JPH04156168A - Input output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record a picture with an optimum dot diameter at all times by estimating the propriety of the dot diameter from picture information of a recorded pattern and varying a current supplied to a heater depending on the estimated result. CONSTITUTION:A recording section 2 and a read section 3 are integrated and a light receiving element of the read section 3 is arranged to a post-stage by n-line from an illuminant of the recording section 2. The recording section 2 records a character and a picture and a light receiving element of the adjacent read section 2 immediately reads a dot pattern of recording paper 14 and read picture information is sent to a picture information discrimination means 5. The picture information discrimination means 5 compares the sent read picture information with a reference data corresponding to the optimum dot diameter stored in advance in a memory 7, discriminates whether or not the diameter is the same as the optimum dot diameter and changes a current fed to a heater of the recording section 2 based on the discriminated result. Thus, the picture is recorded under the optimum condition at all times.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to input/output devices used in terminal equipment such as facsimile machines and printers, and particularly to improving the quality of printed images.

[Prior Art] For example, an input/output device that uses an input/output unit that integrates a reading section in which a plurality of light-receiving elements are arranged and a recording section in which a plurality of heat generating elements are arranged to achieve miniaturization of the device has been developed. 1986-
It is used in facsimile machines and the like as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 285861 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 108854/1983.

Since the resistance values of the heating elements provided in the recording section of this input/output device vary, in facsimile machines, etc., the current flowing through each heating element is adjusted according to the resistance value to obtain a predetermined dot diameter. That's what I do.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional input/output device, even if the current flowing through the heating element of the recording section is adjusted for each heating element as described above, the surrounding area of the input/output device The recorded dot diameter changes depending on the surrounding environment, such as when the temperature is low, the recorded dot diameter becomes small, and when the ambient temperature is high, the dot diameter becomes large.

Further, some types of thermal recording paper have different sensitivities, and if a recording paper with a different sensitivity than the designated recording paper is used, the diameter of the recorded dots will also change.

If the diameter of the dot changes in this way, or if a part of the heating element or the like in the recording section breaks down, resulting in missing dots, the quality of the recorded image deteriorates.

This invention has been made to solve these shortcomings, and even if the usage environment changes or unspecified recording paper is used, it is possible to always record with the optimal dot diameter, and The object of the present invention is to provide an input/output device that can self-diagnose missing dots.

[Means to solve the problem]

The input/output device according to the present invention uses an input/output unit that integrates a recording section and a reading section, and uses image information read by the reading section of a dot pattern outputted on recording paper by the recording section and a predetermined optimum dot pattern. image information determining means for comparing the dot diameter with diameter data and estimating the size of the dot diameter output by the recording section; and current variable means for changing the current value supplied to the heating element of the recording section based on the result determined by the image information determining means. It is characterized by having the following.

Further, it is preferable that the image information determining means also determines the presence or absence of missing dots based on the image information read by the reading section of the all-black pattern output on the recording paper.

[Effect]

In this invention, the appropriateness of the dot diameter is estimated from the image information of the recorded dot pattern, and the current supplied to the heating element is varied based on the estimated result so that the optimum dot diameter can always be obtained.

Furthermore, the presence or absence of missing dots is also self-diagnosed using the image information obtained by reading the all-black pattern output on the recording paper.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the input/output unit 1 is constructed by integrating a recording section 2 and a reading section 3.

The control section 4 has an image information determining means 5 for determining image information read by the reading section 3 and a current variable means 6.

This input/output unit 1 and the control section 4. The memory 7 and the operation unit 8 are connected by a pass line.

The recording section 2 and the reading section 3 of the input/output unit 1 are located within the nip width of the platen roller 11, as shown in the device configuration diagram in FIG. 2 and the layout diagram in FIG. The elements 12 are arranged n lines after the light emitter 13 of the recording section 2. This input/output unit l and platen roller 11
During this time, the thermal recording paper 14 is fed by the feed roller 15, and one character image is recorded in the recording section 2. Recorded recording paper 14
is cut by a cutter 16 and then discharged by a paper discharge roller 17. Further, the original sent from the original table 18 is read by the reading section 3.

The operation of optimizing the diameter of dots printed on the recording paper 14 by the input/output device configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the current value supplied to the heating element 13 of the recording section 2 is set to the minimum value of the designed value (step SL).

This minimum current value causes the heating element 13 to generate heat, and the recording paper 14 being fed by the feed roller 15 and platen roller 11
Then, the dot pattern 21 is formed on the recording paper 14 as shown in FIG. The image information 22 is immediately read to obtain read image information 22 as shown in FIG. 5(b) (step S3). The scanned image information 22 thus obtained is compared with reference data corresponding to the optimum dot diameter stored in the memory 7 in advance, and it is determined whether the dot diameter of the dot pattern 21 on the recording paper 14 is the same as the optimum dot diameter. A judgment is made (step S4).

At this time, if it is determined that the dot diameter of the dot pattern 21 is smaller than the optimum dot diameter, the determination signal is sent to the current variable means 6. The current variable means 6 sets the current value supplied to the heating element 13 of the recording section 2 to a large value based on the sent signal (step S5).

Then, a large current is again supplied to the heating element 13 to form a dot pattern 21 on the recording paper 14.

This operation is repeated until the dot diameter of the dot pattern 21 becomes the same as the optimum dot diameter. When the dot diameter of the dot pattern 21 becomes the same as the optimum dot diameter, the current value at that time is recorded on the heating element 13 of the recording section 2. is supplied for subsequent recording (step S6). Here, the read image information judged by the image information judgment means 5 may be multivalued data or binary data.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the image information determining means 5 estimates the dot diameter of the read image information. The state of the heating element 13 can also be determined.

Next, the operation when the image information determining means 5 determines the state of the heating element 13 will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the recording section 2 of the input/output unit 1 outputs an all-black pattern 23 onto the recording paper 14 (
Step 511). It is assumed that the diameter of the dots output on the recording paper 14 at this time has been optimized, and that there are no white spots in the sub-scanning direction.

The all-black pattern 23 on the recording paper 14 is immediately read by the light receiving element 12 of the reading section 3 to obtain read image information 24 shown in FIG. 7(b). This read image information 24 is determined by the image information determining means 5.
It is determined whether there are any missing dots (step 512). In this case, if a part of the heating element 13 of the recording section 2 is broken, the all-black pattern 23 will not appear as shown in FIG. 7(a).
As shown in FIG. 2, a white portion 23a occurs, and this portion has a white level in the read image information 24, and other portions have a black level.

As a result of determining the state of the read image information 24 by the image information determining means 5, if the read image information 24 has a white level (step 51
3) It is determined that the heating element 13 in that part is damaged,
The determination signal is sent to the operating section 8, and the display of the operating section 8 displays that the heating element of the recording section is damaged to inform the user of the facsimile machine or the like (step 514). A user of a facsimile device or the like can request repair based on this display, and can prevent the quality of recorded images from deteriorating.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, this invention is capable of immediately reading the image information of a recorded dot pattern, estimating the appropriateness of the dot diameter from the read image information, and always obtaining the optimal dot diameter based on the estimated result. Since the current supplied to the heating element is variable, images can always be recorded under optimal conditions even if the ambient temperature changes or the sensitivity of the recording paper differs, improving image quality. .

In addition, by reading the all-black pattern output on the recording paper and self-diagnosing the presence or absence of missing dots using this image information, it is possible to detect and notify damage to the recording section, thereby preventing deterioration in image quality. It can also be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a device configuration diagram of the above embodiment, FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of a recording section and a reading section of an input/output unit, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of the above embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the above embodiment, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of another embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 6. It is. 1; input/output unit; 2; recording section; 3; reading section; 4; control section; 5; image information determining means; 6; current variable means; 7; memory; 8; operating section; 11. Platen roller, 12; light receiving element, 13; light emitter, 14; recording paper.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an input/output device using an input/output unit that integrates a recording section and a reading section, image information read by the reading section of a dot pattern outputted on recording paper by the recording section and image information determined in advance. image information determining means for estimating the size of the dot diameter output by the recording section by comparing the data with the optimum dot diameter data obtained by the recording section; An input/output device characterized by comprising a current variable means for controlling the current. 2. The input/output device according to claim 1, wherein the image information determining means determines whether or not a dot is missing based on the image information read by the reading section of the all-black pattern outputted on the recording paper by the recording section.