JPH0795384A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select the optimum print method when picture information of an optional size not in the communication rule size is received. CONSTITUTION:In the step (32), which picture processing (30) is to be implemented among picture processing methods 1-5 is selected and any of picture processing 1(32), 2(34), 3(36), 4(38) and 5(40) is selected and the resulting picture is corrected (42). A size discrimination method is selected (step 44) and any of size discrimination methods 1(46), 2(48), 3(50) is executed. A printing method is selected (step 52) and any of printing methods 1(54), 2(56), 3(58), 4(60), 5(62) is executed. Then printing of picture (64), recording of size discrimination result to the history (66) and recording of printing method to the history (68) are executed.

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 that optimally prints image information of arbitrary size which does not meet the communication protocol.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique for realizing a communication of an image size which does not meet the communication contract size by a standard protocol is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-123.
175. In this technique, the size is determined by determining the length in the sub-scanning direction from the line synchronization signal of the image data counted by the count unit on the receiving side.

[0003]

However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-123175, the size is determined only by the length in the sub-scanning direction, so that the length in the sub-scanning direction is other than the standard size. However, there is a risk of making a wrong decision. Further, since the size is determined from the line sync signal, the line sync signal is required in addition to the image information. Further, when the communication protocol (protocol) size and the size close to the communication protocol size are mixed and communicated, they are treated as the same size in the protocol, so that the receiving side can accurately distinguish the size difference. Can not. for that reason,
You can print on chart paper of a size different from the transmission size,
There were unnecessary reductions and loss of image information.

The present invention provides a facsimile apparatus capable of selecting an optimum printing method when receiving image information of an arbitrary size which does not meet the communication protocol.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile machine according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image processing means for processing received image information in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. And a size determining unit that determines the size of the image information from the processed image processed by the image processing unit, and an optimum printing method is selected based on the size of the image information determined by the size determining unit. And a print means for printing the image information by the print method selected by the print method selection means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the facsimile apparatus divides at least a specific area of the received image information into blocks having a predetermined size including a plurality of pixels, and performs image processing on each block, and the image processing. Size determining means for determining the size of the image information from the processed image processed by the means, and printing method selecting means for selecting an optimum printing method based on the size of the image information determined by the size determining means. And printing means for printing the image information by the printing method selected by the printing method selecting means.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the image processing means processes the received image information in a fixed direction. In particular, the received image information is subjected to image processing for each line in the main scanning direction or for each line in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and the size of the image information is determined from the processed image thus processed. It is possible to select the most suitable printing method based on the result of the size determination. If the size of the image information is judged by two directions, the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction,
You can judge the exact size.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image processing means divides at least a specific area of the received image information into blocks of a predetermined size including a plurality of pixels and processes the image for each block. The size of the image information is determined from the processed image processed by the image processing means. This specific area has two corners located on one diagonal of the image information of one page, and the entire image information may be divided into blocks of a predetermined size. The printing method selecting means selects an optimal printing method from the sizes judged by the size judging means. The printing means prints the image information by the printing method selected by the printing method selecting means.

The size determination by the size determination means can be performed by the operator by inputting information indicating the result of the size determination based on the processed image processed by the image processing means.

The size may be automatically determined based on the processed image processed by the image processing means.

The operator selects the printing method by
Based on the size determination, information indicating the selected printing method can be input and selected.

Based on the judgment result of the size judging means,
Automatically select the printing method. If there is no optimum recording paper, or if there is no optimum recording paper, the operator is instructed to select reduction, enlargement, or deletion of a blank portion.

Further, the priority order may be determined in advance, the printing method using the optimum recording paper may be selected, and the printing method of reducing, enlarging or deleting the margin portion may be selected.

If there is no recording sheet of the same size as the determined size, the recording sheet may be printed at the center of the recording sheet or at the upper right or upper left corner.

Then, the size and printing method determined by displaying may be stored, and the operator may be guided the determined size and printing method when printing next time.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes a facsimile communication apparatus 10, an image memory 12, a control apparatus 14, a printing apparatus 16, a control panel 18, and a decoding apparatus 20, which are image memory. CPU 12 for exchanging control signals with the data bus 22 for controlling input / output to / from 12 and the control unit 14.
They are connected to each other by a bus 24.

The facsimile communication device 10 is connected to an external facsimile device through a communication line, receives image information transmitted from the facsimile device on the other side through the communication line, and receives an image memory through the data bus 22. 1
Write image information to 2.

When the image information to be printed is stored in the image memory 12, the control device 14 determines, for each line,
The decoding device 20 is instructed to decode each dot of the image information into “0” or “1”, and the decoded image information is subjected to image processing for each block instructed by the system data (image Processing 1), image processing for each line in the main scanning direction (image processing 2), 1 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction
Image processing for each line (image processing 3), image processing for each block of a specific area (image processing 4), image processing for overlapping a plurality of pages (image processing 5), based on the processed image Isolated point removal, document edge correction, image compression,
The printing apparatus 16 is instructed to perform image correction with the binding margin added, image size determination based on the corrected image, printing method determination, and printing according to the determined printing method.

The image memory 12 is composed of an area for storing the received image and an area for storing the processed image.

The printing device 16 selects a recording paper of a predetermined size from a plurality of recording paper trays, reduces image information, enlarges or deletes a blank portion, and prints in accordance with the center, upper left, and upper right corners of the recording paper. Do one of the following:

The control panel 18 is composed of a processed image display section for displaying a processed image, a button for inputting an image size, and a button for selecting an optimum print function.

In response to an instruction from the control device 14, the decoding device 20 takes out the image information from the image memory 12 and decodes it so that each dot of the image information has a white pixel "0", a black pixel "1", Is stored in the image memory 12.

The data bus 22 is for reading or writing image information with respect to the image memory 12.

The CPU bus 24 is for exchanging control signals among the control device 14, the decoding device 20, the facsimile communication device 10, the control panel 18, the printing device 16 and the image memory 12.

Next, the above-mentioned image processing method will be described in detail. Image processing 1 which is image processing for each block
As shown in FIG. 2, one block of image information 32 of one page is divided into a plurality of blocks 26 each having a predetermined number of dots 30 in the horizontal and vertical directions.
The dots 30 included in the divided block 26 are processed to obtain a block processed image 40 for knowing the number or the presence / absence of the black dots 30 in the block 26.

Image processing 2, which is image processing for each line in the main scanning direction, is performed as shown in FIG.
The image information 32 is processed in the two vertical directions, that is, the main scanning direction, and the sub-scanning direction processed image 34 for obtaining the distribution of the black / white dots 30 in the sub-scanning direction is obtained.

Image processing 3, which is image processing for each line in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction, is performed in the horizontal direction of the dots 30 of the image information 32 of one page, that is, in the sub scanning direction and in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. A sub-scanning direction processed image 34 and a main scanning direction processed image for processing the image information in the main scanning direction to know the distribution of the black / white dots 30 in the sub-scanning direction and the black / white dots 30 in the main scanning direction. To get 36.

Image processing 4, which is image processing of a specific area,
A specific area 28 of the image information 32 for knowing the size of the image information 32, for example, the upper left area and the lower right area of the image information 32 of one page is divided into the blocks 26 described above. , A specific area for processing the dots 30 included in the divided blocks 26 to know the distribution of the black / white dots 30 in the vertical and horizontal directions within each block 26 included in the specific area 28. The processed image 38 is obtained. It is the same as the image processing for each block in that it is divided into a plurality of blocks, but the specific area 2
Since only 8 is image processed, it can be processed at a higher speed than image processing for each block. The specific area may be an upper right area or a lower left area.

The image processing 5 which is an image processing in which a plurality of pages are overlapped is image processing for each block and image for each line in the main scanning direction for each image information of one page obtained by one reception. This is to perform one of image processing, image processing for each line in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction, and image processing for a specific area, and create a processed image by superimposing these. The size error of the image information is reduced by obtaining the size of the image information based on the superimposed processed image.

Next, the above-mentioned image correction will be described in detail. With isolated point removal, black pixels scattered below a predetermined size are regarded as stains on the original document of the facsimile sending source, and replaced by white pixels to remove them,
It improves the quality of the image.

The document edge correction is the same as the isolated point removal, in which the scattered black pixels of a predetermined dot size or smaller are replaced with white pixels to be removed to obtain the document edge.

The image compression means that when the white blocks 26 (FIG. 5) are continuous vertically or horizontally, the continuous white blocks 26 are removed and the image information 32 is packed and compressed. As a result, the image information 32 stored in the image memory 12 becomes compact, and more image information 32 can be stored in the image memory 12.

The binding margin addition means that a predetermined number of 30 dots from the image end of the image information of one page is used as a dummy black dot 3.
The replaced black dot 30 is also calculated as the size of the image information 32, so that the replaced black dot 30 can be used as a binding margin and a margin can be provided at the time of printing.

The operation of the embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart. First, a schematic flow will be described.

First, the facsimile communication device 10 writes the received image information in the image memory 12. As shown in FIG. 6, in step 30, the method of processing the image information is determined based on the data (hereinafter, system data) stored in the image memory 12 as a parameter. When processing the image information for each block, proceed to step 32,
If the image information is processed line by line in the main scanning direction, the process proceeds to step 34. If the image information is processed line by line in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction, the process proceeds to step 36.
When processing the image information of the specific area, the process proceeds to step 38, and when processing the image information by overlapping a plurality of pages,
Go to step 40.

In step 32, the image information is processed for each block. This makes it possible to know the number of black dots or the presence / absence of black dots for each block.

In step 34, the image information is processed line by line in the main scanning direction. This makes it possible to know the distribution of black and white dots in the sub-scanning direction.

In step 36, the image information is processed line by line in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. This makes it possible to know the distribution of black and white dots in the sub-scanning direction and the distribution of black and white dots in the main scanning direction.

In step 38, the image information of the specific area is processed for each block. This makes it possible to know the distribution of black and white dots for each block in the specific area 28 of the image information.

In step 40, the image information of a plurality of pages obtained by one reception is processed and then superimposed. By obtaining the size of the image information from the processed images in which the plurality of pages are overlapped, the probability of erroneous detection of the size can be reduced.

In step 42, the above-mentioned image correction of the image information subjected to image processing is performed. In step 44, the method of determining the image size of the image information subjected to image correction based on the system data is determined. If the operator determines the size of the image information, the process proceeds to step 46. If the operator automatically determines the size of the image information, step 4 is performed.
If the automatic determination of the image information size and the operator's determination of the image information size are used together, the process proceeds to step 50.

In step 46, the operator determines the size of the image information. In step 48, the size of the image information is automatically determined. In step 50, the size of the image information is judged by using the automatic judgment of the size of the image information and the judgment of the size of the image information by the operator.

In step 52, the printing method is discriminated from the system data. If the operator selects the printing method, the process proceeds to step 54, and if the enlargement / reduction / margin portion is deleted by the system data,
Proceeding to step 56, in the case of automatic print position selection of upper left alignment / center alignment / upper right alignment by system data, the process proceeds to step 58, and in the case of a printing method guide and the operator's selection of the printing method, the process proceeds to step 60, In the case of selecting the printing method by the combination of the printing method guide and the operator's instruction judgment and the automatic selection, the process proceeds to step 62.

In step 64, the printing apparatus 1
When the image is compressed, 6 skips the white dots deleted by the image compression, and performs print processing according to the selected print method.

In step 66, steps 46-
The determination result of the size of the image information in any processing of step 50 is recorded in the image memory 12. The determination result of the size of the image information recorded in the image memory 12 is used as a guide for determining the size of the image information of the next page.

In step 68, steps 54-
The print method selected in any of the processes in step 62 is recorded as a history in the image memory 12 in association with the size determination result. The printing method recorded in the image memory 12 is used as a guide for selecting the printing method of the image information of the next page.

Next, details of the image processing for each block in step 32 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, in step 80, the control device 14 determines that the image memory 1
The number of black dots contained in each block of the image information stored in 2 is added or ORed to initialize the counting area provided for each block to know the number or presence of black dots in the block. Turn into. Addition refers to adding the number of black dots included in each block. The logical sum means to take the logical sum of the counting area and the dots. As a result, it is possible to know the number or the presence / absence of black dots in each block.

In step 82, the decoding device 20
To start. In step 84, the block pointer is set and initialized so as to point to the counting area of the leading block.

In step 86, the decoding device 20
Decodes one line of image information in the sub-scanning direction,
For each dot of image information, black is "1", white is "0"
Is recorded in the image memory 12.

At step 88, 1 in the sub-scanning direction is set.
For each block of line image information, addition or logical addition of black dots included in each block is performed based on the counting method instructed by system data, and the counting result is recorded in the counting area provided in each block. . In step 90, it is determined whether the processing of one block in the vertical direction is completed. When the processing of one block in the vertical direction is completed,
In step 94, if the processing of one block in the vertical direction is not completed, the process proceeds to step 92 and the block pointer is updated so as to point to the counting area of the next block in the vertical direction.

In step 94, the decoding device 20
Detects the end of the image and determines whether decoding is complete. If the decoding is not completed, the process returns to step 86, and if the decoding is completed, the process proceeds to step 96.

In step 96, the controller 14
Stops the decoding device 20. Through the above steps, the distribution of the count values of black dots in each block is obtained in the count area of each block. As a counting method,
In the case of addition, the number of black dots in each block is counted, and in the case of OR, if there are black dots in each block, "1" is counted and the block processed image is
It is created in the counting area in each block.

Next, in step 36, the main scanning direction 1
Details of the processing for each line will be described. As shown in FIG.
In step 100, a counting area for the number of dots in one line in the sub-scanning direction is initialized. In step 102, the decoding device 20 is activated. In step 104, the decoding device 20 decodes the image information of one line in the sub-scanning direction, and for each dot of the image information,
The black is recorded as “1” and the white is recorded as “0”, which is recorded in the image memory 12. In step 106, counting is performed in the counting area according to the counting method instructed by the system data for each sub-scanning direction. In the case of addition, black dots are added to the counting area, and in the case of OR, the counting area and the dot of the image information are ORed. In step 108, the decoding device 20 detects the end of the image and determines whether the decoding is completed. If the decoding is not completed, step 10
Returning to step 4, if the decoding is completed, the process proceeds to step 110. In step 110, the decoding device 20 is stopped and the process ends.

Through the steps described above, the image information is counted for each line in the main scanning direction, and the distribution of black dots can be determined. As a counting method, in the case of addition, the number of black dots in the main scanning direction is counted, and in the case of logical sum, if there are black dots in the vertical and horizontal directions in each block, "1" is set. Counted, sub-scanning direction processed image 4
0 is created in the counting area.

Next, the processing for each line in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction in step 38 will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, in step 120, a counting area for the number of dots in both the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction is initialized. In step 122, the decryption device 20 is activated. In step 124, the decoding device 20
Decodes one line of image information in the sub-scanning direction,
For each dot of image information, black is "1", white is "0"
Is recorded in the image memory 12. In step 126, counting is performed in the counting area according to the counting method designated by the system data for each sub-scanning direction. In step 128, counting is performed in the counting area according to the counting method instructed by the system data for each main scanning direction. In the case of counting by addition, the number of black dots in the sub-scanning direction or the main scanning direction is counted, and in the case of logical sum, if there are black dots in the sub-scanning direction or the main scanning direction, 1 is set in the counting area. Set.

In step 130, the controller 14
Determines whether the decoding device 20 has detected the end of the image and has finished decoding. If the decoding is not completed, the process returns to step 124, and if the decoding is completed, the process proceeds to step 132.

In step 132, the decoding device 2
Stop 0 and end the process. Through the processing described above, the image information is counted for each line in the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction, and the distribution of black dots can be determined. As a counting method, in the case of addition, the number of black dots in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is counted, and in the case of the logical sum, if there are black dots in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, "1" is calculated. Is counted, and the main scanning direction processed image 34 and the sub scanning direction processed image 36 are created in the counting area.

Next, the specific area 26 in step 38
The image processing of will be described. Specific area 28 of image information
Only the block is divided into blocks, and the same processing as that described in step 32 is performed on the block-divided specific area. As a result, the distribution of black dots in each block is counted in the count region of each block of the specific region 28.

Next, a description will be given of the processing of processing the plurality of pieces of image information received once at step 40 for each page and then stacking them. As shown in FIG. 10, in step 140, the counting area corresponding to the above-described image processing 1 to image processing 4 designated by the system data is initialized.
In step 142, according to the system data,
It is determined which one of image processing 1 to image processing 4 is used. In the case of image modification 1, the process proceeds to step 32, in the case of image modification 2, the process proceeds to step 34, and in case of image modification 3, the process proceeds to step 36.
In the case of image processing 4, the process proceeds to step 38. Step 3
In step 2, image processing 1 is performed, and step 3
In step 4, image processing 2 is performed and step 3 is performed.
In step 6, image processing 3 is performed, and step 3
At 8, image processing 4 is performed.

In step 152, the image processing result is superimposed on the image information of the previous page in the counting area, that is, in the case of addition, the counting result of the previous page and the counting result of the current page are combined. When the maximum value is selected and the logical sum is calculated, the logical sum of the count result of the previous page and the count result of the current page is calculated. Therefore, the processed image obtained by superimposing the image information of a plurality of pages received at one time. Is obtained.

In step 154, it is determined whether there is a next page to be processed. If there is a next page to be processed, the process returns to step 142, and if there is no next page to be processed, the process ends.

Through the processing described above, the image information of a plurality of pages received at one time can be processed and superimposed on each other. For example, if a page happens to have a large amount of blank space and the size of the image information becomes small, it is possible to print this image information on a recording paper of the same size as the image information of another page without printing it on a small recording paper. It can be printed and the probability of falsely detecting the size is reduced.

Next, the outline of the image correction in step 42 described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, in step 330, it is determined whether or not isolated point removal is designated by the system data. If the isolated point removal is designated, the isolated point removal is performed in step 332. If the isolated point removal is not designated, the process proceeds to step 334.

In step 334, it is determined whether or not the document edge correction is designated by the system data. If document edge correction is specified, step 3
Proceeding to step 36, the document edge correction is performed, and if the document edge correction is not designated, the process proceeds to step 338.

In step 338, it is determined whether or not image compression is designated by the system data. If the image compression is designated, step 34
The process proceeds to 0 to perform image compression, and if the image compression is not designated, the process proceeds to step 342 to determine whether or not the binding margin is designated by the system data.

If the binding margin addition is designated, the flow advances to step 344 to perform the binding margin addition,
If no designation is made for adding a binding margin, the process ends.

Details of the isolated point removal in step 332 described above will be described below. As shown in FIG. 12, in step 350, which image processing is used to remove the isolated point is determined based on the system data. When the isolated point is removed by the image processing 1, step 352
If the isolated point is removed by the image processing 3, the process proceeds to step 360.

In step 352, the image processing in steps 32 to 40 shown in FIG.
And the counting method is addition. If the image processing 1 and the counting method are addition, the process proceeds to step 354. If the image processing 1 or the counting method is not addition, the process proceeds to step 32, and the processing of the image processing 1 is performed by the addition counting method.

In step 354, a block in which the number of black dots in the count areas of all blocks in the vertical and horizontal directions is equal to or less than a predetermined value L indicated by the system data is detected.

At step 356, the corresponding vertical block is replaced with white. In step 358, the corresponding horizontal block is replaced with white.

In step 360, the image processing 3 in the image processing in steps 32 to 40 in FIG.
To determine if If image processing 3 is performed,
If the image processing 3 is not performed in step 362, the process proceeds to step 36. In step 36, image processing 3 is performed.

In step 362, a position where the number of continuous vertical blacks is within a predetermined value N dot indicated by the system data is detected from the processed image in the main scanning direction. In the main-scanning direction processed image, when the counting method is addition, the added value of the counting area is treated as black when it is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, and when it is the logical sum, the value of the counting area is "
1 ″, and the other cases are treated as white. In step 364, a portion where M dots before and after the corresponding black portion are white is detected.
6, the number of continuous horizontal blacks from the processed image in the sub-scanning direction is the predetermined number N indicated by the system data.
Detect areas within dots. In the sub-scanning direction processed image, when the counting method is addition, it is treated as black when the added value of the counting area is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value, and when it is a logical sum, it is treated as black when the counting area is "1". Handled otherwise, treated as white. In step 368, a portion where the M dots before and after the corresponding black portion are white is detected. In step 370, the corresponding black location is replaced with white.

By the above-described processing, the black dots that are isolated and scattered are replaced with white, so that, for example, when stains such as dust are directly transmitted to the original document by the facsimile apparatus, the stains are isolated. The quality of the facsimile device can be improved by removing the dots and replacing them with white pixels.

Next, the document edge correction will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, in step 380, steps 32 to 32 are performed.
In the image processing of step 40, it is determined whether the image processing 3 has been performed. If image processing 3 has been performed, step 3
If the image processing 3 is not performed at 82, the image processing 3 is performed at step 36.

In the next step 382, a portion where the black at the uppermost end of the vertical dot or the lowermost end of the dot by image processing in the sub-scanning direction is continuously continuous for N dots or less is detected.

In step 384, a portion where the M dots before and after the corresponding black portion are white is detected.

In step 386, a portion where the black at the rightmost end or the leftmost end of the dots in the horizontal direction by image processing in the main scanning direction is vertically continuous for N dots or less is detected.

In step 388, a portion where the M dots before and after the corresponding black portion are white is detected.

In step 390, the corresponding vertical portion is replaced with white. In step 392, the corresponding part on the side is replaced with white.

Through the above processing, the isolated points at the edges of the original are removed and replaced with white, whereby the edges of the original can be corrected and a more accurate size of image information can be obtained.

Next, the binding margin adding process will be described. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 4, in step 400, it is determined whether the image processing for each block, that is, the image processing 1 has been performed in the image processing of steps 32 to 40 in FIG. If the image processing 1 has been performed, the process proceeds to step 406. If the image processing 1 has not been performed, it is determined in step 402 whether the image processing for each line in the main scanning direction, that is, the image processing 2 has been performed. . If the image processing 2 has been performed, the process proceeds to step 418. If the image processing 2 has not been performed, the process proceeds to step 404 to perform image processing for each line in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, that is, the image processing 3. Determine if it was broken. If the image processing 3 is performed, the process proceeds to step 414. If the image processing 3 is not performed, the process proceeds to step 32, and the image processing for each block, that is, the image processing 1 is performed.

In step 406, blocks outside the uppermost black and lower outer black blocks in the vertical direction are detected from the block processed image. When the block is a black block, when the counting method is addition, it means that the added value of the counting area corresponding to the block is above a certain threshold value, and when it is logical sum, when the counting value of the counting area is "1". is there.
In other cases, it is treated as a white block. Step 40
In 8, the outer blocks of the detected outermost black and lower outer black blocks in the vertical direction are replaced with black. That is, the value of the counting area of the block to be replaced with black is changed to a predetermined value. Then, the blocks replaced with black become the upper and lower vertical binding margins.

In step 410, blocks outside the leftmost black and rightmost black blocks in the horizontal direction are detected from the block processed image. In step 412, the outer block of the outermost left black or right outer black block in the horizontal direction is replaced with black. That is, the value of the counting area of the block to be replaced with black is changed to a predetermined value. Then, the block replaced with black becomes the left and right binding margins.

In step 414, the uppermost black line or the lower outer black line in the vertical direction is detected from the processed image in the main scanning direction.

In step 416, a predetermined number of dots are replaced with black from the uppermost outer black or the lower outer black in the vertical direction. That is, the value of the count area of the main scanning direction processed image to be replaced with black is changed to a predetermined value. Then, the dots replaced with black become the binding margin in the vertical and vertical directions.

At step 418, the outermost black dot on the left side or the black dot on the right outer side in the horizontal direction is detected from the processed image in the sub-scanning direction.

In step 420, the outermost black dot on the outermost left side or the outer right side black dot is replaced with black. That is, the value of the count area of the sub-scanning direction processed image corresponding to the dot to be replaced with black is changed to a predetermined value. The dots replaced with black are left and right binding margins in the horizontal direction.

Next, the image compression will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, in step 430, it is determined whether or not image processing for each block, that is, image processing 1 has been performed. If the image processing 1 is performed, the process proceeds to step 432, and if the image processing 1 is not performed, the process proceeds to step 32, and the image processing for each block, that is, the image processing 1 is performed.

In step 432, white blocks are detected. In step 434, it is determined whether the vertical or horizontal block of the detected white block is a continuous white block. This continuous white block can be compressed.

In step 436, the image memory 1
The blocks that can be compressed in 2 are deleted and packed.

In step 438, the filled portion and the filled amount are stored in the image memory 12.

As described above, since vertical or horizontal continuous white blocks are deleted and filled, image compression can be performed,
A large amount of image information can be recorded in the image memory 12.

Next, a method of determining the size of image information will be described. First, a method for determining the size of image information by the operator in step 46 of FIG. 6 will be described. As shown in FIG. 16, in step 160, the processed image subjected to the image correction in step 42 is displayed on the control panel 18.
To display. When processing for each block, that is, image processing 1, is performed, when the number of vertical and horizontal black dots in a block is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value, the block is set to black, and the black block is set to a predetermined size. Displayed on the control panel 18 in the color of, for example, black. In the case of image processing for each line in the main scanning direction, that is, image processing 2, only the black dots of the sub-scanning direction processed image are displayed in black at a predetermined size in the horizontal direction at the lower end of the control panel 18. In the case of image processing for each line in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, that is, image processing 3, the black dots of the main scanning direction processed image are displayed in black in the right vertical direction of the control panel 18, and the sub scanning direction processed image is displayed. Only the black dots are displayed in the lower horizontal direction of the control panel 18 in a predetermined size in black. When the image processing of the specific area, that is, the image processing 4, is performed, the black block of the specific area processed image is displayed in black in a predetermined size on the control panel 18. In the case of image processing in which a plurality of pages are superposed, that is, image processing 5, the superposed image information is displayed on the control panel 18 in accordance with the above-described image processing 1 to image processing 4. In this way, by displaying the black blocks or dots of the processed image on the control panel 18, the operator can know the size of the portion displayed in black and the size of the image information.

In step 162, the controller 14
Waits for the operator to input the size of the image information using the input button provided on the control panel 18.

In step 164, it is determined whether or not the operator has input the size of the image information. If the operator has not finished inputting the image information size, the process returns to step 162, and if the operator has finished inputting the image information size, the process ends.

The size of the image information input by the operator is used as the determination size of the image information.

As described above, the size can be discriminated based on the result of the image processing displayed on the control panel 18 by inputting the size information of the image information by the operation of the operator.

Next, a method of determining the size of image information by the automatic determination in step 48 will be described. As shown in FIG. 17, in step 32 to step 40 of FIG. 5, which of the image processing 1 to image processing 4 has been performed is determined based on the system data. When the image processing 2 is performed, the process proceeds to step 172. When the image processing 3 is performed, the process proceeds to step 180, and the image processing 1 or 4 is performed.
If so, the process proceeds to step 202.

In step 172, the value of the corresponding counting area is sequentially checked from the right end of the processed image in the sub-scanning direction by the image processing 1, and the dot changing from white to black at the right end is detected.

In step 174, the value of the corresponding count area is sequentially checked from the right end of the processed image in the sub-scanning direction by the image processing 1, and the dot changing from black to white at the leftmost end is detected.

In step 176, the number of dots between the dot changing from white to black at the right end and the dot changing from black to white at the left end is calculated, and the paper size per dot (mm / dot) is calculated. × Change point width (mm) is the number of dots.

At step 178, from the change point width and the evaluation size of the main scanning direction threshold value table shown in FIG.
The size of the image information closest to the change point width is calculated. However,
In this image processing 1, since only the width of the change point in the horizontal direction is determined, the paper size is obtained as the vertically long image information.
For example, when the change point width is 148.5 mm, it is determined that the A5 size SEF was transmitted.

In step 180, the count value corresponding to the processed image in the main scanning direction is checked in order from the upper end, and the uppermost end counting region changing from white to black is obtained to determine the uppermost end in the vertical direction. Find the position of the black dot.

In step 182, the values of the corresponding count areas are sequentially checked from the upper end of the processed image in the main scanning direction, the count area changing from black at the bottom to white is obtained, and the bottom end in the vertical direction is obtained. Find the position of the black dot.

In step 184, the number of dots between the dots that change from white to black at the top end and the dots that change from black to white at the left end is calculated, and the paper size per dot (mm / dot) × dots The number is the vertical change point width (mm).

In step 186, the primary evaluation size of the image is obtained from the vertical change point width and the primary evaluation size in the sub-scanning direction threshold value table shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the primary evaluation size is assumed to be so-called portrait (SEF) image information in which the size in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the size in the main scanning direction. For example, A5
The SEF is a case where the change width in the sub-scanning direction is 210.0 mm and the change width in the main-scanning direction is 148.5 mm.

In step 188, for the processed image in the sub-scanning direction, the values of the corresponding count areas are checked in order from the right end, the count area at the right end that changes from white to black is obtained, and the right end in the horizontal direction is obtained. Find the position of the black dot.

In step 190, the value of the corresponding counting area is checked in order from the right end of the processed image in the sub-scanning direction, the counting area at the rightmost end that changes from black to white is obtained, and the leftmost end in the horizontal direction is obtained. Find the position of the black dot.

In step 192, the number of dots between the dots that change from black to white at the rightmost end and the dots that change from white to black at the leftmost end is calculated, and the paper size per dot (mm / dot) × The number of dots is the width of the horizontal change point (mm).

In step 194, the primary evaluation size of the image is obtained from the horizontal change point width in the main scanning direction based on the vertical change point width and the primary evaluation size in the main scanning direction threshold value table shown in FIG.

In step 196, step 18
The primary evaluation size obtained in step 6 is compared with the primary evaluation size obtained in step 194. If they match, the primary evaluation size is set as the size of the image information, and the process proceeds to step 206. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step 198. move on.

In step 198, if they do not match, the image is horizontally long (LEF), so the identifiers A to G in the sub-scanning direction threshold table and A to G in the main scanning direction threshold table.
The secondary evaluation size that matches the identifier of is the size of the image information. For example, A5 LEF is a case where the change width in the sub-scanning direction is 148.5 mm and the change width in the main-scanning direction is 210.0 mm.

By the above steps, the size of the image information in the case of image processing 3 can be obtained.

In step 200, with respect to the block processed image of the entire area of the image information or the specific area processed image of the specific area of the image information, the value of the corresponding counting area is checked in order from the left end of the block, and the first in the horizontal direction. The black block and the last black block are calculated, and the number of blocks between these first black block and the last black block is calculated, and the number of dots included in the horizontal direction of one block x 1 dot Calculate the paper size (mm / dot) x number of blocks as the horizontal block width.

At step 202, the values of the corresponding counting areas are checked in order from the upper end of the block to obtain the first black block and the last black block in the vertical direction,
The number of the first black block and the last black block is calculated, and the number of dots included in the vertical direction of one block x 1
Obtain the paper size per dot (mm / dot) x number of blocks as the vertical block width.

In step 204, the size of the image information is obtained from the horizontal block width and vertical block width shown in FIG.

By the above steps, the size of the image information in the case of the image processing 1 or the image processing 4 can be obtained.

At step 206, the size of the image information obtained by the above-described processing is set as the automatic determination size and stored in the image memory 12.

Next, a method of obtaining the size of the image information by using both automatic determination and operator determination will be described.

As shown in FIG. 21, in step 48, the size of the image information is obtained in the same manner as described above.

In step 212, step 48
The size of the image information obtained in step 3 is displayed on the control panel 18.

At step 160, any one of the block processed image, the sub-scanning direction processed image, the main scanning direction processed image, and the specific area processed image is displayed on the control panel 18.

At step 214, the monitoring timer is started. In step 216, controller 14
Waits for the operator to input the size of the image information to the control panel 18.

At step 218, it is determined whether or not the operator has input the size of the image information to the control panel 18. When the operator inputs the image size, the process is terminated by using the input size as the judgment size of the image information, and when the operator does not input the size of the image information, the process proceeds to step 220, and the monitoring timer sets a predetermined time. Determine whether or not has passed. By using this monitoring timer, the operator can be notified by an alarm or the like shortly before the predetermined time has elapsed. If the time counted by the monitoring timer does not exceed the predetermined time, the process returns to step 216, and if the time counted by the monitoring timer exceeds the predetermined time, the operator does not input the size of the image information. Then, the size obtained by the automatic determination in step 48 is set as the determination size of the image information.

By the above-mentioned processing, when the operator inputs the image size within the predetermined time, the input image size is used as the judgment size of the image information, and the operator must input the image size within the predetermined time. The image size determined by automatic determination can be used as the determination size of image information.

Next, the selection of the printing method will be described. First, the selection of the printing method by the operator in step 54 of FIG. 6 will be described. As shown in FIG. 22, in step 230, steps 46 to 46 in FIG.
The determination size of the image information obtained in step 50 is displayed on the control panel 18.

In step 232, the controller 14
Waits for the operator to input the size of the recording paper for printing from the control panel 18, and when the size of the recording paper is input, the size of the recording paper / the judgment size of the image information = the reduction ratio is reduced. The magnification is calculated, and this reduction ratio is displayed on the control panel 18. In step 234, the control unit 14 controls the control panel 18 of the reduction ratio of the image to be printed by the operator.
Wait for input from. When the operator inputs the reduction ratio, the input reduction ratio is used as the reduction ratio for printing. In step 236, when there is no matching recording paper and when printing is performed at the same size, the operator waits for an instruction to delete the blank portion.

In step 238, it is determined whether or not the instruction of the recording paper for printing, the instruction of the reduction ratio of the image to be printed, and the instruction of deleting the blank portion have been completed. If the instruction is not completed, the process returns to step 232,
If the instruction has been completed, the printing method instructed by the operator described above is stored in the image memory 12.

As a result, it is possible to let the operator select an appropriate printing method based on the judgment size of the image information.

Next, the selection of the printing method based on the system data in step 56 of FIG. 6 will be described. Figure 2
As shown in 3, in step 250, the size of the recording paper set in the recording paper tray is compared with the judgment size of the image information. If the recording paper tray and the size of the image information match, the method of printing at the same size is selected, and the process proceeds to step 264. If the size of the recording paper and the determination size of the image information do not match, the process proceeds to step 252. The system data is used to determine whether to delete the blank area, reduce the recording sheet, or enlarge the recording sheet. If the blank portion is to be deleted, the process proceeds to step 254, if the reduction is to fit the recording paper, the process proceeds to step 258, and if it is to be enlarged to the recording paper, the process proceeds to step 260.
Proceed to.

In step 254, the optimum recording paper larger than the judgment size is selected based on the judgment size of the image information. In step 256, a printing method for deleting the margin portion is selected. Step 25
In 8, the optimum recording paper smaller than the judgment size of the image information is selected as the optimum recording paper. Step 26
0, recording paper size / image information determination size =
A reduction ratio is set, and printing at this reduction ratio is selected.

At step 262, an optimum recording paper larger than the judgment size of the image information is selected. In step 264, the recording sheet size / the image information determination size = enlargement ratio is set, and printing at this expansion ratio is selected.

As described above, an appropriate print can be obtained by the automatic selection. Further, by having the system data, it is possible to change whether to reduce, enlarge, or delete the margin portion.

Next, the selection of the printing method based on the system data in step 58 of FIG. 6 will be described. Figure 2
As shown in FIG. 4, in step 270, the size of the recording paper set in the recording paper tray is compared with the judgment size of the image information. If the recording paper tray and the determination size of the image information match, the process proceeds to step 282 for printing at the same size. If the recording paper size and the determination size of the image information do not match, the process proceeds to step 272. In accordance with the determined vertical or horizontal orientation of the image information, a recording paper having an optimum vertical or horizontal size larger than the determined size of the image information is selected.

At step 274, it is determined from the system data whether to print by upper left alignment, center alignment, or upper right alignment. If you want to print with top left alignment, proceed to step 276, select the method to print with top left alignment, if you want to print with center alignment, go to step 278 and select the method to print with center alignment, then right top alignment. When printing with, the process proceeds to step 280, and the method of printing with upper right alignment is selected.

In this way, it is possible to select which position on the recording paper to print when there is no suitable recording paper.

Next, a method of guiding the printing method in step 60 of FIG. 6 will be described. As shown in FIG. 25, in step 290, the judgment size of the image information is displayed on the control panel 18. Step two
At 92, the selected previous printing method or the frequently selected printing method in the past and the frequency thereof are displayed on the control panel 18.

In step 294, the operator waits for a print method instruction. In step 296, it is determined whether the operator has instructed the printing method. If there is a print method instruction from the operator, the process proceeds to step 298, and if there is no print method instruction from the operator, the process returns to step 294.

In step 298, the printing method instructed by the operator is stored in the image memory 12. This printing method is used as a guide in the next printing.

By thus storing the automatically determined size and the printing method and guiding the next reception, an unskilled operator can select an appropriate printing method.

Next, a description will be given of the process of obtaining the printing method in step 62 of FIG. 6 by using the printing method guide and the automatic selection together. As shown in FIG. 26, in step 310, the monitoring timer is started. In step 290, the size of the image information determined is displayed on the control panel 18. In step 292, the selected previous printing method or the frequently selected printing method in the past and its frequency are displayed on the control panel 18.

In step 312, the operator waits for a print method instruction. In step 314, it is determined whether the operator has instructed the printing method. If there is an instruction of the printing method from the operator, the process proceeds to step 320, and if there is no instruction of the printing method from the operator, the process proceeds to step 314.

In step 316, it is determined whether the monitoring timer has passed a predetermined time. The monitoring timer can notify the operator by an alarm or the like shortly after the predetermined time has elapsed. If the monitoring timer has passed the predetermined time, the procedure proceeds to step 318, and if the monitoring timer has not passed the predetermined time, step 312.
Return to.

In step 318, step 29
The printing method guided in 2 is automatically selected.

In step 320, the printing method instructed by the operator is stored in the image memory 12.

By the above-described processing, since the printing method can be obtained by using the printing method guide and automatic selection together, an unskilled operator can select an appropriate printing method and the documents waiting to be printed remain. Disappears.

[0147]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the size of the image information is determined from the image information. Therefore, the information indicating the size of the image information is not needed, and the waste of communication can be reduced. can get.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, at least a specific area of the received image information is divided into blocks, the image is processed, and the size of the image information is judged from the processed image to select the optimum printing method. Therefore, the size can be judged more reliably, and even when printing using image information read from a document of a size that does not comply with the communication protocol, it is unnecessary to print on recording paper of a size different from the transmission size or unnecessary. It is possible to obtain such an effect that it is possible to eliminate such reductions and loss of image information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing process for each block.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing process for each line in the main scanning direction.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing process for each line in a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing processing of a specific area.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic flow.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing process for each block.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing process for each line in the main scanning direction.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing process for each line in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing process for stacking a plurality of pages.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing image correction.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing isolated point removal.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing document edge correction.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing adding a binding margin.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing image compression.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing size determination by an operator.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing automatic size determination.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a main scanning direction threshold table.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a main scanning direction threshold table and a sub scanning direction threshold table.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a block threshold table.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing automatic and operator size determination.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing selection of a printing method by an operator.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing selection of a printing method based on system data.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing automatic selection of print positions.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing selection of a printing method by a guide.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing how a guide and an operator select a printing method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Facsimile communication device 12 Image memory 14 Control device 16 Printing device 18 Control panel 20 Decoding device 22 CPU bus 24 Data bus 26 Block 28 Specific area 30 Dots 32 Image information 34 Sub-scanning direction processed image 36 Main scanning direction processed image 38 Specific area processed image 40 Block processed image

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuji Morimoto 3-7-1, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture, Fujiwa Rocks Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Plant (72) Inventor Takashi Nakajima 3-7-1, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture No. Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image processing means for processing the received image information along at least one of a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, and the image information of the processed image information from the processed image processed by the image processing means. Size determining means for determining a size; print method selecting means for selecting an optimum print method based on the size of the image information determined by the size determining means; and print method selected by the print method selecting means And a printing unit for printing the image information. 2. An image processing unit that divides at least a specific area of the received image information into blocks each having a predetermined size including a plurality of pixels, and performs image processing on each block, and the image processing unit processes the image. Size determining means for determining the size of the image information from the processed image; print method selecting means for selecting an optimum print method based on the size of the image information determined by the size determining means; and the print method selecting And a printing unit that prints the image information by a printing method selected by the printing unit.