JPS5967777A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the recording amount and to attain recording only with one recorder even if inputs of different recording information are mixed, by selecting the page print system when the recording information is stored for one recording or over at a recording information generating section and the line print system when the recording information is inputted sequentially little by little. CONSTITUTION:An IREADY signal 48 is outputted when no failure exists in a recording section 3 and the recording start is possible. When a recording information generating section 2 starts the recording, an IDRMST2 signal 31 is outputted to the recording section 3 for starting the recording. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a memory for one page's share (page memory) to the recording information generating section, the line buffer for several lines' share is provided and the signal is written in the line buffer before the line buffer becomes idle for the new recording information while transmitting the picture information to the recording section 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (I) Technical Field The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having means for generating a recording start request signal in a recording section and a recording information generating section.

(II) Prior Art 1 Conventional methods for recording information by inputting recording information signals can be broadly divided into page print methods and line print methods.In the page print method, the recording information generating section is equivalent to one page or more of recording paper. When the record information for one page is collected, it starts feeding recording paper to the recording section, and when the recording paper arrives at the image recording position, the record information is sent from the recording section. A request is made to the generating section to start transferring recording information (for example, a vertical synchronization signal, etc.), and thereafter, one page of information is transferred and recorded using a transfer timing signal (for example, a horizontal synchronization signal, etc.) from the recording section. Although this method allows high-speed recording, it has the disadvantage that the capacity of the storage device for recorded information becomes large, and recording cannot be started until all the information is collected.

On the other hand, the line print method has a built-in buffer for several lines in the recording information generation section, and transmits the recording information to the recording section while checking whether the transfer information is stored in the buffer every time one line is transferred. Since it was a synchronized method, it had the disadvantage of slow recording speed.

In addition, in the case where the recording information generating sections are different from each other in the above two systems, two types of recording devices must be prepared.

(Ill) Purpose The present invention provides for the page printing method to be performed when the recorded information generation section has already stored recording information for one recording or more.
In addition, when recording information is input in small amounts one after another, select the line print method to increase the recording amount of information + J recording, and even when different recording information is input mixedly, only one recording device can be used. This paper proposes a recording device that enables recording.

(IV) Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

This embodiment is an example of a recording apparatus using a laser beam printing method, and a cross-sectional view of this recording apparatus is shown in FIG. 1st 4
A laser beam 11 modulated by a recording signal is irradiated onto a photoreceptor, such as a photoreceptor drum 10'', which is charged with an electric current of 1'f to form a latent image, and this latent image is developed by a developer 4 and made visible.

The developed image on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred onto paper 12 by a transfer device 5, and the transferred paper 12 is passed between fixing rollers 8 to fix the developed image on the paper 12. After fixing, output tray 13
The paper is ejected to end the recording operation. Here, 7 is a paper feed roller that feeds the paper in the cassette to the recording device, and 6 is a registration roller that corrects misalignment of the fed paper, and adjusts the position of the leading edge of the image, which will be described later. It also has a role.

FIG. 3 shows the process of writing information onto the photosensitive drum 10. Here, the recording information generating section 1.2 generates an image signal to be recorded, and this signal drives the semiconductor laser 20 to generate a laser beam modulated by the image signal. The beam from the semiconductor laser 20 is deflected by a scanner 21 and then imaged by a lens 22 to expose the photosensitive drum IO.

In order to synchronize the laser beam scanning the photosensitive drum 10 with the image signal, the beam detector 23 detects the beam position immediately before the laser beam scans the photosensitive drum 10. The 4-4 inch signal detected by the beam detector 23 is referred to as a beam detect signal (hereinafter referred to as BD double signal). The signal is transmitted to the BD double signal recording information generating section 1.2 and the water-\+i cycle is taken. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a recording apparatus having a cut-off means in the recording section 3, in which the changeover switch 39 in the recording section 81) sends information 30 to 3 from the recording information generating sections 1 and 2.
Among the signals 7, 51, and 52, only the signal sent from the recording information generator 81 that is determined to be valid is outputted from the selector 38. The selector switch 39 also selects a mode (hereinafter referred to as an ITOP signal) based on a vertical synchronization signal (hereinafter referred to as an ITOP signal) in which an image writing start request to the CPU 40 is output from within the recording section 3.
It is also a switch for switching between a mode (ITOP synchronization) or a mode (I VS I NC synchronization) based on an image writing start signal (hereinafter referred to as an I VS I NC signal) output from a recording information generating section. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a recording apparatus in which the recording information generating section has selection means such as a changeover switch, and a MODIN signal 61 is input to the CPI 40 such as the selector 38. This MODIN signal 61 performs the same operation as the signal of the selector switch 39 in FIG. Figure 6 shows the recording section 3 and the recorded information generating section 1.
．． C in the block diagram of the recording device when the device has a switching means in 2.
OMIN signal 62 and CoMIN switch 60 are the
It is a permission signal for determining whether to enable the T-VLMODIN signal 61 and the input signal of the changeover switch 39, and the C
When both the OMIN signal 62 and the COMIN switch 60 are enabled, the CPU 40 inputs the priority switch signal 5 and 8, and this signal causes the selector to enable the signal with priority 4. Input signal 5 to 38
Control 4. If only one of the COMIN signal 62 and the COMZN switch 60 is enabled, the CPU
40 controls the input signal 54 to the selector 38 by the enabled signal. COMIN signal 62 and COMI
If both N switches 60 are not enabled, a priority mode is determined in advance, and the CPU 40 controls the input signal 54 to the selector 38 to enable the priority mode signal. It is also possible to make the signal indicated by 58 valid.In this block diagram, the priority switch 58 is located in the recording section 3, but the priority switch 58 is located in the recording information generating section 1.
, 2 and the switch 58 is transmitted as a signal to the recording unit 3, the same control procedure will be followed. VIDEOI signal 36,! One of the -VIDEO2 signals 37 is selected by the selector 38 and becomes an input signal to the semiconductor laser 20. Here, the drum clock signal 42, which is an input signal to the CPU 40, is generated when a gear-shaped plate 15 attached to the photosensitive drum 10 shown in FIG. 2 rotates as the drum rotates. This is a signal generated by being blocked at a portion and detected at a valley portion. Here, the ITOP signal 46, I PREB signal 47. ■READY signal 48. BD signal 49, IP
Each of the REND signal 50 and the IVSCER signal 56 is a status signal indicating the state within the recording section 3, and is sent to the recording information generating section 1.2.

The control method of this embodiment will be described below with reference to control flows and timing charts. The following control methods will be explained with reference to FIG. 4 since they are basically the same as those shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. Here, the recording information generating section 1 is in the ITOP synchronous mode, and the recording information generating section 2 is in the ITOP synchronous mode.
Set to SI NC synchronous mode.

The operation timing in the ITOP synchronous mode is shown in FIG. 7, and its control flowchart i. is shown in FIG. 9.

This will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 9.

The recording section 3 outputs the IREADY signal 48 when it is ready to start recording (step 101), and the recording information generating section l
inform that it is operational. When the recording information generating section 1 attempts to start recording, when one page of recording information has been stored in the memory of the recording information generating section 1, the recording section 3 starts recording.
After confirming that the IREADY signal 48 is turned on, the IDRMST signal 30, which is a drum rotation command, is output to the recording section 3. In the recording section 3, when the IDRMS T signal 30 is input, the drum conveying motor 44 is driven through the driver 43 if the IREADY signal is ON and there is no abnormality in the recording section 3 (step 104). At the same time, the photosensitive drum 10
After controlling the upper potential and completing the recording start preparation, the CPU 40
outputs the IPREB signal 47, which is a recording start permission signal, via the driver 45 (steps 105 and 106).

The recording information generating section 1 waits for the output of the IPREB signal 47 and instructs the recording section 3 to feed paper to start the copy sequence. When the IPRNST signal 32 is output, the recording information generating section 1 starts the copy sequence and resets the IFREB signal 47. Then, the paper feeding roller 7 is driven to start feeding paper (step 108).

In the wooden embodiment, the rotations of the rollers in the paper conveyance system shown in FIG. 2 are synchronized, and the absolute position of the recording paper is determined by the drum clock signal 42. Here IPREB4
7 is automatically set after a certain period of time has elapsed since the fed paper leaves the paper cassette. When the leading edge of the fed recording paper reaches the laser writing start timing position 16 (FIG. 2), the CPU 40 outputs an ITOP signal 46 to the recording information generating section 1.

Laser writing start timing position 16 & 1 There are two cases as follows. In Fig. 2, the relationship between the laser beam irradiation position 17 (laser writing point) and the transfer start point 18 to the recording paper (the contact point between the drum surface and the leading edge of the recording paper) is Case A: The distance between 17 and 18 is that of the registration roller. If the distance between the center and 18 is shorter than or equal to (distance between 17 and 18 ≦ distance between registration roller centers 16 and 18) Case B: The distance between 17 and 18 is less than or equal to the distance between the center of registration roller 6 and 18. If it is long (distance between 17 and 18=distance between the center of registration roller 6 and 18+distance between the center of registration roller 6 and 16), however, in this case, a procedure for aligning the paper is included.

There are two cases.

When the recording information generating unit 1 receives the ITOP signal 46, the contents of the internal recording information storage memory (page memory) are VID
Image recording is performed by inputting the EOI signal to the semiconductor laser 20 through the EOI signal 36 (steps 118 and 119 in case A).
．． In case B, steps 110, 111). At this time, in case A, the CPU 40 causes the driver 4 to curl the paper sufficiently at a predetermined timing before outputting the ITOP signal 46.
3 to stop the paper feed roller 7 and drive the registration roller 6 at the same time (steps 116 and 117), '1
In m-space B, after outputting the ITOP signal 46, the cPU 40 causes the paper to curl sufficiently at a predetermined timing, stops the paper feed roller 7 through the driver 43, and simultaneously drives the registration roller 6 (steps 112 and 113).
. When image recording is started in this way, 1
Calculate the image recording time for a page using the paper size signal 55,
When the image recording is completed, the image section end signal IPR is sent.
The END signal 50 is outputted through the driver 45 (step, , :, 'l, 14, 115, 120). Here, the image recording time is calculated by counting the drum clock signal 42. Counting of the drum clock signal 42 is performed by interrupt processing (step 121).

Next, the case of the IVSINC synchronous mode will be explained with reference to FIG. 8 for the operation timing and FIG. 9 for the control flowchart.

If there is no abnormality in the recording unit 3 and recording can be started, I
A READY signal 48 is output (step 131) to inform the recording information generating unit that it is ready for operation. IDRMST2 when the recording information generating section 2 attempts to start recording.
A signal 31 is output to the recording section 3 to start the recording operation. In this case, unlike the ITOP synchronous mode, it is not necessary to have a memory for one page (page memory) in the recording information generation section, but to have a line buffer for several lines and transmit image information to the recording section 3. However, it is sufficient to write new recording information to the line buffer before the line buffer is all empty. For example, if the transmission speed of image information sent to the recording section 3 and the image scanning speed at the recording section 3 are made the same, by having multiple line buffers, the operation of writing information to the photoreceptor on one side and writing new recording information to the line buffer on the other hand is possible. You can do this repeatedly. Here recording section 3
The operation for the IDRMST2 signal 31 is the IDRMST2 signal 31.
The same is true for STI signal 30. (Steps 104, 105, 106 are steps 134, 135.1
36). The recorded information generating section 2 performs the step 107.
I PRNS under the same conditions as the I PRNS signal 32 of
The T2 signal 33 is output to the recording section 3. In recording section 3, I
A control procedure similar to that for the PRNST 1 signal is executed (step 138 onwards). In the ITOP synchronous mode, the recording section 3
I as an image information transmission request signal to the recording information generating unit l.
A TOP signal 46 was output, and image information was transmitted in response. However, in the IVSINC synchronous mode, the IVSI, which is the image signal output start signal from the recording information generation section,
The image writing position on the recording paper is adjusted using the NC2 signal 35 manual signal 3 clearing roller 6. The recording information generating section 2 must output the VSINC2 signal 35 at a timing equal to or after the ITOP signal output timing in the ITOP synchronization mode. If image information is transmitted before the ITOP signal output timing, the photosensitive drum 10
There may be cases where the entire developed image cannot be transferred to the recording paper.

As a way to prevent this, the recorded information generator 2 uses IPRNST.
IVS I N after a predetermined time has elapsed after outputting signal 33
The method of outputting the C signal 35 and then the image information VIDEO2 signal 37, and the method of outputting the above-mentioned ITOP signal 46 from the recording section 3 (corresponding to steps 111 and 119 described above), and the method of laser writing the recording paper to the recording information generating section 2. This is a method of notifying that the start timing position 16 has been reached. The recording information generating section 2 generates the IVSINC2 signals 35 and 1 at any timing within the ITOP signal 4 signal 4 connection.
I! Ij image information VIDEO signal 37 is output.

Here, the ITOP synchronization times 12 case C and case D
Two cases are described below.

In case C (the positional relationship between the registration roller, laser writing point, and transfer start point is the same as case A), the recording paper arrives at the ITOP position [step ITOP (C)]
Previously, the procedure is similar to ITOP synchronization case 8. (steps 116, 117, 118 or 155, 15 respectively)
6, 157 vs. E) When the ITOP position is reached, the registration roller is stopped and the IVSI from the recording information generation section 2 is output.
Wait for NC2 signal 35 (step 158). and IV
When the SINC2 signal 35 is input, the registration roller 6 is driven (step 161), and at the same time, the recording information generating section outputs the image information VIDEO2 signal to perform recording. Here, in the recording section 3, the timer A is activated from the time of arrival at the ITOP position to monitor whether the IVSINC2 signal 35 is not inputted due to a failure of the recording information generating section 2 or the like. This means that the recording paper is recording device 3.
This is to prevent paper jams from occurring inside the paper. When the IVSINC2 signal 35 is not input for a predetermined period of time or more and the timer A reaches T1 or more (step 164), the registration roller 6 is driven to eject the unrecorded paper to the paper ejection tray 13 according to the paper ejection procedure, and the CPU 40 More I
READY signal 48 to 0FFL, I VS I NC
The IVSCER signal 56 indicating that the 2 signal 35 is not input is output (ON) to notify the recording information generating section of the abnormal end (step 165). When the unrecorded paper finishes passing through the paper ejection sensor 19 (step 166), the drum transport motor 44 is stopped and the IVSCER signal 56 is set to 0FFL (step 1
67) Return to start.

In case D (the positional relationship between the register i roller, the laser writing point, and the transfer start point is the same as case B), I
Since the TOP generation timing is when the leading edge of the recording paper arrives at an arbitrary position between the registration roller 6 and paper feed roller 7, the ITOP generation timing [Step ITOP (D)
) to IVSINC2 signal 35 human power. T2
is calculated by the CPU 40 using timer B. (Step 143). Here, if the IVSINC2 signal 35 is not input by the timing when the recording paper stops the paper feed roller (
Steps 152 and 153) stop the count of timer B (step 154). This is because the recording paper does not move after step 153. I VS I N
When the C2 signal 35 is input, the count of timer B is stopped and the recording paper is conveyed until the paper feed roller stop timing (steps 144 and 145), and the steps 152 and 1 described above are carried out.
53, no actual operation is performed in steps 144 and 145. At the paper feed roller stop timing, the recording paper has been transported for 12 hours (timer B count value) from the laser writing timing position 16, so the registration roller 6 is driven after the 12 hours have passed (step 146). (Step 148) Align the leading edge of the recording paper with the laser writing start point on the photosensitive drum 2. If the IVSINC2 signal 35 is not input even after T1 time, the same process as in Case C is performed. Return to start (steps 165, 166).

167).

Counting of the drum clock signal 42 and counting of the timer are performed by interrupt processing (steps 168 and 169). Here, the timer uses a real-time clock, etc., which is an interrupt that occurs at regular intervals. Further, steps 162 and 163 in case C correspond to steps 120 and 115, and steps 149 and 150 in case D correspond to steps 114 and 115.

Here, the selector 38 shown in Fig. 4.5.6 can be operated by two people.
As for the output selector, the selector switch 39 is made of several switches, but by inputting the MODIN signal 61 for several lines, it is possible to incorporate a large number of recorded information generating units by making it a multi-input/l-output selector. becomes.

(V) Effects According to the present invention, if one page or more of recorded information is input to the recorded information generating section, page print method recording that allows high-speed printing is performed, ■ If only one page or less of information is input, sequential information is recorded. In cases such as when information is input, recording efficiency can be increased by selecting a line print method, etc., and even if recording information input means are mixed, multiple recording apparatuses are not required. Furthermore, by providing a plurality of recording information generating sections, recording efficiency can be greatly improved even when recording information is input from another information processing device or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of this embodiment, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the paper conveyance system main body of the recording section of this embodiment, Fig. 3 is a professional diagram of the recording section showing the printing method, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram when the valid recorded information generating section selection means of this embodiment is located in the recording section, FIG. 5 is a block diagram when the valid recorded information generating section selection means is located within the recorded information generating section, and FIG. A block diagram when the recording information generation section selection means is provided in the recording section and the recording information generation section and is equipped with a selection priority function. Figure 7 is a timing chart in ITOP synchronous mode. Figure 8 is I VS I NC synchronous mode. 9 is a flowchart in ITOP synchronization mode, and FIG. 1O is a flowchart in IVSINC synchronization mode. Here, ■, 2... Recording information generating section, 3... Recording section, 6... Registration roller, 7... Paper feeding roller, 10
. . . Photosensitive drum, 40 . . . CPU in the recording section. Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A first request (1) generating means for generating a signal requesting transfer of recorded information from the recording section to the recording information generating section; and a second request signal generating means for generating a signal requesting the above, and selecting one of the recording means that starts recording in synchronization with both of the signals, and the first and second request signal generating means. A recording device characterized by comprising a selection means for selecting. (2) The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the recording section is provided with a selection means. (3) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the recording information generating section is provided with a selection means. (4) The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the recording section and the recording information generating section are each provided with means for selecting.