Facsimile apparatus

A facsimile apparatus capable of conserving the recording paper and using a limited amount of the recording paper effectively is disclosed. In the case where what is called the total blank line data with the entire line representing blank (data zero) data at the time of receiving are successively received are received successively, the subsequent successively-received total blank line data are not printed by the recorder on the recording paper. The recording paper is thus printed omitting the unrequited marginal portion, and therefore a limited amount of recording paper is used effectively without adversely affecting the effective image data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of 
economizing the recording paper. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
FIG. 4 is a flowchart/or explaining the printing operation for a 
conventional facsimile apparatus. After image data has been received in 
step a1, in step a2, the MH (Modified Huffman) decoding operation is 
executed. Then, in step a3, it is decided whether a one-line data is the 
total blank line data or not. The total blank line data is defined as 
image data in which 1 line of the original along the direction of main 
scanning of the reading means is totally blank (0). 
In the case where step a3 decides that the line data is not the total blank 
line data, the process proceeds to step a4 for printing the particular 
line data, after which the process is passed to step a7. 
In the case where step a3 decides that the one-line data is the total blank 
line data, the process proceeds to step a5 which decides whether more than 
a predetermined number of lines are total blank. In the case where the 
decision is negative, the process proceeds to step a4 for performing the 
printing operation. When the decision is affirmative, on the other hand, 
the process is passed to step a6, where the total blank printing is 
effected. The total blank printing is defined as the feed of the recording 
paper over the number of total blank lines without printing. 
In step a7, it is decided whether the printing of the image data for one 
page has been completed. In the case where the printing has not been 
completed, the process is returned to step a1 for receiving the next image 
data. When the printing has been completed, on the other hand, the process 
comes to end. 
As described above, conventional facsimile apparatuses, in which primary 
emphasis is placed on the printing of the transmitted image data 
accurately on the recording paper, have not any function of printing the 
image data by compression omitting the unrequired portion. Although the 
conventional apparatuses decide whether the data to be printed is total 
blank line data, the detection is used for setting the period of the 
printing operation. 
The result is that such portions as not much required including a margin of 
the original are also printed as it is, often wasting the recording paper. 
Also, a sheet of the recording paper printed with the image data is often 
longitudinal and is difficult to handle. 
The recording paper including the thermosensitive paper is the only supply 
in the operation of the facsimile apparatus. The 30-m paper roll in 
general use permits the printing of about one hundred sheets of A4-size 
(210 mm.times.297 mm) original. If the number of pages to be printed is to 
be increased, the paper roll may be lengthened. A longer paper roll, 
however, would make it necessary to proportionately increase the size of 
the facsimile apparatus. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which 
economizes the recording paper and is capable of using a limited amount of 
recording paper effectively. 
The invention is a facsimile apparatus which comprises means connected with 
the public telephone network for receiving image data including a 
plurality of line data, print control means for outputting image data 
divided by line data having a plurality of dot data in response to the 
output of the receiving means, and means for printing the recording data 
in the form of printed recording paper in response to the output of the 
printing control means, wherein in the case where the blank line data with 
blank dots for the entire line continues over a predetermined number of 
lines, subsequent blank line data are omitted from the output. 
According to the invention, upon receipt by the receiving means of image 
data including a plurality of line data, the printing control means 
divides the received data by each line data having a plurality of dot data 
and outputs the image data to the printing means. The printing means 
prints the image data of each line data on the recording paper. In the 
process, in the case where a predetermined number of blank line data with 
the entire line in white dots are received successively, the printing 
control means produces an output omitting the subsequent blank line data. 
As a result, the unrequired data portion such as the margins of the 
original is omitted in printing. 
As described above, according to the invention, in the case where a 
predetermined number of blank line data with the entire line blank are 
successively received, the subsequent blank line data are omitted in 
output, thereby making it possible to print the original while omitting 
the unrequired data portion such as the margins thereof. As a result, the 
consumption of the recording paper is reduced, the wasteful use of the 
recording paper is prevented, and a limited amount of recording paper thus 
is used effectively. Also, as compared with the prior art, the number of 
sheets than can be printed is increased, thereby reducing the cost of the 
recording paper. Further, the printing result of the originals containing 
considerable margins is stored in a smaller space than in the prior art, 
thereby providing the convenience for both handling and storage. 
According to the invention, the printing control means comprises a first 
counter for counting the number of black-dot ones of a plurality of dot 
data constituting a one-line data, a second counter for incrementing one 
when the count of the first counter is zero, the second counter being 
reset to the initial value of zero when the count of the first counter is 
not zero, and a comparator for comparing the count on the first counter 
with a predetermined reference value.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Now referring to the drawing, preferred embodiments of the invention are 
described below. 
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile 
apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The facsimile 
apparatus 1 is connected to a public telephone network 2 for transmitting 
and receiving image data. The public telephone network 2 is connected to a 
network control circuit 3. The network control circuit 3 accomplishes such 
operations as the detection of an incoming call, make/break of the network 
and call. The received facsimile signal is applied to a modem 4, and the 
facsimile signal to be transmitted from the modem 4 is sent out to the 
public telephone network 2. 
The modem 4 demodulates and applies the received facsimile signal to a 
control circuit 5, and the facsimile signal supplied from the control 
circuit 5 for transmission is modulated and applied to the network control 
circuit 3. The control circuit 5 is realized by a central processing unit 
(CPU) or the like. On the basis of various operation programs stored in a 
read-only memory (ROM) 6, various operations including the reading of the 
original, and transmission, receiving and printing of image data are 
controlled. The working area used for running the operation program, the 
image data storage area for storing the image data, etc. are set in a 
random-access memory (RAM) 7. Also, the control circuit 5 includes a flag 
region 5a for storing the total blank flag described later, a successive 
total blank counter 5b for counting the number of total blank lines and a 
comparator 5c for comparing the count of the counter 5b with a 
predetermined reference value. 
A reader 8 includes a photoelectric converter such as a CCD (charge-coupled 
device) which irradiates the light from a light source on the surface of 
the original, converts the reflected light into an electrical signal, and 
applies the electrical signal to the control circuit 5. This electrical 
signal is binarized or otherwise processed, and transmitted by being 
converted into image data. A printer 9 is realized by such a device as the 
thermal printer for printing the received image data as an output on the 
recording paper such as thermosensitive recording paper. The image data 
outputted from the control circuit 5 is applied also to a dot counter 10 
for counting the number of printed dots in each line as described later. 
The facsimile apparatus 1 is supplied with the driving power by a power 
supply 11. 
A circuit diagram of a specific configuration of the dot counter 10 is 
shown in FIG. 2. The dot counter 10 includes a D flip-flop 15, an OR 
(logic addition) circuit 16 and a counter 17. The D input of the D 
flip-flop 15 is supplied with image data (line data) DATA including a 
plurality of dot data from the control circuit 5, the CK input thereof 
with a clock signal CLK for defining the output timing of the dot data, 
the R input thereof with a reset signal RES, and the S input thereof with 
an operating voltage of +5 V from a power supply 11. One input of the OR 
circuit 16 is supplied with an inverted input of the Q output of the D 
flip-flop 15, and the other input thereof with a clock signal CLK. The 
output of the OR circuit 16 is applied to the CK input of the counter 17, 
and the outputs QA to QJ to the control circuit 5. The counter 17 is 
initialized by a clear signal CLR. The reset signal RES and the clear 
signal CLR are outputted each time a one-line signal is supplied. 
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the receiving operation of the facsimile 
apparatus 1. When the image data is received through the network control 
circuit 3 and the modem in step b1, in step b2, the control circuit 5 
performs MH decoding, followed in step b3 the one-line data is transferred 
to the shift register in the control circuit 5. 
Then, in step b4, the control circuit 5 reads the count of the dot counter 
10, and in step b5, it is decided whether the count is zero or not. In the 
case where the count is not zero, the process is passed to step b6 for 
clearing the total blank flag stored in the control circuit 5, followed by 
step b7 for clearing the count of the successive total blank counter 5b 
set in the control circuit 5. 
After that, in step b8, the printer 9 prints a given one-line data on the 
recording paper, and the process proceeds to step b9. In step b9, it is 
decided whether a page of image data has been received or not. In the case 
where the receiving has not been completed, the process returns to step b1 
for receiving the next image data, while when it is decided that the 
receiving is complete, the process is ended. 
In the case where the count is zero at step b5, the process proceeds to 
step b10 thereby to turn on (1) the total blank flag stored in the control 
circuit 5. Then, in step b11, the count of the successive total blank 
counter 5b is increased by one, and in step b12, it is decided whether the 
count is more than a predetermined value. In the case where the count of 
the successive total blank counter 5b is more than a predetermined value, 
the printing operation is omitted and the process proceeds to step b9. In 
the case where the count of the successive total blank counter 5b is less 
than a predetermined value, on the other hand, the process is passed to 
step b8 for executing the printing operation. 
As explained above, according to this embodiment, in the case where a given 
line of the received image data is blank (0) in its entirety, i.e., in the 
case where a predetermined number of lines of total blank line data is 
received successively, subsequently successive total blank line data are 
not printed but what is called the marginal portion is printed by 
compression. As a consequence, the unrequired marginal portion in the 
original is deleted for printing, thereby conserving the amount of 
recording paper consumption. 
For this reason, the cost of the recording paper is reduced, thereby 
leading to an economical advantage. Also, the printing on the recording 
paper omitting the unrequired marginal portion makes it possible to print 
the effective image data in ordinary fashion while at the same time 
shortening the length of the recording paper required for printing. As a 
result, the recording paper of a necessary minimum length is used, thereby 
offering the convenience of storage of the recording paper. 
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing 
form the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present 
embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative 
and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the 
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes 
which come within the meaning and the range of equivalency of the claims 
are therefore intended to be embraced therein.