JPH06143731A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To apply printing to paper whose size is larger than a printable max. paper size and especially enable the printing of image data exceeding a printing size in a main scanning direction. CONSTITUTION:In an image forming apparatus receiving image data from a host computer 101 to output the same to paper, a setting part 105 setting a dividing printing mode folding paper whose size is larger than the max. printable paper size to bring the size thereof to the max. paper size or less and a control part 109 requiring the division transmission of image data to the host computer 101 when a division printing mode is set through the setting part 105 are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or a digital copying machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a manual sheet feeding function and a straight sheet discharging function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, image data sent from a host device is input, and the input image data is printed on a sheet set in the device and output. In this case, the maximum printable paper size is limited by the print size in the main scanning direction.

On the other hand, a "page printer" as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-135768 has been proposed. When printing long image data that exceeds the maximum printable paper size, this page printer does not divide the printing operation into several times by overlapping and printing continuously a part of paper of a predetermined size. ， It is designed to print at once. In other words, the image data that is continuous in the paper feeding direction of the printer (that is, the sub-scanning direction) can be continuously printed for each paper without interrupting the printing operation.

[0004]

However, according to the conventional image forming apparatus, the maximum printable paper size is limited by the print size in the main scanning direction. There was a problem that printing could not be performed.

According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-135768, "Page Printer", long image data exceeding the maximum printable paper size can be printed, but the print size in the main scanning direction is the same. Due to the limitation of the printable paper size, there is a problem that image data exceeding the print size in the main scanning direction cannot be printed.

For example, if the paper size exceeds the maximum paper size,
The maximum paper size is set by folding the paper, setting it to the maximum paper size or less, and setting it in the image forming device, and then dividing the image data from the host device and sending it in two batches and printing on the folded paper. It is possible to print on oversized paper, but since the image forming device itself does not support such a printing method, an operator may be burdened with an error or defective image formation. It has grown and is not actually used.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to enable printing on a sheet larger than the maximum printable sheet size.

Further, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to print image data exceeding the print size in the main scanning direction.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus for inputting image data from a host device such as a computer and outputting the image data on a sheet of paper. When a division printing mode is set through division printing mode setting means for setting a division printing mode for folding a large paper to a maximum paper size or less and printing in a plurality of times On the other hand, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a control unit for requesting divided transmission of image data.

It is desirable that the division print mode setting means accepts the division print mode setting only in the manual feed mode.

Further, a straight paper ejecting means for linearly conveying the paper on which the image has been formed and ejecting the paper is provided, and when the divided print mode is set through the divided print mode setting means, the control means straight ejects the paper. It is desirable to eject the paper using a paper means.

Further, it is desirable that the control means controls the fixing temperature of the fixing device higher than usual when the divided print mode is set through the divided print mode setting means.

Further, it is preferable that the divisional printing mode setting means can set the divisional printing mode by inputting a command for designating the divisional printing mode from the host device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an image forming apparatus for inputting image data from a host device such as a computer and outputting the image data on a sheet, the size of which is at least twice the maximum printable sheet size. Storage means capable of storing image data, division print mode setting means for setting a division print mode for folding a paper larger than the maximum printable paper size to the maximum paper size or less and printing in multiple times, and division print mode (EN) An image forming apparatus provided with a control means for dividing and outputting image data stored in a storage means when a divided print mode is set through a setting means.

[0015]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when a mode in which a paper larger than the maximum printable paper size is folded to a size equal to or smaller than the maximum paper size and the printing is performed in a plurality of times is selected, Request split transmission of image data.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, only in the manual feed mode, it is possible to select a mode in which a paper larger than the maximum printable paper size is folded into the maximum paper size or smaller and printing is performed in plural times.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when a mode is selected in which a sheet larger than the maximum printable sheet size is folded up to the maximum sheet size or smaller and the printing is performed in plural times, the straight sheet ejection is performed. To do.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the mode in which the paper larger than the maximum printable paper size is folded to the maximum paper size or less and the printing is performed in plural times is selected, the fixing device fixes. Control temperature higher than normal.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, by inputting from the host device a command for designating a mode in which a sheet larger than the maximum printable sheet size is folded into the maximum sheet size or smaller and the printing is performed in plural times. , The mode is set.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when a mode in which a sheet larger than the maximum printable sheet size is folded into the maximum sheet size or smaller and printing is performed in plural times is selected, the image is sent from the host apparatus. The image data stored in the page memory is divided and output.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described below in detail in the order of [First Embodiment], [Second Embodiment], and [Third Embodiment] with reference to the drawings, taking a laser printer as an example.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a laser printer according to the first embodiment. A controller for inputting commands and image data from a host computer 101, which will be described later, and rasterizing the image data. Section 102, an engine controller 103 for inputting image data from the controller section 102 to perform processing for print processing, and a light for writing with laser light based on image data (image data) sent from the engine controller 103. It is composed of a writing unit 104 and a setting unit 105 for setting various modes of the laser printer.

Here, the controller section 102 is an RS232 for communicating with the host computer 101.
A CI / F (interface) 106, a command decoder 107 for decoding a command sent together with image data from the host computer 101, and image data (code data or / and vector data) sent from the host computer 101 based on the command. A raster image development unit 108 for developing image data and a control unit 109 for controlling the above units are provided.

In the present embodiment, the setting unit 105 is used to set a division printing mode in which a sheet larger than the maximum printable sheet size is folded into a size equal to or smaller than the maximum sheet size and is printed in a plurality of times. . Reference numeral 101 denotes a host computer that generates image data to be printed.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the outer appearance of the laser printer according to the first embodiment. A photoconductor 201 which receives a laser beam from the optical writing unit 104 to form an electrostatic latent image, and a photoconductor 20.
1. A developing device 202 for developing the electrostatic latent image on the surface by toner, a manual paper feed tray 203 used when manually feeding the paper, and an automatic paper feed tray 20 for automatically feeding the paper.
4, a separation roller 205 for feeding the sheets one by one from the automatic sheet feeding tray 204, a fixing unit 206 for fixing the toner image transferred from the photoconductor 201 onto the sheet,
A straight paper ejection tray 207 for ejecting the paper after the fixing processing toward the back side of the laser printer, a face-down paper ejection section 208 for ejecting the paper after the fixing processing onto the upper surface of the laser printer, and a paper ejection direction. The discharge port switching unit 209 for switching and a solenoid 210 for switching the discharge port switching unit 209 are driven. It should be noted that FIG. 7A shows a side view and FIG. 8B shows a top view. The maximum printable paper size in the laser printer of the first embodiment is the A4 size (297 mm × 210 mm) shown in FIG.

The operation of the above configuration will be described.
First, the printing operation of the laser printer will be described. Image data (vector data etc.) from the host computer 101
Is sent with the command, RS232CI / F1
06 receives this image data and command. RS2
With the reception of the 32C I / F 106, the control unit 109
Based on the decoding result of the command decoder 107, the raster image expansion unit 108 is used to expand the image data transmitted from the host computer 101 into image data. Subsequently, the control unit 109 sends the expanded image data to the engine controller 103. The engine controller 103 generates drive data for the optical writing unit 104 based on the image data, and sends the generated data to the optical writing unit 104.

The optical writing unit 104 irradiates the surface of the photoconductor 201 with laser light based on the data generated by the engine controller 103. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 201 by the irradiation of the laser light is developed into a toner image by the developing device 202, and the paper is fed by the manual paper feed tray 203 or the automatic paper feed tray 204 at a transfer unit (not shown). Transcribed on. After that, the toner image is fixed on the paper in the fixing unit 206, and the paper after the fixing is discharged to the straight paper discharge tray 207 or the face-down paper discharge unit 208. The paper discharge method is selected by the paper discharge port switching unit 209 via the solenoid 210.

Next, the printing method in the divided printing mode will be described with reference to FIGS. In the split print mode, a paper larger than the maximum printable paper size is folded into the maximum paper size or smaller and printed in plural times. Here, a case of printing on A3 size paper (paper larger than the maximum printable paper size) shown in FIG. 3A will be described as an example.

A3 size paper can be artificially made into A4 size paper by folding it in half as shown in FIG. 3B. The first printing is performed on one side of the pseudo A4 size sheet as shown in FIG. 4A, and then the second printing is performed on the other side as shown in FIG. 4B. By opening this paper as shown in FIG. 4C, printing on A3 size paper becomes possible. It should be noted that the data to be printed twice is data obtained by dividing the image data of an A3 size document.

Next, a specific operation for printing on the above A3 size paper will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. To set the laser printer, as shown in FIG. 5, first, the online switch of the setting unit 105 is pressed to put the laser printer in the offline state (S50).
1). Next, press the paper feed selection switch on the setting unit 105,
The manual feed tray 203 is selected (S502). Then, the division print mode key (not shown) of the setting unit 105 is pressed to set the division print mode (S503). Finally, press the online switch of the setting unit 105 again,
The laser printer is brought into the online state (S504).

When the automatic paper feed tray 204 is selected in S502, the division print mode setting is not accepted in S503. As described above, in the divided print mode, one sheet is folded in two and printing is performed on one side thereof. Therefore, when the automatic paper feed tray 204 is selected, one sheet that is bent when the sheet is separated by the separation roller 205 is used. The upper and lower parts of the sheet of paper are separated and a jam occurs. On the other hand, when the manual feed tray 203 is selected, no jam occurs because the separation roller 205 is not passed. Therefore, in order to avoid the occurrence of jams, the setting of the split print mode is accepted only in the manual feed mode.

Next, the operation of the laser printer after the division print mode is set will be described with reference to FIG. When the division print mode is set in the setting of the laser printer, the controller unit 102 outputs a command requesting the host computer 101 to divide and transmit the image data (S601). Specifically, the control unit 109 controls the RS
Host computer 1 via the 232C I / F 106
The status indicating the divided print mode is sent to 01. After that, by referring to the status from the host computer 101, it is confirmed whether or not there is a response from the host computer 101 (S602), and if there is a response, it is confirmed whether or not it is a split transmission OK response. (S603). In the case of division transmission OK, the control unit 109 selects the straight paper ejection tray 207 by the paper ejection port switching unit 209 via the solenoid 210 (S
604), and further, the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 206 is set high (S605). On the other hand, if there is no response in S602 and if the divided transmission is not OK in S603, the divided print mode is invalidated (S606).

In step S604, the face-down sheet discharge unit 2
When 08 is selected, the folded sheet is bent on the path of the face-down sheet discharging unit 208, and thus becomes wrinkled.
Jam is likely to occur. In order to prevent this, the straight paper ejection tray 207 is selected in the first embodiment. Further, in the first exemplary embodiment, since the folded sheet has a thickness twice that of the normal sheet, the fixing unit 206 is pressed in step S605.
The fixing property is improved by setting a higher fixing temperature. Further, when the divided transmission is possible, the host computer 101 transmits the data in two times so that the divided printing can be performed when the status from the laser printer is received. As the data in this case, as shown in FIG. 4C, the image data as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is used so that a normal image is formed when the paper is spread after printing. Send it to the printer.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the divided print mode is set and the print mode is a mode in which a sheet larger than the maximum printable sheet size is set, the image data is sent to the host computer 101. Since it is requested to divide and send, the host computer 101 can be made to send appropriate data, that is, the data as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

Further, only when the manual paper feed tray 203 is selected, the division print mode for printing the paper larger than the maximum printable paper size can be set, and therefore the paper larger than the maximum printable size is printed. In this case, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a jam by mistakenly feeding the folded sheet from the automatic sheet feeding tray 204.

Further, since the straight paper ejection tray 207 is automatically selected when the mode for printing a paper larger than the maximum printable paper size is entered, a jam caused by doubling the paper thickness Can be avoided. Further, since the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 206 is raised when the mode for printing a sheet larger than the maximum printable sheet size is set, it is possible to avoid the fixing failure due to the doubled thickness of the sheet.

[Second Embodiment] An image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment is
The divided print mode can be set by command transmission from the host computer 101. The configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment.

With the above configuration, its operation will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. On the host computer 101 side, as shown in FIG. 7, first, a print mode indicating that printing is to be performed by a laser printer is selected (S701). Next, the divided print mode that indicates printing on a sheet larger than the maximum printable sheet size is selected (S702). When the selection is completed, a command notifying that the print mode is the split print mode is transmitted to the laser printer (S703). After that, it is confirmed from the laser printer whether the status is present (S704). If the status is present, it is confirmed whether the divided print is OK (S705). If the divided print is OK, the image is displayed. Divided print processing for dividing and transmitting data is performed (S70).
6). On the other hand, if there is no status from the laser printer in S704 and if the divided printing is not OK in S705, the divided printing mode is invalidated (S707) and the divided transmission of image data is not performed.

Next, on the side of the laser printer, as shown in FIG. 8, first, in the print mode set processing routine, it is confirmed whether or not there is a divided print mode command from the host computer 101 (S801). If there is a division print mode command, it is confirmed whether or not it is the manual feed mode (S802). If it is the manual feed mode, it is determined that divided printing is possible, and the OK status is returned to the host computer 101 (S803). On the other hand, if the manual feed mode is not set in S802, the NG status is returned to the host computer 101 (S804). Also, S801
If there is no split print mode command with, the process ends. When the OK status is returned in step S803, the straight paper ejection tray 20 is used as in the first embodiment.
7 is set, and the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 206 is set high.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the setting of the laser printer can be performed from the host computer 101 side, the setting by the setting unit 105 shown in the first embodiment (flowchart of FIG. 5) is unnecessary. Become. Further, since the status from the host computer 101 is confirmed on the laser printer side, it is possible to return to the normal setting for the host computer 101 that does not support the mode for printing on a paper larger than the maximum printable paper size. . In other words, when the host computer 101 that does not support the divided print mode specifies a paper larger than the maximum paper size, a paper error can be returned.

Further, the status is returned from the laser printer to the host computer 101, and the host computer 1
After confirming this status on the 01 side, the image data is divided and transmitted, so that the image data is not mistakenly divided and transmitted to the laser printer which does not support the division print mode.

[Third Embodiment] In the laser printer of the third embodiment, the image data is divided on the laser printer side when printing is performed in the divided print mode. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the laser printer according to the third embodiment,
The same configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. A page memory 901 is capable of storing image data of at least twice the maximum printable paper size.

The operation of the part having a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described. In the case of printing in the divided print mode, the host computer 101 is made to transmit the image data before division (for example, the image data of an A3 size original document) as it is, and after developing this image data before division into image data, laser light is used. Page memory 901 in the printer
Remember. Next, the image data stored in the page memory 901 is divided into images as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and sent to the engine controller 103 in order,
Print in two batches. Therefore, the host computer 1
No request for divided transmission to 01 is made. The other settings and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and have the same effects as the first embodiment. Further, since the processing related to the divided print mode is all performed inside the laser printer, the processing on the host computer 101 side can be omitted. Therefore, image data from the host computer 101, which cannot be divided and transmitted, can be printed on a paper larger than the maximum printable paper size.

[0044]

As is apparent from the above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus for inputting image data from the host device such as a computer and outputting the image data on the paper, the maximum printable paper size is set. When a division printing mode is set through division printing mode setting means for setting a division printing mode for folding a large paper to a maximum paper size or less and printing in a plurality of times On the other hand, since the control means for requesting the divided transmission of the image data is provided, it is possible to print on a paper larger than the maximum printable paper size, and especially to print the image data exceeding the print size in the main scanning direction.

Further, since the division print mode setting means accepts the division print mode setting only in the manual feed mode, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a jam caused by feeding a bent sheet in the division print mode.

Further, there is provided a straight paper ejecting means for linearly conveying the paper on which the image has been formed and ejecting the paper, and when the division print mode is set through the division print mode setting means, the control means straight ejects the paper. Since the paper is ejected using the paper means, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a jam when the thickness of the paper is doubled in the divided print mode.

Further, when the divided print mode is set through the divided print mode setting means, the control means controls the fixing temperature of the fixing device to be higher than usual. It is possible to avoid the fixing failure due to the doubling.

Further, the division print mode setting means can set the division print mode by inputting a command designating the division print mode from the host device.
It is not necessary to set the division print mode in the image forming apparatus.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image data is input from the host device such as a computer,
In an image forming apparatus for outputting on paper, a storage unit capable of storing at least twice as much image data as the maximum printable paper size, and a paper larger than the maximum printable paper size are folded up to a maximum paper size or less for multiple times. Separate print mode setting means for setting a separate print mode for separate printing, and control means for dividing and outputting the image data stored in the storage means when the separate print mode is set via the separate print mode setting means With the above, it is possible to print on a paper larger than the maximum printable paper size, and in particular, it is possible to print image data that exceeds the print size in the main scanning direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a laser printer according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an appearance of a laser printer according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an A3 size sheet is folded.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of printing on A3 size paper.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a setting operation to a divided print mode.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control operation in a divided print mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control operation on the host computer side when the divided print mode is set from the host computer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control operation on the laser printer side when the split printing mode is set from the host computer.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a laser printer according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 102 controller section 105 setting section 109 control section 203 manual paper feed tray 207 straight paper ejection tray 901 page memory

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for inputting image data from a host device such as a computer and outputting the same on a sheet, a sheet larger than a printable maximum sheet size is folded into a maximum sheet size or smaller and printed in plural times. A divided print mode setting means for setting the divided print mode and a control means for requesting the divided transmission of the image data to the host device when the divided print mode is set through the divided print mode setting means. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the division print mode setting means accepts the division print mode setting only in the manual feed mode. 3. A straight paper discharge means for linearly conveying and discharging the paper after image formation, wherein the control means, when the division print mode is set through the division print mode setting means, 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the straight sheet discharging unit is used to discharge the sheet. 4. The control unit controls the fixing temperature of the fixing device to be higher than usual when the divided print mode is set via the divided print mode setting unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to item 3. 5. The divided print mode setting means can set the divided print mode by inputting a command for specifying the divided print mode from a host device. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus according to item 4. 6. An image forming apparatus for inputting image data from a host device such as a computer and outputting the image data on a sheet, and a storage means capable of storing image data at least twice the maximum printable sheet size and printable. A print size larger than the maximum paper size is folded into a size less than the maximum paper size, and the split print mode is set via the split print mode setting means for setting the split print mode for printing in multiple times. In this case, the image forming apparatus further comprises a control unit for dividing and outputting the image data stored in the storage unit.