoded image data is stored in the FIFO memory 3 and the transmission process from the network control unit 2 to the destination terminal via the public telephone line L is executed (step T11) to check whether the encoding for one line is completed. Check (Step T
12) When it is finished, the line buffer counter is decremented (-1) (step T8), and the process returns to step S1 to repeatedly check the image data of the next line.

When the time is over at step T7, the count value of the line buffer counter is reset (step T9), and the encoded image data is set to F.
The data is stored in the IFO memory 3 and the transmission process from the network control unit 2 to the destination terminal via the public telephone line L is executed (step T
11) It is checked whether the encoding for one line is completed (step T12), and when it is completed, the line buffer counter is decremented (-1) (step T12).
8) Then, returning to step S1, the image data of the next line is repeatedly checked.

As described above, by setting the transmission stop time of the white line data within 5 seconds by the timer setting instead of the comparison value N, the transmission stop time of the white line data is prolonged and the receiving side terminal disconnects the line. It is possible to reliably avoid such a situation, and it is possible to reduce the transmission amount of the white line data and reduce the transmission time as in the above.

If the line buffer counter is reset in the process of step T2 as in the case of the program shown in FIG. 5, the transmission amount of white line data can be cut at a constant rate. Next, a recording process of the read image data, that is, a copying process in the facsimile apparatus 1 will be described.

When a copy instruction is input through the operation unit 11 of the facsimile apparatus 1, the TX motor 15 in the scanner 7
The original document for transmission is conveyed to the reading position at a predetermined speed, the original image is read, and the read image data is
It is temporarily stored in the line buffer 5. The image data stored in the line buffer 5 is encoded into image data of "1" and "0" by the DCR unit 4, and stored in the FIFO memory 3 for each line. At this time, F
A main program that manages the DCR unit 4 and the line buffer 5 executed when the image data is stored in the IFO memory 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 7, when the read image data is temporarily stored in the line buffer 5, the CPU 10 as white line detecting means checks whether or not all one line of data stored in the line buffer 5 is white data. Step U1). If it is all white data, the number of white lines is counted by the CPU 10 and the RAM 9 as white line counting means (step U2). Whether or not the counted value exceeds the comparison value stored in the RAM 9 or the threshold value M is compared by the CPU 10 as a comparison means (step U3).
As a result, when the number of consecutive white lines exceeds the threshold value M, the driving of the RX motor 14 is stopped and the T / H 13 print pulse is controlled not to be output at the timing of printing for the white line. At the same time, the white line is excluded from the data to be stored in the FIFO memory 3 as the image data for transmission and is not stored (step U4). That is, the image data other than the excluded white line is accumulated in the FIFO memory 3 as usual. At this time, the image data encoded by the DCR unit 4 may be stored, or the image data may be stored as it is without being encoded. Encoded data can be sent as it is,
The image data stored without being encoded may be transmitted while being encoded. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the data is accumulated while being encoded.

In this way, the image data is accumulated and printed (copy printing) while deleting the white line exceeding the threshold value M (step U5), and the process is terminated. on the other hand,
If it is not an all-white line in step U1, the white line counter is reset (step U6), and the process proceeds to step U4 to store and print the image data.

After copying, the accumulated image data is judged as to whether or not the copied image is to be transmitted. When transmitting, the image control unit 2 starts transmitting image data (encoded data) to the public line. To do. In the white line control of this embodiment, all the continuous white lines having the threshold value M or more are (M-1) white lines. Specifically, assuming that the threshold value M is 4, the number of continuous white lines is 2,
Assuming that there are 3, 4, 10 and 20, the number of white lines actually printed is as follows.

Number of white lines counted Number of white lines actually printed 2 lines → 2 lines 3 lines → 3 lines 4 lines → 3 lines 10 lines → 3 lines 20 lines → 3 lines Also, the threshold value M is set to “1”. When set to, all detected white lines are deleted. Therefore, when the data is all white line data, the thermal head 13 does not generate heat, the RX motor 14 is not driven, and the printing process is stopped. By executing this printing operation line by line, when one line of the image data is all white data, the printing process is stopped, and as a result, the recording length of the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction becomes shorter, You can save paper.

In the white line all deletion program with the threshold value M = 1, every time white line data is detected,
Although the printing operation has been stopped, in this processing method, all white line data is deleted, so there is no space between characters in the sub-scanning direction, and the image becomes difficult to read. Therefore, as described above, by setting the threshold value M to an arbitrary value such as "4", it is possible to realize copy printing that achieves both saving of recording paper and readability.

Next, another embodiment of the recording process of the read image data, that is, the copying process in the facsimile apparatus 1 will be described. In the copying process, the number of white lines that are not printed is determined by comparing the number of continuous white lines with the threshold value M. Instead of this, in the present embodiment, the threshold value N and the number of lines P to be deleted when N is exceeded are used as parameters in advance as a RAM as a comparison value setting means.
9 is stored and the white line not to be printed is determined. That is, when the number of continuous white lines becomes N when counting the white lines, control is performed so that P white lines in the white lines are not printed. In this case, the relationship between N and P is N
≧ P.

At this time, the main program for managing the DCR unit 4 and the line buffer 5 executed when the image data is stored in the FIFO memory 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, when the read image data is temporarily stored in the line buffer 5, C
The PU 10 uses the line buffer 5 as a white line detecting means.
It is checked whether or not all the data lines stored in 1 are white data (step V1). If all white data,
CPU 10 and RAM as white line counting means
The number of white lines is counted by 9 (step V
2). Whether or not the counted value exceeds the comparison value stored in the RAM 9 or the threshold value N is compared by the CPU 10 as a comparison means (step V3). As a result, when the number of consecutive white lines exceeds the threshold value N, P all white lines in N white lines are deleted (step V4), and (N−P) white lines are deleted. Copy printing is performed (step V5), and the white line counter is reset (step V6). In addition, R at the same time as the printing timing of the white line to be deleted
The driving of the X motor 14 is stopped, the print pulse of the T / H 13 is controlled not to be output, and the white line to be deleted is excluded from the image data for transmission and stored in the FIFO memory 3. If the number of white lines does not exceed N in the judgment of step V3, all of these white lines are stored in the FIFO memory 3 as transmission image information (step V7). In this embodiment as well, as in the previous embodiment, the DCR unit 4 encodes and then stores the data.

On the other hand, in step V1, if it is not an all-white line, the value of the white line counter is checked (step V8), and if the counter value is "0", the image line data judged to be in the white line is displayed. FIFO memory 3
(Step V9), and the image line data is copied and printed (step V10). If the white line counter value is not "0" in step V8, that is, if there are N or less white lines, these white lines are stored in the FIFO memory 3 and are copied and printed (step V11). .. Next, the white line counter value is reset (step V12), the image line data detected in step V1 is accumulated and copied and printed (step V13), and the process ends.

In the case of the present embodiment, the P white lines are not printed every N consecutive white lines, so that the white lines can be controlled not to be printed at a constant rate. Specifically, assuming that N is 2, P is 1, and the number of continuous white lines is 2, 3, 4, 10, or 20, the number of white lines actually printed is as follows. become. Number of white lines counted Number of white lines actually printed 2 lines → 1 line 3 lines (2 lines + 1 line) → 2 lines 4 lines (2 lines + 2 lines) → 2 lines 10 lines (2 lines × 5) → 5 20 lines (2 lines × 10) → 10 lines In this example, when N white lines are detected,
I controlled to copy and print P white lines.
A fixed ratio (eg P / N) to the number of detected white lines
The white line of may be controlled to be printed by copying.

Therefore, by setting an original on the scanner 7 and pressing the copy button, the number of reduction lines can be reduced according to the amount of continuous white lines by the set parameters (threshold values N and P). Since the image can be adjusted and copied, it is possible to reduce the discomfort with the original image. Further, as described above, the image data with the white line deleted is accumulated in the FIFO memory 3 in parallel with the copy printing. Therefore, it is not necessary to read the original for transmission again by selecting whether or not to transmit the read image data to a predetermined partner after copying. At this time, the white line portion is also deleted from the transmitted image. However, depending on the setting, it is also possible to print the image with the white line removed during copying, and the image to be transmitted may be the image of the original.

Therefore, once the copy is made by the white line cut printing, the image can be transmitted without being read again. Therefore, when the transmission image is confirmed by making a copy once, the transmission time can be reduced. It is possible to shorten the communication time and communication time.

[0066]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the white line data is detected in the facsimile apparatus for recording the received image data line by line once in the image memory and then recording, the recording operation is stopped, According to the inventions of claims 2 and 3, the white line data detected continuously is counted, the number of white lines is compared with a set comparison value, and the recording amount of the white line data is based on the comparison result. Adjust
According to the invention of claim 4, claim 1, 2 or 3
Since the start of each described recording operation is instructed by the operation key assigned to the operation means, the amount of data can be reduced by a simple operation when recording the white line data included in the received image data. Can be saved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus which temporarily stores the read image data line by line in the image memory and then transmits the image data to the destination terminal,
When the white line data is detected, the transmission process is stopped, and according to the inventions of claims 6 and 7, the white line data detected continuously is counted, and the number of white lines is compared with the set comparison value. Since the transmission amount of the white line data is adjusted based on the comparison result, the data amount can be reduced when transmitting the white line data included in the read document, and the transmission time can be shortened.

According to the invention described in claim 8, the white line data detected continuously is counted, and the number of white lines is compared so that the transmission stop time according to claim 5 is set to a predetermined time or less. Since the transmission amount and the transmission stop timing of the white line data are adjusted based on the comparison result with the value, the data amount can be reduced when transmitting the white line data included in the read document. The time can be shortened, and it is possible to surely prevent the transmission stop time from being lengthened and the line from the destination terminal being disconnected to interrupt the transmission of the image data.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus for temporarily storing read image data line by line in an image memory and then recording and outputting the image data on a recording sheet,
When the white line data is detected, the recording process is stopped, and according to the inventions of claims 10 and 11, the continuously detected white line data is counted and the number of white lines is compared with a set comparison value. However, since the transmission amount of the white line data is adjusted based on the comparison result, the data amount can be reduced when recording the white line data included in the read document, and the recording paper can be saved. ..

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus which performs a recording operation by reducing white line data, image data whose data amount is reduced at the time of recording is temporarily stored in the image memory line by line, and then the destination terminal Since the image data having the reduced data amount can be transmitted without being read again from the recording paper, the data amount can be reduced when transmitting the white line data, and the transmission time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a line buffer management program of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a printing process of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another printing process of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a transmission process of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another transmission process of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing copy processing of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another copy process of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

[Description of Codes] 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 Network control section 3 FIFO memory 4 DCR section 5 Line buffer 6 Plotter 7 Scanner 8 ROM 9 RAM 10 CPU 11 Operation section

Claims (12)

[Claims] Claims: 1. Operation means having various operation keys for inputting various operation instructions such as a transmission operation and a reception operation by operating the operation keys, and a facsimile communication procedure is executed to send / receive image data. A communication unit, an image memory that stores the image data received by the communication unit line by line, and a recording unit that records and outputs the image data stored in the image memory line by line on a recording sheet are received. In a facsimile apparatus that temporarily stores image data line by line in an image memory and then prints out on a recording paper, a detection unit is provided for detecting whether the image data stored in the image memory line by line is white line data, A facsimile apparatus, wherein the recording operation of the recording means is stopped when the detecting means detects white line data. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the detecting means continuously detects white line data, a counting means for counting the number of white lines and a comparing means for comparing the counted number of white lines A comparison value setting means for setting a value is provided, and the number of consecutive white lines is compared with the comparison value. When the number of white lines does not reach the comparison value, the white line data is recorded by the recording means, A facsimile apparatus, wherein when the number of white lines exceeds a comparison value, the recording amount of the white line data is kept below the comparison value. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the detecting means continuously detects white line data, a counting means for counting the number of white lines and a comparing means for comparing the counted number of white lines. A comparison value setting means for setting a value is provided, and the number of consecutive white lines is compared with the comparison value. When the number of white lines does not reach the comparison value, the white line data is recorded by the recording means, A facsimile apparatus, characterized in that, when the number of white lines reaches a comparison value, a predetermined number of lines are deleted from the continuous white line data and recorded. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an instruction means for instructing the start of each recording operation by the white line detection is assigned to a predetermined operation key of the operation means. Facsimile machine. 5. A reading means for reading a document image conveyed to a reading position with a predetermined main scanning width and sequentially outputting the main scanning width as image data for one line, and image data read by the reading means. An image memory for accumulating one line at a time, and a communication means for transmitting and receiving image data by executing a facsimile communication procedure are provided, and the read image data is temporarily accumulated for each line in the image memory. In the facsimile apparatus for transmitting to the above, the detecting means for detecting whether the image data stored in the image memory line by line is white line data is provided, and when the detecting means detects white line data, the white line data A facsimile machine characterized by stopping transmission from a communication means. 6. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the detecting means continuously detects white line data, a counting means for counting the number of white lines and a comparing means for comparing the counted number of white lines A comparison value setting means for setting a value is provided, and the number of consecutive white lines is compared with the comparison value. When the number of white lines does not reach the comparison value, the white line data is transmitted from the communication means, A facsimile apparatus, wherein when the number of white lines exceeds a comparison value, the transmission amount of the white line data is kept below the comparison value. 7. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the detecting means continuously detects white line data, a counting means for counting the number of white lines and a comparing means for comparing the counted number of white lines. A comparison value setting means for setting a value is provided, and the number of consecutive white lines is compared with the comparison value. When the number of white lines does not reach the comparison value, the white line data is transmitted from the communication means, A facsimile apparatus, wherein when the number of white lines reaches a comparison value, a predetermined number of lines are deleted from the continuous white line data and transmitted. 8. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the detection means continuously detects white line data, a counting means for counting the number of white lines, and a stop due to the stop of the transmission of the white line data. A comparison value setting means for setting a comparison value for comparing the counted number of white lines so that the time is equal to or less than a predetermined time, and comparing the number of consecutive white lines with the comparison value, and comparing the number of white lines When the value does not reach the value, a predetermined number of lines are deleted from the continuous white line data and transmitted from the communication means, and when the number of white lines reaches the comparison value, the white line data is transmitted. Facsimile machine. 9. A reading means for reading a document image conveyed to a reading position with a predetermined main scanning width and sequentially outputting the main scanning width as image data for one line, and image data read by the reading means. An image memory for accumulating line by line, and a recording unit for recording and outputting the image data accumulated in the image memory on a recording paper line by line, after the read image data is once accumulated in the image memory In a facsimile apparatus for recording and outputting on a recording paper, a detecting means for detecting whether or not the image data stored in the image memory line by line is white line data is provided, and when the detecting means detects the white line data, the recording is performed. A facsimile apparatus characterized in that the recording operation of the means is stopped. 10. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the detecting means continuously detects white line data, a counting means for counting the number of white lines and a comparing means for comparing the counted number of white lines A comparison value setting means for setting a value is provided, and the number of consecutive white lines is compared with the comparison value. When the number of white lines does not reach the comparison value, the white line data is recorded by the recording means, A facsimile apparatus, wherein when the number of white lines exceeds a comparison value, the recording amount of the white line data is kept below the comparison value. 11. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the detection means continuously detects white line data, a counting means for counting the number of white lines and a comparison for comparing the counted number of white lines. A comparison value setting means for setting a value is provided, and the number of consecutive white lines is compared with the comparison value. When the number of white lines does not reach the comparison value, the white line data is recorded by the recording means, A facsimile apparatus, characterized in that, when the number of white lines reaches a comparison value, a predetermined number of lines are deleted from the continuous white line data and recorded. 12. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising communication means for executing a facsimile communication procedure to send and receive image data, and reduce white line data to perform a recording operation. A facsimile machine characterized in that the image data is temporarily stored line by line in an image memory and then transmitted to a destination terminal.