Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Picture signal generator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-24
2001-03-06
Lee, Cheukfan (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Picture signal generator
C358S468000, C358S401000, C358S444000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198548
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a communication terminal device having a copying function as well as a communication function (e.g., facsimile communication function) such as a copier-facsimile system.
2. Background Art
A certain type of communication terminal devices equipped with a reproducing function has not only one or more paper cassettes fitted in Its main body but also an additional flap-type paper tray which allows a user to pull it down from a lateral wall of the main body and load a sheet thereon for recording. The recording includes making a copy of an original and printing of facsimile data (image) sent from a remote facsimile. The recording paper is fed to a recording unit from either the paper cassettes or the flap-type paper tray. Since the flap-type paper tray projects outward from the lateral wall of the body of the communication terminal device and the recording sheet is placed thereon, the communication terminal device cannot detect the size of the recording sheet on the flap-type paper tray. Therefore, if a user wants to make a copy of a post card size original by supplying a recording sheet of the same size from the flap-type paper tray, the user must operate a control panel to enter or input the size of the recording sheet before pressing a copy start key. The copying is performed according to the paper size set by the user. After obtaining a copy of post card size, the user should then prepare for reception of facsimile data to be transmitted from a remote facsimile. In other words, the user needs to change the setting of paper size to, for instance, A4 and place A4 recording sheets on the flap-type paper tray in order to print facsimile data (image). A4 size is the most popular paper size for facsimile data communication.
Thus, the conventional communication terminal device is troublesome to operate if copying is carried out using the flap-type paper tray with a recording sheet of a size different from that for facsimile data reproduction since the user is required to reenter the paper size after copying. If the user forgets to change the paper size setting, the size of data received and that of the recording sheet may not match each other and data reception may be disabled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention intends to solve the above described problems of the conventional device.
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device having both a communication function and a copy function, which eliminates the above mentioned troublesome operation, i.e., manually changing (or reentering) the recording paper size each time the user wants to have facsimile data printed on a recording sheet supplied from a flap-type paper tray after making a copy using the flap-type paper tray.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device which warns a user that an appropriate recording sheet is not on the flap-type paper tray.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device which does not allow a recording unit to make a copy or facsimile data reproduction until an inappropriate recording sheet on the flap-type paper tray is replaced with an appropriate one.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal device having a communication function and a copy function and including a recording unit for making a copy of an original or reproducing facsimile image data sent from a remote facsimile, and a flap-type paper tray extending outward from a body of the communication terminal device when it is used such that a user can manually feed a recording sheet to the recording unit therefrom, characterized in that the communication terminal device further includes input means for inputting a first size of a recording sheet to be fed to the recording unit from the flap-type paper tray for reproducing facsimile data image and a second size of a recording sheet to be fed to the recording unit from the flap-type paper tray for making a copy, storage means for storing the first size of the recording sheet as input by the input means, and control means for changing the recording sheet size setting of the recording unit to the first paper size from the second paper size after completion of a copy operation if the copy operation has been carried out using the flap-type paper tray. The recording unit operates according to the paper size entered by the input means if a recording sheet is supplied to the recording unit from the flap-type paper tray. However, if the copying is carried out using the flap-type paper tray, the paper size setting of the recording unit is automatically returned to the first paper size upon completion of the copying. Therefore, the user does not have to change the paper size setting for facsimile data reception after making a copy using the flat tray. The recording unit is set to the first paper size setting at the beginning, and this setting is maintained until the second paper size is entered.
The flap-type paper tray may be retractable so that it forms part of a lateral wall of a main body of the communication terminal device or it may fixedly attach to the lateral wall of the communication terminal device.
The control means may compare the second paper size with the first paper size if the second paper size is entered by the input means. The first paper size is memorized in the storage means at the beginning. If these sizes are not equal to each other, the control means causes a display unit to indicate a message or sign such as “CHANGE PAPER SIZE” thereby urging a user to change a recording sheet. The recording unit is initially set to the first paper size setting and a recording sheet of first size is placed on the flap-type paper tray. Therefore, if the second paper size does not coincide with the first paper size, the recording sheet of the first size on the flap-type paper tray should be replaced with a recording sheet of the second size. The display unit indicates such a necessity.
The communication terminal device may further include a sensor for detecting changing of a recording sheet on the flap-type paper tray, and the controller may allow the recording unit to start the copy operation only when the sensor detects the changing of the recording sheet after the display unit indicates the PAPER SIZE CHANGE message or sign. The display unit may include LEDs which illuminate to inform the user of necessity of paper change.
The storage means may also store the second paper size as input by the input means. The control means may compare the second paper size with the first paper size upon completion of the copy operation, and cause the display unit to indicate a message or sign urging a user to change a recording sheet if the second paper size is not equal to the first paper size. Noticing this message, the user replaces the recording sheet of second paper size with that of first paper size. Accordingly, the communication terminal device is brought into a stand-by condition for printing of facsimile data (image) on a recording sheet upon completion of the copying.
It should be noted that any suitable element which extends outward from a body of the communication terminal device and allows a user to manually feed a recording sheet into the communication terminal device is employable instead of the flap-type paper tray.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4809050 (1989-02-01), Ito
patent: 5125636 (1992-06-01), Higashio et al.
patent: 5581344 (1996-12-01), Makita
patent: 5828465 (1998-10-01), Muramatsu et al.
patent: 5917616 (1999-06-01), Chou et al.
patent: 0391632 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 4255872 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 6148990 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 8009096 (1996-01-01), None
Soneoka Taku
Yoshikawa Hiroyasu
Hogan & Hartson LLP.
Lee Cheukfan
Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
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