Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Memory
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-13
2001-02-27
Coles, Edward L. (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Memory
C358S001140, C358S001150, C358S296000, C358S401000, C358S444000, C358S468000, C347S003000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195173
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission device capable of transmission and printing of facsimile data.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, there has been known a facsimile device including an ink jet printer capable of printing an image on a recording sheet based on facsimile data. The printer includes a cartridge storing ink and a print head formed with ink passages and nozzles. Ink in the cartridge is supplied through the ink passages and ejected through the nozzles toward a recording sheet, thereby forming an image on the recording sheet.
However, the ink passages can be clogged with ink, so that ink ejection become defective. In order to determine whether the ink passages are clogged or not, an indication mark, such as a circular black dot, is printed at a predetermined position on the recording sheet, and then, a mark sensor attempts to detect the indication mark. If the mark sensor cannot properly detect the indication mark, it is determined that the printing is defective.
When printing is determined to be defective, a message is displayed on a display screen to inform the user of this condition. Also, the facsimile device is switched to its memory mode wherein received facsimile data is stored as backup data in a memory without printing of the facsimile data being performed.
However, in this type of facsimile device, external light invading into the facsimile device during detection of the indication mark can influence the mark sensor, so that detection of the indication mark does not accurately reflects the actual indication mark. As a result, the facsimile device can be erroneously switched into the memory reception mode even when printing is being properly performed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to overcome this problem, it is conceivable to provide a light sensor for detecting external light. Based on detection results from the light sensor and the mark sensor, the facsimile device can perform either merely printing of facsimile data or both printing and storing of facsimile data.
However, because memory capacity of the memory is limited, the user needs to perform printing of backup data at an appropriate timing so that the backup data can be erased from the memory. This requires the user to perform troublesome operations on key switches.
It is an objective of the present invention to solve the above-described problems, to provide a transmission device capable of properly coping with external light intruding into the transmission device and reducing a number of operations the user must perform, and also to provide a method of and a program storage medium storing a program of controlling the transmission device.
In order to achieve the above and other objects, there is provided a transmission device including a frame, a receiving, a buffer memory, a storage member, a print unit, a first sensor, a second sensor, a backup memory, first control means, second control means, cleaning means, and third control means. The frame defines an internal space. The receiving unit is connected to a remote transmission device and receives image data from the remote transmission device. The buffer memory temporarily stores the image data. The storage member stores and supplies recording material. The print unit has a print portion and is formed with a passage connecting the storage member and the print portion so that the recording material is supplied from the storage member to the print portion through the passage. The print unit prints the image based on the image data within a print area on a recording medium and the indication mark at a first predetermined position in an outside region on the recording medium using the recording material. The first sensor detects the indication mark printed on the recording medium at a second predetermined position within the internal space and outputs a mark detection signal. The second sensor detects external light at the second predetermined position and outputs a light detection signal. The first control means controls the backup memory to store the image data in response to at least one of the mark detection signal and the light detection signal. The second control means controls the print unit to print when the receiving unit receives the image data. The cleaning means cleans the passage of the print unit. The third control means controls the print unit to print the image based on the image data stored in the backup memory after the cleaning means completes cleaning the passage if the image data is stored in the backup memory.
There is also provided a transmission device including a frame, a receiving unit, a buffer memory, a storage member, a print unit, a first sensor, a second sensor, a backup memory, first control means, cleaning means, and second control means. The frame defines an internal space. The receiving unit is connected to a remote transmission device and receives image data from the remote transmission device. The buffer memory temporarily stores the image data. The storage member stores and supplies recording material. The print unit has a print portion and is formed with a passage connecting the storage member and the print portion so that the recording material is supplied from the storage member to the print portion through the passage. The print unit prints an image based on the image data and an indication mark on a recording medium having a print region and an outside region outside the print region. The image is printed in the print region and the indication mark is printed at a first predetermined position in the outside region with using the recording material. The print unit is set to selective one of a first mode in which the print unit prints the indication mark and a second mode in which the print unit does not print the indication mark. The first sensor detects the indication mark printed on the recording medium at a second predetermined position within the internal space and outputs a mark detection signal. The second sensor detects external light at the second predetermined position and outputs a light detection signal. The first control means controls the backup memory to store the image data in response to at least one of the mark detection signal and the light detection signal. The cleaning means cleans the passage of the print unit. The second control means controls the print unit to print the image based on the image data stored in the backup memory after the cleaning means completes cleaning the passage when the print unit is in the first mode and if the image data is stored in the backup memory. The second control means further controls the print unit not to print the image based on the image data stored in the backup memory after the cleaning means completes cleaning the passage when the print unit is in the second mode even if the image data is stored in the backup memory.
Further, there is provided a program storage medium storing a program of controlling a transmission device including a frame defining an internal space. The program includes a reception program of receiving image data, a buffer memory program of temporarily storing the image data; a first print program of printing an image based on the image data and an indication mark on a recording medium when the image data is received, a first detecting program of detecting the indication mark printed on the recording medium at a predetermined position within the internal space, a first determination program of determining whether the indication mark is detected properly or falsely, a second detecting program of attempting to detect external light at the predetermined position, a storing program of storing the image data into a backup memory in response to at least one of a detection result relating to the indication mark and a detection result relating to external light, a cleaning program of cleaning a passage formed in a print unit, and a second print program of printing the image based on the image data stored in the backup memory after cleaning of the passage is
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Coles Edward L.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Wallerson Mark
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