JP2004328219A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication control method for reducing the fragmentation of a packet in the communication of the packet of a protocol having a window size in a header, and to provide a gateway and a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: The gateway connecting a different network or a communication line is provided with a means investigating an MTU of a communication medium of a transfer destination prior to the transfer of the packet at the time of transferring the packet having the header including the window size, a means investigating the MTU of a communication medium of a transfer source, and a means correcting the window size of the header in the packet transferred based on a value of investigation. When the window size is corrected to an appropriate value smaller than the MTU, a terminal receiving the packet whose window size is corrected makes a packet size smaller than the window size at the time of returning it to the packet. Thus, the fragmentation of the packet can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in order to improve the separability after passing through the fixing unit, a part of the image at the leading end of the paper feed is replaced with a margin.
[0003]
On the other hand, when the ratio between the length and width of the document size and the output size is not the same, the conventional automatic scaling function calculates the scaling at the largest possible magnification so that the image is not lost. As a result, a margin is formed on one of the four sides. At this time, the margin is formed not on the leading end in the paper feeding direction but on the other side.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Borderless image formation is desired.
[0005]
However, in the related art, the image in the paper feeding direction is missing (Problem 1).
[0006]
Further, when the ratio between the length of the original document and the length of the output size is not the same, the conventional automatic scaling function calculates the scaling at the largest possible magnification so that the image is not lost. As a result, a margin is formed on one of the four sides (Problem 2).
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Fixing means for fixing the transferred image, variable-size printing means for enlarging or reducing image data or an original and printing it on a recording medium, and setting the vertical length of the image when the image data or the original is printed at the same magnification to lom, When the horizontal length of the image is los, the vertical length of the recording medium is 1 pm, and the horizontal length, which is the transport direction of the recording medium, is 1 ps, the magnification 1 (lpm / lom) and the magnification 2 (Lps / los) is calculated, and then the magnification 1 is compared with the magnification 2 to select a smaller numerical magnification. When the magnification 1 is selected, the margin is transferred to the leading end of the recording medium. An image forming apparatus which shifts an image output position or rotates and outputs an image.
[0008]
As a result, the separability of fixing is improved without missing part of the image.
[0009]
An image detection unit that is arranged on the conveyance path after being fixed by the fixing unit and inspects an image on the recording medium; a margin inspection unit that detects a margin portion of the image inspected by the image detection unit; and the image detection unit includes: A sheet cutting unit that is arranged downstream of the arranged conveyance path and cuts the sheet, forms an image at a magnification selected by the magnification selection unit, and then detects a margin detected by the margin inspection unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is cut by the sheet cutting unit.
[0010]
As a result, an image having no margin is formed.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012]
The image forming apparatus 1000 includes a document feeder 100, an image reader 200, a printer unit 300, a folding device 400, a finisher 500, and a trimmer 600.
[0013]
The document feeder 100 conveys the set documents one by one in order from the top page on the platen glass 102 from left to right through a curved path, and then discharges the document to the paper discharge tray 112.
[0014]
At this time, the image reader 200 operates as follows. The scanner unit 104 is held at a predetermined position, and the document is read by passing the document from left to right on the scanner unit 104.
[0015]
When the document passes, the light of the lamp 103 of the scanner unit 104 is irradiated on the document, and the reflected light from the document is guided to the image sensor 109 via the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 108. The original can be read by moving the scanner unit 104 from left to right after the original is conveyed onto the platen glass 102 by the original feeding device 100 and stopped.
[0016]
Next, the operation of the printer unit 300 will be described below. The image of the document read by the image sensor 109 is subjected to image processing and sent to the exposure control unit 110. Exposure control section 110 outputs laser light according to the image signal. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 111, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 111. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 111 is developed by the developing device 113, and the developer on the photosensitive drum 111 is applied to a sheet fed from any of the cassettes 114 and 115, the manual sheet feeding unit 125, and the duplex conveying path 124. The image is transferred by the transfer unit 116.
[0017]
Sheets fed from the manual paper feed unit 125 and the cassettes 114 and 115 can be set by the user from the operation unit 1 (not shown), for example, thick paper, OHP sheets, and the like. Optimal transport conditions and image forming conditions are selected.
[0018]
The sheet to which the developer has been transferred is subjected to developer fixing processing in a fixing unit 117. The sheet that has passed the fixing unit 117 is once guided to a path 122 by a flapper 121, and after the trailing end of the sheet has passed through the flapper 121, the sheet is switched back and guided to a discharge roller 118 by the flapper 121.
[0019]
As a result, the developer is discharged from the printer unit 300 by the discharge roller 118 with the surface onto which the developer has been transferred facing downward (face down).
[0020]
The sheet discharged from the discharge roller 118 is fed to the trimmer 600, and cuts off the trailing edge of the sheet if a trimmer is required according to an operator setting from the operation unit of the image forming apparatus or a printer driver.
[0021]
After discharge of the trimmer, there is a finisher 500, and the finisher 500 has an inlet roller pair 502 for guiding the sheet inside. A switching flapper (not shown) for guiding the sheet to the finisher path 552 or the reverse path 553 in the finisher is provided downstream of the entrance roller pair 502.
[0022]
[Configuration of each control unit]
As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit of the image forming apparatus 1000 has the following configuration. First, the image forming circuit unit 150 has a CPU 153, and according to the program stored in the ROM 151 and the settings of the operation unit 1, the document feeder control unit 101, image reader control unit 201, image signal control unit 202, printer The controller 301, the folding device controller 401, the finisher controller 501, and the external I / F 209 are controlled. The document feeder control unit 101 controls the document feeder 100, the image reader control unit 201 controls the image reader 200, the printer control unit 301 controls the printer unit 300, the processing unit control unit 401 controls the folding device 400, and the finisher control. The unit 501 controls the finisher 500, and the trimmer control unit 601 controls the trimmer 600.
[0023]
The RAM 152 is used as an area for temporarily storing control data and a work area for computations associated with control. The external I / F 209 is an interface from the computer 210, develops print data into an image, and outputs the image to the image signal control unit 202. The image read by the image sensor 109 is output from the image reader control unit 201 to the image signal control unit 202, and is output from the image signal control unit 202 to the printer control unit 301 to form an image. The image signal control unit 202 can perform various types of image processing depending on the value written to the register from the CPU 153. The image can be rotated to a specified angle, converted to a predetermined magnification, and lines can be added. This enables rotation, enlargement, and addition of a dummy line to be described later.
[0024]
[Description of trimmer configuration and operation]
The operation of the trimmer 600 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 3, when information on the sheet size of the sheet 622 to be received next is issued from the printer control unit 301 (not shown), the stopper 614 is accordingly moved by the cutter 607 by the stopper motor M25 (not shown). Is moved to an optimal position according to the sheet size. The sheet 622 passes through the entrance roller 602, is transported by the transport rollers 603, 605, 606, 611, and 612, and abuts against the stopper 614. As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet 622 passes through the entrance sensor 604. As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet 622 abutted against the stopper 614 is lowered by the press plate 609 to uniformly cut the rear end, and is pressed and fixed by driven rollers 608 and 610 provided on the press plate. Will be. The rear end of the pressed sheet 622 is cut by the cutter 607 descending as shown in FIG. When the cutting is completed, the cutter 607 is retracted by the cutter motor M22 (not shown) as shown in FIG. 7, the press plate 609 is raised, and the stopper 614 is retracted downward by the stopper release motor M24 (not shown). The cut sheet is conveyed by conveying rollers 611, 612.
[0026]
[Explanation of trimmer and finisher control block diagram]
FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing details of the finisher control unit 501 of the finisher 500 and the control unit 601 of the trimmer 600.
[0027]
In the figure, a finisher control unit 501 has a finisher CPU circuit unit 5100 including a CPU 5110, a ROM 5120, a RAM 5130, and the like, and communicates with the CPU circuit unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 1000 via a communication IC 5140 to transmit data. Exchange. Control is performed according to various programs stored in the ROM 5120.
[0028]
The trimmer control unit 601 is a trimmer CPU circuit unit 6100 including a CPU 6110, a ROM 6120, a RAM 6130, and the like. The trimmer control unit 601 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 1000 via the communication IC 6140 to exchange data. The control is performed according to various programs stored in.
[0029]
Reference numeral 6150 denotes various driver circuits that drive a motor, a solenoid, and a clutch in response to a signal from the trimmer CPU unit 6100.
[0030]
M21 is a transport motor that is a drive source of the entrance roller 602, transport rollers 603, 605, 606, 611, 612, and paper discharge rollers 615, 616, 617, M22 is a cutter motor that is a drive source of the cutter 607, and M23 is a press plate. A press motor 609 is a drive source, M24 is a stopper release motor that is a drive source for releasing the stopper 614, and M25 is a stopper motor that is a drive source for moving the stopper 614.
[0031]
Reference numeral 604 denotes an entrance sensor attached near the entrance of the trimmer and used for start timing of a trimmer sequence, and 613 denotes a stopper sensor attached to the stopper 614 and used for brake timing of a sheet.
[0032]
[Explanation of operation by flowchart]
In step S301, the transport motor is driven to enable the sheet to be loaded. Then, in S302, the control waits for the entrance sensor 604 to be turned on. After the entrance sensor 604 is turned on, it is determined whether or not the sheet is a sheet on which trim operation is performed (S303). The sheet to be trimmed is a sheet that is subjected to processing for trimming the edges of the sheet by cutting the unfolded side of the sheet, and a sheet that is not trimmed is a sheet that is discharged as it is without performing the cutting processing. . If it is determined in step S303 that the sheet is not to be trimmed, the process proceeds to the non-trimming sequence in step S304, and if it is determined that the sheet is to be trimmed, the process proceeds to the trim sequence in step S305. The process proceeds to the trim sheet discharge sequence in S306. Then, in S307, it is determined whether there is a sheet to be conveyed next, and if there is no sheet, the conveyance motor is stopped (S308), and the trimmer sequence ends.
[0033]
By executing the trimmer sequence, the sheet to be trimmed and the sheet not to be trimmed are respectively conveyed through the conveyance path, and the discharge to the finisher is completed.
[0034]
Next, the non-trim sequence in S304 of FIG. 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0035]
In S401, completion of the movement of the stopper 614 is confirmed. Although this is performed based on the sheet size of the sheet, it is important for the jam detection processing for determining whether the sheet is being conveyed correctly to be a correct distance (position). Then, after the movement of the stopper 614 is completed, the retracting process of the stopper 614 is performed (S402). This is because in the non-trim sequence, there is no need to stop against the stopper, and it is necessary to retract the stopper 614 from the path for carrying.
[0036]
Then, the control waits for the stopper sensor 613 disposed at the position of the stopper 614 to be turned on (S403), and thereafter ends the non-trim sequence.
[0037]
Next, the trim sequence in S305 of FIG. 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0038]
In step S501, the process waits for the completion of the movement of the stopper 614. Next, the stopper sensor 613 in the stopper portion is turned on (S502), and then the transport motor is stopped (S503, 504). As a result, the sheet is stopped at the position of the stopper sensor 613, and is placed at the cutting position. Next, a "sheet press process", which is a process of applying pressure from above by lowering the press plate 609 so that the sheet does not move (S505), is followed by a "cut process" at the end (S506). After the end, the press plate 609 is raised to perform “cancellation of sheet press processing” (S507). End the trim sequence.
[0039]
[Explanation of Trimmer Zoom]
FIG. 8 shows the size of the original 623 shown in FIG. 8 as X1 and Y1 and the size of the recording paper 622 as X2 and Y2 via the operating unit (not shown) or the printer driver. In this case, when the image is enlarged to the maximum within a range where the image is not missing, the size becomes X3 or Y2. The enlargement ratio stops at the ratio between Y2 and Y1. At this time, a margin is formed in the right part of the image in the figure. The paper feeding direction in the printer 300 is determined in the E direction so that the margin is at the top. This requires an image rotation of 180 degrees compared to the W direction, which is the normal paper transport direction.
[0040]
Looking at another example in FIG. 9, if the image is enlarged to the maximum within a range where the image is not missing, the size becomes X2 and Y3. The enlargement ratio stops at the ratio between X2 and X1. At this time, a margin is formed in a lower portion of the image in the drawing. The paper feeding direction in the printer 300 is determined in the S direction so that the margin portion becomes the head. This requires a 90-degree clockwise rotation of the image as compared to the W direction, which is the normal paper transport direction.
[0041]
FIG. 10 shows the recording paper 622 rotated in the paper conveyance direction of the image formation described in FIG. Reference numeral 131 denotes a dummy line, which forms an image of a dummy line at a position protruding by a distance A from a line that is not present in the actual image. This is used to increase the accuracy of the trimmer position.
[0042]
After the image shown in FIG. 10 has passed through the fixing unit 117 of the printer 300, the image is inverted by the inversion flapper switching unit 121 and discharged from the printer 300 by the roller 118 as described above.
[0043]
The sheet discharged from the printer 300 enters the trimmer section, and passes through the contact sensor 604 with the recorded image facing down, as shown in FIG. Comparing FIG. 10 with FIG. 11, the length X3 in the paper feed direction on which the image is placed changes to a value obtained by multiplying X3 by B. Similarly, the distance from one end of the paper to the dummy line 131 also changes to a value obtained by multiplying X3 + A by B. This is because the paper is reduced by passing through the fixing device, and B is smaller than 1 and varies depending on the type of paper and humidity. For example, B becomes a value such as 0.992. The signal of the sensor 604 becomes like Sig1 as shown in FIG. This signal outputs LOW when light is reflected by a white portion of the recording paper. In the circuit shown in FIG. 13, Trig1 is generated by Sig3 at the first fall from Sig1. Sig2 is a mask signal for masking the image area of Sig1 and extracting only the signal of the dummy line portion as Trig2. The signal obtained by ANDing Sig2 and Sig1 is Sig4. Sig2 itself is a signal that becomes High after a lapse of a predetermined time t2 from the rise of Sig3. When Sig3 is High and Sig4 is Low, t1 is measured by a counter that is enabled to count, and the time is output as DATA. Note that t2 is obtained by the equation shown in FIG. V is the speed of paper transport. Using this t1, the previous reduction rate B is obtained as in the equation of FIG. The length of cutting the paper is a value obtained by multiplying X3 by B. The cutting length is adjusted by adjusting the position of the stopper as described in the above description of the trimmer.
[0044]
[Explanation of Flowchart of Image Forming Circuit]
FIG. 14 shows a flow of the CPU 153 of the image forming circuit unit 150. The image forming mode is received from the operation unit 1 (FIG. 2) operated by the user or an external printer driver via the external IF-209 (FIG. 2) of the computer 210 (S101). The image data is received from the external IF-209 (S102), and the image generation mode is set (S103). FIG. 15 is a flow in which only the part related to the trimmer scaling of the image generation mode setting processing 103 is described in detail. The processing is performed based on the image formation mode received in S101. First, it is determined whether or not it is a trimmer magnification (S201). In the case of, whether the type is the type shown in FIG. 8 (S202) or the type shown in FIG. In the case of the type shown in FIG. 8, the magnification is calculated as Y2 ÷ Y1, and stored in the RAM 152 (S203). X3 is calculated by the formula shown in FIG. 8 and stored in the RAM 152 (S204). The setting for adding a dummy line shown in FIG. 8 is stored in the RAM 152 (S205). The 180-degree rotation request is stored in the RAM 152 (S206). Other setting information is stored in the RAM 152 (S213). Send the trimmer settings to the trimmer section. Among them, T2 described above is calculated and transmitted (S214). Subsequently, the settings stored in the RAM 152 in S203 to S213 are transmitted to the image signal control unit (S215). The paper size and the paper discharge reversal setting are transmitted to the printer control unit (S216).
[0045]
(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the image in FIG. 8 is rotated so that the transport direction is set to the E direction, so that the margin is set to the top. However, the image is shifted in the E direction without rotation and the margin is set to the top in the W direction. May be formed, and the image of FIG. 22 may be conveyed in the W direction.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a borderless image can be formed even when the ratio between the document size and the output size is not the same. Even when the image passes through the fixing unit and is reduced, a borderless image can be formed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the entire apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a trimmer operation.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a trimmer operation.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a trimmer operation.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a trimmer operation.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a trimmer operation.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between a document and a recording sheet.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a document and a recording sheet.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state of recording paper before passing through fixing.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a contact sensor of a trimmer unit and recording paper.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between recording paper and a signal of a contact sensor.
FIG. 13 shows a trimming position detection circuit.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the CPU 153 of the image forming control unit.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the CPU 153 of the image forming control unit.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the CPU 6110 of the trimmer control unit.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the CPU 6110 of the trimmer control unit.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the CPU 6110 of the trimmer control unit.
FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a trimmer control unit and a finisher control unit.
FIG. 20 is an equation showing t2.
FIG. 21 is a formula for calculating a reduction ratio B.
FIG. 22 is a recording sheet according to the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Document Feeder 101 Document Feeder Controller 150 Image Forming Circuit 153 CPU of Image Forming Circuit
151 ROM of Image Forming Circuit
200 Image reader 201 Image reader control unit 202 Image signal control unit 300 Printer unit 301 Printer control unit 400 Folding device 401 Folding device control unit 500 Finisher 501 Finisher control unit 1000 Image forming device 600 Trimmer 601 Trimmer control unit 602 Inlet roller 603 Transport roller 604 contact sensor 605 transport roller 606 transport roller 607 cutter 608 driven roller 609 press plate 610 driven roller 611 transport roller 612 transport roller 613 stopper sensor 622 recording paper 623 document 2100 trimmer control section 5100 finisher CPU circuit section 5110 CPU of finisher CPU circuit section
5120 Finisher CPU circuit ROM
5130 RAM of finisher CPU circuit
5140 Finisher Communication IC
6100 Trimmer CPU circuit section 6110 CPU of trimmer CPU circuit section
6120 ROM of trimmer CPU circuit
6130 RAM of trimmer CPU circuit part
6131 Trimming position detection circuit 6150 Driver M21 of motor of each drive unit of trimmer M21 Transport motor M22 Cutter motor M23 Press motor M24 Stopper release motor M25 Stopper motor

Claims (2)

Fixing means for fixing the transferred image or variable-size printing means for enlarging or reducing the original and printing it on the recording medium or the vertical length of the image when the original is printed at the same size as X1, When the horizontal length is Y1, the vertical length of the recording medium is X2, and the horizontal length in the transport direction of the recording medium is Y2,
Magnification 1 (X2 / X1) and magnification 2 (Y2 / Y1) are calculated, and then magnification 1 and magnification 2 are compared, and magnification selecting means for selecting the smaller magnification and magnification 1 are selected. An image forming apparatus characterized in that an image output position is shifted or an image is rotated and output so that a margin is transferred to the leading end of a recording medium. An image detection unit that is arranged on the conveyance path after being fixed by the fixing unit and inspects an image of the recording medium; a margin inspection unit that detects a margin portion of the image inspected by the image detection unit; and the image detection unit is arranged. A sheet cutting unit that cuts a sheet, and forms an image at a magnification selected by the magnification selection unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting is performed by a cutting unit.

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