JP2012061742A - Continuous-paper image forming system, and control program and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform double-face printing in continuous-paper printing by a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A continuous-paper image forming system 1 includes an output data buffer 335 that has each storage region corresponding to each pixel arrangement in an image forming range and stores raster data in each corresponding storage region. The raster data are stored in the output data buffer 335 so as to arrange a surface image outputted to the surface side of continuous paper and a rear-surface image outputted to the rear-surface side of the continuous paper in parallel in a main scanning direction, and also, to form an image that is arranged in a sub-scanning direction so as to be deviated by an amount of the interval corresponding to the conveyance path on the basis of SED information.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for continuous paper and a control program and a control method for the image forming apparatus for continuous paper, and more particularly to simplification of control of the image forming apparatus for continuous paper capable of duplex printing.

  In recent years, there has been a tendency to digitize information, and image processing apparatuses such as printers and facsimiles used for outputting digitized information and scanners used for digitizing documents have become indispensable devices. Such an image processing apparatus is often configured as a multifunction machine that can be used as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, or a copier by providing an imaging function, an image forming function, a communication function, and the like.

  Among such image processing apparatuses, when a high printing speed such as commercial printing is required in an image forming apparatus used for outputting an electronic document, in order to avoid paper jamming in paper conveyance, A4 In this case, the sheet is output to a continuous sheet such as a roll sheet instead of the sheet already cut to B5 or the like, and then cut to a size such as A4 or B5. Hereinafter, such a printing mode is referred to as continuous paper printing.

  In an image forming apparatus that performs continuous paper printing, when printing on both sides of paper, a tandem method in which a paper reversing mechanism is provided between two continuous paper printers, or a paper reversing mechanism is built in one printer. SED (Single Engine Duplex) that supports double-sided printing with one continuous paper printer by using half of the wide image forming mechanism in the main scanning direction for image formation for the front side and half for image formation for the back side ) Method is already known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the SED system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the main scanning direction of the photosensitive drum in the electrophotographic image forming mechanism is divided into a front surface area and a back surface area, and the front surface image is used by using the front surface area. After the formation output is performed, the sheet is reversed and guided to the back surface area, and the back surface image formation output is performed using the back surface area.

  In the case of the SED method disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the front surface and the back surface are simultaneously printed in one image forming mechanism, the image is printed on the front surface and the image is printed on the back surface in a certain portion of the paper. Has a time lag. For this reason, the image forming mechanism needs to support three patterns: an area that prints only on the front side, an area that prints on both the front side and the back side, and an area that prints only on the back side. Control such as data combination becomes complicated.

  Further, an image is printed on the front surface of the sheet by the image forming mechanism, and the path length from the reverse mechanism to the image forming mechanism again for printing on the back surface is 1 in the sub-scanning direction of the printed image. Since it is not necessarily an integer multiple of the page, the page boundary between the front surface and the back surface does not match. As a result, combining image data between the front surface and the back surface is a particularly complicated process.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to realize double-sided printing in continuous paper printing with a simple configuration.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to one embodiment of the present invention, image formation is performed on one surface of continuous paper in a partial range in the main scanning direction of an image formation range in an image forming mechanism. The continuous paper is conveyed so that the other side of the continuous paper faces a range different from the partial range of the paper, and the different range forms an image on the other side of the continuous paper. An image forming apparatus for continuous paper that forms an image on both sides of a continuous paper, an image acquisition unit that acquires an output target image to be imaged and output, and the image forming range in the image forming mechanism. In the image forming mechanism and the arrangement of the part range and the different range, the image forming mechanism includes a conveyance path of the continuous paper until the image formation is performed on the other surface after the image formation is performed on the one surface. Structure of image forming mechanism A configuration information acquisition unit that acquires information on the image, a pixel information generation unit that generates information on pixels constituting the output target image based on the acquired output target image, and pixels in an image formation range in the image forming mechanism A pixel information storage unit that stores information on the generated pixels in the corresponding storage regions, and the pixel information generation unit includes the acquired image formation. Based on the mechanism configuration information, in the image forming range of the image forming mechanism, the front image to be output on the front side of the continuous paper and the back image to be output on the back side are arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction. In addition, the pixel information is stored in the pixel information storage unit so that an image arranged in the sub-scanning direction by an interval corresponding to the conveyance path is formed. .

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an image is formed on one side of continuous paper in a part of the image forming range in the main scanning direction of the image forming mechanism, and the part of the image forming range is formed. The continuous paper is conveyed so that the other surface of the continuous paper faces a range different from the range, and the different regions perform image formation on the other surface of the continuous paper, thereby forming the continuous paper. A control program for an image forming apparatus for continuous paper that forms an image on both sides, the step of obtaining an output target image to be imaged and output, and the partial range of the image forming range in the image forming mechanism; In the arrangement of the different ranges and the image forming mechanism, the image forming mechanism includes a continuous paper transport path from the time when image formation is performed on the one surface to the time when image formation is performed on the other surface. Configuration A step of acquiring information, a step of generating information of pixels constituting the output target image based on the acquired output target image, and a step of generating the image based on the acquired information of the configuration of the image forming mechanism. In the image forming range in the mechanism, the front image to be output on the front side of the continuous paper and the back image to be output on the back side are arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction, and at intervals according to the transport path. Storing the pixel information in a storage area corresponding to the arrangement of the pixels in the image forming range in the image forming mechanism so that an image shifted in the sub-scanning direction is formed. It is characterized in that it is executed by a forming apparatus.

  According to still another aspect of the invention, an image is formed on one surface of continuous paper in a part of the image forming range in the main scanning direction of the image forming mechanism, and the part of the image forming range is formed. The continuous paper is transported so that the other surface of the continuous paper faces a range different from the range of the continuous paper, and the continuous paper is formed by forming an image on the other surface of the continuous paper in the different range. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus for continuous paper that forms an image on both sides of an image, wherein an output target image to be imaged and output is acquired, and the partial range of the image forming range in the image forming mechanism and the Arrangement with different ranges and configuration of the image forming mechanism, including an image forming mechanism including a transport path of the continuous paper after image formation is performed on the one surface until image formation is performed on the other surface Get information about Based on the acquired output target image, information on pixels constituting the output target image is generated, and based on the acquired information on the configuration of the image forming mechanism, the continuous image is formed in the image forming range of the image forming mechanism. The front image to be output on the front side of the paper and the back image to be output on the back side are arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction, and are shifted in the sub scanning direction by an interval corresponding to the conveyance path. The pixel information is stored in a storage area corresponding to the arrangement of the pixels in the image forming range in the image forming mechanism so that an image is formed.

  According to the present invention, double-sided printing in continuous paper printing can be realized with a simple configuration.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print engine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a multi-color print engine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure contained in the image process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the output target image which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the page allocation which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the storage area of the output data buffer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the raster conversion part which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a continuous paper printer capable of duplex printing will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main scanning direction of the photosensitive drum is divided into right and left, and one is used for the front side and the other is used for the back side. In this apparatus, an SED (Single Engine Duplex) type image forming apparatus capable of performing double-sided printing on continuous paper.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an engine that executes image formation in addition to the same configuration as an information processing terminal such as a general server or a PC (Personal Computer). That is, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, an engine 13, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 14, and an I / O. F15 is connected via the bus 18. Further, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 16 and an operation unit 17 are connected to the I / F 15.

  The CPU 10 is a calculation unit and controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 1. The RAM 11 is a volatile storage medium capable of reading and writing information at high speed, and is used as a work area when the CPU 10 processes information. The ROM 12 is a read-only nonvolatile storage medium, and stores programs such as firmware. The engine 13 is a mechanism that actually executes image formation in the image forming apparatus 1, and includes a wide photosensitive drum as described above and a mechanism that conveys and reverses continuous paper.

  The HDD 14 is a nonvolatile storage medium capable of reading and writing information, and stores an OS (Operating System), various control programs, application programs, and the like. The I / F 15 connects and controls the bus 18 and various hardware and networks. The LCD 16 is a visual user interface for the user to check the state of the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 17 is a user interface such as a keyboard and a mouse for the user to input information to the image forming apparatus 1.

  In such a hardware configuration, a program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 12, the HDD 14, or an optical disk (not shown) is read into the RAM 11 and operates according to the control of the CPU 10, thereby configuring a software control unit. A functional block that realizes the functions of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured by a combination of the software control unit configured as described above and hardware.

  Next, the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a controller 20, a display panel 24, a paper feed unit 25, a print engine 26, a paper discharge unit 27, and a network I / F 28.

  The controller 20 includes a main control unit 30, an engine control unit 31, an input / output control unit 32, an image processing unit 33, and an operation display control unit 34. In FIG. 2, the electrical connection is indicated by solid arrows, and the flow of continuous paper is indicated by broken arrows.

  The display panel 24 is an output interface that visually displays the state of the image forming apparatus 1 and is an input when the user directly operates the image forming apparatus 1 or inputs information to the image forming apparatus 1 as a touch panel. It is also an interface (operation unit). The network I / F 28 is an interface for the image forming apparatus 1 to communicate with other devices via the network, and uses an Ethernet (registered trademark) or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface.

  The controller 20 is configured by a combination of software and hardware. Specifically, a control program such as firmware stored in a nonvolatile recording medium such as the ROM 12 and the nonvolatile memory and the HDD 14 and the optical disk is loaded into a volatile memory (hereinafter referred to as a memory) such as the RAM 11 to control the CPU 10. The controller 20 is configured by a software control unit configured according to the above and hardware such as an integrated circuit. The controller 20 functions as a control unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1.

  The main control unit 30 plays a role of controlling each unit included in the controller 20 and gives a command to each unit of the controller 20. The engine control unit 31 serves as a drive unit that controls or drives the print engine 26. The input / output control unit 32 inputs a signal or a command input via the network I / F 28 to the main control unit 30. The main control unit 30 controls the input / output control unit 32 and accesses other devices via the network I / F 28.

  The image processing unit 33 generates drawing information based on the print information included in the input print job under the control of the main control unit 30. The drawing information is information for drawing an image to be formed in the image forming operation by the print engine 26 as an image forming unit. This drawing information is also referred to as raster data. The aspect of storing raster data generated by the image processing unit 33 in a storage medium is one of the gist according to the present embodiment.

The print information included in the print job is image information converted into a format that can be recognized by the image forming apparatus 1 by a printer driver installed in an information processing apparatus such as a PC. The operation display control unit 34 displays information on the display panel 24 or notifies the main control unit 30 of information input via the display panel 24.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 operates as a printer, first, the input / output control unit 32 receives a print job via the network I / F 28. The input / output control unit 32 transfers the received print job to the main control unit 30. When receiving the print job, the main control unit 30 controls the image processing unit 33 to generate drawing information based on the print information included in the print job.

  When drawing information is generated by the image processing unit 33, the engine control unit 31 performs image formation on the continuous paper conveyed from the paper supply unit 25 based on the generated drawing information. That is, the print engine 26 functions as an image forming unit. The continuous paper on which image formation has been performed by the print engine 26 is discharged from the paper discharge unit 27.

  Next, the configuration of the print engine 26 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the print engine 26 according to this embodiment is an engine for a continuous paper printer that forms an image on the continuous paper P, and includes an image forming unit 260, a fixing device 263, turn bars 264 a and 264 b, and The sheet reversing rollers 264c to 264e are included. In FIG. 3, a part of the paper P is notched for easy illustration.

  The image forming unit 260 according to the present embodiment is an electrophotographic image forming mechanism as described above, and includes the optical writing device 261 and the photosensitive drum 262. In the present embodiment, an electrophotographic method will be described as an example, but an inkjet method can be similarly applied. The optical writing device 261 irradiates the photosensitive drum 262 with a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 262. The photoconductor drum 262 is a photoconductor that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface thereof when exposed to light by the optical writing device 261.

The photosensitive drum 262 according to the present embodiment is divided into left and right in the main scanning direction, while (hereinafter referred to as surface transfer area 262a) image transfer is performed to the surface P _s in the other (hereinafter, the rear surface image transfer is performed on the rear surface _{P r} in to) the transfer area 262b. The fixing device 263 fixes the toner image formed on the surface of the continuous paper P by the image forming unit 260.

Image surface _{P s} in the surface transfer area 262a is transferred, the paper P on which the image is fixed in the fixing device 263, turn bars 264a, in 264b and the sheet reversing roller image forming unit 260 again after being inverted by 264c~264e _Then , the image is transferred to the back surface Pr in the back surface transfer region 262b. That is, the turn bars 264a and 264b and the paper reverse rollers 264c to 264e function as a continuous paper transport unit. Then, the image transferred onto the back surface P _r is fixed by the fixing device 263.

As described above, in the print engine 26 according to the present embodiment, the function of the image forming unit 260 divided into the front transfer region 262a and the back transfer region 262b,
Surface transfer area by reversing the sheet P on which the image is transferred to the surface _{P s} by 262a leading to the back side transfer region 262b turn bar 264a, by the function of the 264b and the sheet reversing roller 264c~264e, SED system has been realized.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, as an example of the print engine 26, only one image forming unit 260, that is, a set of the optical writing device 261 and the photosensitive drum 262 is included. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, image forming units 260 </ b> Y to 260 </ b> BK of colors Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan), and BK (Black) are arranged in series in the conveyance direction of the paper P. Even the tandem system that has been implemented can be implemented in the same manner as in the example of FIG.

  In such an image forming apparatus 1, the gist of the present embodiment is that the optical writing device 261 uses the above-described drawing information (hereinafter referred to as image drawing information) for forming an electrostatic latent image. An image in which images are assigned to the left and right in advance is input. In the case of a conventional SED type continuous paper printer, image drawing information on the front and back surfaces is separately input to the optical writing device 261, and the optical writing device 261 applies the front and back images according to the conveyance timing of the paper P. The electrostatic latent image formation was controlled separately. Therefore, there are problems such as a complicated control structure and a decrease in image forming speed due to overhead resulting from processing a synchronization signal in addition to image drawing information.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the image processing unit 33 has one image in which the front and back images are assigned in advance to the left and right according to the page configuration of the image to be output and the path length of the transport path of the paper P. The image drawing information is generated after the image is generated. Therefore, the optical writing device 261 may simply perform optical writing based on the acquired image drawing information, and can solve the problems such as the complicated control structure and overhead described above.

  Here, the functional configuration of the image processing unit 33 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the image processing unit 33 according to the present embodiment includes a print job acquisition unit 331, a PDL analysis unit 332, an SED information acquisition unit 333, a raster conversion unit 334, and an output data buffer 335.

  The print job acquisition unit 331 acquires the print job received by the input / output control unit 32 according to the control of the main control unit 30. The PDL analysis unit 332 analyzes image information in a PDL (Page Description Language) format included in the print job acquired by the print job acquisition unit 331, and acquires the page configuration of the image to be output. That is, the print job acquisition unit 331 and the PDL analysis unit 332 work together to function as an image acquisition unit. The PDL analysis unit 332 generates information called a display list in which elements of an image drawn on each page are described based on image information in the PDL format.

SED information acquisition unit 333, under the control of the main control unit 30, via the engine control unit 31, and the inversion path length _{G L} in the print engine 26, the surface unused width _{G S} and back unused width _{G R} and surface P _s acquires SED information such as main scanning width _{H S} of. In other words, the SED information is information on the configuration of the print engine 26 that is an image forming mechanism, and the SED information acquisition unit 333 functions as a configuration information acquisition unit. Here, the reverse path length _GL is a path from the front transfer area 262a to the back transfer area 262b through the turn bars 264a and 264b and the paper reverse rollers 264c to 264e in the transport path of the paper P in the print engine 26. Is the length of

Also, unused width G _S is the surface only in the surface transfer area 262a image transfer is performed, when the back surface transfer region 262b in the image transfer is not performed, the width of the back transfer region side margins. In other words, the unused surface width G _S is a surface margin area that is a margin area other than the area where image formation is performed on the surface P _s of the continuous paper in the main scanning direction of the image forming area by the optical writing device 261. is there.

Similarly, the back surface unused width G _R is image transfer takes place only in the reverse side transfer region 262b, in the case where the surface transfer area image transfer at 262b is not performed, the width of the margin of the surface transfer area side. In other words, the back surface unused width G _R, in the main scanning direction of the image forming range of the optical writing device 261, in a region of the blank outside the range for performing image formation with respect to the back surface P _r of the continuous paper back side margin area is there.

  Since each value of such SED information varies depending on the configuration of the print engine 26, the engine control unit 31 acquires information managed on the print engine 26 side and is input to the image processing unit 33 by the main control unit 30. The The unit of each value of the SED information in this embodiment is inch.

  The raster conversion unit 334 converts the image information of each page acquired by the PDL analysis unit into raster data used when the optical writing device 261 exposes the photosensitive drum 262. The raster data is, for example, bitmap data and is equal to the image drawing information described above. The raster conversion unit 334 outputs the generated raster data to the output data buffer 335. That is, the raster conversion unit 334 functions as a pixel information generation unit, and the output data buffer 335 functions as a pixel information storage unit.

  Here, a configuration corresponding to the output data buffer 335 in a general image forming apparatus is provided as a “page memory” that is a storage area for each page of an image to be formed. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the output target is continuous paper, and as described in FIGS. 3 and 4, the image forming unit 260 performs image formation output on the front side and the back side. The output data buffer 335 which is a storage area corresponding to the drawing range of the image by the image forming unit 260 is provided.

  The output data buffer 335 is a storage medium that stores image drawing information that the engine control unit 31 inputs to the optical writing device 261. The storage area of the output data buffer 335 corresponds to the drawing area by the optical writing device 261. When the raster conversion unit 334 stores the generated raster data in the output data buffer 335, the drawing position of the image related to the raster data It stores in the storage area according to.

  With such a configuration, the optical writing device 261 in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment does not consider the front transfer area 262a and the back transfer area 262b, and based on the input raster data, the image is similar to the conventional one. Since formation output only needs to be executed, problems such as complicated control structure and overhead can be solved as described above.

  In such an image forming apparatus 1, the gist of the present embodiment is that the raster conversion unit 334 generates the raster data based on the SED information acquired by the SED information acquisition unit 333 when storing the raster data in the output data buffer 335. It is to determine an area for storing the raster data. That is, the raster conversion unit 334 according to the present embodiment arranges drawing information on the storage area of the output data buffer 335 based on the SED information acquired by the SED information acquisition unit 333. Hereinafter, functions of the raster conversion unit 334 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a page configuration of an image to be output. In the example of FIG. 6, all 10 pages from 1 to 10 are output. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the odd pages are output to the surface P _s of the sheet P, the even page is output to the rear surface P _r of the paper P. In the example of FIG. 6, the first page on the front side is the first page, and the first page on the back side is the second page.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating one mode of page allocation in the example of FIG. In FIG. 7, the toner image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 262 is shown according to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 262. As shown in FIG. 7, on the surface of the photosensitive drum 262, odd pages and even pages of all pages to be output are connected in the sub-scanning direction and arranged in parallel on the left and right.

The optical writing device 261, as shown in FIG. 7, performs image formation to the surface P _s at one side in the main scanning direction of the image forming range, the other end side in the main scanning direction of the image forming range Image formation is performed on the back surface _Pr .

Also, the odd and even pages, when they are arranged in parallel to the left and right, "unprintable between the surface P _s and back P _r conveyed in parallel to the image forming unit 260 shown in FIG. 3 According to the interval of “regions”, they are arranged at a predetermined interval in the main scanning direction. That is, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, depending on the arrangement relationship between the surface P _s and back P _r with respect to the image forming unit 260, and the surface image and the back side image are arranged in parallel.

Further, the page to be outputted to the back surface P _r, to delay min reversing path length G _L from the top of the page to be outputted to the surface P _s, that is, minute deviation of the inverting path length G _L in the sub-scanning direction arranged Is done. Thereby, in the sub-scanning direction, the print area A where the image is transferred only to the front surface P _s , the print area B where the image is transferred to both the front surface P _s and the back surface _Pr , and the image only to the back surface _Pr. And a printing region C to which is transferred. By transferring the thus surface P _s and back P _r of paper conveyed the image formed on the photosensitive drum 262 as a continuous sheet, the odd pages to the surface P _s, is even page on the back surface P _r form Output results can be obtained.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram conceptually showing the arrangement of raster data stored in the output data buffer 335 in the example of FIG. As described above, since the storage area of the output data buffer 335 corresponds to the drawing area of the image by the image forming unit 260, the storage area of the output data buffer 335 also corresponds to the arrangement shown in FIG. Raster data is stored.

In the output data buffer 335 according to the present embodiment, a storage area for storing information of each pixel is determined according to the arrangement of the pixels constituting the drawing range by the image forming unit 260. As shown in FIG. 8, the odd pages to be outputted to the surface P _s, starting from the surface start address A _S, the information of the pixels constituting the image of each page in the direction of the storage area corresponding to the sub-scanning direction Are lined up. The front surface head address _AS is generally the head of the storage area secured as the output data buffer 335, but may be an arbitrary address.

On the other hand, even-numbered pages to be outputted on the rear surface P _r is starting from the backside head address A _R calculated based on the reverse path length G _L and back unused width G _R, the storage area corresponding to the sub scanning direction Information of pixels constituting the image of each page is arranged in the direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the back side head address A _R, from the surface top address A _S, minute storage area corresponding to the inversion path length G _L in the sub-scanning direction, corresponding to the main scanning direction on the back surface unused width G _R This is the address advanced by the storage area.

  As the image drawing information is stored in the output data buffer 335 as shown in FIG. 8, the image drawing information is input from the engine control unit 31 to the print engine 26 and the image forming output based on the image drawing information in the print engine 26 is performed. Thus, it is only necessary to extend the drawing range in the main scanning direction in the same processing as in the prior art, and SED continuous paper printing can be realized with simple processing.

The address of the storage area of the output data buffer 335 according to this embodiment, the upper left in the figure, that is, as the head address of the surfaces start address A _S, the direction corresponding to the main scanning direction, i.e., leftward in FIG. It is set in order toward. Therefore, when storing the pixel data of the surface P _s shown in FIG. 8, the raster conversion unit 334, first, from the surface top address A _S, stores the information of the pixels along the main scanning direction. When storing the information of the pixels of the first main scanning line, as shown in FIG. 8, skip minute storage area corresponding to the surface unused width G _S, and stores the information of the pixels in the next main scan line .

On the other hand, re-storage of the pixel data of the back surface P _r, the raster conversion section 334, along the backside head address A _R calculated based on the reverse path length G _L and back unused width G _R in the main scanning direction respectively The pixel information is stored. When storing pixel one main scanning line, as shown in FIG. 8, skip minute storage area corresponding to the back surface unused width G _R, and stores the information of the pixels in the next main scanning line.

Here, as described above, since the unit surface unused width G _S and back unused width G _R is inches, minute storage area corresponding to each, the storage area of the output data buffer 335 to one dot if assigned 1 bit for the surface unused width G _S, is the value obtained by multiplying the print resolution to people back surface unused width G _R husband, if expressed in bytes is a value obtained by dividing the value by eight. For backside head address A _R calculated based on the reverse path length G _L and back unused width G _R can also be calculated in the same way.

That is, the surface not in use width _{G S} and back unused width _{G R} respectively corresponding to a partial storage region M (Byte), the surface unused width _{G S,} the back surface unused width _{G R} (wherein generally the G ) And the printing resolution is 1200 dpi, the following equation (1) is obtained.

尚、Ｍ_Ｖ、Ｍ_Ｌ及びＭ_ＧＲは、夫々以下の式（３）〜（５）によって求められる。

Further, the back surface leading address _{A R,} when the printing resolution and 1200 dpi, the surface start address _{A S,} the storage area of the first main scan line of the output data buffer 335 _M V (Byte), corresponding to the reversing path length _{G L} subscanning direction of the storage area _M L (Byte), based on the storage area _M GR (Byte) corresponding to the back surface unused width _{G R,} determined by the following equation (2).

_{Incidentally,} M V, _{M L} and _{M GR} is determined by the respective following equations (3) to (5).

In Expression (3), a storage area corresponding to one main scanning line in the output data buffer 335 is obtained based on the sum of the main scanning width H _S of the surface P _s and the unused surface width G _S. A storage area corresponding to one main scanning line in the output data buffer 335 and the width in the main scanning direction of the image forming range by the optical writing device 261, that is, the sum of H _S and G _S are stored in the raster conversion unit 334 in advance. You can keep it.

  Next, the operation when the raster conversion unit 334 according to the present embodiment stores pixel data in the output data buffer 335 as shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, when a print job is input to the image forming apparatus 1, the raster conversion unit 334 acquires print data from the PDL analysis unit 332 and clears the output data buffer 335 (S901). The raster conversion unit 334 determines whether the print data acquired in S901 is front-side print data (S902).

If the print data is the front print data (S902 / YES), and if the page is the first page (S903 / YES), the raster conversion unit 334 generates raster data for one main scanning line based on the acquired print data. and stores the data from the surface start address _{a S} (S904). After storing raster data for one main scan line, if there is still a next main scan line for the page being processed (S905 / YES), the raster conversion unit 334 causes the last pixel of the previous main scan line to be processed. from the previous address skip minute storage area corresponding to the surface unused width G _S from the address storing, and stores the raster data for one main scan line (S906). Incidentally, the raster conversion section 334 acquires the information of the surface unused width _{G S} from SED information acquisition unit 333.

  If the storage of pixel data is repeated for each main scanning line and there is no next main scanning line for the page being processed (S905 / NO), the raster conversion unit 334 has finished outputting the print job being processed. It is determined whether or not (S917), and if not completed (S917 / NO), the process from S901 is repeated, and if completed (S917 / YES), the process is terminated as it is.

If it is determined in S903 that the page is not the first page (S903 / NO), the raster conversion unit 334 corresponds to the surface unused width G _S from the address storing the last pixel for the previous front page. Raster data for one main scanning line is stored from the address where the storage area is skipped (S908). Thereafter, the same processing (S908, S909) as S905 and S906 is executed.

If it is the back side print data in the determination in S902 (S902 / NO), it is determined whether the page is the top page (S910) as in S903, and if it is the top page (S910 / YES), raster conversion unit 334, based on the print data acquired to generate raster data for one main scan line, and stores the data from the back head address a _R (S911). Incidentally, the raster conversion section 334 acquires the back surface unused width _{G R} and the inverting path length _{G L} from SED information acquisition unit 333, calculates the backside head address _{A R.}

After the raster data for one main scanning line is stored by the process of S911, if there is still a next main scanning line for the page being processed (S912 / YES), the raster conversion unit 334 determines the previous main scanning line. from minute previous address flew storage area of which corresponds to the back surface unused width G _R from the last address stored pixels, also stores the raster data for one main scan line (S913).

  If the storage of the pixel data is repeated for each main scanning line and there is no next main scanning line for the page being processed (S912 / NO), has the raster conversion unit 334 completed output for the print job being processed? It is determined whether or not (S917), and if not completed (S917 / NO), the process from S901 is repeated, and if completed (S917 / YES), the process is terminated as it is.

In the determination of S910, if no in the first page (S910 / NO), the raster conversion section 334, the preceding back page, of the amount corresponding the address storing the last pixel on the surface unused width G _R Raster data for one main scanning line is stored from the address where the storage area is skipped (S914). Thereafter, processing similar to S912 and S913 (S915 and S916) is executed.

  Note that the raster conversion unit 334 stores information on the final address of the page that lastly generated raster data for each of the front page and the back page in order to enable the processing of S907 and S914. By such processing, the arrangement of raster data in the output data buffer 335 can be brought into the state described with reference to FIG. 8, and as a result, the SED method can be performed only by operating the optical writing device 261 in the same manner as in the prior art. Thus, it is possible to realize double-sided printing in continuous paper printing with a simple configuration.

  In general, a print job input to the image forming apparatus 1 is generated by a printer driver installed in a user terminal such as a PC based on information about an output target document or image. When a general printer driver generates a print job for a multi-page document as shown in FIG. 6, it generates print data in order from the first page.

Accordingly, when the raster conversion unit 334 generates and stores raster data according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, first, raster data for the first page, which is the first page on the front side, is generated, and then the first page on the back side is generated. Raster data for a certain second page is generated. Accordingly, the storage area of the output data buffer 335 shown in FIG. 8 requires an area corresponding to at least the reverse path length _GL and the length of one page in the sub-scanning direction in the sub-scanning direction.

  On the other hand, in a general continuous paper printer, a large storage area is often secured as an output data buffer in order to improve the output speed, which is not a problem. In addition, as a printer driver optimized for a continuous paper printer, a printer driver that generates print data according to the order of the information of each page shown in FIG. 8 in the sub-scanning direction may be provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the printer driver installed in the PC generates print data in the order of the first page, the third page, the fifth page, the second page, and so on. In this case, the storage area of the output data buffer 335 only needs to be the length of one page in the sub-scanning direction in the sub-scanning direction.

  Further, reading / writing of information to / from a storage medium, such as storage of raster data by the raster conversion unit 334, is generally performed in units of bytes. Accordingly, in the storage area of the output data buffer 335, the storage area corresponding to one main scanning line of the image forming range preferably has a capacity in bytes, that is, an integral multiple of 8 bits.

1 image forming apparatus,
2 image forming apparatus,
3 Host device
10 CPU,
11 RAM,
12 ROM,
13 engine,
14 HDD,
15 I / F,
16 LCD,
17 Operation part,
18 Bus,
20 controller,
21 ADF,
22 Scanner unit,
23 Output tray,
24 display panels,
25 Paper feed table,
26 print engine,
27 Output tray,
28 Network I / F,
30 Main control unit,
31 engine control unit,
32 Input / output control unit,
33 Image processing unit,
34 Operation display control unit,
40 controller,
260, 260Y, 260M, 260C, 260BK Image forming unit,
261 optical writing device,
262 photosensitive drum,
263 fixing device,
264a, 264b turn bars,
264c, 264d, 264e paper reversing roller,
331 print job acquisition unit,
332 PDL analysis unit,
333 SED information acquisition unit,
334 raster conversion unit,
335 Output data buffer

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-2017

Claims (7)

An image is formed on one surface of continuous paper in a partial range in the main scanning direction of the image forming range in the image forming mechanism, and the continuous is applied to a range different from the partial range of the image forming range. Continuous paper that conveys the continuous paper so that the other side of the paper faces and forms an image on both sides of the continuous paper by forming an image on the other side of the continuous paper in the different range An image forming apparatus for
An image acquisition unit for acquiring an output target image to be imaged and output;
Arrangement of the partial range and the different range of the image forming range in the image forming mechanism, and in the image forming mechanism, after image formation is performed on the one surface, image formation is performed on the other surface. A configuration information acquisition unit for acquiring information on the configuration of the image forming mechanism including the continuous paper conveyance path until
A pixel information generation unit that generates information on pixels constituting the output target image based on the acquired output target image;
A pixel information storage unit having a storage area corresponding to the arrangement of the pixels in the image formation range in the image forming mechanism, and storing the generated pixel information in the corresponding storage areas,
The pixel information generation unit should output the front side image to be output to the front side and the back side of the continuous paper in the image forming range of the image forming mechanism based on the acquired configuration information of the image forming mechanism. The pixel information is stored in the pixel information storage unit so that a back image is arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction and an image is formed that is shifted in the sub-scanning direction by an interval corresponding to the transport path. The image forming apparatus for continuous paper, wherein the information is stored. The image forming mechanism forms an image on the surface of the continuous paper at one end side in the main scanning direction of the image forming range, and the back surface of the continuous paper at the other end side in the main scanning direction of the image forming range. Image formation for
The configuration information of the image forming mechanism includes information on a back margin area that is a margin area in a range where image formation is performed on the back side of the continuous paper in the main scanning direction of the image forming range.
The pixel information generation unit
Generating the pixel information based on the acquired output target image for each page formed on each side of the continuous paper;
Information of the pixel of the first page of the front surface of the continuous paper is stored in the pixel information storage unit in order from the front surface start address in the pixel information storage unit,
The pixel information of the first page of the back side of the continuous paper is stored in the pixel information storage unit in order from the back side top address calculated based on the top side top address, the transport path, and the back side margin area. The image forming apparatus for continuous paper according to claim 1.   3. The back surface top address is an address advanced from the front surface top address by an amount corresponding to the transport path in the sub-scanning direction and an amount corresponding to the back surface blank area in the main scanning direction. The image forming apparatus for continuous paper as described. The configuration information of the image forming mechanism includes information on a surface margin area that is a margin area of a range in which image formation is performed on the surface of the continuous paper in the main scanning direction of the image formation range,
The pixel information generation unit
After the pixel information for one main scanning line of the image formed on the surface is stored in the image information storage unit, the next main address from the address where the storage area corresponding to the surface margin area is skipped is stored. Storing pixel information about scan lines in the pixel information storage unit;
After the pixel information for one main scanning line of the image to be formed on the back surface is stored in the image information storage unit, the next main address from the destination address where the storage area corresponding to the back space area is skipped. 4. The image forming apparatus for continuous paper according to claim 2, wherein pixel information about a scanning line is stored in the pixel information storage unit.   5. The continuous paper image formation according to claim 1, wherein a storage area of the pixel information storage unit corresponding to a range in a main scanning direction in an image formation range in the image forming mechanism is in units of bytes. apparatus. An image is formed on one surface of continuous paper in a partial range in the main scanning direction of the image forming range in the image forming mechanism, and the continuous is applied to a range different from the partial range of the image forming range. Continuous paper that conveys the continuous paper so that the other side of the paper faces and forms an image on both sides of the continuous paper by forming an image on the other side of the continuous paper in the different range An image forming apparatus control program
Obtaining an output target image to be imaged and output;
Arrangement of the partial range and the different range of the image forming range in the image forming mechanism, and in the image forming mechanism, after image formation is performed on the one surface, image formation is performed on the other surface. Obtaining information of the configuration of the image forming mechanism including the continuous paper conveyance path until
Generating information on pixels constituting the output target image based on the acquired output target image;
Based on the acquired information on the configuration of the image forming mechanism, in the image forming range in the image forming mechanism, the front image to be output to the front side of the continuous paper and the back image to be output to the back side are in the main scanning direction. Corresponding to the arrangement of the pixels in the image forming range in the image forming mechanism so that an image arranged in the sub-scanning direction by an interval corresponding to the conveyance path is formed. A control program for a continuous paper image forming apparatus, which causes the continuous paper image forming apparatus to execute a step of storing the pixel information in a storage area. An image is formed on one surface of continuous paper in a partial range in the main scanning direction of the image forming range in the image forming mechanism, and the continuous is applied to a range different from the partial range of the image forming range. Continuous paper that conveys the continuous paper so that the other side of the paper faces and forms an image on both sides of the continuous paper by forming an image on the other side of the continuous paper in the different range A control method for an image forming apparatus,
Obtain the output target image to be imaged and output,
Arrangement of the partial range and the different range of the image forming range in the image forming mechanism, and in the image forming mechanism, after image formation is performed on the one surface, image formation is performed on the other surface. Information on the configuration of the image forming mechanism including the continuous paper conveyance path until
Generate information of pixels constituting the output target image based on the acquired output target image,
Based on the acquired information on the configuration of the image forming mechanism, in the image forming range in the image forming mechanism, the front image to be output to the front side of the continuous paper and the back image to be output to the back side are in the main scanning direction. Corresponding to the arrangement of the pixels in the image forming range in the image forming mechanism so that an image arranged in the sub-scanning direction by an interval corresponding to the conveyance path is formed. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus for continuous paper, wherein information of the pixels is stored in a storage area.

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