Facsimile machine capable of distinguishing copied image and received image

• US 5,410,419 A
• Filed: 06/10/1993
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kurahashi, Yoshiyuki, Nakajima, Akio, Yamamoto, Masanori, Ikenoue, Yoshikazu, Nakatani, Keiji, Nakatani, Munehiro, Muramatsu, Hideo, Sugiura, Masamichi, Fukushima, Shigenobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Brinich, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US08/075,272
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 358/400, 358/401, 358/403, 358/406, 358/468, 358/474, 358/475, 358/476, 358/477, 358/488, 358/496, 358/498, 271/65, 271/186
• US Class Current: 358/468
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/04072 by laser
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/221 Machines other than electrographic copiers, e.g. electrophotographic cameras, electrostatic typewriters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00915 Assigning priority to, or interrupting, a particular operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32496 Changing the task performed, e.g. reading and transmitting, receiving and reproducing, copying facsimile mode changing H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor

Abstract

The facsimile machine according to the invention can set a so-called night time collective time designation mode for power saving during night time processing time. Turning on a prescribed operation key of the facsimile machine permits printing. More specifically, even when the machine is in the power saving state, a printing operation is permitted in response to a key input.

Claims

1. A facsimile machine, comprising:

reading means for reading an image of an original and outputting image data;

reception means for receiving image data transmitted through a communication line;

image forming means for forming an image on a paper sheet based on the image data from said reading means or said reception means;

discharge means capable of discharging said paper sheet in a first state in which a surface on which said image is formed faces upward, or in a second state in which the surface on which said image is formed faces downward;

paper sheet holding means for holding the paper sheet discharged by said discharge means; and

control means for controlling said discharge means to discharge a paper sheet having an image formed based on image data from said reading means onto said paper sheet holding means in one of said first and second states and to discharge a paper sheet having an image formed based on image data from said reception means onto said paper sheet holding means in the other of said first and second states.

2. A facsimile machine as recited in claim 1, wherein

said control means controls said discharge means to discharge the paper sheet having the image formed based on the image data from said reading means in said first state and the paper sheet having the image formed based on the image data from the reception means in said second state.

3. A facsimile machine, comprising:

reading means for reading an image of an original and outputting image data;

reception means for receiving image data transmitted through a communication line;

image forming means for forming an image on a paper sheet based on the image data from said reading means or said reception means;

identifying means for identifying whether the image formed by said image forming means is based on the image data from said reading means or the image data from said reception means; and

printing means for printing a result of identification by said identifying means on a paper sheet having said image formed thereon, said printed result of identification identifying whether the image on the paper sheet is based on the image data from said read in means or on the image data from said reception means.

4. A facsimile machine as recited in claim 3, wherein

said printing means attaches a mark on an end of said paper sheet, when said identification means identifies the image to be based on the image data from said reception means.

5. A facsimile machine as recited in claim 4, wherein

said image forming means being capable of forming an image in a plurality of colors, and said printing means attaches a mark in a color different from the colors of the image formed based on the image data.

6. A facsimile machine as recited in claim 3, wherein

said printing means prints only when the image is identified to be the image data from said reading means.

7. A facsimile machine, comprising:

reception means for receiving transmitted image data;

image forming means capable of forming images on both sides of a paper sheet; and

control means for controlling said image forming means to form an image on one side of a paper sheet based on said image data from said reception means and to form reception information relating to said transmitted image on the other side of the paper sheet.

8. A facsimile machine as recited in claim 7, wherein

said reception information includes information on a transmitting party.

9. A facsimile machine as recited in claim 7, wherein said reception information includes information related to time of reception.

10. A facsimile machine, comprising:

a plurality of keys for input for operation;

an original plate for setting an original to be transmitted;

reception means for receiving image data transmitted through a communication line;

detection means for detecting operation of said plurality of keys or setting of an original to said original plate;

storage means for storing image data received by said reception means;

image forming means for forming an image on a paper sheet, based on image data from said reception means or image data stored at said storage means;

time setting means for setting starting time and ending time for a prescribed operation;

first control means for controlling said image forming means to permit said received image data to be stored at said storage means during a time period from said starting time to ending time, and to form an image based on the image data stored at said storage means at said ending time; and

second control means for controlling said image forming means to form an image based on the image data stored at said storage means, in response to a detection result from said detection means, during the time period from said starting time to ending time.

11. A facsimile machine, comprising:

reception means for receiving transmitted image data;

storage means for storing the image data received by said reception means;

image forming means for forming an image on a paper sheet based on image data from said reception means or image data stored at said storage means;

calendar means for determining a holiday based on what day of the week it is or date; and

control means for controlling said image forming means to permit said storage means to store said received image data without forming an image if said calendar means determines that the day in which said machine is used is holiday, and to form an image based on the image data stored at said storage means in a day other than holiday.

12. A facsimile machine as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of keys for input for operation;

an original plate for setting an original to be transmitted;

detection means for detecting operation of said plurality of keys or setting of an original to said original plate; and

second control means for controlling said image forming means to form an image based on the image data stored at said storage means in response to a detection result from said detection means if said calendar means determines that the day in which the facsimile machine is used is holiday.

13. A facsimile machine as recited in claim 12, wherein

said calendar means can set an arbitrary date as holiday.

14. A facsimile machine, comprising:

reception means for receiving image data transmitted through a communication line;

image forming means for forming an image on a paper sheet utilizing an electrophotographing process, including fixing means for fixing toner images on the paper sheet;

mode setting means for setting a first mode in which said image data is stored in storage means and a second mode in which said image forming means forms an image based on image data; and

control means for controlling that said fixing means is not activated when said first mode is set by said mode setting means and said fixing means is activated when said second mode is set by said mode setting means.

15. A facsimile machine as recited in claim 14 further comprising priority mode selection means for determining which mode has a priority.

16. A facsimile machine as recited in claim 14 further comprising reading means for reading the image of an original and outputting the image data,

said reading means forming an image based on the image data from said reading means when the machine is set to said printer mode.

17. A facsimile machine, comprising:

reception means for receiving transmitted image data;

storage means for storing the image data received by said reception means;

image forming means for forming an image on a paper sheet based on the image data from said reception means or on the image data stored at said storage means;

detection means for detecting the brightness of the surroundings of said facsimile machine; and

control means for controlling said image forming means to permit said storage means to store said received image data, if the brightness detected by said detection means is determined to be lower than a prescribed brightness, and to form an image based on the image data stored at said storage means if the brightness is determined to be higher than the prescribed brightness.