JP2020118938A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to execute, with a simple operation, processing of forming a partial image of an image to be printed on a sheet of a smaller size than a sheet size set to a sheet storage unit, while avoiding dirt on an apparatus due to unnecessary development.SOLUTION: A print control unit 8b designates a predetermined special mode, a designated feed source representing a specific sheet storage unit 2, and a designated size representing a specific sheet size, and when receiving a special print request for designating data of an image G1 to be printed that occupies a larger image area than the designated size, executes partial image print control. The partial image print control is control to cause a sheet conveying device 3 to execute processing of feeding a sheet from the designated feed source at a timing according to the designated size, and cause a printing device 40 to execute special print processing of forming, on the sheet, an image of a partial area A1 corresponding to the designated size in the image G1 to be printed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of printing a part of an image to be printed.

An image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a multi-function peripheral includes one or more sheet storage units, and a printing device that executes a printing process on the sheets sent from the sheet storage unit. Further, the image forming apparatus sets accommodation size data indicating a size of a sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodation unit according to a user's operation.

When the image forming apparatus receives a print request that specifies the sheet automatic selection mode and the sheet size, the image forming apparatus sends out the sheet from the sheet storage unit in which the storage size that matches the specified size is set.

Further, when forming an image on a plurality of sheets, the image forming apparatus sends out the second and subsequent sheets from the sheet containing section at a timing according to the containing size.

Further, in the image forming apparatus, it is known that a sensor that detects the size of a sheet is provided inside the sheet storage unit or in the sheet conveyance path (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP, 2000-330428, A

By the way, there is a case where it is desired to form a partial image of a part of an image to be printed, which occupies an image area corresponding to a normal size, which is a size of a sheet frequently used, on a sheet having a unique size smaller than the normal size.

In the above case, a host device such as a personal computer capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus cuts out the partial image from the image to be printed, and sends a print request for the partial image to the image forming apparatus. Execute.

For example, the host device executes a process of cutting out the partial image from the image to be printed by executing an application program for creating a document or a drawing.

However, it is troublesome for the user to perform an operation for cutting out the area of the partial image in the host device. In addition, the application program may not have a function of executing a process of cutting out the partial image.

Moreover, it is troublesome for the user to change the data of the accommodation size and restore the data each time the sheet of the unique size is temporarily used.

On the other hand, when the sheet of the unique size smaller than the normal size is used and the data of the accommodation size is not changed to the data of the unique size, the following inconvenient situation may occur.

For example, the first inconvenient situation is that the printing apparatus supplies waste developer to an area other than the sheet, and the printing apparatus and its periphery are contaminated with the developer.

A second inconvenient situation is that when the print processing is performed on a plurality of sheets, the second and subsequent sheets are delayed at a timing later than the appropriate timing corresponding to the peculiar size. That is, it is sent out from the sheet storage unit. In this case, the efficiency of the printing process deteriorates.

On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus receives a print request designating data of the image to be printed that occupies an image area larger than the accommodation size, the image forming apparatus executes error notification processing without executing the print processing. Is possible.

In the above case, the problem of contamination with the developer is avoided. However, the cut-out processing of the partial image by the host device and the change of the data of the accommodation size are necessary for forming the partial image on the sheet of the unique size.

An object of the present invention is to avoid a process of forming a part of an image to be printed on a sheet having a size smaller than a sheet size set for a sheet storage unit, thereby avoiding contamination of the device due to useless development. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be executed by a simple operation.

An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes one or more sheet accommodating units that accommodate sheets, a sheet conveying device, a printing device, a sheet size setting unit, and a print control unit. The sheet conveying device sends out the sheet from the sheet storage section. The printing apparatus executes a printing process for forming an image on the sheet sent out from the sheet storage unit. The sheet size setting unit sets accommodation size data indicating a size of the sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodation unit. The print control unit controls the sheet conveying device and the printing device. The print control unit specifies a predetermined special mode, a specified supply source representing the specific sheet storage unit, and a specified size representing a specific sheet size, and a print target occupying an image area larger than the specified size. When a special print request that specifies image data is received, partial image print control is executed. The partial image print control causes the sheet conveying device to execute a process of sending out the sheet from the designated supply source at a timing according to the designated size, and further, a partial area corresponding to the designated size in the print target image. The control is for causing the printing apparatus to execute a special printing process for forming an image on the sheet.

According to the present invention, a process of forming a part of an image to be printed on a sheet having a size smaller than the sheet size set for the sheet storage unit can be performed to avoid contamination of the device due to wasteful development. However, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can be executed by a simple operation.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the print request command. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a print control procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the print target image, FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of the first page image of the print target image, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the print target image. It is a figure which shows an example of a 2-page image. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a printed matter output by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention by partial image print control, and FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example of an image on the first side of the printed matter. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of an image of the second surface of the printed matter.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples of embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 10]
The image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment includes one or more sheet cassettes 2, a sheet conveying device 3, and a printing device 40 (see FIG. 1). In the example shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a plurality of sheet cassettes 2.

The sheet cassette 2 is an example of a sheet storage unit that stores the sheet 9. The sheet 9 is a medium on which an image is formed, such as paper or a resin film.

The sheet conveying device 3 sends out the sheet 9 from the sheet cassette 2 to the sheet conveying path 30, and further conveys the sheet 9 along the sheet conveying path 30.

In the sheet conveying device 3, the sheet feeding mechanism 31 feeds the sheets 9 in the sheet cassette 2 one by one to the sheet conveying path 30, and a plurality of pairs of conveying rollers 32 conveys the sheets 9 along the sheet conveying path 30. To do.

The printing device 40 executes a printing process of forming an image on the sheet 9 fed from the sheet cassette 2 at the image forming position P1 of the sheet conveying path 30 (see FIG. 1).

For example, the image forming apparatus 10 is a printer, a copying machine, a multifunction machine, or the like. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 also includes an image reading apparatus 1 that executes an image reading process of reading an image from a document 90.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 40 executes the printing process by an electrophotographic method. Therefore, the printing device 40 includes the image forming device 4, the transfer device 44, and the fixing device 45.

In the image forming device 4, the charging device 42 charges the surface of the drum-shaped photoconductor 41. The optical scanning unit 46 writes an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the charged photoconductor 41. The developing device 43 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 41 into the toner image.

The transfer device 44 transfers the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 41 to the sheet 9 at the image forming position P1 of the sheet conveying path 30. The fixing device 45 fixes the toner image on the sheet 9 by heating and pressing the toner image on the sheet 9.

The plurality of sets of transport roller pairs 32 include a pair of registration rollers 32a arranged upstream of the image forming position P1 in the sheet transport path 30 in the transport direction of the sheet 9. The sheet conveying device 3 further includes a sheet sensor 33 that detects the sheet 9 on the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction with respect to the position of the registration roller pair 32a in the sheet conveying path 30.

The registration roller pair 32a temporarily stops the conveyance of the sheet 9 and adjusts the timing of feeding the sheet 9 to the image forming position P1. The stop and start of the registration roller pair 32a are controlled based on the timing when the sheet 9 is detected by the sheet sensor 33.

The printing apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 1 can execute the printing process of a color image in a tandem system. Therefore, the printing device 40 includes four image forming devices 4 corresponding to toners of different colors.

The transfer device 44 transfers the four color toner images from the surfaces of the four photoconductors 41 to the sheet 9 in an overlapping manner.

The printing device 40 may be a device that executes the printing process by a method other than the electrophotographic method, such as an inkjet method.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 further includes a control device 8, an operation device 801, a display device 802, and the like.

The operation device 801 receives an operation by a user. The display device 802 includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel that can display information.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 8 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 82, a secondary storage device 83, a communication device 84, and the like.

The CPU 81 executes various programs stored in the secondary storage device 83 or the like in advance to perform various calculations, data processing, and control of electric devices included in the image forming apparatus 10. The control of the electric device is control related to the printing process or the image reading process.

It is also conceivable that another processor such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) may execute the control relating to the printing process or the image reading process instead of the CPU 81.

The RAM 82 is a computer-readable volatile storage device that temporarily stores the program executed by the CPU 81 and the data output and referenced in the process of executing the program by the CPU 81.

The secondary storage device 83 is a computer-readable non-volatile storage device that stores data or programs referenced by the CPU 81. For example, the secondary storage device 83 may be a flash memory or a hard disk drive.

The communication device 84 communicates with other devices such as the host device 7 through the network 70. The CPU 81 executes all transmission and reception of data with the other device through the communication device 84. The host device 7 is an information processing device such as a personal computer.

For example, the CPU 81 operates as the main control unit 8a, the print control unit 8b, the image data processing unit 8c, and the like by executing the program.

The main controller 8a executes a process of selecting a job related to the print process or the image reading process, a process of setting various data, and the like according to an operation on the operation device 801.

For example, the main controller 8a executes a sheet size setting process. The sheet size setting process is a process of setting the accommodation size data D1 indicating the size of the sheet 9 accommodated in each of the sheet cassettes 2. The main controller 8a stores the data in the secondary storage device 83.

The main control unit 8a sets the accommodation size data D1 according to the setting operation on the operation device 801. Further, when the accommodation size setting command is received from the host device 7 through the communication device 84, the main control unit 8a may set the accommodation size data D1 according to the setting instruction of the accommodation size setting command.

The main control unit 8a that executes the sheet size setting process is an example of a sheet size setting unit that sets the accommodation size data D1.

The print control unit 8b controls the sheet conveying device 3 and the printing device 40. For example, when the print control unit 8b receives the print request command D2 having the sheet automatic selection mode and the sheet size as the designation conditions, the sheet cassette in which the accommodation size data D1 representing the size that matches the designated size is set. The sheet conveying device 3 is caused to execute the process of feeding the sheet 9 from 2.

Further, when the print request command D2 is a command for requesting the print processing on a plurality of sheets 9, the print control unit 8b sets the second and subsequent sheets at a timing corresponding to the sheet length represented by the accommodation size data D1. The sheet transporting device 3 is caused to execute the process of feeding the sheet 9 from the sheet cassette 2.

In the following description, the size of the sheet 9 that is frequently used is referred to as a normal size. The size of the sheet 9 that is used less frequently than the normal size sheet 9 is referred to as a peculiar size. In many cases, the normal-size sheet 9 is stored in the sheet cassette 2 in advance.

The image that is the target of the printing process is referred to as a print target image G1 (see FIG. 5). The print target image G1 is an image based on received image data received from the host device 7 through the communication device 84, a read image obtained by the image reading process of the image reading device 1, or stored in advance in the secondary storage device 83. An image based on the recorded image data that has been recorded.

By the way, there is a case where it is desired to form a partial image G2 of the print target image G1 occupying the image area corresponding to the normal size on the sheet 9 of the unique size smaller than the normal size (see FIGS. 5 and 6). ..

In the above case, the host device 7 such as a personal computer generally executes a process of cutting out the partial image G2 from the print target image G1 and a process of transmitting the print request for the partial image G2 to the image forming apparatus 10. It was target.

For example, the host device 7 executes processing such as cutting out the partial image G2 from the print target image G1 by executing an application program that creates a document or a drawing.

However, it is troublesome for the user to perform an operation for cutting out the area of the partial image G2 in the host device 7. Further, the application program of the host device 7 may not have the function of executing the process of cutting out the partial image G2.

In addition, it is troublesome for the user to change the accommodation size data D1 and restore the original size each time the unique size sheet is temporarily used.

On the other hand, when a sheet of the unique size smaller than the normal size is used and the accommodation size data D1 is not changed to the data representing the unique size, the following inconvenient situation may occur.

For example, the first inconvenient situation is that the printing device 40 supplies useless toner to the area other than the sheet 9 and the printing device 40 and its periphery are contaminated with the toner.

A second inconvenient situation is that when the printing process is performed on a plurality of sheets 9, the second and subsequent sheets 9 are delayed from the appropriate timing corresponding to the peculiar size. That is, it is sent out from the sheet cassette 2. In this case, the efficiency of the printing process deteriorates.

On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus 10 receives the print request that specifies the data of the print target image G1 occupying the image area larger than the size represented by the accommodated size data D1, the error notification is issued without executing the print processing. It is possible to execute the process.

In the above case, the problem of toner contamination of the device is avoided. However, the cutout process of the partial image G2 by the host device 7 and the change of the accommodation size data D1 in the image forming apparatus are necessary to form the partial image G2 on the sheet 9 of the unique size.

On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 10, the CPU 81 executes print control described later (see FIG. 4). As a result, the image forming apparatus 10 forms a partial image G2 of the print target image G1 on the sheet 9 having a size smaller than the sheet size represented by the accommodation size data D1 set for the sheet cassette 2. The processing can be executed by a simple operation while avoiding contamination of the apparatus due to useless development.

[Data Structure of Print Request Command D2]
An example of the data structure of the print request command D2 that the image forming apparatus 10 receives from the host device 7 will be described below with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, the print request command D2 includes designated cassette data D21, designated size data D22, print condition data D23, and target designation data D24. Further, the print request command D2 may include special mode flag data D25.

The print request command D2 may include the special mode flag data D25 and the base point designation data D26.

The designated cassette data D21 is data representing a specific sheet cassette 2. The sheet cassette 2 specified by the designated cassette data D21 is a supply source of the sheet 9 in the print processing. In the following description, the sheet cassette 2 specified by the designated cassette data D21 will be referred to as a designated cassette. The designated cassette is an example of a designated supply source.

The designated size data D22 is data representing a specific sheet size. In the following description, the size of the sheet 9 represented by the designated size data D22 is referred to as the designated size. The print condition data D23 is data that specifies conditions other than the specified cassette and the specified size in the print processing.

For example, the print condition data D23 is collected in one page of the sheet 9 and color designation data that designates monochrome printing or color printing, output side designation data that designates double-sided printing or single-sided printing, magnification data that designates image magnification. One or more of the aggregated data designating the number of pages of the print target image G1 to be printed is included.

The target designation data D24 is data that designates the data of the print target image G1. The data of the print target image G1 is the received image data, the read image data, the recorded image data stored in the secondary storage device 83, or the like. The received image data is data accompanying the print request command D2.

The special mode flag data D25 is data for designating a special mode that is predetermined as an operation mode of the print processing. The user sets the designated size sheet 9 in the designated cassette before transmitting the print request command D2 including the special mode flag data D25 from the host device 7. Here, the designated size is the unique size.

In the above case, the user does not perform the operation of changing the accommodation size data D1 for the designated cassette because the use of the sheet 9 of the designated size is temporary. Therefore, a situation occurs in which the sheet size indicated by the accommodation size data D1 of the designated cassette and the size of the sheet 9 actually accommodated in the designated cassette do not match.

In the following description, the print request command D2 including the special mode flag data D25 will be referred to as a special print request command. The print request requested by the special print request command is called a special print request.

On the other hand, the print request command D2 that does not include the special mode flag data D25 is called a normal print request command. Further, the print request requested by the normal print request command is referred to as a normal print request.

The print request command D2 including the special mode flag data D25 is a print request command D2 that specifies the special mode, and the print request command D2 that does not include the special mode flag data D25 is a print request that does not specify the special mode. It is the command D2.

The base point designation data D26 is data that designates the position of the base point in the print target image G1 in the print process when the special mode is designated. As will be described later, when the image area of the print target image G1 is larger than the specified size, the partial image of the area of the unique size based on the position of the base point in the print target image G1 becomes the target of the print processing. Become. A specific example of the base point will be described later.

[Print control]
Next, an example of the print control procedure will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

For example, the main control unit 8a starts the print control when receiving the print request. When the print request is accepted, the main control unit 8a receives the print request command D2 through the communication device 84, or the main control unit 8a detects the print start operation for the operation device 801.

Before the print start operation is performed on the operation device 801, parameters corresponding to each data included in the print request command D2 are set in advance through the operation device 801.

In the following description, S1, S2,... Represent identification codes of a plurality of steps in the print control.

<Step S1>
In the print control, the main control unit 8a determines whether the print request is the normal print request or the special print request. Then, the main control unit 8a shifts the processing to step S2 when determining that the print request is the normal print request, and performs the processing when determining that the print request is the special print request at step S5. Shift to.

<Step S2>
In step S2, the print control unit 8b determines whether or not the print target image G1 designated in the normal print request is an image of the accommodation size over.

Then, the print control unit 8b shifts the process to step S3 when determining that the print target image G1 is the image of the accommodation size over, and otherwise shifts the process to step S4.

The accommodation size over image is an image occupying an image area larger than the sheet size represented by the accommodation size data D1 set for the designated cassette.

When the image magnification is specified in the print condition data D23, the size of the image area occupied by the print target image G1 is the size of the image after the size adjustment with the specified magnification.

Similarly, in the print condition data D23, when a condition for collecting images for a plurality of pages on one page of the sheet 9 is designated, the size of the image area occupied by the print target image G1 is designated by the aggregated data. It is the size of the image after the aggregation adjustment is performed.

When the print target image G1 is an image of the above-mentioned accommodation size, when the print processing of the print target image G1 is performed on the sheet 9 of the size indicated by the accommodation size data D1, there arises a problem that the device is stained by the toner. obtain.

The designated cassette data D21 may be data that designates the sheet automatic selection mode. In this case, the print control unit 8b regards the sheet cassette 2 in which the accommodation size data D1 representing the size matching the specified size is set as the specified cassette and executes the process.

Further, it is conceivable that the designated cassette data D21 is the data that designates the sheet automatic selection mode, and the accommodation size data D1 that represents the size that matches the designated size is not set. In this case, the print control unit 8b performs the same process as when determining that the print target image G1 is an image of the accommodation size over.

<Step S3>
In step S3, the print control unit 8b executes the error notification process without causing the printing device 40 to execute the print process. Then, the print control unit 8b ends the print control.

When the print control is started in response to the reception of the print request command D2, the error notification process sends a predetermined error message to the host device 7 which is the transmission source of the print request command D2 through the communication device 84. This is the process of transmitting.

Further, when the print control is started in response to the print start operation on the operation device 801, the error notification process is a process of displaying the error message on the display device 802.

<Step S4>
In step S4, the print controller 8b executes accommodation size print control. Then, the print control unit 8b ends the print control.

In the accommodation size print control, the print control unit 8b causes the sheet conveying device 3 to perform a process of sending out the sheet 9 from the designated cassette at a timing corresponding to the sheet size represented by the accommodation size data D1 of the designated cassette.

Further, in the accommodation size print control, the print control unit 8b causes the printing apparatus 40 to perform the normal print process of forming the print target image G1 on the sheet 9 according to the print condition represented by the print condition data D23.

<Step S5>
In step S5, the print control unit 8b determines whether or not the print target image G1 designated in the special print request is an image of a designated size over.

Then, the print control unit 8b shifts the process to step S6 when determining that the print target image G1 is the image of the specified size over, and otherwise shifts the process to step S7.

The specified size over image is an image occupying an image area larger than the specified size in the special print request.

In the situation where it is determined that the print target image G1 is the image of the specified size over, the sheet 9 of the specified size is set in advance in the specified cassette without changing the accommodation size data D1 of the specified cassette. The situation.

<Step S6>
In step S6, the print control unit 8b executes partial image print control. Then, the print control unit 8b ends the print control.

In the partial image print control, the print control unit 8b causes the sheet conveying device 3 to perform a process of sending out the sheet 9 from the designated cassette at a timing according to the designated size.

Further, in the partial image print control, the print control unit 8b forms a special print process for forming an image of a partial area corresponding to the designated size in the print target image G1 on the sheet 9 according to the print condition represented by the print condition data D23. Is executed by the printing apparatus 40.

In the partial image print control, the image data processing unit 8c executes a process of cutting out an image of a partial area corresponding to the specified size in the print target image G1 as a partial image G2.

That is, the size of the partial image G2 is a size corresponding to the designated size. In addition, when an indispensable margin is set on the outer edge of the sheet 9, the size corresponding to the designated size is the size of the remaining area excluding the margin from the entire area of the sheet 9 of the designated size.

The image data processing unit 8c cuts out, as a partial image G2, an image of the partial area in the print target image G1 with the base point designated by the base point designation data D26 as a reference.

For example, the base point is the position of the upper left corner, the upper right corner, the center, or the base point mark M1 in the print target image G1.

When the base point is the upper left corner, the image data processing unit 8c sets the partial area so that the upper left corner of the partial image G2 matches the upper left corner of the print target image G1.

When the base point is the upper right corner, the image data processing unit 8c sets the partial area so that the upper right corner of the partial image G2 matches the upper right corner of the print target image G1.

When the base point is the center, the image data processing unit 8c sets the partial area so that the center of the partial image G2 coincides with the center of the print target image G1.

When the base point is the position of the base point mark M1, the partial area in the special print process is an area based on the position where the predetermined base point mark M1 is formed in the print target image G1.

That is, when the base point is the position of the base point mark M1, the image data processing unit 8c specifies the position where the base point mark M1 is present in the print target image G1. For example, it is conceivable that the base point mark M1 is handwritten on the original 90 by the user and the read image from the original 90 is the print target image G1.

Further, the image data processing unit 8c sets the partial area such that the upper left corner of the partial image G2 coincides with the position of the base point mark M1 in the print target image G1.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the print target image G1 includes the first page image PG1 and the second page image PG2, and the special print request is the print condition data D23. Depending on the case, the double-sided printing may be designated.

In the above case, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, it is considered that the special printing process is a cutout region printing process shown below.

In the cutout area printing process, the image of the first partial area A1 in the first page image PG1 which is based on the base point is formed as the partial image G2 on the first surface 9a of the sheet 9, and the second page image PG2 is formed. This is a process of forming an image of the second partial area A2, which is line-symmetric with respect to the first partial area A1 with respect to the center line L1 in the width direction, as the partial image G2 on the second surface 0b of the sheet 9.

That is, when the first page image PG1 and the second page image PG2 are images on both sides of one original 90, the first partial area A1 and the second partial area A2 completely overlap each other on the front and back sides of the original 90. Area. The cutout area print processing is suitable for obtaining a printed matter corresponding to a partial original obtained by cutting out a partial area of one original 90.

It is also conceivable that the print control unit 8b causes the printing apparatus 40 to execute the cutout area printing process when a predetermined cutout mode is designated in the print request command D2.

<Step S7>
In step S7, the print control unit 8b executes designated size print control. Then, the print control unit 8b ends the print control.

In the designated size print control, the print control unit 8b causes the sheet conveyance device 3 to perform a process of feeding the sheet 9 from the designated cassette at a timing according to the size.

Further, in the designated size print control, the print control unit 8b causes the printing apparatus 40 to perform the normal print process of forming the print target image G1 on the sheet 9 according to the print condition represented by the print condition data D23.

As described above, the print control unit 8b designates the predetermined special mode, the designated cassette representing the specific sheet cassette 2 and the designated size representing the specific sheet size, and further, the designated size. When the special print request designating the data of the print target image G1 occupying a larger image area is received, the partial image print control is executed (step S6).

By performing the partial image print control, the problem of toner contamination of the device can be avoided.

Further, when the printing process is performed on a plurality of sheets 9, the second and subsequent sheets 9 are delivered from the sheet cassette 2 at an appropriate timing corresponding to the peculiar size.

Furthermore, in order to form the partial image G2 on the sheet 9 of the unique size, the cut-out processing of the partial image G2 by the host device 7 and the change of the accommodation size data D1 in the image forming apparatus 10 are unnecessary.

Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10 forms the partial image G2 of the print target image G1 on the sheet 9 of the unique size smaller than the sheet size represented by the accommodation size data D1 set for the sheet cassette 2. The processing to be performed can be executed by a simple operation while avoiding contamination of the device due to useless development.

Further, the print control unit 8b accepts the normal print request for designating the designated size and the designated cassette without designating the special mode, and the accepted normal print request is for the print target image G1 of the accommodation size over. When data is designated, the error notification process is executed without causing the printing apparatus 40 to execute the print process (step S3).

Therefore, when the special mode is not designated, the print processing of the print target image G1 that is over the accommodated size is not performed, and the problem of the dirt of the device due to toner is avoided.

[First application example]
In the first application example of the image forming apparatus 10, when the special print process in the partial image print control is being executed, the main control unit 8 a sets the sheet according to the duration of detection of the sheet 9 by the sheet sensor 33. A sheet length, which is the length of 9 in the transport direction, is estimated.

Further, when the estimated sheet length does not match the length of the sheet 9 represented by the designated size, the main control unit 8a suspends the partial image print control and executes a predetermined error notification process.

According to this application example, if the user has not set the sheet 9 of the unique size in the designated cassette or sets the wrong designated size, the useless printing process is continued. Avoided.

0b: second surface 1: image reading device 2: sheet cassette 3: sheet conveying device 4: image forming device 7: host device 8: control device 8a: main control unit (sheet size setting unit)
8b: print control unit 8c: image data processing unit 9: sheet 9a: first surface 10: image forming apparatus 30: sheet conveyance path 31: sheet feeding mechanism 32: conveyance roller pair 32a: registration roller pair 33: sheet sensor 40: Printing device 41: Photosensitive member 42: Charging device 43: Developing device 44: Transfer device 45: Fixing device 46: Optical scanning unit 70: Network 81: CPU
82: RAM
83: Secondary storage device 84: Communication device 90: Original document 801: Operation device 802: Display device A1: First partial area A2: Second partial area D1: Storage size data D2: Print request command D21: Designated cassette data D22: Designated size data D23: Print condition data D24: Target designation data D25: Special mode flag data D26: Base point designation data G1: Print target image G2: Partial image M1: Base point mark P1: Image forming position PG1: First page image PG2: Second page image

Claims (4)

One or more sheet storage units for storing sheets,
A sheet conveying device that sends out the sheet from the sheet storage unit,
A printing apparatus that executes a printing process for forming an image on the sheet sent from the sheet storage unit;
A sheet size setting unit that sets accommodation size data indicating the size of the sheets accommodated in the sheet accommodation unit;
A print control unit that controls the sheet conveying device and the printing device,
The print control unit specifies a predetermined special mode, a specified supply source representing the specific sheet storage unit, and a specified size representing a specific sheet size, and further occupies an image area larger than the specified size. When a special print request that specifies the data of the target image is accepted, the partial image print control is executed,
The partial image print control causes the sheet conveying device to execute a process of sending out the sheet from the designated supply source at a timing according to the designated size, and further, a partial area corresponding to the designated size in the image to be printed. An image forming apparatus, which is control for causing the printing apparatus to execute a special print process for forming an image on the sheet. The print control unit receives a normal print request that specifies the specified size and the specified supply source without specifying the special mode, and the received normal print request is the accommodation size data corresponding to the specified supply source. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when specifying data of the image to be printed that occupies an image area larger than the size indicated, the error notification processing is executed without causing the printing apparatus to execute the printing processing. When the image to be printed includes a first page image and a second page image, and the special print request specifies double-sided printing, the special print process is based on a predetermined base point of the first page image. And an image of the first partial region is formed on the first surface of the sheet, and the second partial region of the second page image is line-symmetrical with respect to the center line in the width direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which is a process of forming an image on the second surface of the sheet. The image according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the partial area in the special print process is an area based on a position where a predetermined base point mark is formed in the image to be printed. Forming equipment.