JPH11261802A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A facsimile apparatus capable of efficiently dividing received image data and outputting the divided image data. A CPU searches for upwards, downwards, or upwards and downwards white spots of restored image data based on the length of a transfer sheet, and first finds a white spot or the shortest white spot. The portion is set as a division position of the image data, and when the divided image data is longer than the transfer paper, the image data is thinned out. Therefore, the image data other than the blank portion is not divided, and the number of transfer sheets used in the divided printing can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a method for dividing and printing image data to be transmitted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus which transmits and receives image data using a telephone line, when image data is received as a facsimile apparatus on the receiving side, transfers the image data to a fixed transfer paper such as B4 or A4 paper. When outputting the image data, the image data is divided according to the effective length of the fixed form transfer paper and output such as printing is performed.In this method, however, the image data is divided and printed at a position other than a blank portion which is a blank portion. However, there is a problem that the image data is divided and becomes difficult to see.

As a method for solving this problem, a margin is detected for each line of image data, and when it is determined that the image data has reached the effective length of the transfer paper, the margin detected finally is determined. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-83780 has proposed a facsimile apparatus having a method in which a part is printed first and then the remaining part is printed to divide the part.

[0004]

However, in the facsimile apparatus shown in the above-mentioned conventional example, since the division position of the image data is shorter than the effective length of the standard transfer paper, the length of the remaining portion of the divided image data is reduced. May be longer than the effective length of the transfer paper, in which case the image data must be divided again, resulting in poor processing efficiency and an increase in the number of transfer papers used. Had occurred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which can solve the conventional drawbacks and efficiently divide and output received image data.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes communication means for receiving image data transmitted through a line, restoration means for restoring image data received by the communication means, and restoration means for restoration by the restoration means. Output means for outputting the restored image data, transfer paper selecting means for selecting the standard transfer paper, thinning means for thinning out part of the image data restored by the restoring means, and white spots from the image data restored by the restoring means. In a facsimile apparatus having a division position detecting means for detecting a portion and thereby detecting a division position, the division position detection means includes a white void in an upward direction of image data restored on the basis of the length of the selected transfer paper. Search for a part, the first white spot found is taken as the division position,
The thinning means thins out the image data when the image data divided at the division position detected by the division position detection means is longer than the length of the transfer sheet.

[0007] The facsimile apparatus of the present invention also includes a communication means for receiving image data transmitted through a line,
Restoration means for restoring the image data received by the communication means, output means for outputting the image data restored by the restoration means, transfer paper selection means for selecting the standard transfer paper, and transfer of the image data restored by the restoration means. In a facsimile apparatus having thinning means for thinning out a part and division position detection means for detecting a blank portion from image data restored by the restoration means and thereby detecting a division position, the division position detection means is selected. Search for white spots below the restored image data based on the length of the transfer paper
The first blank portion is set as a division position, and the thinning means thins out the image data when the image data divided at the division position detected by the division position detection means is longer than the length of the transfer paper. And

[0008] The facsimile apparatus of the present invention further comprises communication means for receiving the image data transmitted through the line, restoration means for restoring the image data received by the communication means, and output of the image data restored by the restoration means. Output means, a transfer paper selecting means for selecting a standard transfer paper, a thinning means for thinning out a part of the image data restored by the restoring means, and a blank portion detected from the image data restored by the restoring means. In the facsimile apparatus having the division position detection means for detecting the division position, the division position detection means searches for a white spot in the upward direction of the restored image data based on the length of the selected transfer paper, The white spot found first is set as the first division position, and white space is drawn downward in the image data restored based on the length of the selected transfer paper. Locate the only portion, the first white was found in omission portion and the second split position, the length of the transfer sheet and the first
Is compared with the distance between the length of the transfer paper and the second division position, and the shorter distance is regarded as the division position,
The thinning means thins out the image data when the image data divided at the division position detected by the division position detection means is longer than the length of the transfer sheet.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. A facsimile apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a C
PU10, ROM11, RAM12, PM13, plotter 14, CCU15, and DCR16,
These functional blocks are connected by an internal bus 17.

The CPU 10 controls each part of the facsimile machine 100 to execute necessary operations. ROM11
Is a data size and selection processing procedure for selecting a transfer paper for outputting image data, a thinning processing procedure for image data, and a processing procedure for determining an image data division position when outputting image data. The processing procedure of each operation and data necessary for the processing are stored.

The RAM 12 is a storage device in which data is temporarily stored when a process is executed. PM13,
The image data received via the CCU 15 and restored by the DCR 16 is stored. The plotter 14 is a CCU 15
Is a printing apparatus that outputs image data, which has been received through the MFP and has been subjected to each process, to transfer paper. The CCU 15
Control of the communication line is performed. The DCR 16 encodes, compresses, and reproduces image data according to a predetermined encoding method,
Also, it decodes the encoded image data.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the facsimile apparatus 100. In this example,
This is an example in which A3 size image data received via the CCU 15 is divided and printed in A4 size.

First, it is determined whether or not image data has been received through the CCU 15 (step 201). If it is determined that the image data has been received, an appropriate transfer sheet is selected according to the size of the received image data (step 201). 202). Here, priorities are given to the sizes selected when the image data of each size is received, and the size having the highest priority is selected. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when A3 size image data is received, the transfer paper with the highest priority is A3 size. However, when there is no A3 size transfer paper, the A4 size having the next highest priority is selected. Step 201
If it is determined that the image data has not been received, the reception standby state is maintained.

Next, the received image data is stored in the DCR 16
Is restored line by line, and stored in the PM 13 (step 203), and the effective length of the transfer paper is used as a pointer in the image data (step 204). In this example, the effective length of the transfer paper is A4 size, and the pointer is M of the image data shown in FIG.

Next, it is determined whether or not the image data corresponding to the pointer M is black (step 205). If it is determined that the image data is black, as in M of the image data shown in FIG. M is shifted line by line until white is found upward (step 206). If it is determined in step 205 that the image data is not black, that is, it is white, A shown in FIG. 4A is set as a division position (step 2).
07).

Next, the print start position is set as the head of the image, and the print end position is set as the division position (step 208).
Here, it is determined whether the length from the print start position to the end position is longer than the length of the transfer sheet (step 209). If the length from the print start position to the end position is longer than the length of the transfer sheet, If it is determined, the image data is thinned out (step 210) and printing is executed (step 21).
1). If it is determined in step 209 that the length from the print start position to the end position is shorter than the length of the transfer sheet, the process proceeds to step 211 and printing is performed as it is.

Subsequently, the print start position is set as the division position, and the print end position is set as the trailing end of the image (step 21).
2). Here, it is determined whether the length from the print start position to the end position is longer than the length of the transfer paper (step 21).
3) If it is determined that the length from the print start position to the end position is longer than the length of the transfer sheet, the image data is thinned out (step 214) and printing is executed (step 215). If it is determined in step 213 that the length from the print start position to the end position is shorter than the length of the transfer sheet, the process proceeds to step 215 and printing is performed as it is. FIG. 4B shows an output form after division.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the setting of the division position of the image data and the output form after division in another embodiment of the facsimile apparatus 100 of the present invention. When the image data corresponding to the pointer M is determined to be black in step 206 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the pointer M is moved line by line until white is found downward. By shifting, the image data is not black, that is, a blank portion is found, and B shown in FIG. 5A is set as a division position.

FIG. 6 shows a facsimile apparatus 10 according to the present invention.
An example of another operation flow of 0 is shown. First, CC
It is determined whether image data has been received via U15 (step 601). If it is determined that the image data has been received, an appropriate transfer sheet is selected according to the size of the received image data (step 602). The process for selecting the transfer paper is the same as the process in step 202 of the flowchart shown in FIG. If it is determined in step 601 that the image data has not been received, the reception standby state is maintained.

Next, the received image data is transferred to the DCR 16
Is restored line by line, and stored in the PM 13 (step 603), the effective length of the transfer paper is set as a pointer in the image data (step 604), and this pointer is set as a division initial value M (step 605). In this example, the effective length of the transfer paper is A4 size, and the pointer is shown in FIG.
Is M of the image data shown in FIG.

Next, it is determined whether or not the image data corresponding to the pointer M is black (step 606). If it is determined that the image data is black, as in M of the image data shown in FIG. M is shifted line by line until white is found upward (step 607). If it is determined in step 606 that the image data is not black, that is, it is white, A shown in FIG. 7A is set as a division candidate position (step 608).

Next, the effective length of the transfer paper is set as a pointer in the image data (step 609), and the pointer is returned to the division initial value M (step 610). It is determined whether or not the image data corresponding to the pointer M is black (step 611).
If it is determined that the image data is black, as in M of the image data shown in (a), the pointer M is shifted line by line until white is found downward (step 612). If it is determined in step 611 that the image data is not black, that is, it is white, B shown in FIG. 7A is set as a division candidate position (step 613). Here, the length MA from M to A,
Compare the length MB from M to B (step 61).
4) If MA is larger than MB, the dividing position is set to B (step 615), and if MA is smaller than MB, the dividing position is set to A (step 616).

Next, the print start position is set as the head of the image, and the print end position is set as the division position (step 617).
Here, it is determined whether or not the length from the print start position to the end position is longer than the length of the transfer paper (step 618). If the length from the print start position to the end position is longer than the length of the transfer paper, If it is determined, the image data is thinned out (step 619) and printing is executed (step 62).
0). If it is determined in step 618 that the length from the print start position to the end position is shorter than the length of the transfer sheet, the process proceeds to step 620 and printing is performed as it is.

Subsequently, the print start position is set as the division position, and the print end position is set as the trailing end of the image (step 62).
1). Here, it is determined whether or not the length from the print start position to the end position is longer than the length of the transfer paper (step 62).
2) If it is determined that the length from the print start position to the end position is longer than the length of the transfer paper, the image data is thinned out (step 623) and printing is executed (step 624). If it is determined in step 622 that the length from the print start position to the end position is shorter than the length of the transfer sheet, the process proceeds to step 624 and printing is performed as it is. FIG. 7B shows an output form after division. When the image data is as shown in FIG. 7C, the output form is as shown in FIG. 7D.

[0025]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, based on the length of the transfer paper, a blank portion is searched for in the upper direction of the restored image data, and is first found. When the divided image data is longer than the length of the transfer sheet, the image data other than the white area is divided by thinning out the image data when the divided image data is longer than the length of the transfer paper. It is possible to reduce the number of transfer sheets to be used in divided printing.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, based on the length of the transfer paper, a white spot is searched for in the downward direction of the restored image data, and the first spot found is divided as a division position. When the divided image data is longer than the length of the transfer paper, the image data other than the blank portion can be prevented from being divided by thinning out the image data by the thinning means. The number of papers can be reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, based on the length of the selected transfer paper, a white spot is searched for in the upper direction of the restored image data. Using the length of the transfer paper as a reference, search for a blank area in the downward direction of the restored image data, compare it with the division position found first, and divide the shorter one as the true division position, and divide it. When the subsequent image data is longer than the length of the transfer sheet, the image data other than the blank portion can be prevented from being divided by thinning out the image data by the thinning means. Can be reduced, and furthermore, the deterioration of the image at the time of thinning can be reduced as much as possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a storage state of sizes and priorities in transfer paper selection.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a pointer and a division position set in image data, and a form after output.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a pointer and a division position set in image data and a form after output.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another operation example of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a pointer and a division position set in image data and a form after output.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 CPU 11 ROM 12 RAM 13 PM 14 Plotter 15 CCU 16 DCR 17 Internal bus 100 Facsimile machine

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication unit for receiving image data transmitted through a line, a restoration unit for restoring the image data received by the communication unit, and an output for outputting the image data restored by the restoration unit Means, a transfer paper selecting means for selecting a fixed form transfer paper, a thinning means for thinning out a part of the image data restored by the restoring means, and a blank portion detected from the image data restored by the restoring means. A facsimile apparatus having a division position detecting means for detecting a division position thereby, wherein the division position detection means has an upward white void portion restored on the basis of the length of the selected transfer paper. , And the first found blank area is set as a division position, and the thinning-out unit detects the division position by the division position detected by the division position detection unit. A facsimile apparatus wherein the image data is thinned out when the divided image data is longer than the length of a transfer sheet. 2. A communication unit for receiving image data transmitted through a line, a restoration unit for restoring the image data received by the communication unit, and an output for outputting the image data restored by the restoration unit. Means, a transfer paper selecting means for selecting a fixed form transfer paper, a thinning means for thinning out a part of the image data restored by the restoring means, and a blank portion detected from the image data restored by the restoring means. And a dividing position detecting means for detecting a dividing position thereby, wherein the dividing position detecting means has white voids in a downward direction of the image data restored on the basis of the length of the selected transfer paper. A part is searched for, and a blank portion found first is set as a division position, and the thinning-out unit detects the division position detected by the division position detection unit. A facsimile apparatus for thinning out the image data when the image data divided by the above is longer than the length of the transfer paper. 3. A communication unit for receiving image data transmitted through a line, a restoration unit for restoring the image data received by the communication unit, and an output for outputting the image data restored by the restoration unit. Means, a transfer paper selecting means for selecting a fixed form transfer paper, a thinning means for thinning out a part of the image data restored by the restoring means, and a blank portion detected from the image data restored by the restoring means. And a dividing position detecting means for detecting a dividing position, whereby the dividing position detecting means has an upward white void in the image data restored on the basis of the length of the selected transfer paper. The first blank position is found as the first division position, and the image data restored based on the length of the selected transfer paper is searched for. A blank portion is searched downward, and the blank portion found first is set as a second division position. The distance between the length of the transfer paper and the first division position, the length of the transfer paper and the second And comparing the image data after the division at the division position detected by the division position detection unit with the transfer paper. A facsimile apparatus for thinning out the image data when the length is longer than the length of the image data.