JP2018187845A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation apparatus which can easily perform overlapping when performing printing by dividing an image and creating a large printed matter by overlapping the printed sheets.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus includes: image formation means which forms an image without a margin on an end of a recording medium on the basis of image data; and division means which divides the image data for each recording medium including a margin for gluing that is provided on the end of the recording medium required for overlapping each recording medium after printing. The division means changes the margin for gluing according to the image data of the ends to be overlapped of the respective recording media and enlarges the image data without the margin.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  Data indicating a printable area composed of an array of a plurality of print media to which a poster image having a designated poster print size can be pasted based on the designated poster print size and the size of the set print medium. Printable area acquisition means for acquiring, layout means for determining a pasting range of the poster image for the printable area, means for generating print data for printing the poster image in the pasting range determined by the layout means, The layout unit prints the paste range determined by the print image dividing unit and the print image dividing unit that determines the paste range for each print medium of the poster image having the designated poster print size. An information processing apparatus having a divided image layout unit that adjusts for each medium is known ( Patent Document 1).

JP 2014-219733 A

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can easily perform superposition when dividing and printing an image and superimposing printed sheets to create a large printed matter.

In order to solve the above problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Image forming means for forming an image without margins on the edge of the recording medium based on the image data;
Dividing means for dividing the image data for each recording medium including a marginal area provided at an end of the recording medium required for superimposing the recording media after printing,
The dividing unit changes the marginal area according to the image data at the end of each recording medium to be overlapped, and enlarges the image data without a margin.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect,
The dividing means moves the image data to an end portion excluding the overlapping portion of each recording medium when an image in a certain area of the boundary portion of each recording medium exceeds a threshold value and is non-uniform. Split to print without.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect,
The dividing means expands the image data with respect to the image data on the upper side at the overlapping edge of the recording medium when the image in a certain area of the boundary portion of each recording medium is more than a certain level. The image data is divided so as to be printed without margins, and the image data that is below the overlapping end of the recording medium is formed by forming a marginal area at the end of the boundary portion of each recording medium. Is divided so that printing is performed without margins.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect,
The dividing means adds a mark image for printing the mark of the overlapping end portion that protrudes from the marginal region with respect to the image data on the lower side at the overlapping end portion of each of the adjacent recording media. To split.

The invention according to claim 5 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 4,
The mark image is an image at a boundary portion of each recording medium in the image data on the upper side at an end portion where each recording medium is overlapped.

The invention according to claim 6 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein
The mark image is formed so as to have a density lower than that in the image data.

The invention according to claim 7 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Image data rotating means for rotating the image data by a certain angle;
The image data rotating means rotates the end portion of the image data where the marginal area is set to the front end side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the marginal area is changed according to the image data at the overlapping edge of each recording medium, and the image data is divided for each recording medium so as to enlarge the image without margins. Compared to a configuration that does not have a dividing unit, it is possible to easily perform superposition when a large printed material is created by superimposing printed sheets.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the image in the fixed region of the boundary portion of each recording medium exceeds the threshold and is not uniform, the image data is moved to the end portion excluding the overlapping portion of each recording medium. Thus, it is possible to facilitate the superposition of printed sheets as compared with a configuration that does not include a dividing unit that performs division so that printing is performed without margins.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the image in a certain region of the boundary portion of each recording medium is more than a certain level, the image data is enlarged for the upper image data at the overlapping portion of the recording medium. Then, the image data is divided so that printing is performed without margins, and for the image data on the lower side at the overlapping edge of the recording medium, a marginal area is formed at the edge of the boundary of each recording medium to enlarge the image data. Compared to a configuration that does not have a dividing means for dividing so that printing is performed without margins, it is possible to further reduce the labor of cutting unnecessary portions of each printed sheet and to superimpose printed sheets. Matching can be facilitated.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a mark image for printing the mark of the overlapping end portion is added to the image data which is lower at the overlapping end portion of the adjacent recording mediums. Thus, compared with a configuration that does not include a dividing unit that performs division, the printed sheets can be easily and accurately overlapped with each other.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the mark image is added and divided so that the mark image is an image at the boundary portion of each recording medium in the image data on the upper side at the overlapping portion of the recording medium. Compared to the configuration without the dividing means, the mark image printed in the marginal area can be hidden so as not to be seen in the end portion where the mark image is superimposed.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the mark image is added to the mark image so that the mark image has a lower density than the density in the image data. Thus, the mark image printed in the marginal area can be concealed so as not to appear in the end portion where the mark image is superimposed.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the paper front end stain and the image defect at the front end of the paper as compared with the configuration not provided with the image data rotating means for rotating the image data by a certain angle.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between printing original data and a poster printing image, (a) is the size of printing original data, (b) is the size of a poster image, (c) is divided image data divided | segmented for every paper The arrangement of (A) illustrates printing with margins, (b) illustrates printing without margins, and (c) illustrates toner image formation during partial margin printing. It is a flowchart which shows schematic operation | movement of poster printing (A) is a schematic diagram showing the divided image data when the image at the boundary is non-uniform, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing the divided image data when the image at the boundary is more than a certain level. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of a mark image added to the marginal area, where (a) shows a mark, and (b) shows an image in the vicinity of the end of the sheet on the upper side at the overlapping end. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which image rotation including paper is performed during borderless printing. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the divided image data at the time of creating a large-sized poster image.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings with reference to embodiments and specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and specific examples.
Also, in the description using the following drawings, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratio of each dimension and the like are different from the actual ones, and are necessary for the description for easy understanding. Illustrations other than members are omitted as appropriate.

(1) Overall Configuration and Operation of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the print source data and the poster print image, (a) is the size of the print source data, (b) is the size of the poster image, and (c) is the division divided for each sheet. The arrangement of image data is shown. 4A is a diagram for explaining toner image formation during printing with margins, FIG. 4B is printing with full margins, and FIG. 4C is printing with partial margins.
Hereinafter, the overall configuration, functional configuration, and operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

(1.1) Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 10, a paper feeding device 20 mounted on the bottom of the image forming unit 10, an operation display unit 30, and an image processing unit 40. Are provided with a poster printing function for enlarging the image data and dividing the enlarged image onto a plurality of sheets P as recording media for printing. The poster printing function divides and prints image data for one page on a plurality of sheets P and superimposes them in order to obtain an output result larger than the sheet P that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 1. This is a printing function that can obtain large output results.
Further, the image forming apparatus 1 has a borderless printing function for printing an image up to the end of the paper P without providing a margin at the end of the paper P.

  The image forming unit 10 includes a system control device 11, an exposure device 12, a photosensitive unit 13, a developing device 14, a transfer device 15, and a fixing device 16, and feeds image information received from the image processing unit 40. A toner image is formed on the paper P sent from the apparatus 20.

  A paper feeding device 20 having paper trays 21 and 22 is provided at the bottom of the image forming unit 10. Further, below the paper feeding device 20, the paper feeding device 20 is arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction (in this embodiment, two stages). The tray module TM including the paper trays T1 and T2 that store the paper P is connected to supply the paper to the image forming unit 10.

  The operation display unit 30 corresponds to a so-called user interface, and is configured by combining a liquid crystal display panel, various operation buttons, a touch panel, and the like, and is used for inputting various settings and instructions and displaying information.

  The image processing unit 40 generates image data from print information transmitted from an external device 82 (illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, a personal computer).

(1.2) Configuration and Operation of Image Forming Unit 10 In the image forming apparatus 1 having such a configuration, every sheet printed by a print job in the paper feeding device 20 or the tray module TM in accordance with the timing of image formation. The sheet P fed out from the tray specified in (2) is sent to the image forming unit 10.

  The photosensitive unit 13 includes a photosensitive drum 131 that is provided in parallel above the sheet feeding device 20 and is driven to rotate. On the respective photosensitive drums 131 on which the electrostatic latent images are formed by the exposure device 12, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images are respectively developed by the developing devices 14. Is formed.

  Each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 131 of each photosensitive unit 13 is sequentially electrostatically transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer belt 151 of the transfer device 15 to form a superimposed toner image in which the respective color toners are superimposed. Is done. The superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 151 is sent from the registration roller pair 24 and is collectively transferred by the secondary transfer roller 152 onto the paper P guided by the conveyance guide.

In the fixing device 16, a fixing nip portion NP (fixing region) is formed by a pressure contact region between the pair of heating modules 161 and the pressure module 162.
The paper P onto which the toner images are collectively transferred in the transfer device 15 is conveyed to the fixing nip portion NP of the fixing device 16 through the conveyance guide 153 in a state where the toner images are not fixed, and a pair of heating module 161 and pressure module In 162, the toner image is fixed by the action of pressure bonding and heating.
The sheet P on which the fixed toner image is formed is guided by a conveyance guide, and is discharged and accommodated from the discharge roller pair 163 to the discharge tray portion TR1 on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 1.

(1.3) Functional Configuration and Operation of System Control Apparatus The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image output control unit 111, an image division unit 112, an image determination unit 113, an edgeless determination unit 114, an image data rotation unit 115, and a power control unit. 116, an exposure control unit 117, and a system control device 11 including a fixing temperature control unit 118. The control program stored in the memory is executed to control the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 1.

The image output control unit 111 controls the exchange of information with the paper feeding device 20, and also includes an exposure device 12, a photoconductor unit 13, a developing device 14, a transfer device 15, and a fixing device 16 included in the image forming unit 10. Is given an operation control instruction.
Further, the image output control unit 111 gives operation control instructions to the power control unit 116, the exposure control unit 117, and the fixing temperature control unit 118 included in the system control apparatus 11, respectively. That is, whether or not to supply power to and drive the exposure device 12, the photosensitive unit 13, the developing device 14, the transfer device 15, the fixing device 16 and the like constituting the image forming unit 10 is determined. Instructs the control unit.

  Further, the image output control unit 111 exchanges information with the image dividing unit 112, the image determining unit 113, the borderless determining unit 114, and the image data rotating unit 115, and determines in advance when poster printing is selected. The controlled operation is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image dividing unit 112 as an example of the image data dividing means has a poster image (FIG. 3B) having a size designated from printing source data (see FIG. 3A) as image data. In order to print the image data, the image data is divided for each sheet P including the marginal area provided at the end of each sheet P. Specifically, the margin area is changed in accordance with the image data at the end of each sheet P to be overlapped, and the image data is divided so that the image data is enlarged without margins.

  Each sheet P on which the divided image data is arranged has respective ends at the top, bottom, left, and right, and any of the marginal area Q, the margin area M, and the protruding area N is formed at each end ( (Refer FIG.3 (c)).

  The image discriminating unit 113 discriminates the uniformity of the image in a certain area of the boundary portion of the image data divided for each paper P, and outputs the discrimination result to the image output control unit 111. Specifically, a certain area of the boundary is divided into a plurality of areas, and the area (image density) of the image pattern of the image data included in each area is calculated for each color, and the image pattern in each area is calculated. If the difference in image density is within the threshold value, it is determined that the image is uniform, and if it exceeds the threshold value, it is determined that the image is not uniform.

The borderless determination unit 114 detects the presence or absence of margins on the paper P of the received image data, and determines whether it is borderless printing or bordered printing.
As schematically shown in FIG. 4A, at the time of printing with a border, the toner image is entirely contained in the paper P, and an upper margin (mh), a lower margin (mb), and a left margin (ml) around the paper P. -There is a margin around the right margin (mr).
In contrast, in marginless printing, as shown in FIG. 4B, the toner image reaches the end of the paper P, and the margins are eliminated. FIG. 4B shows a state in which all of the upper margin, the lower margin, the left margin, and the right margin are not present. However, as shown as an example in FIG. If there is no print, it is determined that there is no border printing.

  The image data rotation unit 115 rotates the image data divided for each sheet P by a certain angle, for example, 90 ° / 180 ° / 270 ° rotation.

(2) Poster printing FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of poster printing, FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram showing divided image data when the border image is non-uniform, and FIG. 5B is a border image. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a mark image added to the marginal area, (a) is a mark, and (b) is an end portion to be overlapped. An image in the vicinity of the edge of the upper sheet is shown. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which image rotation including paper is performed during borderless printing. Hereinafter, a poster printing operation performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the present embodiment, image data as print source data for performing poster printing is A4 size (X direction length = 297 mm, Y direction length = 210 mm: see FIG. 3A), and the poster image is A2 size (X direction). A case where length = 594 mm and length in the Y direction = 420 mm (see FIG. 3B) will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 1 acquires image data as print source data for performing poster printing (S101), and divides the image data for each sheet P including a marginal area provided at the end of each sheet P (S102). .

For the divided image data, the uniformity of the image in a certain region at the boundary is determined (S103). If the image in the fixed area of the boundary portion is non-uniform beyond the threshold (S103: No), the image data is moved to the end portion excluding the overlapping portion of each sheet P, and printing is performed with no margin. The division is performed as described above (S104).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, the divided image data is enlarged for each paper P (A4 size) (in this case, the X direction and the Y direction are approximately 2.0 times larger). Enlargement) Print areas SA1, SA2, SA3, and SA4 are set.

  The print area SA1 moves toward the upper end U1 and the left end L1 with respect to the paper P, the upper end U1 and the left end L1 are set to have no margin, and the margins mr and mb are set to the right end R1 and the lower end B1, respectively. The margins mr and mb are cut when overlapping the print areas SA2 and SA3 after printing.

  The printing area SA2 moves toward the upper end U2 and the right end R2 with respect to the paper P, the upper end U2 and the right end R2 are set to have no margin, and the left end L2 and the lower end B2 are set to the margins ml and mb, respectively. The margin ml becomes a margin q2 when overlapping with the print area SA1 after printing, and the margin mb is cut when overlapping with the print area SA4 after printing.

  The print area SA3 moves toward the left end L3 and the lower end B3 with respect to the paper P, the left end L3 and the lower end B3 are set to have no margins, and the margins mh and mr are set to the upper end U3 and the right end R3, respectively. The margin mh becomes a margin q3 when overlapping with the print area SA1 after printing, and the margin mr is cut when overlapping with the print area SA4 after printing.

  The print area SA4 moves toward the right end R4 and the lower end B4 with respect to the paper P, the right end R4 and the lower end B4 are set to have no margin, and the upper end U4 and the left end L4 are set to the margins mh and ml, respectively. The margin mh becomes a margin q4 when overlapping with the printing area SA2 after printing, and the margin ml becomes a margin q5 when overlapping with the printing area SA3 after printing.

  As described above, when the image in a certain region of the boundary portion of the divided image data exceeds the threshold and is nonuniform, the image data is moved to the end portion excluding the overlapping portion of each sheet P and partly moved. By dividing so as to perform printing without margins, it is possible to reduce the labor of cutting unnecessary portions while suppressing image shift at the boundary portion when overlapping each paper P after poster printing, The sheets P can be easily overlapped.

When the image in a certain region of the boundary is uniform more than a certain value (S103: Yes), for the image data on the upper side at the edge where the paper P is overlapped, the image data is enlarged and printing is performed without a margin. For the image data that is divided and is located on the lower side at the edge where the paper P is overlapped, the marginal area Q is set at the edge of the boundary of each paper P, and the image data is enlarged to form an overhang area N. Division is performed so that printing is performed without margins (S105).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6B, the divided image data is enlarged for each paper P (A4 size) (in this case, about 2.0 times in both the X direction and the Y direction). Enlargement) Print areas SB1, SB2, SB3, and SB4 are set.

  In the printing area SB1, the upper end U1, the lower end B1, the left end L1, and the right end R1 of the paper P are set to have no margin.

  In the print area SB2, the upper end U2, the lower end B2, and the right end R2 of the paper P are set to have no margin, and the left end L2 is set to a margin ml. The margin ml becomes a margin q2 when overlapping the print area SB1 after printing.

  In the print area SB3, the lower end B3, the left end L3, and the right end R3 of the paper P are set to have no margin, and the upper end U3 is set to a margin mh. The margin mh becomes a margin q3 when overlapping the print area SB1 after printing.

  In the print area SB4, the right end R4 and the lower end B4 of the paper P are set to have no margin, and the upper end U4 and the left end L4 are set to the margins mh and ml, respectively. The margin mh becomes a margin q4 when superimposed on the print area SB2 after printing, and the margin ml becomes a margin q5 when superimposed on the print area SB3 after printing.

  As described above, when the image in a certain region of the boundary portion of the divided image data is more than a certain value, the image data on the upper end of the overlapping portion of the paper P is enlarged and no margin is added. For image data that is divided so as to be printed and is located on the lower side at the end where the paper P is overlapped, the marginal area Q is set at the end of the boundary of each paper P and the image data is enlarged to protrude. N is formed and division is performed so that printing is performed without margins, so that unnecessary portions are cut while suppressing image shift at the boundary portion when the sheets P after poster printing are overlapped. Therefore, the sheets P can be easily overlapped.

  Next, a mark image that serves as a mark when the printed paper P is superimposed is added to the marginal area Q of each paper P for which the print area has been set in step S104 or step S105 (S106).

  As a mark image to be added to the marginal area Q, as shown in FIG. 7A, by adding a mark MK indicating the boundary of the marginal area Q, the image density in the vicinity of the marginal area to be overlapped is low and the boundary is confirmed. Even if it is difficult to do so, it is possible to easily and accurately join the paper P on the upper side at the overlapping end.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the mark image added to the marginal area Q may be an image ML in the vicinity of the end of the sheet P that is on the upper side of the overlapped end. Even if the image density is low in the vicinity of the overlap area to be overlapped and the boundary is difficult to confirm, the upper sheet P is easily and accurately connected at the end of the overlap, and the mark printed on the overlap area Q The image can be concealed so that it cannot be seen in the edge where the images are superimposed.

  Further, it is desirable that the mark MK and the image ML as mark images indicating the boundary of the marginal area Q are formed so as to have a density lower than that in the image data divided and arranged. By making the mark image have a low density, the mark image printed in the marginal area Q can be hidden so as not to appear in the end portion where the mark image is superimposed.

Next, when printing each image in which the divided image data is enlarged and arranged, as shown in FIG. 8, the edge portion where the marginal area Q of the image data is set is set in the transport direction of the paper P. It rotates to the front end side (S107).
Further, when the edge where the margin area Q is set is the long side of the paper P, the image density in the vicinity of the edge excluding the margin area Q is calculated, and the edge having the lowest image density in the vicinity of the edge. Is rotated to the leading end side in the conveyance direction of the paper P (S107).
As described above, by rotating the image data, it is possible to suppress the front end stain of the paper P to be printed on the poster and the image defect at the front end of the paper even when printing without margins.

  In this way, the image data divided for each paper P is printed in a predetermined order on the paper P selected by the image forming unit 10 (S108).

  As described above, the image data as the printing source data for performing the poster printing is A4 size (X direction length = 297 mm, Y direction length = 210 mm), and the poster image is A2 size (X direction length = 594 mm, Y direction length = 420 mm), the image data as the printing source data is A4 size (X direction length = 297 mm, Y direction length = 210 mm), and the poster image is larger (see FIG. 9). If the image data is divided as necessary, the image data is enlarged and printed without margins for the image data on the upper end of the overlapped portion of the paper P. For the image data which is divided at the edge where the paper P is overlapped, the margin area Q is set at the edge of the boundary of each paper P and the image data A larger poster image can be created by dividing the image so as to enlarge the image and form an overhanging area N so as to perform printing without margins.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 10 ... Image forming part 11 ... System control apparatus 111 ... Image output control part 112 ... Image division part 113 ... Image discrimination | determination part 114 ... Borderless discrimination | determination Numeral 115 ... Image data rotating unit 20 ... Paper feeding device 30 ... Operation display unit 40 ... Image processing unit P ... Paper Q ... Margin area M ... Margin area N ...・ Extrusion area

Claims (7)

Image forming means for forming an image without margins on the edge of the recording medium based on the image data;
Dividing means for dividing the image data for each recording medium including a marginal area provided at an end of the recording medium required for superimposing the recording media after printing,
The dividing means changes the marginal area according to the image data at the end of each recording medium to be overlapped, and enlarges the image data without margins.
Image forming apparatus. The dividing means moves the image data to an end portion excluding the overlapping portion of each recording medium when an image in a certain area of the boundary portion of each recording medium exceeds a threshold value and is non-uniform. Split to print without
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The dividing means expands the image data with respect to the image data on the upper side at the overlapping edge of the recording medium when the image in a certain area of the boundary portion of each recording medium is more than a certain level. The image data is divided so as to be printed without margins, and the image data that is below the overlapping end of the recording medium is formed by forming a marginal area at the end of the boundary portion of each recording medium. Divide to enlarge and print without margins,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The dividing means adds a mark image for printing the mark of the overlapping end portion that protrudes from the marginal region with respect to the image data on the lower side at the overlapping end portion of each of the adjacent recording media. Split
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The mark image is an image at a boundary portion of each recording medium in the image data on the upper side at an end portion where the recording media overlap each other.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4. The landmark image is formed so as to have a density lower than the density in the image data.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5. Image data rotating means for rotating the image data by a certain angle;
The image data rotating means rotates an end portion where the marginal area of the image data is set to a front end side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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