JP3359260B2 - Facsimile apparatus and recording control method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus and a recording control method, and more particularly, to a facsimile apparatus having a recording unit for performing recording in accordance with, for example, an ink jet system and a recording control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a facsimile apparatus having a recording unit for performing recording on a recording medium by reciprocating a recording head according to an ink jet system, a recording image which is binary data is considered in consideration of a case where the recording unit is used in combination with a printer. Control data composed of character data is added to the data, and the control data is analyzed in the recording operation to process the recorded image data.

[0003]

However, in the above conventional example, when control data is added to image data read from a scanner or received via a communication line,
In the image data, data in which an actual printing operation does not occur, for example, in the case of binary data, data having a value of “0” that does not accompany ink ejection is also targeted for the printing operation. Was a factor that hindered.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and has as its object to provide a facsimile apparatus and a recording control method capable of performing high-speed recording.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, a facsimile apparatus for adding control data to image data, transferring the control data to a buffer memory, reading data from the buffer memory, and performing recording, wherein input means for inputting the image data line by line;
Calculating means for calculating the effective data length of the image data of each line input by the input means; and transfer means for transferring control data and effective image data including the effective data length calculated by the calculating means. And a facsimile machine characterized by the following.

Further, a recording means for reading data from the buffer memory and reciprocatingly scanning the recording head to perform recording on a recording medium may be provided.

In this case, the effective data length is the data length from the data corresponding to the printing start point in the scanning of the printing head in the image data for one line to the last data that actually causes the printing head to perform a printing operation. Become.

Here, the recording head is an ink jet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink, and the recording head is a recording head that discharges ink by using thermal energy. It is desirable to have a thermal energy converter for generating energy.

The transfer means includes a first transfer path for transferring control data to a buffer memory and a second transfer path for transferring image data to the buffer memory.
Switching means for switching between the first transfer path and the second transfer path, and switching between the first transfer path and the second transfer path by controlling the switching means when transfer of control data and image data is completed. And control means.

Further, the transfer means transfers the image data to the buffer memory for each raster scan.
The control data may include a raster image transfer command added immediately before one raster scan of image data and a raster image end command added immediately after one raster scan of image data. The raster image transfer command can include data indicating the effective data length.

[0012] On the other hand, the switching control means is configured to transfer the raster image transfer command to the first transfer path from the second transfer path to the second transfer path after the transfer of the raster image transfer command, and to transfer the first raster scan image data to the first transfer path from the second transfer path. The switching means may be controlled to switch to the transfer path.

[0013] If the image data is encoded data, the image data further includes a receiving means for receiving the encoded data via a communication line, and a decoding means for decoding the received encoded data. good.

It is preferable that the image data is binary data and the control data is character data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording control method for adding control data to image data, transferring the control data to a buffer memory, reading data from the buffer memory, and performing recording. An input step of inputting for each line, a calculation step of calculating an effective data length of image data of each line input in the input step, and control data and effective image data including the effective data length calculated in the calculation step And a transfer step of transferring the data.

With the above arrangement, according to the present invention, control data is added to image data and transferred to a buffer memory. When data is read out from the buffer memory and recorded, image data is input for each line. It operates to calculate the effective data length of the input image data of each line, and to transfer the control data and the effective image data including the calculated effective data length.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus as a typical embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, A is a reading unit for optically reading an image document, B is a printer unit having a recording head that performs recording according to an ink jet system and an ink tank that supplies ink to the recording head, and C is a cassette mounted. This is a sheet feeding unit that separates cut sheet type recording sheets one by one and supplies the cut sheets to the printer unit B. Further, the recording head and the ink tank constitute an integral replaceable ink cartridge.

In the apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the recording operation on the recording paper is performed as follows. First, cassette 5
The recording paper 12 loaded on the recording paper 12 is picked up by the paper feed roller 51 and the separation claw 52 and sent to the printer unit B by the transport roller 15. Next, the printer unit B
In this case, recording is performed by discharging ink onto recording paper while the recording head 20 scans back and forth in the vertical direction with respect to the paper surface. The moving direction of the recording head 20 is called a main scanning direction. Each time recording by one scan is completed, the recording paper 12 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow G in FIG.
The sheet is conveyed by a recording width of 0 per scan. In this manner, the recording proceeds, and when the recording on the recording paper 12 is completed, the recording paper 12 is discharged to the stacker 53 by the transport rollers 13 and 19 made of rubber or the like, and is stacked.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile apparatus used in this embodiment. The facsimile apparatus uses a printer unit that performs recording using a recording head that conforms to an ink jet system.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit which is constituted by a microprocessor (MPU) or the like and controls the entire apparatus, 2 denotes a reading unit having a scanner for reading an image original, and 3 denotes a received image signal or a read image. A printer unit according to an ink-jet system that records an image based on a signal or outputs various reports based on an instruction from a control unit. Reference numeral 4 denotes an image transmission instruction, an image copy instruction, a report output instruction, and a telephone number of a communication partner. An operation unit 5 that performs various instructions such as registration and message response is a communication control unit that includes a modem, an NCU (network control device), and the like, and that exchanges communication data. The printer unit 3 includes a recording head having a configuration described below and a replaceable ink cartridge.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a ROM for storing a control program executed by the control unit 1 and various processing programs, etc., and reference numeral 7 denotes a guidance message, various warning messages, time, and image transmission / reception status when registering a telephone number. LC
A display unit 8 composed of D or the like is used as a work area when the control unit 1 executes a control program or a processing program, stores various constants input by the operator from the operation unit 4, and stores transmitted / received image data. , A coding / decoding unit for coding and decoding image data, and a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a host) 10 comprising a Centronics connector and a driver widely used in printer equipment. A printer I / F (interface) unit 11 for controlling input / output of various commands and data between the apparatus and the apparatus, and a common bus 11 for connecting the components to each other.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the printer unit 3. As shown in FIG. The printer section feeds and conveys recording media such as recording paper.
A transport mechanism, a carriage for reciprocating the recording head in opposition to the recording paper, and a mechanism for moving the carriage are provided, but these mechanisms are already known and are not shown in FIG. Further, an ink cartridge for supplying ink for recording is mounted on the recording head.

Here, the ink may be supplied from an ink tank mounted on the printer unit 3 to the recording head, or a cartridge in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated, and the ink in the ink tank is A replaceable cartridge that replaces the cartridge when it runs out may be used.

The printer section 3 of this embodiment is a printer section for monochrome recording. The recording head described here has 64 nozzles for ejecting ink droplets along the transport direction of the recording medium. It is assumed that the 64 nozzles are divided into eight nozzle groups of eight nozzles in two ways described later. Further, one bit of image data corresponds to one nozzle, and its bit value is “1 (O
N) ", ink droplets are ejected from the corresponding nozzle to perform printing, while the bit value is" 0 (OF)
F) ", there is no ink droplet ejection from the corresponding nozzle.

In the following description, the moving direction of the carriage on which the recording head is mounted is referred to as the main scanning direction, and the direction in which the recording medium is transported (the arrangement direction of the nozzles) is referred to as the sub-scanning direction.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 14 denotes a print data generator for latching print data and selecting a nozzle group;
Are two types of signals (segment signals SEG1 to SEG8,
A head driver for driving the recording head by the common signals COM1 to COM8), and 17 is a logic circuit of the recording head.

The recording data generator 14 receives the image data stored in the RAM 8 under the control of the controller 1 and inputs and latches the image data in 64 bit (8 byte) units.
1. Common timing generation circuit 112 for generating common signals COM1 to COM8, common signals COM1 to COM
A decoder 113 for decoding the H.8 signal and outputting the decoded signal to the head driver 16; and a segment signal generation circuit 114 for generating the segment signals SEG1 to SEG8 in synchronization with the generation of the common signals COM1 to COM8 at the timing described later. , The image data latched by the latch circuit 111 is transferred one byte at a time to the segment signal SE.
A multiplexer 115 multiplexes any one of the signals G1 to SEG8 and outputs a multiplexed signal to the head driver 16.

The common timing generation circuit 112 sequentially generates eight common signals COM1 to COM8 one by one.

The logic circuit section 17 of the recording head is provided with 64 heaters (H1 to H64) corresponding to the 64 nozzles, and each heater generates heat based on a diode and an applied current. It has a resistor. Here, the heaters H1 to H64 are divided into eight groups (H1, H2).
9, H17, ..., H57; H2, H10, ..., H5
8; ...; H8, H16, ..., H64)
Each nozzle group has a segment signal SEG1,
.., SEG8 are selected. Also,
The heaters H1 to H64 are divided into eight groups (H1
~ H8, H9 ~ H16, H17 ~ H24, H25 ~ H3
2, H33-H40, H41-H48, H49-H5
6, H57 to H64), and each nozzle group has common signals COM1, COM2,.
Selected by M8.

FIG. 4 shows common signals (COM1 to COM8) and segment signals (SEG1 to SEG1) in one recording operation.
15 is a time chart showing the relationship with SEG8). FIG.
, The symbols H1, H2,... Correspond to the corresponding common signals (COM1 to COM8) and the segment signals (SEG).
1 to SEG8) indicate a heater to which a drive current is applied when “ON”. As shown in FIG. 4, while one of the segment signals, for example, SEG1 is "ON", the common signals COM1, COM2,.
COM8 is sequentially turned “ON” for a predetermined time (Δt). And one of the other segment signals, eg, SE
While G2 is "ON", the common signal CO
M1, COM2,..., COM8 are sequentially set for a predetermined time (Δ
It becomes "ON" only for t). In this manner, for printing, the drive current flows through the heaters (H1 to H64) where the "ON" of the common signal output from the head driver 12 matches the "ON" of the segment signal, and the ink is discharged by the heater. Heating is performed by discharging ink droplets from the corresponding nozzle. As a result, power is sequentially supplied to all 64 heaters, and one recording operation is completed.

Further, common signals COM1, COM2,.
.., When one cycle in which COM8 is sequentially turned “ON” ends, the common timing generation circuit 112
NTL is output to segment signal generation circuit 114. In the segment signal generating circuit 114, the control signal CNT
Each time L is received, the segment signal is changed from SEG1 to SE.
G2 →... → SEG8 is sequentially switched.

In the time chart of FIG. 4, while the common signals COM1, COM2,..., COM8 are sequentially turned on for a predetermined time (Δt) (8 × Δt), the segment signals (SEG1 to SEG8) Maintain the “ON” state, the segment signal (SEG1) is maintained.
To SEG8) are the result of multiplexing (for example, logical product) with the latched image data. Therefore, if the value of the image data of a certain pixel is, for example, “0 (OFF)”,
The corresponding time, segment signal (SEG1-SEG)
G8) is also turned "OFF", the heater is not energized, and no ink droplet is ejected.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the principle of ink flying of ink droplets ejected from a recording head according to the ink jet system provided in the recording section of the apparatus of this embodiment.

In the steady state, as shown in FIG. 5A, the surface tension and the external pressure of the ink 31 filled in the nozzle 32 are in an equilibrium state at the discharge port surface. To fly the ink in this state, electricity is supplied to the electrothermal converter 30 in the nozzle,
The ink in the nozzle causes a rapid temperature rise beyond film boiling. Then, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the ink 31 adjacent to the electrothermal transducer 30 is heated to generate fine bubbles, and the ink in the heated portion is vaporized to cause film boiling, and as shown in FIG. The bubbles grow rapidly as shown in c).

When the bubble grows to a maximum as shown in FIG. 5D, ink droplets are ejected from the discharge port in the nozzle. Then, when the energization of the electrothermal transducer 30 is terminated, the grown bubbles are cooled by the ink in the nozzles and contract, as shown in FIG.
The ink droplet flies from the ejection port due to the reduction. The size of the ink droplet 33 can be controlled by the power supply time to the electrothermal transducer 30 and the power supply sequence.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5F, the ink in contact with the surface of the electrothermal transducer 30 is rapidly cooled, and the bubbles disappear or are reduced to a volume that can be almost ignored. I do. And when the bubble shrinks,
As shown in FIG. 5 (g), ink is supplied from the common liquid chamber to the inside of the nozzle by a capillary phenomenon to prepare for the next energization.

Accordingly, the carriage on which such a recording head is mounted is reciprocated (this direction is referred to as a main scanning direction), and in synchronization with this movement, an electric current is supplied to the electrothermal transducer in accordance with an image signal, and ink droplets are supplied. By discharging the ink from the nozzle, an ink image can be recorded on a recording medium such as recording paper.

According to the above principle, ink droplets are formed in accordance with the image signal, and an image is recorded on a recording medium.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the transfer of image data stored in a memory at the time of facsimile reception or image data sent from a host (PC) via a printer interface (I / F) 10 in a reception buffer. It is a figure showing a part of route.

In the actual printing process, control data is analyzed from the receiving buffer to obtain image data, and resolution conversion in the sub-scanning direction, raster → column (vertical → vertical) conversion according to the configuration of the print head, and the like are performed. Thereafter, a recording operation is performed to record an image.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 61 denotes a step of generating / running RL data by performing MH / MR / MMR encoding / decoding of facsimile reception data, and 62 converts run-length (RL) data to raw (RAW) data. 63, a step of temporarily holding the decoded raw (RAW) data, a step 64, of converting the raw (RAW) data into parallel / serial (P → S) conversion, and a step 65, a serial of a bit stream. A step of performing image processing such as edge processing on the data; a step of performing resolution conversion to the resolution of the recording unit; a step of generating image data with a PC and transferring the image data to a facsimile apparatus;
Via the Centronics interface provided by
A step of receiving data from C, and a step of storing facsimile data or data from a PC in a reception buffer.

The coded image data input via the communication control unit 5 and the like is image data that is not coded internally based on the image document read from the reading unit 2. In the step 66 of performing the resolution conversion processing,
The difference between the resolution of the image data input via the reading unit 2 and the communication control unit 5 and the recording resolution of the recording head is corrected,
The data is converted into parallel data and transferred to the reception buffer.

In the above steps, when facsimile image data is received, → 61 → 62 → 63 → 64
The steps of → 65 → 66 → 69 are executed, and the reading unit 2
When inputting data of an image document read from the scanner provided in the PC, the steps of → 64 → 65 → 66 → 69 are executed, and when data is received from the PC, 67 → 68 →
A step 69 is executed. Therefore, the internal switch to the reception buffer is appropriately switched according to the type of the reception data. According to FIG. 6, when the internal changeover switch connects the terminal a to the input end of the reception buffer, facsimile image data or image original data is input to the reception buffer, and the internal changeover switch is connected to the terminal c and the reception buffer. When the input terminal is connected, data from the PC is input to the reception buffer.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, there are three internal paths to the receiving buffer, and the control data transfer path is independent. That is, the control data that is the character data is directly supplied to the reception buffer from the control data transfer path. in this case,
An internal switch connects the terminal b to the input of the receiving buffer.

As described above, in this embodiment, the internal switch is appropriately switched according to the type of data to be transferred to the reception buffer. Therefore, the data transfer to the reception buffer is performed so that the data transfer is not interrupted or lost. The situation is constantly monitored.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing image data to which a control command has been added.

The raster image transfer start command shown in FIG. 7 includes the attributes (color, resolution, etc.) of the image data following this and the effective image data length, and the raster image end command relates to line feed and line feed. Information is included.

Next, a process of adding a raster image transfer start command and a raster image end command to the received raster image data and transferring the same to the reception buffer will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a received facsimile image and received facsimile image data, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a procedure for adding a raster image transfer start command and a raster image end command to raster image data, and FIG. FIG. 11 shows a state of a bit stream when a raster image transfer start command and a raster image end command are added.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing image data transferred to the reception buffer, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing data transfer processing to the reception buffer.

When the recording process of the received image is started, first, in step S1, the initial setting of each unit of the printer unit 3 is performed.
Initializes hardware related to recording control and control variables of a control program.

Next, at step S2, it is monitored whether or not the recording of the received image has been completed. If it is determined that the recording of the received image has been completed, the process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state. On the other hand, when it is determined that the recording operation is being performed on the received image data, the process proceeds to step S3, where the decoding process for one line of the received encoded data is performed. Further, in step S4, the result of the decoding is checked. If it is determined that the decoded line is an error line that cannot be recorded, the process returns to step S2, and it is determined that the decoded line is not an error line (that is, it is error-free raster image data). If so, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, it is checked whether or not there is valid black data in the decoded image data. Here, when it is determined that there is no valid black data in the image data (when the line is an all-white line), it is not necessary to perform a recording operation. An instruction is issued and the process proceeds to step S18.
Proceed to. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is valid black data in the image data of the decoded line,
The length (bit length) from the left end of the line to the rightmost valid black data is calculated, and the process proceeds to step S6.

When a one-page facsimile image as shown in FIG. 8A is received, the image data corresponding to the image is, as shown in FIG. The right side of the recording paper includes an area where the data of the value “0” is continuous (right end white data). The raster image data length of one line shown in FIG. 8B corresponds to the effective recording length of the recording head, and when the recording head moves from one end of the scanning width to the other end in the main scanning direction. , The length corresponding to the raster image data length of one line is recorded.

Now, even if the white data in the raster image data of each line is transferred to the receiving buffer, the printing operation by the printing head does not occur, and the white data is not affected by the actual printing operation. Become. In particular, it can be said that the rightmost white data shown in FIG. 8B is continuous data having no influence on the actual printing operation. Accordingly, in step S5, if there is valid black data, as shown in FIG. 8B, the valid rightmost rightmost line from the left end (corresponding to the recording start point of the recording head) of the line excluding the rightmost white data, as shown in FIG. The length (effective bit length (EL)) up to the black data (the last data that causes the recording operation in that line) is calculated and used for the subsequent raster image transfer start command creation processing.

In step S6, a raster image transfer start command is created. In the creation, in addition to the identification code for identifying the command, data indicating the attribute of the raster image data is generated and added to the command, and the effective bit length (E
Data indicating L) is also added. If there is valid black data in the image data, the process proceeds to step S7 to continue the printing operation, and the state of the printer unit 3 is monitored. If it is determined that the printer unit 3 cannot transfer image data due to an overload, the process waits until the printer unit 3 becomes recordable, but the printer unit 3 is in a recordable state. Is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S8, in which command transmission setting is performed.

In step S8, the internal switch is set together with the variable setting of the control program, and the receiving buffer is connected to the command output path. As a result, the transfer path of the raster image transfer start command is established.

FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a data transfer path when a raster image transfer command is sent to the receiving buffer. As shown in FIG. 9A, the internal changeover switch switches the data input terminal of the reception buffer to connect to the terminal b, and in this state, the raster image transfer start command (character data) is transferred to the reception buffer. Is done.

Thereafter, in step S9, it is checked whether a raster image transfer start command has been created. here,
If the creation is not completed, the process proceeds to step S10,
The command creation started in step S6 is completed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, if it is determined that the command creation is completed, the process proceeds to step S
Proceed to 11 to send a raster image transfer start command.

Next, in step S12, image data transmission is set to execute image data transfer processing. More specifically, there are initialization processing for each variable of the control program, initialization setting for execution of step 64 of P → S conversion processing, step 65 of image processing, and step 66 of resolution conversion processing. After confirming the completion of the transfer of the raster image transfer start command, in step S12, the internal switch is further switched to output the result of the resolution conversion processing to the reception buffer.

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a data transfer path when image data is sent to a reception buffer. FIG.
As shown in (b), the internal changeover switch switches the data input terminal of the reception buffer to connect to the terminal a. Lines are transferred to the reception buffer.

After setting the image data transmission and switching the internal changeover switch, the image data is transferred in step S13. This transfer is performed in units of the system data size (1 byte, 1 word, etc.) for the effective bit length (EL) calculated in step S5.

FIG. 10A is a diagram showing the transition of the processing from the transfer of the raster image transfer start command to the transfer of the subsequent image data, and the processing waiting state. As can be seen from FIG. 10A, the initialization processing for executing the image processing and the resolution conversion processing is executed during the transfer of the raster image transfer start command, and in order to prevent the data of the command from being lost, the internal processing is performed. Only the switching control of the changeover switch is
This is executed after confirming the transfer end of the raster image transfer start command. After the internal switch is switched, the error-free image data is sequentially transferred by the effective bit length (EL).

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the image data length of each line transferred to the reception buffer in the reception facsimile image shown in FIG. 8A. As can be seen from this figure, the area of the rightmost white data shown in FIG. 8B has been deleted from the transfer data. Therefore, the transfer data of each line is undefined, but the transfer data length of each line is specified by the raster image transfer start command.

During the transfer of the image data of the effective bit length (EL), in steps S14 and S15, a raster image end command creation instruction including creation of a line feed command and a decoding process for the succeeding lines and subsequent lines are performed. Is issued in advance. In addition to an identification code for identifying the command, information indicating how many lines to feed is added to the line feed command. In step S16, it is checked whether the transfer of the image data for the effective bit length (EL) has been completed. If the transfer has not been completed, the process returns to step S13, and if the transfer has been completed, the process proceeds to step S17.

Next, in step S17, invalid white data is transferred. As described above, the transfer is performed so as to adjust the effective residual bit data so as not to be deleted in the image processing and the resolution conversion processing.

When all the image data corresponding to the effective bit length (EL) of one line after the image processing and the resolution conversion processing have been transferred, the processing proceeds to step S18 where a raster image end command such as a line feed command is generated. Find out if it's done. Here, if it is determined that the creation has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S19, and the command creation is completed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the command creation is completed, the process proceeds to step S20, and the process proceeds to step S20.
Command transmission setting is performed again in the same manner as in step 8. In this step, the internal changeover switch is switched,
As shown in FIG. 9C, a reception buffer is connected to the command output path. As a result, a transfer path for the raster image end command is established.

Thereafter, in step S21, a raster image end command including a line feed command is transferred. Thereafter, the process returns to step S2 to transfer the next line.

FIG. 10B is a diagram showing the transition of the processing from the transfer of the image data to the transfer of the subsequent raster image end command and the waiting state. As can be seen from FIG. 10B, when the transfer of the image data for the effective bit length (EL) of one line is completed, only the switching control of the internal switch is executed after confirming the completion of the transfer of the image data. Then, after the internal switch is switched, the transfer of the raster image end command starts.

Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, in a facsimile apparatus which can also be used as a host printer, a valid data length is calculated for each line of received image data, and only the valid data is transferred to a reception buffer. As a result, there is no data transfer in which a print operation by the print head does not occur, so that the amount of transfer data is reduced, the transfer time is reduced, and as a result, the print operation can be sped up.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by energy, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the ejection port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting surface is arranged in a bent region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal transducers,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge part of an electrothermal transducer, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge part. A configuration based on 138461 may be adopted.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition to the cartridge type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head, which enables a simple connection and supply of ink from the apparatus main body, may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the configuration of the printing apparatus described above, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be a recording head integrally formed or a combination of a plurality of recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, the ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature is used. Or, in the ink jet method, generally, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state,
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a liquid state or a solid state in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It is good also as a form which opposes an electrothermal transducer. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as a form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to those provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like; It may take the form of a facsimile machine having functions.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine) comprising one device is used. Device).

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, and CD.
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0088]

As described above, control data is added to image data and transferred to a buffer memory. When data is read from the buffer memory and recorded, image data is input for each line. The effective data length of the input image data of each line is calculated, and the control data and the effective image data including the calculated effective data length are transferred. Therefore, transfer of useless image data that is not necessary for the actual printing operation. Is omitted, the processing overhead is reduced, and the recording operation can be performed at high speed.

[0089]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the printer unit 3.

FIG. 4 shows common signals (COM1 to C1) in one recording operation.
FIG. 9 is a time chart showing a relationship between OM8) and segment signals (SEG1 to SEG8).

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the principle of ink flying of ink droplets ejected from a recording head according to an inkjet method.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a part of a transfer path when storing received image data in a reception buffer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing image data to which a control command is added.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a received facsimile image and received facsimile image data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a procedure for adding a raster image transfer start command and a raster image end command to raster image data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state of a bit stream when a raster image transfer start command and a raster image end command are added.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing image data transferred to a reception buffer.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a data transfer process to a reception buffer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 control unit 2 reading unit 3 recording unit 4 operating unit 5 communication control unit 6 ROM 7 display unit 8 RAM 9 encoding / decoding unit 10 printer I / F 11 common bus

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI H04N 1/21 H04N 1/23 101Z 1/23 101 1/41 Z 1/41 B41J 3/04 101Z (56) References JP JP-A-8-265545 (JP, A) JP-A-9-98253 (JP, A) JP-A-63-105571 (JP, A) JP-A-53-54908 (JP, A) JP-A-53-922 (JP, A) JP-A-2-56178 (JP, A) JP-A-55-20042 (JP, A) JP-A-9-46455 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 H04N 1/21-1/29 H04N 1/40-1/419

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus for adding control data to image data, transferring the control data to a buffer memory, reading data from the buffer memory, and performing recording, comprising: input means for inputting the image data line by line; Calculating means for calculating the effective data length of the image data of each line input by the input means; and transfer means for transferring control data and effective image data including the effective data length calculated by the calculating means. Facsimile machine characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit that reads data from said buffer memory and performs recording on a recording medium by reciprocally scanning a recording head. 3. The effective data length is a data length from data corresponding to a print start point in scanning of the print head in image data for one line to last data that actually causes the print head to perform a print operation. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink. 5. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head discharges ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 5. A facsimile apparatus according to item 4. 6. A transfer path for transferring the control data to the buffer memory, a second transfer path for transferring the image data to the buffer memory, and a first transfer path. Switching means for switching between the first transfer path and the second transfer path, and switching control for switching between the first transfer path and the second transfer path by controlling the switching means at the end of transfer of the control data and image data. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 7. The transfer means transfers the image data to the buffer memory for each raster scan. The control data includes a raster image transfer command added immediately before image data for one raster scan. 7. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a raster image end command added immediately after the image data for one raster scan. 8. The transfer control unit according to claim 2, wherein the transfer of the raster image transfer command is performed after the transfer of the image data for one raster scan from the first transfer path to the second transfer path. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the switching unit is controlled to switch from a path to the first transfer path. 9. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the raster image transfer command includes data indicating the effective data length. 10. The image data is coded data, comprising: a receiving unit that receives the coded data via a communication line; and a decoding unit that decodes the coded data received by the receiving unit. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 11. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image data is binary data, and said control data is character data. 12. A recording control method for adding control data to image data, transferring the control data to a buffer memory, reading data from the buffer memory and performing recording, wherein the image data is input line by line. A step of calculating an effective data length of image data of each line input in the input step; and a transfer step of transferring control data and effective image data including the effective data length calculated in the calculation step. A recording control method comprising: