JPH0614181A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent recording paper from being consumed wastefully by deciding whether reception original data should be printed separately or restrictive print should be performed from the blank length of an outgoing original. CONSTITUTION:A modem 5 demodulates a modulated facsimile signal sent via a telephone line 6, while, sends out the facsimile signal to be sent to the telephone line 6 after applying modulation. For example, the reception original data of at least one page comprised by decoding the facsimile signal demodulated by the modem 5 is stored in a print buffet 7 comprised of a semiconductor RAM(random access memory). A control part 2 controls every part based on a control program in program memory 3. In other words, the length of a reception original of one page obtained from a reception line counter 11 is compared with that of the recording paper on which the original is printed, and it is decided whether the restrictive print of the reception original of one page should be performed on one sheet of recording paper or it shoud be performed on two sheets of recording paper.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, generally used facsimile machines use roll paper as recording paper. In such an apparatus, the received original can be printed on one continuous recording sheet, no matter how long the received original for one page in the sub-scanning direction is. Specifically, in the case of transmitting a document of A4 size, for example, in a normal facsimile apparatus, the transmission destination data is added to the head of the transmission data read from the A4 document and transmitted. The size of the original in the sub-scanning direction is larger than the A4 size by the destination data, but in the device using the roll paper, the length to which the destination data is added is regarded as one page length and one continuous sheet is fed. Print on the recording paper. Therefore,
The size of one page of recording paper printed on the receiving side can be larger than the size of the transmitted original.

On the other hand, in recent years, a facsimile machine using a laser beam printer or the like as a recording means employs not a roll paper but a so-called cut paper which is cut in advance to a predetermined size called A4 size or B5 size.

For this reason, for example, when the transmitted original is A4 size and the recording paper on the receiving side is also A4 size cut sheet, the length of the received original is increased by the destination data, so that one page is received. The original cannot be printed on one sheet of recording paper.

[0005]

As a method for solving this problem, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-12665, a method of reducing and printing a received document in the sub-scanning direction can be considered.

However, it sometimes happens that the printed received original is made smaller than the original transmitted original. For example, when a design drawing is transmitted, there is a problem that a transmission original on the transmission side and a received original have a difference in size, and as described in the above publication, when only the sub-scanning direction is reduced, the original is There is also the problem that the figure inside will be deformed (eg circle → ellipse).

Even if the width of the transmitted original in the main scanning direction is the same as the length of the short side of the A4 size, the length in the sub scanning direction is twice the length of the long side of the A4 size. In case of the above, it is necessary to reduce at least 50% in the sub-scanning direction, and such reduction makes it impossible to read the received document.

As another solution, it is conceivable to divide one page of the received document into two recording sheets and print it. However, the received document portion to be printed on the second recording sheet is transmitted. If it corresponds to the last margin of the document, there is a problem that the recording paper is wasted as a result.

[0009]

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is characterized by a means for storing at least one page of received document data and one page stored in the storage means. Means for counting the length of the received document for one minute, means for comparing the length of one page of the received document obtained by the counting means with the length of the recording paper on which this document is to be printed, and the comparison means. Based on the comparison result, a means for determining whether the received original for one page is limitedly printed on one recording sheet or divided into two recording sheets and printed. Be prepared.

Another feature is obtained by means for storing at least one page of received document data, means for counting the length of one page of received document stored in the storage means, and the counting means. Means for comparing the length a of one page of the received original with the length b of the recording paper on which this original is to be printed. As a result of the comparing means, when a> b, the last one page of the received original is printed. Means for determining whether or not all the data in the area ab from the line is a blank space and controlling so as not to print the data in the above area if the blank space is present is there.

[0011]

With this structure, when the length of the received original for one page becomes longer than the length for one sheet of recording paper, it is automatically determined whether or not to print on the second sheet of recording paper. To do.

[0012]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile machine (1) according to the present invention. In the figure, (2) is a control section composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and (3) is, for example, a semiconductor ROM (read only). The control section (2) controls each section described below based on the control program in the program memory (3). The control unit (2) and the other units are connected by a bus (4).

(5) is a modem which demodulates the modulated facsimile signal sent through the telephone line (6), while modulating the facsimile signal sent to the telephone line (6). Then send it out.

Reference numeral (7) is a print buffer formed of, for example, a semiconductor RAM (random access memory), and at least one page of received original data formed by compounding the facsimile signal demodulated by the modem (5) is stored in the memory. Is stored.

Reference numeral (8) is a printing section comprising, for example, a laser beam printer, and the printing section is the print buffer (7).
The received original data inside is printed on the recording paper consisting of cut paper.

Reference numeral (9) is a work memory composed of a semiconductor RAM, and the memory includes a one-line buffer (10) and a reception line counter (1) necessary for the control operation of the control section (2).
Values such as 1) are stored.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the control operation of the control unit (2) based on the control program stored in the program memory (3), and the operation of this embodiment will be described below based on this chart. .

First, in step S1, telephone line (6)
Prior to the start of reception of the facsimile signal sent via the control unit (2), the control unit (2) clears the print buffer (7) and resets the content of the counter (11) to "0". In the subsequent step S2, the 1-line buffer (10) is cleared, and the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the control unit (2) starts reception, sends a facsimile signal for one line which is sent via the telephone line (6) and demodulated by the modem (5) to the work memory (9). The data is stored in the 1-line buffer (10). The facsimile signal for one line has the configuration shown in FIG. That is,
MH or M for the original for one line read by the sender
There are a configuration (a) in which only one EOL signal is added after the R-coded encoded data and a configuration (b) in which six EOL signals are added after the encoded data.
As shown in the structure of (a), the EOL signal is 1 after the encoded data.
In the case of only one, this EOL signal simply indicates the end of one line, and when there are six consecutive EOL signals after the encoded data as in the structure of (b), the end of one line and the end of the page are indicated. Show. In the following, six consecutive EOL signals will be referred to as RTC signals.

Therefore, the control unit (2) determines the break of the facsimile signal for one line by the EOL or RTC signal.

When the facsimile signal for one line is fetched into the one-line buffer (10) in step S3, the control unit (2) continues to the counter (1 in step S4).
The value of 1) is incremented by "1". Then S
In 5 steps, the received document data obtained by decoding the encoded data in the 1-line buffer (10) is stored in the print buffer (7) as print data.

Next, in step S6, the control unit (2) determines whether the signal following the encoded data in the 1-line buffer (10) is an RTC signal.

In this determination, if it is determined that the signal is not the RTC signal, the control unit (2) returns the processing to step S2,
The same processing as described above is repeated for the facsimile signal for one line sent next.

The above steps S2 to S6 are repeated until the RTC signal appears in the facsimile signal for one line received in step S3. When the RTC signal appears, the control unit (2) detects it in step S6. Then, the process proceeds to step S7.

At step S7, the received original data corresponding to the facsimile signal received so far is stored in the print buffer (7) for one page, and the number of lines forming the data for one page is Counter (1
1) It is a value.

In step S7, the counter (11)
The value is stored again as a variable a in the work memory (9),
In the subsequent step S8, the variable a is compared with the first constant b preset in the program memory (3). The first constant b indicates the maximum number of lines that can be printed on the recording paper on which the received document data is printed.

When it is determined in step S8 that "a≤b", the control section (2) advances the processing to step S9. In step S9, the print unit (8) is controlled to read all the received document data stored in the print buffer (7) and record it on one recording sheet.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8 that "a>b", the control section (2) advances the processing to step S10. In step S10, the difference between the variable a and the first constant b, and the second value preset in the program memory (3).
The comparison with the constant c is performed. The second constant c is, for example, a value based on the number of lines in a region estimated to be a margin on the lower end side in the received document data.

Therefore, in step S10, "ab-c".
If the control unit (2) determines that the area from the last line to the (ab) line in the received document data consisting of the a line in the print buffer (7) is regarded as a blank area as shown in FIG. In the step, the printing unit (8) is controlled so that only b lines from the uppermost line of the received document data stored in the print buffer (7) are limitedly recorded on one recording sheet.

When it is determined in step S10 that "ab>c", the control unit (2) stores a in the print buffer (7).
From the last line in the received document data consisting of lines (a
It is considered that the line-b) has not only the blank space but also the data to be printed as shown in FIG. 4, and the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, only b lines from the uppermost line of the received originals stored in the print buffer (7) are printed on the first recording sheet as shown in FIG.
The printing unit (8) is controlled so that the remaining lines after the (b + 1) th line are printed on the second recording sheet. That is, S1
In step 2, the received document data in the print buffer (7) is divided into two recording sheets and printed.

When the processing of step S9, S11 or S12 is completed, the control section (2) advances the processing to step S13. In step S13, whether or not there is a subsequent page is confirmed based on the control signal (MPS, EOM or EOP) sent from the facsimile machine of the other party via the telephone line (6). The process is returned to step S1 and the above-described operation is performed again. On the other hand, when there is no subsequent page, the process is terminated.

In this embodiment, steps S8 and S10 are performed.
Although the step is determined by the number of lines, it may be determined by the length data corresponding to this number of lines.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of another embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment described in FIG. 2 is that S20 step is provided instead of S10 step. The other steps are the same as those in FIG.

The step S20 is the step S1 of the first embodiment.
In step 0, when it is determined that “ab ≦ c”,
Unconditionally, the line from the last line to the (ab) line was regarded as the blank part, but it is judged whether there is really only the blank space. If there is print data other than the blank space, the process proceeds to S12. Go to step. As a result, all necessary data other than margins are printed.

[0036]

According to the present invention, when the length of the received original data is larger than the recording paper length, the received original data is printed on two recording papers separately or one recording paper is printed. Whether or not printing is limited to the amount that can be printed on the paper is determined based on the margin length of the transmission original, so all the necessary reception originals can be printed in actual size and the unnecessary printing paper wastes waste of recording paper. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a form of a received facsimile signal.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining printing of received document data.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining printing of received document data.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile device 2 Control unit 3 Program memory 7 Print buffer 8 Print unit 11 Counter

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A means for storing at least one page of received original data, a means for counting the length of the received original for one page stored in the storage means, and a received original 1 obtained by the counting means. A means for comparing the length of a page with the length of the recording paper on which this original is to be printed, and a portion for printing the received original for one page on one recording paper based on the comparison result of the comparing means. A facsimile apparatus comprising means for determining whether to print only in a limited manner or to divide into two recording sheets for printing. 2. A means for storing at least one page of received original data, a means for counting the length of the received original for one page stored in the storage means, and one page for the received original obtained by the counting means. Means for comparing the length a of the minute with the length b of the recording paper on which this original is to be printed, and as a result of the comparing means, when a> b, a-b from the last line of one page of the received original Facsimile apparatus comprising means for judging whether or not all the data in the area of the length is a margin, and controlling to not print the data in the area if the margin is present. .