JP2001235917A - Image forming device and image forming method utilized for it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device where printed matter with a printed range that is greater than a printing range on cut paper that is utilized can be output comparatively efficiently and simply. SOLUTION: In an image forming method utilized for the image forming device sequentially feeding the cut paper of a specified size and forming an image on the cut paper, the cut paper that is continuously fed out from a cut paper storing part where a multiple number of the cut paper is stored is fed with layered parts on its end parts and image information is continuously transferred to the cut paper fed by the paper feeding step.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for outputting, as a print print, data obtained by a scanner or data generated by a computer, and an image forming method used therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional image forming apparatus, a type in which cut paper of a predetermined length is fed for each type of paper to be used.
(Cut paper type) and, for example, a type (continuous paper type) for feeding continuous paper folded in a folding screen shape are common. In recent years, in response to diversifying user demand,
It is becoming possible to output various forms of prints with one image forming apparatus. Among the cut sheet type image forming apparatuses, for example, a print area larger than a print area on a sheet to be used, such as a long schedule, is used. With respect to printed matter having a print area, there is known a printed matter having a function of dividing image information into a plurality of sheets and outputting the divided sheets.

[0003]

In a conventional cut sheet type image forming apparatus, printing is usually performed by feeding cut sheets one by one, and a margin is formed at the edge of each sheet. It has become so. This output form is also the same as in the case of outputting a printed matter having a print area larger than the print area on the paper to be used as described above. In this case, the image information is divided into a plurality of papers and printed. Then, cutting and pasting are performed to create a printed matter having a print area of a desired size. However, in such a creation procedure, there is a possibility that a cut portion of a printed portion may be lost during cut and paste. In addition, since a margin is formed at a peripheral portion on each cut sheet, a printing area is reduced, and an extra sheet may be required.

In an image forming apparatus described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-247434, a reading means for reading an original image, and an enlarged continuous shooting for forming an image by dividing the image read by the reading means into a plurality of sheets. Means for dividing the document displayed on the display means into a plurality of sheets and combining and displaying them according to the selection of the sheet size.
In this image forming apparatus, for a printed material having a printing area larger than the paper to be used, by providing an overlapped portion at the boundary of the divided areas, even when the printed part is slightly cut off at the time of cutting and pasting, complete printing can be performed. An area can be secured. However, in this image forming apparatus,
Since an overlapping portion of the print area is formed in order to cope with a cutout that may occur at the time of cutting and pasting, waste occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of relatively efficiently and easily outputting a print having a print area larger than a print area on a cut sheet to be used. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for sequentially feeding cut sheets of a predetermined length and forming an image on the cut sheets, wherein a plurality of cut sheets are stored. Feeding means for feeding the cut sheets continuously fed from the cut sheet storage section to be provided with at least an overlap portion at their ends, and the overlapping portion on the cut sheet fed by the sheet feeding means. And a transfer means for transferring image information continuously.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the first sheet feeding means is arranged at or near a discharge port of the cut sheet storage section. And a second paper feed roller disposed upstream of the first paper feed roller and drivable in synchronization with the first paper feed roller.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the changing means for changing the length of the overlapping portion of the cut sheets upstream of the transfer means. Is provided.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 of the present application is directed to an image forming method used in an image forming apparatus for sequentially feeding cut sheets of a predetermined length and forming an image on the cut sheets. Cut paper continuously fed from the cut paper storage unit where the paper is stored is fed with an overlap portion at least at their ends, and the cut sheet fed in the paper feeding step includes the overlap portion. And a step of continuously transferring image information.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 of the present application is the invention according to claim 4, further comprising a step of changing the length of the overlapping portion of the cut sheets prior to the transferring step. It is characterized by doing.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a network including an image forming apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a printer) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The network 100 is a master computer that performs tasks such as control and management of the entire network and file search required from other network configurations.
(Hereinafter, referred to as a server PC) 101 and a plurality of slave computers (hereinafter, referred to as client PCs) 102
And a printer 103 for outputting the data transmitted from the client PC 102 as a print print, and a scanner 104 for reading information attached to a document such as a picture or a character and acquiring information data. The server PC 101 is provided with a database 101A for systematically managing various data. This database 101A stores each client P as needed.
Access is made by C102, and writing or reading of data is performed. In the network 100, one printer 103 is shared by a plurality of client PCs 102. The printer 103 responds to a request from each client PC 102, and sequentially receives data acquired by the scanner 104, for example. The data created in the client PC 102 is output.

The printer 103 is of a cut sheet type for feeding cut sheets of a predetermined length.
The transport mechanism is shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). These figures 2
2A and 2B show a closed state and an opened state, respectively, of the outer component member A forming the right door with respect to the printer main body B. First, as shown in FIG.
Paper feed cassette 1 provided with paper feed roller 8 near its discharge port
4 are detachably accommodated. On the right side of the first paper feed roller 8, that is, on the side of the outer structural member A, there is provided a guide portion 28 inclined obliquely upward. Further, fixing rollers 9 and 16 as fixing means are provided on the upper part of the printer body B. The fixing rollers 9 and 16 are supported by supporting portions 25 and 26 surrounding the fixing rollers 9 and 16. A guide portion 29 is provided above the support portions 25 and 26. At a position in the printer body B between the first paper feed roller 8 and the fixing rollers 9 and 16 facing the outer shell component A,
An image forming unit (imaging cartridge) 10 having a photoconductor 50 is detachably accommodated.

On the other hand, the shell component A has an exterior plate 7 attached to the lower right corner of the printer body B via a hinge 17 so as to be openable and closable. Inside the exterior plate 7 (on the side of the printer body B), guide portions 5a, 5b,
A guide plate 5 having 5c is integrally attached via a compression spring in a mode having a certain degree of freedom. The guide portions 5a, 5b, and 5c of the guide plate 5 form transport paths 35, 36, and 37 for paper, respectively, between the guide portions 5a, 5b, and 5c, that is, along the side surface of the imaging cartridge 10. On the printer body B side of the guide plate 5, a guide plate 4, transport rollers 1 and 2 as transport means, a transfer roller 3 as a transfer means, and a paper detector 15 are further integrally attached. In addition, on the outside of the exterior plate 7 (the side opposite to the printer body B),
A double-sided printing unit 6 for inverting and transporting the sheet in the double-sided copy mode is integrally mounted.
The outer structural member A, that is, the outer plate 7, the guide plates 4, 5, the transport rollers 1, 2, the transfer rollers 3, the paper detector 15, and the duplex printing unit 6 are integrated with the printer body B. Is opened and closed.

More specifically, the transfer roller 3 is disposed in a concave portion between the guide portions 5a and 5b of the guide plate 5, corresponding to the photosensitive member 50 of the imaging cartridge 10. The transport roller 2 forming a pair with the transport roller 1 is disposed in a recess between the guide portions 5b and 5c of the guide plate 5. The guide plate 4 is disposed immediately before (upstream) the pair of transport rollers 1 and 2 in the transport direction, facing the guide portion 5a. Since the guide plate 4 only covers a part of the guide portion 5a in the transport direction,
It does not hinder the removal of jam paper. The paper detector 15 is provided in the guide portion 5a, and detects a paper passing through the transport path 37 between the guide portion 5a and the guide plate 4.

When the outer member A is closed with respect to the printer body B, the guide plate 5 is positioned by a positioning member (not shown) on the imaging cartridge 10 side. Thereby, the imaging cartridge 10
The relative positional accuracy between the inner photoreceptor 50 and the transport roller pairs 1 and 2 on the outer shell member A side, the transfer roller 3, and the guide plates 4 and 5 can be improved.

In operation, the sheets stacked in the paper feed cassette 14 shown in FIG. 2A are sequentially sent out from the paper feed cassette 14 by the first paper feed roller 8 and its peripheral components. The paper fed from the paper feed cassette 14 is guided to the guide portion 28 at the lower right corner of the printer main body B, the guide plate 4 and the guide portion 5a on the outer component member A side, and to the transport roller pairs 1 and 2 through the transport path 37. Conveyed.
The transport roller pairs 1 and 2 transport the sheet to the transfer roller 3 at a predetermined timing through the transport path 36. continue,
The transfer roller 3 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 50 in the imaging cartridge 10 to the paper.
The cut sheet that has passed through the transfer roller 3 is guided to the guide portion 5a, and is transported to the fixing rollers 9 and 16 through the transport path 35. The fixing rollers 9 and 16 fix the toner transferred to the paper. In the single-sided printing mode, the sheet that has passed through the fixing rollers 9 and 16 is guided by the guide unit 29 and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the roller 27. In the case of the double-sided printing mode, the sheet passing through the fixing rollers 9 and 16 is inverted by the roller 27 and sent to the double-sided printing unit 6. Then, from the double-sided printing unit 6, the transport roller pair 1,
Conveyed to 2. As a result, printing is performed on the opposite surface of the cut sheet.

The printer 103 according to this embodiment is
For a printed material having a print area larger than the sheet to be used, the print area is divided into a plurality of sheets and output. When the print area is divided and output, in the printer 103, the cut sheet continuously fed from the paper feed cassette 14 is fed at least at an end portion thereof with an overlapped portion, and includes the overlapped portion. Is printed. In the following description, such a paper feeding method is referred to as “over-feeding”, and the length of the overlapping portion of the cut sheets is referred to as “over-feeding amount”.

In order to realize the above-mentioned multi-feed paper feed, the printer 103 includes a second paper feed roller 80 arranged above the paper feed cassette 14 in addition to the first paper feed roller 8 described above.
have. The second paper feed roller 80 is driven in synchronization with the first paper feed roller 8 positioned downstream, and is fed next to the paper fed by the first paper feed roller 8 (that is, the paper feed cassette 14). In step (1), a sheet located immediately below the sheet fed by the first sheet feed roller 8) is sent out. Also, beside the transport path 36,
A sheet detection sensor 200 is provided, and this sheet detection sensor 200 can detect the leading edge of the sheet sent from the sheet cassette 14 and the leading edge of the next sheet at the time of overlap feeding. Although not shown, printer driver software capable of controlling the printer 103 in accordance with a print request from the application software is installed in the client PC 102 in advance.
When performing the above-mentioned overlap feeding, a "long print mode" is set on the printer driver software.

In the printer 103 according to the present embodiment,
When the operator sets the “long print mode” on the printer driver software, for example,
Is fed with an overlap at the ends thereof, and the amount of cut paper superimposed on the upstream side of the transfer roller 3 is adjusted by a pair of conveying rollers 1 and 2.
By controlling and changing the driving of the paper, continuous long paper can be simulated. Printer 103
Then, in the transfer roller 3, the image information is continuously transferred onto the pseudo long sheet, and the cut sheet on which the image is formed is discharged. Then, the desired printed matter can be created by bonding the ends of the cut sheets.

As described above, in the printer 103, when a print area larger than the print area on one cut sheet is divided into a plurality of cut sheets and output, it is not necessary to cut and paste a plurality of cut sheets as post-processing. The printed matter can be output in the state, and a long printed matter can be easily created. In addition, since the overlap feed amount of the cut sheet is changed by the feed amount of the pair of transport rollers 1 and 2, it is possible to adjust the entire length of the simulated sheet. As a result, by adjusting the entire length of the paper according to the required length of the print area, it is possible to output the cut paper without the need to cut and paste it as post-processing, and to print a long print. It can be created more easily.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart schematically showing a series of operations of the printer 103 for performing the above-mentioned overlap feeding. In response to a print request from the client PC 102, first, a CPU (not shown) in the printer 103 is reset and a program is started. Thus, the printer 103 first performs initialization for initializing the built-in CPU and setting the apparatus to the initial mode, such as clearing the memory, setting the internal timer, and setting various registers (S100). Then, printer 1
03 starts an internal timer incorporated in the CPU
(S200). As the value of the internal timer, the value set at the time of initial setting in S100 is used.

Further, in the printer 103, the sheet feeding process routine (S300) and the overlap feed amount changing routine (S40)
0), the subroutine of the image forming routine (S500) is sequentially called. Subsequently, other processing is executed (S6).
00). When all subroutines have been completed, it is determined in S700 whether or not the internal timer has expired. If it is determined that the internal timer has been completed, one routine is terminated.
After the end of one routine, the internal timer is started again. On the other hand, if it is determined in S700 that the internal timer has not expired, the process waits for the internal timer to expire, and terminates one routine. For example, if the internal timer is set to one second in S100, the steps of S200 to S700 are repeated until one second elapses, thereby ending one routine. If the internal timer goes through the main routine 60 times, it is determined that one minute has elapsed. Using the length of time of this one routine, various timers used in each of the above subroutines
(To be described later) is counted. In this case, the end of the timer is determined based on how many times the values of the various timers count one routine.

Next, a paper feed processing routine (S300) and a paper feed amount changing routine (S400) executed at the time of the above-mentioned paper feed will be described. Note that the image forming routine and other processes are well-known technologies, and a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 4 and FIG.
4 is a flowchart showing the first and second half steps of a sheet feeding process routine in S300 of FIG. In this paper feed processing routine, first, as shown in FIG.
At 10, it is confirmed whether a paper feed request for printing is set. As a result, if it is determined that the paper feed request has been set, the process advances to step S311.
The first paper feed roller 8 (see FIG. 2) is turned on. continue,
In S312, a paper feed timer for setting the time for rotating the first paper feed roller 8 is set, and in S313, the paper feed request is cleared.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S310 that the paper feed request has not been set, the flow advances to S314 to check whether the paper feed timer has been set. As a result, if it is determined that the sheet feed timer is set, the process proceeds to S315. On the other hand, if it is determined that the sheet feed timer has not been set, the process proceeds to S318 in FIG.

In S315, the paper feed timer is counted up. Subsequently, in S316, it is confirmed whether or not the sheet feeding timer has expired. As a result, if it is determined that the paper feed timer has expired, the flow advances to S317 to turn off the first paper feed roller 8. On the other hand, if it is determined in S316 that the paper feed timer has not expired,
Proceed to S318.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5, in S318, it is confirmed whether or not a continuous paper feed request is set. As a result, if it is determined that the continuous paper feed request has been set, the process proceeds to S319. On the other hand, if it is determined in S318 that the continuous paper feed request has not been set, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. S3
At 19, it is confirmed whether or not the interval timer for continuous paper feeding is set. As a result, if it is determined that the interval timer has been set, the process proceeds to S320.
If it is determined that the interval timer has not been set, the process proceeds to S325.

In step S320, the interval timer is counted up. In step S321, it is determined whether the interval timer has expired. As a result, if it is determined that the interval timer has expired, the process proceeds to S322.
If it is determined that the interval timer has not expired, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. In S322, the second paper feed roller 80 is turned on, and 1
As in the case of the first sheet, a paper feed timer is set in S323, and a continuous paper feed request is cleared in S324. Thereafter, the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

In S325, the sheet passing sensor 200
(See FIG. 2), an attempt is made to detect the leading edge of the first sheet. As a result, when the leading end of the first sheet is detected, the process proceeds to S326. On the other hand, when the leading end of the first sheet is not detected, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. In S326, an interval timer for determining the timing of turning on the second paper feed roller 80 for the second sheet is set. Subsequently, in S327, a flag is set for continuous paper feeding. Thereafter, the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

In the printer 103, following the paper feed processing routine, the overlap feed amount changing routine (S400 in FIG. 3) is executed. 6 and 7 show, respectively,
4 is a flowchart showing the first half and second half steps of the overlap feed amount changing routine in S400 of FIG.
In this overlap feed amount change routine, first, it is confirmed whether or not a flag has been set for continuous paper feed in the above-described paper feed processing routine (S410). As a result, if it is determined that the flag has not been set, no processing is performed, and FIG.
Returns to the main routine. On the other hand, when it is determined that the flag is set, the process proceeds to S411,
An attempt is made to detect the leading edge of the first sheet using the sheet passing sensor 200. As a result, if the leading edge of the first sheet is detected, the process proceeds to S412, at which point an overlap feed amount detection counter (not shown) is reset. Then, FIG.
Returns to the main routine.

If the leading end of the first sheet is not detected in step S411, the flow advances to step S413 to attempt to detect the leading end of the second sheet using the sheet passing sensor 200. As a result, if the leading edge of the second sheet is detected, the process proceeds to S414, in which the change amount is obtained from the value of the overlap feed amount detection counter at that time, and based on the value, the change of the transport roller pairs 1 and 2 is determined. Calculate the stop time. In S415, the calculated time is set as a conveyance roller pair stop timer, and subsequently, in S416, the conveyance roller pairs 1 and 2 are stopped to delay the second sheet by a predetermined amount. Then, FIG.
Returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, if the leading end of the second sheet is not detected in step S413, the flow advances to step S417 (see FIG. 7) to determine whether or not the stop timer for the transport roller pairs 1 and 2 is set. Confirm. As a result, the transport roller pair 1,
If it is determined that the stop timer for 2 has not been set, the process proceeds to S422, where the overlap feed amount detection counter is counted up. Thereafter, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. On the other hand, if the stop timer for the transport roller pairs 1 and 2 has been set in S417, the process proceeds to S418, and the stop timer for the transport roller pairs 1 and 2 is counted up. Subsequently, in S419, it is determined whether or not the stop timer for the transport roller pairs 1 and 2 has expired. As a result, when it is determined that the stop timers for the conveying roller pairs 1 and 2 have not expired, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined that the stop timer for the transport roller pairs 1 and 2 has expired,
Proceeding to 420, the transport roller pairs 1 and 2 are turned on again to start transporting the second sheet, and subsequently, in S421, the continuous paper feed flag is reset. Then, FIG.
Returns to the main routine.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and it goes without saying that various improvements and design changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for sequentially feeding cut sheets of a predetermined length and forming an image on the cut sheets. Paper feed means for feeding cut paper continuously fed from a cut paper storage unit in which a plurality of cut papers are stored with overlapping portions at their ends; and cut paper fed by the paper feed means Since there is a transfer unit for continuously transferring image information onto paper, it is not necessary to cut and paste a cut sheet as a post-process on a printed matter having a print area larger than a print area on one cut sheet. , And a long print can be created relatively easily.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the first sheet feeding means is disposed at or near a discharge port of the cut sheet storage section. Since it has a paper feed roller and a second paper feed roller disposed upstream of the first paper feed roller and drivable in synchronization with the first paper feed roller, the first paper feed roller is By driving the first cut sheet and simultaneously driving the second paper feed roller to feed the second cut sheet, it is possible to feed the sheet with an overlapped portion at their ends. it can.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the changing means for changing the length of the overlapping portion of the cut sheets upstream of the transfer means. Is provided, it is possible to adjust the entire length of the sheet formed in a pseudo manner. As a result, by adjusting the entire length of the paper according to the required length of the print area, it is possible to output the cut paper without the need to cut and paste it as post-processing, and to print a long print. It can be created more easily.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4 of the present application, in an image forming method used in an image forming apparatus for sequentially feeding cut sheets of a predetermined length and forming an image on the cut sheets, a plurality of cut sheets are provided. Cut paper continuously fed from the cut paper storage unit where the paper is stored is fed with an overlapped portion at those ends, and the image information is continuously printed on the cut paper fed in the paper feeding step. Since it has the step of transferring, it is possible to output a printed matter having a print area larger than the print area on one cut sheet without having to cut and paste a plurality of cut sheets as post-processing. Can be created relatively easily.

Further, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, prior to the transferring step, a step of changing a length of the overlapping portion of the cut sheets is further performed. , It is possible to adjust the overall length of the sheet formed in a pseudo manner.
As a result, by adjusting the entire length of the sheet according to the required length of the print area, it is possible to output the sheet without cutting and pasting the cut sheet as post-processing,
A long print can be created more easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a network including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which an outer component member is closed in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4B is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the outer constituent members are opened in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a series of operations of the image forming apparatus when outputting a printed material having a print area larger than a sheet to be used.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a first half step of a sheet feeding process routine of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a second half step of a sheet feeding process routine of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a first half step of an overlap feed amount changing routine of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a latter half step of an overlapping feed amount changing routine of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 First paper feed roller 80 Second paper feed roller 101 Server PC 102 Client PC 103 Printer 200 Paper detection sensor

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H072 AA16 AA24 AA32 AB04 AB10 AB19 AB20 BA03 BA12 BA17 CA01 CA02 3F101 LA01 LB03 3F102 AA01 AB01 BA07 CA00 CB07 EA03

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for sequentially feeding cut sheets of a predetermined length and forming an image on the cut sheets, wherein cut sheets continuously fed from a cut sheet storage unit in which a plurality of cut sheets are stored. A sheet feeding means for feeding the sheet with at least an overlapped portion at the ends thereof, and a transfer means for continuously transferring image information onto cut paper fed by the sheet feeding means. An image forming apparatus comprising: A first paper feed roller disposed at or near a discharge port of the cut paper storage unit, and a first paper supply means disposed upstream of the first paper supply roller; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second paper feed roller that can be driven in synchronization with the paper roller. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a change unit for changing a length of an overlapping portion of the cut sheets provided by the sheet supply unit, on an upstream side of the transfer unit.
Or the image forming apparatus according to 2. 4. An image forming method for use in an image forming apparatus for sequentially feeding cut sheets of a predetermined length and forming an image on the cut sheets, wherein a plurality of cut sheets are stored continuously from a cut sheet storage unit. Feeding the cut paper to be fed with at least an overlapping portion at the ends thereof, and continuously transferring image information including the overlapping portion on the cut paper fed in the paper feeding step. An image forming method, comprising: 5. The image according to claim 4, further comprising a step of changing a length of an overlap portion of the cut sheets given in the paper feeding step, prior to the transferring step. Forming method.