Facsimile apparatus

• US 5,694,226 A
• Filed: 06/20/1995
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Shizuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLERSON, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US08/492,615
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 358/296, 358/400, 358/422, 358/434, 358/436, 358/403, 358/468, 358/502, 358/503, 355/208, 355/285, 355/289, 355/290, 219/216, 399/69, 399/51, 399/70, 347/102, 347/171
• US Class Current: 358/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2338 according to user specified instructions, e.g. user selection of reproduction mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2346 according to a detected condition or state of the reproducing device, e.g. temperature or ink quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2392 for displaying or indicating, e.g. a condition or state details of displaying or indicating means H04N1/00405
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/295 Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32363 at the transmitter or at the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32379 Functions of a still picture terminal memory associated with reception

Abstract

A facsimile apparatus which includes a heater for fixing an image on a recording member and a heater control unit for controlling the heater. A timer is provided for outputting a time and a time range register registers a heater-on time range. A heater-on managing unit controls the heater control unit so that the heater is at a preheat temperature level within the heater-on time range, and so that the heater is at an image fixing temperature level when an image signal is received. Further, a heater-off managing unit controls the heater control unit so that the heater is at the image fixing temperature level out of the heater-on time range when the image signal is received. The heater-on managing unit can also shift a beginning time of the heater-on time range from a registered time to a time of a receipt of the image signal, so to extend the ending time of the heater-on time range when the image signal is received within the heater-on time range. The heater-on managing unit can also stop control of the heater control unit after the heater-on time range is over when the image signal is not received within the heater-on time range.

Claims

1. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

a heater for fixing an image on a recording member;

a heater control unit for controlling the heater;

a timer for outputting a time;

a time range register for registering a heater-on time range;

a heater-on managing unit for controlling said heater control unit so that said heater is at a preheat temperature level within said heater-on time range, and so that said heater is at an image fixing temperature level when an image signal is received; and

a heater-off managing unit for controlling said heater control unit to be at the image fixing temperature level when the image signal is received at a time out of said heater-on time range;

wherein said heater-off managing unit displays a receipt of the image signal on a displaying unit when the image signal is received out of said heater-on time range, and said heater-off managing unit controls said heater control unit so that said heater is at the image fixing temperature level only when an image output command from an operation is generated.

2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heater-off managing unit controls said heater control unit at an appointed time so that said heater is at the image fixing temperature level, if the image signal has said appointed time for image output, when the image signal is received out of said heater-on time range.

3. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

heating means for fixing an image on a recording member;

heater control means for controlling the heater means;

timer means for outputting a time;

time range register means for registering a heater-on time range;

heater-on managing means for controlling said heater control means so that said heater means is at a preheat temperature level within said heater-on time range, and so that said heater means is at an image fixing temperature level when an image signal is received; and

a heater-off managing means for controlling said heater control means to be at the image fixing temperature level when the image signal is received at a time out of said heater-on time range;

wherein said heater-off managing means displays a receipt of the image on a display means when the image signal is received out of said heater-on time range, and said heater-off managing means controls said heater control means so that said heater means is at the image fixing temperature level only when an image output command from an operator is generated.

4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said heater-off managing means controls said heater control means at an appointed time so that said heater means is at the image fixing temperature level, if the image signal has said appointed time for image output, when the image signal is received out of said heater-on time range.

5. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

a heater for fixing an image on a recording member;

a heater control unit for controlling the heater;

a timer for outputting a time;

a time range register for registering a heater-on time range; and

a heater-on managing unit for controlling said heater control unit so that said heater is at a preheat temperature level within said heater-on time range, and so that said heater is at an image fixing temperature level when an image signal is received, and for automatically shifting at least one of a beginning time and an ending time of said heater-on time range from a registered time to a time based on a receipt of the image signal, so as to extend an ending time of said heater-on time range when the image signal is received within said heater-on time range, and

for stopping control of said heater control unit after said heater-on time range is over when the image signal is not received within said heater-on time range.