JPH07319168A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image recorder capable of rapidly recording an image after converting image data into a form applied to an image recorder and preventing an image producing device from futility waiting by ejecting a recording medium in the case predicting that the next image can not be recorded by predicting whether or not the next image can be recorded in an unrecorded area. CONSTITUTION:It is assumed that the size of the image continuously transmitted from the image producing device 11 after finishing image recording is the same as the size of the image recorded the last time. Based on the size of the unrecorded area of the recording medium and the image size stored in a storage means, whether or not the next image recording in the unrecorded area of the recording medium is possible is predicted. In the case of predicting that the image can not be recorded, the recording medium is ejected from a medium holding means, and then preparing operation for the next image recording is executed by the time when the image data of the image recorded next time is converted to the data of the form applied to the image recorder 12 in the image producing device 11.

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 capable of recording a plurality of images on a recording medium based on image data transmitted from an image generating apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image generating apparatus, various types of data are created based on image data of an image input by a scanner, material data such as character data expressed in a page description language read from a character data memory, and predetermined layout data. Raster-format image data in which characters and images are integrated is generated by performing calculations. The processing time for converting the image data in the raster format is usually quite long. After the raster format image data is generated, the image generation device generates header data indicating the size of the image, the resolution at the time of recording, etc., and first transmits the header data to the image recording device.
The image recording apparatus which has received the header data reads the size of the image from the header data and determines whether or not the image transmitted this time can be recorded on the recording medium currently mounted. When recording images by sequentially arranging them in the sub-scanning direction from the sub-scanning reference position, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the image 70b transmitted to the unrecorded area of the recording medium 39 fits, The recording device requests the image generation device to transmit the image data, and records the image data of the image 70b transmitted accordingly in the unrecorded area of the currently mounted recording medium 39. As shown in FIG. 7B, the image 7 transmitted to the unrecorded area of the recording medium 39.
When 0c is not accommodated, the recording medium automatic attachment / detachment mechanism provided in the image recording apparatus ejects the recording medium 39 that is currently attached and attaches a new recording medium. When the mounting of the new recording medium is completed, the image recording apparatus requests the image generation apparatus to transmit the image data, and records the image data of the image 70c transmitted in response to the image data in the newly mounted recording medium.

When the image is sufficiently small on the recording medium, a plurality of images are recorded in the sub-scanning direction and a plurality of images are recorded in the main scanning direction as shown in FIG. Is performed. In this case, the recording order of the images on one recording medium 39 is as shown in FIG.
As shown in (d), 80a → 80b → 80c → 80d
Then, the method of recording up to the end of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction first, or as shown in FIGS.
A method of recording to the end of the recording medium in the main scanning direction first in the order of → 80c → 80b → 80d is adopted. However, with the former method, there is no unrecorded area for recording the next image in the sub-scanning direction of the recording medium 39, and with the latter method, the recording medium 39 is next with the main scanning direction in the main scanning direction. If there is an unrecorded area for recording the image of, the recording head 28 must be moved in the reverse sub-scanning direction. For example, in the case of FIG. 8, when recording the image 80c after recording the image 80b, the recording head 28 must be returned to the sub-scanning reference position, and in the case of FIG. 9 also, after recording the image 80a, the image 80a is recorded. When recording 80c, the recording head 28 must be returned to the recording start position of the previously recorded image 80a.

[0004]

After the image recording is completed in the image recording apparatus as described above, and the next image data is rasterized, the header data of the next image is received and Read image size data. When it is determined that the image cannot be recorded in the unrecorded area of the recording medium, the image recording apparatus side must discharge the currently mounted recording medium and mount a new recording medium. . That is, in this case, the image data has already been converted into the raster format applicable to the image recording apparatus in the image generating apparatus, and the image recording apparatus cannot immediately record the image although it is in a recordable state. . In addition, the image generation apparatus also has to wait for the transmission of image data, which delays the generation of the next image data. Similarly, when the recording head has to be moved in the reverse sub-scanning direction as described above, waiting time for image data recording in the image recording apparatus occurs during that time, and the image generation apparatus waits for image data transmission. Occurs and the generation of the next image data is delayed.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to obtain image data as soon as possible after the image data is converted into a format applicable to an image recording apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device that can record an image and does not wastefully wait for the image generation device.

[0006]

An image recording apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, which is made to solve the above-mentioned problems, calculates image data for a plurality of images and calculates the image data and the image data. An image recording device that receives image size data and image data from an image generation device that generates image size data representing a size, and sequentially records a plurality of images on a recording medium. Medium holding means for holding, b) storage means for storing image size data sent from the image generating apparatus, and c) recording means for recording an image on a recording medium based on the image data sent from the image generating apparatus And d) a medium ejecting unit that ejects the recording medium from the medium holding unit, and e) the size of the unrecorded area of the recording medium after the image is recorded on the recording medium and the image size data stored in the storage unit. Then, it is predicted whether or not the next image can be recorded in the unrecorded area, and when it is predicted that the next image cannot be recorded, the medium ejecting means ejects the recording medium from the medium holding means for the next image recording. Control means for performing a preparatory operation.

In addition to the above, the image recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention further comprises a medium supply means for supplying the recording medium to the medium holding means, and the control means holds the recording medium in the medium holding means. When it is predicted that the image cannot be recorded in the recording area, the recording medium is ejected by the medium ejecting unit, and then the recording medium is supplied to the medium holding unit by the medium supplying unit.

The image recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is such that the image size data is output from the image generation apparatus that performs an operation for each image for a plurality of images to generate image data and image size data representing the size of the image. And an image recording apparatus which receives image data and sequentially records a plurality of images on a recording medium from a sub-scanning reference position in the sub-scanning direction, and a) holds the recording medium and rotates in the main scanning direction. A drum, b) a recording head for recording an image on a recording medium, c) head moving means for moving the recording head in the sub-scanning direction, which is the rotation axis direction of the drum, and d) sent from the image generating device. Storage means for storing image size data in the sub-scanning direction, e) recording means for recording an image on a recording medium based on the image data sent from the image generating device, and f) an image is recorded on the recording medium. rear Based on the size in the sub-scanning direction of the unrecorded area of the recording medium and the image size data in the sub-scanning direction stored in the storage means, it is impossible to predict whether or not the next image can be recorded in the unrecorded area. If it is predicted that the recording head is moved to the vicinity of the sub-scanning reference position, the control means performs a preparatory operation for the next image recording.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus, the image size data is generated from the image generation apparatus that performs the calculation for each image to generate the image data and the image size data representing the size of the image. And an image recording device which receives image data and sequentially records a plurality of images on a recording medium in the main scanning direction, and a) a drum which holds the recording medium and rotates in the main scanning direction, b) A recording head for recording an image on a recording medium, c) a head moving means for moving the recording head in the sub-scanning direction which is the rotation axis direction of the drum, and d) a main scanning direction sent from the image generating device. Storage means for storing the image size data; e) recording means for recording the image on the recording medium based on the image data sent from the image generating device; and f) after the image is recorded on the recording medium, Unrecorded Based on the size of the area in the main scanning direction and the image size data in the main scanning direction stored in the storage unit, it is predicted whether or not the next image can be recorded in the unrecorded area. And a control unit that performs a preparatory operation for the next image recording in which the recording head is moved to the vicinity of the sub-scanning recording start position of the previously recorded image.

[0010]

According to the image recording apparatus of the first aspect, a plurality of images are recorded on the recording medium held by the medium holding means based on the image data sequentially transmitted from the image generating apparatus. Image size data representing the size of the image and the image data are transmitted from the image generating device, and the image recording device stores the image size data in the storage means, and also, based on the image data, stores the image in the unrecorded area of the recording medium. Record. After the image recording is completed, the control means assumes that the size of the image subsequently transmitted from the image generating device is the same as the size of the previously recorded image, and stores the size and the size of the unrecorded area of the recording medium. Based on the image size stored in the means, it is predicted whether or not the next image recording is possible in the unrecorded area of the recording medium. If it is predicted that image recording cannot be performed, the recording medium is ejected from the medium holding unit so that the image data of the image to be recorded next time in the image generating apparatus is ready for the preparation operation for the next image recording. It can be executed before it is converted into data in a format applicable to the device. In this way, since the image recording preparation operation is performed in advance, the total image recording time is shortened.

According to another aspect of the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the preparation operation for the next image recording is not only the ejection of the recording medium, but also the operation of supplying a new recording medium to the medium holding means following the ejection operation. By also performing the above, the processing time corresponding to the supply operation time can be further shortened.

According to another aspect of the image recording apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of images are sub-scanned on the recording medium held by the image medium holding means from the reference position in the sub-scanning direction based on the image data sequentially transmitted from the image generating apparatus. Record in sequence. The image generation device transmits image size data in the sub-scanning direction indicating the size of the image in the sub-scanning direction and the image data, and the image recording device stores the image size data in the sub-scanning direction in the storage means and stores it in the image data. On the basis of,
An image is recorded in an unrecorded area of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction.
Then, after this image recording is completed, assuming that the image size in the sub-scanning direction of the image data transmitted from the image generating apparatus is the same as that of the previously recorded image, Based on the image size in the sub-scanning direction stored in the storage means, it is predicted whether or not the next image can be recorded in the unrecorded area in the sub-scanning direction of the recording medium.
If it is predicted that image recording cannot be performed here, by moving the recording head near the reference position in the sub-scanning direction,
The preparatory operation for the next image recording can be executed by the image generating apparatus until the image data of the image to be recorded next time is converted into the data of the format applicable to the image recording apparatus. As a result, the total image recording time can be shortened.

According to another aspect of the image recording apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of images are recorded on the recording medium held by the image medium holding means from the reference position in the main scanning direction based on the image data sequentially transmitted from the image generating apparatus. Record in sequence. Image size data in the main scanning direction representing the size of the image in the main scanning direction and the image data are transmitted from the image generating device, and the image recording device stores the image size data in the main scanning direction in the storage means and stores it in the image data. On the basis of,
An image is recorded in an unrecorded area of the recording medium in the main scanning direction.
After this image recording is completed, assuming that the image size in the main scanning direction of the image data transmitted subsequently from the image generating device is the same as that of the previously recorded image, Based on the image size in the main scanning direction stored in the storage means, it is predicted whether or not the next image recording is possible in the unrecorded area in the main scanning direction of the recording medium.
If it is predicted that image recording will be possible here, the recording head is moved to the vicinity of the recording start position of the previously recorded image, so that the preparatory operation for the next image recording is performed by the image generation apparatus. By the time the image data of is converted into data of a format applicable to the image recording device,
Can be executed. As a result, the total image recording time can be shortened.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the image recording device 12 of the present embodiment is connected to an image generating device 11 including a workstation, a personal computer, and the like, and raster image data in which characters and images generated by the image generating device 11 are integrated. Is received and recorded on a film which is a recording medium. As shown in FIG. 2, the image recording device 12 includes a control unit 20 including a CPU, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, an image memory 24, a film supply unit 25, a film discharge unit 26, and a recording head 2.
8 and a head drive unit 27 are provided. Control unit 2
0 and the image memory 24 are both connected to the image generation device 11, and the control unit 20 stores image size data and the like, which will be described later,
The image memory 24 receives each image data. As shown in FIG. 3B, the film supply unit 25 includes an extraction roller 31, a cutter 32, and the like. Film discharge part 2
As shown in FIG. 3A, reference numeral 6 is composed of a reversing roller 36, a discharging roller 37 and the like. As shown in FIG. 4, the recording head drive unit 27 is composed of a sub-scanning motor 44, a ball screw 45, and the like.

The image generation device 11 generates raster-format image data to be output based on material data such as photographs, patterns, characters and layout data. Then, the sizes Lx and Ly of the generated image data in the sub-scanning direction (X direction) and the main scanning direction (Y direction) are detected, and first, image size data representing these sizes Lx and Ly are recorded as image data as header data. It is transmitted to the control unit 20 of the device 12.

The discharge of the film 39 is performed as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 3A, one fixing member 34 of the drum 33 is released, and the tip of the film 39b is peeled off from the drum 33 by a claw not shown. The peeled film 39b is sent to the reversing roller 36 by a carrying roller (not shown), and is carried until the film 39b is completely separated from the drum 33. When the trailing edge of the film 39b reaches the position just above the reversing roller 36, the reversing roller 36 stops once and immediately rotates in the opposite direction. As a result, the film 39b is stored in the collection box 40 by the guide and the discharge roller 37 (not shown). The collection box 40 is detached from the image recording device 12 when one or a plurality of exposed films 39b are thus stored, and is transported to a developing device (not shown).

The mounting of the film 39 is performed as follows. The extraction roller 31 provided at the exit of the film cartridge 30 pulls out the leading end of the roll-shaped continuous film 39 accommodated in the film cartridge 30 and sends it to the drum 33. After the leading end of the film 39 is fixed to the drum 33 by one fixing tool 34,
The film 39 is pulled out from the film cartridge 30 by rotating. When the rotation angle of the drum 33 reaches a predetermined value, the drum 33 is stopped and the cutter 32 cuts the continuous film 39. The rear end of the cut film 39 is fixed on the drum 33 by the other fixing tool 35, so that the film 39 is mounted on the drum 33. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 28 is a recording head.

The image data is recorded as shown in FIG.
This is performed by moving the recording head 28 in the sub scanning direction while rotating the drum 33 in the main scanning direction by the main scanning motor 43. The recording head 28 is moved by the sub-scanning motor 44 and the ball screw 45.

As shown in FIG. 9 and the first embodiment in which images are sequentially recorded in the sub-scanning direction of the film 39 as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. Two embodiments, the second embodiment and the second embodiment in which images are sequentially recorded in the main scanning direction of the film 39, will be described.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a control flow showing the operation in the first embodiment. Here, the film 39
, IM (m) are sequentially recorded from the sub-scanning reference position in the sub-scanning direction. First, in step S1, the film 39 is mounted on the drum 33, and initialization processing is performed. This step S1 is, in detail, as shown in FIG. 5B, a step of mounting the film 39 on the drum 33 (step S2).
1) and a step of initializing a variable m indicating the number of images recorded on one film 39 to "0" (step S22)
And a variable Rx indicating the size of the unrecorded area in the sub-scanning direction is set to a size LxT of the effective recording area of the film 39 in the sub-scanning direction.
And the step of initializing (step S23).

Next, in step S2, the variable m is incremented by 1. Subsequently, after the image data is converted in the image generation device 11 into a raster format applicable to the image recording device,
In step S3, the image size data Lx (m) in the sub-scanning direction output from the image generation device 11 is received, and the data is stored in the RAM 23. In step S4, it is determined whether or not the image IM (m) can be recorded in the unrecorded area.
The image size Lx (m) in the sub-scanning direction is compared with the unrecorded area size Rx in the sub-scanning direction.
Specifically, if the inequality Rx−Lx (m) <0 is satisfied, it is determined that recording is impossible, and if not, it is determined that recording is possible. If it is determined that recording is not possible, step S
5, the loaded film 39 is discharged to the collection box 40, and then, in step S6, the film 39 is loaded in the same manner as in step S1 to perform a preparatory operation for image recording, After that, the process proceeds to step S7.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that recording is possible, the process proceeds to step S7 without executing the steps S5 and S6. At this point, the image data has already been converted to the raster format, so step S7
Can be executed immediately after step S4 or S6.

In step S7, the raster format image data output from the image generating apparatus 11 is received, and the image is recorded in the unrecorded area of the film 39. With this image recording, the unrecorded area size Rx in the sub-scanning direction is
Since the size in the sub-scanning direction of (m) is reduced by Lx (m),
In step S8, a value obtained by subtracting the size Lx (m) from the size Rx is updated as a new unrecorded area size Rx.
Then, in step S9, if the mode for continuing the image recording is set, the process proceeds to step S10. On the other hand, if not in the mode for continuing the image recording, the process proceeds to step S12 and the film 39 is discharged to the collecting box 40.

In step S10, the size Lx (m + 1) of the image IM (m + 1) to be recorded next time in the sub-scanning direction.
Is the same as that of the image IM (m) recorded in step S7, the image IM (m + 1) becomes
It is predicted whether or not recording is possible in the 9 unrecorded areas. Specifically, if the inequality Rx-Lx (m) <0 is satisfied, it is predicted that recording is impossible, and the process proceeds to step S11. If not, the recordable is predicted and the process returns to step S2.

This prediction is obtained by paying attention to the fact that the sizes of images to be continuously recorded generally do not change so much, especially for color printing in which three or four color inks are overprinted. When making a version of 3
Or the size of the 4th edition will be the same.

Next, in step S11, the film is discharged,
Returning to step S1, the same processing is repeated for the image to be recorded next time.

As described above, by performing the preparatory operation for the next image recording in step S11, the processing time at the next recording can be shortened as compared with the case where this is not performed. it can. That is, if such a preparatory operation is not performed, the film 39 is discharged (FIG. 3A) and mounted (FIG. 3A) after the image data of the image of the same size as this time is transmitted from the image generating apparatus 11 next time. Two operations shown in FIG. 3 (b) must be performed. During this time, not only the image recording in the image recording device 12 is delayed, but also the image generating device 11 has to wait for the transmission of the image data to the image recording device 12, which delays the generation of the next image accordingly. On the other hand, step S
In the case where the preparatory operation 11 is performed in advance, such a waiting time is omitted, and rapid recording and image generation can be performed from the next time onward.

In step S11, not only the film currently loaded on the drum 33 as described above is discharged, but thereafter, the film 39 is loaded on the drum 33.
Alternatively, the preparatory operation may be performed up to the point of supplying and mounting. In this case, not only the time required to discharge the film 39, but also the time required to supply and mount the film 39,
It is possible to omit the waiting time in image recording and image generation.

Further, when recording an image as shown in FIG. 8 of the prior art, the recording head 28 is moved in the reverse sub-scanning direction instead of the discharging / mounting operation of the film 39 in steps S12 and S21. By performing the preparatory operation of stopping near the sub-scanning reference position in advance, the processing time corresponding to the time required to move the recording head 28 can be shortened.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a control flow showing the operation in the second embodiment. Here, the film 39
The case where images IM (1), IM (2), ..., IM (m) are sequentially recorded in the main scanning direction will be described. First, in step S31, the film 39 is mounted on the drum 33, and initialization processing is performed. This step S31
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6B, the step of mounting the film 39 on the drum (step S51) and the variable m indicating the number of images recorded on one film 39 are set to “0”.
(Step S52), and a variable Rx indicating the size of the unrecorded area in the sub-scanning direction is set to the size LxT of the effective recording area of the film 39 in the sub-scanning direction and a variable indicating the size of the unrecorded area in the main scanning direction. The step (step S53) of initializing Ry to the size LyT in the main scanning direction of the effective recording area of the film 39 is included.

Next, in step S32, the variable m is incremented by 1. Subsequently, after the image data is converted into the raster format in the image generation device 11, the image size data Lx (m) and Ly (m) in the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction output from the image generation device 11 in step S33. Is received and the data is stored in the RAM 23. In step S34, whether or not the image IM (m) can be recorded in the unrecorded area in the main scanning direction is determined by the image size Ly of the image IM (m) in the main scanning direction.
The determination is made by comparing (m) with the size Ry of the unrecorded area in the main scanning direction. Specifically, the inequality Ry−
If Ly (m) <0 is satisfied, it is determined that recording is impossible,
If not satisfied, it is determined that recording is possible. If it is determined that recording is not possible, the process proceeds to step S35, and it is determined whether or not an image can be recorded in an unrecorded area in the sub-scanning direction. In particular,
If the inequality Rx-Lx (m) <0 is satisfied, it is determined that recording is not possible, and if not, it is determined that recording is possible.

When it is determined in steps S34 and S35 that the image cannot be recorded in any unrecorded area in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, the film 39 is discharged in step S36, and then in step S37, step S37 is performed. The same film mounting and initialization processing as in S31 is performed. When it is determined that the image can be recorded in the unrecorded area in the main scanning direction, the recording head 28 is moved in the reverse sub-scanning direction in step S38 and stopped near the recording start position of the previously recorded image. , Perform a preparatory operation for image recording. If the image can be recorded in the unrecorded area in the sub-scanning direction, the size Ry of the unrecorded area in the main scanning direction is initialized to LyT in step S39. However, the recording head 2
Since 8 is already located in the vicinity of the recording start position of the image to be recorded in the subsequent step S40, it is not necessary to move the recording head largely as in the operation of step S38.

Subsequently, in step S40, the image data IM (m) converted into the raster format is received and the image is recorded in the unrecorded area. Then, in step S41, the sizes Lx (m) and Ly of the images recorded in step S40 are recorded.
The unrecorded area size data Rx and Ry are changed according to (m).

Subsequently, in step S42, it is determined whether or not the mode for continuing the image recording is determined. If the mode is for continuing the image recording, the process proceeds to step S44, while it is not the mode for continuing the image recording. In this case, the process proceeds to step S43 and the film 39 is discharged to the recovery box 40.

In steps S44 and S45, assuming that the image size of the image IM (m + 1) sent next time from the image generating apparatus in the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction is the same as that of the image of the image IM (m), It is predicted whether or not an image can be recorded in an unrecorded area in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. If it is predicted in steps S44 and S45 that image recording is not possible in any unrecorded area in either the main scanning direction or the sub scanning direction,
In step S46, the film 39 is discharged, and then the process returns to step S31, and the film is mounted and initialized to prepare for the next image recording. Also, when it is predicted that the image can be recorded in the unrecorded area in the main scanning direction, the recording head 28 is moved in the reverse sub-scanning direction in step S47 and stopped near the recording start position of the previously recorded image. , Prepare for the next image recording. When it is predicted that the image can be recorded in the unrecorded area in the sub-scanning direction, the unrecorded area size Ry in the main scanning direction is initialized to LyT in step S48. However,
Since the recording head 28 is already located near the recording start position of the image to be recorded next time, the procedure returns to step S32 without performing any preparatory operation.

This prediction is similar to that of the first embodiment.
Generally, the size of images that are continuously recorded is obtained by paying attention to the fact that the size does not change so much.

In this way, the preparatory operation for the next image recording in step S46 or S47 is executed until the image data to be recorded next time is converted into the data of the format applicable to the image recording device in the image generating device. Therefore, the time required for the next image recording is shortened.

[0038]

According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, it is predicted whether or not the image to be recorded next time can be recorded in the unrecorded area of the recording medium on the basis of the image size of the image recorded last time. In this case, before the image to be recorded next in the image generation apparatus is converted into data of a format applicable to the image recording apparatus, the recording medium is ejected as a preparatory operation for the next image recording. The processing time corresponding to the time required for operation can be shortened.

In the image recording apparatus according to the second aspect, since the new recording medium is supplied to the medium holding means after the recording medium is discharged, the processing time corresponding to the discharging time and the supply time can be shortened.

In the image recording apparatus according to the third and fourth aspects, based on the image size of the previously recorded image, it is predicted whether or not the image to be recorded next time can be recorded in the unrecorded area of the recording medium, and the prediction is performed. According to the result, the recording head, which is a preparatory operation for the next image recording, is moved to the sub-scanning reference position before the image to be recorded next time in the image generation device is converted into data of a format applicable to the image recording device. Therefore, the processing time corresponding to the moving time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection relationship between an image recording apparatus and an image generating apparatus that are embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the image recording apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of each part when the film is discharged and mounted in the image recording apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the drum and the recording head of the image recording apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the image recording apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the image recording apparatus of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the size of a film and the size of an image recorded on the film.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the order of image recording on a film when recording is performed up to the end of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the order of image recording on a film when recording is performed up to the end of the recording medium in the main scanning direction first.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Image generating device 12 ... Image recording device 20 ... Control unit 22 ... ROM 23 ... RAM 24 ... Image memory 25 ... Film supply unit 26 ... Film discharge unit 27 ... Head drive unit 28 ... Recording head 30 ... Film cartridge 31 ... Extraction Roller 32 ... Cutter 33 ... Drum 34, 35 ... Fixing tool 36 ... Reversing roller 37 ... Ejection roller 39, 39b ... Film 40 ... Collection box 43 ... Main scanning motor 44 ... Sub scanning motor 45 ... Ball screw

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. The image size data and the image data are received from an image generation device that performs an operation for each of the plurality of images to generate the image data and the image size data representing the size of the image, and stores the image size data and the image data in a recording medium. An image recording apparatus for sequentially recording a plurality of images, a) a medium holding means for holding a recording medium on which the images are recorded, and b) a storage means for storing image size data sent from the image generating apparatus. , C) recording means for recording an image on a recording medium based on image data sent from the image generating device, d) medium discharging means for discharging the recording medium from the medium holding means, and e) recording the image on the recording medium. After that, based on the size of the unrecorded area of the recording medium and the image size data stored in the storage means, it is predicted whether or not the next image can be recorded in the unrecorded area, and it is predicted that it is impossible. To The image recording apparatus includes: a control unit that performs a preparatory operation for the next image recording, in which the recording medium is discharged from the medium holding unit by the medium discharging unit. 2. A medium supply unit for supplying a recording medium to the medium holding unit is provided, and it is predicted that an image cannot be recorded in an unrecorded area of the recording medium held by the control unit in the medium holding unit. In this case, the image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the recording medium is ejected by the medium ejecting means, the recording medium is supplied to the medium holding means by the medium supplying means. 3. The image size data and the image data are received from an image generation device that performs an operation for each of the plurality of images to generate the image data and the image size data representing the size of the image, and stores the image size data and the image data in a recording medium. An image recording apparatus for recording a plurality of images by sequentially arranging them in the sub-scanning direction from a sub-scanning reference position, comprising: a) a drum that holds a recording medium and rotates in the main scanning direction; and b) an image on the recording medium. A recording head for recording, c) head moving means for moving the recording head in the sub-scanning direction which is the rotation axis direction of the drum, and d) storing image size data in the sub-scanning direction sent from the image generation device. And a recording means for recording an image on a recording medium based on the image data sent from the image generating device; and f) a sub-recording area of the recording medium after the image is recorded on the recording medium. Scanning direction Based on the size and the image size data in the sub-scanning direction stored in the storage means, it is predicted whether or not the next image can be recorded in the unrecorded area. If it is predicted that the next image cannot be recorded, the sub-scanning reference position An image recording apparatus, comprising: a control unit that performs a preparatory operation for moving the recording head to a nearby position for the next image recording. 4. The image size data and the image data are received from an image generation device that performs an operation for each of the plurality of images to generate image data and image size data representing the size of the image, and stores the image size data and the image data in a recording medium. An image recording device for sequentially recording and recording a plurality of images in a main scanning direction, comprising: a) a drum holding a recording medium and rotating in the main scanning direction; and b) recording for recording images on the recording medium. A head, c) head moving means for moving the recording head in the sub-scanning direction which is the rotation axis direction of the drum, and d) storage means for storing image size data in the main scanning direction sent from the image generating device, e) recording means for recording an image on the recording medium based on the image data sent from the image generating device; and f) the size and the main scanning direction size of the unrecorded area of the recording medium after the image is recorded on the recording medium. To the means Based on the stored image size data in the main scanning direction, it is predicted whether or not the next image can be recorded in the unrecorded area, and if it is predicted that it will start sub-scan recording of the previously recorded image. An image recording device, comprising: a control unit that performs a preparatory operation for moving the recording head to the vicinity of the position for the next image recording.