JP2940290B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on cut paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus which records an image on a cut sheet has been proposed. A conventional image recording apparatus records an image on a part of a cut sheet, and discharges the remaining part as it is even if most of the remaining part is left as a margin.

[0003]

Therefore, conventionally, even if an attempt is made to effectively use a cut sheet having a large margin, the cut sheet is discharged as a single sheet, which is often wasted.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of effectively using paper by cutting the margin when the margin is large.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an image recording means for recording an image on a cut sheet, and an image recording method until the image is completely recorded on the cut sheet.
Compare the cut sheet feed direction length of the area with the judgment reference value.
By constant, judging means for judging whether or not there is a predetermined amount of margin, based on the determination result of said determination means, a cutting means for cutting in the direction perpendicular to the margin of the cut sheet in cut sheet feeding direction The gist is that it is provided.

[0006]

According to the present invention thus constructed, the image recording means records an image on a cut sheet, and if the judging means judges that the cut sheet has a predetermined amount of blank space, the cutting means makes a decision based on the judgment result. To cut off the margins of the cut paper.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a facsimile machine will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, a paper feed cassette 2 is provided in a main body case 1 of the facsimile apparatus. In this embodiment, cut sheets 3 of A4 size are set in the sheet feeding cassette 2. A known paper size sensor 4 for detecting whether the cut paper 3 set in the paper feed cassette 2 is an A4-size or B5-size cut paper at the storage position of the paper feed cassette 2 in the main body case 1. Is provided. The paper feed cassette 2 is provided with a detected member (not shown) whose mounting position can be changed corresponding to the size of the cut sheet 3 set, and the paper size sensor 4 is a paper feed cassette of the detected member. 2, the size of the cut sheet 3 set in the sheet cassette 2 can be detected.

Above the recording paper supply side (right side in FIG. 1) of the paper supply cassette 2, paper supply rollers 5 are rotatably supported on both sides of the main body case 1. The paper feed roller 5 can be positively rotated by a paper feed roller motor 31. The platen 6 is provided downstream of the paper feed roller 5, and a printing mechanism 7 is provided above the platen 6 so as to face the platen 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the platen 6 can be positively rotated by a platen motor 30.

The printing mechanism 7 as an image recording means includes an ink jet head (hereinafter, referred to as a printing head). Scan (traverse). A pair of upper and lower guide plates 8 serving as a paper feed path for the cut paper 3 is provided between the printing mechanism 7 and the paper feed roller 5. The guide plate 9 is provided on the downstream side of the platen 6, and guides the cut sheet 3 transferred from the platen 6 in the transfer direction.

The transport roller 10 is provided downstream of the guide plate 9 and transports the cut paper 3 transported via the guide plate 9 further downstream. Positive rotation is enabled. A cutting mechanism 12 as cutting means is provided between the guide plate 9 and the transport roller 10. The cutting mechanism 12 includes a fixed blade 13 and a movable blade 15 driven to open and close by a solenoid 14 with respect to the fixed blade 13. This cutting mechanism 1
2, the cut sheet 3 can be cut in the width direction orthogonal to the feed direction.

The switching mechanism 16 is provided downstream of the transport roller 10. The switching mechanism 10 includes a switching guide plate 17.
A first position where the switching guide plate 17 is located above,
And a solenoid 18 that reciprocates between a lower position and a second position. The first discharge tray 19 and the second discharge tray 20 are arranged vertically so that most of them project outside the main body case 1. The first discharge tray 19 is configured to discharge the cut sheet 3 guided by the switching guide plate 17 when the switching guide plate 17 is located at the first position. or,
The second discharge tray 20 discharges the cut sheet 3 guided by the switching guide plate 17 when the switching guide plate 17 is located at the second position.

Next, the electrical configuration of the facsimile machine F will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a central processing unit for recording control (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU) 2 as a determination unit.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a read-only memory (hereinafter, referred to as a ROM) (not shown), in which various control programs such as a transmission / reception control program of the facsimile machine F are stored. Further, the CPU 21 includes a memory (hereinafter, referred to as a RAM) as a readable and writable storage unit (not shown), and the CPU 21 writes and reads data and the like necessary for arithmetic processing to and from the RAM. Also, CPU
Reference numeral 21 is provided with an image memory (not shown) so that the recording data input by facsimile reception can be temporarily written into the image memory and read out.

An operation section 22 provided on the main body case 1 of the facsimile apparatus F is electrically connected to the CPU 21 and a cut mode setting key (not shown) of the operation section 22.
Is operated, the CPU 21 performs processing in the cut mode. The paper size sensor 4 is electrically connected to the CPU 21 and outputs a paper size signal set in the paper feed cassette 2 to a CP.
The data is output to U21. The switching mechanism drive circuit 23 controls the excitation of the solenoid 18 based on a switching signal from the CPU 21 so that the switching guide plate 17 can be switched to the first position or the second position. The cutting mechanism drive circuit 24 instantaneously excites the solenoid 14 based on a cutting signal from the CPU 21, and is capable of cutting the movable blade 15 with respect to the fixed blade 13.

The print head drive circuit 25 can drive the print head based on a print drive signal from the CPU 21. The platen motor drive circuit 26, the transport roller drive circuit 27 and the paper feed roller drive circuit 32
Platen motor 3 based on a control signal from PU 21
0, each of the transport roller motor 11 and the paper feed roller motor 31 is driven. A line counter A and a line counter B are storage devices for counting used when the print head prints on the cut sheet 3 line by line.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus F thus configured will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the facsimile apparatus F, reception data (recording data) is sequentially input to the facsimile apparatus F in a state where the cut mode is set by a cut mode setting key (not shown) of the operation unit 22. It is assumed that the A4 size cut sheet 3 is set, and the paper size sensor 4 detects the size of the A4 size.

The CPU 21 outputs a control signal to the paper feed roller drive circuit 32 to drive the paper feed roller motor to rotate the paper feed roller 5 (step 1, hereinafter step is represented by S), and to drive the platen motor. A control signal is output to the circuit 26 to rotate the platen motor 30. With the rotation of the paper feed roller 5, the cut paper 3 is fed from the paper feed cassette 2, and the platen 6 is rotated to position the cut paper 2 at a predetermined printing position. Further, the CPU 21 outputs a switching signal to the switching mechanism driving circuit 23, thereby holding the solenoid 18 in the excited state and positioning the switching guide plate 17 at the first position (S2). Next, the CPU 21 stores 0 in the line counter B29 (S3).

Next, the CPU 21 outputs a print drive signal to the print head drive circuit 25 based on the recording data stored in the image memory. The print head drive circuit 25 prints one line of the print head based on the print drive signal (S
4). When printing of one line is completed, the CPU 21 outputs a control signal to the platen motor drive circuit 26 to rotate the platen motor 30 and print 3.85 LPM on the cut sheet 2.
A (line / millimeter) feed is given (S5).
Then, in S6, the CPU 21 increments the line count B29 by one.
To calculate the “number of print lines”. CPU in S7
21 judges whether or not the recording data has been completed, and if there is the recording data, returns to S4.

If the recording data has been completed in S7, S8
Then, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the mode is the cut mode . Since the full § click <br/> Shimiri device F is set to cut mode in cut mode setting key of the operation unit 22 (not shown), S
Then, it is determined whether or not the “number of print lines” added to the line counter B 29 is less than the determination reference value of 570 lines. The value added to the line counter B29 is added.
The “number of print lines” printed on the cut paper in the present invention
Paper feed of the image recording area until the end of recording
It corresponds to the length in the direction. That is, although the total number of lines that can be printed on the A4 size cut sheet 3 is 1140, it is determined whether the “number of print lines” printed on the cut sheet 3 is less than half of the total line number. If less than half, CP
U21 subtracts the "number of printing lines" which is added from 570 in S10 in the line counter B29, and stores the subtraction result to the line counter A 28.

Next, the CPU 21 outputs a control signal to the transport roller drive circuit 27 based on the value stored in the line counter A, thereby driving the transport roller motor 11 to rotate and cutting the cut sheet 3 via the transport roller 10. Feed is performed (S11). Subsequently, the CPU 21 operates the cutting mechanism 1 shown in FIG.
By outputting a control signal to the transport roller drive circuit 27 to transport the cut sheet 3 by the distance L between the cutting position of the printing mechanism 2 and the printing position of the printing mechanism 7, the transport roller motor 11 is rotationally driven, and the transport roller The cut paper 3 is fed via the printer 10 (S12).

Next, the CPU 21 outputs a cutting signal to the cutting mechanism driving circuit 24 to instantaneously excite the solenoid 14.
More, to operate the movable blade 15, perpendicular to the margin to the cut sheet feeding direction at the position of half the feeding direction of the cut paper 3
To be cut in a direction (S13). The solenoid 14
After being instantaneously excited, the plunger is returned to the original position by the built-in spring. Subsequently, the CPU 21 outputs a control signal to the transport roller drive circuit 27 for a time limit of a built-in timer, thereby driving the transport roller motor 11 to rotate, and removing the half cut paper 3 of the printed portion from the transport roller 10. To the first discharge tray 19 (S1).
4). Further, the CPU 21 switches the switching mechanism driving circuit 23 in S15.
, The solenoid 18 is demagnetized, and the switching guide plate 17 is moved to the second position. Then, the CPU 21 outputs a control signal to the platen motor driving circuit 26 and the transport roller 27 to
Then, the transport roller motor 11 is rotated. As a result, the remaining half of the cut sheet 3 in the margin is fed by the platen 6 and the transport roller 10 and discharged to the second discharge tray 20.

If the cut mode is not set in S8, and if the "number of print lines" printed on the A4 cut paper 3 is more than half of the total number of lines in S9, the CPU 21 drives the platen motor in S17. A control signal is output to the circuit 26 and the transport roller driving circuit 27 to output the platen motor 3
0 and the conveying roller motor 11 are rotated. As a result,
The remaining half of the cut paper 3 in the margin is fed by the platen 6 and the transport roller 10 and is sent to the first discharge tray 19.
Is discharged.

In this embodiment, when less than half of the A4 size cut sheet 3 is not printed and has a margin, it is halved.
Can be used for other purposes without waste. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the cut sheet is cut into に when the printing portion is less than の of the cut sheet feed direction. If the printed portion is less than 1/3, cut the cut sheet into 1/3, change the cut sheet to apply to the B-size cut sheet, or omit the switching mechanism. Any changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0024]

As described above in detail, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, when there is a large margin, the excellent effect that the margin can be cut and the margin paper can be used effectively can be obtained. Play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 ... cut paper, 4 ... paper size sensor, 5 ... paper feed roller,
7: printing mechanism (image recording means), 10: transport roller, 1
2 ... cutting mechanism (cutting means), 13 ... fixed blade, 15 ... movable blade, 21 ... CPU (determining means), F ... facsimile machine

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image recording means for recording an image on a cut sheet, and an image recording until the recording of the image on the cut sheet is completed.
Compare the cut sheet feed direction length of the area with the judgment reference value.
By constant, a determination unit configured to determine whether there is a predetermined amount of margin, based on the determination result of said determining means, switching the direction orthogonal to margins of the cut sheet in the cut sheet feeding direction <br / > An image recording apparatus comprising cutting means for cutting.