JPH03126572A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To judge and display the residual amount of recording paper by detecting marks formed on the opposite surface to a recording surface at predetermined intervals from the winding start position of the recording paper. CONSTITUTION:On the opposite surface to a recording surface of thermal recording paper 20, a mark MK11 with a constant width is provided so as to be long in a feed direction from an end part PE on a winding start side. From the end part of the mark MK11, rectangular black marks MK1-MK10 with a feed direction dimension LA are provided at constant pitches LX. A light emitting diode 23a lights positions on which the marks MK1-MK11 can be detected on the opposite surface to the recording surface of the thermal recording paper 20. The reflected light from the thermal recording paper 20 is received by a phototransistor 23b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus using a roll of recording paper.

[Prior Art] For example, in an image recording device that uses a roll of recording paper, such as a thermal recording device used as a plotter in a facsimile machine, it is difficult to record images on several sheets of recording paper. Moreover, when the remaining amount of the recording paper decreases to such an extent that one sheet of image cannot be recorded, the recording paper is replaced.

Conventionally, in order to replace this recording paper, a method of detecting when the remaining amount of recording paper has become smaller than a certain value has been used, for example, at the beginning of the roll of recording paper. There is a method in which a black mark is formed, a mark sensor is provided to optically detect the mark, and when the mark sensor detects the mark, it is determined that the recording paper is out.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such conventional devices, a notification is sent when the recording paper runs out.
If the user of the image recording apparatus does not have spare recording paper, there may be an inconvenience in that the user cannot use the functions of the image recording apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that can accurately display the remaining amount of recording paper.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, a plurality of marks are formed on the surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording paper at predetermined intervals from the winding start position of the recording paper, and a mark detector for detecting the marks is arranged in a small number. The remaining amount of recording paper is determined based on the detection signal of this mark detector, and the determination result is displayed.

[Function] Therefore, it is possible to display to the user that the remaining amount of recording paper is running out, and therefore it is possible to prompt the user to prepare recording paper.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a Group 3 facsimile machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. Note that, below, explanations of parts that are not directly related to the content of the present invention will be omitted.

In the figure, a system control unit 1 is for controlling the operation of each part of this group 3 facsimile machine, and a system memory 2 is for controlling programs executed by the system control unit 1 and necessary for executing the control programs. In addition to storing data such as various constants, the parameter memory 3 constitutes the work area of the system control unit 1. The parameter memory 3 stores various information specific to this group 3 facsimile device, such as one-touch dial (described later).
This is for storing registration information, etc.

The scanner 4 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, and the plotter 5 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution. Note that this plotter 5 is constituted by a thermal recording device that uses a roll of thermal recording paper.

The operation display section 6 is made up of various keys and displays necessary for operating this Group 3 facsimile machine.

The encoding/decoding unit 7 encodes and compresses the image signal obtained by reading with the scanner 4, and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal.

The communication control section 8 is for performing transmission control procedure processing for group 3 facsimile devices.

The group 3 facsimile modem 9 performs processing to modulate and demodulate digital data, and has a low-speed modem function for exchanging transmission procedure signals and a high-speed modem function for transmitting single-picture information. Low-speed modem functions include CCITT Recommendation v, Recommendation Dem function (
300bps), and the high-speed modem function is CC
ITT Recommendation v, Recommendation Dem function (9600 bps, 72
00 bps) and V, 27ter modem function (480 bps)
0bps, 2400bps).

The network control device 10 is for connecting this Group 3 facsimile device to the public telephone line network, and is equipped with an automatic call/receive function.

These system control section 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, scanner 4, plotter 5, operation display section 6
, the encoding/decoding section 7, and the communication control section 8 are connected to a system bus 11, and data exchange between these elements is performed via this system bus 11.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the one-work display section 6. As shown in FIG.

In the figure, a start key 68 is used to input a command to start the transmission/reception operation of this group 3 facsimile machine, and a stop key 6b is used to input a command to stop the operation of this group 3 facsimile machine. The numeric keypad 6c is for inputting numerical information such as a telephone number, and the one-touch dial key 6d is for inputting one destination's telephone number by operating one key. The liquid crystal display 6e is for displaying various guidance messages from this Group 3 facsimile machine to the operator.

The light-emitting display 6f lights up to display the status of the remaining amount of recording paper set in the plotter 5, and the display color can be switched to three colors: green, yellow, and red.

An example of this light emitting display 6f is shown in FIG.

In the figure, a light emitting diode 6fb that outputs green light, a light emitting diode 6fc that outputs yellow light, and a light emitting diode 6fd that outputs red light are mounted under the cover 6fa of one light emitting display 6f. board 6
fe is arranged.

Further, the substrate 6fe is housed inside an envelope 6ff, and the cover 6fa is attached to the opening of the envelope 6ff.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the plotter 5.

The tip of the roll-shaped thermal recording paper 20 is connected to the platen roller 2.
1. The thermal recording paper 20 is inserted between the thermal head 22 and the thermal head 22 records an image line by line while being conveyed to the platen roller 21 . The mark sensor 23 consisting of a single reflection type optical sensor is for detecting a mark sensor MKi (described later) for detecting the remaining amount of the thermal recording paper 20.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, on the surface opposite to the recording surface of the thermal recording paper 20, a mark MKi, which is elongated in the transport direction and has a constant width, is formed at the end PE on the winding start side. Then, a black rectangular mark MK knee M with dimension LA in the transport direction is placed at a constant distance i%lLX from the end of this mark.
K engineering. is formed.

Here, mark MK□~MK Engineering. The third mark MK
.

The distance LL from the end of the mark MK□ to the mark MK□ is set to be about three times the length of the sheet paper that can be made with this thermosensitive recording paper 20. For example, if the width of the thermal recording paper 20 corresponds to the width of an A4 sheet paper,
If the distance MLL is set to about 11 and the width dimension of the thermal recording paper 20 corresponds to the width dimension of an 84-size sheet paper, the distance LL is set to about 1.1 m.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a control section of the plotter 5.

In the figure, a recording control section 51 is for controlling the recording operation of the plotter 5, a thermal head opening circuit 52 is for driving the thermal head 22 for recording, and a motor drive circuit 53 is for controlling the recording operation of the plotter 5. , for driving the stepping motor 54 for rotationally driving the platen roller 21.

Further, the mark detection signal SM from the mark sensor 23 is applied to the recording control section 51.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the mark sensor 23.

In the figure, the light emitting diode 23a is connected to the thermal recording paper 2.
0, the position where marks MK1 to MK The light is received by

A grounding resistor 23c is connected to the emitter of this phototransistor 23b, and a terminal voltage Vm of this grounding resistor 23c is applied to the negative input terminal of a comparator 23d. Further, a reference voltage Vt is applied to the positive input terminal of the comparator 23d.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), the mark detection signal SM output from the comparator 23d is transmitted to When the amount of light reflected from the paper 20 is small and the terminal voltage Vm is smaller than the reference voltage Vt, the logic level becomes high.

On the other hand, 1 light emitting diode 23a is marked MK□~MK□□
When the amount of light reflected from the thermal recording paper 20 is large and the terminal voltage Vm is larger than the reference voltage Vt in a state where other parts are illuminated, the logic L level is reached.

Therefore, the recording control unit 51 determines that the mark detection signal SN is at the logic 1 level as a mark detection state, and also determines that the mark detection signal SM is at the logic L level as the mark non-detection state. judge.

With the above configuration, when image recording is being performed by the system control unit 1, the recording control unit 51 inputs the recording data WT for line ① to the thermal head driving circuit 52.
The recording data WT is transferred to the recording data WT, and various timing signals S necessary for recording the image of the recording data WT are formed and output to the thermal head rotation #t52. Also, one motor pulse signal is output to the motor excitation circuit 53.

As a result, the thermal head active circuit 52 causes the thermal head 22 to record one line of recording data WT.
At the same time, the motor drive circuit 53 moves the step motor 54 one step, and as a result, one line of image is recorded on the recording surface of the thermal recording paper 20, and the image is reflected by a distance of one line. direction to the thermal recording paper 20.

In addition, independent of such recording operation, the recording control section 5
1 performs the remaining amount determination process of the thermal recording paper 20 as shown in FIG.

First, when a new thermal recording paper 20 is set, the system controller 1 is notified that there is enough remaining thermal recording paper 20 (process 101), and the detected mark MK
The counter MC1 for storing the numbers 1 to MKX, and the counter PC for determining whether the black portion of the thermal recording paper 20 detected by the mark detection signal SM is the mark MK1 to MK, are set to O. Clear (process 102)
.

As a result, the system control unit 1 instructs the operation display unit 6 to turn on the light-emitting indicator 6f in green, and as a result, the light-emitting indicator 6f of the operation display unit 6 indicates that the remaining amount of thermal recording paper 20 is sufficient. It lights up in green to indicate that there is a hailstorm.

When the initial settings are completed in this way, the recording control unit 5
1 checks whether the mark detection signal SM is at logic 1 level and the mark sensor 23 is in the mark detection state (judgment 103), and when the result of determination 103 is No, clears the counter PC to 0. While doing so (process 104), it waits until the result of judgment 103 becomes YES.

When the mark sensor 23 detects a black part of the thermal recording paper 20, the result of judgment 9 103 becomes YES, and the recording control unit 51 checks whether the recording operation is in progress at that time (decision 1).
05). When the result of judgment 105 is No.

Return to judgment 103.

The result of judgment 105 is Yll! When the state becomes S, the process waits until the motor pulse signal MP is output (No loop of judgment 106), and when the result of judgment 106 becomes YES, the counter PC is incremented (process 107).
), as a result, the value of the counter PC is 1 to M in the mark river.
) [, o is larger than the number of steps C(LA) of the step motor 54 corresponding to the dimension LA in the conveying direction (determination 108).

When the result of decision 108 is NO, the process returns to decision 103. Further, when the result of judgment 108 is YES, it is certain that the black part detected by the mark sensor 23 at that time is one of the marks MK□ to MKX□, so the counter PC is cleared to O and the counter M
Incrementally process C 109) and the result.

It is checked whether the value of counter MC matches either 3 or 11 (judgments 110 and 111). Judgment 110, 111
When both results are No, the process returns to decision 103.

When the value of the counter is 3 and the result of 1 judgment 110 is '/ES, the mark sensor 23 detects the mark M.
Since the rear end of K is being detected, the recording control unit 5
1 notifies the system control unit I that the remaining amount of thermal recording paper 20 is getting low (process 112), and makes judgment 1.
Return to 03.

As a result, the system control unit 1 instructs the operation display unit 6 to light up the light emitting display unit 6f in yellow, and
For example, "There is only 1 m of recording paper left.

(A4-3 sheets)” (If the thermal recording paper 20 is A4 width)
The remaining amount notification guidance message is displayed.

As a result, the light-emitting display section 6f emits a yellow light to indicate that the remaining amount of the thermal recording paper 20 is low, and the liquid crystal display 6e displays the above-mentioned remaining amount notification guidance message.

Also, the value of the counter is 11, and the judgment is 111.
When the result becomes YES, the mark sensor 23 is in a state of detecting 1 in the mark A, so the recording control unit 5
1 notifies the system control unit 1 that the thermal recording paper 20 is out of paper (process 113).

The recording operation is forcibly terminated (process 114).

As a result, the system control unit 1 instructs the operation display unit 6 to light up the light emitting display unit 6f in red, and
For example, "I ran out of recording paper.

Please load new recording paper. ” to display the chart paper replacement guidance message.

As a result, the light-emitting display unit 6f issues a message in hail red that the thermal recording paper 20 is out of paper, and the liquid crystal display 6e displays the above-mentioned recording paper replacement guidance message.

In this way, in this embodiment, when there is a sufficient amount of thermal recording paper 20 remaining, the light emitting indicator 6f of the operation display section 6
lights up in green, and when the remaining amount of thermal recording paper 20 has decreased to a certain level, the light emitting display 6f lights up in yellow, and the above-mentioned remaining amount notification guidance message is displayed on the liquid crystal display 6e. When the thermal recording paper 20 is out of paper, the light emitting indicator 6f lights up in red, and the above-mentioned recording paper replacement guidance message is displayed on the liquid crystal display 6e.

Therefore, the operator of this Group 3 facsimile machine can know the remaining amount of thermal recording paper 20 set in the plotter 5 before the paper runs out, and the spare thermal recording paper 20 runs out. If it is, the thermosensitive recording paper 20 can be completely replenished by replenishing it.

By the way, even if the plotter 5 runs out of paper,
This Group 3 facsimile device can perform transmission operations. Therefore, when a send operation is performed,
The display content on the liquid crystal display 6e of the operation display unit 6 is switched to the guidance content for the transmission operation.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a warning that the remaining amount of thermal recording paper is low is issued when the remaining amount of thermal recording paper reaches the length of about three sheets of paper. What is the setting value for the remaining amount that causes this warning?

It can be set to an appropriate value.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the status of the remaining amount of thermal recording paper is displayed by switching the display color of the light-emitting display, and a guidance message is displayed to warn that the remaining amount of thermal recording paper is low. However, since the display effect of switching the display color of the one-emission display is high, there is no need to display a guidance message for the warning.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, the remaining amount of thermal recording paper is determined based on the number of detected marks arranged discretely, but the remaining amount of thermal recording paper is determined based on the detected length of consecutive marks. can also be determined.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a black mark is formed on the thermal recording paper and this mark is detected by a reflective optical sensor, but the format of this mark and the format of the mark sensor are as follows.
It is not limited to this.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention was applied to a thermal recording device used in a plotter of a Group 3 facsimile machine, but the present invention can also be applied to recording devices of other types as well as image recording using a roll of recording paper. It can be applied to any device.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a plurality of marks are formed on the surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording paper at predetermined intervals from the winding start position of the recording paper, and a mark detection method for detecting the marks is provided. It determines the amount of recording paper remaining based on the detection signal of this mark detector and displays the determination result, indicating to the user that the remaining amount of recording paper is running out. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect that the user can be prompted to prepare recording paper.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a Group 3 facsimile device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an operation display section, and FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a light emitting display. , FIG. 4 is a schematic III & ellipse diagram showing an example of a plotter, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of marks formed on thermal recording paper, FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the control section of the plotter, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a mark sensor, FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the mark sensor, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for determining the remaining amount of thermal recording paper. 1... System control unit, 5... Plotter, 6e...
- Liquid crystal display, 6f... Light emitting display, 20... Heat sensitive recording paper, 23... Mark sensor, 51... Recording control unit, MK, ~MK1□... Mark. Figure 6 Figure 3 1 3 Figure Figure (b) 5M f-111-111

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an image recording device that uses a roll of recording paper, a plurality of marks are formed on the surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording paper at predetermined intervals from the start position of the recording paper, and a mark detector that detects the marks. , a light-emitting display means with a variable display color that illuminates and indicates the remaining amount of recording paper; and a light-emitting display means that determines the remaining amount of recording paper based on the detection signal of the mark detector and displays the light-emitting display means based on the remaining amount. An image recording device characterized by comprising a control means for switching colors. (2) The image according to claim 1, wherein the control means counts the detection signals output from the mark detector, and when the counted value reaches a predetermined value, switches the display color of the light emitting display means. Recording device. (3) In an image recording device that uses a roll of recording paper, a plurality of marks are formed on the recording surface of the recording paper opposite to the recording surface at predetermined intervals from the roll start position of the recording paper, and a mark detector that detects the marks. , a message display means for displaying a guidance message, and determining the remaining amount of recording paper based on the detection signal of the mark detector, calculating the number of recordable sheets based on the remaining amount, and displaying the calculation result as described above. An image recording device characterized by comprising a control means for displaying a message on a message display means.