JPH01263670A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for considering the paper passing directions of a form when printing is performed in vertical division or horizontal division by automatically performing the switching selection of a paper feeding cassette and performing display for warning when papers of correct paper passing direction are not set. CONSTITUTION:Print data sent by a host device 71 through a bus 1 includes image data, developing means controlling information and division information. The developing means controlling information and form selecting information are sent to a printer engine 73 through a bus 3. The CPU 74 of the engine 73 controls the switching drive of 1st and 2nd developing means through buses 9 and 10, and controls switching of forms through buses 11 and 12 based on the information. When the horizontal division is designated, the vertical passing of forms is selected and when the vertical division is designated, the horizontal passing of forms is selected. In such a case, when it is judged that specified form size is not set in a cassette, the loading of the cassette of the specified form size is urged by blinking a LED. At the same time, printing action without forms can be prevented from starting.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a printer equipped with a plurality of developing devices each having a developer of different colors, and particularly to a printer that can print each color by dividing it vertically or horizontally. Regarding.

[Background of the invention and its problems] Printers that are connected to a host device such as a word processor or a business personal computer and print out various data such as characters, figures, images, etc. as hard copies are becoming more and more popular due to the increased functionality of the host device and color printing. With the demand for diversification of printing modes, color printing equipment has become available.

On the other hand, in an electrophotographic copying machine, a control method has been proposed in which multicolor copying is performed simultaneously in - number of copying operations by selectively switching and driving multiple developing devices that already have different color developers. has been done. In this case, the area of the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor to be developed for each developer is designated by moving a lever or inputting coordinate designation on the operation panel while looking at the copy document.

Even in the case of a printer, it is possible to print in multiple colors within one printed page by providing multiple developing devices and performing switching similar to the switching of the multiple developing devices in the copying machine. .

However, the host device displays various data such as characters, figures, images, etc. on a CRT screen, and when printing in multiple colors by changing the developing device within one page to be printed, ・In the case of a copying machine, In this way, it is not possible to directly specify the switching position of the developing device on the operation panel by looking at the copy original and associating it with the original. In addition to the troublesome task of determining the switching position, there are also inconveniences such as the inability to accurately determine the switching position. Furthermore, in the case of printing by vertically or horizontally dividing two colors at the same time, the paper feeding direction must also be considered.

An object of the present invention is to automatically select a paper feed cassette with the correct paper feeding direction according to the vertical or horizontal color-coded image data that is set by the host device and sent, and to detect paper that is not set in the correct paper feeding direction. To provide a printer that displays a warning when

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above object is to provide a plurality of developing devices each having a different developer, and to set a developing device switching timing for selectively switching and driving the plurality of developing devices. A printer that uses signals from a post device divides the image created by the host device vertically or horizontally and prints out the colors, and in this case, in the vertical division setting, the paper feed direction is horizontal when using a paper feed cassette. , a means for automatically selecting a paper feed cassette in which the paper direction is vertical in the horizontal division setting, and a means for displaying a warning when paper with the paper feeding direction corresponding to the setting is not set. This is achieved by doing so.

[Function] For simultaneous color (simultaneous multi-color) printing, it has a function that automatically selects the paper cassette and outputs in vertical or horizontal color-coded format. If it is not set, the printer will temporarily stop operating and display a warning to that effect.

For printers equipped with two-stage paper feed cassettes, paper of different sizes is set in them, so vertical or horizontal color separation is not convenient for printing, and as mentioned above, A warning will be displayed. In this case, cassettes of the same size but with different paper passing directions should be installed.

Alternatively, use the manual feed slot to load paper that matches the paper feeding direction.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings about a printer that can print two colors at the same time by switching the developer within one page (hereinafter referred to as "simultaneous two-color printing"). .

The main parts of the embodiment are shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, 16, and 17.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of the printer.

A photoreceptor drum 1 that can be rotated counterclockwise is arranged approximately in the center of the printer body, and around it are a main eraser lamp 2, a charger 3, and a first developer B4.
, a second developing device 5, a transfer charger 8, a copy paper separation charger 9, a blade type cleaner device 10, and the like are arranged in this order.

The photoreceptor drum l has a photoreceptor layer on its surface, and is irradiated with light by an eraser lamp 2 each time it rotates, is charged by passing through a charger 3, and is charged with a laser beam emitted from a laser device section 11. Image data is exposed by 0N10FF.

On the other hand, on the left side of the printer body, there are two paper feed ports each equipped with paper feed rollers 21 and 23, upper and lower.
The cassette 20 and the second cassette 22 are installed, and the conveyance path of the copy paper stored in the cassette 20.22 is controlled by a roller pair 24, a timing roller pair 26, a guide plate 2
7. Consists of a guide plate 28 just before the transfer position, a conveyor belt 29, a fixing device 30, and a discharge roller 31.

The image data formed by the host device is exposed onto the photoreceptor drum 1 by the 0N10FF laser beam, and the drum 1 receives the image exposure and forms an electrostatic latent image. By selectively driving the first and second developing devices 4.5, toner owned by the first and second developing devices 4.5 is attached to the electrostatic latent image, and the toner image on the photoreceptor 1 is The transfer charger 8 transfers the toner onto the sheet of paper sent out from the timing roller pair 26 with the leading edge aligned with the toner image forming area. Subsequently, the toner is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 by the separation charger 9, sent to the fixing device 30 by the conveyor belt 29, where the toner is melted and fixed, and then delivered onto the ejection tray 34 by the ejection roller pair 31. Note that 35 is an exhaust fan. Photosensitive drum 1, paper feed rollers 21, 23, roller pair 24, timing roller pair 2
6. The first developing device 4, the second developing device 5, the feed belt 29, the fixing device 30, the discharge roller pair 31, etc. are configured to be driven by a main motor (not shown), and the paper feed roller 21.
23, timing roller pair 26, roller pair 24, first,
The second developing device 4.5 and the like are configured to switch between transmitting and non-transmitting the driving force of the main motor using a solenoid, an electromagnetic spring clutch, etc. (not shown) so that they can operate independently.

2 to 7 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the structure of the developing device used in the apparatus of this embodiment and its switching drive.

The developing devices 4.5 have almost the same configuration as shown in FIG.
A developing sleeve 42, a paper feed rotor 44, and a screw 45 are arranged in this order.

The developing sleeve 42 is made of a non-magnetic conductive material in a cylindrical shape (φ24.
5 mm), minute irregularities are formed on the outer periphery by sandblasting, and it faces the photoreceptor drum 1 at development positions x and x' with a development gap: Ds (=0°6 mm), From exposure point W to development position x, x'
The rotation angle up to is α.

They are set to α+β, respectively.

Further, a brush height regulating member 49 provided on the upper inner surface of the developer tank 41 faces the rear side of the developing device MX of the developing sleeve 42 with a spike height regulating gap: Db (-0.4 mm).

A magnet roller 43 having a plurality of magnets extending in the axial direction is provided inside the developing sleeve 42, and the magnetic forces of the magnetic poles N1 to N3, Sl, and S2 located on the outer peripheral surface of these magnets are respectively N1= 1000G, N2, N3 =50
00. S1, S2 = 800G (G is an abbreviation for Gauss).

As shown in FIG. 4, the center of the magnetic pole N1 is located at the magnetic pole S1.
The magnetic pole N3 is located at a position shifted clockwise by 01 (80°) from the center of the magnetic pole N3, and the magnetic pole N3 is moved from the opposing part of the ear height regulating member 49 to the counter-hour hand with the magnetic pole N1 facing the photosensitive drum 1. It is installed so that the center is located at a location moved by 02 degrees (40 degrees) in the rotational direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the magnet roller 43 has one end 43a of its spindle supported in a bearing recess 42c provided inside the developing sleeve 42, and the other end 43b of the spindle supported in a bearing recess 42c provided inside the developing sleeve 41. It is supported by a side wall and can be rotated by a predetermined angle (θ1=40°) by a moving means 60, which will be described in detail below.

On the other hand, the developing sleeve 42 has a bearing portion 42b on the right side in FIG. It is designed to be dynamically driven.

The supply roller 44 and the screw 45 are respectively arranged in transport paths 46 and 47 separated by a partition wall 48, and these rollers 44 and 45 are
a, 45a are pivotally supported on the side wall of the developer 8W41, and are rotationally driven by a driving means 50.

Note that the transport paths 46 and 47 communicate with each other on both sides of the developer tank 41, as shown in FIG.

The developing device 4.5, the supply roller 44, and the driving means 50 for the screw 45 will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 3, a belt 51 is applied to the support shaft 42a of the developing sleeve 420 and the support shaft 44a of the supply roller 44, and a belt 52 is also applied to the support shaft 44a of the supply roller 44 and the support shaft 45a of the screw 45. It's a hang.

Further, a gear 53 is attached to the support shaft 44a of the maintenance roller 44, and this gear 53 meshes with a drive gear 55 of a motor 54.

Therefore, the motor 54 is driven to move the drive gear 55 to the third position.
When rotated in the direction of the solid line shown in the figure, the gear 53, bell) 51
．． 52 respectively move in the solid line direction, and the developing sleeve 42
, the supply port latch 44, and the screw 45 are configured to rotate in the directions of arrows 3, c, and d (see FIG. 2), respectively.

Note that the developing sleeve 42 is designed to rotate at 240 rpm.

The moving means 60 for the magnet roller 43 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, it is composed of a lever 61, a spring 62, and a solenoid 63. The lever 61 is fixed to a part 'iA of the spindle 43b of the magnet roller 43, and one end of the lever 61 has a developing One end of a spring 62 fixed to p141 is attached and is always biased in the direction of arrow e. Further, a plunger 64 of a solenoid 63 is locked on the other end side of the lever 61.
When the lever 6 is driven, the lever 6 resists the biasing force of the spring 62.
1 is rotated in the direction of arrow e'.

When the solenoid 63 is not operating, that is, when the lever 61 is in the state shown in FIG. 5, the magnetic pole N1 of the magnet roller 43 faces the photoreceptor drum l, and the magnetic pole N3 is in the height regulating position, as shown in FIG. It is retracted to a position θ2 (40°) moved counterclockwise from the part facing the member 49.

On the other hand, when the solenoid 63 is driven and the lever 61 is in the state shown in FIG. The intermediate portions of the magnetic pole N1 and the magnetic pole S1 are arranged to face each other.

In the state shown in FIG. 4, toner adheres to the photosensitive drum 1 from the developing device 4, and in the state shown in FIG.
5, toner does not adhere to the photosensitive drum 1. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 6, the middle part of the N5SO rain magnetic pole faces the photosensitive drum 1, so the part of the developing sleeve 42 where there is no toner comes to face the photosensitive drum 1. .

By installing a plurality of developing devices having the above configuration and switching and driving them at the same timing for a predetermined image forming area, toners of different colors can be attached to different image forming areas.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing transmission and reception of image data, developer control information, etc. between the host device 71 or controller 72 and the printer engine 73.

The print data transmitted by the host device 71 via the bus (2) includes image data, developer control information, and division information (paper selection).

Upon receiving this print data, the controller 72 creates an actual print image (pit map) from the image data and transmits it to the printer engine 73 via the bus (2). In addition, developer control information and paper selection information are provided via the bus■
The status information is sent to the printer engine 73 as status information. The CPU 74 of the printer engine 73, which has received each information via the buses ■ and ■, drives the printer based on this information, and also operates the light emitter (leather) 7
1st and 2nd by ON, OFF of 5 and bus ■, [phase]
The switching drive of the developing device and the switching of paper are controlled by buses 1 and 2. There is a bus for CPTJ74 mentioned above.
, ■ connects a line counter 77 that counts the number of lines based on information from a discrimination circuit 76 that discriminates lines from image data.

Furthermore, the raster counter 78 is connected through buses 1 and 2, and the raster sensor 79 is connected through bus 2. This makes it possible to use any one of the distance from the leading edge of the paper, the number of lines, and the number of rasters as digital data for setting the timing for turning off the power to the developer. 80
is the operation panel, and the cassette selection state is l5ts.
2nd.

LED 85.86.8 indicating manual (manual paper feed)
7 and a cassette selection switch 82 for sequentially switching the selection thereof.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the main routine of control of the controller 72 (step 5100
) (hereinafter abbreviated as "step"), a data input routine is executed, and image data and control data for the printer are received from the host device 71. (SIO
In I), an image creation routine is executed and image data is developed into an image buffer. Next (S 102)
Then, routines indicating various states of the printer are executed, and control data for the printer is processed.

The control data includes data such as developer selection, simultaneous two-color printing instructions, developer switching timing for simultaneous two-color printing, paper feed port selection, and mode settings for various additional functions. Contains data. This routine will be detailed later. Subsequently (S103), it is determined whether a print request has been made from the host device, and if there is a request (YES in S103), a command to actually start the printer is output (S104).

In this case, the controller 72 is in a mode for outputting image data. Furthermore, once the printing mode is entered, the printing mode is basically continued until the printing is finished (S105), and when the printing is finished, the normal routine is resumed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an instruction routine for various states of the printer described above.

There are many printer status instructions in addition to paper feed selection, mode settings for various attached functions, etc. as mentioned above, but in this routine, in order to explain the execution of the two-color interval print mode, The settings are limited to three items: device selection, simultaneous two-color print instruction, and simultaneous two-color print area instruction.

First, in (S200) it is determined whether the instruction is to select a developer, and if YES, it is determined in (3201) whether or not the first developer is selected, and if it is selected, the use of the first developer is set. (S202), and if it is not selected, the second developing device is set to be used (S203). continue(
In step S204), it is determined whether or not a simultaneous two-color print instruction has been issued, and if there is no instruction (NO in step S204).
sets the normal print mode (S205). The normal print mode refers to printing in which the entire surface of one page is developed by the selected developer. Said (S20
If simultaneous two-color printing is specified in 4),
Simultaneous two-color print mode is designated (S206). Further, the process proceeds to (S207), and it is determined whether the instruction is for simultaneous two-color print area data, and if YES, simultaneous two-color print area data is set. If there is (5211
), the horizontal passing cassette selection is specified at 5213,
If NO, a vertical cassette selection designation is performed (S212). Subsequently, in (5209), other printer status instructions are determined, and various status settings are made for the printer according to the instructions (S210). Various status settings for the printer here can be made, for example, on the RA that can be accessed in common for the printer and printer engine.
A method may be used in which data is set in the M area, or a method in which data is updated and set at any time through serial communication may be used.

In addition, to set the simultaneous two-color print area data, the distance from the leading edge of the paper is expressed in mm, and this is replaced with hexadecimal data that is easy to handle for the printer engine interface, and is treated as status instruction data to the printer. To do this. For example, when switching the developing device at a position 100 mm from the leading edge of the paper as shown in FIG. 11a (a), hexadecimal data 64H is treated as printer status indication data. Furthermore, the same figure (b), (c)
As shown in , it is also possible to set simultaneous two-color print area data based on the number of lines from the leading edge of the paper or the number of rasters. In the case of FIG. 11a, horizontal division is specified, and vertical threading of the paper is selected. Here, the arrow in the figure indicates the paper passing direction. FIG. 11b shows an example of two-color printing with vertical division specified, and in this case, horizontal running of the paper is selected.

FIG. 12 shows the flow of the main routine for controlling the printer engine, and initial settings of the printer engine are performed in (S300). Next, the main loop is entered, and an input processing routine and an output processing routine are executed in (5301) and (S302), respectively.

In (S303), the presence or absence of a print command from the controller is checked, and if there is a print command, (S30
Proceed to step 6) and check the specified paper size.

If the specified size is not found by this check (S307
), the process jumps to (S305) and waits until the specified size is set. On the other hand, if Yes, (S
304) is performed, the loop management (loop time management, etc.) routine of (S305) is executed, and the process of (5) is performed again.
The process returns to the input processing routine of 301). (33
If there is no print command in 03), the above (S30
5), and similarly execute the loop management routine (SjOl
) returns to the input processing routine.

FIG. 16 shows the paper selection process (S306).

Here, a paper feed cassette is selected according to the designated paper size, and lighting data for the corresponding cassette selection display LED is set. First, in (S500), the specified paper size (size and direction) is set to the first cassette 20.
It is determined whether the second cassette 21 is set in the cassette (3501), and it is determined whether the second cassette 21 is set in the manual port (manual feed port) in (S502). If so, it is determined that the specified paper is not available, and if the data to be printed next is the first page (S503), all cassette selection display LEDs 85, 86, and 87 are blinked (S504).
, prompts the operator to load a cassette with the specified paper size into the cassette opening.

(S505), it is determined that there is no paper and the printing operation is not started.

On the other hand, if there is designated paper in (S500), the first cassette is set as the paper feed slot, and the first cassette selection display LED 85
is specified to be turned on, and the second cassette selection display LED 86 and manual selection display LED are specified to be turned off (S5
06). If YES in (S501), the second cassette is set as the paper feed slot, LED86 is specified to be turned on, and LED85.8 is specified.
7 is designated to be turned off (S507). Furthermore (3502
), if YES, set the manual slot as the paper feed slot and turn on the LED.
Specify LED 87 to turn on and LED 85.86 to turn off (3
508).

In (S511), printing is permitted as the specified size is found, and the process returns.

If it is not the first page in (S503), (S509
), if the previous page is the first cassette (5510)
At this point, blink data is set on the second cassette and manual display section to prompt the cassette to be replaced.
In (S512) and (S513), the second cassette is similarly checked and the same display data is set, and in (S514) the first and second cassettes are blinked because the previous time was manual.

The above routine determines the display of the cassette on the operation panel, and the actual output of such display and turning on/off is performed in the output routine (S302) in FIG. 12.

FIG. 17 is a partial top view of the operation panel.

In this figure, 82 is a cassette selection switch.

Note that the toner selection switch 81 and the display sections 83 and 84 are not particularly relevant to the present invention.

Figure 13 shows the sequence processing routine (S304)
In (S310), a roller processing routine is executed, and the paper feed/discharge rollers are controlled to feed and discharge the paper.In (S311), a laser (exposure) processing routine is executed, and the laser (exposure) processing routine is executed. Controls 0N10FF. (S312) is another processing routine,
Processing is performed when an abnormality occurs. Next (5313)
A developer processing routine is executed to control switching of the developer in the simultaneous two-color print mode.

The setting and control of the switching timing of the developing device in the simultaneous two-color print mode is performed using the laser (
fX light) processing routine (S311), and actual switching is performed in the developing device processing routine (S313).

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the contents of the laser (exposure) processing routine.

The printer engine 73 that has received the print command from the controller 72 enters the sequence processing process as described above, but first checks the ON10FF of the laser, as shown in (S320) in FIG. 14. In this case, since the laser is initially OFF, (S321)
Check whether there is a request for τ laser ON (exposure),
If requested, the laser is turned on (S322) and the print area counter is reset (3323).
) as the print start position. Next, when the main loop goes around once and returns to the sequence processing loop, the laser is turned on.
/○Since the laser is ON in FF check (S320), increment the print area counter (5324), P (S325), (S327).
) to check whether the timer setting times (T1) and (T2) are set, respectively, and if they are set, the timer setting times (T1) and (T2) are decremented (S326). (3, 328), the increment of the counter in the print area indicates that the exposure has progressed for the time it takes to go around the main loop after the start of laser exposure, and the decrement of the timer setting time controls the timing of switching the developer. .

The role of the timer setting time (TI) and (T2) will be explained later.

FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b) show the developing unit processing routine (S31
3) is a flowchart showing details of step 3).

First, in (S400), it is checked whether or not the simultaneous two-color print mode is in effect. If the simultaneous two-color print mode is not the normal print mode, only one of the two developing devices is activated in (S401) to (S405). Select drive, 1
The same color is printed across the page. That is, (
If the first developing device is selected in S401), the second developing device is selected.
Turn on the developer to 0FFL (5402) and turn on the first developer.
(S403). If the second developer is selected,
The first developing device is set to 0FFL (S404), and the second developing device is turned on (S405).

If the simultaneous two-color print mode is selected in (3400), the process proceeds to (S406), and it is determined whether the initial developer for the simultaneous two-color print mode is set, and if it is not set, ( In step S407), an initial developing device is set. Next, in (8408), it is determined whether the simultaneous two-color print area data given from the controller 72 matches the contents of the area counter incremented in the laser (exposure) processing routine in the sequence processing routine. and if they match (S 4
09), (S410), sets timer I for (T1) time, timer H for (T2) time, and turns on the timer set flag (S411).

Here, the timer setting times (Tl) and (T2) will be explained. The contents of the print area counter indicate information about the currently exposed position, and indicate the time (T1) for the currently exposed exposure point to reach the developing position of the first developing device 4.
The time it takes to reach the developing position of the second developing device 5 is (T
2).

That is, in FIG. 2, the time it takes for the current exposure point W to reach X (TI) and the time it takes for the current exposure point W to reach X' (T
2). And time (T1), (T
2) is the circumferential speed of the photosensitive drum 1 Vmm/sec, the circumferential length from the exposure point W to the developing position X of the first developing device 4 is Jmm,
When the circumferential length of the second developing device 5 to the developing position X' is Kmm, (T1) and (T2) are obtained by the following equations.

(Tl)=J/Vsec.

(T2)=to/Vs e c.

In this way, the timers ■ and ■ shown in (S409) and (S410) are used to measure the time lag from the exposure position W to each development position It is set when the areas match and starts timing operation.

Further, the timer set times (T1) and (T2) are sequentially decremented in the laser (exposure) processing routine described above, and the time measurement progresses.

If the simultaneous two-color print area data and the area counter contents do not match in (340B), (S4
Proceeding to step 12), it is checked whether the timer set flag is ON or not, and if it is not ON, this routine is ended. When the timer set flag is ON (S41
2 (YES), the time-up of the timer setting time (Tl) and (T2) is checked in (S413) and (S418). (S413) sets the timer setting time (Tl)
When you check the time up, the timer setting time (T
1) (5414), if the first developing device 4 is ON and operating (YES in S415), the first developing device 4 is set to 0FFL (S416), and if it is OFF, the first developing device 4 is set to 0FFL (S416). is turned on to switch the first developing device 4.
Also, when it is confirmed that the timer setting time (T2) has timed up in (3418), the timer setting time (T2) is reset (5419), and if the second developing device 5 is turned on and operating (YES in S420). ), the second developing device 5 is set to 0FFL (S421), and if it is 0FFLY, the second developing device 5 is turned ON and the second developing device 5 is switched (S42
2) and reset the timer set flag (S
423). In this way, the switching drive of the developing device is performed without being influenced by the initial setting developing device.

In this embodiment, simultaneous two-color printing is achieved by selectively switching and driving two developing units, but simultaneous multi-color printing can also be achieved by selectively switching and driving three or more developing units. .

Further, as described above, the controller 72 creates an actual print image (bitmap) based on the image data and control data sent from the host device 71, and among the control data, the setting data for vertical and horizontal division is Processing such as rotating the image based on the paper passing direction or in accordance with the paper feeding direction is performed.

[Effects] As is clear from the description of the specific configuration and embodiments described above, the present invention provides switching timing settings for selectively switching and driving a plurality of developing devices having different color developers. Since this is done using signals sent from the host device, it is possible to change the developing device in the printer within one page to be printed, easily realizing simultaneous multi-color printing, as well as vertical and horizontal division. It is easy to use because it automatically switches and selects the paper feed cassette with the paper feed direction corresponding to the paper feed direction, and a warning is displayed if the paper feed cassette to be selected is not set.

Furthermore, even with a single cassette installed, if paper can be passed both vertically and horizontally, it is possible to obtain color-coded prints that are separated vertically and horizontally.

Even if it is a two-tier cassette, the cassette must be reset,
Alternatively, if only a specific page has a different dividing direction, it can be easily processed by manual feeding, which is convenient.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a printer according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 7 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the structure and switching drive of a developing device interlocked with a photoreceptor, and FIG. 8 is a host device and a controller. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of controller control, FIG. 1θ is a flowchart of an example of printer status instructions, and FIGS. 11a and 11b are horizontal and vertical divisions. Fig. 12 is a flowchart of an example of printer control, Fig. 13 is a flowchart of an example of sequence processing, Fig. 14 is a flowchart of an example of laser exposure processing, and Fig. 15 ( a) and FIG. 15(b) are flowcharts of an example of developer processing, and FIG. 16 is a flowchart of an example of paper selection.
FIG. 7 is a partial top view of the operation panel. 1 is a photoreceptor, 4 and 5 are developing devices, 71 is a host device, 72
Controller, '73 hub printer engine, '74
80 is a control panel, and 82 is a cassette selection switch. Patent applicant Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Figure 9 Figure 11b (a) (b) Figure 12 Figure 16

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Created by the host device in a printer that is equipped with a plurality of developing devices each having a different developer and uses a signal from the host device to set the developing device switching timing for selectively switching and driving the plurality of developing devices. Divide the image vertically or horizontally and print out color-coded images.
In this case, there is a means for automatically selecting a paper feed cassette with a horizontal paper feed direction in the vertical split setting, and a paper feed cassette with the paper feed direction vertical in the horizontal split setting, and a means corresponding to the setting. 1. A printer characterized by comprising means for displaying a warning when paper is not set in the paper feeding direction.