JP6988151B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Based on the specified poster print size and the size of the set print medium, data indicating a printable area consisting of an array of a plurality of print media to which a poster image having the specified poster print size can be pasted is displayed. A means for acquiring a printable area to be acquired, a layout means for determining a range for pasting a poster image on a printable area, and a means for generating print data for printing a poster image within the range determined by the layout means. , And the layout means prints a print image dividing means for determining a pasting range of a poster image having a specified poster print size for each print medium, and a pasting range determined by the print image dividing means. An information processing apparatus having a divided image layout means for adjusting for each medium is known (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-219733

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of easily performing superposition when printing images by dividing them and superimposing the printed papers to form a large printed matter.

In order to solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is used.
An image forming means for forming an image without a margin at the edge of a recording medium based on image data,
A dividing means for dividing the image data into each recording medium including a margin area provided at an end of the recording medium required for superimposing the recording media after printing is provided.
When the image in a certain region of the boundary portion of each recording medium exceeds a threshold value and is non-uniform, the dividing means moves the image data to an end portion other than the overlapping end portion of each recording medium and provides a margin. When the image in a certain area at the boundary of each recording medium is uniform or more than a certain level, the image data on the upper side at the overlapping end of the recording medium is described as described above. For the image data, which is divided so that the image data is enlarged and printed so as to be printed without margins, and the image data is on the lower side at the overlapping end portion of the recording medium, the margin area is set as the end portion of the boundary portion of each recording medium. The image data is enlarged and divided so that printing can be performed without margins .
It is characterized by that .

The invention according to claim 2 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The dividing means adds a mark image for printing the mark of the overlapped end portion that protrudes into the margin area for the image data that is on the lower side at the overlapped end portion of each of the adjacent recording media. carry out the division Te,
It is characterized by that .

The invention according to claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
The marker image is an image at the boundary portion of each recording medium in the image data which is on the upper side at the overlapping end portion of each recording medium .
It is characterized by that .

The invention according to claim 4 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3.
The marker image is formed so as to have a lower density than the density in the image data .
It is characterized by that .

The invention according to claim 5 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
Further provided with an image data rotating means for rotating the image data by a certain angle,
The image data rotating means rotates the end portion of the image data in which the margin region is set toward the tip end side in the transport direction of the recording medium .
It is characterized by that .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the margin area is changed according to the image data of the overlapping ends of each recording medium, and the image in a certain area of the boundary portion of each recording medium exceeds the threshold value and is non-uniform. If this is the case, each printed sheet of paper is compared with a configuration in which the image data is moved to an end portion other than the overlapping end portion of each recording medium and is divided so that printing is performed without a margin. When the image in a certain area at the boundary of each recording medium is uniform over a certain level, the image data is enlarged for the image data on the upper side at the overlapped end of the recording medium. For image data that is divided so that printing can be performed without margins and is on the lower side at the overlapping ends of the recording media, a margin area is formed at the end of the boundary of each recording medium to enlarge the image data. Compared to a configuration that does not have a dividing means for dividing so that printing is performed without margins, the time and effort for cutting unnecessary parts of each printed sheet is further reduced, and the printed sheets are overlapped. the combined can be facilitated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, for the image data on the lower side at the overlapped end portion of the adjacent recording media, a mark image for printing the mark of the overlapped end portion is added so as to extend beyond the margin area. Compared to a configuration that does not have a dividing means for performing the division, the printed papers can be easily and accurately superimposed on each other.

According to the invention of claim 3 , the mark image is added and divided so that the mark image is an image at the boundary of each recording medium in the image data on the upper side at the overlapping end of the recording medium. Compared to a configuration having no dividing means, it is possible to conceal the mark image printed in the margin area so that it cannot be seen in the overlapped end portion.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the configuration having no dividing means for adding and dividing the mark image so that the mark image is formed so as to have a density lower than the density in the image data. Therefore, it is possible to conceal the mark image printed on the margin area so that it does not appear in the end portion where the mark image is superimposed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress stains on the tip of the paper and image defects on the tip of the paper as compared with a configuration not provided with the image data rotating means for rotating the image data by a constant angle.

It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of an image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the functional structure of an image forming apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the print source data and a poster print image, (a) is the size of a print source data, (b) is the size of a poster image, (c) is the divided image data divided for each paper. Indicates the arrangement of. (A) is a diagram for explaining toner image formation at the time of bordered printing, (b) for full-face borderless printing, and (c) for partially borderless printing. It is a flowchart which shows the outline operation of poster printing. (A) is a schematic diagram showing the divided image data when the image of the boundary portion is non-uniform, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing the divided image data when the image of the boundary portion is uniform more than a certain level. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the mark image added to the margin area, (a) shows the mark, (b) shows the image in the vicinity of the edge of the paper which is the upper side at the overlapped edge. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example which performs the image rotation including the paper at the time of borderless printing. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement example of the divided image data at the time of making a large-sized poster image.

Next, with reference to the drawings, embodiments and specific examples will be given below to explain the present invention in more detail, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and specific examples.
In addition, in the explanation using the following drawings, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratio of each dimension is different from the actual one, which is necessary for the explanation for easy understanding. Illustrations other than the members are omitted as appropriate.

(1) Overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram and a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the print source data and the poster print image, (a) is the size of the print source data, (b) is the size of the poster image, and (c) is the division divided for each paper. The arrangement of image data is shown. 4A is a diagram for explaining toner image formation during bordered printing, FIG. 4B is for full edgeless printing, and FIG. 4C is for partially borderless printing.
Hereinafter, the overall configuration, functional configuration, and operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

(1.1) Overall Configuration of Image Forming Device The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 10, a paper feeding device 20 mounted on the bottom of the image forming unit 10, an operation display unit 30, and an image processing unit 40. , Is provided, and has a poster printing function for enlarging the image data and dividing the enlarged image into a plurality of sheets P as a recording medium for printing. The poster printing function divides image data for one page into a plurality of papers P and prints them in order to obtain an output result having a size larger than that of the paper P that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 1, and superimposes them. This is a printing function that can obtain large output results.
Further, the image forming apparatus 1 has a borderless printing function for printing an image up to the end of the paper P without providing a margin at the end of the paper P.

The image forming unit 10 includes a system control device 11, an exposure device 12, a photoconductor unit 13, a developing device 14, a transfer device 15, and a fixing device 16, and feeds image information received from the image processing unit 40. It is formed as a toner image on the paper P fed from the apparatus 20.

A paper feeding device 20 having paper trays 21 and 22 is provided at the bottom of the image forming unit 10, and is further arranged in multiple stages (two stages in this embodiment) in the vertical direction below the paper feeding device 20. , A tray module TM including paper trays T1 and T2 for accommodating the paper P is connected to supply paper to the image forming unit 10.

The operation display unit 30 corresponds to a so-called user interface, and is configured by combining a liquid crystal display panel, various operation buttons, a touch panel, and the like, and is used for inputting various settings and instructions and displaying information.

The image processing unit 40 generates image data from print information transmitted from an external device 82 (illustrated in FIG. 2: for example, a personal computer or the like).

(1.2) Configuration and Operation of Image Forming Unit 10 In the image forming apparatus 1 having such a configuration, each sheet of the paper feeding device 20 or the tray module TM to be printed by the print job is set according to the timing of image formation. The paper P unwound from the tray designated in 1 is fed to the image forming unit 10.

The photoconductor unit 13 is provided above the paper feeding device 20 in parallel, and includes a photoconductor drum 131 that is rotationally driven. Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images are formed by the respective developing devices 14 on the respective photoconductor drums 131 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure device 12. Is formed.

Each color toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 131 of each photoconductor unit 13 is sequentially electrostatically transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer belt 151 of the transfer device 15, to form a superposed toner image on which each color toner is superimposed. Will be done. The superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 151 is sent out from the resist roller pair 24 and collectively transferred to the paper P guided by the transfer guide by the secondary transfer roller 152.

In the fixing device 16, the fixing nip portion NP (fixing region) is formed by the pressure contact region of the pair of heating modules 161 and the pressure module 162.
The paper P on which the toner image is collectively transferred in the transfer device 15 is conveyed to the fixing nip portion NP of the fixing device 16 via the transfer guide 153 in a state where the toner image is not fixed, and the pair of heating modules 161 and the pressurizing module By 162, the toner image is fixed by the action of crimping and heating.
The paper P on which the fixing toner image is formed is guided by a transport guide, and is discharged and stored in the paper ejection tray portion TR1 on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 1 from the ejection roller pair 163.

(1.3) Functional configuration and operation of the system control device The image forming device 1 includes an image output control unit 111, an image division unit 112, an image discrimination unit 113, an edgeless discrimination unit 114, an image data rotation unit 115, and a power supply control unit. A system control device 11 including 116, an exposure control unit 117, and a fixing temperature control unit 118 is provided, and a control program stored in the memory is executed to control the operation of the entire image forming device 1.

The image output control unit 111, in addition to controlling information transfer to and from the paper feed device 20, also includes an exposure device 12, a photoconductor unit 13, a developing device 14, a transfer device 15, and a fixing device 16 included in the image forming unit 10. The operation control instruction is given to the above.
Further, the image output control unit 111 gives operation control instructions to the power supply control unit 116, the exposure control unit 117, and the fixing temperature control unit 118 included in the system control device 11, respectively. That is, it is determined whether or not to supply power to and drive the exposure device 12, the photoconductor unit 13, the developing device 14, the transfer device 15, the fixing device 16, and the like constituting the image forming unit 10, and the determination results are determined respectively. Instruct the control unit.

Further, the image output control unit 111 exchanges information between the image segmentation unit 112, the image discrimination unit 113, the borderless discrimination unit 114, and the image data rotation unit 115, and is predetermined when poster printing is selected. Performs the operation control.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image dividing unit 112 as an example of the image data dividing means has a poster image (FIG. 3 (b)) of a size specified from the print source data as image data (see FIG. 3 (a)). In order to print (see), the image data is divided for each paper P including the margin area provided at the end of each paper P. Specifically, the margin area is changed according to the image data of the overlapping ends of each paper P, and the image data is divided so as to enlarge the image data without a margin.

Each sheet P on which the divided image data is arranged has edges on the top, bottom, left, and right, and any of the margin area Q, the margin area M, and the protrusion area N is formed at each of the ends (the margin area Q, the margin area M, and the protrusion area N). See FIG. 3 (c)).

The image discrimination unit 113 discriminates the uniformity of the image in a certain area of the boundary portion of the image data divided for each paper P, and outputs the discrimination result to the image output control unit 111. Specifically, a certain area of the boundary portion is divided into a plurality of areas, the area (image density) of the image pattern of the image data included in each area is calculated for each color, and the image pattern in each area is calculated. If the difference in image density is within the threshold value, it is judged to be a uniform image, and if it exceeds the threshold value, it is judged to be non-uniform.

The borderless determination unit 114 detects the presence or absence of a peripheral margin with respect to the paper P of the received image data, and determines whether the print is borderless or bordered.
As schematically shown in FIG. 4A, at the time of printing with edges, the toner image is completely contained in the paper P, and the upper margin (mh), the lower margin (mb), and the left margin (ml) are around the paper P. -There is a margin around the right margin (mr).
On the other hand, in borderless printing, as shown in FIG. 4B, the toner image reaches the edge of the paper P, and there is no peripheral margin. Although FIG. 4B shows a state in which the top margin, bottom margin, left margin, and right margin are all absent, there is a margin at a part of the end as shown in FIG. 4C as an example. If not, it is judged as borderless printing.

The image data rotation unit 115 rotates the image data divided for each paper P by a constant angle, for example, 90 ° / 180 ° / 270 ° rotation.

(2) Poster printing FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of poster printing, FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram showing divided image data when the image of the boundary portion is non-uniform, and FIG. 6B is an image of the boundary portion. Is a schematic diagram showing divided image data when is uniform or more than a certain level, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a mark image to be added to the margin area, (a) is a mark, and (b) is an overlapping end portion. The image near the edge of the upper paper is shown. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of rotating an image including paper during borderless printing. Hereinafter, the poster printing operation performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the present embodiment, the image data as the print source data for poster printing is A4 size (X direction length = 297 mm, Y direction length = 210 mm: see FIG. 3A), and the poster image is A2 size (X direction). A case where the length = 594 mm and the length in the Y direction = 420 mm: see FIG. 3B) will be described.

The image forming apparatus 1 acquires image data as print source data for poster printing (S101), and divides the image data for each paper P including a margin area provided at the end of each paper P (S102). ..

With respect to the divided image data, the uniformity of the image in a certain region of the boundary portion is determined (S103). When the image in a certain area of the boundary portion exceeds the threshold value and is non-uniform (S103: No), the image data is moved to the end portion of each paper P other than the overlapped end portion, and printing is performed without a partial margin. (S104).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, the divided image data is enlarged for each paper P (A4 size) (in this case, it is approximately 2.0 times in both the X direction and the Y direction). Enlarged) The print areas SA1, SA2, SA3, and SA4 are set.

The print area SA1 moves toward the upper end U1 and the left end L1 with respect to the paper P, the upper end U1 and the left end L1 are set without margins, and the right end R1 and the lower end B1 are set with margins mr and mb, respectively. The margins mr and mb are cut when they are overlapped with the print areas SA2 and SA3 after printing.

The print area SA2 moves toward the upper end U2 and the right end R2 with respect to the paper P, the upper end U2 and the right end R2 are set without margins, and the left end L2 and the lower end B2 are set with margins ml and mb, respectively. The margin ml becomes a margin q2 when overlapping with the print area SA1 after printing, and the margin mb is cut when overlapping with the print area SA4 after printing.

The print area SA3 moves to the left end L3 and the lower end B3 side with respect to the paper P, the left end L3 and the lower end B3 are set without margins, and the upper end U3 and the right end R3 are set with margins mh and mr, respectively. The margin mh becomes a margin q3 when overlapping with the print area SA1 after printing, and the margin mr is cut when overlapping with the print area SA4 after printing.

The print area SA4 moves to the right end R4 and the lower end B4 side with respect to the paper P, the right end R4 and the lower end B4 are set without margins, and the upper end U4 and the left end L4 are set with margins mh and ml, respectively. The margin mh becomes a margin q4 when overlapping with the print area SA2 after printing, and the margin ml becomes a margin q5 when overlapping with the print area SA3 after printing.

In this way, when the image in a certain region of the boundary portion of the divided image data exceeds the threshold value and is non-uniform, the image data is partially moved to the end portion other than the overlapped end portion of each paper P. By dividing the paper so that printing is performed without margins, it is possible to reduce the time and effort required to cut unnecessary parts while suppressing image misalignment at the boundary when superimposing each paper P after poster printing. Overlapping of paper P can be easily performed.

When the image in a certain area of the boundary portion is uniform or more than a certain level (S103: Yes), the image data on the upper side at the overlapping edge of the paper P should be enlarged and printed without margins. For the image data that is divided and is on the lower side at the overlapped end of the paper P, the margin area Q is set at the end of the boundary of each paper P, and the image data is enlarged to form the protrusion area N. Dividing is performed so that printing is performed without margins (S105).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6B, the divided image data is enlarged for each paper P (A4 size) (in this case, it is approximately 2.0 times in both the X direction and the Y direction). Enlarged) The print areas SB1, SB2, SB3, and SB4 are set.

In the print area SB1, the upper end U1, the lower end B1, the left end L1 and the right end R1 are all set with no margin with respect to the paper P.

In the print area SB2, the upper end U2, the lower end B2, and the right end R2 are set with no margin with respect to the paper P, and the left end L2 is set with a margin ml, respectively. The margin ml becomes a margin q2 when it is superimposed on the print area SB1 after printing.

In the print area SB3, the lower end B3, the left end L3, and the right end R3 are set with no margin with respect to the paper P, and the upper end U3 is set with a margin mh, respectively. The margin mh becomes a margin q3 when overlapping with the print area SB1 after printing.

In the print area SB4, the right end R4 and the lower end B4 are set without margins with respect to the paper P, and the upper end U4 and the left end L4 are set with margins mh and ml, respectively. The margin mh becomes a margin q4 when overlapping with the print area SB2 after printing, and the margin ml becomes a margin q5 when overlapping with the print area SB3 after printing.

In this way, when the image in a certain area at the boundary of the divided image data is uniform more than a certain amount, the image data on the upper side at the overlapped end of the paper P is enlarged without a margin. For the image data that is divided so as to be printed and is on the lower side at the overlapped end of the paper P, the margin area Q is set at the end of the boundary of each paper P, and the image data is enlarged to the overhang area. By forming N and dividing so that printing is performed without margins, unnecessary parts are cut while suppressing image misalignment at the boundary when overlapping each paper P after poster printing. However, the paper P can be easily overlapped.

Next, a mark image that serves as a mark when the printed paper P is superimposed is added to the margin area Q of each paper P for which the print area has been set in step S104 or step S105 (S106).

As a mark image to be added to the margin area Q, as shown in FIG. 7A, by adding a mark MK indicating the boundary of the margin area Q, the image density in the vicinity of the superimposed margin area is low and the boundary is confirmed. Even if it is difficult to do so, the paper P on the upper side can be easily and accurately joined at the overlapping ends.

As the mark image added to the margin area Q, as shown in FIG. 7B, the image ML in the vicinity of the end portion of the paper P which is on the upper side at the overlapped end portion may be used. Even when the image density near the overlapped margin area is low and it is difficult to confirm the boundary, the paper P on the upper side at the overlapped edge is easily and accurately connected, and the mark printed on the margin area Q is printed. It can be hidden so that it cannot be seen inside the edges where the images are superimposed.

Further, it is desirable that the mark MK and the image ML as the marker image indicating the boundary of the margin region Q are formed so as to have a density lower than the density in the image data divided and arranged. By setting the marker image to a low density, it is possible to conceal the marker image printed on the margin area Q so that it does not appear in the overlapped end portion.

Next, when printing each image in which the divided image data is enlarged and arranged, as shown in FIG. 8, the end portion where the margin area Q of the image data is set is set in the transport direction of the paper P. It rotates to the tip side (S107).
Further, when the end portion where the margin region Q is set is the long side of the paper P, the image density in the vicinity of the end portion excluding the margin region Q is calculated, and the end portion having the lowest image density in the vicinity of the margin region Q is calculated. Is rotated toward the tip end side in the transport direction of the paper P (S107).
By rotating the image data in this way, it is possible to suppress stains on the tip of the paper P to be printed on the poster and image defects on the tip of the paper even when printing without margins without margins.

As described above, the image data divided for each paper P is printed on the paper P selected by the image forming unit 10 in a predetermined order (S108).

As described above, the image data as the print source data for poster printing is A4 size (X direction length = 297 mm, Y direction length = 210 mm), and the poster image is A2 size (X direction length = 594 mm, Y direction length =). Although the case of 420 mm) has been described as an explanatory example, the image data as the print source data is A4 size (length in the X direction = 297 mm, length in the Y direction = 210 mm), and the poster image is in a larger format (see FIG. 9). In this case, the image data is divided as necessary, and the divided image data is printed on the upper side of the overlapping edge of the paper P by enlarging the image data without margins. For the image data that is on the lower side at the overlapped end of the paper P, the margin area Q is set at the end of the boundary of each paper P, and the image data is enlarged to expand the overhang area N. A larger poster image can be created by forming the image and dividing the image so that printing is performed without margins.

1 ... Image forming device 10 ... Image forming unit 11 ... System control device 111 ... Image output control unit 112 ... Image dividing unit 113 ... Image discrimination unit 114 ... Borderless discrimination Part 115 ... Image data rotating part 20 ... Feeding device 30 ... Operation display unit 40 ... Image processing unit P ... Paper Q ... Margin area M ... Margin area N ...・ Overhanging area

Claims (5)

An image forming means for forming an image without a margin at the edge of a recording medium based on image data,
A dividing means for dividing the image data into each recording medium including a margin area provided at an end of the recording medium required for superimposing the recording media after printing is provided.
When the image in a certain region of the boundary portion of each recording medium exceeds a threshold value and is non-uniform, the dividing means moves the image data to an end portion other than the overlapping end portion of each recording medium and provides a margin. When the image in a certain area at the boundary of each recording medium is uniform or more than a certain level, the image data on the upper side at the overlapping end of the recording medium is described as described above. For the image data, which is divided so that the image data is enlarged and printed so as to be printed without margins, and the image data is on the lower side at the overlapping end portion of the recording medium, the margin area is set as the end portion of the boundary portion of each recording medium. The image data is enlarged and divided so that printing can be performed without margins .
An image forming apparatus characterized in that. The dividing means adds a mark image for printing the mark of the overlapped end portion that protrudes into the margin area for the image data that is on the lower side at the overlapped end portion of each of the adjacent recording media. And divide
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The marker image is an image at the boundary portion of each recording medium in the image data which is on the upper side at the overlapping end portion of each recording medium.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The marker image is formed so as to have a lower density than the density in the image data.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3. Further provided with an image data rotating means for rotating the image data by a certain angle,
The image data rotating means rotates the end portion of the image data in which the margin region is set toward the tip end side in the transport direction of the recording medium.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.

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