JPH038012A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To connect a recorder with the various types of external equipments and to improve general usefulness by providing a clock signal generating means and first and second receiving operation modes in a receiving means. CONSTITUTION:The receiving means (a CPU 86, etc.,) is provided to receive a picture signal to be sent from an external equipment 110 and a recording means (the CPU 86, etc.,) is provided to execute recording operation based on the picture signal received by this receiving means. The receiving means is equipped with a clock signal generating means 82 to generate a clock signal for receiving the picture signal. Further, the first reception mode is provided to receive the picture signal without using this clock signal and the second reception mode is provided to receive the picture signal by using the clock signal. Thus, according to a control signal (command) 79 sent from the equipment 110, the CPU 86 judges the presence and absence of a clock generator in the equipment 110 and selects any one of the first and second modes in correspondence to a judged result. Accordingly, the recorder is connected with the various types of the external equipments.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording operations based on input information.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a laser beam printer is a type of printer that uses a rotating polygon mirror or the like to scan a laser beam on a rotating drum to form a latent image, and after developing this latent image, a visible image is created. It is widely known as a recording device that records images by transferring them onto paper.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional laser beam printer, and the laser beam printer will be explained according to FIG.

In FIG. 5, l is a sheet of paper which is a recording medium. 2
is a paper cassette that holds paper l. Reference numeral 3 denotes a paper feed cam that separates only the topmost sheet of the recording paper l that has been affled onto the paper cassette 2; The paper is conveyed to about 4'l and rotated intermittently every time the paper is fed.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a reflective photosensor, and the reflective photosensor 18 detects the absence of paper by detecting reflected light from the paper l through a hole 19 provided at the bottom of the paper cassette 2.

When the paper 1 is conveyed by the paper feed cam 3 to the gap between the paper feed rollers 4 and 4', the paper feed rollers 4 and 4'
The paper L is rotated while being lightly suppressed, and the paper L is conveyed.

When the leading edge of the paper l reaches the position of the registration shutter 5, the transport of the paper l is stopped by the registration shutter 5, and the paper feed roller 4.4' rotates by generating transport torque while slipping against the paper l. continue. In this case, by driving the registration solenoid 6 and moving the registration shutter 5 upward in the drawing, the conveyance stoppage of the paper 1 is released and the sheet 1 is conveyed by the conveyance rollers 7 and 7'.

The registration shutter 5 is driven in relation to the exposure timing of the laser beam 20. A photosensor 2I is placed near the registration shutter 5, and detects whether or not the paper l is present at the position of the registration shutter 5.

52 reflects the laser beam 20;
There is a rotating polygon mirror that performs recording scanning by rotating polygon mirror 5.
2 is driven by a polygon mirror motor 53. The laser beam 20 emitted from the semiconductor laser 51 is guided onto the photosensitive drum II via the reflecting mirror 54 of the rotating polygon mirror 52, and forms a latent image on the photosensitive drum 11. Along with the exposure of the beam 20 to this photosensitive tram II, the beam 20
By detecting the beam 20, the beam detector 55 disposed at the scanning start position B outputs a BD signal indicating the image writing timing (horizontal synchronization timing) in the main scanning direction.

Thereafter, the paper l is conveyed to the photosensitive drum 11 by a conveyance roller 7.7' instead of the paper feed roller 4.4' with conveyance torque. Here, the latent image exposed on the photosensitive drum 11 is removed by a cleaner 12. Charger 13. Developing device 14. After being developed by the cooperation of the transfer charger 15, it is transferred onto the paper l. The paper l onto which the image has been transferred is then transferred to the fixing roller 8
A fixing process is performed at 8', and the sheet is discharged onto a stacker 10 by sheet discharge rollers 9, 9'. Note that symbol A in FIG. 5 indicates a guide for regulating the conveyance direction of the paper l.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a paper feed tray that allows not only paper to be fed from the paper cassette 2 but also to manually feed sheets one by one from the paper feed tray 16.

The paper that is manually fed by the scanner into the gap between the paper feed table 16 and the manual paper feed roller 17 is transferred to the manual paper feed roller 1.
7, or the paper feed roller 4
．． 4', the leading edge of the paper or the registration shutter 5
When the paper feed roller 17 reaches this point, the paper feed roller 17 slips and rotates. The subsequent conveyance sequence is exactly the same as when feeding paper from a cassette.

The fixing roller 8 houses a fixing heater 24 that applies temperature to the surface of the fixing roller 8. Further, a thermistor 23 that detects the surface temperature of the fixing roller is arranged so as to make slip contact with the surface of the fixing roller 8, and the surface temperature of the fixing roller 8 is controlled to a predetermined temperature based on the temperature detected by the thermistor 23. The recorded image on paper 1 is thermally fixed.

The photosensor 22 is arranged at a position to detect whether or not there is paper at the position of the fixing rollers 8, 8'.

A laser printer with such a configuration is generally not used alone, but with external equipment such as an image processing device (external equipment's P
For example, CFO357403 (U
SP 4686525), CFo 46840S, etc. ) and the interface cable are connected. When the laser beam printer receives a print command or image signal from the external device via this interface cable, the laser beam printer executes a predetermined print sequence (actuator jl
and print the image signal.

Generally, signals exchanged between an external device and a normal printer such as a laser beam printer are in the form of a serial signal, and are transferred at a constant clock cycle. For this purpose, an image clock signal generator that generates a signal transfer lock is provided on either the external device or the printer.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a configuration in which an image clock signal generator is provided on the external equipment side.

In FIG. 6, 217 is an external device that outputs output information such as image signals and control signals to the printer 218. 62
A signal line 63 transfers various control signals such as print commands and commands in the form of serial signals, and a signal line 63 transfers the image signal VDO. 215 is a signal line 6 that transfers the horizontal synchronization signal BD. Inside the printer 218 is a main controller 65 that controls the entire printer.
An interface circuit (not shown) used for inputting and outputting the above-mentioned signals is provided.

The main controller controls the operation of each component shown in FIG. 5, and also supplies an image signal to a laser driver 56 that drives a semiconductor laser 51 (see FIG. 5).

On the other hand, the external device side 217 is provided with the above-mentioned image clock signal generator 61, and transmits an image clock signal CL to the image signal generator 60 that generates an image signal to be printed. In such a configuration, the horizontal synchronizing signal BD indicating the recording start timing of one horizontal line is sent from the main controller 65 to the image clock signal generator 61.
, the image clock signal generator 61 generates a constant period clock signal C as this BD double signal trigger.
Generates LK (image clock signal). Image signal generator 60 transmits image signal VDO to be printed to main controller 65 via signal line 63 in synchronization with image clock signal CL. The main controller 65 is
The received image signal 63 is converted into a laser drive signal 74 and transmitted to the laser driver 66 . When the image signal at a certain printing position indicates bit "l", for example, the laser drive signal is turned on and the semiconductor laser 51 lights up.

A latent image is formed on the above-mentioned photosensitive drum 11 by blinking the laser beam in accordance with this drive signal, and the latent image formed by adhering toner is developed by the developing device 14.
Next, the developed image is transferred onto the paper by the transfer charger 15, the transferred image is fixed by the fixing roller 8.8', and the recorded paper is discharged.

FIG. 7 shows another arrangement of the image clock signal generator 61.

In FIG. 7, parts having the same functions as those in FIG. 6 are given the same reference numerals. The example shown in FIG. 7 is an example in which the image clock signal generator 61 is provided on the printer 218 side.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in the conventional example, there is a type of printer that receives an image signal according to an image clock signal generated from the external device 217 side, and a type that receives an image signal according to an image clock signal generated from the printer side. There was a type of printer that received image signals. This has resulted in the inconvenience of having to select the type of printer according to the type of external equipment.

For example, when both the external device 217 and the printer 218 are not equipped with the image clock signal generator 61, a compatibility problem arises in that the external device 217 and the printer 218 cannot be connected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device whose operation mode can be switched by an external device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a recording device that can be connected to an external device equipped with an image clock signal generator and an external device not equipped with an image clock signal generator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a highly versatile recording device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording device whose operation mode can be set according to the purpose of use.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] According to the present invention, there is provided a receiving means for receiving an image signal sent from an external device, and a recording device for performing a recording operation based on the image signal received by the receiving means. means, the receiving means having a clock signal generating means for generating a clock signal for receiving the image signal, and a first receiving means for receiving the image signal without using the clock signal. mode and
By providing a second reception mode in which the image signal is received using the clock signal, it is possible to connect to various types of external devices.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The recording device of this embodiment switches the operation mode depending on the type of external device connected. Below, explanations will be given for each type of external device connected. In this embodiment, the printing section of the recording device As shown in FIG. 5, a laser beam printer is used.

1 to 4 show various configuration examples of the image output system of this embodiment.

Figure t51 shows an example of a connection between an external device 110 not equipped with an image clock signal generator and a printer 111.

In FIG. 1, 110 is an external device that outputs the image signal 78 generated by the image signal generator 76. or,
- The dash-dotted block Ill indicates the printer.

Reference numeral 112 indicates a main controller that controls the entire printer 111.

82 sends the image signal 78 from the external device 110 to the printer II
This is an image clock signal generator that generates an image clock signal used as a synchronization signal when transferring to I. The image clock signal generated from the image clock signal generator 82 is applied to the image signal generator 76 of the external device 110 via the external output interface 82-1 (ilo), and is also applied to the image clock signal switch 88, which will be described later. is output to.

Reference numeral 88 denotes an image clock signal switch, which converts the image clock signal inputted from an external device via the interface (I 10 ) 88-1 and the image clock signal outputted from the image clock signal generator 82 to the central processing unit t. (
It is selectively switched in accordance with an operation instruction from the CPU (CPU) 86.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the CPU 86 can determine based on the control signal (command) 79 from the external device 110 that the external device does not have an image clock signal generator, so the CPU 86 uses the image clock signal generator 82 provided inside the printer. The image clock signal +05 from the external device 110 is sent to the external device 110. or,
Here, the command instructs whether to use the line memory 97 or 98, so the CPU uses the image clock signal switch 8
8 and output image signal selector 84 to apply the image clock signal 83 from the image clock signal generator 82 to the line memories 97 and 98, and apply the image signal 90 inputted through the interface 84-1 to the line memory. 97.98
control so as to lead to

The image clock signal 91 selected by the image clock signal switch 88 is used as a synchronization signal for writing the image signal 90 into the line memory 97 or g8.

Line memories 97 and 98 alternately store image signals 78 transmitted from the external device 110 in one row. This switching instruction is performed by an operation instruction from line memory control device 116.

89 is an output image signal timing device that instructs the line memory control device 116 and line memories 97 and 98 to read/write image signals based on the horizontal synchronization signal (BD double signal).

Also, when reading out image signals, the line memory 97
．． Image readout clock signal generator 10 for 98
1, a read clock signal 99 synchronized with the printing operation is output.

Line memory controller 116. Output image signal timing device 89 and image readout clock signal generator 101
Since it is conventionally known, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

92 is a laser-on signal forming device that generates a signal 122 for driving the laser driver 104 in accordance with an image signal. The laser-on signal forming device 92 is the line memory 9
The image signal of either the output (120, 121) of 7.98 or the output 102 of the output image signal selector 84 is input.

In such a configuration, prior to printing, an operator inputs the CPU from a keyboard (not shown) provided on the external device 110.
Instructions as to whether or not to store one image quality code in line memory 97 and 98 for 86 and image clock signal generator 82
When an instruction is given as to whether or not to use the image clock signal generated by the
is sent as a command 79 to the CPU 86 from C
PU135 instructs the driving of the image clock signal generator 82, the connection of the output image signal selector 84, and the connection of the image clock signal switch 88.

Next, the recording operation of this embodiment will be explained.

As described above, when the printer 111 becomes ready to print due to an instruction from the operator regarding the reception mode of one image signal, the image clock signal generator 82 generates the image clock signal 105°83 in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal BD. do. The image signal generator 7 of the external device 110 responds to this image clock signal.
6 or generates an image signal 78.

The flow of one image signal 78 is as follows: 11084-1→specific output image signal selector 84→line memory 97.98, and the input image signal 78 is temporarily stored in the line memory 97.98. While an image signal is being written into one of the line memories 97 and 98, an image signal is read out from the other memory, and the laser driver 104 performs laser recording based on the read out image signal. Let's do it. According to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the external device 110 does not need to have an image clock signal generator, and the external device 11
It is possible to reduce the burden on 0.

2, 3, and 4 show examples of connections between an external device 110 equipped with an image clock signal generator 77 and a printer 111.

In FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 2 shows the image clock signal generator 7 on the external device 110 side.
This shows an example in which the image clock signal 105 sent from the line memory 97 and 7 is applied to the image signal generator 76, and this image clock signal 80 is used as the write clock for the line memory 97 and 98.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 86 is equipped with an external device 110 or an image clock signal generator 77 according to a control signal (command) 79 from an external device +10, and the image clock signal generator 77 receives an image clock signal from the image clock signal generator 77. 105
．． It is possible to determine that 80 is used for transferring image signals and writing to the line memory. Therefore CPUa6
The image clock signal switching base 88. is based on the command. By controlling the output image signal selector 84, the interface 88-
The image clock signal 80 input via the interface 84 is applied to the line memories 97 and 98.
The image signal 78 inputted through the line memory 9
It is controlled to be sent on 7.98. According to the configuration shown in Fig. 2, the printer side can latch the image signal based on the image clock signal sent from the external device side, so there is no phase shift when the image signal is latched, and the length of the image signal is longer. Distance transmission becomes possible.

FIG. 3 shows the image clock signals 80, 105 of the image clock signal generator 77 of the external device 110 and the printer 111.
An example of uniformly selecting the 'tl image quake clock signal of the image clock signal generator 82 on the side will be shown. In this example, corresponding to the switching state of the image clock signal switch 88, the external device side also selects one of the output signals of the image signal generator 76, the image clock signal generator 82, and the image clock signal generator 77. .

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 86 selects either the image clock signal generator 77 on the external device 110 side or the image clock signal generator 82 on the printer IN side based on a control signal (command) 79 from the external device. . Also, CPU'
S controls the image clock signal switch 88 in accordance with the selection of the image clock signal generation source, and transfers the image clock signal from the image clock signal generator actually used to the line memory 9.
7,913.

Further, as in FIG. 2, the CPO 36 controls the output image signal selector 84 based on the command to select the interface 84-
1, the image signal 78 input through the line memory 97
．． 98.

FIG. 4 shows the image clock signal generator 7 on the external device 110 side.
7 shows an example in which the image clock signal 105 sent from the image signal generator 7G is applied to the image signal generator 7G. In the case of FIG. 4, unlike in FIGS. 1 to 3, one image clock signal is not sent from the external device to the printer or from the printer to the external device. In the configuration example shown in FIG. It can be determined by the control g signal (command) 79 from the external device 110 that it is equipped with the image clock signal generator 77 and is in a mode in which the line memories 97 and 98 are not used. Therefore, the CPU 86 controls the output image signal selector 84 based on the command so that the image signal 78 inputted through the interface 84-1 is sent directly to the laser-on signal forming device 92 without going through the line memories 97 and 98. Control. According to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, there is no need to provide a transmission line for the image clock signal, so that the connection between external equipment and the printer can be further simplified.

Next, a control flowchart executed by the CPU 86 is shown in FIG. 8, and its operation will be described below. The control flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is programmed and stored in a ROM (not shown).

The CPU 86 checks whether or not the external device 110 connected in step 1 has an image clock signal generator based on the control signal (command) 79 input from the external device. If there is no image clock signal generator in the external device 110, the CPUa6 moves to step 4,
A mode is set in which the image clock signal 105 generated from the image clock signal generator 82 inside the printer 111 is sent to the image signal generator 76 via l1082-1.

Further, the operation instruction signal 87 switches the image clock signal switch 88 to the image clock signal generator 82fJl.

Further, the CPU 86 switches the output image signal selector 84 to the line memories 97 and 98 @ by the operation instruction signal 85.

Further, if an image clock signal generator exists on the external device 110 side connected in step 1, the process moves to step 2.

In step 2, it is determined whether the one-image clock signal generator 82 is in a mode for transmitting the generated image clock signal to the external device 110 based on a command input from the external device. If YES in step 2, it is determined that the image clock signal generator 77 on the external device 110 side is not used for image signal transfer, and the process moves to step 4.

If NO in step 2, the process proceeds to step 3, where it is determined based on a command input from the external device whether or not the mode is for receiving an image clock signal generated on the external device side. If it is determined in step 3 that the mode is not to receive an image clock signal, the process moves to step 5. In step 5, the printer III is set to a mode in which it does not transmit or receive image clock signals to or from external devices, and the output image signal selector 8
4 to the laser-on signal forming device 92 side. or,
If it is determined in step 3 that the mode is to receive image signals and image clock signals generated by an external device or device,
Move to step 6. In step 6 CPUB6
In response to the operation instruction signal 87, the image clock signal switch 88 is switched to the image clock signal generator 77 side, and the image clock signal 80 is received. Furthermore, CPU86
switches the output image signal selector 84 to the line memory 97.98 side by the operation instruction signal 8S.6 As detailed above, the printer 111 of this embodiment can be integrated with various types of external devices. It is possible to assemble an image output system tailored to the purpose of use.

Furthermore, since the printer of this embodiment has an internal line memory, it is possible to easily add an image signal processing circuit for edge enhancement and the like.

In the printer of this embodiment, the image signal reception mode and the image clock signal transmission/reception mode are set according to commands sent from an external device, or the printer is equipped with a date switch for mode setting, and the operator Alternatively, the configuration may be such that the mode can be set arbitrarily.

Furthermore, although this embodiment has been described using a laser beam printer as an example of a recording device, the present invention can also be applied to thermal printers, LED printers, inkjet printers, LCD printers, and the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, connection with various types of external devices is possible, and versatility can be improved.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Figs. 1 to 4 are diagrams showing the state in which various types of external equipment and the recording device of this embodiment are connected, and Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional laser beam printer. FIGS. 6 and 7 are block diagrams showing examples of connections between conventional external devices and printers. FIG. 8 is a control flowchart for setting the operation mode in this embodiment. 110 is an external device, printer 82 is an image clock signal generator 97, and line memory 104 is a laser driver. Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Receiving means for receiving an image signal sent from an external device; and recording means for performing a recording operation based on the image signal received by the receiving means, wherein the receiving means comprises: A first reception mode includes a clock signal generation means for generating a clock signal for receiving an image signal, and a first reception mode receives the image signal without using the clock signal; A recording device characterized by having a second reception mode for receiving signals.