JP2006044097A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer equipped with a method for correcting the inclination of an image to a recording medium by detecting the inclination of the recording medium, even when the medium is fed in a posture inclined to the paper feed direction. <P>SOLUTION: An inclination detection means comprises two means for detecting the passage of a recording medium arranged at a given interval on the recording medium, wherein the inclination angle of the recording medium is detected with the two means, based on the passage time difference of the recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus that can perform printing while correcting the inclination of a recording medium.

In an electrophotographic or ink jet printing apparatus, a means for providing a paper feed guide is provided so that a recording medium to be fed is not tilted and fed. Similarly, in a printing apparatus having an image reading device, when an original is placed at an inclination, the image on the output recording medium is also output at an inclination. Therefore, means for adjusting the scale when reading the original is taken. Yes. In addition, for a printing apparatus having a digital processing function, an input image is temporarily stored in a memory. For example, as in Patent Document 1, an image area is determined from an input image, and the reference direction of the image area and the printing apparatus is determined. There has been proposed one that detects the inclination of the image and corrects and outputs the image.
JP-A-4-329755

  With the above-described means for preventing the recording medium from being tilted using the paper feed guide and scale, the output recording medium is tilted when the operator does not correctly set the paper feed guide and scale. The means for correcting the image tilt by correcting the image stored in the memory by correcting the image stored in the memory is a means for analyzing the input image and correcting the image tilt. An inclined image is still formed with respect to the case of paper. Furthermore, there is no inclination in the input data for printing a document or the like from a host PC used in a printer or the like, and it becomes meaningless to correct the image.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a printing apparatus provided with a method for detecting the inclination and correcting the inclination of the image with respect to the recording medium even when the recording medium is fed with an inclination with respect to the feeding direction. It is intended to provide.

  The invention of claim 1 is a data input means for receiving input data, a print data generation means for generating print data from the input data, a storage means for storing the print data, and a print stored in the storage means. In a printing apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on data, an inclination detecting unit that detects an inclination of the recording medium to be printed with respect to a conveyance direction, and print data stored in a storage unit An image rotation unit that rotates the image with respect to the image, and print data is rotated by the image rotation unit so as to correct the tilt angle detected by the tilt detection unit, and is output to the image forming unit.

  The inclination detecting means comprises means for detecting the passage of two recording media arranged at a predetermined interval on the recording medium conveyance path, and the inclination of the recording medium is determined based on the difference in passage time between the two recording media. The angle is detected.

  In the present invention, as described in the following embodiments, data input means for receiving input data, print data generation means for generating print data from the input data, storage means for storing the print data, and the storage In a printing apparatus comprising image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium based on print data stored in the means, inclination detecting means for detecting the inclination of the recording medium to be printed with respect to the transport direction, and storage means An image rotation unit that rotates the stored print data, and rotates the print data by the image rotation unit so as to correct the tilt angle detected by the tilt detection unit and outputs the rotated print data to the image forming unit. Thus, even when the recording medium is fed with an inclination with respect to the feeding direction, a technique for detecting the inclination and correcting the inclination of the image with respect to the recording medium. It is possible to provide a printing apparatus having.

  The tilt detection unit that detects the tilt of the fed recording medium with respect to the feeding direction is a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the recording medium after the feeding roller that feeds the recording medium on the conveyance path of the printing apparatus. Are composed of two sensors arranged at regular intervals.

  When the printing apparatus is driven, feeding of the recording medium is started by the feed roller. Thereafter, an inclination angle with respect to the sheet feeding direction is detected by the inclination detection unit. Next, the print data stored in the memory is rotated according to the detected tilt angle and the print image is sent out, whereby the tilt of the image formed on the recording medium can be corrected.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 102 includes a controller unit 103 and a printer engine unit 104.

  The configuration of the controller unit 103 of the printing apparatus 102 is shown in FIG. The controller unit 103 of the printing apparatus 102 receives data input from an external device 101 such as a host PC, generates a print image from the input data, and outputs the print image to the printer engine unit 104. An input buffer for receiving input data 201, a rendering unit 202 that generates print data from input data stored in the input buffer, an output buffer 203 that stores print data generated by the rendering unit, and a print image generated from the print data stored in the output buffer and rotated The image rotation unit 204 outputs to the printer engine unit, and the engine interface unit 205 exchanges various information with the printer engine unit 104. The print data stored in the output buffer 203 may store the print image as it is like a page printer or using some data compression, or may be stored as intermediate data like a printer equipped with a page description language. .

  In the former case, the image rotation unit 204 has a function of rotating print data or a function of expanding and rotating the print data and outputting it to the printer engine unit. In the latter case, the image rotation unit generates a print image from the print data. And a function of rotating and outputting to the printer engine unit.

  The printer engine unit 104 of the printing apparatus forms a latent image on the photosensitive drum from the print image received from the controller unit 103. The latent image is developed on the recording medium with toner by a known electrophotographic process. As shown in FIG. 3, a recording medium 304 stored in a paper feed tray or paper feed cassette 302 is fed by a paper feed roller 301, and a developed toner image is transferred. Thereafter, the transferred image is fixed on the recording medium 304 by passing through the fixing device, and the image formation is completed.

  The controller unit 103 and the printer engine unit 104 of the printing apparatus 102 are connected by a predetermined video interface, and transfer a print image and exchange information of various sensors. Information exchange is performed, for example, by 16-bit unit command / status serial communication.

  Although an electrophotographic printer engine is assumed here, a known inkjet method may be used.

  The tilt detection unit will be described with reference to FIG. The inclination detection unit 303 is disposed immediately after the paper feed roller 301 in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 304 in the printing apparatus 102, and has a predetermined interval d (mm) in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction as shown in FIG. It is comprised from the two sensors 401 and 402 arrange | positioned. The sensors 401 and 402 detect the presence or absence of a recording medium, and a known reflection type sensor can be used. Also, it can be shared with a known media detection sensor installed for the purpose of identifying the type of recording medium. When the time when the sensors 401 and 402 detect the recording medium after the feeding roller 301 is driven is t1 and t2 (msec) and the feeding speed of the recording medium is v (mm / msec), the inclination angle θ of the paper is It is calculated by the following formula.

θ = arctan ((t1-t2) ^* v / d)
The angle is calculated by the printer engine unit 104 and notified to the controller unit 103 through a video interface.

  Hereinafter, the flow of image formation will be described.

  Data input from the external device 101 such as the host PC in the controller unit 103 is stored in the input buffer 201. The input data stored in the input buffer 201 is converted into print data by the rendering unit 202 and stored in the output buffer 203. When print data for one page is stored, the controller unit 103 issues a print instruction to the printer engine unit 104, and the printer engine unit 104 starts a paper feeding operation. The printer engine unit 104 performs a paper feeding operation, and the tilt detection unit 303 calculates the tilt angle θ of the recording medium 304 and notifies the controller unit 103 of it. The controller unit 103 generates a print image from the print data stored in the output buffer 203 in the image rotation unit 204, and rotates the print image to match the received tilt angle θ and outputs the print image to the printer engine unit 104. Thus, an image with no inclination can be formed on the recording medium 304.

1 shows an overall configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows a configuration of a controller unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 shows an arrangement of an inclination detection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows a configuration of an inclination detection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 shows an inclination detection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 External apparatus 102 Printing apparatus 103 Controller part 104 Printer engine part 201 Input buffer 202 Rendering part 203 Output buffer 204 Image rotation part 205 Engine interface part 301 Paper feed roller 302 Paper feed tray 303 Tilt detection part 304 Recording medium 401 Sensor 402 Sensor

Claims (1)

Data input means for receiving input data, print data generation means for generating print data from the input data, storage means for storing the print data, and on a recording medium based on the print data stored in the storage means In a printing apparatus provided with an image forming means for forming an image on
An inclination detecting means for detecting an inclination of the recording medium to be printed with respect to the conveyance direction;
Image rotation means for performing image rotation on the print data stored in the storage means,
A printing apparatus, wherein print data is rotated by the image rotation unit so as to correct the tilt angle detected by the tilt detection unit and output to the image forming unit.

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