JPH07154553A - Picture communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the picture communication equipment whose operability is improved with a simple configuration. CONSTITUTION:The communication equipment is made up of a facsimile section and a recording section and an ink jet printer jetting drops of ink corresponding to picture data is used for the recording section. A control CPU 1-103 of the facsimile section sends picture data to the recording section via a centronics interface. A control CPU 2-109 of the recording section drives a recording head 110 depending on picture data sent from the facsimile section to record the picture. The recording section is provided with a sensor 112 sensing the presence of a cartridge in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated and an output of the sensor 112 is given to the CPU 2. The CPU 2 outputs a signal representing the presence of the cartridge to the CPU 1 via a signal line 113 depending on the sensor output. Thus, the presence of the cartridge is grasped by the CPU 1 before start of recording.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus having a recording section for recording an image on a recording material by ejecting ink droplets according to image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one of printers for recording image data output from a host computer or the like, there is known an ink jet printer which ejects ink droplets in accordance with input image data. Such a printer is connected via a general-purpose interface such as a Centronics I / F, and the data transfer control from the host computer to the printer is controlled by turning on / off the BUSY signal. For example, in an inkjet printer that uses a detachable ink tank or head, and a cartridge with an integrated tank, the detection signal of the ink tank or the cartridge is input only to the CPU on the printer side, and the CPU on the printer side detects this detection signal. In response to this, the BUSY signal is turned on to inform the host computer that recording is not possible. Therefore, the host computer side could not know this state until the recording operation was started once.

[0003]

Recently, a facsimile apparatus using such an ink jet printer as a recording unit has been proposed. Also in this facsimile apparatus, the connection between the facsimile section and the recording section is made by a general-purpose interface such as Centronics I / F. Therefore, the main control CPU 12 of the facsimile unit does not receive the above-described presence / absence detection signal of the ink tank or the cartridge, and the main control CPU does not know that there is no ink tank or cartridge before the copying operation and the receiving operation. Therefore, when actually entering a recording operation such as copying, receiving, or outputting a report, it was impossible to know that recording could be performed only after data transfer to the printer side was started once.
Therefore, for example, even when normal recording is possible, it is necessary to store image data in the buffer memory for the time being, and there is a drawback that an extra memory amount is required.

Since the main control CPU also controls the operation display unit, the presence or absence of the ink tank or the cartridge is not displayed to the user before the recording operation is started.
There is a drawback that the user forgets to attach the ink tank or the cartridge and cannot receive it, or even if he / she has a substitute reception memory, it is likely to overflow it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
An object of the invention is to provide an image communication device having a simple structure and improved operability.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an image communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a facsimile section for receiving data transmitted and generating image data according to the received data. In an image communication device comprising a recording unit for recording an image on a recording material by ejecting ink droplets according to the image data generated from the facsimile unit, the image data is transmitted from the communication control unit to the recording unit. Interface means for transmitting and a transmission means for transmitting a signal indicating a recordable state of the recording section to the facsimile section during non-recording.

[0007]

As a result, the facsimile section can grasp the recordable state of the recording section during non-recording.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, A is a reading unit that optically reads an original, B is a recording unit that is an inkjet recording device, C is a recording paper cassette and recording paper that is cut sheets stacked on the recording paper cassette are separated and supplied to the recording unit. It is a paper feeding unit.

In the figure, the flow of recording paper will be briefly described. A series of recording paper conveyance paths is shown by an arrow G. First, the recording paper 12 loaded in the recording paper cassette 50 is picked up by the paper feed roller 51 and the separation claw 52, and is conveyed by the conveyance roller 5 to the recording unit. Sent to. In the recording unit, recording is performed by reciprocating the recording head 21 in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and performing main scanning, and after conveying within the apparatus for a certain distance, it is discharged and stacked on the discharge stacker 53 by the discharge rollers 9. It A photo sensor 13 is arranged on the shaft of the paper discharge roller 9, and is configured to detect the absence of ink in the recording head and a recording paper jam near the paper discharge roller by this sensor.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of the recording unit B of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 is a recording head, and in this embodiment, an ink tank is built in,
It is equipped with a cartridge type inkjet recording head that can be replaced with a new recording head when the ink runs out.

The recording head 21 used in this embodiment is an ink jet type recording head and has a resolution of 360D.
PI, which has 64 nozzle rows in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow A), generates ink from the ejection port at the tip of the nozzle due to the film boiling pressure generated in the ink by the heat generation of the electrothermal conversion element provided in the nozzle. It ejects drops.

The recording head 21 is moved by a carriage (not shown) at a right angle to the conveying direction of the recording paper 12 (sub-scanning direction).
That is, reciprocating movement is performed in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface), and recording scanning is performed during this forward movement and backward movement.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a recording paper conveying roller, which conveys the recording paper with an accuracy of 360 dpi to determine the position in the sub-scanning direction when the recording paper is fed, discharged, and recorded by the recording head 21. . Reference numeral 23 is a recording paper sensor, which is in an ON state when there is a recording paper in the detection unit of this sensor and is in an OFF state when there is no recording paper. The recording paper sensor 23 detects the presence / absence of the recording paper and the leading edge and the trailing edge.
Reference numeral 13 is a reflective photosensor that detects the image density of the recording surface of the recording paper. In this embodiment, the image density of a predetermined pattern (black mark) recorded on the trailing edge of the recording paper after recording one page of image is detected by this sensor, and the presence or absence of ink and the defective conveyance of the recording paper are detected according to the detection result. To check. This photosensor is composed of an LED and a phototransistor, and in a portion having a high black ratio such as a portion where an image is recorded, the phototransistor is in an OFF state because the reflected light of the LED is small, so that the background color of the recording paper is similar. ON in areas with high reflectance
It becomes a state. Since the LED light source absorbs different wavelengths depending on the ink material, it is necessary to select the light source depending on the ink material. In this embodiment, since the ink having a high absorptivity for the red wavelength is used, the red LED is used. Also, the photo sensor is near the discharge port on the mechanism, so
Be careful to place it so that it is not affected by outside light. The paper discharge roller 9 is made of a material such as rubber. When the recording paper is not on the paper discharge roller 9, the photo sensor 13 is turned off.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIGS. In FIG. 3, 1
01 is a network connected to a public line such as a telephone line
A control unit (hereinafter referred to as NCU) 102 is a modem that demodulates a signal received from a public line or modulates a signal to be transmitted to the public line, and 104 is an operation unit for operating a facsimile and an LCD or LED for displaying a status. A display unit, 105 is a reading unit that reads an image during transmission or copying, 106 is a storage unit that stores image data, telephone number data, and communication data, and 107 is image data read by the reading unit 105 or image data received by the modem 102. And an interface unit for transferring the image data stored in the storage unit 106 to the inkjet printer unit, which is usually Centronics or RS232C.
A general-purpose interface such as is used. Reference numeral 103 denotes a CPU 1 for main control which controls the above-mentioned facsimile units.

On the other hand, the ink jet printer unit includes a printer head unit 110 for ejecting ink, a printer driver unit 108 for driving the printer head unit 110 and for conveying paper by a motor, etc., and a printer control CPU 2 for controlling them.
It is composed of the unit 109. Also, the printer head unit 11
0 (corresponding to 21 in FIGS. 1 and 2) is a removable cartridge type that is integrated with the ink tank 111, and the presence or absence thereof is detected by the detection sensor 112 by a switch or the like and monitored by the CPU 2 unit 109. . CPU2 section 109
The data of the presence / absence of the cartridge detected by the CPU 2 (109) of the printer unit is further transmitted from the CPU 2 (109) of the printer unit by the signal 13 without the interface 107.
It is sent to PU1 (103). This signal is sent from the CPU 2 to the CPU 1 regardless of the recording operation.

As a result, the main control CPU 1 unit 103 of the facsimile machine is set in the ink tank 1 even during standby before operation.
It is possible to know the presence or absence of 11 and to control the display unit 104 for displaying to the user by the LCD or LED, or to directly store the image data without accessing the printer interface 107 when there is no cartridge during the recording operation. 1
It is possible to store in 06.

In the above embodiment, the description has been given by taking the facsimile using the cartridge type ink jet printer in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated as the recording unit as an example, but the recording head and the ink tank are separated.
The ink tank may be detachable.
In this case, a sensor to detect the presence or absence of the ink tank is provided,
A detection signal from this sensor may be input to the CPU 2 on the printer side and further transmitted from the CPU 2 to the CPU 1 on the facsimile side through a dedicated signal line without passing through the interface 107.

In the above embodiment, the printer control C is used.
A signal line from the PU2 to the main control CPU1 of the facsimile unit is newly provided. However, when the interface between the facsimile unit and the printer unit is not one-way like Centronics, but bidirectional like RS232C or Bi-Centronics. May inform the main control CPU 1 of the facsimile section whether or not there is an ink tank by a command from the interface section.

As described above, in the facsimile apparatus using the ink jet printer in which the cartridge or the ink tank can be detached, the means for inputting the detection signal of the presence or absence of the cartridge or the ink tank to the main control CPU of the facsimile apparatus is simple. With such a configuration, it is possible to inform the user of the state of no cartridge or ink tank even before the recording operation is started one by one, and it is possible to significantly reduce the situation in which reception is not possible, and the image data is always stored when the recording operation starts. It is not necessary to take an extra configuration such as providing an area for the operation.

In the above embodiment, an ink jet type recording apparatus for recording by forming flying droplets by utilizing thermal energy among the ink jet recording methods has been described as an example.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740 are applicable.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. , Causes heat energy to be generated in the electrothermal converter, causing film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head D
This is effective because bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal one-to-one as a result. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be immediately and appropriately grown and contracted, so that liquid (ink) ejection with excellent responsiveness can be achieved.

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

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, A configuration using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 or US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which the heat acting portion is arranged in the bending region, may be used.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670, which discloses a structure in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a pressure wave of thermal energy is absorbed. A configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which the opening corresponds to the ejection portion, may be adopted.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length can be increased by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. Either of the structure satisfying the requirement or the structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used.

In addition, by being attached to the apparatus main body, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by a replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge-type recording head provided with an ink tank is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. to the recording head because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means for the recording head, preheating means using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, and recording. It is also effective to perform a stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which another discharge is performed.

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

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens at room temperature, or is a liquid, or the above-mentioned. In the inkjet method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. Any material that is in liquid form may be used.

In addition, the temperature rise due to the thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink is solidified in the standing state for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink. In some cases, such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to a recording signal and ejected as a liquid ink, or one that has already started to solidify when it reaches a recording medium. It is also possible to use an ink that has the property of being liquefied only by heat energy. In such a case, the ink is retained as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260. It may be configured to face the electrothermal converter. 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, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may take the form of a facsimile as described above, or may be provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of an information processing device such as a word processor or a computer. It may be in the form of a copying machine combined with a thing or a reader.

Further, the ink droplet is not limited to be ejected by using thermal energy, and the ink droplet may be ejected by using a piezo element or the like.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the transmitting means for transmitting the signal indicating the recordable state from the recording section to the facsimile section during the non-recording is provided, the recording operation can be performed without starting the recording operation. The facsimile unit can grasp the recordable state during recording, and the operability can be improved with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a recording unit of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 Paper Ejection Roller 21 Recording Head 22 Recording Paper Conveying Section 23 Recording Paper Detection Sensor 103 Main Control CPU1 107 Interface 109 Printer Control CPU2 112 Detection Sensor 113 Signal Line

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile unit for receiving transmitted data and generating image data according to the received data, and a recording material by ejecting ink droplets according to the image data generated from the facsimile unit. An image communication device comprising a recording unit for recording an image thereon, an interface unit for transmitting image data from the facsimile unit to the recording unit, and a recordable state of the recording unit for the facsimile unit during non-recording. An image communication device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits a signal indicating 2. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the signal using a signal line different from that of the interface unit. 3. The facsimile unit includes display means for displaying the recordable state in response to the signal transmitted via the transmitting means.
The image communication device according to. 4. The recording unit records an image using a removable cartridge in which a recording head that ejects ink droplets and a storage unit that stores ink to be supplied to the recording head are integrated. 2. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of the cartridge, wherein the transmission unit transmits a signal according to a detection result of the detection unit. 5. The recording unit records an image using a recording head that ejects ink droplets and an ink storage unit that is separate from and attachable to the recording head. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit that detects the presence or absence, and the transmission unit transmits a signal according to a detection result of the detection unit. 6. The image communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording head ejects an ink droplet by causing a state change in the ink by using thermal energy.