EP0443832A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image communicating apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1991-02-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-02-20
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a facsimile apparatus equipped with an ink jet printer in which the recording head is inspected for ink discharge failure (A) in response to a call signal, then a head recovery process (B) is effected in case of discharge failure, and the normal data reception process is started after the discharge failure is rectified (C). If the discharge failure is not rectified after repeated recovery processes, the communication is interrupted, so that the wasted communication resulting from mulfunction of the recording head can be avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 Seishi Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ejiri
- 👤 Yasuyuki Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Shinada
- 👤 Tsunehiro Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Makino
- 👤 Akihiro Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ryuka
- 👤 Yasuhito Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Shimamura
- 👤 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Chishima Hideaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00002; H04N1/00007; H04N1/00015; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/165; B41J2/16579; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17566; H04N1/00026; H04N1/00031; H04N1/00053; H04N1/00055; H04N1/00071; H04N1/00082; H04N1/0035; H04N1/00405; H04N1/00408; H04N1/00912; H04N1/00915; H04N1/32; H04N1/32609; H04N1/32614; H04N1/32625; H04N1/32635; H04N1/32646; H04N1/32651; H04N1/32657; H04N1/32667; H04N1/32678; H04N1/327; H04N1/32793
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
An image communicating apparatus provided with a recording head for forming an image by discharging ink from discharge openings, comprising: non-discharge detection means for detecting absence of ink discharge in the discharge openings of said recording head; recovery process means for effecting a head recovery process for restoring the state of said discharge openigns; and control means for causing said non-discharge detection means to effect detection of non-discharge in response to reception of a call signal, then causing said recovery process means to effect the recovery process if non-discharge of ink is detected, and proceeding to a reception process if said non-discharge detection means does not detect the non-discharge of ink.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means is adapted, in case said non-discharge of ink is still detected even after said detection of non-discharge and said recovery process are repeated for a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined time, to interrupt the reception and to release an error signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said non-discharge detection means comprises: a non-discharge detection part for receiving liquid ink discharged from the discharge openings of said recording head; and a non-discharge sensor for detecting ink dots deposited on a detection surface of said non-discharge detection part, in the unit of each dot.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said recording head comprises plural discharge openings and discharge energy generating elements provided respectively corresponding to said plural discharge openings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said discharge energy generating element is adapted to generate thermal energy, wherein said thermal energy induces a state change in the ink, and the ink is discharged by said state change from the discharge opening to form a flying droplet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said state change involves bubble formation by membrane boiling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
An image communicating apparatus provided with a recording head for forming an image on a recording material by discharging ink from discharge openings, comprising: detection means for detecting non-discharge of ink in the course of recording a received image; and means for terminating by an error procedure the current reception according to the result of detection by said detection means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said detection means is adapted to detect non-discharge of ink by detecting the temperature of said recording head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said detection means is adapted to detect non-discharge of ink by detecting the current flowing in said recording head.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein said recording head comprises plural discharge openings and discharge energy generating elements provided respectively corresponding to said plural discharge openings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said discharge energy generating element is adapted to generate thermal energy, wherein said thermal energy induces a state change in the ink, and the ink is discharged by said state change from the discharge opening to form a flying droplet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said state change involves bubble formation by membrane boiling.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
An image communicating apparatus provided with a recording head for forming an image on a recording material by discharging ink from discharge openings, comprising: ink container means for supplying said recording head with ink; means for detecting the residual ink amount in said ink container means; replenishing means for replenishing ink to said ink container means; and control means for effecting, if the residual ink amount becomes lower than a predetermined amount in the course of communication, the ink replenishment after the end of said communication.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: counter means for counting the number of received pages after the residual ink amount becomes lower than said predetermined amount; and communication control means for terminating the communication according to the count of said counter means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said recording head comprises plural discharge openings and discharge energy generating elements provided respectively corresponding to said plural discharge openings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said discharge energy generating element is adapted to generate thermal energy, wherein said thermal energy induces a state change in the ink, and the ink is discharged by said state change from the discharge opening to form a flying droplet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said state change involves bubble formation by membrane boiling.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
An image communicating apparatus provided with a recording head for forming an image on a recording material by discharging ink from discharge openings, comprising: plural ink container means; detection means for detecting the residual ink amount in each of said ink container means; and switching means for switching the ink container means to be used, according to the result of detection by said detection means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising means for displaying absence of ink in said ink container means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, wherein said recording head comprises plural discharge openings and discharge energy generating elements provided respectively corresponding to said plural discharge openings.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said discharge energy generating element is adapted to generate thermal energy, wherein said thermal energy induces a state change in the ink, and the ink is discharged by said state change from the discharge opening to form a flying droplet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said state change involves bubble formation by membrane boiling.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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