JPH0686002A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the deterioration of image quality due to the excessive reduction of images and to save recording paper by printing on the front and the back of the recording paper in the case of printing data longer than the length of sheet-like recording paper in a sub scanning direction. CONSTITUTION:An image memory part stores image data read by a scanner part and detects the length of the image data in the sub scanning direction. Then, the size of the recording paper 8 is detected by a form detection sensor and both side printing is performed when the length of received data in the sub scanning direction is longer than the length of the paper 8 and also the both side printing is set. At this time, at a recording part, the paper 8 picked up by a paper feeding roller 10 is carried through a carrier path A along with an arrow (a,) inserted between a thermal head 11 and a platen 10 and printing is performed on the surface opposite to the knead 11 of the paper 8. The printed paper 8 is carried through the carrier path B along with the arrow b1, bent so that the printed surface is on an outside, guided to the direction of the arrow b2 and inserted between the head 11 and the platen 10 again.

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 for outputting input image data on a sheet of recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a facsimile machine using roll-shaped recording paper, received image data is printed on the recording paper at a length corresponding to the length in the sub-scanning direction, and the recording paper is cut after the printing is completed. Data is output properly. On the other hand, in a facsimile machine using a sheet of recording paper, if the length of the received image data in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the length of the recording paper in the same direction, the received image data is divided into a plurality of recording papers and printed. Or the length of the received image data in the sub-scanning direction is detected and the detected value is larger than the length of the recording paper in the same direction, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-96067. In addition, there is also proposed a device in which the received image data is reduced and printed out at a reduction rate corresponding to the ratio of the detected value to the length of the recording paper when the value is smaller than the specified value set by the user. In the facsimile machine, when additional information such as the transmission date and time and page display is added to the transmission image data for transmission, the reception image data is longer than the transmission original by the length of the additional information. It is particularly effective in such a case.

[0003]

However, in the above apparatus, the received image data is reduced and printed according to the specified value set by the user. Therefore, the reduction rate becomes too large depending on the set specified value, and the printed image is May be difficult to see. If the length of the received image data in the sub-scanning direction is twice as long as the length of the recording paper in the same direction, and if the data amount is larger than the specified value set by the user, As usual, the printing is divided into two sheets, which may not save the recording paper. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and when printing the data of the length in the sub-scanning direction of a sheet-shaped recording paper, by printing on both front and back surfaces of the recording paper, the image is excessively reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the deterioration of image quality due to the above and saving the recording paper.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus for temporarily storing input image data and then printing the stored image data on a sheet of recording paper. First detection means for detecting the length of the input image data in the sub-scanning direction,
Second detecting means for detecting the length of the recording paper set in the apparatus in the sub-scanning direction, and switching setting means for switching and setting whether or not to print on both front and back surfaces of the recording paper,
A recording control unit that controls a printing mode on the recording sheet based on the detection results of the first detection unit and the second detection unit and the setting of the switching setting unit; and the recording control unit, The image data is recorded when the detection value of the first detection unit is larger than the detection value of the second detection unit and when the switching setting unit is set to print on both front and back sides. It is designed to print on both front and back sides of paper.

[0005]

According to the above construction, the first detecting means detects the length of the input image data in the sub-scanning direction, and the second detecting means sub-scans the recording paper set in the apparatus. Detect the direction length. If the former detection value and the latter detection value are compared by the recording control means, and the former is larger than the latter, and if the switching setting means is set to print on both front and back sides, the image data is Print on both sides of the recording paper.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control unit of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system control unit 1 is composed of a microcomputer and controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The system memory unit 2 stores the control program of the system control unit 1. The display operation unit 3 is used by the user to perform various settings and operations using various keys or a liquid crystal display, and whether or not to perform recording on both the front and back sides of the recording paper is performed using function keys (not shown) provided here. Is switched and set. Communication control unit 4
Encodes and compresses image signals in line communication,
The encoded and compressed image data is decoded into the original image signal. The scanner unit 5 is for reading an original set at the time of transmission or copying. The image memory unit 6 is for storing the image data read by the scanner unit 5, and the length in the sub-scanning direction of the received image data is detected here. The recording unit 7
It prints and records the received image data on recording paper.
It has a structure that allows recording on both sides of the recording paper, including a paper transport mechanism.

Next, the paper transport mechanism in the recording section 7 will be described with reference to FIG. A paper feed roller 10 is arranged near the recording paper holder 9 on which the recording paper 8 is placed, and a conveyance path A is formed downstream of the paper feed roller 10. A platen 10 is disposed downstream of the transport path A, and the thermal head 1 is provided at a position facing the platen 10.
1 is provided. A transport path B is formed in a hairpin shape downstream of these, and by passing the recording paper 8 printed by the thermal head 11 through this transport path B, the recording paper 8 returns to the thermal head 11 again. When it comes, it is reversed so that the non-printing surface comes to the thermal head 11 side. The recording paper 8 that has passed through the reversing conveyance path B passes between the thermal head 11 and the platen 10 and is then ejected through the ejection conveyance path C. Transport rollers 12, 13 and 14 for transporting the recording paper 8 are disposed on the transport paths B and C. An ink ribbon 15 is interposed between the thermal head 11 and the platen 10, and tension is applied by the peeling shafts 16 and 17 provided on both sides of the thermal head 11. The size of the recording paper 8 stored in the recording paper holder 9 is a sheet size detection mark (not shown) provided on the apparatus body with a mark (not shown) indicating the size of the recording paper 8 formed on the recording paper holder 9. It is designed to be detected by the sensor.

In the recording section 7 thus constructed,
The sheet-shaped recording paper 8 picked up by the paper feed roller 10 is conveyed along the conveying path A along the arrow a, is inserted between the thermal head 11 and the platen 10, and faces the thermal head 11 of the recording paper 8. It is printed on the printed surface. The printed recording paper 8 is conveyed along the conveying path B by an arrow b1.
Is conveyed along with, is curved so that the printing surface is on the outside, is guided in the direction of arrow b2, and is again inserted between the thermal head 11 and the platen 10. At this time, since the non-printing surface (back surface) faces the thermal head 11, printing is performed on the back surface of the recording paper 8. After the printing is completed, the recording paper 8 is conveyed along the conveyance path C along the arrow c,
Is discharged. When printing is not performed on the back surface of the recording paper 8, the thermal head 11 is released in the direction of arrow d while the recording paper 8 is being conveyed from the conveyance path B to the conveyance path C. Thus, the recording paper 8 is ejected without being printed on the back surface.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing at the time of recording the received image data. When the image data is externally received via the communication control unit 4, the received image data is stored in the image memory unit 6 and the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction is detected. At the same time, the size of the recording paper 8 set in the apparatus main body is detected by a paper detection sensor (not shown), and it is determined whether the size is A4 size (S1). S
When the recording paper 8 is A4 size in 1, the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction of the received data for one sheet stored in the image memory unit 6 is compared with the length of the recording paper A4 in the same direction, and the reception is performed. It is determined whether or not all data can be printed on one side of one recording paper 8 (S2). If the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction of the received data for one sheet is equal to or less than the length of the recording sheet A4 in S2, the recording sheet 8 is printed (S3). After completion of printing, it is checked whether all the data for one sheet has been printed (S4), and if the determination in S2 is YES, S
Since all are printed in 3, the process proceeds to S6. In S6, the presence or absence of the received data of the next page is checked, and if there is the data of the next page, the process returns to S1, the same operation is repeated, and when all the received data are printed, the operation ends.

In S1, if the recording paper 8 is not of A4 size, the length of the data is 14 based on the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction of the received data for one sheet stored in the image memory unit 6. It is determined whether or not it is less than the inch (legal size) (S7). If the number of lines of the received data in the sub-scanning direction is not less than 14 inches in S7, and if the number of lines of the received data is not less than A4 in S2, the process proceeds to S8 and the recording paper 8 Check whether the settings are made to print on both front and back sides of. Recording paper 8
Whether or not to print on both front and back sides is set by the user operating a function key (not shown) of the display operation unit 3. If double-sided printing is set, the recording paper 8
Is printed on (S9), and after printing is completed, it is checked whether or not the recording paper 8 is reversed (S10).
After reversing the recording paper 8 (S11), the process proceeds to S13. If the recording paper 8 is reversed, the next recording paper 8 is fed (S1).
2) Go to S13.

In S13, it is checked whether all the data for one sheet have been printed. If all the data have been printed, S
If it is not printed completely, the process returns to S9, and until the data for one sheet is completely printed, the process proceeds to S9 to S14.
Repeat the loop of 13. Thus, after the reception data for one sheet is printed on the front surface of the recording paper 8, the reception data that could not be printed on that surface is continuously printed on the back surface of the recording paper 8. If the received data still remains, it is printed on the front surface of the next recording paper 8 and is repeatedly printed on both the front and back surfaces of the recording paper 8 until all the data for one sheet is printed. In S14, the presence or absence of received data for the second and subsequent sheets is checked, and the loop of S1 to S14 is repeated until all of the received data is printed.

If double-sided printing is not set in S8, the process proceeds to S3. In this case, after printing the received data for one sheet in S3, in the determination of S4, S2, S
Since 7 and S8 have passed NO, one sheet of data has not been completely printed on one sheet of recording paper 8, so the result is NO, and the process proceeds to S5, where the next sheet of recording paper 8 is fed. Return to S3. Thus, printing is performed separately on a plurality of recording papers 8.

As described above, in the facsimile apparatus for printing on the sheet-shaped recording paper 8, when the length of the received data for one sheet in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the length of the recording paper 8 in the same direction, In addition, when it is set to print on both the front and back sides of the recording paper 8, the printing is performed on both the front and back sides of the recording paper 8. Therefore, it is possible to save the recording paper 8 without reducing the image. In addition, the problem that the image quality is deteriorated due to the excessive reduction of the image does not occur. Further, since the user can set whether or not to print on both the front and back sides of the recording paper 8, the received data for one sheet can be divided into a plurality of recording sheets 8 and printed as necessary. You can also

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, when the user sets whether to print on both front and back sides, the image data amount is used as a parameter, and when the image data amount is 1.5 times or less of the recording paper size, the front and back side both sides printing is automatically performed. In this case, it is possible to use a switching method such as printing on a plurality of recording sheets separately. Further, the printing method is not limited to the printing method such as an electrostatic printer, a thermal printer, a laser beam printer, an inkjet printer, a liquid crystal printer and the like.

Further, in this embodiment, even if the length of one sheet of image data in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the length of the recording paper 8 in the same direction, printing is performed on both the front and back sides of the recording paper 8. If it is not set to, the image data for one sheet is printed separately on a plurality of recording papers 8. However, if the data amount is within the preset specified value, the data is reduced. It is also possible to print on one sheet of recording paper 8. Further, even when double-sided printing is set, if the data can be reduced and printed based on the data amount and a preset specified value, it is possible to further save the recording paper.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the length of one sheet of image data in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the length of the sheet-shaped recording paper in the same direction, and When printing is performed on both the front and back sides of, the printing is performed on both the front and back sides of the recording paper, so it is possible to save the recording paper without reducing the image size and The problem that the image quality deteriorates due to the reduction does not occur. Furthermore, the user can set whether to print on both the front and back sides of the recording paper.
It is also possible to print by dividing the image data for one sheet onto a plurality of recording sheets.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control unit of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheet conveying mechanism of a recording unit in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of recording received image data in this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 system control unit 2 system memory unit 3 display operation unit 4 communication control unit 5 scanner unit 6 image memory unit 7 recording unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for temporarily storing input image data and then printing the stored image data on a sheet of recording paper, wherein the length of the input image data in the sub-scanning direction is set. First detection means for detecting, second detection means for detecting the length of the recording paper set in the apparatus in the sub-scanning direction, and whether to print on both front and back sides of the recording paper And a recording control unit that controls a printing mode on the recording paper based on the detection results of the first detection unit and the second detection unit and the setting of the switching setting unit. The recording control means, when the detection value of the first detection means is larger than the detection value of the second detection means, and
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image data is printed on both front and back sides of a recording sheet when the switching setting means is in a setting state of printing on both front and back sides.