JPH10213944A - Method and device for producing photographic print - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To produce the prints of many kinds of size by one printing device, to suppress the wasteful consumption of an image receiving sheet and to efficiently produce the photographic print. SOLUTION: By this method, the photographic print is produced by forming an photographic image on an image forming medium 30 having a prescribed- sized image forming area based on image data (y), (m), (c) and (k) and transferring it on the image receiving sheet 10S. The image data also provided with image size information and as much as plural images are stored in a storage means in a lump. Then, the combination of the plural images whose total image size can be set in the image forming area is selected. The sheet 10S is formed by cutting a long-length image receiving paper 10 by prescribed length based on the combination of the plural images. Then, the photographic image consisting of the combination of the plural images is transferred on the sheet 10S and the sheet 10S is cut every image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for producing a photographic print by electrophotography and the like,
The present invention relates to a photographic print creation method capable of efficiently creating prints of various sizes.

[0002] The present invention also relates to an apparatus for implementing the above-described photographic print making method.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-50027
As shown in No. 8, a uniformly charged electrophotographic photosensitive member is exposed to light modulated based on an image signal indicating a continuous tone image to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image is formed. There is known a method of developing an image with a toner to obtain a toner image, and then transferring the toner image to an image receiving sheet to form an electrophotographic print. In this type of electrophotographic print forming method, it has been proposed to form a color print by superimposing three or four color toner images on an image receiving sheet.

[0004] In addition, there is known a method in which an image is recorded on a photothermographic material, and the photothermographic material and an image receiving sheet are superposed and thermally developed and transferred to form a photographic print.

[0005] By the way, when producing a photographic print as described above, it is desirable to be able to produce prints of various sizes with one apparatus.
One method of achieving this is also shown in -500278. The method uses an image receiving sheet of a fixed size larger than various print sizes, simultaneously transfers a plurality of images of toner images on the image receiving sheet in a layout according to the print size, and thereafter cuts the sheet for each image. To obtain small prints.

[0006]

However, in the above-described method, it is not always possible to lay out a plurality of images without leaving a fixed size image receiving sheet at all. Often occur. When creating a print, such a blank portion must be cut off, and as a result, the image receiving sheet is wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to produce prints of various sizes with one apparatus, and to efficiently print a photograph by suppressing wasteful use of an image receiving sheet. The purpose is to provide a method that can be created.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photographic print producing apparatus capable of performing such a method.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for forming a photographic print, comprising: forming a photographic image on an image forming medium having an image forming area of a predetermined size based on image data; In the method of creating a photographic print by transferring, image data having image size information
A plurality of images are collectively stored in the storage unit, and a combination of a plurality of images whose total image size can enter the image forming area is selected based on the image size information of the stored image data. The image data relating to the selected image is read from the storage means, and a photographic image composed of a combination of the plurality of images is formed based on the read image data. The image receiving sheet is formed by cutting to a predetermined length based on the combination, a photographic image composed of the combination of the plurality of images is transferred to the image receiving sheet, and then the image receiving sheet is cut for each image. It is assumed that.

In this method, a photographic print is desirably prepared by the above-described electrophotographic method. In such a case, a photo print forming method is to form an electrostatic latent image by exposing a uniformly charged electrophotographic photoreceptor with light modulated based on image data, and developing the electrostatic latent image with toner. To obtain a toner image as the photographic image and transfer the toner image to an image receiving sheet.

In this method, when a photographic image is transferred onto the image receiving sheet while being transferred in one direction, the photographic image composed of a combination of the plurality of images is arranged in the feeding direction of the image receiving sheet. May be formed in such a manner that the images are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the image receiving sheet, and further, in the feeding direction of the image receiving sheet and the direction perpendicular thereto. May be formed so that the images are arranged side by side.

As described above, in the case where a photographic image composed of a combination of a plurality of images is formed so that the images are arranged in the feed direction of the image receiving sheet and in a direction perpendicular thereto, the feed direction of the image receiving sheet and / or Alternatively, it is desirable that the image boundary line extending in a direction perpendicular thereto is formed so as to be substantially aligned with the entire width and / or the entire length of the image receiving sheet.

Further, in the photographic print making method of the present invention, the size of the image receiving sheet is set and the photographic image is set so that a margin having a predetermined length is formed at the head of the image receiving sheet in the feeding direction. It is desirable to control the transfer of In such a case, it is desirable to cut the image receiving sheet after transferring the photographic image so as to cut off the margin.

Further, in the method of producing a photographic print of the present invention, a photographic image composed of a combination of the plurality of images is formed in such a state that the images are in contact with almost no gap, and the image receiving sheet onto which the photographic image has been transferred is formed as described above. A borderless print can be created by cutting to remove a strip substantially parallel to and including the boundary between the images.

On the other hand, a photographic print producing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an image forming medium having an image forming area of a predetermined size;
In a photographic print making apparatus having means for forming a photographic image formed on the image forming medium based on image data and transfer means for transferring the photographic image to an image receiving sheet, the image data having image size information is A control unit that selects a combination of a plurality of images whose total image size can enter the image forming area based on the size information, and a unit that inputs image data related to the selected images to the photographic image forming unit. An image receiving sheet cutter that cuts a long image receiving sheet into a predetermined length based on a combination of the plurality of images to form an image receiving sheet, and an image receiving sheet onto which a photographic image including the combination of the plurality of images is transferred And a sheet cutting means for cutting each image.

The photographic print producing apparatus according to the present invention is preferably configured to produce a photographic print by the above-described electrophotographic method. In this case, the photographic print producing apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, charging means for uniformly charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and exposing the uniformly charged electrophotographic photosensitive member with light modulated based on image data. Exposing means for forming an electrostatic latent image with the toner, developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner to obtain a toner image as the photographic image, and transfer means for transferring the toner image to an image receiving sheet It will be.

[0017]

According to the photographic print producing method of the present invention, the image receiving sheet for transferring the photographic images for a plurality of images at a fixed size is not used. Since the image receiving sheet is formed by cutting the image receiving sheet, the length of the image receiving sheet can be set to a necessary minimum according to the combination of the images. As a result, useless consumption of the image receiving sheet is suppressed,
Photo prints can be created efficiently.

In the case where a photographic image composed of a combination of a plurality of images is formed so that the images are arranged in the feed direction of the image receiving sheet and in a direction perpendicular to the direction, the feed direction of the image receiving sheet and / or If the image boundaries extending in the perpendicular direction are substantially aligned over the entire width and / or length of the image receiving sheet, the cutting in the width and / or length direction of the image receiving sheet is always at its full width and / or length. Alternatively, the cutting may be performed over the entire length, and the cutting process is facilitated.

That is, for example, when a plurality of images are arranged in the image receiving sheet feeding direction on the right and left sides of the center line that divides the entire width of the image receiving sheet into two, the image boundary line extending in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction is defined as the above. Otherwise, it is necessary to cut only the right half or the left half of the image receiving sheet. Compared to cutting in this way while feeding the image receiving sheet, it is very easy to simply cut the image receiving sheet over its entire width.

On the other hand, the leading portion in the feed direction of the image receiving sheet may be damaged when the photographic image is peeled off from the electrophotographic photosensitive member after the transfer. Therefore, if the size of the image receiving sheet is set and the transfer of the photographic image is controlled so that a margin having a predetermined length is formed in the leading direction in the feeding direction of the image receiving sheet, the image receiving sheet is damaged. No image is formed on the portion. In such a case, if the image receiving sheet is cut so as to cut off the margin after transferring the photographic image, the resulting print has no damaged sheet portion.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a printer main body constituting an electrophotographic print producing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an image data service apparatus for controlling the printer (indicated by 152 in FIG. 2). Is shown.

First, an image data service device will be described with reference to FIG. As shown, the apparatus includes an input unit 134 including a plurality of input devices for inputting digital image data, a main body 120 configured to perform processing of the image data input by the input unit 134, and a processing unit. And an output unit 148 composed of a plurality of output devices for outputting the processed image data.

The input unit 134 is a floppy disk drive 136A capable of accessing each data recording medium.
, A magneto-optical disk drive 138A, a CD-ROM drive 144, and a memory card reader 146A. Further, the input unit 134 has a receiving device 140A capable of inputting data via a communication network without using the data recording medium 156, and a scanner 142 for reading an image recorded on paper or film.
The communication by the receiving device 140A can be realized by, for example, a communication method for accessing the other party via a telephone line.

On the other hand, the output unit 148 includes a floppy disk device 136B, a magneto-optical disk device 138B, and a memory card writing device 146B. The output unit 148 is further provided with a receiving device of the input unit 134.
A transmission device 140B capable of outputting data via a communication network common to 140A and a printer 152 are provided.

The user who uses the image data service device via the data recording medium 156 can output the image data from the output unit 14.
After receiving the data recording medium 156 on which the image data is recorded according to step 8, the image indicated by the recorded image data can be printed or displayed on a print / display unit 154 owned by the user, for example.

Next, the configuration of the main body 120 will be described. The main body 120 is provided with an input section 126 which is connected to the input unit 134 and controls an input interface for image data sent therefrom. The input unit 126 includes a data memory 128 for temporarily storing input image data, and the input unit 126, together with the input unit 126, for monitoring and controlling other components described below to control the entire image data service apparatus. The control unit 122 is connected. Control unit
The input unit 122 is provided so that any one of the image data input from the plurality of input devices of the input unit 134 is input.
Control 6 The control unit 122 includes a CP (not shown).
U, RAM, ROM, input / output controller and the like.

An image processing unit 124 is connected to the control unit 122. The image processing unit 124 processes the input image data based on each of the plurality of image processing conditions, and processes the image data based on the image processing conditions selected by the control of the control unit 122. To process.

The image processing section 124 is connected to a display section 130 for displaying an image represented by the image data processed by the image processing section 124. This display 13
0 is composed of, for example, a CRT display device or a liquid crystal display device.

The image processing unit 124 further includes an output unit for controlling an output interface of the processed image data.
132 are provided. The output unit 132 is connected to the output unit 148.

An input device 125 is connected to the control unit 122, and at least one of the plurality of image processing conditions is selected by the input device 125 to control the control unit 122.
122 is notified. And the control unit 122
Is processed so that the image data is processed based on the image processing conditions selected by the operator via the input device 125.
The image processor 124 is controlled. The input device 125 includes, for example, a keyboard, a touch panel, and the like. In addition to the above-described image processing conditions, the input unit 125 determines which input device of the input device inputs image data to the main body 120, and the output unit 148. Which of the output devices the image data is output from can be designated.

Next, the printer 152 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the printer 152 has an image receiving paper supply shaft 11 for winding and holding a long image receiving paper 10, and a nip roller for nipping and receiving the image receiving paper 10 fed from the image receiving paper supply shaft 11 to the left in the figure. And an image receiving paper cutter 15 disposed between the nip roller pairs 12 and 13 for cutting the image receiving paper 10 in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The image receiving paper 10 has, for example, a heat-softening layer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-194394 on the surface, and the leading end thereof is cut by an image receiving paper cutter 15 to form one image receiving sheet 10S.

Further, an endless resin belt 19 is provided so as to be wound around three stretching rollers 16, 17, 18.
This resin belt 19 as an intermediate transfer medium is
The portion stretched between 16 and 17 is arranged so as to extend along the feed direction of the image receiving sheet 10S.

A resin belt is provided above the tension roller 16.
A heating roller that can selectively take a position (indicated by a broken line) pressed against the tension roller 16 via the support belt 19 and the auxiliary belt 27 and a position (indicated by a solid line) apart from the resin belt 19.
Twenty are arranged. On the other hand, above the tension roller 17, the tension roller 17 is interposed via a resin belt 19 and an auxiliary belt 27.
A paper discharge roller 21 is provided which can selectively take a position (pressed line display position) that is in contact with the resin belt 19 and a position (solid line display position) apart from the resin belt 19.

An image receiving sheet slitter 22 for cutting the image receiving sheet 10S in the feeding direction is provided to the left of the stretching roller 17 and the sheet discharging roller 21 in the drawing, and the image receiving sheet 10S is nipped and sent to the left in the drawing. Nip roller pairs 23 and 24 are arranged in this order. An image receiving sheet cutter 25 that cuts the image receiving sheet 10S in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction is provided between the nip roller pairs 23 and 24. Further, on the left side of the nip roller pair 24, a plurality of trays 26 for receiving the created color prints 10P are provided. The driving of the image receiving sheet slitter 22, the image receiving sheet cutter 25, and the above-described image receiving paper cutter 15 are controlled by a cutter controller 60 which receives a control signal from the control unit 122 in FIG.

On the other hand, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 30 is arranged in contact with the resin belt 19 stretched between the stretching rollers 16 and 18. The photosensitive drum 30 is rotated at a constant speed clockwise in FIG. Along the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 30, a charger 31, a laser writing system 32, a developing unit turret 33, a transfer unit 34, and a cleaner 35 are provided.

The laser writing system 32 scans the laser beam 36 modulated as described later on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 30 in a direction parallel to the central axis thereof (main scanning).
Let it. The sub-scanning of the laser beam 36 is performed by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 30 as described above.

On the other hand, the developing device turret 33 includes a black developing device 33K using black toner, a yellow developing device 33Y using yellow toner, a magenta developing device 33M using magenta toner, and a cyan developing device 33C using cyan toner. And one of these developing units is selectively brought close to the photosensitive drum 30 by being rotated by driving means (not shown).

Hereinafter, the operation of the printer 152 will be described. The photoreceptor drum 30 is first uniformly charged by a charger 31, and then a laser beam emitted by a laser writing system 32
The main and sub scans are performed by 36 to expose the light. This laser beam
36 is modulated as follows.

The laser writing system 32 has an image signal k indicating a black component density, an image signal y indicating a yellow component density, and an image signal indicating a magenta component density read by the control unit 122 from the data memory 128 in FIG. Image signals c indicating m and cyan component densities are sequentially input.

At the time of image exposure, first, an image signal k is read, and this image signal k is input to a modulation circuit (not shown) of the laser writing system 32. The modulating circuit calculates the image signal k
, The laser beam 36 is pulse-width-modulated so as to obtain, for example, a dot area ratio corresponding to the density indicated by the image signal k. The laser beam 36 enters an optical deflector (not shown) such as a polygon mirror constituting the laser writing system 32, and is deflected in one direction by the optical deflector. The deflected laser beam 36 performs main scanning on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 30 as described above. When the photosensitive drum 30 rotates, the sub-scan of the laser beam 36 is performed.

The photosensitive drum 30 is uniformly charged by the charger 31, and receives an image signal k on the photosensitive drum 30 by receiving the main and sub scanning of the laser beam 36 as described above. Is formed. The portion of the photosensitive drum 30 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed is a developing device turret.
Proceeds to a position facing 33 where it undergoes development processing.
At this time, the developing unit turret 33 is set so that the black developing unit 33K is brought close to the photosensitive drum 30, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the black developing unit 33K using black toner.

When the photosensitive drum 30 rotates as described above, the resin belt 19 also rotates at the same speed as the drum 30. Then, the black toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 30 is transferred to the transfer device 34.
The resin belt 19 close to the drum 30 due to the electrostatic action of
Transfer to the part. At this time, the heating roller 20 and the paper discharge roller 21 are set at positions away from the resin belt 19, and the resin belt 19 makes one rotation while electrostatically holding the black toner image.

After the transfer of the black toner image, the photosensitive drum 30 is cleaned by the cleaner 35 and then uniformly charged by the charger 31. Further, the developing device turret 33 rotates by a predetermined angle to bring the yellow developing device 33Y closer to the photosensitive drum 30.

Then, the control unit 122 shown in FIG. 2 reads out the image signal y from the data memory 128 and inputs the image signal y to the modulation circuit at a predetermined timing.
Therefore, similarly to the above case, the laser beam 36 modulated based on the image signal y mainly travels on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 30.
By sub-scanning, an electrostatic latent image of an image carried by the image signal y is formed on the photosensitive drum 30. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the yellow developing device 33Y using yellow toner.

The yellow toner image thus developed is transferred to the portion of the resin belt 19 close to the photosensitive drum 30 by the electrostatic action of the transfer unit 34. At this time, since the resin belt 19 and the photosensitive drum 30 are rotated synchronously, the yellow toner image is transferred onto the black toner image in a positional correspondence, that is, in a state where the same pixels in the image overlap. You.

In the same manner, a magenta toner image and a cyan toner image are sequentially superimposed on the yellow toner image in a positional correspondence. In this manner, a continuous tone color toner image composed of black, yellow, magenta and cyan toners is formed on the resin belt 19.

On the other hand, the cyan toner image is
Until the image is transferred to the sheet, the leading end of the long image receiving paper 10 is cut by the image receiving paper cutter 15 to form one image receiving sheet 10S having a predetermined length. Thus, the image receiving sheet
When 10S is formed, the nip roller pair 14 is stopped, and thus the image receiving sheet 10S is
Between the nip roller pair 13 and the nip roller pair 13 (FIG. 1)
(Broken line display state).

The heating roller 20 is brought into pressure contact with the stretching roller 16 via the auxiliary belt 27 and the resin belt 19 shortly before the color toner image passes between the heating roller 20 and the stretching roller 16. Is set to At about the same time, the nip roller pair 14 is driven, and the image receiving sheet 10S is sent out between the auxiliary belt 27 and the resin belt 19. Then, the image receiving sheet 10S is pressed and heated by the resin belt 19, and the color toner image carried on the resin belt 19 is transferred to the image receiving sheet 10S. At this time,
The thermal softening layer formed on the surface of the image receiving sheet 10S softens, and the toner sinks into the thermal softening layer.

Image receiving sheet 10 to which the color toner image has been transferred
S is cooled by a cooling device (not shown) while being conveyed to the paper discharge roller 21 while being placed on the resin belt 19.
The paper discharge roller 21 is set at a position where the image receiving sheet 10S comes into pressure contact with the stretching roller 17 via the resin belt 19 before reaching the image receiving sheet 10S. Therefore, the discharge roller 21 and the tension roller
The image receiving sheet 10S sent between the sheet receiving roller 17 and the sheet receiving roller 17 is separated from the resin belt 19 by receiving the rotational force of the sheet discharging roller 21, and is sent to the image receiving sheet slitter 22 side.

The image receiving sheet 10S is provided with a slitter 22 if necessary.
The sheet is cut in the feed direction by the nip roller pair 23, reaches the nip roller pair 23, and is fed by the nip roller pair 23 as it is. Then, the image receiving sheet 10S is appropriately cut by the cutter 25 in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction as necessary, and a plurality or one color print 10P is created. These color prints 10P are collectively accommodated in any of a plurality of trays 26 that move vertically in FIG. 1, for example, for each same size or for each order.

As is apparent from the above description, when a plurality of color prints 10P are created from one image receiving sheet 10S, the images indicated by the image signals k, y, m, and c are individually A plurality of images to be printed on the color print 10P are arranged. That is,
Image signals indicating the black component density, yellow component density, magenta component density, and cyan component density of an image output for each color print 10P are k ', y', and m ', respectively.
And c ′, the image signals k, y, m and c are
Such image signals k ′, y ′, m ′ and c ′ are synthesized for several images.

Hereinafter, setting of such a combination of a plurality of images will be described in detail. In this case, the image receiving sheet 10S is not cut by the slitter 22. In the data memory 128 of FIG. 2, image signals relating to a plurality of images in a predetermined unit, such as one order, are stored. The image signals for one of such a plurality of images are k ', y', m ', and c' described above. Hereinafter, the image signals k ', y', m ', and c' for this one image will be described. Are collectively referred to as an image signal D.

Each image signal D for each image is added with image size information Ds indicating the print finish size at the time of output from the input unit 134 in FIG. In this example, the print finish size is a standard size C (89 mm × 127 mm) and a slightly horizontal size H
(89 mm × 158 mm) and a size P (89 mm × 254 mm) whose lateral dimension is twice the size C. These finished sizes can be mixed in a plurality of images of the predetermined unit because, for example, the photographing size is switched at the time of photographing with a camera.

In this case, the length of the image receiving sheet 10S is
Perimeter of resin belt 19 (that is, length of toner image forming area)
Is limited to 425 mm. There are ten combinations of print finish sizes in one image receiving sheet 10S, No. 1 to No. 10 shown in the table below.

[0055]

[Table 1]

If the total number of combinations in the size combinations of No. 1 to No. 10 is plural, the plurality of images are all arranged in the feed direction of the image receiving sheet 10S. Here, as an example, FIG. 3 shows a size combination state of No. 1. In FIG. 3, the outline of the image receiving sheet 10S is indicated by a solid line, a dashed line indicates a toner image forming range of a plurality of combined images, and a broken line indicates a cutting line.

Selection of the size combination is performed by the control unit 12 shown in FIG.
2 based on the algorithm shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the discrimination of the number of images for the size C, H or P is for discriminating the number of images of each size remaining without being read out from the data memory 128. The matching No. is shown, and the encircled alphabetical letters indicate the transition points of the processing flow.

For example, when the processing flow starts, it is first determined whether or not the number of images of size C remaining without being read from the data memory 128 is three or more. Size C remaining
It is determined whether or not the number of images is two. If so, it is next determined whether or not the number of images of size H remaining without being read is zero. The size combination of .1 is selected, and then the process flow shifts to point B.

The control unit 122 controls No. 1 to N as described above.
Each time you select one of the o.10 size combinations,
The image signals D of the size and the number corresponding to the combination are sequentially read, for example, in ascending order of the negative number, and the read image signals D (image signals k ′, y ′,
m ′ and c ′) to form image signals k, y, m and c that modulate the laser beam 36 as described above. When two or three of the sizes C, H and P are included in the combination, the image receiving sheet 10
A method of combination is defined in advance so that images are arranged in a predetermined order (for example, in the order of sizes C, H, and P) from the top of S.

At the same time, the control unit 122 inputs information indicating the selected size combination No. to the cutter controller 60 in FIG. The cutter controller 60 controls the drive timing of the image receiving paper cutter 15 and the image receiving sheet cutter 25 according to the size combination No. That is, for example, in the case of the size combination No. 1, the image receiving paper cutter 15
The image receiving sheet cutter 25 is controlled so as to cut the image receiving sheet 10S at 8 mm, 135 mm, 137 mm, 264 mm, and 266 m from the front end.
m, 424 mm.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
A toner image composed of a combination of a plurality of images is formed such that each image is in contact with almost no gap, and the image receiving sheet 10S has a band-like portion substantially parallel to the boundary between the images and including the boundary. Since it is cut so as to be removed, an edgeless print 10P is created.

The processing flow shown in FIG.
In step 8, when the number of remaining images that have not been read becomes 0 (zero), the image reaches one of the five end points (END), and a series of processing ends there.

In the above-described method, the image receiving sheet 10 is cut into a predetermined length based on a combination of a plurality of images without using a fixed size image receiving sheet for transferring a toner image for a plurality of images. Therefore, the length of the image receiving sheet 10S can be set to the minimum necessary for each combination of images. This makes it possible to efficiently produce an electrophotographic print while suppressing wasteful use of the image receiving sheet 10S.

The leading portion of the image receiving sheet 10S in the feed direction is
The color toner image may be damaged when peeled off from the resin belt 19 after the transfer. However, in this example, a margin having a predetermined length is formed in the leading direction of the image receiving sheet 10S in the feeding direction, and the margin is cut off after the toner image is transferred. And no damaged sheet portion.

As described above, the data memory 128 stores the image signal for each order as described above. In addition, in order to suppress the consumption of the receiving paper 10 and to enhance the print creation capability, a plurality of orders are stored. May be stored.
In such a case, it is desirable to sort the prints 10P for each order by using the above-described tray 26 after the prints are created. Such sort processing can be performed based on, for example, image position data on the image receiving sheet 10S stored at the time of print creation, or non-image data recorded on the front or back of each print 10P.

Further, in the above embodiment, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 30 is electrostatically transferred to the resin belt 19, but instead of the resin belt 19, an intermediate transfer medium having an adhesive layer on the surface is used. And the toner image may be adhesively transferred to the intermediate transfer medium. Also, the photosensitive drum
The toner image formed on the sheet 30 may be directly transferred to the image receiving sheet.

Further, the combination of the sizes and the numbers of the plurality of images formed on one image receiving sheet 10S is, of course, not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, as in the example shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of images may be arranged only in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the image receiving sheet 10S. Also in FIG. 5, the outline of the image receiving sheet 10S is indicated by a solid line, the toner image forming range is indicated by a dashed line, and the cutting line is indicated by a broken line (FIGS. 6, 7, and 1 described below).
1 is the same).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a plurality of images may be arranged in both the feed direction of the image receiving sheet 10S and the direction perpendicular thereto. Here, FIG.
In the example of FIG. 7, the image boundary lines extending in the direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the image receiving sheet 10S are arranged in a line over the entire width of the image receiving sheet 10S, whereas in the example of FIG. Extend over only half of the sheet width. In the case of the example of FIG. 7, it is necessary to cut only the right half or only the left half thereof while feeding the image receiving sheet 10S. On the other hand, in the case of the example of FIG. 6, the cutting in the width direction of the image receiving sheet 10S may be always performed over the entire width, so that the cutting process is easy. The example of FIG. 11 is a combination of the size over the entire width of the image receiving sheet 10S and the size obtained by dividing the entire width of the image receiving sheet 10S by two.

On the other hand, as the electrophotographic printer, a type different from that shown in FIG. 1 can be appropriately selected and used.
For example, those shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 can be suitably used. Hereinafter, these electrophotographic printers will be described.

In FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the same elements as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. In these figures, a control system for controlling the driving of the cutters 15, 25 and the slitter 22 is omitted.

In the electrophotographic printer shown in FIG. 8, there are provided four sets of systems for forming a toner image to be transferred onto the resin belt 19. These toner image forming systems include a black developing unit 33K, a yellow developing unit 33Y, a magenta developing unit 33M, and a cyan developing unit 33C from right to left in the drawing. The laser writing system 32 of each toner image forming system supplies an image signal k indicating a black component density, an image signal y indicating a yellow component density, an image signal m indicating a magenta component density, and an image signal indicating a cyan component density. c is input.

In this configuration, when the resin belt 19 rotates counterclockwise in the figure and sequentially contacts the four photosensitive drums 30, a black toner image, a yellow toner image, a magenta toner image, and a cyan toner The images are transferred one after another in a positional correspondence with each other. In this way, the resin belt
A color toner image is formed on 19 while it makes one revolution. This color toner image is transferred to the image receiving sheet 10S in the same manner as described above, and the image receiving sheet 10S is appropriately cut to obtain a color print 10P.

When the above-described toner image forming system is adopted, it is easy to directly transfer the color toner image to the image receiving sheet 10S without temporarily transferring the color toner image to the resin belt 19.

Next, the electrophotographic printer shown in FIG. 9 will be described. The electrophotographic printer is provided with two sets of systems for forming a toner image transferred onto the resin belt 19.
Among these toner image forming systems, the one on the right side in the figure has a developing unit turret 33 holding a black developing unit 33K and a magenta developing unit 33M, and the one on the left side in the figure is a yellow developing unit.
A developing unit turret 33 holding a 33Y and a cyan developing unit 33C is provided.

The image signal k indicating the black component density and the image signal m indicating the magenta component density are input to the laser writing system 32 of the toner image forming system on the right side in FIG. An image signal y indicating the yellow component density and an image signal c indicating the cyan component density are input to the laser writing system 32.

In this configuration, when the resin belt 19 first rotates counterclockwise in the drawing and comes into contact with the two photosensitive drums 30 sequentially, the black toner image and the yellow toner image are positioned on each other. Transcribed in response. Then, when the resin belt 19 rotates for the second time and sequentially contacts the two photosensitive drums 30, a magenta toner image and a cyan toner image are sequentially transferred onto the yellow toner image.

In this way, a color toner image is formed on the resin belt 19 during two rotations thereof. This color toner image is transferred to the image receiving sheet 10S in the same manner as described above, and the image receiving sheet 10S is appropriately cut to obtain a color print 10P.

Next, the electrophotographic printer shown in FIG. 10 will be described. This electrophotographic printer is basically the same as the electrophotographic printer of FIG. 1, but has additional image receiving sheet supply systems 70 and 80 in addition thereto.

One image-receiving sheet supply system 70 includes an image-receiving paper supply shaft 71, a nip roller pair 72, a nip roller pair 73, and an image-receiving sheet similar to the image receiving paper supply shaft 11, the nip roller pair 12, the nip roller pair 13, and the image receiving paper cutter 15, respectively. Paper cutter 75
And an endless belt 74 wound around one of the nip rollers 73 and 13. A long image receiving paper 90 is wound and held on the image receiving paper supply shaft 71, and the image receiving paper 90 is cut by the image receiving paper cutter 75 to form one image receiving sheet 90S.

The image receiving sheet supply system 70 includes an image receiving paper supply shaft.
When the image receiving paper 10 wound and held around 11 is used up, driving is started, and the image receiving sheet 90S is supplied to the nip roller pair 14 via the nip roller pair 13. While the image receiving sheet 90S is being supplied from the image receiving sheet supply system 70 in this manner, a new image receiving sheet supply shaft 11 holding the image receiving sheet 10 wound thereon is set. Then, when the image receiving paper 90 wound and held on the image receiving paper supply shaft 71 is used up, the image receiving sheet 10S can be supplied from the new image receiving paper supply shaft 11 this time.

The image receiving sheet supply system 70 has an image receiving paper 90 having a width different from that of the image receiving paper 10 held on the image receiving paper supply shaft 11.
May be set, and the image receiving papers 10 and 90 may be appropriately selected according to the photo print size.

The other image receiving sheet supply system 80 includes, for example, three sheet trays 81 for accumulating and storing image receiving sheets cut in advance to a fixed size, and each sheet tray 81.
Nip roller pair 82 provided for each, endless belt
83, 84, a nip roller pair 85 disposed on the extension of the sheet conveying path by the nip roller pairs 13 and 14, and a fixed-size sheet fed upward between the endless belts 83 and 84 in the figure, the nip roller pair 85 side And a sheet guide 86 that guides the user.

As described above, in this apparatus, three image receiving sheet supply systems are provided, and by using these image receiving sheet supply systems alternately, a new image receiving paper 10 is provided.
, Or interruption of image receiving sheet supply due to a failure of one image receiving sheet supply system or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 to 10, the transport path from the transfer of the image to the image receiving sheet to the peeling is formed in a straight line, so that a thick image receiving sheet, which is preferred in general photography, is provided. Sheets (tavers according to JIS P8125-1944)
(E.g., stiffness of 4 gf · cm or more).

Although the embodiment in which a photographic print is prepared by the electrophotographic method has been described above, the present invention provides
The present invention is also applicable to the case where a photographic print is created by the above-described thermal development transfer method or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part of an electrophotographic print producing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement state of a plurality of images on an image receiving sheet.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of selecting a size combination of the plurality of images.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement state of a plurality of images on an image receiving sheet.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement state of a plurality of images on an image receiving sheet.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement state of a plurality of images on an image receiving sheet.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing an example of an electrophotographic printer used in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing another example of the electrophotographic printer used in the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing still another example of the electrophotographic printer used in the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement state of a plurality of images on an image receiving sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 90 Long receiving paper 10S, 90S Receiving sheet 10P Printing 11 Receiving paper supply shaft 12, 13, 14, 23, 24 Nip roller pair 15 Receiving paper cutter 16, 17, 18 Stretch roller 19 Resin belt (intermediate transfer medium) 20) Heating roller 21 Discharge roller 22 Image receiving sheet slitter 25 Image receiving sheet cutter 26 Tray 27 Auxiliary belt 30 Photoconductor drum 31 Charger 32 Laser writing system 33 Developing turret 33K Black developing device 33Y Yellow developing device 33M Magenta developing device 33C Cyan Developing unit 34 Transfer unit 35 Cleaner 36 Laser beam 60 Cutter controller 70, 80 Image receiving sheet supply system 71 Image receiving paper supply shaft 72, 73, 82, 85 Nip roller pair 74, 83, 84 Endless belt 75 Image receiving paper cutter 81 Sheet tray 86 sheets Guide 120 Image data service unit 122 Control unit 128 Data memory 134 Input unit 148 Output unit

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A method of forming a photographic image on an image forming medium having an image forming area of a predetermined size based on image data and transferring the photographic image to an image receiving sheet to form a photographic print, comprising: A plurality of images are stored together in the storage means, and a set of a plurality of images whose total image size can enter the image forming area is based on the image size information of the stored image data. Selecting a combination, reading image data relating to the selected images from the storage means, forming a photographic image composed of a combination of the plurality of images based on the read image data, and The paper is cut into a predetermined length based on the combination of the plurality of images to form an image receiving sheet, and a photographic image including the combination of the plurality of images is transferred to the image receiving sheet. , And then the photographic print created method characterized by cutting the image-receiving sheet for each image. 2. The photographic image is transferred onto the image receiving sheet while being sent in one direction, and a photographic image composed of a combination of the plurality of images is arranged such that each image is arranged in the feeding direction of the image receiving sheet. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the photographic print is formed. 3. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: transferring the photographic image to the image receiving sheet while feeding the image receiving sheet in one direction; 2. The photographic print producing method according to claim 1, wherein the photographic prints are formed so as to line up. 4. The photographic image is transferred onto the image receiving sheet while being sent in one direction, and a photographic image composed of a combination of the plurality of images is transferred in the feeding direction of the image receiving sheet and in a direction perpendicular thereto. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the images are formed so as to be arranged side by side. 5. A photographic image composed of a combination of the plurality of images is formed such that an image boundary line extending in a direction perpendicular to a feed direction of the image receiving sheet is substantially aligned with the entire width of the image receiving sheet. 5. The method for producing a photographic print according to claim 4, wherein: 6. A photographic image composed of a combination of a plurality of images is formed such that an image boundary line extending in a feed direction of the image receiving sheet is substantially aligned with the entire length of the image receiving sheet. A method for producing a photographic print according to claim 4. 7. A method for setting the size of the image receiving sheet and controlling the transfer of a photographic image such that a margin having a predetermined length is formed in the leading direction of the image receiving sheet in the feeding direction. 7. One of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that:
How to make a photo print described in the section. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the image receiving sheet is cut so as to cut off the margin after transferring the photographic image. 9. A photographic image composed of a combination of the plurality of images is formed such that the images are in contact with almost no gap, and an image receiving sheet on which the photographic images are transferred is substantially parallel to a boundary between the images. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cutting is performed so as to remove a band-like portion including the boundary line, thereby forming a borderless print.
9. The method for producing a photographic print according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. A uniformly charged electrophotographic photosensitive member is exposed to light modulated based on image data to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner to form the photographic image. 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining a toner image, and transferring the toner image to an image receiving sheet to form a photographic print. 11. An image forming medium having an image forming area of a predetermined size, means for forming a photographic image formed on the image forming medium based on image data, and transfer for transferring the photographic image to an image receiving sheet Control means for selecting a combination of a plurality of images whose total image size can enter the image forming area, based on the image size information of the image data having image size information. Means for inputting image data relating to these selected images to the photographic image forming means; and an image receiving apparatus for cutting a long image receiving sheet into a predetermined length based on a combination of the plurality of images to form an image receiving sheet. A photo cutter comprising: a paper cutter; and a sheet cutting means for cutting, for each image, an image receiving sheet on which a photographic image composed of a combination of the plurality of images has been transferred. Lint making device. 12. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, charging means for uniformly charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and exposing the uniformly charged electrophotographic photosensitive member to light modulated based on image data to form an electrostatic image. Exposing means for forming a latent image, developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image as the photographic image, and transferring means for transferring the toner image to an image receiving sheet. The photographic print creation device according to claim 11, wherein