JPH06286272A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image recorder, capable of recording the binding holes of a medium at correct positions even when the size of the recording medium is changed. CONSTITUTION:A video controller 20 reads out a boring position information in accordance with the size of a recording medium detected by a size sensor 31 from a ROM 20c and develops the dot image data of the information on a buffer 20d, then, develops a code data, sent through a host I/F21, into the dot image data to combine with the boring position information of the buffer 20d. The combined dot image data is sent to an engine unit 30 and is printed on the recording medium.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, for example, an image recording apparatus for recording information indicating a punching position of a binding hole of a recording medium together with an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a general laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as "LBP"). In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a controller unit, which expands code data input from an external host computer into dot image data by the video controller 103, and stores it in the memory 1
Store in 04.

An engine unit 102 is controlled by an engine controller 105. The video signal from the controller unit 100 is input to the video interface unit (not shown) of the engine controller 105 and sent to the laser driver 106. The laser driver 106 controls blinking of the semiconductor laser 107 according to the video signal. The laser light 110 emitted from the semiconductor laser 107 is deflected by the polygon mirror 108, and scans the photosensitive drum 112 via the mirror 109 in the longitudinal direction thereof.

The photosensitive drum 112 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure, is charged by the primary charger 111, and is then exposed by blinking laser light to form an electrostatic latent image on its surface. Subsequently, colored charged particles (hereinafter referred to as “toner”) are adhered to the surface of the photosensitive drum 112 by the developing device 113 to visualize the latent image, and then, the latent image is visualized. The toner images are transferred by the transfer charger 114 onto the recording medium supplied one by one.

After the transfer, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 112 is removed by the cleaning device 115,
The photosensitive drum 112 is prepared for the next image forming process. on the other hand,
The recording medium on which the toner image has been transferred is ejected to the outside of the apparatus after the toner is fixed by the fixing device 116. In addition,
The fixing device 116 includes a hollow fixing roller 117 having a heater 119 built therein and a pressure roller 118.
By energizing 19, the fixing roller 117 is heated, and a temperature sensor (not shown) fixed on the surface of the fixing roller 117.
The temperature is controlled by a temperature controller (not shown). The pressure roller 118 is pressed against the fixing roller 117 by an urging unit (not shown). Therefore, the toner on the recording medium is heated together with the recording medium in the nip formed by the fixing roller 117 and the pressure roller 118.
Pressurized and permanently fixed.

When the controller unit 101 stores the dot image data in which the code data is expanded in the memory 104, it sends a print request message to the engine unit 102. Engine unit 102 that received the message
Sends a print enable message to the video controller 103 when the recording medium is fed and the print is enabled. Upon receiving the message, the controller unit 101 transmits the dot image data read from the memory 104 to the engine unit 102 in synchronization with the synchronization signal sent from the engine unit 102. The engine unit 102 executes printing based on the received dot image data.

At this time, the controller section 101 can superimpose other dot image data on the dot image data stored in the memory 104 and then send the combined dot image data to the engine section 102. For example, this makes it possible to obtain a print result in which the text created by the host computer is combined with ruled lines, graphics, and the like. The image to be combined is created in advance by the host computer and stored in a predetermined area of the memory 104.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems. A hole for binding the recording medium may be required in the vicinity of the left end or the upper end of the recording medium, and a mark that serves as a reference for a punching machine that performs alignment in the center of the recording medium (hereinafter referred to as "punching position information"). ")" May be output superimposed on the image.

That is, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when trying to combine the punching position information, there were the following problems. (1) Since the combined position of the punching position information changes depending on the size of the recording medium, conventionally there has been a case where the position shift occurs depending on the size of the recording medium. In other words, in order to combine at the correct position, it is necessary to judge the size of the recording medium and control the combination position of the punching position information. (2) The position at which the punching position information is combined needs to be adjusted by performing test printing several times. (3) If information other than the punching position information is printed in the vicinity of the punching position, the information will be lost when the punching machine punches the hole. Therefore, the punching position must be taken into consideration when creating the information. I had to do it. (4) When a series of printouts extends over a plurality of sheets, it is not necessary to combine punching position information for each printout, and the punching position information may be provided for the first (or the last) printout or for each fixed number of sheets. It can be synthesized, but in the past it did not have this function.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and has the following structure as one means for solving the above problems. That is, a storage unit that stores specific information, a detection unit that detects the size of a recording medium, a combination unit that extracts specific information according to the detection result of the detection unit from the storage unit, and combines the image information with the specific information. An image recording apparatus is provided with recording means for recording the composition result of the composition means on the recording medium.

Further, a storage means for storing the specific information, a setting means for setting the type of the specific information and a recording method thereof, a detecting means for detecting the size of the recording medium, and a specific information set by the setting means. A synthesizing unit for synthesizing the specific information corresponding to the type and the detection result of the detecting unit from the storage unit and synthesizing the image information, and the synthesizing of the synthesizing unit according to the recording method of the specific information set by the setting unit. An image recording apparatus is provided with a recording means for recording the result on the recording medium.

Further, preferably, the synthesizing means is an image recording device for synthesizing the specific information and the image information so as not to overlap each other.

[0013]

With the above structure, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus for synthesizing the specific information and the image information according to the size of the recording medium and recording them on the recording medium. Further, with the above configuration, the specific information and the image information corresponding to the set type of the specific information and the size of the recording medium are combined, and the image is recorded on the recording medium according to the recording method of the set specific information. An image recording device for recording can be provided.

Further, preferably, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus for synthesizing the specific information and the image information so as not to overlap each other. For example, with the above configuration, the following image recording device can be provided. (1) Even if the size of the recording medium changes, the punching position information is formed at an accurate position. (2) It is not necessary to perform test printing for positioning for combining punching position information. (3) It is not necessary to prepare an image in consideration of the punching position in advance so that a part of the image is not lost when the hole is punched by the punching machine. (4) When a series of printouts covers a plurality of sheets, the punching position information is formed for the first (or the last) printout or for every fixed number of sheets.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an example in which the present invention is applied to an LBP will be described, but the present invention is not limited to the LBP and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

[0016]

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the present embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a noise filter, which reduces the noise generated in this embodiment so that it does not propagate to the AC line. A power switch 2 turns on / off the power of this embodiment.

A low voltage power supply unit 4 generates a voltage required for operating the present embodiment. A controller unit 40 includes a video controller 20 and a host I / F2.
1, an operation panel 22, a non-volatile memory 29 and the like.
The video controller 20 includes a CPU 20a and a RAM 20.
b, ROM 20c, buffer 20d, video I / F 20
For example, the CPU 20a executes a program stored in the ROM 20c to execute control of the controller unit 40, image processing, and the like. The video controller 20 expands the code data input via the host I / F 21 into dot image data, stores the dot image data in the buffer 20d, and then stores the dot image data stored in the buffer 20d via the video I / F 20e. , To the engine controller 18. In addition, R
The AM 20b is used as a work memory for the CPU 20a.

Further, the operation panel 22 sends an instruction from the user to the video controller 20, and the video controller 20 displays the operation state and the like of this embodiment. The nonvolatile memory 29 is composed of, for example, NVRAM or EEPROM, and records initial information necessary for controlling this embodiment. For example, various information set by the user through the operation panel 22 is stored even after the power of the present embodiment is turned off, and when the present embodiment starts up again, the setting state before the power is turned off is restored. It is for making it.

Reference numeral 30 denotes an engine section, which in this embodiment is composed of each element necessary for forming an image on a recording medium by an electrophotographic process. Reference numeral 18 denotes an engine controller, which includes a CPU 18a, a RAM 18b, a ROM 18c, a video I / F 18d, and the like.
When the CPU 18a executes the program stored in c, a series of sequences for printing using the electrophotographic process, communication with the video controller 20, operation of each component of the engine unit 30, and electrophotographic process sequence. Control exception handling of. The RAM 18b is used as a work memory for the CPU 18a.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a main motor driver, which is controlled by the engine controller 18 and has a main motor 28.
Turn on / off. The driving force of the main motor 28 rotates various rollers (not shown) (photosensitive drum, developing cylinder, transfer roller, fixing roller, pressure roller, conveyance roller, etc.) to convey the recording medium. A scanner motor driver 25 is controlled by the engine controller 18 and rotates the scanner motor 26 at a constant speed. The driving force of the scanner motor 26 rotates a polygon mirror (not shown) that scans the laser beam emitted from the laser element 24 in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum.

A laser driver 23 blinks the laser element 24 in accordance with the video signal sent from the video controller 20 to form laser light modulated by the video signal. The dot image data stored in the buffer 20d of the video controller 20 is
Converted to video signal by video I / F20e, I / F1
9 and the video I / F 18d to be input to the engine controller 18.

A light receiving element 15 receives the laser light reflected by the polygon mirror and converts it into an electric signal. The BD circuit 15a, to which the signal is input, shapes the signal into a main scanning synchronization signal and sends it to the video controller 20. Therefore, the light receiving element 15 is arranged outside the photosensitive drum in the main scanning direction and generates a signal each time scanning is performed in the main scanning direction. 9
Is a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the fixing heater 8 for thermally fixing the toner. The engine controller 18 controls the fuser control unit 3 according to the detection result of the temperature sensor 9,
The fixing heater 8 is fixed so that the temperature of the fixing heater 8 is constant.
Turn on / off the power to the.

A high-voltage power source 17 is a primary charging voltage for primary charging the photosensitive drum, a developing voltage for developing a latent image on the photosensitive drum with toner, a transfer voltage for transferring a toner image on the photosensitive drum to a recording medium, and a photosensitive voltage. A separation voltage for separating the recording medium from the drum is generated at a timing controlled by the engine controller 18. The primary charging voltage and the developing voltage are applied to the primary charging device and the developing device (developing cylinder, etc.), respectively, and the transfer voltage and the separating voltage are applied to the transferring device (transfer roller) and the separating device, respectively.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a toner cartridge, which is a unit in which a photosensitive drum and toner are integrated, and which includes a primary charging device, a developing device and the like. A pickup solenoid 7 is controlled by the engine controller 18 and feeds recording media one by one. Reference numeral 5 is a paper presence / absence sensor for presence / absence of a recording medium, 6 is a door sensor for opening / closing the maintenance door of this embodiment, 11 is a cartridge sensor for presence / absence of the toner cartridge 16, and 31 is a size sensor. The engine controller 18 detects the size of the recording medium fed.

Reference numeral 10 is a paper feed sensor, 12 is a paper discharge sensor,
An engine controller 18 is provided on the conveyance path to monitor the conveyance state of the recording medium when the recording medium is conveyed and the electrophotographic process is performed. The paper feed sensor 10 is installed near the paper feed port, and the paper ejection sensor 12 is installed near the paper ejection port. A fan motor driver 14 controls the fan motor 13 that lowers the temperature of the fixing device after printing and rotates the fan that suppresses the temperature rise of each element constituting the present embodiment.

Next, a basic printing operation in this embodiment will be described. First, code data created by a host computer or the like is input to the video controller 20 via the host I / F 21. The input code data is sequentially stored in the RAM 20b and the CP
The code data is expanded into dot image data by the U 20a and stored in the buffer 20d.

After developing one page of code data into dot image data, the video controller 20 displays the I / F.
A print request is made to the engine controller 18 via 19. Upon receiving the print request, the engine controller 18
Each element constituting the engine unit 30 is started up, the fixing heater 8 is controlled so that the fixing device can fix the temperature, and the fan motor 28 and the scanner motor 26 are rotated so that the laser light has a predetermined light intensity. The laser driver 23 is controlled. When the adjustment of the scanner motor 26 and the laser light amount is completed, the engine controller 18 causes the light receiving element 15
After confirming that there is no abnormality in the operation and control of each element, for example, by detecting the laser light and monitoring the BD signal output from the BD circuit 15a, the paper presence / absence sensor 5 causes a paper feed cassette (not shown). It is confirmed that there is a recording medium, and the pickup solenoid 7 is operated to feed the recording medium.

Subsequently, the engine controller 18 detects the timing at which the recording medium passes through the paper feed sensor 10, and sends to the video controller 20 the leading edge synchronization signal (synchronization signal in the sub-scanning direction) and BD signal (main scanning direction). When a sync signal in the scanning direction) is sent, the dot image data converted into a video signal is sent from the video controller 20 in synchronization with the sync signal.

Next, the engine controller 18 is input so that the laser element 24 does not emit light except at the position of the image forming area of the recording medium (image forming area) and the light receiving element 15 for detecting the laser light. Masked video signal. Laser light is modulated by the masked video signal, and the laser light exposes the photosensitive drum. on the other hand,
The engine controller 18 controls the high-voltage power supply 17 to generate a primary charging voltage that primarily charges the photosensitive drum so that an image can be formed from the leading edge of the recording medium, and then develops the exposed photosensitive drum. A voltage is generated, and then a transfer voltage that transfers a visible image to the recording medium is generated.

The recording medium on which the toner image has been transferred is guided to a fixing device, where the toner is fixed by heat and pressure fixing, and then the recording medium is discharged from a discharge port. An image is formed on the recording medium through the above process. Next, formation of punching position information in the present embodiment will be described. Video controller 2
When the code data is 0, first, I / F 19
The size information is received from the engine controller 18 via the, and the dot image data representing the punching position information corresponding to the size information is developed in the buffer 20d. That is, the video controller 20 synthesizes the dot image data obtained by expanding the code data with the punching position information that has been developed in advance in the dot image data, thereby forming the punching position information in the image created by the host computer or the like. To synthesize. The dot image data representing the punching position information is developed for each code data corresponding to a series of printing (that is, from the first page to the last page).

With respect to the punching position information, the formation position (for example, upper end, lower end, left end, right end of recording medium) is set,
Setting the type (for example, the center of the recording medium or the punching position),
Further, when the punching position is set, the number of punching is set by the operation panel 22 or the code data. The setting information is stored in the RAM 20b of the video controller 20, and the current setting is maintained unless a new setting is made. Further, the setting information is also stored in the non-volatile memory 29, and in this embodiment, the setting information is read from the non-volatile memory 29 and set in the RAM 20b every time the power is turned on.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which the center position is displayed at the left end of the recording medium, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which the punching positions of two holes are displayed at the left end of the recording medium, and FIG. 4 is shown at the upper end of the recording medium. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which the punching positions of two holes are displayed, 201 is a recording medium, 202 is an image forming area, and 203 is punching position information. The perforation position information is stored in the video controller 2
0 of the ROM 20c is stored in advance.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for forming punching position information, which is executed by the CPU 20a each time a series of code data is received. In the figure,
In the present embodiment, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the punching position information is formed, and if it is not formed, the process ends, and if it is formed, the process proceeds to step S2.

In the case of forming the punching position information, in this embodiment, the size information of the recording medium is obtained from the engine controller 18 in step S2, and the RAM 20b is obtained in step S3.
The formation position of the punching position information is obtained from, and the central position is calculated from the size information in step S4. For example, when the recording medium is A4 size and the punching position information is formed at the left end of the portrait, the central position is 297 mm / 2 = 148.5 mm.

Next, in the present embodiment, the type of punching position information is judged based on the information of the RAM 20b described above in step S5, and when the information indicating the center of the recording medium is formed, the process jumps to step S7, and the punching position is determined. In the case of forming the information indicating the above, the process proceeds to step S6. That is, when forming the information indicating the punching position, the offset from the center of the recording medium to each hole is calculated in step S6.

Subsequently, in this embodiment, RO is performed in step S7.
The pattern of punching position information formed from M20c is read out, and the pattern read out from the ROM 20c is developed in the buffer 20d in step S8. The pattern is, for example,
A mark such as an arrowhead, a circle, a cross, a cross, or a combination thereof, and which pattern is to be used is set in advance in the RAM 20b by the user via the operation panel or the code data.

Thereafter, the dot image data in which the code data is expanded is combined with the buffer 20d in which the dot image data representing the punching position information is expanded, and the combined dot image data is sent to the engine unit 30 to be recorded on the recording medium. An image including punching position information is formed. As described above, this embodiment has the following effects. (1) Since the size of the recording medium is judged to control the combined position of the punching position information, it is possible to form the punching position information at an accurate position even if the size of the recording medium changes. (2) It is not necessary to perform test printing for positioning for combining punching position information.

[0038]

[Second Embodiment] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Normally, when the code data is expanded into dot image data and an image is formed on the recording medium, the image is formed in an image printable area smaller than the recording medium. This is because the outside of the image printable area is masked by the engine controller 18. Therefore, even if a dot image larger than the image printable area is developed, a portion protruding outside the area is not formed.

For this reason, when the dot image data is expanded by expanding from the code data while avoiding the area where the punching position information is displayed, the dot image data may run out of the image printable area. Not all images can be formed on the recording medium. For example, if the perforation position is displayed on the left edge of the recording medium and the dot image data is shifted and developed on the right side of the perforation position, the dot image data overflows from the right edge of the image printable area, resulting in a partial image. Will be lost.

In order to solve this, this embodiment is shown in FIG.
The image forming area 202 is reduced to be smaller than the image printable area 204 as shown in FIG. That is, the code data is expanded into image data that is reduced to some extent so that it does not overlap the punching position information and the image printable area 2
Do not let it go beyond 04. In the present embodiment, the code data is once expanded into dot image data of a normal size, and then the image forming area 202 is reduced and combined with the dot image data of the punching position information of the buffer 20d. Therefore, in this embodiment, in addition to the buffer 20d that stores the dot image data for actually forming an image,
A memory for temporarily storing the dot image data before reduction is provided. If the buffer 20d has a sufficient storage capacity, the area of the buffer 20d can be divided to secure a temporary storage area.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
In addition to the same effect as the first embodiment, the area is reduced so that the punching position information and the image forming area do not overlap each other. Therefore, it is not necessary to create an image in consideration of the punching position in advance so that a part of the image is not lost when the hole is punched by the punching machine.

[0042]

[Third Embodiment] A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of this embodiment.

The video controller 20 forms the normal-sized image forming area 202 and the punching position information 203 so as not to overlap each other. That is, the video controller 2
The dot image data formed by 0 is larger than the image printable area 204. Engine controller 18
Performs the image formation while reducing the dot image data formed by the video controller 20 in accordance with the image printable area 204 of the recording medium 201. When forming the punching position as the punching position information, the video controller 20 considers the reduction by the engine controller 18 and determines the formation position so that an appropriate display is obtained after the reduction.

The engine unit 30 of this embodiment has a function of switching the image density, and changes the angular velocity of the polygon mirror when changing the image density in the main scanning direction. The image density in the main scanning direction can also be changed by changing the pulse width per dot of the video signal output by the video controller 20 while keeping the polygon mirror angular velocity constant. When,
Both the pulse width per dot of the video signal may be changed.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, when changing the image density in the sub-scanning direction, the conveying speed of the recording medium is changed. The image density in the sub-scanning direction can be changed by changing the main scanning speed per line while keeping the recording medium conveying speed constant. Both scanning speeds may be changed.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
In addition to the same effect as the first embodiment, dot image data is formed so that the punching position information and the image forming area do not overlap each other, and then the image is formed while reducing the dot image data. Therefore, it is not necessary to create an image in consideration of the punching position in advance so that a part of the image is not lost when the hole is punched by the punching machine.

[0047]

[Fourth Embodiment] A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the fourth embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Usually, when a series of print output covers multiple sheets,
Instead of punching the printouts one by one, they are piled up and punched together. Therefore, in the case of such print output, it is not necessary to form the punching position information for each print output, but if the punching position information is formed for the first (or the last) print output or for every fixed number of sheets. Good.

In this embodiment, the pages forming the punching position information (for example, all pages, first page, last page, every fixed page) are
It can be set by the operation panel 22 or code data. The video controller 20 synthesizes the punching position information when forming the dot image data of a predetermined page based on the setting. As described above, according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and in the case where a series of printouts extends over a plurality of sheets, the first (or the last)
It is possible to form the punching position information for each print output or for every fixed number of sheets.

In each of the above embodiments, the example in which the dot image data in which the code data is developed is superimposed on the punching position information which is previously developed in the dot image data has been described, but the above embodiments are not limited to this. Instead, the dot image data in which the punching position information is expanded may be superimposed on the dot image data in which the code data is expanded.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus for synthesizing the specific information according to the size of the recording medium and the image information and recording them on the recording medium. Further, according to the present invention, the specific information and the image information corresponding to the set type of the specific information and the size of the recording medium are combined and recorded on the recording medium according to the recording method of the set specific information. It is possible to provide an image recording device that does.

Further, preferably, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus for synthesizing the specific information and the image information so as not to overlap each other.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image recording apparatus of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which a center position is displayed at the left end of a recording medium in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which punching positions of two holes are displayed at the left end of the recording medium in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which punching positions of two holes are displayed on the upper end of the recording medium in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for forming punching position information according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the third embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a general laser beam printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 18 engine controller 20 video controller 21 host I / F 22 operation unit 29 non-volatile memory 30 engine unit 31 size sensor 40 controller unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Internal reference number FI technical display location // G03G 15/00 302 (72) Inventor Kenfumi Takubo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing specific information, a detection unit for detecting the size of a recording medium, and a combination unit for extracting specific information according to the detection result of the detection unit from the storage unit and combining it with image information. And an image recording device for recording the composition result of the composition means on the recording medium. 2. A storage unit for storing specific information, a setting unit for setting a type of the specific information and a recording method thereof, a detecting unit for detecting a size of a recording medium, and a specific information set by the setting unit. A synthesizing means for synthesizing the specific information according to the type and the detection result of the detecting means from the storage means and synthesizing with the image information, and synthesizing the synthesizing means according to the recording method of the specific information set by the setting means. An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit that records the result on the recording medium. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific information indicates a punching position of a binding hole of the recording medium. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the synthesizing unit synthesizes the specific information and the image information so as not to overlap each other. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the synthesizing unit reduces the image information to a predetermined size and then synthesizes the image information with the specific information. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording unit records the combined result of the combining unit while reducing the combined result to a predetermined size.