JP3485473B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile device capable of color printing an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving a monochrome image and a color image has been proposed. When transmitting the image data indicating the image, the facsimile apparatus on the transmission side adds a color designation signal for designating a color for printing the image to the image data. When the facsimile device on the receiving side receives the image data transmitted from the facsimile device on the transmitting side, an image indicated by the image data is displayed using a color designated by a color designation signal added to the image data. Is printed on the recording paper.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-163124 discloses a facsimile device capable of receiving monochrome and color images. The facsimile apparatus of the above publication prints a part of the image indicated by the received image data by using a predetermined color regardless of the color designated by the color designation signal added to the image data.

[0003]

When the facsimile machine receives image data continuously or discretely a plurality of times, the image data received at each time, that is, the images represented by a plurality of image data are displayed. Print on multiple sheets of recording paper. In this case, the operator of the facsimile apparatus may collectively process a plurality of sets of recording paper on which a plurality of images are printed after printing. In this case, in order to improve the processing efficiency by the operator of the message transmitted by the image, it is required that the plurality of sets of recording paper can be easily classified for each case. Further, in the above case, in order to improve the processing efficiency, it is required that the time zone in which the plurality of sets of image data are received can be easily grasped based on the plurality of sets of recording paper.
Each time the facsimile apparatus of the above-mentioned publication receives one image data, the color used for printing a part of the image indicated by the image data is set to a predetermined color. Therefore, when a plurality of pieces of image data are collectively printed by the facsimile apparatus of the above publication, it is difficult to grasp the division of the plurality of pieces of recording paper printed by the apparatus and the reception time zone of the image data.

An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which allows an operator to easily judge the reception status of image data based on a recording paper on which an image represented by the image data is printed. .

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus including a receiving means for receiving image data representing an image and an output means capable of outputting the image represented by the image data, a clock means, and the receiving means. The reception conditions of a plurality of predetermined periods including the time when the reception of the image data is started, and the plurality of predetermined display forms to be used for the output of the image data received under the reception conditions, respectively. The output condition storage unit that stores the data in association with each other and the reception start time of the image data by the reception unit are read from the clock unit, and the reception condition corresponding to the reception start time of the received image data among the plurality of display forms. And a display mode selecting means for selecting any one of the display modes corresponding to the above, and an image indicated by the received image data to the output means. A facsimile apparatus which comprises an output control means for outputting at Zureka one display mode.

According to the present invention, the facsimile apparatus is provided with the clock means, and when one image data is received, the facsimile apparatus can be selected from among a plurality of predetermined display modes under the receiving condition corresponding to the receiving condition of the image data. The image represented by the image data is output in any one display form associated with a period including a certain reception start time. As a result, the operator of the facsimile device can easily understand the reception status of the image data representing the image based on the display form of the output image. As a result, the operator can process the message transmitted by the image data in consideration of the reception status of the image data. As a result, the processing efficiency with which the operator processes the message is improved as compared with the processing efficiency when the image is output by the conventional facsimile apparatus.
As a result, the convenience of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention is improved as compared with the conventional facsimile apparatus. The reception condition corresponding to the reception start time is a period including the reception start condition. The period may be a period of one day or more, or a time period of less than one day. As a result, the facsimile apparatus changes the display mode at the time of outputting the image according to the period in which the image data is received. Thereby, the operator can easily understand the period during which the facsimile apparatus receives the image data representing the image based on the display form of the output image. For this reason, when the image data for a plurality of cases are collectively output, since the display form of the output images for a plurality of cases is different for each of the periods, the operator selects a plurality of images based on the display form. Thus, it becomes easy to prioritize the processing of the plurality of messages respectively transmitted. As a result, the processing efficiency of the message is improved.

In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the output means can display an image by using a plurality of colors, and each display form includes at least one color to be used for display among the plurality of colors. It is characterized by

According to the present invention, the facsimile machine has two
It is possible to display using more than one color, and the display form is as described above. As a result, the facsimile apparatus changes the color used for displaying the image according to the reception status. As a result, the operator can easily understand the reception status when the image data showing the image is received, based on the color of the displayed image.

The facsimile apparatus of the present invention further includes image judging means for judging whether the image indicated by the latest image data is a color image or a monochrome image, and the output control means comprises the image judging means. When the image indicated by the latest image data is a monochrome image, the image is displayed on the output unit using the at least one color selected by the display form selection unit, and the latest image data is displayed. When the image indicated by the image data is a color image, the image is displayed on the output unit using all colors.

According to the present invention, the facsimile apparatus further comprises the image judging means, and the output control means operates as described above. As a result, the output unit of the facsimile apparatus outputs an image using only the color selected according to the reception condition when receiving the image data indicating the monochrome image, and outputs the color image when receiving the image data indicating the color image. Output as is. As a result, the facsimile apparatus can output a color image and an output depending on the reception status of a monochrome image in parallel.

According to the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus including receiving means for receiving image data representing an image and output means capable of outputting the image represented by the image data, the output means uses a plurality of colors to form the image. The output condition storage means capable of displaying and the number of times of receiving image data of a monochrome image received by the receiving means and a plurality of respective colors corresponding to the number of times of reception are stored in association with each other, and the latest image data is stored. An image judging means for judging whether the image shown is a color image or a monochrome image, a counter means for counting the number of times the image data of the monochrome image is received in response to the output of the image judging means, and an output of the counter means. In response to the display mode selection means for reading out and selecting from the output condition storage means the colors corresponding to the respective counter values for which the number of receptions has been counted,
When the image indicated by the latest image data is a monochrome image in response to the output of the image determination unit and the display form selection unit, the image is displayed using the at least one color selected by the display form selection unit. Facsimile apparatus comprising: an output control unit for displaying the image on the output unit, and displaying the image on the output unit using all colors when the image represented by the latest image data is a color image. Is.

According to the present invention, the facsimile apparatus is constructed such that the reception condition includes the number of times of reception counted by the counter means for monochrome images. As a result, the facsimile apparatus changes the display mode when outputting the image according to the number of times of reception. With this, the operator can easily understand, based on the display form of the output image, what number the image data representing the image is received by the facsimile device. Further, when the image data for a plurality of cases is collectively output, the display form of the image indicated by the image data for each case differs depending on the order of reception of the image data, and therefore the operator outputs the images for the plurality of cases. Each case can be easily distinguished. As a result, the processing efficiency between the division of images for a plurality of cases and the processing of the message transmitted by the images of each case is improved.

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a facsimile apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile machine 1 transmits and receives image signals to and from an unspecified number of facsimile machines on the other side via a public line network. The image signal is obtained by modulating image data representing an image by a modulation method based on a communication protocol for facsimile communication.

The facsimile apparatus 1 includes a printing condition storage unit 3, a network control unit (NCU) 4,
A modem 5, a facsimile mechanism 6, an image data printing unit 7,
It includes a clock 8, an operation unit 11, a display unit 12, a storage unit 13, a dialer 14, and a control unit 15. The control unit 15 controls the printing condition storage unit 3, the modem 5, the facsimile mechanism 6, the image data printing unit 7, the display unit 12, the storage unit 13, and the dialer 14, respectively. The clock 8 measures the current time or the current date and time. In the drawings of this specification, “print” may be described as “print”.

The print condition storage unit 3 stores a plurality of print conditions of the image signal. Each printing condition includes a reception condition regarding a reception condition of the image signal and a display form of an image indicated by the image signal received under the reception condition. In the present embodiment, the reception condition is a period during which the image signal is received, the display form is a color used for printing an image indicated by the image signal, that is, a so-called printing color, and the period is 1 It is assumed that the time is less than a day. Further, in the present embodiment, the printing condition storage unit 3 includes a time zone setting storage unit 17 for storing the period, and a time zone printing color storage unit 18.

The network control device 4 sends and receives a network control signal for so-called network control to and from the public line network 19. As a result, a line via the public line network 19 is established between the own facsimile device 1 and the other facsimile device. The modem 5 acquires an image signal given from the facsimile machine on the other side via the line via the network control device 4, and demodulates the acquired image signal by a demodulation method based on the communication protocol. The facsimile mechanism 6 performs processing on the demodulated image data based on the communication protocol.
As a result, image data showing an image is obtained. The image data is given to the image data printing unit 7 via the control unit 15.

The control unit 15 grasps the reception status of the image signal, reads the display form within the printing condition including the reception condition corresponding to the reception condition from the printing condition storage unit 3, and the image data printing unit 7 Give to. In the present embodiment, the reception status is the time when the image signal is received. For the time, for example, the control unit 15 sets the network control device
It is obtained by grasping the operating state of the modem 5 and acquiring the current time measured by the clock 8 at a timing according to the operating state. Further, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the reception condition according to the reception status is a time zone including the time at the reception time.

The image data printing unit 7 can print both color images and monochrome images. The image data printing unit 7 prints the image represented by the image data given by the control unit 15 on the recording paper in the display form given by the control unit 15. For example, the image data printing unit 7 prints one pixel in a color image, and superimposes a plurality of pigments of appropriately adjusted densities, such as red, blue, green, and black, on one point of the recording paper. . Further, the image data printing unit 7 prints one pixel in the monochrome image in order to print one pixel on the recording paper.
Any one of the plurality of colors is attached to the point. In the present embodiment, the color used when printing the monochrome image is the print color instructed by the control unit 15. The recording paper on which the image is printed is discharged to the outside of the facsimile apparatus 1.

The operation unit 11 includes a plurality of keys which can be operated by the operator to control the facsimile apparatus 1. The display unit 12 includes the components 3 to 8, 11, 1 of the facsimile device 1.
Display regarding the operations of 3 to 15 is performed. The storage unit 13 stores various signals and data relating to various controls performed by the control unit 15. The dialer 14 is a facsimile machine 1.
When the image signal is transmitted from the other party's facsimile apparatus to the other party's facsimile apparatus, a signal based on the telephone number of the other party's facsimile apparatus is generated and given to the network control circuit 4. Network control circuit 4
At the time of transmitting the image signal, the network control signal is generated based on the signal based on the telephone number and given to the facsimile machine on the other side.

Facsimile apparatus 1 further includes an input unit for inputting image data to be transmitted, or a reading unit for reading a document to generate image data. The input or generated image data is given to the facsimile mechanism 6 via the control unit 15, and the mechanism 6 performs a predetermined process based on the communication protocol. The modem 5 modulates the processed image data with a modulation method based on the communication protocol. The image signal obtained as a result is given to the facsimile apparatus on the other side through a line established by transmitting and receiving a network control signal based on the telephone number. The above is a schematic description of the electrical configuration of the facsimile apparatus 1.

[0027]

[Table 1]

[0028]

[Table 2]

Tables 1 and 2 show the time zone setting storage section 17 and the time zone print color storage section 18 in the print condition storage section 3.
Shows the stored contents of. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the total number of print conditions that can be set is four. The total number of printing conditions may be any number other than four. The total number of the printing conditions may be set by the operator.

In the time zone setting storage unit 17, the reception condition within each printing condition, that is, the time zone "0:00 to 0"
9:59 "," 10:00 to 15:59 "," 16: 0 "
"0 to 17:59" and "18:00 to 23:59" are associated with predetermined time zone numbers, that is, "time zone 1" to "time zone 4", respectively. Each time zone number is
It is a number assigned to each printing condition, that is, a condition identification number. In the time zone print color storage unit 18, the display form within each print condition, that is, the print colors “red”, “blue”,
“Green” and “black” are associated with the time zone numbers, that is, “time zone 1” to “time zone 4”, respectively. As a result, the print condition storage unit 3 stores the reception condition and the display form in each print condition in association with each other via the time zone number.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the image signal receiving process in the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment. When the facsimile apparatus 1 is in a standby state capable of receiving an image signal, the process proceeds from step A1 to step A2.

In step A2, the control section 15 determines whether or not one image signal has arrived based on the operations of the network control device 4 and the modem 5. Until the image signal arrives,
The determination process of step A2 is repeated, and after the call is received, the process proceeds from step A2 to step A3. After the arrival of the image signal, the plurality of elements forming the image signal sequentially reach the network control device 4 as time passes. The modem 5 and the facsimile mechanism 6 sequentially demodulate and process the elements that are sequentially received over time. As a result, a plurality of bits forming the image data are sequentially given to the image data printing unit 7 as time passes. The control unit 15 performs step A in parallel with or after the reception of the image signal.
At 3, it is determined whether the image represented by the image data in the image signal is a color image or a monochrome image. If the image is a monochrome image, the process proceeds from step A3 to step A4, and if the image is a color image, the process returns from step A3 to step A2.

In parallel with or after the reception of the image signal, the control unit 15 first reads from the clock 8 the time when the reception of the received image signal is started in step A4. After reading, the control unit 15 refers to the time zone setting storage unit 17, and selects, from all the reception conditions, a reception condition corresponding to the read time, that is, a time period that is a period including the time. After the selection, the control unit 15 refers to the print color storage unit for each time zone 18, and determines the display form in the print condition including the selected reception condition, that is, the print color corresponding to the selected time period. After the determination, the determined display form,
That is, the print color designation is given to the image data printing unit 7. After designating the display form, the control unit 15 performs step A5.
Then, based on the operations of the network control device 4 and the modem 5, it is determined whether or not the reception of the image signal is completed. The determination process of step A5 is repeated until the reception of the image signal is completed, and after the reception is completed, the process returns from step A5 to step A2. Through the processing of steps A2 to A5 once, the message 1
Image signals for the number of cases are received. The processes of steps A2 to A5 are selectively repeated until the facsimile device 1 becomes in a state in which it cannot receive the image signal, and when the device 1 enters the above state, the process of the flowchart ends.

By the processing of step A4, the image data printing unit 7 determines, according to the bit of the image data sequentially given with the passage of time, a part of the image corresponding to the bit as the source of the image data. The display form corresponding to the reception status of the image signal, that is, the determined print color, is sequentially printed on the recording paper. As a result, the image data printing unit 7
If the image indicated by the image data is a monochrome image,
In a display form according to the reception situation of the image signal, the image,
Can be printed on recording paper.

The period is not limited to a time period less than one day,
The period may be one day or more. As a result, the operator of the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can easily understand the period during which the facsimile apparatus receives the image signal indicating the image, based on the display form of the image printed on the recording paper. it can. Therefore, for example, when the operator intends to process a plurality of sets of recording paper on which images based on a plurality of image signals are printed at one time, the display form of the images based on each image signal is Since it differs for each signal reception period, it becomes easy to prioritize the processing of a plurality of messages transmitted by a plurality of images based on the display form. As a result, the office work efficiency of the above-mentioned matter is improved.
As a result, the convenience of the facsimile machine 1 of the present embodiment is improved.

When the image is a color image, the control unit 15 does not process the image data printing unit 7. As a result, the image data printing unit 7 displays a part of the image corresponding to the bits of the image data sequentially given with the passage of time in the display form defined by the image data, that is, the original print color of the image. , Print sequentially on recording paper. As a result, the facsimile apparatus 1 can make the printing depending on the reception status of the monochrome image and the printing of the color image side by side. The above is the description of the reception process of the facsimile apparatus 1.

In order for the facsimile apparatus 1 to print an image according to the reception status, it is necessary that the printing conditions are stored in the printing condition storage unit 3 prior to the printing. The procedure for setting the printing conditions will be described below. The printing conditions include the reception condition and the display form, as described above. In the facsimile device 1 of the present embodiment, the reception condition and the display form are set independently, and both are associated with each other by the time zone number.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a time zone setting process for setting the contents stored in the time zone setting storage unit 17 in the facsimile apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. In a state in which the contents stored in the time zone setting storage unit 17 can be changed, for example, in a standby state in which the facsimile device 1 does not receive an image signal, the process proceeds from step B1 to step B2.

In step B2, the control unit 15 waits for the operator to operate the time zone registration key 21 in the operation unit 11. After the time zone registration key 21 is operated, the control unit 15 operates any key in the numeric key group 22 in step B3 in order to input the time zone number of the print condition to be set. Wait for After any one of the keys is operated, the control unit 15 temporarily stores the number corresponding to the key. After the storage, the control unit 15 returns to step B.
At 4, the operation waits for the time zone registration key 21 to be operated again.

After the time zone registration key 21 is operated, the control section 15 designates the numerical key group 22, the hour designation key 23 and the minute designation in step B5 in order to input the disclosure time of the time zone to be designated. Wait for the key 24 and key 24 to be operated in combination. After these keys 22 to 24 are operated, the control unit 15 temporarily stores the time corresponding to the combination of these keys 22 to 24 as the start time of the time zone.
After the storage, the control unit 15 waits for the combination of the numeric key group 22, the hour designating key 23, and the minute designating key 24 in order to input the end time of the time zone in step B6. After these keys 22 to 24 are operated, the control unit 15 temporarily stores the time corresponding to the combination of these keys 22 to 24 as the end time of the time zone.

After storing, the control unit 15 at step B7
It is determined whether the enter key 25 has been operated. The determination process of step B7 is repeated until the confirm key 25 is operated. After the enter key 25 is operated, the control unit 15
In step B8, the time zone defined by the start and end times temporarily stored is associated with the time zone number as a new reception condition of the printing condition to which the temporarily stored time zone number is allocated, Time zone setting storage unit 17
To memorize. After the storage, the processing operation of the flowchart ends in step B9.

That is, for example, when the operator sets the time zone corresponding to the time zone number "1" to 00:00 to 09:59, the time registration key 21, the "1" key in the numeric key group 22, the time The registration key 21, the “0” key in the number key group 22, the hour designation key 23, the “0” key and the “0” key in the time key group, the minute designation key 24, the number key group 22
The "9" key, the hour designation key 23, the "5" and "9" keys in the hour key group, the minute designation key 24, and the enter key 25 are sequentially operated in this order. In response to the above operation, the control unit 15 causes the time period setting storage unit 17 to store the period that should be the reception condition, as described above. For the time zone setting procedure corresponding to the time zone numbers “2” to “4”,
Of the above procedure, the specific keys to be operated within the numeric key group 22 are different, and the others are the same. As a result, the facsimile apparatus 1 can easily set the period desired by the operator as the reception condition.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining a print color setting process for setting the storage contents of the print color storage section 18 for each time zone in the facsimile apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. In a state in which the contents stored in the print color storage section for each time zone 18 can be changed, for example, in a standby state in which the facsimile device 1 does not receive an image signal, step C
From 1 to step C2.

In step C2, the control unit 15 waits for the operator to operate the print color registration key 26 in the operation unit 11. After the print color registration key 26 is operated, the control unit 15 waits for the time zone registration key 21 to be operated in step C3. After the time zone registration key 21 is operated, the control unit 15 operates any key in the numeric key group 22 in step C4 in order to input the time zone number of the print condition to be set. Wait for After any one of the keys is operated, the control unit 15 temporarily stores the number corresponding to the key. After storing, in step C5, the control unit 15 inputs the print color to be designated,
It waits for any key of the print color key group 27 to be operated. After any one of the keys is operated, the control unit 15 temporarily stores the print color corresponding to the key.

After storing, the control unit 15 at step C6
It is determined whether the enter key 25 has been operated. The determination process of step C6 is repeated until the confirm key 25 is operated. After the enter key 25 is operated, the control unit 15
At step C7, the temporarily stored print color is associated with the time zone number as a new display form of the printing condition to which the temporarily stored time zone number is allocated, and the time zone print color storage unit 18 is associated. To memorize. After memory step C8
Then, the processing operation of the flowchart ends.

That is, for example, when the operator sets the print color corresponding to the time zone number "1" to red (R), the print color registration key 26, the time registration key 21, and the numeric key group 22 are set.
The "1" key, the "R" key in the print color key group 27, and the enter key 25 are sequentially operated in this order. In response to the above operation, the control unit 15 causes the print color storage unit 18 to store the print color to be the display form, as described above. The print color setting procedure corresponding to the time zone numbers “2” to “4” is the number and print color key group 2 in the above procedure.
Only the specific keys to be operated in 2, 27 are different,
The others are equal. As a result, the facsimile apparatus 1 can easily set the print color desired by the operator as the display mode of the image indicated by the image signal received under any reception condition.

As described above, the printing condition can be arbitrarily set in response to the operation of the operator. In addition to this, the printing conditions, that is, the number of time zones, the number and types of print colors may be set arbitrarily. As a result, the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can operate according to the operator's request, and thus the usability is further improved.

Further, in order for the operator to easily determine which time zone in the day the image signal is received, the time zone which is the reception condition in all the printing conditions covers one day. Is preferred. Furthermore, in order to easily determine the reception time zone of the image signal based on the display form of the image, it is preferable that the display forms within all the printing conditions be different from each other. That is, in this embodiment, the time zone number "1"-
It is preferable that four types of printing colors “red (R)”, “blue (B)”, “green (G)”, and “black (K)” are associated with “4”.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Since the facsimile device 31 of the second embodiment includes components having the same configuration as the facsimile device 1 of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment will be given to the components, and description will be made. Is omitted. The facsimile apparatus 31 according to the second embodiment sends and receives image signals to and from an unspecified number of facsimile apparatuses on the other side via the public line network 19.

The facsimile device 31 includes a printing condition storage unit 33, a network control unit (NCU) 4, a modem 5, a facsimile mechanism 6, an image data printing unit 7, a clock 8, an operating unit 11,
The display unit 12, the storage unit 13, the dialer 14, and the control unit 34 are included. The control unit 34 controls the printing condition storage unit 33, the modem 5, the facsimile mechanism 6, the image data printing unit 7, the display unit 12, the storage unit 13, and the dialer 14, respectively. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 11 includes at least the enter key 25, the print color registration key 26, and the print color key group 27.
Including and

The printing condition storage unit 33 stores a plurality of printing conditions of the image signal. In the present embodiment, the reception condition in the print condition is the number of times the facsimile apparatus 31 receives the image signal, and the display form in the print condition is the print used for printing the image indicated by the latest image signal. Suppose it is a color. Further, in the present embodiment, the printing condition storage unit 33 includes a counter unit 36, a printing color order storage unit 37,
It is assumed that a print color storage unit 38 and a registered print color number storage unit 39 are included.

The counter section 36 is provided in the facsimile apparatus 31.
The counter value corresponding to the number of times the image signal is received is stored. The print color order storage unit 38 roughly stores all print colors used for printing a monochrome image in descending order of the number of times of reception corresponding to each print color. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the print colors in the print color order storage unit 38 have a larger number of receptions as the print colors have a larger arrangement order. The print color storage unit 38 stores, of all the print colors stored in the print color order storage unit 38, any one color corresponding to the number of receptions equal to the counter value stored in the counter unit 36. . The print color stored in the print color storage unit 38 is used for printing the image of the image signal received next. The registered print color number storage unit 39 stores the number of all print conditions,
That is, the number of print colors stored in the print color order storage unit 38 is stored. The number corresponds to the maximum number of receptions that the counter unit 36 can count.

The control unit 34 reads out the display form in the print condition including the reception condition corresponding to the reception condition of the image signal from the print condition storage unit 3 and gives it to the image data printing unit 7. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the display form is the print color stored in the print color storage unit 38. At the same time, the control unit 34 increments the counter value of the counter unit 36. As a result, the image data printing unit 7 prints the image represented by the given image data on the recording paper in the given display form. The recording paper on which the image is printed is discharged to the outside of the facsimile device 31. The above is the description of the electrical configuration of the facsimile device 31.

The relationship between the contents stored in the print color storage unit 38 and the number of receptions will be described with reference to FIG. In the example of FIG. 6, the print color order storage unit 36 stores four kinds of print colors, that is, red (R), green (G), blue (B), and black (K) in this order. To do.

As shown in FIG. 6A, in the initial state in which the facsimile apparatus 31 has not received the image signal even once, the counter value is "1" and the print color storage section 38 shows "red". (R) ”is stored. The above state is maintained until the facsimile device 31 completes the reception and printing of the first image signal. As a result, the image indicated by the first image signal is printed in red. As shown in FIG. 6B, the counter value is “2” until the facsimile apparatus 31 receives the first image signal and completes the reception and printing of the second image signal. The print color storage unit 38 stores “green (G)”. As a result, the image indicated by the second image signal is printed in green. In the same procedure, 3
The image represented by the subject image signal is printed in blue.

After the reception of the third image signal is completed, FIG.
As shown in (C), the counter value becomes "4",
The print color storage unit 38 stores “black (K)”. As a result, the image indicated by the fourth image signal is printed in black. When 1 is added to the counter value after the completion of printing the fourth image signal, the counter value after addition exceeds the maximum number of receptions stored in the registered print color number storage unit 39. In this case, the counter value in the counter unit 36 is returned to "1" as shown in FIG. As a result, the print condition storage unit 3
3 sequentially repeats the above-mentioned four-stage states. The above is the description of the relationship between the print color and the number of receptions.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the image signal receiving process in the facsimile apparatus 31 of the second embodiment. The flowchart of FIG. 7 is as shown in FIG.
Includes the same steps as the flowchart in FIG. When the facsimile device 31 is in a standby state capable of receiving the image signal, the process proceeds from step D1 to step D2. The processing of steps D2 and D3 is the same as the processing of steps A2 and A3 in FIG. If the image indicated by the received image signal is a monochrome image, the process proceeds from step D3 to step D4.
If the image is a color image, the process returns from step D3 to step D2.

In parallel with or after the reception of the image signal, the control unit 34 displays the display form within the printing condition including the reception condition corresponding to the reception condition of the image signal, that is, the latest image signal in step D4. The print color stored in the print color storage unit 38 is read out as the print color corresponding to the number of receptions of, and is given to the image data printing unit 7. After specifying the print color,
In step D5, the control unit 34 determines whether or not the reception of the image signal is completed based on the operations of the network control device 4 and the modem 5. The determination process of step D5 is repeated until the reception of the image signal is completed, and after the reception is completed, the determination process of step D5 is performed.
It progresses from 5 to step D6.

The control unit 34 adds 1 to the number of times of reception in the counter unit 36 to update it at step D6. At this time, if the updated number of receptions is equal to or greater than the maximum number of receptions in the registered print color number storage unit 39, the control unit 34 initializes the updated number of receptions and returns it to 1. After updating, the control unit 34
In step D7, the print color corresponding to the updated number of receptions is read from the print color order storage unit 37 and stored in the print color storage unit 38. As a result, the print color to be used for printing the image at the next reception is stored in the print color storage unit 38 prior to the reception. Since the printing color used for the next printing is predetermined in this way, it is easy to select the printing color at the time when the image signal is received, and the printing time of the image indicated by the image signal can be shortened. After storing the print color, the process returns from step D7 to step D2. D2-D7
The process of is selectively repeated until the facsimile device 31 cannot receive the image signal, and when the device 31 enters the state, the process of the flowchart ends.

By the processing of steps D4, D6 and D7, the image data printing unit 7 responds to the bits of the image data which are sequentially given with the passage of time, and outputs a part of the image corresponding to the bits. Printing is sequentially performed on the recording paper in a display form according to the reception status of the image signal that is the source of the data, that is, in the printing color in the printing color storage unit 38. As a result, when the image represented by the image data is a monochrome image, the image data printing unit 7 can print the image on the recording paper in a display form according to the reception status. The print color in the print color storage unit 38 is changed each time the facsimile apparatus 31 receives an image signal indicating a monochrome image. As a result, the operator can easily classify the recording paper for each case based on the color of the image printed on the recording paper when a plurality of recording papers on which the image is printed are accumulated. . As a result, the work efficiency of the above-mentioned matter is improved. As a result, the convenience of the facsimile device 31 of the present embodiment is improved.

When the image is a color image, the control unit 34 does not process the image data printing unit 7. As a result, the image data printing unit 7 displays a part of the image corresponding to the bits of the image data sequentially given with the passage of time in the display form defined by the image data, that is, the original print color of the image. , Print sequentially on recording paper. As a result, the facsimile device 31 can make the printing depending on the reception status of the monochrome image and the printing of the color image side by side. The above is the description of the reception process of the facsimile device 31.

In order for the facsimile apparatus 31 to print an image according to the reception status, it is necessary that the printing conditions be stored in the printing condition storage unit 33 prior to the printing. The procedure for setting the printing conditions will be described below. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a print color setting process for setting the storage contents of the print color order storage unit 37 in the facsimile apparatus 31 of the second embodiment. In a state in which the stored contents of the print color order storage unit 37 can be changed, for example, in a standby state where the facsimile apparatus 31 has not received an image signal, the process proceeds from step E1 to step E2.

In step E2, the control section 34 waits for the operator to operate the print color registration key 26 in the operation section 11. After the print color registration key 26 is operated, the control unit 34, in step E3, the registered print color number storage unit 39.
Erase the stored contents of. After erasing the stored contents, the control unit 34
In step E4, it is determined whether the enter key 25 has been operated. If the enter key 25 has not been operated, the process proceeds from step E4 to step E5.

At step E5, the control section 34 waits for any key of the print color key group 27 to be operated in order to input the print color to be designated. After any one of the keys is operated, the control unit 34 proceeds to step E.
At 6, the print color corresponding to the key is set to the print color order storage unit 3
7 is stored in the position of the number of times of reception according to the current number of times of repetition of steps E4 to E7. Further, the control unit 34
In step E7, 1 is added to the maximum number of receptions stored at present at the registered number-of-prints storage unit 39 to update it. After updating, the process returns to step E4. As a result, steps E4 to E7
The process of is repeated until the operator operates the enter key 25. After the enter key 25 is operated, step E8
Then, the processing operation of the flowchart ends. As a result of the above processing, the control unit 34 can simultaneously set the print color corresponding to the number of receptions and the maximum number of receptions.

That is, when the operator sets, for example, the relationship between the four types of printing colors and the number of times of reception as shown in FIG.
The key, the "green (G)" key, the "blue (B)" key, the "black (K)" key and the enter key 25 are sequentially operated in this order. In response to the above operation, the control unit 34 stores the print colors in the print color order storage unit 37 in the order described above, as described above. As a result, the facsimile device 31 can easily set the print color desired by the operator as the display form of the image indicated by the image signal received under any reception condition. As described above, the printing condition can be arbitrarily set in response to the operation of the operator. In addition to this, the printing conditions, that is, the maximum number of times of reception, the number and type of printing colors may be set arbitrarily. The above is the description of the procedure for setting the printing conditions.

As described above, since the facsimile apparatus 31 of the present embodiment can operate according to the operator's request, the usability is further improved. Further, in order to easily judge the recording paper on which the image indicated by the image signal of each case is printed based on the display form of the image, it is preferable that the display forms within all the printing conditions are different from each other.

As described above, the facsimile machines 1 and 31 of the first and second embodiments are examples of the facsimile machine of the present invention, and if the main operations are the same, they can be carried out in various other forms. be able to. In particular, the detailed operation of each circuit is not limited to the above-described operation and may be realized by another operation as long as the same output can be obtained. For example, in the first and second embodiments, the reception condition is the reception time zone or the number of times of reception, but the reception condition is not limited to this and may be another reception condition. Further, in the first and second embodiments, the display form is a print color for printing a monochrome image, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other display forms may be used. Furthermore, the combination of the plurality of printing colors is not limited to the red, blue, green, and black, and may be another combination such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). Good. In addition, in the first and second embodiments,
The facsimile apparatuses 1 and 31 make the reception and output of a color image and the reception and output of a monochrome image parallel to each other, but may perform only the latter. Further, in the first and second embodiments, the facsimile apparatuses 1 and 31 print the image indicated by the received image signal on the recording paper, but other output methods, for example, the image is displayed on the display device. It may be displayed.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention, the facsimile apparatus is provided with the clock means, and when one image data is received, the reception status of the image data among a plurality of predetermined display modes. The image indicated by the image data is output in any one of the display forms associated with the period including the reception start time which is the reception condition corresponding to. As a result, the operator of the facsimile device can easily understand the reception status of the image data representing the image based on the display form of the output image. This improves the convenience of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention. Further, according to the present invention, the reception condition corresponding to the reception start time is the period including the reception start time. As a result, the facsimile apparatus can easily prioritize the processing of the plurality of messages transmitted by the respective images based on the display form of the image indicated by the image data for the plurality of cases. The processing efficiency of the person can be improved.

According to the present invention, in the facsimile machine, the display form is a color used for displaying the image. As a result, the operator can easily understand the reception status of the image data showing the image based on the color of the displayed image. Further, according to the present invention, the facsimile apparatus determines the color used for displaying the image according to the reception situation of the image data only when the received image data is a monochrome image, and when the image data is a color image. Is displayed as is. As a result, the facsimile apparatus can output a color image and an output depending on the reception status of a monochrome image in parallel.

Further, according to the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus, the reception condition is the number of times of reception counted by the counter means for monochrome images. As a result, the facsimile apparatus can improve the processing efficiency of the operator for the division of the image represented by the image data of a plurality of cases and the processing of the message transmitted by each image.

[0071]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a facsimile apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an image signal receiving process in the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a time zone registration process for setting print conditions in the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a print color registration process for setting print conditions in the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a facsimile device 31 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a printing condition storage unit 3 that responds to the number of times an image signal is received in the facsimile apparatus 31 according to the second embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the change of the memory content in 3.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an image signal receiving process in the facsimile apparatus 31 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a print condition setting process in the facsimile apparatus 31 according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,31 Facsimile machine 3,33 Printing condition storage unit 7 Image data printing section 15 Control unit

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a receiving unit for receiving image data representing an image; and an output unit capable of outputting the image represented by the image data; a clock unit; and the receiving of the image data by the receiving unit is started. Output condition storage for storing a plurality of predetermined reception conditions including a predetermined time and a plurality of predetermined display forms to be used for output of image data received under the respective reception conditions in association with each other. Means and the reception start time of the image data by the reception means is read from the clock means, and any one of the plurality of display forms corresponding to the reception condition corresponding to the reception start time of the received image data is displayed. A display form selecting means for selecting a form, and the output means for displaying the image indicated by the received image data, on the basis of any one of the display forms selected. Facsimile apparatus characterized by comprising an output control means for outputting. 2. The output means can display an image using a plurality of colors, and each display form includes at least one color to be used for display among the plurality of colors. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image control means further comprises image determination means for determining whether the latest image represented by the image data is a color image or a monochrome image, and the output control means responds to the determination result of the image determination means. If the image indicated by the latest image data is a monochrome image, the image is displayed on the output unit using the at least one color selected by the display form selection unit, and the latest image data indicates 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the image is a color image, the image is displayed on the output means using all colors. 4. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a receiving unit for receiving image data representing an image; and an output unit capable of outputting the image represented by the image data, wherein the output unit is capable of displaying the image using a plurality of colors. An output condition storage unit that stores the number of times of receiving image data of a monochrome image received by the receiving unit and a plurality of colors corresponding to the number of reception in association with each other, and an image indicated by the latest image data. Is a color image or a monochrome image, an image determining unit, a counter unit that responds to the output of the image determining unit and counts the number of times the image data of the monochrome image is received, and an output of the counter unit. Display mode selecting means for reading out and selecting from the output condition storing means a color corresponding to each of the counter values for which the number of times of reception is counted, the image judging means and the display type. When the image indicated by the latest image data is a monochrome image in response to the output from the state selecting unit, the image is displayed on the output unit using the at least one color selected by the display form selecting unit. A facsimile apparatus, comprising: when the image represented by the latest image data is a color image, output control means for displaying the image on the output means using all colors.