JPH01208168A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a residual amount of machine glazed paper to be effectively used and, besides, to enable suitable image recording to be performed, by establishing a detection means for detecting that the residual amount of the machine glazed paper becomes not more than a fixed amount, a display means by which it is displayed, and a control means by which storing of an image is started. CONSTITUTION:A machine glazed paper residual amount detecting lever 22 is so constructed that its one side comes in contact with machine glazed paper by making a fulcrum near its center, and another side is attracted with a spring. As an amount of the machine glazed paper decreases, since attracted by the spring, the lever approaches a center of the machine glazed paper on its paper contact side. When the residual amount of the machine glazed paper becomes not more than a constant value, an inclination of the lever 22 increases to interrupt a sensor 23. When, for instance, a transmission type photointerruptor sensor is used as the sensor 23, since interrupted by the lever 22, that the residual amount has reached not more than the constant value is judged with a print CPU 24. When the paper is being copied, a warning of 'beware of a long size copy' is displayed on a display part. Then, when the residual machine glazed paper would like to be effectively used even though it is used up, copying is continued as it is.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that records images on roll paper.

[Background of the Invention] A copying machine is one of the devices that record images on roll paper. When making enlarged copies using such a copying machine, you can obtain enlarged copies by making several long copies and pasting them together, but as the enlargement ratio increases, the long copies also become longer. It's coming. Therefore, in the method of detecting paper out using a paper detection sensor or the like provided at a paper passing position and displaying this to prompt the user to replace the roll paper, the paper may run out in the middle of a long copy.

It is also possible to detect the remaining amount of roll paper by directly measuring its thickness, but if the remaining amount is detected based on the maximum length and the paper is out, paper will be wasted. big.

[Objective] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to provide an image forming apparatus that can effectively use the remaining amount of roll paper and perform appropriate image recording. There is a particular thing.

[Example 1] Fig. 1 shows a configuration diagram and an outline of functional blocks of a printer unit of a digital copying machine to which the present invention is applied. Figure 1 shows the printer section of a digital copying machine, published in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-5993.
This is an example in which a full-color inkjet printer using a recording head of the inkjet recording method described in Publication No. 6 is used. 11, 15, 17, and 20 are rollers for paper conveyance, 13, 16, and 19 are paper detection sensors that detect the passage of roll paper, 14 is a recording head, 12 is a platen, 18 is a roll paper cutter, and 21 is a roll. 22 is a lever for detecting the remaining amount of roll paper, and 23 is a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of roll paper. Here, the lever 22 for detecting the amount of roll paper remaining has a structure in which one side touches the roll paper and the other is pulled by a spring, with the fulcrum near the center being pulled by the spring. Therefore, the side that contacts the roll paper approaches the center of the roll paper. When the remaining amount of roll paper falls below a certain amount, the lever 22 tilts more and the sensor 23
interrupt. For example, when a transmission type photointerrupter sensor is used as the sensor 23, the sensor 23 reacts when it is interrupted by the lever 22, and the printer CPU 24 determines that the remaining amount of the roll paper has become less than a certain amount.

Now, consider enlarging an A1 original by 1600% using this copying machine. The width of the roll paper is 594mm for A1 landscape size.
If so, by making 16 long copies of 16 AI sheets and pasting them together, a 1600% AI enlarged copy can be obtained. The long copy at this time is 13.456 m. Assuming that this length is the longest length that can be taken by this copying machine, the remaining amount of roll paper, which is the standard for detecting the remaining amount of roll paper, is approximately 13.456 m, which is the longest length. , the relationship between the lever 22 and the sensor 23 is adjusted so that it does not react at least for a length shorter than that.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart for explaining the control operation of this embodiment performed using the roll paper remaining amount detection lever and sensor adjusted in this way. The contents will be explained below. When the printer CPU 24 judges the output of the sensor 23 and detects the amount of remaining roll paper, that is, the amount of remaining roll paper is less than 13,456 m, it then determines whether copying is in progress. (step S2), and if copying is in progress, a warning "Beware of long copy" is displayed on the display after copying is completed (step S2).
3). The next time the copy key is pressed, it is determined whether or not a long copy is to be made (step S4°Ss). If the copy mode is an enlarged copy mode such as long copy, the remaining roll paper should be at least 13.45 mm.
6 m or less, and depending on the size of the long sheet, there is a possibility that the roll paper will end during copying. Therefore, a message is displayed on the display section 26 warning that long copying may be interrupted in the middle, and the message "Be careful with long copying" is displayed on the display section 26, and if the user is okay with this, he or she can turn on the copy key on the operation section 27. Copying can be started by receiving an instruction to continue by performing an operation such as step S6. S7) If this is not desired, the user instructs to interrupt the copying by turning on the stop key on the operation unit 27, etc., and returns to the state of waiting for the copy key. After copying is started in the "Caution for long copy" state, the presence or absence of roll paper is detected by the paper detection sensor 19 (step Sa). For example, a reflective photointerrupter is used as the paper detection sensor 19, and when there is no more roll paper passing through, the sensor becomes undetected, and the printer CPU 24 determines that there is no paper. To install this sensor, place the part upstream of the printing position by at least 841 mm, which is the vertical length of the Al size, so that if the copy is smaller than the Al size, the full size print will be completed. It is possible (step Ss). In the case of long copies, the paper detection sensor 16 accurately measures the amount of remaining roll paper,
The remaining roll paper is printed as much as possible, and the main CPU
25 stores the final copy position and ends the copy (steps SIO to 512). Detects paper out and displays "Paper out" on the display after copying is complete (step S
, 3). After setting a new roll again (step S
+4) If the long copy is interrupted, the display will indicate whether to continue or not, and if a continuation instruction is given by turning on the copy key, etc., copying will resume from the position next to the previous final copy position. However, if the process does not continue, the next copy is accepted (steps S15 to S518).

As mentioned above, by installing a sensor that detects when the remaining amount of roll paper is less than the longest length, and after detection, displaying a warning against long length copies, you can use long lengths without cutting them. Use roll paper effectively depending on the copy user, such as replacing the roll paper when copying, or continuing copying if you want to use the remaining roll paper effectively even if it runs out. It becomes possible.

[Other Actual TJζ Examples] FIG. 3 shows another example in which the remaining amount of roll paper is detected in several stages. In FIG. 3, 31 is a barcode reader, and 32 is a barcode printed on the non-print side of the roll paper. For example, when less than 15 meters remain, barcodes 32 are printed on the non-printing side of the roll paper every 50 cm. By printing the barcode on the non-printing side, the barcode printing is hidden when the copy is used. By reading this barcode, the amount of paper remaining on the roll can be detected step by step. The control operation of the embodiment in such a case will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the remaining amount of roll paper is detected by the barcode reader 31, after copying is completed, the enlargement ratio that allows copying is displayed according to the detected remaining amount in step S2+-3.
23) indicates that the remaining amount of roll paper is low. If the copy key is then pressed (step 524)
In step 525), it is determined whether or not a long-length copy exceeding the remaining amount is requested. If it is a long-length copy, the same processing as from step S7 of the previous embodiment is performed. If not, the copy operation is started (step 527) and the previous process is repeated.

By detecting the remaining amount of roll paper in stages as described above, it is possible to know the maximum scale that can be copied using the remaining roll paper, and also to convert the display to AI, A2, etc. This allows for a more detailed display of the remaining amount of roll paper, especially for copy users who do not use long sheets.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the user can determine the roll paper company and method, and the roll paper can be used effectively.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the printer section and control section of a copying machine embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the control operation of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a roll paper FIG. 4, which is a block diagram when a bar code is used to detect the remaining amount, is a flowchart for explaining the control operation of the second embodiment. t3. 1 s, t 9---One paper detection sensor 1
4---Recording head 21---One roll paper 22---Lever for detecting the remaining amount of one roll paper 23---Sensor for detecting the remaining amount of one roll paper 24.25---CPU 31--- -Barcode Soda 32---Barcode

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A recording means for recording an image on roll paper, a detection means for detecting that the remaining amount of the roll paper has become less than a predetermined amount, and a remaining amount of the roll paper depending on the output of the detection means. a display means for displaying that the remaining amount of the roll paper is less than the predetermined amount; a display means for causing the recording means to start image recording by further generating a predetermined command after the generation of the image recording start command when the remaining amount of the roll paper is less than the predetermined amount; An image forming apparatus comprising: control means for controlling. (2) a recording means for recording an image on roll paper; a detection means for detecting that the remaining amount of the roll paper has become less than a predetermined amount; a display means for displaying that the remaining amount of the roll paper is less than the predetermined amount; when image recording is interrupted after starting image recording in a state where the remaining amount of the roll paper is less than the predetermined amount, storing image position data at the time of interruption;
An image forming apparatus including a control means that enables restart of image recording based on this position data.