Facsimile machine having printer unit and interface

Abstract

A facsimile machine includes a printer unit for printing out data having a predetermined format, and an interface circuit for converting facsimile image data into recording data having a format in which the printer unit can input the recording data and for supplying the recording data to the printer unit. The printer unit includes a printing portion for printing recording data, and a data supply control circuit for supplying the recording data from the interface circuit to the printing portion at predetermined printing intervals.

1. A facsimile machine comprising:
 a printer unit for printing out data having a predetermined format; and  
 interface means, coupled to said printer unit, for converting facsimile image data into recording data having a format in which said printer unit can input the recording data, and for supplying the recording data to said printer unit, wherein said printer unit comprises:  
 a printing portion for printing recording data; and  
 data supply control means, coupled to said interface means and said printer portion, for supplying the recording data from said interface means to said printing portion at predetermined printing intervals, wherein said data supply control means comprises:  
   input means for inputting a predetermined character data at the predetermined printing intervals;    
   gate means for gating the recording data from said interface means so that the recording data is    
   supplied to said printing portion when the predetermined character data is supplied thereto from said input means; and    
   signal output means for outputting a control signal when said input means inputs the predetermined character data, the control signal being supplied to said interface means, and said interface means supplying the recording data to said printer unit every time said interface means receives the control signal.    
 
     
     
       2. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said printer unit and said interface means are coupled to each other based on a centronics interface specification. 
     
     
       3. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said data supply control means comprises:
 input means for inputting a predetermined character data at the predetermined printing intervals;    gate means for gating the recording data from said interface means so that the recording data is supplied to said printing portion when the predetermined character data is supplied thereto from said input means; and    signal output means for outputting a control signal when said input means inputs the predetermined character data, the control signal being supplied to said interface means, and said interface means supplying the recording data to said printer unit every time said interface means receives the control signal.    
     
     
       4. The facsimile machine as claimed in claim  3    1 , wherein the predetermined character data indicates a font having only black dots. 
     
     
       5. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said gate means has AND gates to each of which a corresponding one of bits of said predetermined character data and a corresponding one of bits of said recording data from said interface means are input. 
     
     
       6. The facsimile means  machine as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connector connected to said printer unit, through which connector recording data is supplied from an external unit to said printer unit; and  
 selecting means, coupled to said connector and said interface means, for selecting either a connection between said interface means and said printer unit or a connection between said connector and said printer unit.  
 
     
     
       7. The facsimile machine as claimed in claim  3    1 , wherein said interface means has loading means for loading the predetermined character data into said printer unit. 
     
     
       8. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said loading means loads the predetermined character data into said printer unit when said printer unit is activated. 
     
     
       9. The facsimile machine as claimed in claim  3    1 , wherein said input means has converting means for converting the predetermined character data into black data indicating a font having only black dots, and wherein when the black data is supplied to said gate means, the recording data from said interface means is supplied to said printing portion via said gate means. 
     
     
       10. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said converting means has OR gates to each of which a corresponding one of the bits of the predetermined character data and a bit indicating a black dot are input. 
     
     
       11. A facsimile machine comprising:
   a printer unit printing out data supplied thereto; and        an interface, coupled to said printer unit supplying recording data to said printer unit in a converted format in which said printer unit can receive the recording data;        wherein said printer unit comprises:        a printing portion printing the recording data; and        a data supply controller, coupled to said interface and said printer portion, supplying the recording data from said interface to said printing portion at predetermined printing intervals, wherein said data supply controller comprises:        an input receiving a predetermined character data at the predetermined printing intervals;        a gate gating the recording data so that the recording data from said interface is supplied to said printing portion when the predetermined character data is supplied thereto from said input; and        a signal output outputting a control signal when said input inputs the predetermined character data, the control signal being supplied to said interface, and said interface supplying the recording data to said printer unit every time said interface receives the control signal.     
     
     
       12. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said printer unit and said interface are coupled to each other based on a Centronics interface specification. 
     
     
       13. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined character data indicates a font having only black dots. 
     
     
       14. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said gate has AND gates to each of which a corresponding one of bits of said predetermined character data and a corresponding one of bits of said recording data from said interface are input. 
     
     
       15. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising:
   a connector connected to said printer unit, through which connector recording data is supplied from an external unit to said printer unit; and        a selector, coupled to said connector and said interface, selecting either a connection between said interface and said printer unit or a connection between said connector and said printer unit.     
     
     
       16. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said interface loads the predetermined character data into said printer unit. 
     
     
       17. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said interface loads the predetermined character data into said printer unit when said printer unit is activated. 
     
     
       18. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said input converts the predetermined character data into black data indicating a font having only black dots, and wherein when the black data is supplied to said gate, the recording data from said interface is supplied to said printing portion via said gate. 
     
     
       19. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said converter has OR gates to each of which a corresponding one of the bits of the predetermined character data and a bit indicating a black dot are input. 
     
     
       20. The facsimile machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said interface performs a format conversion process to obtain the converted format. 
     
     
       21. A method for driving a facsimile machine including a printer unit for printing out data having a predetermined format, comprising the steps of:
   converting facsimile image data into recording data having a format in which said printer unit can receive the recording data;        supplying the recording data to said printing unit in synchronization with printing pulses provided at predetermined printing intervals; and        printing the recording data with said printing unit;        wherein said step of supplying the recording data includes the substeps of:      inputting a predetermined character data at the predetermined printing intervals;        gating the recording data so that the recording data is supplied to said printing unit when the predetermined character data is supplied thereto from said inputting step; and        outputting a control signal when said inputting step inputs the predetermined character data, said step of supplying the recording data to the printer unit being based on said control signal.       
     
     
       22. The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein in said converting step the facsimile data is converted based on a Centronics interface specification. 
     
     
       23. The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein in the step of supplying recording data the predetermined character data indicates a font having only black dots. 
     
     
       24. The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein in said substep of gating the recording data, the recording data is gated by AND gates to each of which a corresponding one of bits of said predetermined character data and a corresponding one of bits of said recording data are input. 
     
     
       25. The method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of:
   supplying recording data from an external unit to said printer unit; and        selecting either the recording data supplied from the external unit or the recording data supplied from the step of converting facsimile image data to said printer unit.     
     
     
       26. The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said step of converting facsimile image data loads the predetermined character data into said printer unit. 
     
     
       27. The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said step of converting facsimile image data loads the predetermined character data into said printer unit when said printer unit is activated. 
     
     
       28. The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said substep of inputting a predetermined character data converts the predetermined character data into black data indicating a font having only black dots, and wherein when the black data is supplied to said gating step, the recording data from said step of converting facsimile image data is supplied to said printing portion via said gating step. 
     
     
       29. The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said substep of inputting a predetermined character data converts the predetermined character data by OR gates to each of which a corresponding one of the bit of the predetermined character data and a bit indicating a black dot are input. 
     
     
       30. A facsimile device comprising:
   a modem unit which receives facsimile data from a public communication line;        a printer interface unit which serves as an interface for printing the facsimile data;        an external connector which receives character codes from an exterior of said facsimile device; and        a printer unit, wherein said printer unit includes:        a printing portion for printing images;        a font memory which stores therein font data;        a controller unit which controls the font memory,        a gate unit which receives the font data corresponding to the character codes from said controller unit, and supplies the font data corresponding to the character codes to said printing portion when said printer unit prints images of the character codes, wherein said gate unit receives all black font data from said controller unit and the facsimile data from said printer interface unit, and supplies a logical AND of the all black font data and the facsimile data to said printing portion when said printer unit prints images of the facsimile data.     
     
     
       31. A facsimile device as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein said printer unit and said printer interface unit are coupled to each other based on a centronics interface specification. 
     
     
       32. A facsimile device as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said gate unit receives the facsimile data from said printer interface unit in synchronization with a pulse signal indicative of supplying the all black font data. 
     
     
       33. A method for driving a facsimile device including a modem unit which receives facsimile data from a public communication line, a printer interface unit which serves as an interface for printing the facsimile data, an external connector which receives character codes from an exterior of said facsimile device and a printer unit, wherein the printer unit includes a printing portion for printing images, a font memory which stores therein font data, a controller unit which controls the font memory, and a gate unit, the method comprising the steps of:
   receiving, at the gate unit, facsimile data from the printer interface and font data corresponding to received character codes from said controller unit;        supplying from the gate unit, the font data corresponding to the character codes to the printing portion when the printer unit prints images of the character codes,        wherein in the receiving step the gate unit receives all black font data from said controller unit and the facsimile data from the printer interface unit, and        wherein in the supplying step the gate unit supplies a logical AND of the all black font data and the facsimile data to the printing portion when the printer unit prints images of the facsimile data.     
     
     
       34. A method as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said printer unit and said printer interface unit are coupled to each other based on a centronics interface specification. 
     
     
       35. A method as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein in said receiving step the gate unit receives the facsimile data from said printer interface unit in synchronization with a pulse signal indicative of supplying the all black font data in said supplying step.