Reproducing Machine

This application is related to concurrently filed and commonly assigned applications corresponding respectively to U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 329,468 and 329,466.

This invention concerns a reproducing machine and, more specifically, it relates to a reproducing machine for preparing a plurality of copies from one sheet of original document.

Reproducing machines include those types utilizing a diazo photographic process, xerographic process, and the like. However, in the diazo photographic process, only one copy can be obtained from one sheet of original and, to obtain a plurality of copies, reproduction procedures have to be repeated for the required number of sheets. In addition, the originals used are restricted to those of transparent or semitransparent types. In the xerographic process, a plurality of copies can be obtained from one sheet of original and there is no restriction on the type of original. However, a xerographic process requires a great amount of electrical power for fixing images to the sheet after development, needs heat insulation for the fixing device and further is disadvantageous in that the overall size of the machine is increased.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a compact reproducing machine with less electrical power consumption, which is simple in structure and capable of preparing a plurality of copies from one sheet of original document.

In order to attain the foregoing object, this invention provides a thermal recording type recording machine comprising a reciprocable platen for carrying an original document, means for reciprocating said platen, an image sensor for reading each line of said original document on said movable platen to generate electrical image signals, a thermal recording head for generating heat in a pattern corresponding to said electrical image signals, means for closely contacting under pressure an ink donor web and an a recording paper web to said thermal recording head to transfer coloring agent from said ink donor web to said recording paper web in said pattern, and means for discharging the recorded paper web and said ink donor web to thereby obtain a reproducing machine simple in structure, reduced in size and with less electrical power consumption.

In this invention, it is preferred that an ink donor material for reproduction comprises a web-like configuration which is sent from a feed roll, and the platen can be pivotted in order to enable the roll to be taken out of the reproducing machine for exchanging the roll. Further, an automatic cutter is provided upstream of the discharge tray so that both webs may be cut into a predetermined length. By being designed such that the electrical image signals from the image sensor can also be transmitted externally and also such that external image signals can be received and reproduced, the reproducing machine according to this invention can be used as a facsimile transmitter and receiver, and can also be used in conjunction with an external signal processor to perform image synthesis, image elimination, image enhancement, etc. It is also preferred to provide a white line skip function, a circuit for generating pseudo half-tone regeneration signals, and an image enlarging and diminishing function.

The thermal recording head comprises a plurality of heat generation resistor elements and, by controlling them while dividing them into blocks, the capacity of the power source can be decreased. Particularly, in a case where black information of the image signals for one line exceeds a predetermined ratio, the power source drain can be minimized by increasing the number of blocks and decreasing the number of elements in one block i.e. decreasing the number of elements which may be simultaneously energized. Further, the reproducing machine according to this invention can read the images not only in the forward stroke but also in the backward stroke of the platen, during which backward stroke the machine is adapted to rearrange the image signals.

It is also preferred to detect the width and the length of the original to control the transmission amount and the moving distance of the platen for one line of the image signals.

This invention will be described in more detail by way of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a thermal recording type reproducing machine according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the operation panel of the reproducing machine; and

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram for the reproducing machine.

In FIG. 1, a platen 11 carrying an original has a cover 11' thereon and is disposed reciprocably on rails 12 provided on both sides of the upper portion of the reproducing machine. A step motor 13 and a driving belt 14 are provided for reciprocating the platen 11, and the platen 11 is thus driven by the step motor 13. As shown in the drawing, a driving roller 15 may be interposed between the step motor 13 and the driving belt 14.

On one side of the reproducing machine is fixedly provided an image reading unit 17 having a slit-like opening 16 on the side facing the platen 11. The image reading unit 17 comprises an optical source 18 for illuminating the original, mirrors 19, 20 for changing the optical path of optical images reflected from the original, a lens 21 for focusing the optical images, and an image sensor 22 for converting the focused optical images into electrical signals containing image information. The image sensor 22 used comprises three sets of photo diode arrays arranged end-to-end each consisting of 1024 elements in a row, for example, whereby information for one line with 256 mm width can be read at 12 dot/mm resolution power. The value and the type of the elements are given only as examples and other numbers of elements may be provided or different types such as charge coupling devices (CCD) may be employed. In any case, the image sensor 22 is adapted to read one line of information on the original either simultaneously or successively, i.e. in a scanning manner. On the inside of the reproducing machine, a cylindrical recording paper supply member 25 is detachably mounted.

The recording paper web 26 is passed by an idler 27 into an image forming station A. In the image forming station A are provided a thermal recording head 31 and a back roller 32 opposing the head surface. The thermal recording head 31 is of an elongated shape on which a plurality of ohmic heat generation members are disposed side by side on a line extending in the lateral direction of the reproducing machine so that one line of information read by the image sensor 22 can be recorded on the recording paper web. Since energization of too many of these heat generation members at the same time would require a power source of a large capacity, they are divided into blocks of a predetermined number and each block energized at a different time in order to decrease the required capacity of the power source. As an example, 1728 dots of resistor elements can be divided into 4 blocks of 432 elements each, with a 6-8 dot/mm interval, and the blocks can be successively energized to form images. The energization control can be conducted with ease by using a diode matrix or the like. The total width of the resistor members which are energized is controlled in accordance with the lateral size of the recording paper sheets to eliminate unnecessary loss of power and to prevent deleterious transfer of ink onto the back roller 32. Further, the black information ratio for one line to be recorded can be calculated and, if it exceeds a predetermined ratio (for example, 25%), the number of blocks into which the elements are divided can be increased (for example, from 4 blocks to 8 blocks or 16 blocks), to thereby limit the number of resistor members which are simultaneously energized. Thus, it is not necessary to increase the capacity of the power source for the thermal recording head even when there is much black information.

The recording paper web 26 together with the ink donor web 33 are sent into the position between the back roller 32 and the thermal recording head 31, so as to contact the surface of the thermal recording head 31. The ink donor web 33 is extended from a feed roll 34 by way of an automatic balance roller 35 for eliminating creases in the ink donor web and then by an idler roll 36 to the back roll 32. It is preferred to situate the idler 36 at a position such that the recording paper web 26 can be smoothly sent into the back roller 32.

The back roller 32 is disposed so as to urge against the thermal recording head 31, and it also contacts the feed roller 37 which is driven by an idler 38. Since the idler roller 38 is driven by a third step motor 39, the back roller 32 is driven stepwise by the rollers 38 and 37. With the driving of the step motor 39, the recording paper web and the ink donor web are made to run in parallel and in close contact with each other past the back roller 32 and feed roller 37.

Heat fusible black pigment is coated on the surface of the ink donor web 33 that contacts the surface of the recording paper web 26 and, in accordance with the selective energization of the resistor members on the thermal recording head 31, the heated pigment is selectively transferred to the web 26 to form images thereon. This image formation is conducted for each line. Both of the webs are fed stepwise together by the back roller 32 and feed roller 37, sent to the discharge roller 42 provided downstream of the feed roller 37, cut into a predetermined length by an automatic cutter 41 provided downstream of the discharge roller, and both of the webs are then sent together, while remaining overlapped with each other, to the discharge tray 40. Both of the webs thus discharged are manually separated to thereby obtain recorded sheets. The separation can of course be made by some further mechanical means.

The thermal recording head 31, and the rollers 35, 36, 37 and 38 are secured to a swing arm (not shown) swingably mounted on both sides of the reproducing machine, and the platen 11 is pivotted so as to open upwardly together with the cover 11'. With such an arrangement, when both of the ink donor web and the recorded paper web have been entirely consumed, the platen is opened upwardly, the components 31 and 35-38 are swung out of the way and a new recording paper web roll and ink donor web roll can be mounted.

FIG. 2 shows an operation panel 50 of the reproducing machine according to this invention. A switch 51 is a power source switch, and a lamp 52 lights up when the power source is switched to ON. One of the numerical buttons 53 is used to select the number of copies and this number is displayed on a display 54. A STOP CLEAR button is pushed to set a new number as is well known. Another display 55 indicates the number of reproduced copies. Buttons 56 are used for selecting copy density and for starting the copying operation, i.e., reproduction is started while selecting the copy density at low density (LOW), medium density (MED) or high density (HIG) by pushing any of the buttons. A button 57 is used to select the magnification ratio, and the selected magnification ratio is displayed on a display 58 located just above. For instance, upon one push of the button 57 in a state where a 75% magnification ratio is displayed, the magnification ratio changes to 100%, then another push of the button 57 changes the magnification to 125%, then again to 75%, etc. A display 59 flickers if any trouble such as paper clogging should occur in the inside of the reproducing machine. The display 59 is extinguished by pushing the STOP CLEAR button after the trouble is corrected. A display 60 indicates the reproduction mode, in which only the COPY lamp is usually lighted to indicate the usual reproducing procedure. Upon receiving an external request signal, only the REC lamp is lighted whereby external image signals are received and formed as images on the recording paper sheet. Upon pushing of a button 61, the SEND lamp is lighted to send image signals read by the image sensor 22 externally of the machine (reproduction is inhibited in this state). Upon pushing of a button 62, a lamp S/C is lighted and reproduction is conducted while sending red image signals externally.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram for the reproducing machine according to this invention. The circuit may be provided within the reproducing machine or may be provided separately in another casing in order to decrease the size of the machine. Reference numeral 22 is the image sensor shown in FIG. 1. In this circuit diagram, the photo-receiving elements are indicated as being divided into three blocks, and switches 70 for successively switching the three blocks are provided. Serial image signals read by the image sensor 22 are inputted into an image signal processing circuit 71. The image signal processing circuit converts the signals into black and white binary signals after background compensation to eliminate background noise in the image signals. The image signal processing circuit is also provided with a white line skip function that skips the reading for any line which is entirely white. For realizing the white line skip function, it is preferable to provide, in the image sensor 22, image receiving elements capable of reading at least two lines simultaneously. Further, the image signal processing circuit 71 is also provided with a circuit for generating a pseudointermediate tone signal that selects a plurality of different threshold levels during the conversion of the image signals into binary form, thereby generating black dot signals, so that a half-tone image can be regenerated.

The output from the image signal processing circuit 71 is inputted into a linear density conversion circuit 72 which converts the image signals read by the image sensor 22 at 12 dot/mm in accordance with the selected magnification ratio. For instance, it converts 12 dots into 8 dots at a 100% magnification ratio (1:1), 12 dots into 6 dots at a magnification ratio 75% (3/4 reduction) and 12 dots into 10 dots at a magnification ratio 125% (5/4 enlargement) and outputs signal binary image signals.

The machine according to this invention is a reproducing machine. However, since the output from the linear density conversion circuit 72 is in a form suitable for a facsimile transmitter or the like, i.e., a binary serial image signal output, the signals can also be transmitted to external receivers. Line 73 is a communication line for such external transmission. The line may be, for example, a telephone line, local communication line or wireless route. Further, the line could be coupled to an external image signal processor for image enhancement synthesis or to a noise elimination circuit.

In addition to the line 73, the output from the linear density conversion circuit 72 is directly connected by way of a line 74 to an image signal regeneration circuit 75. Switching between the lines 73 and 74 is determined by the mode of operation of the reproducing machine, wherein no output is issued to the line 73 when the COPY lamp is lighted in the display 60, no output is issued to the line 74 upon pushing of the button 61 to light up the SEND lamp, and outputs are issued simultaneously to the lines 73 and 74 upon pushing of button 62 to light up the S/C lamp.

The image signal regeneration circuit 75 comprises, as in a conventional facsimile receiver, an image signal regeneration circuit having a sync signal generation circuit. Accordingly, image signals from an external line 76 can also be received. Switching between the lines 74 and 76 can be selected according to the mode in the reproducing machine in the same manner as in the selection for the lines 73 and 74. For example, the line 74 is selected when the COPY lamp is lighted up, only the line 76 is selected when the REC lamp is lighted up, both of the lines are disconnected when the SEND lamp is lighted up, and only the line 76 is seelcted when the S/C lamp is lighted up.

The image signal regeneration circuit 75 also performs the function of relocating the image signal data in accordance with the scanning direction of the platen. As described above, while the platen 11 is reciprocating, image signals can be read not only during the forward stroke but also during the backward stroke of the platen. Therefore, since the reading order of the lines is inverted in the backward stroke relative to the forward stroke, it is necessary to relocate the lines of data. The signal regeneration circuit has such a function. The function is of course performed only during the backward scanning stage and it is not necessary during forward scanning, or while receiving data from the external line 76.

The image signal regeneration circuit 75 is also provided with a serial to parallel conversion circuit for converting serial image signals into parallel signals, whereby data for one line or for one block of sensors therein are prepared. A switch 77 for detecting the size of the recording paper (for example, A4 or B4) is provided near the roll 25, and the regeneration circuit 75 also includes a circuit for controlling the recording width of the thermal recording head 31 with the detected size signal. The circuit 75 further contains the above-mentioned diode matrix for the block control of the heat generation members on the head 31 and also a block control circuit for increasing or decreasing the foregoing block number. Accordingly, the output from the image signal regeneration circuit selectively energizes the heat generation resistor members on the thermal recording head 31 to heat the ink donor web 33 and from images on the recording paper web 26.

The details of the circuits 71, 72 and 75 will be obvious from their described functions most of which are generally known. These circuits may be idential to these disclosed in more detail in said application Ser. No. 329,468.

A circuit 80 is a sequence control circuit which controls, in a sequential manner, a power source 81 for lighting up the optical source 18 for the image reading unit, a driving circuit 82 for energizing the step motor 13 for driving a platen, a driving circuit 85 for energizing the step motor 39 that drives the feed roller 37 and the back roller 32 by way of the idler roller 38 for advancing the recording paper web and the ink donor web, a circuit 83 for energizing the automatic cutter 41, and the displays on the panel 50. The sequence controller 80 also controls the timing of the image signals in the image signal circuit 71. The sequence control circuit 80 conducts the reproducing operation when it receives an instruction to do so from the control panel 50, signals from a recording paper web size detection switch 77, and a signal from swtich 86 that detects whether or not the platen 11 is at its home position.

The sequence controller may be idential to that in copending application Ser. No. 329,468. The sequnce control will be made clearer by the following explanation for the operation of the reproducing machine.

The operation of the reproducing machine according to this invention follows. It is assumed here that the COPY lamp in the display 60 is lighted on the panel 50. Upon pushing any of the buttons 56, the sequence control circuit 80, after confirming that the reproducing machine is operating normally, energizes the power source 81 to light up the optical source 18, and energizes the driving circuit 82 to drive the pulse motor 13 and set the platen 11 to its home position. The switch 86 detects that the platen 11 is at the home position and sends a detection signal to the sequence control circuit 80. If no signal arrives within a predetermined period, the reproducing machine stops and lights up the display 59 to indicate trouble.

When the detection signal from switch 86 is received, the platen motor 13 is actuated to stepwise advance the platen 11 and scan the original. The platen is moved through a distance corresponding to the length of the original as determined by the switch 77, and the image sensor 22 in the image reading unit 17 reads the original line by line. The images from the image sensor 22 are sent by way of the circuits 71, 72 and 75 to the thermal recording head. The step motor 39 is actuated during or before the above operation to register the recording paper web with the thermal recording head by the back roller 32. During this registration the paper web and the ink donor web are closely contacted with one another to thereby complete the setting for the recording. A predetermined blank space, or margin, is provided at the beginning of the recording paper by advancing the paper slightly past the head 31. Information on every line is recorded on the web by the image signals sent to the thermal recording head. The feed rate of the back roller is different depending on the magnification ratio in the reproduction, e.g. the ratio may be set as 75%:100%:125%=3:4:5.

The recorded paper web and the ink donor web are then sent to the automatic cutter 41, cut into a predetermined length and then discharged to the discharge tray 40. In the case of single copy reproduction, the platen 11 is rapidly returned to the home position after the completion of the reproduction. In a case of multiple copy reproduction, reproducing procedures are conducted also in the backward stroke. In the latter case, since the moving direction of the recording sheet in the backward stroke is the same as in the forwarding stroke while the direction for reading the data read by the image sensor 22 is inverted, the data signals would be recorded as mirror images if the data read in the image sensor are outputted as they are directly to the thermal recording head. In view of the above, a one line data relocation circuit is operated in the image signal regeneration circuit 75 to compensate for such a disadvantage and record the positive images to the web.

Although the foregoing operation has been described with regard to the COPY mode, other modes of operation will be obvious from the above explanation. For instance, no image reading is conducted but rather only the recording operation is conducted in the REC mode, no recording operation is conducted but only the image reading is conducted in the SEND mode, and the reproducing operation is conducted and image signals are transmitted as well by way of the line 73 in the S/C (SEND/COPY) mode.

This invention provides a reproducing machine enabling multiple copy reproduction with less electrical power consumption and in a simple structure, and the reproducing machine can perform not only the reproducing operation but can also perform transmission and reception relative to external facilities, to thereby perform image synthesis, noise elimination and image modification or enhancement.