JP2000313558A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and exactly recognize the residual amount of a recording roll medium by measuring the used amount of the recording roll medium wound on a core tube and calculating the residual amount of the recording roll medium wound on the core tube based on measured used amount. SOLUTION: In a bar code, individual information on roll paper such as the kind, the size, the initial length and thickness of a roll paper is recorded. In a roll paper holder 70, a cutout 71 is formed. The bar code is irradiated with light radiated from a reading sensor 56 through the cutout 71. In the same way, light reflected on the bar code is made incident on the reading sensor 56 through the cutout 71. In a printer, a measuring part for measuring the used length of mounted roll paper and a calculating part for calculating residual amount of roll paper based on a value measured in the measuring part and the initial length of roll paper are incorporated. In the measuring part and the calculating part, information read by the reading sensor 56 is inputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a roll-shaped recording medium identification device for obtaining information on a roll-shaped recording medium,
And an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a roll-shaped recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an output device of a computer or a workstation, an image forming apparatus of an ink jet system for forming an image on a recording medium by discharging ink, or an electrophotographic system for forming an image on a recording medium using a developer or the like. Is known. These image forming apparatuses include:
As a recording medium, there is a type that can selectively use both cut paper (a recording medium previously cut to a predetermined size) and roll paper (an example of a roll-shaped recording medium wound in a roll). There is also a type in which only roll paper can be used as a recording medium.

[0003] The roll paper generally comprises a core tube of a predetermined length and a recording paper wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core tube. There are various types of roll paper depending on the application. As the roll paper, for example, a roll paper in which a special coating is applied to the surface of the roll paper for sharpening an image, a film-based roll, a glossy roll, and the like are known.

Some of the above-described ink jet type image forming apparatuses increase or decrease the amount of ink discharged at one time according to the type (paper quality) of roll paper. Also, in order to form a high-quality image by keeping the distance between the print head that ejects ink and the roll paper constant, or to prevent the roll paper from contacting the print head,
Some types change the position of the print head according to the thickness of the roll paper. Further, since the transport amount of the roll paper varies depending on the paper thickness, in order to maintain a constant transport amount,
There is also a type in which the transport amount is controlled to be changed according to the thickness of the roll paper.

[0005] In the above-mentioned type of ink jet type image forming apparatus, it is important to identify the type and size of the roll paper and to detect the remaining amount of the roll paper. Therefore, this type of inkjet type image forming apparatus is configured such that the user identifies the type and size of roll paper, or identifies the type of roll paper using a special optical sensor.

Further, a core tube longer than the width of the roll paper is used, and an outer peripheral surface of a portion of the core tube protruding from the roll paper is
There is a technique for forming information on roll paper. In this technique, the protruding portion of the core tube is the reference side in the width direction of the roll paper. For this reason, there is no compatibility with roll paper which is widely distributed in the market. In order to ensure this compatibility, the structure of the image forming apparatus becomes complicated or its operability is reduced. Therefore, the image forming apparatus is inconvenient to use.

As a technique for detecting the remaining amount of roll paper, there is known a technique of forming a mark at the rear end of the roll paper (the part of the roll paper that starts to be wound around the core tube). However, according to this technique, only the trailing end (roll end) of the roll paper can be detected, and the remaining amount of the roll paper cannot be known. Therefore, the paper may be broken during image formation (printing). If such a paper break occurs, image formation must be restarted from the beginning, and the time and cost for this are lost. In particular, in the case of expensive roll paper, the loss is large.

[0008]

In order to identify the type and size of roll paper, as described above, if the user identifies the type and size of roll paper, the user can determine the type and size of roll paper. Sometimes the size is incorrectly identified. In such a case, the remaining amount of the roll-shaped recording medium cannot be accurately known. If the user uses a core tube having a different length according to the size of the roll paper so that the user can accurately identify the size of the roll paper, the versatility of the core tube in circulation is lost, It is necessary to be able to mount each of the core tubes having different lengths, which complicates the configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily and accurately knowing the remaining amount of a roll-shaped recording medium.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a drawn-out portion of a roll-shaped recording medium wound around a core tube while pulling out the roll-shaped recording medium. In the apparatus, (1) in the core tube, a recognition means representing information on a roll-shaped recording medium wound around the core tube and information carrying an initial length is formed at a longitudinal end of the core tube. (2) reading means for reading information represented by the recognition means;
(3) measuring means for measuring the usage of the roll-shaped recording medium wound on the core tube; and (4) a roll wound on the core tube based on the usage measured by the measuring means. Calculating means for calculating the remaining amount of the shape recording medium.

Here, the image forming apparatus may include (5) a display unit for displaying the remaining amount calculated by the calculating means.

(6) The display unit displays the remaining amount of the roll-shaped recording medium wound around the core tube when the core tube is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. Is also good.

Further, the image forming apparatus compares (7) the remaining amount calculated by the calculating means with an amount of a portion of the roll-shaped recording medium where an image is to be formed, and compares the remaining amount with the amount. Warning means for warning when the amount is small may be provided.

Still further, (8) the recognition means may be constituted by irregularities formed at the longitudinal end of the core tube.

(9) The recognition means comprises a barcode printed on the longitudinal end of the core tube or a barcode label attached to the longitudinal end. Is also good.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a color printer (hereinafter, referred to as a printer) is an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
Will be described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the printer.

The printer 1 is fixed on an upper part of a stand 2 with casters 2a. The printer 1 includes an operation unit 3 for operating the printer 1, and by operating various switches and the like provided on the operation unit 3, the paper size, online / offline, commands, and the like are instructed. . The roll paper inserted into the recording paper insertion slot 4 from the direction of arrow A is conveyed to the inside of the printer 1 based on an instruction from the operation unit 3, where an image is printed and discharged. Further, a display unit 22 for displaying the remaining amount of roll paper and the like is formed adjacent to the operation unit 3 as described later.

The transport path of the roll paper will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a transport path from insertion of roll paper to discharge in the printer of FIG.
In this figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The printer 1 can selectively print on both the recording paper inserted through the recording paper insertion slot 4 and the recording paper (roll paper 5) wound in a roll. Here, the transport path of the roll paper inserted from the recording paper insertion slot 4 will be described.
The transport path of the recording paper is almost the same.

The leading end of the roll paper 5 is inserted into the recording paper insertion slot 4 from the direction of arrow A. The inserted roll paper 5 passes between the cover 6 and the upper guide 7, and is attached to the paper transport rollers 9 a and 9 b attached to the lower transport roller support plate 8 and the upper transport roller support plate (also serving as a platen) 10. While being sandwiched between the paper transport roller 9c and the driving roller 11, the paper reaches the upper part (image forming area) of the printing plate 13 via the first position regulating member 12 which regulates the position of the roll paper 5.

The roll paper 5 that has passed through the second position regulating member 14 formed on the downstream side of the printing plate 13 in the recording paper transport direction is discharged while being sandwiched between the discharge roller 19 and the spur 20. Printing plate 13 of rolled paper 5 being transported
Are located above the first position regulating member 12 and the second position regulating member 12.
The flatness is maintained by being regulated by the position regulating member 14. The printer 1 includes gears 11a and 20a for rotating the drive roller 11, the discharge roller 19, and the like.
21a and the like.

With reference to FIG. 3, a printing process for printing on roll paper or recording paper will be described.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the printing process of the printer shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Printing unit (carriage unit) 30 of printer 1
Is provided with a carriage 15 that reciprocates in the direction of arrow B. The carriage 15 includes a head holder 16, and a print head 17 containing each color ink (for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks) is mounted on the head holder 16.
A plurality of ink ejection ports (not shown) for ejecting ink are formed on an ink ejection surface (not shown) of the print head 17.

The carriage 15 is fixed to a belt 29 laid around a drive motor (not shown).
The belt 29 reciprocates in the direction of arrow B by forward and reverse rotation of the drive source. When the belt 29 reciprocates in the direction of arrow B, the carriage 15 is also guided by the guide rail 18 and reciprocates in the direction of arrow B.

The roll paper 5 is transported intermittently in a direction (recording paper transport direction) perpendicular to the arrow B direction. Roll paper 5
When an image is formed on the roll paper 5, the roll paper 5 is temporarily stopped, the carriage 15 is reciprocated in the direction of arrow B, and the position of the carriage 15 is detected by a position detecting device (not shown). Ink is ejected from the ink ejection port to a portion located in an image forming area formed in front of an ink ejection surface (not shown) based on image information input to the print head 17. Thereafter, the roll paper 5 is transported by a predetermined length, and an image for the next band is formed on a new portion located in the image forming area. This operation is repeated over the entire length of the roll paper 5. Thus, a color image is formed on the roll paper 5. The roll paper 5 on which the color image has been formed is discharged along the discharge guide 21 while being sandwiched between the discharge roller 19 and the spur 20, and has a predetermined length by a cutter 94 (see FIG. 8) arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction. Is cut off.

The roll-shaped recording medium identification device incorporated in the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. FIG.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the roll-shaped recording medium identification device. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an end of the core tube. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the end face of the core tube. In these drawings, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The roll-shaped recording medium identification device 40 includes a core tube 50 having a predetermined length around which the roll paper 5 is wound, and a core tube 5 having a predetermined length.
A reading sensor 56 (an example of a reading unit according to the present invention, which is an optical reflection sensor) that reads a barcode 52 (an example of a recognizing unit according to the present invention) attached to the end surface 50a of the “0”. And The reading sensor 56 has a known structure, and is built in the roll paper holder 60. The barcode 52 records individual information about the roll paper, such as the type (paper quality), size (width), initial length (length in an unused state), and thickness of the roll paper 5. . Therefore, the bar code 52 is read by the reading sensor 56.
Is read, and the content is displayed on the display unit 22 (see FIG. 1), so that the user can be notified of information about the roll paper accurately.

At one end of the core tube 50, a roll paper holder 70 is inserted about half as shown in FIG. The roll paper holder 70 is rotatably fixed to the roll paper holder 60 by a fixed shaft 72 and a stop ring 74. A cutout 71 is formed in the roll paper holder 70. The light emitted from the reading sensor 56 irradiates the barcode 52 through the notch 71, and similarly, the light reflected by the barcode 52 enters the reading sensor 56 through the notch 71. Note that the right end side (the side of the roll paper holder 60) of the roll paper 5 is based on the paper, and the roll paper holder 62
Is slid in the direction of arrow C corresponding to the width of the roll paper.

Referring to FIG. 7, another example of the barcode will be described.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a core tube in which a barcode is directly printed on an end face.

The end face 50a of the core tube 50 shown in FIG.
Is attached to the end face 80 of the core tube 80.
The barcode 82 may be printed directly on the “a”. If you choose to paste the barcode, the type, size,
On the end face of the core tube of roll paper whose initial length etc. are known,
By pasting a barcode on which these pieces of information are recorded, the same effect as in the case of the barcodes 52 and 82 can be obtained. Note that an IC card, a magnetic card, or the like may be used in place of the barcode, and a reader (an example of a reading unit according to the present invention) that reads the content recorded on these may be used.

The bar code 82 includes a bar code 5
As in 2, the type (paper quality), size (width),
Individual information about the roll paper, such as the initial length (length in an unused state) and the thickness, is recorded. Examples of the type of roll paper include plain paper, thick-coated paper, glossy paper, semi-glossy paper, glossy film, semi-glossy film, and backlight film. The barcodes 52 and 82 record information indicating which of these types the roll paper is. Further, a unique number (a serial number from 1) is assigned to each type of roll paper, and information representing this number is recorded in the bar codes 52 and 82.

In forming an image on roll paper by the printer 1, the roll paper in which the bar codes 52, 82 and the like as described above are wound around a core tube located at the end face is printed by the printer 1 (see FIG. 1). , And the leading end of the roll paper is inserted into the recording paper loading port 4 (see FIG. 2). By this insertion, the paper leading edge detection sensor 92 (see FIG. 8) is turned on, and the printer 1 starts to be driven and the roll paper starts to be conveyed. When the roll paper starts to be conveyed, the core tubes 50 and 80 rotate, and the information recorded in the bar codes 52 and 82 is read by the reading sensor 56. The read information is displayed on the display unit 22 (FIG. 1).
See). For this reason, the user is required to
Just look at the unique number, type,
You can know the size, initial length, thickness, etc.

The printer 1 has a measuring unit 96 for measuring the length of the roll paper used, which is used.
98 (see FIG. 8), and a calculation unit 114 (see FIG. 9) for calculating the remaining amount of roll paper based on the value measured by the measurement unit and the initial length of roll paper. The information read by the reading sensor 56 is input to the measuring units 96 and 98 and the calculating unit 114.

Based on the information read as described above, the rotational speed of the drive roller 11 (see FIG. 2) is determined, and the transport amount of the roll paper is determined. Based on a detection signal from a medium detection sensor (not shown) disposed in the vicinity of the image forming area and the amount of conveyance by the drive roller 11, the calculation unit accurately calculates the amount of roll paper used. The remaining amount of the roll paper is obtained by subtracting the usage amount calculated by the calculation unit from the initial length of the roll paper. The roll paper remaining amount obtained in this way is stored in the memory 112 (see FIG. 9) built in the printer 1.

The memory 112 stores a roll paper unique number. For this reason, when the used roll paper is removed from the printer 1 and then attached to the printer 1 again, the remaining amount is determined from the unique number of the roll paper, and this remaining amount is displayed on the display unit 22. You. As a result, the user can accurately know the remaining amount of the loaded roll paper. The remaining amount of the roll paper attached again is calculated as described above. When the roll paper is removed from the printer 1, the remaining amount is stored in the memory 112. In addition,
In the printer 1, a glossy film having a thickness of 120 μm is a standard of the conveyance amount by the drive roller 11. The conveyance amount of another type of roll paper having a different thickness is based on a difference from the thickness of the glossy film. Be increased or decreased.

Incidentally, the roll-shaped recording medium is manufactured by various manufacturing apparatuses. For this reason, there are a roll-shaped recording medium in which the winding start portion (rear end) is fixed to the core tube with tape or the like, and a roll-shaped recording medium which is not fixed at all and has a free end. In a roll-shaped recording medium in which the winding start portion is a free end, as the remaining amount decreases, the winding start portion may be loosened and separated from the core tube depending on the strength of the "hip". The remaining amount of the roll-shaped recording medium when it separates in this manner changes depending on the strength of the "stiffness" of the roll-shaped recording medium, and even if the remaining amount is several meters, it may be separated from the core tube. Therefore, a process when the remaining amount becomes low will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic view showing the transport path of the roll-shaped recording medium.

The roll paper 5 wound around the core tube 50 is inserted along the guide plate 90, and the leading end of the roll paper 5 is detected by the paper leading end detection sensor 92. The roll paper 5 is conveyed while being nipped by the drive roller 11 and the paper conveyance rollers 9a and 9c, and is nipped by the discharge roller 19 and the spur 20 toward the discharge port. Of the roll paper 5, the discharge roller 19 and the spur 20
Is cut into a predetermined length by a cutter 94. Note that the paper leading edge detection sensor 92 can also detect the trailing edge of the roll paper 5.

In the transport path between the paper transport rollers 9a and 9c,
A conveyance detection disk 96 that is in contact with the drive roller 11 with a weak pressure (weak pressure) is arranged. This transport detection disk 96
Rotates following the drive roller 11. Further, a plurality of slits 96a are radially provided at equal intervals in the conveyance detection disc 96.
Are formed. In the vicinity of the conveyance detection disk 96, a photo interrupter 98 for counting the number of slits 96a that have passed is disposed. The photo interrupter 98 counts the slits 96a that have passed, and
The number of rotations is determined.

When the roll paper 5 is transported on the surface of the drive roller 11 and advances, the roll paper 5 comes into contact with the transport detection disk 96, and the transport detection disk 96 rotates. When the roll paper 5 stops, the rotation of the conveyance detection disk 96 also stops. Accordingly, a state in which the roll paper 5 cannot move even when the drive roller 11 rotates is detected by the transport detection disk 96 and the photointerrupter 98.

A procedure for measuring the used amount, the remaining amount, and the like of the roll paper 5 using the above-described conveyance detection disk 96 and the photo interrupter 98 will be described.

First, the measurement reference and the transport path length of the roll paper 5 will be described.

A second leading edge detection sensor 100 for detecting the leading edge of the roll paper 5 is disposed slightly downstream of the discharge roller 19 in the recording medium transport direction. The second leading edge detection sensor 100 serves as a reference when measuring the used amount of the roll paper 5. The transport distance L from the end position of the roll paper 5 mounted on the printer 1 to the paper leading edge detection sensor 90 is 0.14 m. The transport distance from the end position to the paper leading edge detection sensor 100 is 0.3 m.
It is. Further, the paper leading edge detection sensor 100 and the cutter 9
4 is 0.04 m, and the distance between the paper edge detection sensor 92 and the paper edge detection sensor 100 is 0.04 m.
16m. Paper transport roller 9c and paper edge detection sensor 10
The transport distance between 0 and 0 is 0.06 m.

The procedure for measuring the amount of use, the remaining amount, and the like differs depending on the size of the roll paper 5. Therefore, here, a description will be given using a roll paper having an A0 size width (840 mm) as an example. It is assumed that the rear end of the roll paper 5 is fixed to the core tube 50. Further, a transport distance of 0.3 m between the end position and the paper leading edge detection sensor 100 is set to a length that cannot transport the roll paper 5, and the remaining amount is displayed at −0.5 m with a little margin from this length. . That is, in the case of roll paper having an initial length of 45 m, the remaining amount becomes 44.5 m when not used at all, and the calculation of the remaining amount starts from this 44.5 m.

The procedure for calculating the remaining amount of roll paper of A0 size width (840 mm) will be described with reference to FIGS. In the case of a width other than the A0 size width, the values of the transport amount and the remaining amount differ.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an apparatus for calculating the remaining amount of roll paper, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for calculating the remaining amount of roll paper.

The controller 110 built in the printer 1 (see FIG. 1) has a memory 112 and a calculation unit 114 incorporated therein. The information (information related to roll paper) read by the reading sensor 56 is transmitted to the controller 110. The usage amount measured by the transport detection disk 96 and the photo interrupter 98 is also transmitted to the controller 110. Further, the rotation speed of the driving roller 11 is controlled by the controller 110.

The flow shown in FIG. 10 is started when a roll-shaped recording medium is mounted on the printer 1. First, it is determined whether or not the unique number recorded on the bar code 52 attached to the end face 50a of the core tube 50 can be read (S101). When it is determined that the unique number can be read, it is determined whether or not the transport detection disk 96 is rotating (S102). When it is determined that the transport detection disk 96 is rotating, it is determined whether a unique number is stored in the memory 112 (S103). Memory 11
When it is determined that the unique number is stored in the display unit 2, the remaining amount is displayed on the display unit 22 to notify the user of the remaining amount of the loaded roll paper (S104), and printing (image formation) is performed. ) Is started (S105). After the printing is completed and the roll paper is cut, the length of the used portion of the roll paper is subtracted from the remaining amount displayed in S104 to obtain a new remaining amount (S106). When it is determined in S103 that the unique number is not stored in the memory 112, the unique number read from the barcode 52 is newly registered in the memory 112, and the process proceeds to S104.

If it is determined in S102 that the transport detection disk 96 is not rotating, it is determined again whether the unique number recorded on the bar code 52 can be read (S108). When it is determined that the unique number can be read, since the transport detection disk 96 is not rotating and there is no roll paper, the fact that there is no roll paper is displayed on the display unit 22 (S109). Thereafter, the roll paper having the unique number read from the barcode 52 is not used,
The unique number is deleted from the memory 112 (S11
0). If it is determined in S108 that the unique number recorded on the barcode 52 cannot be read, it is considered that an error has occurred in the transport of the roll paper, and the fact is displayed on the display unit 22 (S111). .

In S101, the bar code 52
Is determined to be unable to read the unique number recorded in (1), it is determined whether or not the transport detection disk 96 is rotating (S112). When it is determined that the transport detection disc 96 is rotating, it is determined whether the transport detection disk 96 can be further transported by 0.65 m (S113). Further, when it is determined that the transport can be performed by 0.65 m, the display unit 22 displays that an error has occurred in reading the unique number recorded in the barcode 52 (S114). If it is determined in S113 that the paper cannot be further conveyed by 0.65 m, the display unit 22 displays that the roll paper has run out (S11).
5).

After displaying that the roll paper has run out on the display unit 22 in S115, it is determined whether or not to continue printing (S116). When it is determined that printing is continued, the roll paper having the unique number read from the bar code 52 is not used, so that the unique number is deleted from the memory 112 (S117). Also, S116
In step S11, when it is determined that printing is not to be continued, a message to replace the roll paper is displayed on the display unit 22 (S11).
8). If it is determined in S112 that the conveyance detection disk 96 is not rotating, the fact that the roll paper has run out is displayed on the display unit 22 (S119), and the flow proceeds to S116. In this way, in the printer 1, the remaining amount of the roll paper is displayed on the display unit 22, so that it is possible to prevent the paper from running out during the image formation (printing). As a result, it is possible to prevent the image formation from being restarted from the beginning, so that it is possible to prevent loss of time and cost due to the restart.

[0058]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the remaining amount of the roll-shaped recording medium is calculated by the calculating means based on the usage amount measured by the measuring means. Can be easily and accurately known. Therefore, an easy-to-use image forming apparatus can be obtained.

Here, when a display unit for displaying the remaining amount calculated by the calculating means is provided, the remaining amount can be known from the display unit, so that the image forming apparatus is more convenient to use.

When the core tube is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the display unit displays the remaining amount of the roll-shaped recording medium wound around the core tube. Since the remaining amount is displayed on the display unit when the roll-shaped recording medium is mounted, the remaining amount of the roll-shaped recording medium can be quickly known.

Further, the remaining amount calculated by the calculating means is compared with the amount of the portion of the roll-shaped recording medium on which an image is to be formed, and a warning is issued when the remaining amount is smaller than this amount. When the means is provided in the image forming apparatus, the roll paper need not be wasted.

Further, when the recognizing means is constituted by irregularities formed at the longitudinal end of the core tube, a relatively simple recognizing means can be obtained.

Further, when the recognition means comprises a bar code printed on the longitudinal end of the core tube or a bar code label attached to the longitudinal end, the recognition means is further enhanced. It is possible to obtain recognition means having a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a printer in which a roll-shaped recording medium identification device of the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a transport path from insertion of recording paper to ejection of recording paper in the printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a printing process of the printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the roll-shaped recording medium identification device.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an end of the core tube.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an end face of the core tube.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a core tube on which a barcode is directly printed on an end surface.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic diagram illustrating a transport path of a roll-shaped recording medium.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for calculating the remaining amount of roll paper.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for calculating the remaining amount of roll paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 printer 5 roll paper 22 display unit 40 roll-shaped recording medium identification device 50, 80 core tube 52, 82 barcode 56 reading sensor 96 transport detection disk 98 photo interrupter 114 arithmetic unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C060 BA04 BA10 BC99 3F058 AA02 AB01 BA02 BB01 DA04 HB04 LA05 LA07 3F105 AA02 AB04 BA16 BA33 BA37 CC01 DA49 DA57 DB11 DC11

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a drawn-out portion while pulling out a roll-shaped recording medium wound around a core tube, wherein the core tube includes a roll-shaped recording medium wound around the core tube. Recognition means for representing information on a medium and information carrying an initial length is formed at a longitudinal end of the core tube, reading means for reading information represented by the recognition means, and the core tube Measuring means for measuring the usage amount of the roll-shaped recording medium wound around, and calculating the remaining amount of the roll-shaped recording medium wound on the core tube based on the usage amount measured by the measuring means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a calculation unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying a remaining amount calculated by said calculation unit. 3. The display unit displays the remaining amount of the roll-shaped recording medium wound around the core tube when the core tube is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. 4. A warning which compares a remaining amount calculated by the calculating means with an amount of a portion of the roll-shaped recording medium on which an image is to be formed, and warns when the remaining amount is smaller than this amount. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recognition unit is configured by irregularities formed at the longitudinal end of the core tube. The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 6. The bar code printed on the longitudinal end of the core tube or a bar code label affixed to the longitudinal end of the core tube. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.