JPH0479503B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus using light-fixing two-color thermal recording paper.

[Conventional technology]

When using light-fixed two-color thermal recording paper, conventional facsimile machines first perform recording and fixing processing for the first color, then rewind the recording paper, and print the second color regardless of whether or not the second color is recorded. was performing recording processing operations. A conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A.

In the conventional example shown in FIG. 1, the second color signal position detection means 50 is not included. The recording control means 60 sends a motor drive signal to the motor 74, a print signal to the signal supply circuit 41 which supplies a signal for driving the thermal recording head 42 and printing on the recording paper 70, and sends the first color to the printed recording paper 70. A fixing signal is sent to the fixing device 80 which performs pre-processing to fix the color and develop a second color by heat, and also sends a fixing signal to the recording paper 7 that has finished recording.
A cutting signal is sent to each cutter 90 that cuts the 0 to a predetermined size.

Next, the time relationships among the above-mentioned signals will be explained with reference to FIG. Part A in FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an example of each signal output in FIG. 1 when recording for both the first color and the second color. The coloring positions of the first color and the second color are received and stored by the first color signal storage circuit 31 and the second color signal storage circuit 32, respectively. First, the recording control means 60 outputs a motor drive signal to drive the motor 74 to feed the recording paper 70 in the forward direction. Next, the first color printing signal is sent to the signal supply circuit 41.
The information of the first color is supplied to the head 42. Since the output of the fixing signal is started almost simultaneously with the printing signal, the recording paper 70 is transported from the position printed by the head 42 to a predetermined position in the fixing device 80 by the motor 74, where it is exposed and fixed.

The recording control means 60 stops outputting the print signal and stops outputting the motor drive signal when the recording paper 70 is sequentially fed to a predetermined recording paper size. After the time has elapsed for the last portion of the recording paper 70 to be sufficiently fixed, the output of the fixing signal is stopped. When the fixing process is completed, after a predetermined pause time (for example, 2 to 3 seconds) has elapsed, a rewind motor drive signal is output to reversely feed the recording paper 70. When the recording paper 70 returns to the position before the start of printing of the first color, the rewind motor drive signal is switched to the forward drive signal. The motor drive signal starts the sequential feeding of the recording paper 70, and a print signal for supplying the second color is output, and the output of the print signal stops when the recording paper 70 has been sequentially fed by a predetermined amount, similar to the first color. At the same time, the output of the motor drive signal (progressive feed) stops. The cutting signal is output to the cutter 90 when the second color recording is completed and the motor 74 sequentially feeds the recording paper 70 to a predetermined position where it is cut and stops.
0 cuts the recording paper 70. The ejection motor drive signal outputted after the cutting signal is sent out controls the drive of the motor so that the cut recording paper 70 is sequentially fed and ejected to the outside of the apparatus.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As mentioned above, conventional facsimile machines are configured to perform recording processing for the first color, then rewind the recording paper and perform recording processing for the second color. Even in the case where there is no recording process for the second color, unnecessary operations and unnecessary execution time are required to execute the procedure for recording the second color on all recorded areas, which is disadvantageous in that it is uneconomical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device that solves the above problems.

[Means for solving problems]

The facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes a position detecting means for detecting a second color signal position from a received facsimile signal, and a second color signal from the position detecting means when the process of recording and fixing the first color on recording paper is completed. The recording paper is rewound to at least the position of the first one-dimensional pixel to be recorded and the second color is recorded, while if the second color signal is not detected, the recording process for the second color is omitted and the recording paper is ejected. and recording control means for instructing.

〔Example〕

Next, a facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the facsimile device includes a receiving circuit 10, an identification circuit 20, and a first color signal storage circuit 3.
1. Second color signal storage circuit 32, switching means 33, signal supply circuit 41, head 42, second color signal position detection means 50, recording control means 60, recording paper 70, recording paper reel 71, platen roller 72, ejection roller 73 , a motor 74, a fixing device 80, and a cutting device 90. The receiving circuit 10 receives a facsimile signal from a facsimile signal transmitting device (not shown) via a receiving path 11. The identification circuit 20 inputs the facsimile signal from the receiving circuit 10, identifies a first color signal specifying printing of the first color, and a second color signal specifying printing of the second color signal, and outputs the signals to the respective storage circuits. The first color storage circuit 31 has a storage area for at least the capacity of a one-dimensional image sensor, and the second color signal storage circuit 32 has a storage area for at least the size of one sheet of recording paper, and also stores row information for each one-dimensional image sensor. They are also memorized. The switching means 33 normally connects the first color signal storage circuit 31 to the signal supply circuit 41, and changes the connection of the second color signal storage circuit 32 to the signal supply circuit 41 by a switching signal.
The signal supply circuit 41 supplies a signal addressed to the capacity of the one-dimensional image sensor to the thermal recording head 42 from the first color signal or second color signal storage circuit via the switching means 33 under the control of the print signal. The head 42 is
In response to the print signal, a signal taken out from the storage circuit and supplied is received and thermally recorded on the recording paper 70 pressed onto the platen roller 72. The recording paper 70 is a light-fixing two-color thermosensitive recording paper.

The second color signal position detection means 50 includes the identification circuit 20
The row position of the one-dimensional pixel that first contains the second color signal identified in is detected, recorded, and output. The second color signal can also be detected from the second color signal storage circuit 32 by another means. The recording control means 60 controls the recording paper 7
The recording is controlled by driving movable mechanisms for feeding, printing, fixing, cutting, ejecting, etc., and the details will be described later with reference to FIG. The recording paper 70 is the recording paper reel 7
1, the head 42 and the platen roller 7
2, then cutter 90 and fixer 8.
0 and the discharge roller 73 in sequence. The platen roller 72 and the discharge roller 73 are operated by the motor 7.
4, and the motor 74 is controlled by a motor drive signal output from the recording control means 60. The driving of the motor 74 will be described later with reference to FIG. While receiving the fixing signal from the recording control means 60, the fixing device 80 exposes the recording paper 70 to light using a fluorescent lamp or the like to fix the first color and prepares thermal recording for the second color. The cutter 90 cuts the recording paper 70 into a predetermined size, and the discharge roller 73 separates and discharges the recording paper 70.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an example of the time relationship between the signals shown in FIG. 1. Next, with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 1, the recording process of the thermal recording paper by the recording control means of FIG. 1, as well as each signal and its time relationship will be explained.

The facsimile signal is received by the receiving circuit 10 via the receiving path 11 from the facsimile signal transmitting device. The recording control means 60 is driven when receiving a facsimile signal from the receiving circuit 10 and outputs a motor drive signal to the motor 74. The motor 74 drives the platen roller 7 by a motor drive signal.
2 in the forward direction to place the recording paper 70 on the reel 7.
1, and sequentially feed the recording paper 70 at a speed synchronized with the print signal. The print signal drives the signal supply circuit 41, and first, from the first color recording circuit 31 to the recording paper 7.
Pixels corresponding to one recording scanning line (one-dimensional image sensor) in a direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction of 0 are taken out, and the heating element of the head 42 is driven to perform thermal recording. Since the relationship between the motor drive signal for paper feeding and the print signal is not essential to the present invention, the explanation will be omitted. Next, the fixing signal is sent to the fixing device 80 at the time when the print signal starts outputting.
The paper surface of the recording paper 70 that has been thermally recorded by the head 42 is irradiated with light energy such as a fluorescent lamp for a predetermined period of time to fix the recording and prepare for recording the second color by the next thermal process. . The forward rotational movement of the platen roller 72 stops when the head 42 moves the thermal recording position on the recording paper into the fixing device 80, and the fixing signal is emitted for a predetermined period of time for a predetermined size of the recording paper 70. After the light irradiation is performed, the output is stopped. Time A shown in FIG. 2 is the time when the output of this fixing signal stops. By this point A, the facsimile signal has been received, and if a second color exists, the second color signal position detecting means 50 of FIG. 1 detects the row position of the one-dimensional pixel that first contains the second color signal. When the second color signal is received, the motor drive signal instructs the platen roller 72 to reverse rotation via the motor 74 so as to rewind the recording paper 70 to the row position that first contains the second color by the output of the second color signal position detection means 50. After the rewinding is completed, recording of the second color is performed in the same manner as the first color using a print signal that sends a second color signal to the head 42 and a motor drive signal that sends the platen roller 72 in the forward direction. The motor drive signal causes the recorded portion of the recording paper 70 on which the recording of the second color by the head 42 has been completed to pass through the cutter 90 in the discharge direction, and when the movement is completed, the operation of the platen roller 72 is stopped. Next, the cutting signal drives the cutting device 90 to cut the recording paper 70 into a predetermined size. The cut recording paper 70 is discharged by a discharge roller 73 which is rotated in the forward direction via a motor 74 in response to a motor drive signal.

Part A of Figure 2 is an example where the second color signal is detected from the first line position and rewound to the first recording start position, and part B of Figure 2 is an example where the second color signal is detected near the end of the first color printing. Examples include: If the second color signal is present only at the end of the first color recording, the rewind and subsequent driven forward movement may be of short length and time, and the point B at the end of the second color recording is at a position shortened by the arrow. Become.

In addition, if the second color signal is not received by the time A when the output of the fixing signal stops after the first color fixing process by the fixing signal is completed, the second color signal is The cutting signal is outputted by omitting the rewinding and second color recording operation processing up to time point B when recording of the color ends, and is directly connected to the operation procedure of cutting the recording paper 70 by the cutter 90.

These main operating procedures will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B together with FIG. 1.
3A and 3B are flowcharts showing an example of the main operation procedure according to FIG. When the receiving circuit 10 of the facsimile device receives a facsimile signal via the receiving path 11 (operation procedure 1), the identification circuit 20 identifies the reception of the facsimile signal and drives the recording control means 60. The recording control means 60 controls the motor 7 with a motor drive signal.
4 to start progressive driving of the platen roller 72 (operation procedure 2), and at the same time, the signal supply circuit 41 is activated by the line information to be recorded received from the identification circuit 20.
Sends a print signal to. On the other hand, the identification circuit 20 identifies the first color signal from the facsimile signal received in operation procedure 1 and stores it in the first color signal storage circuit 31 (operation procedure 3). Further, the signal supply circuit 41 extracts the signal of the first row of the recording paper 70 from the first color signal storage circuit 31 (operation procedure 4). Therefore, the signal supply circuit 41 supplies a signal to the head 42 for the position where the first color signal is present (operation procedure 5) included in the row extracted via the switching means 33 in operation procedure 4,
Printing is performed by heat-sensitive processing (operation procedure 6). If this storage is not the last row (operation procedure 7), the signal of the next row is taken out (operation procedure 8), and the process returns to operation procedure 5. Furthermore, the recording paper 70 that has been thermally recorded by the first color signal is sent to the fixing device 80, and optical fixation using a fluorescent lamp is performed for a predetermined period of time.
For example, in FIG. 3A, the recording control means 60 drives the fixing process (operation procedure 9) when sending a print signal to the signal supply circuit 41 to take out the first row signal in operation procedure 4. Head 42 as shown in FIG.
The position of the recording paper 70 that has been thermally treated is the motor 7.
4, the recording paper 70 is moved by the operation of the platen roller 71, passes through the cutter 90, enters the fixing device 80, and is irradiated with a fluorescent lamp for a predetermined period of time to undergo optical fixing processing.

On the other hand, in the case of printing the last line in operation step 7, the platen roller 72 moves the recording position of the recording paper 70 to the fixing processing position, stops driving (operation step 10), and irradiates the fluorescent light for a predetermined time. Afterwards, the fixing process is stopped (operation step 11).

When the identification circuit 20 identifies the facsimile signal received in operation procedure 1 as a second color signal, the second color signal is stored in the second color signal storage circuit 32 (operation procedure 21), and the second color signal position detection means 50
The row position of the one-dimensional pixel where the second color signal is first recorded is stored (operation step 22). When the recording and fixing of the first color signal is completed in operation step 11, the recording control means 60 checks the presence or absence of the second color signal (operation step 23). If the second color signal is present, wait for a predetermined time period to stabilize fixing (operation step 24), drive the roller back to the line position output from the second color signal position detection means 50 (operation step 25), and then 70 to a predetermined position. Next, the recording control means 60
The rollers are sequentially driven for recording (operation step 26), and the same six steps from operation step 4 to operation step 8 proceed from operation step 27 to operation step 31, and print recording using the second color signal is completed. do.

If it is the last line in operation step 30, the platen roller 72 sequentially feeds the recording paper 70 to a predetermined position where it is to be cut, stops (operation step 32), and then cuts the recording paper 70.
0 is cut (operation procedure 33) and discharged (operation procedure
34) To be done.

Further, if the position of the second color signal is not detected in operation step 23, the operation steps for second color recording starting from operation step 24 are omitted, and the process goes to operation step 33, and the procedure ends.

In the above embodiment, it was explained that the signal is stored in two storage circuits from the receiving circuit via the identification circuit.
A procedure may be used in which the prints are simultaneously recorded in one circuit and identified when taken out.Also, although the output of the fixing signal was set at the time when the first line of print is taken out, it may also be when the print recording position moves into the fixing device. The present invention is not limited to the above description, and in particular, the means configuration may be hardware or a computer configuration under program control.

The facsimile apparatus of the present invention includes a position detection means for detecting the second color signal position as the rewind position, and a recording control means for cutting and ejecting the recording paper immediately after the first color recording is completed when the second color signal is not detected. The functional arrangement and procedures of blocks for various functions may be any.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, after the recording and fixing of the first color is completed by the recording control means, the recording is rewound to the second color signal position detected by the second color signal position detection means, and the second color is recorded. Therefore, in the corner of the shoulder of the first black text, "Urgent" is written.
If there is a second color of red text such as "Confidential", if you place the transmission document with the side edge with the red text in the rear position, the receiving device only needs to rewind the red text and record the second color, and then When there is no color signal, the facsimile apparatus of the present invention rewinds the recording paper to the initial position where recording of the first color was started, and then records the second color on this recording paper. can be saved, resulting in the effects of shortening recording time, reducing communication line holding time, and reducing power consumption.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the receiving section of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an example of the time relationship between the generation of each signal in FIG. 1, and FIGS.・Figure B is a flowchart showing an example of the main operation procedure of FIG. 1. 11...Receiving path, 50...Position detecting means, 60
... Recording control means, 70 ... Recording paper.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a facsimile device using light-fixing two-color thermal recording paper, a position detection means for detecting the position of the second color signal from the facsimile signal received via the receiving path, and processing for recording and fixing the first color on the recording paper. When the second color signal is detected from the position detecting means, the recording paper is rewound to the position of at least the first one-dimensional pixel to be recorded, and the second color signal is not detected. 1. A facsimile apparatus comprising: recording control means for omitting a second color recording process and instructing a recording paper discharge process.