JP2941814B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that divides a one-page image into a plurality of recording materials and outputs the divided images.

[Conventional technology]

The present applicant has proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 62-289182 that an image of one page is divided, enlarged, and recorded on a plurality of recording papers.

For example, if a document of A4 size (210 mm × 297 mm) is copied at a magnification of 600%, a print image of 1260 mm × 1782 mm is obtained. The diagram for explaining that
FIG.

FIG. 15 (A) is a diagram in which a four-size document is placed horizontally, and FIG. 15 (B) is a diagram showing a state of a print sheet when FIG. 15 (A) is enlarged by 600%. If the printing paper (roll paper) has a maximum width in the A2 longitudinal direction (594 mm), as shown in FIG. 15 (A), the A4 size document is vertically divided into three parts, and the respective portions are separated as shown in FIG. Copying is performed in correspondence with the print papers', ',' shown in B).

Since cut paper was used as the print paper for this type of general enlarged copy, for example, when A3 size cut paper was used, in the above example, 18 print papers were required, and later There is a drawback in that the work amount is increased due to the large number of sheets when combining them into one sheet. Therefore, by using roll paper and setting the sub-scan feed amount to an arbitrary length, it is possible to reduce the number of print paper sheets and obtain a larger copy.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, when making a large-size copy using roll paper as described above, it takes a very long time for one copy.
For example, once a large-size copy is started, the image forming apparatus (copier) is in an operation (working) state of performing a large-size copy for a long time, and during that time, it is possible to perform another quick small copy. I can not use it. Also, if the user suddenly has to go out during the large-size copy or the power switch is turned off (the circuit breaker is turned off or the power is cut off), the print in progress is stopped and the printing is started again. There was a problem that it had to be performed from.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has an image forming unit that divides an image for one page into a plurality of areas and sequentially forms an image of each area on a plurality of recording materials. Means for instructing to stop the image forming operation being executed by the means, and image forming by the image forming means after the image forming on the recording material being executed by the image forming means is completed according to the stop instruction by the stop instruction means. Stop means for stopping the operation, and stop instruction means for instructing to stop the image forming operation being executed by the image forming means, and after the stop instruction by the stop instruction means, and by the image forming means The stop means stops the image forming operation by the image forming means before the end of the image formation on the recording material being executed in accordance with the stop instruction by the stop instruction means before the end of the image formation on the recording material being executed. There is provided a forming apparatus.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital color copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

 The whole can be divided into two parts.

The upper part of FIG. 1 is a color image scanner 1 for reading a document image and outputting digital color image data.
(Hereinafter, abbreviated as a scanner unit 1) and a controller unit 2 which is built in the scanner unit 1 and performs various image processing of digital color image data and has a processing function such as an interface with an external device. .

The scanner unit 1 reads a three-dimensional object and a sheet document placed below the document holder 11 and also has a built-in mechanism for reading a large-size sheet document.

The operation unit 10 is connected to the controller unit 2 and is used to input various information as a copier. The controller unit 2 issues an instruction regarding the operation of the scanner unit 1 and the printer unit 3 according to the input information.
Further, when a complicated editing process needs to be performed, a digitizer or the like is attached in place of the document presser 11, and this is connected to the controller unit 2, thereby enabling advanced processing. Also, a stick controller 99 is provided as a simple position designation means.

The lower part of FIG. 1 shows a printer unit 3 for recording a color digital image signal output from the controller unit 2 on recording paper. In this embodiment, the printer unit 3 is a full-color ink jet printer using a recording head of an ink jet recording system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-59936.

The two parts described above are separable and can be installed at remote locations by extending the connecting cable.

(Printer Unit) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the digital color copying machine of FIG. 1 as viewed from the side.

First, an exposure lamp 14, a lens 15, and a full-color image sensor 16 (in this embodiment, a CCD) capable of reading a line image, an original image placed on an original platen glass 17, a projected image by a projector, or Then, the sheet original image is read by the sheet feeding mechanism 12. Next, various types of image processing are performed by the scanner unit 1 and the controller unit 2,
The data is recorded on the recording paper by the printer unit 3.

In FIG. 2, the recording paper is a paper feed cassette 20 for storing cut sheets of a small fixed size (in this embodiment, A4 to A3 size) and a large size (in this embodiment, A2 to A1 size). It is supplied from a roll paper 29 for performing.

In addition, paper can be fed from outside of the apparatus (manual paper feeding) by feeding recording sheets one by one along the paper feeding unit cover 21 from the manual feed slot 22 in FIG.

The pick-up roller 24 is a roller for feeding cut paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 20. The fed cut paper is conveyed to the first paper feed roller 26 by the cut paper feed roller 25. You.

The roll paper 29 is sent out by a roll paper feed roller 30, cut into a fixed length by a cutter 31, and conveyed to a first feed roller 26.

Similarly, the recording paper inserted from the manual feed port 22 is conveyed to the first paper feed roller 26 by the manual feed roller 32.

Pick-up roller 24, cut paper feed roller 25,
The roll paper feed roller 30, the first feed roller 26, and the manual feed roller 32 are provided with a not-shown paper feed motor (in this embodiment, a DC servo motor).
(Using a motor), and an on / off control can be performed at any time by an electromagnetic clutch attached to each roller.

When the printing operation is started by an instruction from the controller unit 2, the recording paper selected and fed from any of the above-described paper feeding paths is transported to the first paper feeding roller 26. In order to remove the skew of the recording paper, a first paper feed roller 26 is turned on after a predetermined amount of paper loop is formed, and the recording paper is conveyed to a second paper feed roller 27.

Between the first paper feed roller 26 and the second paper feed roller 27, the recording paper is slacked by a predetermined amount in order to perform accurate paper feed operation between the paper feed roller 28 and the second paper feed roller 27. Create The buffer amount detection sensor 33 is a sensor for detecting the buffer amount. By always making a buffer during paper transport, the load on the paper feed roller 28 and the paper feed second roller 27 can be reduced, especially when large-size recording paper is transported, and accurate paper feed operation is possible. Become.

When printing with the recording head 37, the recording head 37
The scanning carriage 34 on which the etc. are mounted is the carriage rail
A reciprocating scan is performed on the scan 36 by a scan motor 35. And
In the forward scan, an image is printed on the recording paper, and in the backward scan, an operation of feeding the recording paper by a predetermined amount by the paper feed roller 28 is performed. At this time, while the drive system is being detected by the buffer amount detection sensor 33 by the paper feed motor, control is performed so that a predetermined buffer amount is always obtained.

The printed recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 23 and the printing operation is completed.

Reference numerals 91, 92, and 93 denote paper detectors, which are provided on the rear side of the first paper feed roller 26, the second paper feed roller 27, and the paper feed roller 28, respectively. Used.

Reference numeral 100 denotes a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of roll paper.

Next, the details around the scanning carriage 34 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, a paper feed motor 40 is a drive source for intermittently feeding recording paper, and drives the second paper feed roller 27 via a paper feed roller 28 and a second paper feed roller clutch 43.

The scanning motor 35 is a driving source for scanning the scanning carriage 34 in the directions of arrows A and B via the scanning belt 34. In this embodiment, a pulse motor is used for the paper feed motor 40 and the scanning motor 35 because accurate paper feed control is necessary.

When the recording paper reaches the second paper feed roller 27, the second paper feed roller clutch 43 and the paper feed motor 40 are turned on, and the recording paper is conveyed on the platen 39 to the paper feed roller 28.

The recording paper is detected by a paper detection sensor 44 provided on the platen 39, and the sensor information is used for position control, jam control, and the like.

When the recording paper reaches the paper feed roller 28, the paper feed second roller clutch 43 and the paper feed motor 40 are turned off, and the platen 39 is turned off.
Suction operation is performed from the inside by a suction motor (not shown),
The recording paper is brought into close contact with the platen 39.

Prior to the image recording operation on the recording paper, the scanning carriage 34 is moved to the position of the home position sensor 41, and then forward scanning is performed in the direction of arrow A, and cyan C, magenta M, Image recording is performed by ejecting yellow Y and black K ink from the recording head 37. When the image recording for the predetermined length is completed, the scanning carriage 34 is stopped, and conversely, the backward scanning is started in the direction of arrow B, and the scanning carriage 34 is returned to the position of the home position sensor 41. During the backward scanning, the paper is fed by the length recorded by the recording head 37 in the direction of arrow C by driving the paper feed roller 28 by the paper feed motor 40.

In the present embodiment, the recording head 37 is an ink jet nozzle of the above-described system, and four 256 nozzles each assembled in each of Y, M, C, and K are used.

When the scanning carriage 34 stops at the home position detected by the home position sensor 41, the recovery operation of the recording head 37 is performed. This is a process for performing a stable printing operation, and in order to prevent unevenness at the start of ejection due to a change in viscosity of ink remaining in the nozzles of the printing head 37, the feeding time, the internal temperature of the apparatus, and the like. Recording head 37 according to pre-programmed conditions such as
This is a process of performing a pressurizing operation, an idle discharge operation of ink, and the like.

The image recording is performed on the entire surface of the recording paper by repeating the operation described above.

(Scanner Unit) Next, the operation of the scanner unit 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a mechanical mechanism inside the scanner unit 1. FIG.

The CCD unit 18 is a unit composed of a CCD 16, a lens 15, etc., and has a main scanning motor 5 fixed on a rail 54.
The image forming apparatus moves on the rails 54 by a driving system including a pulley 51, a pulley 52, a pulley 52, and a wire 53 in the main scanning direction, and reads an image on the platen glass 17 in the main scanning direction. The light-shielding plate 55 and the home position sensor 56 are used for position control when the CCD unit 18 is moved to the main scanning home position in the correction area 68 shown in the figure.

The rail 54 is mounted on the rails 65 and 69, and includes the sub-scanning motor 60, pulleys 67, 68, 71, 76, shafts 72, 73, and wires 66, 69.
It is moved by the drive system 70 in the sub-scanning direction. The light-shielding plate 57 and the home position sensors 58 and 59 are used in the book mode for reading a document such as a book placed on the platen glass 17 and in the sheet mode for reading a sheet, respectively. Is used for position control when the rail 54 is moved.

The sheet feed motor 61, the sheet feed rollers 74 and 75, the pulleys 62 and 64, and the wire 63 are mechanisms for feeding a sheet document. This mechanism is a mechanism for feeding a sheet document placed on the document table glass 17 and placed downward by the sheet feed rollers 74 and 75 by a predetermined amount.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a reading operation in the book mode and the sheet mode.

In the book mode, the CCD unit 18 is moved to the book mode home position (book mode HP) shown in the correction area 68 in FIG. The reading operation of the entire surface is started.

Prior to scanning the document, parameters necessary for processes such as shading correction, black level correction, and color correction are set based on the output read in the correction area 68. Thereafter, the main scanning motor 50 starts scanning in the main scanning direction in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. When the reading operation of the area indicated by is completed, the main scanning motor 50 is rotated in the reverse direction,
The sub-scanning motor 60 is driven to move in the sub-scanning direction to the correction area 68 of the area. Subsequently, similar to the main scanning of the area, processing such as shading correction, black level correction, and color correction is performed as necessary, and the area is read.

By repeating the above scanning, the reading operation of the entire area is performed. After the reading operation of the area is completed, the CCD unit 18 is again set to the book mode home mode.
Return to position.

In the present embodiment, the platen glass 17 can actually read a document having a maximum size of A2.In practice, it is necessary to perform a larger number of scans.However, in the present invention, the operation is simplified in order to make the operation easier to understand. .

In the sheet mode, the CCD unit 18 is moved to the illustrated sheet mode home position (sheet mode HP).
The CCD unit 18 is repeatedly moved back and forth in the area of
Is repeatedly read while intermittently operating to read the entire sheet document.

That is, processing such as shading correction, black level correction, and color correction is performed in the correction area 68 prior to scanning of the document, and then scanning in the main scanning direction is started by the main scanning motor 50 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. . When the reading operation on the forward path in the area is completed, the main scanning motor 50 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the sheet feed motor 61 is driven during the scanning on the backward path to move the sheet document by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction. Subsequently, the same operation is repeated to read the entire surface of the sheet document.

Assuming that the above-described reading operation is an equal-magnification reading operation, the area that can be read by the CCD unit 18 is actually a large area as shown in FIG. This is because the digital color copying machine of the present embodiment has a magnification / reduction function. That is, since the area that can be recorded by the recording head 37 is fixed at 256 bits at a time as described above, for example, when a 50% reduction operation is performed, the image information of the area of 512 bits at least twice as large is required. Is necessary. Therefore, the scanner 1 has at least 12
It has a built-in function to read and output image information of an arbitrary image area by one main scanning reading consisting of a bit CCD.

In the case of enlargement, as shown in FIG. 15A, the document is divided into a plurality of areas, and the above-described reading operation is performed on each area.

The above-described scanning method is called a serial scanning method.

(Explanation of Overall Function Block) Next, the function block of the digital color copying machine of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The control units 102, 111, and 121 are control circuits that control the scanner unit 1, the controller unit 2, and the printer unit 3, respectively, and include a micro computer, a program ROM, a data memory, a communication circuit, and the like. Control units 102-111
The control units 111 and 121 are connected to each other by a communication line, and employ a so-called master-slave control mode in which the control units 102 and 121 operate according to instructions from the control unit 111.

When operating as a color copier, the control unit 111 operates according to input instructions from the operation unit 10 and the digitizer 114.

The operation unit 10 is as shown in FIG. 7 and uses liquid crystal as a display unit, and has a touch panel made of a transparent electrode on its surface.
It has an LCD display unit 204 having a panel, and can perform selection instructions such as designation of colors, designation of editing operation, and the like. Keys relating to operations, for example, a start key 205 for instructing the start of a copying operation, and a stop key 20 for instructing a stop of a copying operation
3.Reset key 20 to return the operation mode to the standard state
6. Frequently used keys such as a numeric keypad 202 for inputting numerical values and a key 207 for selecting various editing functions are provided independently.

In addition, the control unit 111 includes, for example, IEEE-488, a so-called GP-
A control circuit for a general-purpose parallel interface such as an IB interface, which also controls the I / F control unit 112, is used to perform input / output of image data between external devices and remote control by the external devices via this interface. Can be done.

Further, the control unit 111 includes a multi-value synthesizing unit 106 that performs various kinds of processing related to the image, an image processing unit 107, a binarization processing unit 108,
It also controls the value synthesizing unit 109 and the buffer memory 110.

The control unit 102 controls the mechanical driving unit 105 that controls the mechanism of the scanner unit 1 described above, the exposure control unit 103 that controls the exposure of the lamp when reading a reflected original, and the halogen lamp when the projector is used. The control of the exposure control unit 104 that performs the exposure control of 90 is performed. Further, the control unit 102 also controls the analog signal processing unit 100 and the input image processing unit 101 that perform various kinds of processing related to images.

The control unit 121 controls the mechanism driving unit 105 for controlling the mechanism of the printer unit 3 described above, and absorbs the time variation of the mechanical operation of the printer unit 3 and corrects the delay due to the arrangement of the recording heads 117 to 120 on the mechanism. The synchronization delay memory 115 is controlled.

FIG. 8 shows the operation unit 10 when making the above-mentioned large-size copy.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an LCD display unit 204.

(A) shows an example of display before copying, and (b) shows an example of display during copying.

When making an enlarged copy, if two of the three parameters of the document size, magnification, and print size are determined, the remaining one is automatically determined. For example, if the document size is A size and the magnification is 600%, a print paper size of 1260 mm x 1782 mm is required, as shown in Fig. 15 (A).
A4 size original is placed horizontally, and the print paper is shown in Fig. 15 (B).
When used in three parts as in the above, a copy can be obtained without wasting the print paper.

FIG. 9 shows a setting flow of information necessary for enlarged continuous shooting. When the user presses the enlarged continuous shooting key 201 shown in FIG.
The document size input screen is displayed as shown below. Here ▲ [A2]
▼, ▲ [A3] ▼ key and other fixed size input (B)
The screen for specifying how to place the original is displayed. After specifying the vertical or horizontal orientation, press the OK key to display the magnification input screen of (C), and then press the ▲ [End] ▼ key. The setting is completed, and the basic screen is displayed as shown in FIG.

Also, on the original size input screen of (A) By pressing, the irregular size input screen of (D) is displayed, and the sizes of the document table 17 in the X and Y directions are respectively ▲ [+] ▼, ▲
By inputting in mm units using the [-] ▼ or ▲ [C] ▼ keys and pressing the ▲ [OK] ▼ key, a magnification input screen of (C) appears. However, if the ▲ [A1] ▼ and ▲ [B2] ▼ keys are used on the original size input screen in (A), an original of this size can only be placed horizontally in this system, so a display for specifying how to place the original is displayed. To go to the magnification input screen of (C).

In addition, if you do not know which standard size of the original you want to copy, or if it takes time to measure the size of the irregular size original and enter the size with the key, etc.
By inputting one diagonal point of the index (origin) of the original by the stick controller 99 as the simple position designation means on the original size input screen of (A), the input point and the input size are respectively X and Y. Displayed in (D). If fine adjustment is necessary, adjust it with the ▲ [+] ▼ and ▲ [-] ▼ keys. If fine, press the ▲ [OK] ▼ key to display the magnification input screen (C). Note that the simple position designation means is not limited to the stick controller, and the same applies to an editor such as a digitizer.

Further, in the magnification input screen of (C), the magnification can be input using the ten keys 102 on the operation unit, and ▲ [+] ▼, ▲
X and Y can be set independently using the [-] ▼ keys.

Also, if trimming is performed by specifying the area, the trimming area size becomes the document size, so if you press the enlarged continuous shooting key 101 because there is no need to input the document size,
The magnification input screen shown in FIG.

When the document size, document orientation, and magnification are determined in this manner, the LCD display unit 104 performs display as shown in FIG. 8A.
In addition, the size of the document or how to divide the print paper and make copies is displayed on the liquid crystal in a graphic display, and the number of divisions and the 1
By displaying the length and the like required for each print, operability can be further improved.

When such a large copy is to be taken, it is necessary to show the operator how much copying is in progress since one copy takes a very long time. FIG. 8 (b) is a diagram showing an example of this, in which the copy-completed portion of the document size divided portion is displayed by drawing a line, and the operator is informed of how much the copy is progressing at a glance. Is possible. Also, the number of divisions is displayed in the copy number display portion in the screen shown in FIG. 8B during copying.

The length and the like required for one printing of the roll paper in the sub-scanning direction may be displayed.

The flow chart for performing such display and copying is
Figure 10 shows.

In FIG. 10, the document size in SP701 and SP702,
Enter the direction of the original, magnification, and number of prints.
In steps 703 to SP705, the number N of divided areas of the roll paper, the recording paper length necessary for recording in one area of the roll paper, and the number of main scans M of the reader in one area are set. The number n of divided areas for which printing has been completed at the same time, and m indicating the number of times main scanning has ended.
Is initialized to 0.

Then, in SP706, the document size, direction, number of prints, magnification, number of divided areas N and number of reader main scans M are output to the display unit, and the display unit performs display as shown in FIG. 8 (a). Then, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of the roll paper is sufficient. If the remaining amount is not sufficient, a display shown in FIG. 13 described later is performed to prevent the start of copying. On the other hand, if the remaining amount is sufficient, the start key 205 is put on standby. When the start key 205 is pressed, printing is started in SP707. During printing, the stop key 203 is monitored to be turned on (SP716), and if the stop key 203 is turned on, the stop process shown in FIG. 11 described later is performed.

Each time the reader finishes one main scan, m is incremented by one.
Then, the values n and m are output to the display unit (SP708 to 710). When m = M (SP711), m is set to 0 and n is set to +1.
(SP712), it is determined whether or not copying of all divided areas has been completed (SP714). If not all have been completed, the reader starts reading the next divided area, and the printer cuts the roll paper. Yes (SP713).

As described above, copying is performed until n = N, and during that time, n and m are output to the display unit for each main scan of the reader.

The display as shown in FIG. 8 (b) becomes possible by the values of the display portions n and m.

Conventionally, this type of display uses a multi-segment LED or the like to indicate what percentage of the total has been completed. However, as in this embodiment, one time using multiple print papers When performing the copy process, the display is insufficient. At least, it is desirable to inform the operator of the number of the sheet and which part of the printer paper is being copied.

In this embodiment, only the method based on the graphic display is described, but alternatively, the display based on the time and the display based on the number of scans of the operation may be simultaneously performed.

When the stop key 203 on the operation unit is pressed while making such a large copy, the LCD display unit 204 is displayed as shown in FIG. 11 (A).
Screen. Here ▲ [memory stop] ▼ 211, ▲
[Cancel memory] ▼ 212, ▲ [Forced stop] ▼ 213 There are three keys, and if no key is pressed, the currently copied 1
The operation ends when the copying of the area (one roll of paper) ends. If the time until the end of copying for one area is long, by pressing the ▲ [forced stop] ▼ key 213,
The copy operation ends immediately.

If the operation during the copying operation is temporarily terminated and the user wants to resume copying later, the following operation is performed. That is, after pressing the stop key 203 and then pressing the ▲ [memory stop] ▼ key 211, the count value n of the number of divisions, the original size, the way of placing the original, the magnification, etc. at the end of the copying of one area currently being copied. Is stored in the RAM of the control unit 111, and the copy operation ends.

When the ▲ [Cancel Memory] ▼ key 213 is pressed, necessary information such as the count value m of the number of scanner main scans at the time of the current copy, the count value n of the number of divisions, the document size, the placement of the document, and the magnification are displayed. The data is stored in the RAM of the control unit 111 and the operation is immediately terminated.

By providing the battery for charging and the RAM for backing up, even if the power is turned off, the information necessary for resuming the above-mentioned copy is stored, and the copy can be made again at a later date.

When copying is completed with the ▲ [memory stop] ▼ key 211 or the ▲ [cancel memory] ▼ key 212, when the magnifying continuous key 201 is pressed again, the LCD display unit 204 displays the original size input screen (A) in FIG. Does not go and the copy resume screen shown in Fig. 12 is displayed. Here, when the key 311 is pressed, the copy is started from the next area (or main scan) at the end of the previous copy. Also,
▲ [Re-copy from the beginning] ▼ Pressing the key 312 clears the information at the time of interruption (the number of divisions n and the number of scan main scans m), and starts copying from the first main scan of the scanner in the first area. . When the ▲ [AC] ▼ key 313 is pressed, all the information is cleared and the screen goes to the original size input screen (A) in FIG. 9, and the copy is started again after setting again.

As described above, when making an enlarged copy, if two of the three parameters of the document size, magnification, and print size are determined, the remaining one is automatically determined. The print size is determined. Therefore, in the enlarged continuous shooting mode, the roll paper is automatically selected as the print paper, and the screen shown in FIG.
A roll paper mark 314 is displayed to inform the user.

This is not limited to the enlarged continuous shooting mode. When it is necessary to select roll paper, a roll paper selection mark 314 is automatically displayed in the same manner.

In the case of making a large-size copy as described above, the maximum printing paper in the present embodiment is 7128 mm × 10 mm in the case where an A1 (594 mm × 841 mm) size original is to be continuously enlarged at 1200%.
The printout size is 092mm. In this case, the reading area of the document is divided into 12 areas, and the copy size of one area requires roll paper having a width of 594 mm × length of 10092 mm. In this case, to copy one area continuously,
If the roll paper having a length of at least 10092 mm does not remain in the printer, the roll paper runs out in the middle of the one area, and the copy operation ends in the middle.

Therefore, a sensor 100 for detecting the remaining amount of the roll paper 29 for detecting the remaining amount of the roll paper 29 in the printer in FIG. 2 is provided. In this embodiment, since the roll paper having a maximum length of 10092 mm may be required as described above, when the length of the roll paper becomes 15000 mm (15 m) or less with some margin, it is detected. It has become.

Therefore, if the sensor 100 for detecting the remaining amount of roll paper detects that the roll paper is 15,000 mm or less at the time of setting the mode only in the enlarged continuous shooting mode,
A warning message is displayed on the LCD display unit 204 as shown in FIG. Then, the start of the copy operation is prevented. This prevents interruption of copying due to no roll paper in the middle of one area.

Since the maximum print size is A1 during normal copying, a roll paper length of 841 mm is sufficient. Therefore, at the time of normal copying, even if the roll remaining amount detection sensor 100 detects 15000 mm or less of the roll paper, copying can be performed as usual.

Further, the above-described embodiment is not limited to the enlarged continuous shooting mode, and is also applicable to a device for detecting and warning the length of roll paper.

The stopping means of the operation of the image forming means at the time of the above-described enlarged continuous shooting is
Even for a normal large-size copy (for example, A1 size), it takes a very long time to copy one sheet, so that it can be applied to a stopping means during a normal copy.

That is, when the copy is terminated, the screen shown in FIG. 14 is displayed when the stop key is pressed. To end copying in the middle of copying one sheet (to stop copying)
Then, press the ▲ [Cancel] ▼ key 315. If the user does not press the stop button, the operation ends when one copy is completed.

According to the embodiment described above, according to the present invention,
The simple operation method is presented to the user to perform the large-size copy (enlarged continuous copying), and during the large-size copy, even if another urgent copy is desired, the large-size copy operation is interrupted (stopped) After a quick copy, you can restart the large copy. Further, a warning is issued to the user so that the roll paper does not run out during the large-size copy, thereby preventing useless copying.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in a configuration in which an image for one page is divided into a plurality of regions and images in each region are sequentially formed on a plurality of recording materials, Stop processing for stopping the image forming operation after the image formation on the recording material being executed is completed, and stop instruction means after the stop instruction by the stop instruction means and before the end of the image formation on the recording material being executed. And a stop process for stopping the image forming operation before the end of the image formation on the recording material being executed, according to the stop instruction by the user, the image forming operation after the end of the image formation on the recording material on which the image formation is being executed , And the end of the image forming operation without waiting for the end of the image formation on the recording material on which the image formation is being performed, can be properly used depending on the situation where the stop is required. Becomes

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is an external view of a digital color copying machine to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a scanning carriage, and FIG. 4 is a driving mechanism of a scanner. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the reading operation of the scanner, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 7 is an external view of the operation unit, FIG. 8, FIG. Fig. 12-
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display state example, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing stop control, FIG.
The figure shows an example of an enlarged copy, wherein 1 is a scanner section, 3 is a printer section, 10 is an operation section, 16 is an image sensor, 111
Denotes a control unit, and 204 denotes an LCD display unit.

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-62-30237 (JP, A) JP-A-62-230260 (JP, A) JP-A-63-95777 (JP, A) JP-A-62-111851 (JP, A) JP-A-62-13181 (JP, A) JP-A-63-87948 (JP, U) JP-A-60-181750 (JP, U) Patent 2703915 (JP, B2) JP-B-7-12194 (JP, A) JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 1/387-1/393

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] An image forming means for dividing an image of one page into a plurality of areas and sequentially forming images of the respective areas on a plurality of recording materials; and an image forming operation being executed by the image forming means. Stop instructing means for instructing a stop; stopping means for stopping an image forming operation by the image forming means after completion of image formation on a recording material being executed by the image forming means in accordance with a stop instruction by the stop instructing means; Stopping instruction means for instructing the stop of the image forming operation being executed by the image forming means, and after the stop instruction by the stop instruction means, and for the image formation on the recording material being executed by the image forming means. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stop means stops the image forming operation by said image forming means before the end of the image formation on the recording material being executed, in accordance with a stop instruction by said stop instruction means before the end. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image forming operation is stopped in accordance with the stop instruction by said stop instruction means, information relating to the image forming operation being executed is stored. An image forming apparatus comprising storage instruction means for instructing the image forming apparatus. 3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stop instructing means stores information on the image forming operation being executed and instructs the image forming operation being executed to be stopped. An image forming apparatus comprising: a first stop instruction unit for performing a stop operation; and a second stop instruction unit for instructing stop of the image forming operation being executed without storing information relating to the image forming operation being executed. Forming equipment. 4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the stop instruction is issued by said stop instruction means, and the image formation on the recording material being executed by said image forming means is completed. An image forming apparatus for displaying a message to the effect that a stop instruction is received by the stop instruction means. 5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein after the stop instruction is issued by said stop instruction means and the image formation on the recording material being executed by said image formation means is completed. An image forming apparatus for displaying a message to the effect that a storage instruction is received by the storage instruction means. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming operation is stopped according to a stop instruction by said stop instruction means based on information stored according to a storage instruction by said storage instruction means. The image forming apparatus. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first stop instruction unit outputs a stop instruction based on information stored in accordance with the storage instruction of the first stop instruction unit. An image forming apparatus for re-executing an image forming operation stopped according to the following.