JPH066928Y2 - Thermal fax machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Industrial field of application" The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus of a type that performs thermal recording using a thermal head, such as a facsimile apparatus of a thermal transfer type or a thermosensitive coloring type.

"Prior Art" FIG. 5 shows a general configuration of a facsimile communication system. The sending side facsimile device 11 reads the image information on the original 12, converts it into an electric signal, and sends it to the receiving side facsimile device 13. The facsimile device 13 on the receiving side reproduces this image information on the recording paper 14.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" By the way, the facsimile machine 13 on the receiving side can often share some kinds of thermal papers or thermal recording media (ink donor film). By the way, if these thermal papers or thermal recording media are manufactured by unspecified manufacturers, the density of the recorded image may be too high or, on the contrary, too thin. In addition, depending on the state of the original 12, even if the thermal paper or the thermal recording medium is appropriate, the recorded image may be too dark or too thin as a whole.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat-sensitive facsimile apparatus which can always obtain a recorded image with an appropriate density.

[Means for Solving Problems] In the present invention, a thermal head as a thermal energy generation source for performing thermal recording and a correction width for stepwise switching the correction width with respect to the applied pulse width applied to the thermal head The thermal facsimile machine is provided with a switching means and a correction width setting changing means for setting and changing the correction width with a value that is an integral multiple of a predetermined digital amount. Then, the correction width switching means is switched according to the thermal paper or the thermal recording medium to optimize the recording density, and the correction width setting changing means sets and changes the correction width with an integer multiple of a predetermined digital amount. Even if the types of the thermal paper and the thermal recording medium are different, the recorded image having an appropriate density is always ensured.

[Examples] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 shows a main part of an electric circuit of this thermal facsimile machine. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 is mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) of this device. The CPU 21 is connected to each part of the device via a bus line 22 such as an address bus or a data bus, and performs necessary data processing. Of these, ROM23
Is a read-only memory in which a program for adjusting the recording density is written. The RAM 24 is a work random access memory for temporary storage for data processing. The NVM 25 is a non-volatile memory in which the amount of change in recording density and the like are written. I / O port 2
6 is a density adjustment button 27, a thermal head drive circuit 2
8 and a numeric keypad 29, for example, data relating to the operation state of the density adjustment button 27 can be sent to the bus line 2
2 and the control signal appearing on the bus line 22 is supplied to the thermal head drive circuit 28.

FIG. 2 shows a part of the operation panel related to this embodiment. Three display lamps 32 to 34 are provided on the operation panel 31 near the density adjustment button 27. When the power of the facsimile machine is turned on, NV
One of the display lamps lights up based on the data written in M25. Three display lamps 32-34
The recording density is displayed in three levels of "dark", "normal", and "light". When changing to a recording density different from the initially set and displayed recording density, the density adjustment button 27 is pressed once to display lamps 32 to 34.
The lighting of is changed cyclically, and a desired display lamp is turned on. A numeric keypad 29 is arranged on the right side of the density adjustment button 27 and the display lamps 32 to 34. The ten key 29 is used for inputting data when correcting the applied pulse.

FIG. 3 is for explaining the printing operation of the heat-sensitive facsimile apparatus of this embodiment. The facsimile machine 11 on the transmission side shown in FIG.
When the exchange of the control data for printing is started (step; Y), the CPU 21 reads out the type of the currently selected (lighted) lamp from the display lamps 32 to 34 from the RAM 24 (step). When the display lamp of the selected recording density is determined, the CPU 21 determines NV
The correction width ΔW of the applied pulse corresponding to this is read from M25, and this is written in a predetermined area of the RAM 24 (step).

After this, the image data is transmitted from the facsimile apparatus 11 on the transmission side. The CPU 21 calculates the applied pulse width W to be finally applied to these pixels every time the data specifying the applied pulse width W ₀ for each pixel arrives (step; Y) (step).
The calculation is performed by the following equation.

W = W ₀ + ΔW Here, the correction width ΔW of the applied pulse is +0.
1 msec (dark), 0 msec (normal), and-
One of three types of 0.1 msec (thin) can be selected. Therefore, in a state where the display lamp 32 is lit, a calculation is performed such that the actual applied pulse width W becomes longer by 0.1 msec than the designated applied pulse width W ₀ . The indicator lamp 34 is 0.1msec made such operations shorter performed than applying the pulse width W ₀ in the state it is on, applied pulse width W ₀ designated by the sender in a state where the display lamp 33 is lit Is the final applied pulse width W.

The calculated applied pulse width W for each pixel is sent to the thermal head drive circuit 28, where it is collected into applied pulse width data for each line, for example, and then the corresponding heat generation of the thermal head 41 (FIG. 1) is performed. The body (heating element) is individually energized and controlled with each pulse width, and the printing operation is performed (step). The calculation of the applied pulse width W for the recording density correction is repeated until the reception of the image data is completed (step). As a result,
In this embodiment, the recording density can be adjusted in three steps in 0.1 msec steps.

By the way, in the heat-sensitive facsimile apparatus of this embodiment, the correction value ΔW of the applied pulse itself can be set or changed by operating the ten-key 29 described above. Fourth
The figure shows this work. A person who sets or changes the correction width ΔW (hereinafter simply referred to as “setting”) turns on a power switch (not shown) while pressing a predetermined key switch on the numeric keypad 29. As a result, the facsimile apparatus enters the setting mode of the correction width ΔW (step;
Y). If the same operation is performed while a different key switch is pressed (N), another mode is executed (step).

When the mode for setting the correction width ΔW is entered, the operator inputs a two-digit numerical value “ab” from the ten keys 29 (step;
Y). Here, the first numerical value "a" is the correction width when making the image darker, and is represented by a multiple of 0.1 msec. For example, when the applied pulse width is increased by 0.1 msec, "1" is set as the numerical value "a" and 0.
When increasing for 3 msec, the numerical value "3" is input. The numerical value “a” is written in the increment registration area of the NVM 25 (step).

The next number "b" is the correction width when making the image lighter,
It is expressed by an absolute value of a multiple of 0.1 msec. For example, when decreasing the applied pulse width by 0.1 msec, "1" is input as the numerical value "b" and 0.3 m
When decreasing by sec, "3" is input. The input numerical value “b” is written in the decrease width registration area of the NVM 25 (step). The above-described registration work (steps to) can be repeated any number of times, which makes it possible to correct the correction width.

In the embodiment of the present invention described above, positive and negative correction widths are set on both sides of the reference value of zero correction width. However, some correction widths in the positive direction are prepared and recorded by selecting these. It is also possible to adjust the concentration.

[Advantage of Device] As described above, according to the present invention, since the recording density can be adjusted on the receiving side, it is possible to obtain a recorded image having a density that matches the taste of the receiver. Further, in the present invention, since the correction width for adjusting the recording density is switched stepwise, the correction amount itself becomes clear. For example, which correction amount is set for a specific thermal paper or thermal recording medium. Correspondence becomes clear. Moreover, even if the applied pulse width is corrected once, when standard thermal paper or thermal recording medium is used, it is possible to easily and definitely reset to the original standard applied pulse width. There is also. Further, in the present invention, since the correction width for the applied pulse width applied to the thermal head can be freely set or changed, even when using a thermal paper or a thermal recording medium having specifications different from the conventional one,
These can be used in an optimum state, and when purchasing consumable parts, they can be shared, and storage convenience and purchase costs can be reduced. Moreover, since the correction width is determined by a value that is an integral multiple of the predetermined digital amount, it is easy to return to the original desired pulse width, unlike when changing the value in an analog manner. There is also.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of a thermal facsimile machine, and FIG. 2 is a main part of an operation panel. FIG. 3 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a printing operation, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing setting and changing work of a correction width of applied energy, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a facsimile communication system. 21 ... CPU, 23 ... ROM, 27 ... Density adjustment button, 41 ... Thermal head.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-57-156280 (JP, A) JP-A-58-215377 (JP, A) JP-A-58-158271 (JP, A) JP-A-58- 166080 (JP, A) Actual development Sho 59-143749 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A thermal head as a heat energy generating source for performing thermal recording, a correction width switching means for stepwise switching a correction width with respect to an applied pulse width applied to the thermal head, and a predetermined digital amount. And a correction width setting changing means for setting and changing the correction width according to an integral multiple value.