Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Attribute control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-13
2002-10-22
Lee, Thomas D. (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Attribute control
C358S001400, C358S001600, C358S001140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06469803
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication apparatus which is capable of receiving an image transmitted via a communication line and printing the received image on a recording paper sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
A facsimile machine is known which is provided with an ink-jet printer. For preventing a deterioration of the printing quality due to clogging of an ink flow path (hereafter referred to as “ink clog”) in such a facsimile machine, the printer is controlled to print an ink supply mark (e.g. a black dot) at the trailing edge of a recording paper sheet, and a mark sensor such as a reflection type photoelectric tube is provided to detect the ink supply mark. If the central processing unit (CPU) of the facsimile machine determines that the detection of the mark sensor shows a deterioration of the printing quality, the CPU notifies such a deterioration at a display of the facsimile machine while also shifting the operation of the facsimile machine to the memory reception mode.
However, the prior art facsimile machine is disadvantageous in that an ink supply mark (not forming a part of the fax-received image) is printed on a recording sheet unless an ink clog occurs, and the user has no option of avoiding such a printing mode. Indeed, some users consider that an ink supply mark should not be printed on a recording sheet.
Further, the prior art facsimile machine has been also found disadvantageous in that an ink supply mark may be erroneously detected by the mark sensor when disturbing light enters from outside, and that the memory for backup of the fax-received data may become readily full due to frequent memory reception of the fax data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a communication apparatus by which a user can optionally select whether to print an ink (print material) supply mark on each recording sheet or not.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus which is capable of preventing an erroneous operation even when disturbing light enters from outside before or in the course of printing a fax received image.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus which is capable of conveniently preventing a memory from becoming full.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus which is capable of prompting the user to take appropriate actions for preventing a memory from becoming full.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: a receptacle for containing a print material; a receiver for receiving an image through a communication line; a printing section for printing the received image on a recording sheet with the print material while also printing a print material supply mark at an edge portion of the recording sheet; a detecting unit for detecting the print material supply mark; and a controller for selecting, in response to a user's operation, a mark-on state in which the printing section is allowed to print the print material supply mark and a mark-off state in which the printing section is prohibited from printing the print material supply mark.
With the communication apparatus described above, the user has the option of selecting the mark-on state and the mark-off state. If the user selects the mark-off state, no ink supply mark is printed on the recording sheet for satisfying the user's preference. If the user selects the mark-on state, an ink supply mark is printed on each recording sheet for detection by the mark sensor, whereby appropriate steps may be taken at the time of an ink clog or an ink run-out.
The selection of the mark-on state or the mark-off state may be performed by operating the keys of an operation section. For instance, two specific keys of the operation section may be pressed together to switch from the mark-on state to the mark-off state or vice versa. However, such a manner of operation is not limitative.
Typically, the communication apparatus comprises a facsimile machine. Alternatively, however, the communication apparatus may be a multi-function apparatus which has a fax transmission function, a printing function, an image scanning function and a copying function under the control of a computer.
Preferably, the print material may be an ink for monochrome printing or color printing. The ink may be typically in the form of a liquid, but it may be a solid ink which is melted at the time of printing. Alternatively, the print material may be in the form of powder such as toner for electrophotographic process.
The receptacle for the print material may be a cartridge which is replaced as a unit. A plurality of cartridges may be removably mounted at the printing section for purposes of color printing. Alternatively, the receptacle may be a fixed container to which an amount of the print material is replenished at the time of exhaustion.
The communication line may comprise a public or private communication line which may be wired or wireless.
Typically, the printing section may comprise an ink jet printhead. Alternatively, the printing section may incorporate an electrophotographic process cartridge.
The print material supply mark printed by the printing section may be a black dot for example. However, the size, color and configuration of the print material supply mark may be optionally selected.
The detecting unit may comprise a reflection type photoelectric tube, but this is not limitative.
The controller may comprise a CPU of the communication apparatus which performs various function on the basis of various programs and data read out from a ROM and/or an EEPROM.
According to a preferred embodiment, the communication apparatus further comprises a memory for storing the received image, and the controller controls the memory to store the received image while the printing section is held in the mark-off state.
The memory for this purpose may comprise a RAM. However, other memory such as a flash memory or a hard disk is also usable for the storage of the backup data.
The controller is further being capable of selecting, in response to a user's operation performed in the mark-off state, a backup-on state in which the memory is controlled to store the received image and a backup-off state in which the memory is controlled not to store the received image.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: a receptacle for containing a print material; a receiver for receiving an image through a communication line; a printing section for printing the received image on a recording sheet with the print material while also printing a print material supply mark at an edge portion of the recording sheet; a detecting unit for optically detecting the print material supply mark and for optically detecting disturbing light; and a controller for controlling the printing section to perform successive steps of printing the received image on the recording sheet regardless of detection by the detecting unit with respect to the print material supply mark if the detecting unit detects the disturbing light immediately before starting the printing.
The detecting unit for the second aspect of the present invention may comprise a single sensor which is commonly used for detecting the print material supply mark and the disturbing light. Alternatively, the detecting unit may comprise two different sensors; one for detecting the print material supply mark and the other for detecting the disturbing light.
Again, the communication apparatus may further comprise a memory for storing the received image as backup data. In this case, the controller selects a backup-on state and a backup-off state in response to a user's operation. In operation, the controller held in the backup-on state controls the memory to store the received image if the detecting unit detects the disturbing light immediately before star
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Lee Thomas D.
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