Patent Abstract:
A recording apparatus that compares the size of detected input data with a plurality of sizes of recording sheets set by a setting unit. The size of a recording sheet on which the input data is to be recorded is selected from the set plurality of sizes and the input data is recorded on the selected recording sheet. When no recording sheet of a size equal to or greater than the size of the input data is set, the size of the input data is compared with the sizes M times (M: an integer) as much as the plurality of sizes of recording sheets, respectively, and (1) if any of the M times sizes is equal to or greater than the size of the input data, it is selected as the size of recording sheet on which the input data is to be recorded. A recording unit divisionally records the input data on M pieces of recording sheets having the selected size; and (2) if none of the M times sizes is equal to or greater than the size of the input data, the apparatus is controlled to take M′ (M′: an integer) greater than M and compare the size of the input data with sizes M′ times as much as the plurality of sizes of recording sheets.

Full Description:
This is a Divisional Application of U.S. Ser. No. 08/990,779, filed Dec. 15, 1997, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/388,847, filed Feb. 15, 1995, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to a facsimile apparatus for recording received image information on a record sheet of a predetermined size. 
     2. Related Background Art 
     In the prior art, when image information received by an own terminal from a sending terminal (hereinafter referred to as received document image) is to be recorded on a record sheet (cut form) of a predetermined size such as A4 or B5, a sub-scan length of one page of received document image is compared with an effective sub-scan length of one page of record sheet accommodated in a facsimile apparatus to calculate a reduction factor or a number of divisions to record the received document image on the record sheet, and the received image is recorded on the record sheet in accordance with the calculated reduction factor of the number of divisions. 
     Namely, in the prior art, the sub-scan length of the received document image is compared with the effective sub-scan length of the record sheet, and if it indicates that the received document image can be recorded on the record sheet when it is reduced at a maximum reduction factor (for example, 0.90) which the facsimile apparatus has, the received document image is recorded on the record sheet at an appropriate reduction factor, and if the received document sheet will spread out of the record sheet when it is reduced at the maximum reduction factor, the received document image is split-recorded on two or more record sheets. 
     In the prior art, however, when the received document image is recorded with reduction, it is recorded on one record sheet, but when the received document image is reduced at the maximum reduction factor, the recorded image is too reduced to present an easy-to-view image. 
     Further, when the sub-scan length of the received document image is long and the received document image is split-recorded on two or more record sheets, the reduction function is not operative. Thus, if the sub-scan length of the received document image is slightly longer than a length which is an integer multiple of the sub-scan length that can be recorded on the cut sheet of a given size, a record sheet which records only a portion of the image corresponding to the slightly longer image portion is additionally used. Namely, for example, if the slightly longer image portion is not present, only two record sheets are used, but if the slightly longer image portion is present, three record sheets are used, which leads to the waste of the record sheet. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved facsimile apparatus. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which allows the recording of the received document image at an optimum number of splits and an optimum reduction factor, and permits the recording of the received document image on a record sheet with an optimum reduction rate even in the split-record mode. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention, 
     FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a record sheet selection process, 
     FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a sub-scan priority process, 
     FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a data initialization process, 
     FIG. 5 shows an example of a selection table, 
     FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a first selection process, 
     FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a second selection process, 
     FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a third selection process, 
     FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of a fourth selection process, 
     FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of a recording reduction factor calculation process, and 
     FIGS. 11A to  11 D show examples of a received document image and an effective record sheet. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus comprises a read unit  1  having a CCD for reading a main scan length and a sub-scan length of a received document image, a record unit  2  for recording the image information on a record sheet (cut sheet) of a predetermined size such as B5 or A4, a console unit  3  having various operation keys arranged and having a display function for displaying an operation status and a drive status of the apparatus, an NCU (network control unit)  5  for controlling image information sent from a predetermined network  4  and image information to be sent to the network  4 , a modem (modulator/demodulator)  6  connected to the NCU  5  for modulating and demodulating the sending and received signals and a system control unit  7  connected to the read unit  1 , the record unit  2 , the console unit  3 , the NCU  5  and the modem  6 . 
     The system control unit  7  comprises a read-only ROM  8  which stores a predetermined operation program, a writable RAM  9  which stores information of a record sheet of a predetermined size on which the image information is to be recorded, an image memory  10  which temporarily stores the image information read by the read unit  1 , and a CPU  11  for controlling an apparatus main unit (not shown) by conducting various operations. 
     While not shown, a plurality of record sheet containers (cassettes) are removably mounted on the apparatus main unit and a desired record sheet is appropriately selected from the plurality of sizes of record sheets accommodated in the cassettes by a selection process to be described later, and the received document image is recorded on the record sheet. 
     The facsimile apparatus calculates a reduction factor/number of splits in accordance with the main scan length and the sub-scan length of the received document image and the received document image is recorded on the desired record sheet (effective record sheet). 
     FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a process of selection means for selecting an effective record sheet. 
     In a step S 1 , data is initialized and the sheet sizes of the cassettes mounted on the apparatus main unit are written. 
     In a step S 2 , whether the main scan is prioritized to select the effective record sheet or not is determined. Whether the effective record sheet is to be selected with the main scan priority or with the sub-scan priority is pre-registered by an operator with the consideration of convenience for editing the received document image. 
     If the decision in the step S 2  is affirmative (YES), that is, if the main scan priority is selected, the process proceeds to a step S 3  to execute a first selection routine. Namely, an effective record sheet which has the same main scan length as that of the received document image and allows the recording without splitting the received document image along the sub-scan direction. 
     In a step S 4 , whether the effective record sheet has been detected in the step S 3  or not is determined,. and if the effective record sheet has not been detected, the process proceeds to a step S 5  to execute a second selection process routine. Namely, an effective record sheet which has the same main scan length as that of the received document image and allows the recording of the received document image without split along the sub-scan direction is searched. 
     In a step S 6 , whether the effective record sheet has been detected in the step S 5  or not is determined, and if the effective record sheet has not been detected, the process proceeds to a step S 7  to execute a third selection process routine. Namely, a record sheet which has a different main scan length from that of the received document image and allows the recording of the received document image without split along the sub-scan direction is searched. 
     In a step S 8 , whether the effective record sheet has been detected in the step S 7  or not is determined, and if the effective record sheet has not been detected, the process proceeds to a step S 9  to execute a fourth selection process routine. Namely, an effective record sheet which has a different main scan length from that of the received document image and allows the recording of the received document image with split along the sub-scan direction is searched. 
     In a step S 10 , whether the effective record sheet has been detected in the step S 9  or not is determined. If the effective record sheet has not been detected, namely, if it is determined that the effective record sheet is not accommodated in any of the cassettes, the program is terminated. 
     On the other hand, if the decision in any of the steps S 4 , S 6 , S 8  and S 10  is affirmative (YES), namely, if the effective record sheet is detected, the process proceeds to a step S 11  to execute a record reduction factor calculation routine to calculate an optimum reduction factor to the received document image, and the program is terminated. 
     If the decision in the step S 2  is negative (NO), namely, if the effective record sheet is to be selected not by the main scan priority but by the sub-scan priority, the process proceeds to a step S 12  to execute a sub-scan priority process routine, and the program is terminated. 
     As shown in a flow chart of FIG. 3, in the sub-scan priority process, unlike the main scan priority process, the first selection process, the third selection process, the second selection process and the fourth selection process are executed in this sequence. 
     Specifically, in a step S 21 , the first selection process routine is executed and an effective record sheet which has the same main scan length as that of the received document image and allows the recording of the received document image without split along the sub-scan direction is searched. In a step S 22 , whether the effective record sheet has been detected in the step S 21  or not is determined, and if the effective record sheet has not been detected, the process proceeds to a step S 23  to execute the third selection process routine to search an effective record sheet which has a different main scan length from that of the received document image and allows the recording of the received document image without split along the sub-scan direction. In a step S 24 , whether the effective record sheet has been detected in the step S 23  or not is determined, and if the effective record sheet has not been detected, the process proceeds to a step S 25  to execute the second selection process routine to search an effective document sheet which has the same main scan length as that of the received document image and allows the recording of the received document image with split along the sub-scan direction. In a step S 26 , whether the effective record sheet has been detected in the step S 25  or not is determined, and if the effective record sheet has not been detected, the process proceeds to a step S 27  to execute the fourth selection process routine. Namely, an effective document sheet which has a different main scan length from that of the received document image and allows the recording of the received document image with split along the sub-scan direction is searched. In a step S 28 , whether the effective record sheet has been detected in the step S 27  or not is determined, and if the effective record sheet has not been detected, the program is terminated. 
     On the other hand, if the decision in any of the steps S 22 , S 24 , S 26  and S 28  is affirmative (YES), namely, if the effective record sheet has been detected, the process proceeds to a step S 29  to execute the record reduction factor calculation routine to calculate an optimum reduction factor to the received document image, and the program is terminated. 
     A data initialization process, the first to fourth selection processes and the record reduction factor calculation process are explained in detail. 
     (1) Data Initialization 
     FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an initialization routine to be executed in the step S 1  of FIG.  2 . 
     The data is initialized writing the sizes of the cassette mounted on the apparatus main unit in a selection table in the RAM  9  in an ascending order (step S 31 ) and finally writing an end code (step S 32 ), and the process returns to the main routine (FIG.  2 ). 
     In the present embodiment, the selection table is written in the ascending order of the sheet size, for example, B5, A4, B4 for the table selection number n (n=1 to 4) as shown in FIG. 5, and finally the write end code END is written. 
     (2) First Selection Process 
     FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of the first selection process to be executed in the step S 3  of FIG. 2 or the step S 21  of FIG. 3. A record sheet which has the same main scan length as that of the received document image and allows the recording of the received document image without split is searched. 
     In a step S 41 , the selection number n of the selection table is set to ‘1’ and the sub-scan length L 0  of one page of received document image is read to initialize it. 
     In a step S 42 , whether the selection number n is other than ‘4’ (end code) or not is determined. Since the selection number n has been set to ‘1’ in the step S 41 , the decision of the step S 42  in the first loop is affirmative (YES) and the process proceeds to a step S 43  to determine whether the main scan length of the given sheet size (for example, B5) is same as that of the received document image and the sheets in the cassette have not been exhausted or not. If the decision is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to a step S 45 , and if the decision is negative (NO), the selection number n is incremented by one in a step S 44  and the flow of the steps S 42  to S 43  is repeated. Namely, in the first loop, the selection number is set to ‘1’ and in the step S 43 , whether the main scan length of the received document image is same as that of the B5 size and the record sheet is accommodated in the B5 cassette or not is determined. If the main scan length of the received document image is not same as that of the B5 size or if the record sheet is not accommodated in the B5 cassette, the selection number n is incremented by one. Namely, n=2 and the decision in the step S 42  is again affirmative (YES), and in the step S 43 , whether the main scan length of the received document image is same as that of the A4 size (n=2) and the record sheet is accommodated in the A4 cassette or not is determined. The same process is repeated until the selection number n reaches ‘4’, when it is determined that the effective record sheet is not present (step S 53 ) and the process returns to the routine of FIG. 2 or FIG.  3 . 
     On the other hand, if the decision of the step S 43  is affirmative (YES), namely, if the record sheet which has the same main scan length as that of the received document image has been detected, steps S 45  et seq. are executed to determine whether the received document image can be recorded without split. 
     Namely, in the step S 45 , the selection number n is set to ‘1’ to initialize the data again. In a step S 46 , whether the selection number is other than ‘4’ or not is determined. Since the selection number n has been set to ‘1’ in the step S 45 , the decision of the step S 46  in the first loop is affirmative (YES) and the process proceeds to a step S 47  to determine whether the main scan length of the given sheet size is same as that of the received document image or not. If the decision is negative (NO), the selection number n is incremented by one in a step S 48 , and the decision process of the steps S 46  to S 47  is repeated as the steps S 42  and S 43  are. If the decision of the step S 46  is negative (NO), namely, if the selection number n reaches ‘4’, it is determined that the effective record sheet is not present (step S 53 ) and the process returns to the routine of FIG. 2 or FIG.  3 . 
     If the decision in the step S 47  is affirmative (YES), namely, if the effective record sheet which has the same main scan length as that of the received document image has been detected, the sub-scan length L 1  of the sheet size, for example, the sub-scan length L 1  of the B5 size is read (step S 49 ), and the sub-scan length L 1  is divided by a maximum reduction factor D (first predetermined reduction factor) to calculate a maximum effective sub-scan length L 2  (step S 50 ). The process proceeds to a step S 51  to determine whether the maximum effective sub-scan length L 2  is longer than or equal to the sub-scan length L 0  of the received document image or not. If the decision is negative (NO), the selection number n is incremented by one in the step S 48  and the flow of the steps S 46  to S 50  is repeated. 
     If the decision in the step S 51  is affirmative (YES), it is determined that the effective record sheet which allows the recording of the received document sheet without split has been determined (step S 52 ) and the process returns to the routine of FIG. 2 or FIG.  3 . 
     In this manner, the received document sheet can be recorded without split for the record sheet having the same main scan length as that of the received document image. 
     (3) Second Selection Process 
     FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of the second selection process to be executed in the step S 5  of FIG. 2 or the step S 25  of FIG.  3 . It determines how many record sheets the received document image is to be split into for the record sheet having the same main scan length as that of the received document sheet. 
     In a step S 61 , the selection number n is set to ‘1’ and the number of split m is set to ‘1’, and the sub-scan length L 0  of one page of received document image is read to initialize the data. 
     In a step S 62 , whether the selection number n is other than ‘4’ (end code) or not is determined. Since the selection number n has been set to ‘1’ in the step S 61 , the decision of the step S 62  in the first loop is affirmative (YES) and the process proceeds to a step S 63  to determine whether the main scan length of the given sheet size is same as that of the received document image and the sheet of the cassette have not been exhausted or not. If the decision is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to a step S 65 , and if the decision is negative (NO), the selection number n is incremented by one in a step S 64  and the flow of the steps S 62  to S 63  is repeated as the steps S 42  to S 43  are. If the decision in the step S 62  is negative (NO), namely, if the selection number n reaches ‘4’, it is determined that the effective record sheet has not been detected (step S 76 ) and the process returns to the routine of FIG. 2 or FIG.  3 . 
     On the other hand, if the decision in the step S 63  is affirmative (YES), namely, if the record sheet having the same main scan length as that of the received document image has been detected, steps S 66  et seq. are executed to determine the number of split m. 
     In the step S 65 , the selection number n is set to ‘1’ to initialize the data again. In the step S 66 , whether the selection number is other than ‘4’ or not is determined. Since the selection number n has been set to ‘1’ in the step S 65 , the decision in the step S 66  in the first loop is affirmative (YES) and the process proceeds to a step S 67  to determine whether the main scan length of the given sheet size is same as that of the received document image or not. If the decision is negative (NO), the selection number n is incremented by one in a step S 68  and the flow of the steps S 66  to S 67  is repeated as the steps S 62  to S 63  are. If the decision in the step S 67  is affirmative (YES), namely, if the sheet size having the same main scan length as that of the received document image has been detected, the sub-scan length L 1  of the given sheet size (for example, B5) is read (step S 69 ). Then, the sub-scan length L 1  is multiplied by the number of split m to calculate a new sub-scan length L 1 ′ (step S 70 ), and a cut-away length Δ which may spread out of the sub-scan length for the number of split is added to the sub-scan length L 1 ′ to calculate a new sub-scan length L 1 ″ (step S 71 ). The sub-scan length L 1 ″ is divided by the maximum reduction factor D (first predetermined reduction factor) to calculate a maximum effective sub-scan length L 2  (step S 72 ). Then, the process proceeds to a step S 73  to determine whether the maximum effective sub-scan length L 2  is longer than or equal to the sub-scan length L 0  of the received document image or not. If the decision is negative (NO), the selection number n is incremented by one in a step S 68  and the flow of the steps S 66  to S 72  is repeated, and when the decision in the step S 66  in the subsequent loop is negative (NO), it is determined that the sub-scan length of any record sheet accommodated in the cassettes is shorter than the sub-scan length of the received document image, and the number of split m is incremented by one and the flow of the steps S 65  to S 72  is executed again. If the decision in the step S 73  is affirmative (YES), it is determined that the effective record sheet has been detected (step S 74 ) and the process returns to the routine of FIG. 2 or FIG.  3 . Namely, the sheet size having the same main scan length as that of the received document image is detected by the selection number n and the number of split m is determined in accordance with the detected sheet size. The received document image is recorded on the record sheet at the latest updated number of split m. 
     In this manner, when the main scan length is same as that of the received document image and the sub-scan length L 0  of the received document image is long, it is split-recorded into m effective record sheets. 
     (4) Third Selection Process 
     FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of the third selection process to be executed in the step S 7  of FIG. 2 or the step S 23  of FIG.  3 . It determines whether the received document image can be recorded on the record sheet having a different main scan length from that of the received document image without split or not. 
     Namely, in a step S 81 , like in the first selection process (FIG.  6 ), the selection table number n is set to ‘1’ and the sub-scan length L 0  of one page of received document image is read to initialize the data. 
     In a step S 82 , whether the selection number n is other than ‘4’ or not is determined. Since the selection number n has been set to ‘1’ in the step S 81 , the decision in the step S 82  in the first loop is affirmative (YES) and the process proceeds to a step S 83  to determine whether the main scan length of the sheet size is different from that of the received document image and the sheet in the cassette has not been exhausted or not. If the decision is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to a step S 85 , and if the decision is negative (NO), the selection number n is incremented by one in a step S 84  and the flow of the steps S 82  to S 83  is repeated. Namely, in the first loop, the selection number n is set to ‘1’ and whether the document sheet of a different main scan length from that of the B5 size is accommodated in the cassette or not is determined. If the decision in negative (NO), the selection number n is incremented by one, and whether the record sheet having the different main scan length from that of the A4 size is accommodated in the cassette or not is determined. A similar process is repeated until the selection number n reaches ‘4’. If the decision in the step S 82  is negative (NO), namely, if the selection number n has reached ‘4’, it is determined that the effective record sheet is not present (step S 93 ) and the process returns to the routine of FIG. 2 or FIG.  3 . 
     On the other hand, if the decision in the step S 83  is affirmative (YES), namely, if the record sheet having a different main scan length from that of the received document image has been detected, steps S 85  et seq. are executed to determine whether the received document image can be recorded without split. Namely, in the step S 85 , the selection number n is set to ‘1’ to initialize the data again. In a step S 86 , whether the selection number is other than ‘4’ or not is determined. Since the selection number has been set to ‘1’ in the step S 85 , the decision in the step S 86  in the first loop is affirmative (YES) and the process proceeds to a step S 87  to determine whether the main scan length of the sheet size is different from that of the received document image or not. If the decision in the step S 87  is negative (NO), the selection number n is incremented by one in a step S 88  and the decision steps S 86  to S 87  is repeated as the steps S 82  to S 83  are. If the decision in the step S 86  is negative (NO), namely, if the selection number has reached ‘4’, it is determined that the effective record sheet has not been detected (step S 93 ) and the process returns to the routine of FIG. 2 or FIG.  3 . 
     If the decision in the step S 87  is affirmative (YES), namely, if the main scan length of the given sheet size is different from that of the received document image, the sub-scan length L 1  of the given sheet size, for example, the sub-scan length L 1  of the B5 size is read (step S 89 ) and then the sub-scan length L 1  is divided by the maximum reduction factor D (first predetermined reduction factor) and a constant form reduction factor E (second predetermined reduction factor) to calculate a maximum effective sub-scan length L 2  (step S 90 ). Namely, since the main scan length of the received document image is different from that of the given sheet size, the sub-scan length L 1  is divided by the maximum reduction factor D as well as the constant form reduction factor E to calculate the maximum effective sub-scan length L 2 . For example, when the main scan length is that of the size A4 for the received document image and that of the size B5 for the given sheet size, the constant form reduction factor E is 0.86 and the sub-scan length L 1  is divided by the predetermined maximum reduction factor D (for example, 0.90) and the constant form reduction factor E to calculate the maximum effective sub-scan length L 2 . 
     In a step S 91 , whether the maximum effective sub-scan length L 2  is longer than the sub-scan length L 0  of the received document image or not is determined. If the decision is negative (NO), the selection number n is incremented by one and the flow of the steps S 86  to S 90  is repeated. 
     If the decision in the step S 91  is affirmative (YES), it is determined that the effective record sheet is present (step S 92 ) and the process returns to the routine of FIG. 2 or FIG.  3 . 
     In this manner, the received document image can be recorded without split for the record sheet having a different main scan length from that of the received document image. 
     (5) Fourth Selection Process 
     FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of the fourth selection process to be executed in the step S 9  of FIG. 2 or the step S 27  of FIG.  3 . It determines how many record sheets the received document image is to be split-recorded into for the record sheets having a different main scan length from that of the received document image. 
     In a step S 101 , the selection number n is set to ‘1’ and the number of split m of the record sheets is set to ‘1’, and the sub-scan length L 0  of one page of received document image is read to initialize the data. 
     In a step S 102 , whether the selection number n is other than ‘4’ or not is determined. Since the selection number n has been set to ‘1’ in the step S 101 , the decision in the step S 102  in the first loop is affirmative (YES) and the process proceeds to a step S 103  to determine whether the main scan length of the given sheet size is different from that of the received document image and the record sheet has not been exhausted or not. If the decision is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to a step S 105  and if the decision is negative (NO), the selection number n is incremented by one in a step S 104  and the flow of the steps S 102  to S 103  is repeated as the steps S 82  to S 83  are. If the decision of the step S 102  is negative (NO), namely, if the selection number n has reached ‘4’, it is determined that the effective record sheet is not present (step S 116 ) and the process returns to the routine of FIG. 2 or FIG.  3 . 
     On the other hand, if the decision in the step S 103  is affirmative (YES), namely, if the record sheet having a different main scan length from that of the received document image is present, steps S 105  et seq. are executed to determine the number of split m. Namely, in the step S 105 , the selection number n is set to ‘1’ and the data is initialized again. In a step S 106 , whether the selection number n is other than ‘4’ or not is determined. Since the selection number n has been set to ‘1’ in the step S 105 , the decision in the step S 106  in the first loop is affirmative (YES) and the process proceeds to a step S 107  to determine whether the main scan length of the given sheet size is different from that of the received document image or not. If the decision is negative (No), the selection number n is incremented by one in a step S 108  and the flow of the steps S 106  to S 107  is repeated as the steps S 102  to S 103  are. If the decision in the step S 107  is affirmative (YES), namely, if the main scan length of the given sheet size is different from that of the received document image, the sub-scan length L 1  of the given sheet size, for example, the sub-scan length L 1  of the B5 size is read (step S 109 ). Then, the sub-scan length L 1  is multiplied by the number of split m to calculate a new sub-scan length L 1 ′ (step S 110 ) and a cut-away length A which spreads out of the sub-scan length for the number of split m is added to the sub-scan length L 1 ′ to calculate a new sub-scan length L 1 ″ (step S 111 ). Like in the step S 90 , the sub-scan length L 1 ″ is divided by the maximum reduction factor D (first predetermined reduction rate) and the constant form reduction rate E (second predetermined reduction factor) to calculate a maximum effective sub-scan length L 2  (step S 112 ). Then, in a step S 113 , whether the maximum effective sub-scan length L 2  is longer than the sub-scan length L 0  of the received document image or not is determined. If the decision is negative (NO), the selection number is incremented by one in the step S 108 , and if the decision in the step S 106  is negative (NO), it is determined that the sub-scan length of any record sheet accommodated in the cassettes is shorter than the sub-scan length of the received document image, and the number of split m is incremented by one to increase the number of split (step S 107 ), and the flow of the steps S 105  to S 112  is repeated again. If the decision in the step S 113  is affirmative (YES), it is determined that the effective record sheet is present (step S 114 ) and the process returns to the routine of FIG. 2 or FIG.  3 . Namely, the sheet size having a different main scan length from that of the received document image is detected by the selection number n and the number of split m is determined in accordance with the sheet size. The received document image is recorded on the record sheet at the latest updated number of split m. 
     In this manner, when the main scan length is different from that of the received document image and the sub-scan length of the received document image is longer than that of the record sheet, the received document image is split-recorded on m effective record sheets. 
     (6) Calculation of Record Reduction Factor 
     FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of the record reduction factor calculation process to be executed in the step S 11  of FIG. 2 or the step S 29  of FIG.  3 . It calculates the record reduction factor R at which the received document image is recorded on the effective record sheet based on the sub-scan length L 0  of the received document image set in the first to fourth selection processes (FIG. 6 to FIG.  9 ), the effective record sheet sub-scan length L 1  and the number of split m. 
     In a step S 121 , the sub-scan length L 0  of the received document image, the sub-scan length L 1  of the effective record sheet and the number of split m are read, and in a step S 122 , whether the main scan length of the received document image is same as that of the effective record sheet or not is determined. If the decision is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to a step S 125 , and if the decision is negative (NO), whether the main scan length of the received document image is longer than the main scan length of the effective record sheet or not is determined (step S 123 ). If the decision in the step S 123  is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to the step S 125 , and if the decision is negative (NO), namely, if the main scan length of the received document image is shorter than that of the effective record sheet, the sub-scan length L 1  of the effective record sheet is divided by the constant form reduction factor E to calculate a new sub-scan length L 1  (step S 124 ) and the process proceeds to the step S 125 . 
     In the step S 125 , the sub-scan length L 1  is multiplied by the number of split m to calculate a record sub-scan length L 3 , and whether the record sub-scan length L 3  is shorter than the sub-scan length L 0  of the received document image or not is determined (step  126 ). If the decision is negative (NO), namely, if the sub-scan length L 0  of the received document image is longer, the record reduction factor is set to 1.0 (step S 127 ) and the program is terminated. On the other hand, if the decision in the step S 126  is affirmative (YES), namely, if the sub-scan length L 3  of the record sheet is longer, the sub-scan length L 3  is divided by the sub-scan length L 0  of the received document image to calculate the record reduction factor (step S 128 ), and the program is terminated. 
     In this manner, the received document image can be recorded at the record reduction factor determined by the number of split m so that the received document image is recorded on the m record sheets at the desired reduction factor without wasting the record sheet. 
     FIGS. 11A to  11 D show an example of the received document image and the effective record sheet in which the main scan length of the received document image is equal to that of the record sheet, and FIG. 11A shows a received document image. FIG. 11B shows a record sheet (cut sheet), FIG. 11C shows an effective scan length of the record sheet on which the reduction recording is to be made, and FIG. 11D shows the split recording of the received document image. 
     As seen from FIGS. 11A to  11 D, when the sub-scan length L 0  of the received document image is longer than that of the record sheet, the effective sub-scan length L 2  is calculated as shown in FIG.  11 C and the number of split m and the reduction factor R are calculated in accordance with the effective sub-scan length to attain the split recording as shown in FIG.  11 D. 
     The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments but many modifications may be made without departing from the spirits of the present invention. For example, while three types of sheet cassettes are mounted in the apparatus main body and three types of sheet sizes are written into the selection table in the embodiment, any plurality of types such as two or four or more may be used. In the former case, the apparatus may be reduced in size, and in the latter case, many type of sheet sizes are selectable without exchanging the cassettes.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7