JPH04157977A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly and properly perform the processing even at the time of receiving a long-sized document by determining the number of prints to output data after temporarily performing the counting operation simultaneously with the expanding operation with respect to reception data exceeding a pre scribed number. CONSTITUTION:When a counter 150-2 which counts the subscanning address of data transferred to a recording part 38 counts a prescribed address, a signal PPBLEND is outputted from the counter 150-2 to a CPU 71. Then, data transfer to the recording paper 38 from a buffer memory VB12 is started in the same manner. The CPU 71 detects the signal PRBLEND to expand next code data and starts transfer of expanded data to an empty buffer memory VB11; and therefore, data is accurately printed out without a large-capacity picture memory even if the received document is long-sized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine that temporarily stores received data and then prints it using cut paper.

[Prior Art] In recent years, an increasing number of facsimile machines are using cut paper cut to a predetermined size instead of roll paper as recording paper for file convenience.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-242168 discloses a facsimile machine that performs print processing using cut sheets. This facsimile machine has an image memory that can store an image with a length including data for one recording sheet plus additional information such as sender printing and a margin. When the received data is long, or when the received data becomes image data that is larger than normal cut paper due to the addition of sender printing or incoming printing, etc. For image data that has a length, if the length is less than a predetermined value, the image is reduced to a single cut sheet, and if the length is greater than a predetermined value, it is divided into multiple cut sheets. It is to be recorded.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional facsimile machine as described above, it is necessary to know the image size of the received data for one page to be printed before starting printing. It is assumed that an image memory capable of storing an image with a length including data for one sheet plus additional information such as sender printing and margins is required. However, providing such a memory is disadvantageous in terms of cost. For example, an A4 size printer requires a huge memory capacity of 6 MB to store one page of data.

This invention was made in order to solve the above problems without requiring a large capacity memory, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device that can appropriately record long pieces of received data on cut paper. .

[Means for Solving the Problem] A facsimile device according to claim 1 is a facsimile device that prints a received image on print paper of a predetermined size, and receives and holds at least one group of encoded data. data receiving means for reading the held received data and sequentially decompressing it into print data; counting means for counting the number of data lines making up the decompressed print data; a recording means for storing or printing data; a detecting means for detecting that the number of counted data lines exceeds a predetermined number; a first control means for controlling the counting means to continue counting the number of data lines, or for controlling the recording means to stop storing or printing; Based on this, the second control means controls the data decompression means so that the received data read out by the data reception means after detection by the detection means is read out again, decompressed, and outputted to the recording means.

A facsimile device according to claim 2 is a facsimile device that prints a received image on print paper of a predetermined size, and includes data receiving means for receiving and holding at least one group of encoded data; A data decompression means for reading received data and decompressing it into print data, a counting means for counting the number of data lines constituting the decompressed print data, and a group held based on the counted number of data lines. determining means for determining how many sheets of print paper the received data should be printed on; and data for re-reading and decompressing a predetermined amount of the held received data based on the determination by the determining means. The apparatus includes a control means for controlling the decompression means, and an output means for outputting the print data re-decompressed by the data decompression means to the recording section.

[Operation] In the invention according to claim], received data whose number of data lines is up to a predetermined number is expanded and data lines are counted, and the expanded data is stored and outputted, but received data whose number of data lines exceeds a prescribed number , only the number of data lines is counted first along with expansion.

In the invention according to claim 2, first, all received data is expanded and the number of data lines is counted,
Based on the counted number of data lines, processing after decompression of the received data is performed again.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a document reading section for transmission and a printing section of a receiving end of a laser facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, in a document reading section 1, a document placed on a platen 2 is operated by a moving scanner 4 while being irradiated with a light source 3. The reflected light from the original is reflected by a mirror and enters a linear CCD sensor 6 (for example, 8 pixels/mm) via a lens 5. The output signal of the linear CCD sensor 6 is digitized and binarized as explained later. Although the document is fixed in this embodiment, the configuration can be further simplified if the reading operation is performed in a moving document type in which the document placed thereon moves.

In the printing unit 11 , a laser optical system 12 controls the light emission of a laser diode based on a received signal, and laser light is incident on a photoreceptor 13 . Then, development, transfer, fixing, etc. are performed using well-known electrophotographic processes, and the received signal is printed on plain paper fed from the paper feed cassette 14a or 14b. Since the reading and printing operations described above are similar to those of conventional laser printers, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Next, an outline of the operation of the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.

First, the operation on the calling side will be explained.

A photoelectric conversion section 31 including the linear CCD sensor 6 of the document reading section 1 converts the document image into an electrical signal. Next, a predetermined binarization process (dither process, etc.) is performed in the processing unit 32, and the signal is converted into a binary time series signal. The converted data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 40. Next, the data read out from the buffer memory 40 is encoded by the compression section 33 using a method such as MH or MR. Next, the encoded signal is transmitted to the transmission control unit 3 connected to the code memory 34.
5, connection with the called side is established, and the data signal stored in the code memory 34 is transferred to the line connection section 36 according to a predetermined procedure.
is sent out to the line via.

Next, the operation of the called party will be explained.

When the transmission control section 35 receives a connection request from the calling side via the line connection section 36, the line is connected, the received signal is received, and the signal is stored in the code memory 34. Extension part 37
expands and decodes the signal in the code memory 34, and the decoded signal is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 40.

The signal output from the buffer memory 40 is sent to the recording section 38.
is converted into a signal that can be output. Note that the control section 39 controls the above-mentioned signal processing in accordance with the display on the operation display section 51.

Next, a signal compression method will be explained. Storing electrical signals as they are in a facsimile machine takes time and requires a large memory capacity, so electrical signals are compressed using patterns that tend to appear (continuous white signals, continuous black signals).

Electrical signal compression methods include the MH method as shown in Figure 3;
There are three types: MR method and MMR method.

One-dimensional encoding is a method of encoding the continuous length (run length) of pixels of the same color, white pixels and black pixels, that appear alternately on one line. A method of encoding based on the positional relationship between the position of each changed pixel on a line (encoding line) and the corresponding changed pixel on a reference line immediately before the encoding line. Here, the changed pixel refers to the first pixel that changes from =10-white to black, black to white.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram centered on the CPU 71 included in the control section 39 of FIG. In the figure, the CPU 71 has
RAM72 for work, clock IC73 for timer,
ROM74 and PIO75 are connected. Also,
The CPU 71 includes a key matrix 52 of the operation display section 51.
58 and an LCD display section 59 are connected.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the main flow of the CPU 71 in FIG.

In step S1, initial settings after resetting the CPU 71 are performed. In step S2, input/output processing of the CPU 71 is performed. In step S3, the control mode that changes according to the input signal from the PIO 75 is checked and branched into each mode. Control mode value is “0”
Then the program goes to standby mode in step S4, 11''
If it is "2", the process advances to the receiving mode in step S5, and if it is "2", the process advances to other processing in step S6. In the standby mode of step S4, the CPU 71 waits for an incoming signal due to key operation input or reception operation. When the device is performing reception processing, the program performs reception mode processing in step s5. In processes other than standby mode and reception mode, such as transmission mode and one-touch dial registration, other processing s
6 subroutine is executed. After each process ends, the program returns to step S2.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing specific details of the processing in the standby mode (step S4) in FIG.

In step 5101, the input of an incoming signal is checked. If an incoming call signal is being input, the control mode is set to "1" in step 5102 and the process returns. If no incoming call signal has been input, the program proceeds to step 3103, performs other processing, and returns.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the main blocks in FIG. 2.

In the figure, data received via the line connection unit 36 and transmission control unit 35 is stored in the code memory 34. The encoded data stored in the code memory 34 is decompressed by the decompressing section 37 in response to a print command. The decompression unit 37 stores the code memory 3
A restoration circuit 1.01 restores the encoded data output from 4 to print data, and by expanding the encoded data, line end data indicating the end of one line can be detected. It consists of a line end detection circuit 102 and a line number counter 103 that counts the number of lines detected by the line end detection circuit 102. That is, the code data is expanded in the expansion section 37, and the number of data lines constituting the received data can be detected along with the expansion operation. Extension part 37
The image data expanded and restored by is first written to the buffer memory VBII. Note that the order of writing to the buffer memory is not necessarily based on the buffer memory VBII.
does not have to be the first, ■B12, VB13, VB1
The buffer memory may be any one of the four buffer memories. After writing the image data into the buffer memory VBII, the expansion section 37 then starts writing the expanded image data into the buffer memory VB12. Subsequently, when writing of data to buffer memory VB12 is completed, data is written to buffer memory VB1B. In this embodiment, the buffer memory is composed of four blocks, so when the writing of data to the buffer memory VB13 is completed, the CPU 71 detects the end of writing, and the recording unit 3
Send a recording start signal to 8. In response to the signal, the recording section 38 feeds recording paper from the cassette 14a or 14b, and when the recording paper reaches a predetermined position for starting printing, the CPU 7 reads the code stored in the code memory 34 of the print start signal method.
Send to 1. Upon receiving the signal, the CPU 71 starts transferring image data from the buffer memory VBII to the recording section 38. At the same time, the decompression unit 37 decompresses the next code data held in the code memory 34, and similarly writes the image data into the buffer memory VB14. In this case, among the gates 221 to 224 provided for each of the buffer memories VBll to VB14, only the gate 224 is in an enabled state for the operation of the buffer memory VB14,
The other gates 221 to 224 are in a disabled state. The gates 229 to 232 on the recording section 38 side are operated as shown below.

When data is being read from buffer memory VB1], only gate 229 is enabled, and gates 230 to 232 are disabled. Furthermore, since the gate 220 is enabled only when the CPU 71 or the buffer memory is accessed, it is in a disabled state at this time. In addition, the selector 200
and 201 select respective addresses of the sofa memory for transfer to the recording unit 38. selector 20
2 selects the address of buffer memory VBII,
The selector 203 selects the address of the buffer memory VB12, and the selector 204 selects the address of the buffer memory VB13. Also, in this case, since no read operation is being performed, gates 225-228 are in a disabled state. The latch 210 and the path buffer 2] are provided in the decompression unit 37 and the compression unit 33 in order to share the data bus and address bus and perform time-division processing.

Generally, the decompression speed by the decompression unit 38 is faster than the transfer speed to the printer, so the buffer memory VBII
From the operation of transferring data, the buffer memory VB14
The operation of decompressing and writing the encoded data ends faster. When the writing of image data to the buffer memory B14 is completed, the operation of the decompression section 37 goes into a standby state. and,
When the transfer of data from the buffer memory VBII to the recording section 38 is completed, that is, when the sub-scanning address counter 150-2 that counts the sub-scanning address of the data transferred to the recording section 38 counts a predetermined address, PRBLEN indicating the end of transfer to printer block
D signal is sent from sub-scanning address counter 15C1-2 to CP
It is output to U71. As a result, data starts to be transferred from the buffer memory VB12 to the recording unit 38 in the same way.

By detecting the PRBLEND signal, the CPU 7 expands the next code data and starts transferring the expanded data to the empty buffer memory VBII. When the transfer to the buffer memory is completed, the data is similarly transferred from the next buffer memory VB13 to the recording unit 38, and after the transfer is completed, the expanded data is transferred to the buffer memory VB12. Thereafter, data expansion and transfer processing is performed one after another in the same manner.

The above is the general operation of each component in the receiving operation.

Next, specific processing operations in the reception mode as an embodiment of the present invention will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG.

When the control mode becomes "1" and the receiving mode is entered, the received data is temporarily stored in the code memory 34 in step S51. Next, in step S52, it is determined whether one page of transmission data has been written into the code memory. Note that this determination is made by detecting a code indicating the page end of the received data. After the completion of writing one page of received data to the code memo blade, it is determined in step 353 whether or not the printer has finished printing out the previous page. After waiting for the printout of the previous page to finish, in step S54, the code data stored in the code memory 30 is decompressed by the restoration circuit 101, and all the received data for one page is configured by the line end detection circuit 102. Count the number of data lines. and based on the number of data lines counted]
Determine how many pages of print paper to output the received data for pages.

For example, the number of prints P can be determined by the following equation.

P=INTi store/ (297+30)l +1 where,
The length is the length of the received data and is in mm. For example, with standard data, 1 mm corresponds to 3.85 lines, but in fine mode, 1 mm corresponds to 7.7 lines.

-18= Also, in this case, the cut paper is assumed to be A4 size,
297 mm indicates the length in the vertical direction of A4 size.

Note that 30 mm takes incoming printing and sender printing into consideration, and if the data exceeds this range, the number of sheets P is determined so that it is output on one sheet.

Note that in step S54, after decompressing the data stored in the code memory 34, it is written to the buffer memory in the manner described above, but since the purpose of this step is to count the number of data lines, No printing operation is performed. Therefore, the decompressed image data does not necessarily need to be written to the buffer memory.

Next, in accordance with the number of print sheets determined in step S55, an operation is performed to print the code data of the number of data lines for one sheet of print paper. Specifically, in the manner described above, the code data stored in the code memory 34 is temporarily transferred to the buffer memory 40 (VBII, VB12, VB1
3. This is done by writing the information in the VB 14) and transferring it to the recording unit 38.

In step S56, it is determined whether the number of prints P is 1 or not. If the number of prints is plural, the number of prints P is not 1, so the process advances to step S58, and the number of prints P is decremented by 1. And step S59
Wait until printing for one page is finished, and then proceed to step S.
Return to 55.

Subsequently, a printing operation is performed for the number of data lines for the second print sheet.

In this way, the operations of step 358 and step S59 are repeated until the number of prints P becomes 1, and when the number of prints reaches P=1, the process proceeds to step S57.
It is determined whether new received data is stored in the code memory 34.

If new received data is stored, step S5
Returning to step 2, the same operation as above is repeated, but if no new received data is stored in the code memory 34, the operation in this reception mode ends.

Next, specific processing operations in the reception mode as another embodiment of the present invention will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG.

In the previous embodiment, the received data stored in the code memory is first subjected to a temporary decompression operation, the number of data lines constituting the data is counted, and then the number of copies to be printed is determined. In this embodiment, temporary expansion and data line counting operations are not performed until the number of data lines required for one print operation is counted.
The print operation is performed in succession with the expansion and counting operations.

The operations from step 8201 to step 8203 are the same as in the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, the printer is activated in step 5204 after the previous page has been printed out. That is, the cassette 14a or 14
Cut sheets are fed from point b. Next, step 5
At step 205, the number of data lines is counted while expanding the code data stored in the code memory 34 in the decompression unit 37. Next, in step 5206, it is determined whether the number of data lines has reached a predetermined amount. In this embodiment, the number of data lines required for one page of print paper is set as the predetermined amount.

When the number of data lines of the decompressed data does not reach the predetermined amount, in step 5207, the decompressed image data is transferred to the buffer memory and further transferred to the recording unit 38 for printing. That is, unlike the previous embodiment, the data of the number of data lines for one page of print paper is printed out as is without performing temporary expansion and counting of the number of data lines. If the counted number of data lines exceeds a predetermined amount in step 5206, it is determined in step 3208 whether the received code memory has been expanded by one page. If one page's worth of encoded data has not been processed, the process returns to step 5205, and the operation of expanding the encoded data and counting the number of data lines continues. That is, when the number of data lines exceeds a predetermined amount, the number of data lines of all code data for one page of received data is counted.

If the total number of lines for one page of received data has been counted, in step 8209, the number of data lines constituting one page of received data is determined based on a predetermined amount corresponding to the number of data lines for one print sheet. It is determined whether the degree of excess is exceeded, that is, whether the amount of excess is greater than or equal to a specified value. If the excess amount is not greater than the specified value, it is determined that the excess amount is caused by the sender's printing or the received printing, and the process proceeds to step 5215 without printing out the excess data.

If the excess amount is equal to or greater than the specified value, it is determined on how many sheets of print paper to output or not based on the total number of data lines constituting one page of received data counted in step 8216. Once the number of sheets to be printed is determined, the printer waits for the previous page to finish printing in step 5210, and then starts the printer in step 5211. Subsequently, code data other than that printed out in the previous step is newly decompressed in step 5212, and
The data is transferred to the buffer memory in step 213, and then transferred to the recording unit where printing is performed.

By performing this operation for the determined number of prints, one page of code data of the received data is printed (step 5214).

Next, in step 5215, it is determined whether the received data includes data for the next page or later, and if it does include data for the next page or later, the process returns to step 5202 and the same operation as above is repeated. . If data from the next page onward is not stored in the code memory, the reception mode ends.

Note that the operation in the reception mode shown in FIG. 9 above will be explained by showing a specific example in FIG. 10.

In the figure, it is assumed that one page of received data is a long original, which is considerably longer than the number of data lines to be printed out. In this case, the data up to the predetermined amount indicated by the broken line is the data amount corresponding to the first print in the receiving facsimile machine.

Note that the dashed dotted line is a designated value that determines the excess amount, which is the standard for determining whether or not to print out when the predetermined amount is exceeded. In this example, it is shown that one page of received data consists of the number of data lines far exceeding the specified excess amount value. Therefore, the received data up to the predetermined amount indicated by the broken line is printed out as is without being subjected to temporary expansion or counting of the number of data lines.

Until the completion of one page of received data exceeding a predetermined amount, expansion of temporary code data and counting of data lines are performed, and the number of data lines of data exceeding the predetermined amount is counted. Based on this counted data, the number of data lines to be output for one print and the third print is calculated, and as a result, one page of received data is
The information will be recorded on the cut sheets from the first print to the third print.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the invention according to claim 1 decompresses received data up to a predetermined number of data lines, counts the number of data lines, and outputs it as a print.
For received data that exceeds a predetermined number, it is expanded and temporarily counted, and then the number of prints is determined and output, so even if the received document is a long document, it can be processed quickly and appropriately. become.

As explained above, the invention according to claim 2 first decompresses all received data and counts the number of data lines, and then performs the decompression and subsequent processing of the received data again based on the counted number of data lines. Even if the document is a long document, accurate printing can be performed in a facsimile machine having a configuration that does not have a large-capacity image memory.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining the operation of the facsimile machine of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing various compression methods. The illustrated diagram, FIG. 4, shows the control unit 39 in FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing the main flow of the CPU 71 in FIG. 4,
6 is a flowchart showing the specific contents of the standby mode in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the specific configuration of the main blocks in FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 is a specific diagram of the reception mode in FIG. 5. A flowchart diagram according to one embodiment showing the content of the
FIG. 10 is a flowchart according to another embodiment showing specific contents of the reception mode shown in FIG. In the figure, 33 is a compression unit, 34 is a code memory, 35 is a transmission control unit, 36 is a line connection unit, 37 is an expansion unit, 38 is a recording unit, 39 is a control unit, 40 is a buffer memory, and 41 is an image mode detection unit. 71 is a CPU, 101 is a restoration circuit,
102 is a line end detection circuit, 103 is a line number counter, and VB11 to VB14 are buffer memories. Note that the same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same or corresponding parts. Procedural amendment (method) February 25, 1991

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A facsimile machine that prints a received image on print paper of a predetermined size, comprising data receiving means for receiving and holding at least one group of encoded data, and reading out the held received data. a data decompression means for sequentially decompressing data for printing; a counting means for counting the number of data lines constituting the decompressed print data; a recording means for storing or printing the decompressed print data; a detection means for detecting that the number of data lines exceeds a predetermined number; and in response to the detection output of the detection means, the expansion means subsequently expands the received data and the counting means counts the number of data lines. a first control means for controlling the storage or printing by the recording means to continue but stopping storage or printing by the recording means; and a first control means for controlling the total number of data lines of the code data of the first group counted by the counting means. and second control means for controlling the data decompression means to read out and decompress the received data read out by the data reception means again after detection by the data reception means, and output the data to the recording means. (2) a facsimile device that prints a received image on print paper of a predetermined size, comprising: a data receiving means for receiving and holding at least one group of encoded data; and reading the held received data; data decompression means for decompressing data for printing; counting means for counting the number of data lines constituting the decompressed print data; and reception of the retained group based on the counted number of data lines. determining means for determining how many sheets of printing paper the data should be printed on; and re-reading and decompressing a predetermined amount of the held received data based on the determination made by the determining means. A facsimile machine, comprising: a control means for controlling the data decompression means; and an output means for outputting print data re-decompressed by the data decompression means to a recording section.