CA2019102A1 - Fax machine - Google Patents
Fax machineInfo
- Publication number
- CA2019102A1 CA2019102A1 CA 2019102 CA2019102A CA2019102A1 CA 2019102 A1 CA2019102 A1 CA 2019102A1 CA 2019102 CA2019102 CA 2019102 CA 2019102 A CA2019102 A CA 2019102A CA 2019102 A1 CA2019102 A1 CA 2019102A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- image
- wide
- machine
- paper
- mirror
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/19—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays
- H04N1/195—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
- H04N1/19505—Scanning picture elements spaced apart from one another in at least one direction
- H04N1/19515—Scanning picture elements spaced apart from one another in at least one direction in two directions
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/12—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using the sheet-feed movement or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement as the slow scanning component, e.g. arrangements for the main-scanning
- H04N1/121—Feeding arrangements
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/19—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays
- H04N1/195—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
- H04N1/19505—Scanning picture elements spaced apart from one another in at least one direction
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/19—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays
- H04N1/195—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
- H04N1/19505—Scanning picture elements spaced apart from one another in at least one direction
- H04N1/19521—Arrangements for moving the elements of the array relative to the scanned image or vice versa
- H04N1/19526—Optical means
- H04N1/19531—Reflecting elements
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/19—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays
- H04N1/191—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays the array comprising a one-dimensional array, or a combination of one-dimensional arrays, or a substantially one-dimensional array, e.g. an array of staggered elements
- H04N1/192—Simultaneously or substantially simultaneously scanning picture elements on one main scanning line
- H04N1/193—Simultaneously or substantially simultaneously scanning picture elements on one main scanning line using electrically scanned linear arrays, e.g. linear CCD arrays
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Electronic Switches (AREA)
- Facsimiles In General (AREA)
- Facsimile Scanning Arrangements (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
In a fax machine for transmitting and receiving wide images comprising structure for scanning the image; mirrors for receiving and reflecting said scanned image; a charge couple device for receiving an image and producing a digitized signal;
and a camera lens for receiving said scanned image reflected from said mirrors and focusing said scanned image onto said charge couple device so as to produce a digitized signal for transmission through said telephone wire. The fax machine includes staggered thermal printing heads for printing wide images.
In a fax machine for transmitting and receiving wide images comprising structure for scanning the image; mirrors for receiving and reflecting said scanned image; a charge couple device for receiving an image and producing a digitized signal;
and a camera lens for receiving said scanned image reflected from said mirrors and focusing said scanned image onto said charge couple device so as to produce a digitized signal for transmission through said telephone wire. The fax machine includes staggered thermal printing heads for printing wide images.
Description
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FIELD OF INVEN~ION
This invention relates to fax machines and in particular relates to fax machines capable of sending and receiving wide images.
Background to the Invention Fax machines have recently become very popular for the office environment.
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Fax machines are capable of sending and receiving images over telephone wires.
Presently Group III fax machines are being manufactured by several manufacturers which can transmit images on paper that are up to 11 inches wide.
The image belng transmitted by the group III fax machines is scanned and the graphic information is transformed or transduced into digital~electrical signals. Such information which is in the~form of digital electrical signals is then compressed by utilizing standard Huffman compression methods and transmitted through the telephone line at faster speeds for :::
reception by a receiving fax machlne. The compressed digitized electrical signal received by the~ receiving fax machine is decoded and printed for reproduction.
:
FIELD OF INVEN~ION
This invention relates to fax machines and in particular relates to fax machines capable of sending and receiving wide images.
Background to the Invention Fax machines have recently become very popular for the office environment.
:
Fax machines are capable of sending and receiving images over telephone wires.
Presently Group III fax machines are being manufactured by several manufacturers which can transmit images on paper that are up to 11 inches wide.
The image belng transmitted by the group III fax machines is scanned and the graphic information is transformed or transduced into digital~electrical signals. Such information which is in the~form of digital electrical signals is then compressed by utilizing standard Huffman compression methods and transmitted through the telephone line at faster speeds for :::
reception by a receiving fax machlne. The compressed digitized electrical signal received by the~ receiving fax machine is decoded and printed for reproduction.
:
2 ~
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved fax machine which is simpler to construct and more efficient in operation than those fax machines which are presently available.
It is another object of this invention to provide a fax machine which is capable o~ transmitting images on paper up to 24 inches wide as well as printing the transmitted signal onto printing paper which i5 Up to 24 inches wide.
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The broadest aspect of this invention relates to a machine for transmitting wide images through a~transmission line . :
which include structure for scann1ng~ an image; mirrors for receiving and reflecting said scanned lmage: a charge couple device for receiving an image and producing a digitized signal;
a lens for receiving such scanned image reflected from said mirror and focusing said scanned imag~ onto said charge couple device so as to produce~a digitized signal for transmission through said transmission line.: The machine also includes in one :
aspect two staggard th~ermal printing heads for printing the wide image transmitted through said transmission lineO
It is another aspect o~ this invention to provide a fax machine for transmitting ~and receiving images up to 24 inches wide through telephone wires, including: a glass plate having a width of approximately 24 inches wide; an image roller at least 24 inches wide adapted to press against said glass plate so as to advance a sheet of paper approximately 24 inches wide against said glass plate, said paper including an image; a light adjacent to said glass paper for scanning said image on said paper; a first mirror disposed adjacent said glass plate for receiving and reflecting said image; a second mirror disposed remote from said first mirror for receiving and reflecting said image reflected from said first mirror: a camera lens for focusing said image reflected by said second mirror; and a charge couple device for receiving said image focused by said camera lens and producing a digitized signal for transmissions through said telephone wire.
Another aspect of this invention relates to a method of transmitting a wide image over a telephone wire comprising the steps of scanning a wide image; reflecting the scanned image;
focusing the reflected scanned image onto a charge couple device by utilizing a camera lens; and then transducing the reflected image by said charge couple device so as to produce a dlgitized signal for transmlssion over said telephone wire.
Another aspect of this invention relates to a method of printing a wide image in a fax machine comprising the steps of receiving a digitized signal through said telephone wire; and then printing said wide image by utilizing two staggered thermal printing heads so as to print said wlde image transmitted through said telephone wire.
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Description of Drawinas These and other objects and features shall now be described in relation to the drawings.
Figure 1 is a top plan view of the staggered thermal printing heads.
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Figure 2 lS a cross-sectional side view of the fax machine.
Description of the Invention ~ .
Like pa~rts will be~given~like numbers throughout the flgures~
The fax~machlne ls~generally~depicted by the numeral 2.
The fax -~-hlne~inoludes;an~image roiler 4 which lS
adapted~to press~against a glass~plate~6.~ The~roller 4 includes a structure such~as,springs~or~the~like (which is not shown) so~
as to~urge~or bias~the~roller~4~against the glass~plate 6. The rol~ler~4~and the~glass~plate 6~has a length of~ approximately 24 inches~ln width.~ Although~the invention shall~ be~described in relation to~a width of 24~inches, it should be understood that different size widths can~,be~utilized which are greater than 24 : : -: :::
~: ' ~:~ : ' :
~: ' 4~.J ~:3 inches and still be within the scope of the invention as claimed.
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The roller 4 may be manufactured ~rom material such as rubber or the like. A sheet of paper 30 is fed into the fax machine 2 in the manner such that the sheet of paper 30 is pressed between the roller 4 and glass plate 6. The sheet 30 includes an image such as typed letterlng or a drawing or the like. The sheet 30 in relation to the invention described herein may be 24 inches wlde or in any event wider than the width which can presently be accommodated~by the fax machines~which presently exist. The fax machine 2 also includes electronic circuitry on - ~
~ a printed circuit board or "mother board~' ~which is not shown).
~ : ~
~ The electronic printed circuit board (not shown) electronically controls a motor (not sbown) which activates the roller 4 so as to control the length of duration of rotation of~
roll r 4. In the example to~be described~herein, the electronic ~printed circuit (not~shown)~ will cause~the roller 4 to rDtate in a counter clockwise rotation so as to advance the sheet~of paper 30 1/200th of an 1nch~over;a specifled~tlme frame. The paper 30 will momentarily stop which allows the l~ight~8 to scan the image :
~ on the paper 30 through ~lass plate 6 and reflect the image onto , a first mirror 10.
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The light or lamp 8 is also 24 inches long and is made with special phosphor w1th a greenish light. The lamp 8 has a high intensity illuminousity and is used to illuminate the paper 30.
The image which is reflected onto first mirror 10 is an image approximately 24 inches wide and this image is again reflected onto a second mirror 12 which in turn reflects the approximately 24 lnch wide image onto lens 14 which focuses the reflected image onto a charge couple device or CCD chip 16. The focused image onto charge couple device 16 is approximately one inch in width.
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The lens 14 comprises a~standard~50 mm. camera lensO
The fax machines utllized to date usually inoorporate specially polished lenses which add to the cost of manufacturing of the fax machines. In the invention described herein, a standard 50 mm.
camera lens which~ is readily available at a~ relatively inexpenslve price is utilized.
The charge;couple~device 16 utilized herein comprises a 5,000 x 1 line CCD. In other words the CCD 16 has 5,000 pixels out of which 4,800 are utilized to give a 200 dot per inch , resolution for the 24 inch wide image. In other words the image whlch is being scanned by lamp 8 is reflected~onto first and se ond mirrors 10 and 12 of the length of approximately 24 inches ~which is then focused~by lens 14 onto CCD 16.
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Furthermore, the paper 30 is held flat by image roller 4 while it is being scanned and accordingly a high decree of resolution or straightness is perceived.
The charge couple device 16 produces a digitized signal in response to the image which is focused onto the charge couple device 16. The digitized signal is then received by the electronic circuit board (not shown) for purposes o~ compression in accordance with the standard Huffman compression method and transmitted through the telephone line. The circuit board (not shown) will then sequentially cause the image roller 4 to rotate counter clockwise after a specified lag time so as to advance the sheet 30 another 1/200th of an inch and cause same to stop so as to repeat the process described above thereby causing a continuous image to be transmitted through the telephone linè.
It should also~be pointed out that the arrangement of the first mirror 10, second mirror 12~ and lens 14 has ~een arranged in a manner so as to~produce a substantially long length of travel over a relatively small distance so as to produce a fax machine which is relatively compact in size.
The fax machine 2 also includes staggered printing heads 3 and 4 which permit the fax machine to receive transmitted signals and print same onto paper 20 which is 24 inches in width.
The staggered printing heads 3 and 4 are best illustrated in figure 1.
2 ~ 3 ~3 The staggered printing heads 3 and 4 generally comprise thermal printing heads whi~h although used with computer drafting systems such as CAD have not heretofore been used in association with fax machines.
Two 12 inch thermal printing heads 3 and 4 are used and are staggered with each other by about 1 millimetre and are disposed so as to face one another. Although the printing heads do not necessarily have to face one another in order enjoy the benefits of the invention desoribed herein~it has been found that by placing the printing heads opposite one another in the horizontal direction A~that~the paper 20 is more smoothly fed between the printing heads 3 and 4 and their associated rollers 22. This smooth feeding is~accomplished as the paper has a tendency to be fed smoothly through the fax machine 2.
The thermal printing heads 3 and 4 are staggered in the horizontal directlon A.~
; ~ ~ ThP paper 20 is unrolled from roll 24.
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Each thermal printing head 3~and 4 has~an associated roller 22 which is also approximately 24 inohes in len~th.
The paper 20~is fed through the print heads 3 and 4 and their associated rolIers 22~by maans of control from the printed circuitry board ~not shown).
2 ~ 2 g The two rollers 22 move synchronously and the friction between the rollers pulls the paper 20 from the thermal paper roller 24.
When the main motherboard receives data from the telephone wire or transmission lines, the electronics of the printed circuitry board (not shownj process the information so that the data for the first printing head 3 is printed exactly so far ahead of the second printing head 4 so that the image in the end of the paper itsel:f is~perfectly aligned in the:direction of paper feed B. The alignment is accomplished electronically by utilizing the appropriate~:software.~
Furthermore the ~electronic circuitry (not shown) processes the information so~ that when the two printing lines which are produced by the:printing heads 3 and 4 overlap the ~portion of the prlnt1ng~is moved~so~that the image on the paper is subetantially perfectly;~allgned. ~he alignment may have a certain:misalignment:or error which amounts to approximatPly one-half of a pixel because~of~ the~ error~:~in plaaing~of the heads.
However, it h~as been~found that such error is~barely perceptible.
, : : :
By utilizing the;two~overlapping~thermal printing heads it has been found that excellent results are achieved even though :
the printing heads 3 ~and 4 are not perfectly aligned and the manufacturing process is relatively inexpensive.
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The thermal printing heads 3 and 4 are screwed on to a plate which is hinged on one side 36 and is free on the other side but is springed by means of spring 28 as so to provide friction between the rollers 22 and the print heads 3 and 4~
Although 24 inch printers are available in the marketplace and have been utili~ed in association with 24 inch wide print heads for computer drafting systems such as CAD such 24 inch printers are relatively expensive to manufacture as they are produced by taking two 12 inch heads and grinding their edges very finely and aligning their printing lines in a coaxial manner. By utilizing the invention as~described herein it has been found that ~rela~tively accurate~images are~ printed by utilizing a device which is less expensive to manufacture.
The motherboard (not shown) controls a motor (not shown) driving the rollers 4~and 22 so that the paper is moved by 1/200th inch depending on the mode that the fax machine is in.
~In this way the whole pa~e~which is 24 inches wide may be transmitted over the telephone line and received by the fax machine 2.
While the~salient features of the invention have been illustrated and described, it should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications~can be made in the invention presented without departing from the spirit and true scope of the;invention. Accordingly, the present invention should be considered~ as encompassing all such changes and :
modifications that are within the broad scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
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It is an object of this invention to provide an improved fax machine which is simpler to construct and more efficient in operation than those fax machines which are presently available.
It is another object of this invention to provide a fax machine which is capable o~ transmitting images on paper up to 24 inches wide as well as printing the transmitted signal onto printing paper which i5 Up to 24 inches wide.
:
The broadest aspect of this invention relates to a machine for transmitting wide images through a~transmission line . :
which include structure for scann1ng~ an image; mirrors for receiving and reflecting said scanned lmage: a charge couple device for receiving an image and producing a digitized signal;
a lens for receiving such scanned image reflected from said mirror and focusing said scanned imag~ onto said charge couple device so as to produce~a digitized signal for transmission through said transmission line.: The machine also includes in one :
aspect two staggard th~ermal printing heads for printing the wide image transmitted through said transmission lineO
It is another aspect o~ this invention to provide a fax machine for transmitting ~and receiving images up to 24 inches wide through telephone wires, including: a glass plate having a width of approximately 24 inches wide; an image roller at least 24 inches wide adapted to press against said glass plate so as to advance a sheet of paper approximately 24 inches wide against said glass plate, said paper including an image; a light adjacent to said glass paper for scanning said image on said paper; a first mirror disposed adjacent said glass plate for receiving and reflecting said image; a second mirror disposed remote from said first mirror for receiving and reflecting said image reflected from said first mirror: a camera lens for focusing said image reflected by said second mirror; and a charge couple device for receiving said image focused by said camera lens and producing a digitized signal for transmissions through said telephone wire.
Another aspect of this invention relates to a method of transmitting a wide image over a telephone wire comprising the steps of scanning a wide image; reflecting the scanned image;
focusing the reflected scanned image onto a charge couple device by utilizing a camera lens; and then transducing the reflected image by said charge couple device so as to produce a dlgitized signal for transmlssion over said telephone wire.
Another aspect of this invention relates to a method of printing a wide image in a fax machine comprising the steps of receiving a digitized signal through said telephone wire; and then printing said wide image by utilizing two staggered thermal printing heads so as to print said wlde image transmitted through said telephone wire.
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Description of Drawinas These and other objects and features shall now be described in relation to the drawings.
Figure 1 is a top plan view of the staggered thermal printing heads.
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Figure 2 lS a cross-sectional side view of the fax machine.
Description of the Invention ~ .
Like pa~rts will be~given~like numbers throughout the flgures~
The fax~machlne ls~generally~depicted by the numeral 2.
The fax -~-hlne~inoludes;an~image roiler 4 which lS
adapted~to press~against a glass~plate~6.~ The~roller 4 includes a structure such~as,springs~or~the~like (which is not shown) so~
as to~urge~or bias~the~roller~4~against the glass~plate 6. The rol~ler~4~and the~glass~plate 6~has a length of~ approximately 24 inches~ln width.~ Although~the invention shall~ be~described in relation to~a width of 24~inches, it should be understood that different size widths can~,be~utilized which are greater than 24 : : -: :::
~: ' ~:~ : ' :
~: ' 4~.J ~:3 inches and still be within the scope of the invention as claimed.
....
The roller 4 may be manufactured ~rom material such as rubber or the like. A sheet of paper 30 is fed into the fax machine 2 in the manner such that the sheet of paper 30 is pressed between the roller 4 and glass plate 6. The sheet 30 includes an image such as typed letterlng or a drawing or the like. The sheet 30 in relation to the invention described herein may be 24 inches wlde or in any event wider than the width which can presently be accommodated~by the fax machines~which presently exist. The fax machine 2 also includes electronic circuitry on - ~
~ a printed circuit board or "mother board~' ~which is not shown).
~ : ~
~ The electronic printed circuit board (not shown) electronically controls a motor (not sbown) which activates the roller 4 so as to control the length of duration of rotation of~
roll r 4. In the example to~be described~herein, the electronic ~printed circuit (not~shown)~ will cause~the roller 4 to rDtate in a counter clockwise rotation so as to advance the sheet~of paper 30 1/200th of an 1nch~over;a specifled~tlme frame. The paper 30 will momentarily stop which allows the l~ight~8 to scan the image :
~ on the paper 30 through ~lass plate 6 and reflect the image onto , a first mirror 10.
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The light or lamp 8 is also 24 inches long and is made with special phosphor w1th a greenish light. The lamp 8 has a high intensity illuminousity and is used to illuminate the paper 30.
The image which is reflected onto first mirror 10 is an image approximately 24 inches wide and this image is again reflected onto a second mirror 12 which in turn reflects the approximately 24 lnch wide image onto lens 14 which focuses the reflected image onto a charge couple device or CCD chip 16. The focused image onto charge couple device 16 is approximately one inch in width.
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The lens 14 comprises a~standard~50 mm. camera lensO
The fax machines utllized to date usually inoorporate specially polished lenses which add to the cost of manufacturing of the fax machines. In the invention described herein, a standard 50 mm.
camera lens which~ is readily available at a~ relatively inexpenslve price is utilized.
The charge;couple~device 16 utilized herein comprises a 5,000 x 1 line CCD. In other words the CCD 16 has 5,000 pixels out of which 4,800 are utilized to give a 200 dot per inch , resolution for the 24 inch wide image. In other words the image whlch is being scanned by lamp 8 is reflected~onto first and se ond mirrors 10 and 12 of the length of approximately 24 inches ~which is then focused~by lens 14 onto CCD 16.
2 ~ ~L~
Furthermore, the paper 30 is held flat by image roller 4 while it is being scanned and accordingly a high decree of resolution or straightness is perceived.
The charge couple device 16 produces a digitized signal in response to the image which is focused onto the charge couple device 16. The digitized signal is then received by the electronic circuit board (not shown) for purposes o~ compression in accordance with the standard Huffman compression method and transmitted through the telephone line. The circuit board (not shown) will then sequentially cause the image roller 4 to rotate counter clockwise after a specified lag time so as to advance the sheet 30 another 1/200th of an inch and cause same to stop so as to repeat the process described above thereby causing a continuous image to be transmitted through the telephone linè.
It should also~be pointed out that the arrangement of the first mirror 10, second mirror 12~ and lens 14 has ~een arranged in a manner so as to~produce a substantially long length of travel over a relatively small distance so as to produce a fax machine which is relatively compact in size.
The fax machine 2 also includes staggered printing heads 3 and 4 which permit the fax machine to receive transmitted signals and print same onto paper 20 which is 24 inches in width.
The staggered printing heads 3 and 4 are best illustrated in figure 1.
2 ~ 3 ~3 The staggered printing heads 3 and 4 generally comprise thermal printing heads whi~h although used with computer drafting systems such as CAD have not heretofore been used in association with fax machines.
Two 12 inch thermal printing heads 3 and 4 are used and are staggered with each other by about 1 millimetre and are disposed so as to face one another. Although the printing heads do not necessarily have to face one another in order enjoy the benefits of the invention desoribed herein~it has been found that by placing the printing heads opposite one another in the horizontal direction A~that~the paper 20 is more smoothly fed between the printing heads 3 and 4 and their associated rollers 22. This smooth feeding is~accomplished as the paper has a tendency to be fed smoothly through the fax machine 2.
The thermal printing heads 3 and 4 are staggered in the horizontal directlon A.~
; ~ ~ ThP paper 20 is unrolled from roll 24.
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Each thermal printing head 3~and 4 has~an associated roller 22 which is also approximately 24 inohes in len~th.
The paper 20~is fed through the print heads 3 and 4 and their associated rolIers 22~by maans of control from the printed circuitry board ~not shown).
2 ~ 2 g The two rollers 22 move synchronously and the friction between the rollers pulls the paper 20 from the thermal paper roller 24.
When the main motherboard receives data from the telephone wire or transmission lines, the electronics of the printed circuitry board (not shownj process the information so that the data for the first printing head 3 is printed exactly so far ahead of the second printing head 4 so that the image in the end of the paper itsel:f is~perfectly aligned in the:direction of paper feed B. The alignment is accomplished electronically by utilizing the appropriate~:software.~
Furthermore the ~electronic circuitry (not shown) processes the information so~ that when the two printing lines which are produced by the:printing heads 3 and 4 overlap the ~portion of the prlnt1ng~is moved~so~that the image on the paper is subetantially perfectly;~allgned. ~he alignment may have a certain:misalignment:or error which amounts to approximatPly one-half of a pixel because~of~ the~ error~:~in plaaing~of the heads.
However, it h~as been~found that such error is~barely perceptible.
, : : :
By utilizing the;two~overlapping~thermal printing heads it has been found that excellent results are achieved even though :
the printing heads 3 ~and 4 are not perfectly aligned and the manufacturing process is relatively inexpensive.
2 ~
The thermal printing heads 3 and 4 are screwed on to a plate which is hinged on one side 36 and is free on the other side but is springed by means of spring 28 as so to provide friction between the rollers 22 and the print heads 3 and 4~
Although 24 inch printers are available in the marketplace and have been utili~ed in association with 24 inch wide print heads for computer drafting systems such as CAD such 24 inch printers are relatively expensive to manufacture as they are produced by taking two 12 inch heads and grinding their edges very finely and aligning their printing lines in a coaxial manner. By utilizing the invention as~described herein it has been found that ~rela~tively accurate~images are~ printed by utilizing a device which is less expensive to manufacture.
The motherboard (not shown) controls a motor (not shown) driving the rollers 4~and 22 so that the paper is moved by 1/200th inch depending on the mode that the fax machine is in.
~In this way the whole pa~e~which is 24 inches wide may be transmitted over the telephone line and received by the fax machine 2.
While the~salient features of the invention have been illustrated and described, it should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications~can be made in the invention presented without departing from the spirit and true scope of the;invention. Accordingly, the present invention should be considered~ as encompassing all such changes and :
modifications that are within the broad scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
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Claims (20)
1. In a machine for transmitting wide images through a transmission line, including:
(a) means for scanning an image;
(b) mirror means for receiving and reflecting said scanned image;
(c) charge couple device means for receiving an image and producing a digitized signal;
(d) lens means for receiving said scanned image reflected from said mirror means and focusing said scanned imaged onto said charge couple device means so as to produce a digitized signal for transmission through said transmission line.
(a) means for scanning an image;
(b) mirror means for receiving and reflecting said scanned image;
(c) charge couple device means for receiving an image and producing a digitized signal;
(d) lens means for receiving said scanned image reflected from said mirror means and focusing said scanned imaged onto said charge couple device means so as to produce a digitized signal for transmission through said transmission line.
2. In a machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image being scanned is presented on wide paper.
3. In a machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lens means comprises camera lens means.
4. In a machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said camera lens means comprises a 50 millimetre camera lens.
5. In a machine as claimed in claim 3 further including image roller means and glass means wherein said wide paper is adapted to be firmly pressed against said glass means so as to maintain a high degree a flatness of said wide paper and maintain the focus of said scanned image onto said charge couple device means.
6. In a machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said image scanned from said wide paper is greater than 11 inches.
7. In a machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said image scanned from said wide paper is approximately 24 inches wide.
8. In a machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said mirror means includes:
(a) first mirror means disposed in the region adjacent said glass means reflecting said scanned image;
(b) a second mirror disposed in the region remote from said first mirror;
wherein said scanned image is reflected by said first mirror means to said second mirror means, and reflected by second mirror means to said camera lens means to focus said wide image onto said charge couple device means.
(a) first mirror means disposed in the region adjacent said glass means reflecting said scanned image;
(b) a second mirror disposed in the region remote from said first mirror;
wherein said scanned image is reflected by said first mirror means to said second mirror means, and reflected by second mirror means to said camera lens means to focus said wide image onto said charge couple device means.
9. In a machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein said charge couple device means comprises a 5,000 X 1 charge couple device, and said 24 inch wide image is scanned by said scanning means and reflected by said first and second mirror means and focused by said camera lens means onto said 5,000 X 1 charge couple device means so as to produce a digitized signal transmitted through said transmission line.
10. In a machine as claimed in claim 3 further including:
(a) means for receiving a digitized signal transmitted through said transmission line;
(b) thermal printing means for printing a wide image onto printing paper.
(a) means for receiving a digitized signal transmitted through said transmission line;
(b) thermal printing means for printing a wide image onto printing paper.
11. In a machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein said thermal printing means comprises two staggered thermal head means for printing said wide image transmitted through said transmission line.
12. In a machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said thermal print head means includes roller means for advancing said printing paper while said staggered head means print said wide image onto said printing paper.
13. In a machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said staggered printing head means print a transmitted image onto printing paper greater than 11 inches wide.
14. In a machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said staggered printing head means print a transmitted image onto printing paper approximately 24 inches wide.
15. In a fax machine for transmitting and receiving images up to 24 inches wide through telephone wires including:
(a) a glass plate having a width of approximately 24 inches wide;
(b) an image roller at least 24 inches wide adapted to press against said glass plate so as to advance a sheet of paper approximately 24 inches wide against said glass plate, said paper including an image;
(c) light means adjacent said glass plate for scanning said image on said paper;
(d) first mirror means disposed adjacent said glass plate for receiving and reflecting said image;
(e) second mirror means disposed remote from said first mirror for receiving and reflecting said image reflected from said first mirror;
(f) camera lens means for focusing said image reflected by said second mirror;
(g) charge couple device means for receiving said image focused by said camera lens means and producing a digitized signal for transmission through said telephone wire;
(a) a glass plate having a width of approximately 24 inches wide;
(b) an image roller at least 24 inches wide adapted to press against said glass plate so as to advance a sheet of paper approximately 24 inches wide against said glass plate, said paper including an image;
(c) light means adjacent said glass plate for scanning said image on said paper;
(d) first mirror means disposed adjacent said glass plate for receiving and reflecting said image;
(e) second mirror means disposed remote from said first mirror for receiving and reflecting said image reflected from said first mirror;
(f) camera lens means for focusing said image reflected by said second mirror;
(g) charge couple device means for receiving said image focused by said camera lens means and producing a digitized signal for transmission through said telephone wire;
16. In a fax machine as claimed in claim 15 further including electronic control means for controlling said image roller means so as to sequentially advance said paper one/two-hundredths of an inch.
17. In a fax machine as claimed in claim 16 wherein said charge couple device means comprises a 5,000 pixel by 1 line charge couple device.
18. In a fax machine as claimed in claim 17 further including two staggered print head means for printing an image transmitted over a telephone wire on printing paper of approximately 24 inches wide.
19. In a method of transmitting a wide image over telephone wire means comprising the steps of scanning a wide image by reflecting the scanned image; focusing the reflected scanned image onto charge couple device means by utilizing camera lens means; and then transducing the reflected image by said charge couple device means so as to produce a digitized signal for transmission over said telephone wire.
20. In a method of printing a wide image in a fax machine comprising the steps of: receiving a digitized signal through telephone wire means; and then printing said wide image by utilizing two staggered thermal printing heads so as to print said wide image transmitted through said telephone wire means.
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2019102 CA2019102A1 (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1990-06-15 | Fax machine |
| AU79766/91A AU7976691A (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1991-06-14 | Fax machine |
| PCT/CA1991/000211 WO1991020153A2 (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1991-06-14 | Fax machine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2019102 CA2019102A1 (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1990-06-15 | Fax machine |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2019102A1 true CA2019102A1 (en) | 1991-12-15 |
Family
ID=4145241
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2019102 Abandoned CA2019102A1 (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1990-06-15 | Fax machine |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU7976691A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2019102A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1991020153A2 (en) |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5630154A (en) * | 1979-08-21 | 1981-03-26 | Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd | Photoprint head |
| US4667255A (en) * | 1979-09-24 | 1987-05-19 | Datacopy Corporation | Electronic camera employing a solid-state image sensor |
| US4743975A (en) * | 1985-04-01 | 1988-05-10 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image processing apparatus |
| US4812917A (en) * | 1986-03-20 | 1989-03-14 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Device for reducing document in size having two facing non-parallel mirrors |
-
1990
- 1990-06-15 CA CA 2019102 patent/CA2019102A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
1991
- 1991-06-14 WO PCT/CA1991/000211 patent/WO1991020153A2/en unknown
- 1991-06-14 AU AU79766/91A patent/AU7976691A/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1991020153A3 (en) | 1992-02-06 |
| AU7976691A (en) | 1992-01-07 |
| WO1991020153A2 (en) | 1991-12-26 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |