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 Fax (derived from Latin word `facsimile`, which means, "make similar", i.e. "make a copy" - or tele-facsimile) is a telecommunications device used to transfer copies of documents over the telephone network.
History
Alexander Bain, a Scottish mechanic, had invented facsimile transmission over wires. He had designed to scan a flat surface (made of metal) using a stylus mounted on a pendulum and the stylus picked up the images on the surface. For this creation, in 1843, he received a British patent for improvements in producing and regulating electric currents and improvements in timepieces and in electric printing and signal telegraphs. Seven years earlier, Samuel Morse invented the telegraph and the fax machine evolved from the telegraph technology.
More Fax Machine History in short
- Dr Arthur Korn In 1902 invented an improved and practical fax, the photoelectric system.
- Edouard Belin in 1914 established the concept for remote fax photo/news reporting.
- The American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T) worked to improve telephone facsimile technology, and in 1924, the telephotography machine was used to send political convention photos long distance for newspaper publication.
- On March 4, 1955, the first radio facsimile transmission was sent across the continent.
Structure and Working
Today fax machine works on the same principle as they used to work few years ago. The only difference that has come about is substitution of components or parts based on old technology by parts based on modern technology.
A fax machine comprises of small photo sensor with a lens and a light. An arm, facing the sheet of paper is attached to the photo sensor arm. When the sheet is rotated on the drum, the arm moves downward over the sheet of paper from one end to the other to read the data.
When a paper is loaded into the fax machine, a greenish white light is shined directly on the paper. At that time, Optical sensor determines whether a particular spot on the paper is black or white. These sensors feed the information about the location of color into a microprocessor that builds an approximate picture of the page made of black or white dots.
After this process, the MODERM (stands for modulate-demodulate) is used to transform digital data into analog signal. In other words, the modem takes the black and white image and converts this digital data from the microprocessor into an analog signal that can be sent as analog data, or sound, over a phone line.
The third part of the process involved in transfer of message is printer. Once the sending fax machine calls a receiving fax machine and the receiving fax machine answers, the sending fax begins to send its analog data to the receiving fax machine. When the receiving fax machine has all of the data that the sending fax machine is sending, it hangs up the call and begins converting the data back to a digital image. Once the microprocessor has completed the conversion, it prints the image out on paper, which comes out of the receiving fax machine`s printer.
How to Buy a Fax Machine
While looking for the Fax machine three factors have to be kept in mind, like quality, price and special features. Consider purchasing fax modem, if you need to send faxes but not receive them.
Steps:
1. Determine the type of machine you want, keep a budget for everything you`ll need, such as paper, extra cartridges, a surge suppressor and a service contract. Choose a film-cartridge fax machine to get mediocre print quality. Look for an ink-jet fax machine to get better print quality for a slightly higher price but the highest cost of use. Buy a laser fax machine for good print quality if you can afford to pay more. If you`ll receive a lot of faxes, the higher purchase price will quickly be offset by the lower cost of use.
2. Look for machines with four choices for image quality.
3. Make sure that the machine is capable of printing 64 shades of gray
4. It is necessary for you to have an idea of how many speed-dial numbers you`ll need
5. Evaluate how easily the machine could be operated and decide whether you need an integrated digital answering machine.
6. Compare each model`s capacity for feeding multiple pages, storing received faxes when the machine is out of paper and `broadcast` faxing to a group of recipients.
7. Look for advanced business features, if necessary, such as delayed transmission, the ability to `poll` other fax machines, copy reduction and enlargement, and `shrink to fit` 8 1 /2-by-11-inch pages.
8. Base your final decision on functionality and initial and ongoing costs.
Warnings:
Avoid purchase of low priced Fax or its parts, as it may start giving problems very early. More importantly, check out for the warranty period, which would be around 90-days or one year.
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