JP2002287261A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set the feed quantity of a recording material to a proper feed quantity by correcting the error that the feed quantity has when an image forming device sends the recording material to its respective processing parts only by a specific feed quantity. SOLUTION: The image recording device controls the feed quantity of the recording material by controlling the driving of a conveying means, which is driven by a pulse motor to send the recording material to the processing parts, by a controller according to a relational expression Y=aX+b among the feed quantity Y of the recording material, the number X of pulses controlling the rotational angle of the pulse motor, the resolution (a) of the pulse motor, and an offset quantity (b) corresponding to the error of the feed quantity of the recording material. The controller performs the control while taking the error occurring during actual feeding operation into consideration and sets the feed quantity of the recording material when the recording material is actually sent to the processing parts to a more proper feed quantity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus capable of correcting a feed amount of a recording material conveyed on a conveying path inside an apparatus main body and appropriately forming an image on the recording material by centering.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional image recording apparatuses include printers and copiers for recording images on various recording materials such as silver halide photographic recording materials, heat-development recording materials, and photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording materials, and photo printers (photo printing development). Machine).

In such an image recording apparatus, a recording material is stored in a magazine and prepared in a light-shielded state. In this image recording apparatus, the recording material is pulled out of the magazine loaded in the apparatus main body onto the transport path, transported to a punch section on the transport path, and stopped. The corresponding frame information (punch hole) is formed.

Next, a recording material on which frame information is formed is:
The sheet is conveyed to the exposure section on the conveyance path, positioned at the exposure position, and stopped. In this state, the exposure unit reads the frame information, centers the image to be exposed on the recording material with reference to the position of the frame information, and performs exposure processing by an exposure device to form a latent image on the recording material.

Next, the recording material on which the latent image has been formed by printing exposure is conveyed on a conveyance path, and after a backprint corresponding to the exposed portion is recorded, the recording material is temporarily stored in a reservoir to be subjected to a developing process. It waits until the turn comes, and is again conveyed by the conveying device and sent to the developing unit.

In this developing section, while the printing-exposed portion of the recording material is conveyed at a predetermined speed by a conveying device, the recording material is immersed in a developing solution in a color developing tank, and then immersed in a bleach-fixing solution in a bleach-fixing tank. After washing with washing water in a washing tank, a color developing process, a bleach-fixing process and a washing process are sequentially performed to develop.

Next, the recording material is dried during the operation of passing the developed portion of the recording material through the drying section by the transport device, and then transported to the discharge section. The discharge unit detects the frame information previously formed by the punch unit, cuts each print in accordance with the contents of the frame information, and sets each sheet as a (finished) print on which a visible image is formed.

[0008] The finished print thus formed is stored in a sorter according to the sort information.

[0009]

In the conventional image recording apparatus as described above, the recording material is pulled out from a magazine mounted on the recording material supply section, and is sequentially conveyed on a conveyance path inside the image forming apparatus main body. The sheet is transported to a punch section, an exposure section, a recording section for back print, a development section, a drying section, a discharge section, a cutting section for cutting each print, and a sorter.

[0010] In each section arranged on the conveyance path of the image recording apparatus, the feeding amount of the recording material is controlled based on the frame information (punch holes) formed by the punch section, respectively.
Positioning such as centering with respect to a predetermined portion of the recording material is performed, and each processing is performed.

The feed amount of the recording material is controlled by rotating a pulse motor in accordance with the number of control pulses to rotate a feed roller, and causing the feed roller to come into contact with the recording material to perform a feed operation. Running by

For this reason, control is performed on the premise that the feed amount of the recording material is proportional to the number of command pulses for rotationally driving the pulse motor in consideration of the so-called pulse motor resolution correction. That is, assuming that the feed amount of the recording material is Y, the number of pulses is X, and the resolution is a, Y =
The feed amount of the recording material is controlled according to the expression of aX.

The actual feed amount of the recording material depends on the size of the recording material, the thickness of the recording material, or the difference in the surface roughness of the recording material. (Acceleration for starting or stopping the movement of the recording material) When the recording material is operated, an error occurs due to a slip between the feed roller and the recording material.

Therefore, in order to correct for an error actually occurring in the feed amount of the recording material, the feed amount Y of the recording material is set as follows.
It is conceivable to change and adjust the resolution a in the equation of Y = aX.

As described above, when correcting for an error actually occurring in the feed amount of the recording material, for example, Y corresponding to the error occurring in the feed amount when the recording material is fed short when corresponding to printing of a predetermined small size. When the resolution a in the equation of = aX is changed and adjusted, it is possible to prevent an error in the feed amount of the recording material when the recording material is fed in a short length. However, there is a problem in that a large error occurs in the feeding amount when the recording material is fed in a long format corresponding to a print of a predetermined large size.

Further, for example, when the resolution a in the equation of Y = aX is changed and adjusted in accordance with an error generated in a feeding amount when the recording material is fed in a long length corresponding to a print of a predetermined large size, When feeding the recording material in a long length, it is possible to prevent an error in the feeding amount of the recording material. However, there is a problem that a large error is generated in the feeding amount when the recording material is fed in a short length in correspondence with printing of a predetermined small size.

In view of the above facts, the present invention takes into account the actual feeding of the recording material when controlling the feeding of the recording material by a predetermined feed amount in order to process the recording material in each processing section inside the image forming apparatus main body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new image recording apparatus capable of correcting an error occurring in an amount and appropriately setting a feed amount of a recording material.

[0018]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus which is driven by a pulse motor and feeds a recording material to a processing section;
By controlling the driving of the pulse motor based on Y = aX + b, a relational expression between the number of pulses X for controlling the rotation angle of the pulse motor, the resolution a of the pulse motor, and the offset amount b corresponding to the error of the feed amount of the recording material. And a control device for controlling the feed amount of the recording material.

With the above-described configuration, the control device drives and controls the transport means driven by the pulse motor in consideration of an error generated during an actual feeding operation.
The feeding amount of the recording material when the recording material is actually sent to the processing unit can be set to a more appropriate feeding amount of the recording material.

An image recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is driven by a pulse motor to control a conveying means for feeding a recording material to a processing section, a feed amount Y of the recording material, and a rotation angle of the pulse motor. The number of pulses X, the resolution a of the pulse motor, and the offset amount b corresponding to the error in the feed amount of the recording material.
And a control device for controlling the feed amount of the recording material by controlling the driving of the pulse motor based on the relational expression, Y = aX + b. When a plurality of recording materials having different sizes are conveyed, a plurality of error values generated between a target value and an actual amount of feed of each of the plurality of recording materials have a resolution a of the pulse motor and an error in the amount of feeding of the recording material. Means for automatically calculating and setting a concrete numerical value of the offset amount b corresponding to the above.

With the above-described configuration, the control device drives and controls the conveying means driven by the pulse motor in consideration of an error generated during an actual feeding operation.
The feeding amount of the recording material when the recording material is actually sent to the processing unit can be set to a more appropriate feeding amount of the recording material.

The means for setting specific numerical values of the resolution a of the pulse motor and the offset amount b corresponding to the error in the feed amount of the recording material is used to actually feed a plurality of recording materials having different sizes. When the sheet is conveyed by an amount, a plurality of error values generated between a target value and an actual feed amount of each feed amount in a plurality of recording materials having different sizes are automatically calculated to obtain a resolution a of the pulse motor.
And a specific numerical value of the offset amount b corresponding to the error of the recording material feed amount, the operability can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, a specific numerical value of the resolution a of the pulse motor and the offset amount b corresponding to an error in the feed amount of the recording material. Is set for each size and type of recording material, and the control device drives and controls the pulse motor based on the equation of Y = aX + b.

With the above configuration, in addition to the functions and effects of the first or second aspect of the present invention,
The feed amount of each recording material can be appropriately controlled according to the size and the type of the recording material.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the resolution a of the pulse motor corresponding to the size and surface type of a specific recording material.
When a specific numerical value of the offset amount b corresponding to the error of the feed amount of the recording material is set in the control device, the resolution a of the pulse motor corresponding to the size and the surface type in all other recording materials, and the recording The offset amount b corresponding to the error in the feed amount of the material is set to a specific numerical value of the resolution a of the pulse motor corresponding to the size and surface type of the specific recording material and the offset amount b corresponding to the error in the feed amount of the recording material. It is characterized by that.

With the above configuration, in addition to the functions and effects of the invention described in claim 1 or 2,
Specific numerical values of the resolution a of the pulse motor and the offset amount b corresponding to the error of the feed amount of the recording material corresponding to the size and the type of the specific recording material, even if there are many types of the recording material and the types of the surface types. Since the operation of setting specific numerical values for all other recording materials in the control device can be omitted in the operation of setting in the control device, the operability of the image recording device can be improved.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the entire image recording apparatus. The image recording apparatus 10 is configured as an image recording apparatus of a digital photo printer.

That is, the image recording apparatus 10 reads image information by scanning the film with a scanner device in response to a user's input of an operation command for ordering prints, and exposure conditions (images) determined by a setup device based on the image information. The latent image is formed on the recording material by scanning and exposing the light beam output processed in accordance with the recording condition) on the recording material, and the recording material on which the latent image is formed is processed to record the image of the film. It is configured to output a printed image.

For this purpose, the image recording apparatus 10 is provided with a printer unit 12 and a processor unit 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 12 includes:
A magazine mounting section 17 for supplying a recording material 15 as a sheet member is provided. In this magazine mounting part 17,
The recording material 15 which is a long strip-shaped sheet member is transferred to
1, a magazine 16 for accommodating a recording material roll 19 wound in a roll shape is detachably mounted.

In the printer unit 12 of the image recording apparatus 10, the recording material 15 is pulled out from the magazine 16 mounted on the magazine mounting unit 17, and is conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side of the predetermined conveying path. A transport unit 18 is provided as a transport unit that performs recording, image exposure (printing process), back print, and the like, and transports the developer to the developing unit 78 of the processor unit 14 which is the next process.

As shown in FIG. 1, a printer unit 12 of an image recording apparatus 10 photoelectrically reads a projection light of an image photographed on a film by an image sensor such as a CCD sensor, and reads an analog image of the read film. The image processing unit 20 converts data into digital image data, performs predetermined image processing such as gradation correction on the converted digital image data, and derives output image data (exposure conditions) for image recording. Provide.

The printer unit 12 of the image recording apparatus 10
The control device 23 includes various operation keys and a display (not shown) arranged in the image processing unit 20 which constitutes an input unit as an interface which can be used by a user to input an operation command for ordering a print. Connecting.

Further, the printer section 12 is provided with a control section having a control device 23 having a counter for controlling each section, and an electrical section 22 containing a power supply section and the like. Further, the printer section 12 is provided with a reservoir 24 for temporarily storing the exposed recording material 15.

In the image recording apparatus 10, the printer unit 1
The recording material 15 is supplied from the magazine 16 mounted on the second magazine mounting portion 17. The magazine 16 is configured as a box having a light shielding function.

The magazine 16 receives a shaft member 21 of a recording material roll 19 housed therein. At the same time, a rewinding device (not shown) is mounted on the magazine 16, and the revolving device rotates the shaft core member 21 to rewind the recording material 15 drawn from the recording material roll 19 around the recording material roll 19. Configure as possible.

Further, the magazine 16 is provided with an outlet 100 for projecting the recording material 15 from the recording material roll 19 accommodated in the magazine 16 to the outside and supplying the recording material 15 to the transport unit 18 on the magazine mounting unit 17 side. The outlet 100 has a rectangular beak-shaped protrusion provided with a slit through which the recording material 15 passes, and is formed in a substantially U-shaped notch in plan view.

A transport roller device 26 is installed inside the magazine mounting section 17 of the transport section 18 at a position corresponding to the outlet 100 projecting into the magazine mounting section 17 when the magazine 16 is mounted. .

In the transport roller device 26, a pair of rollers which can be freely contacted and separated from each other by a driving device such as a solenoid nips the portion of the recording material 15 exposed from the cutout portion of the outlet of the magazine 16 by a pulse motor. The recording material 15 is conveyed on the conveyance path by being driven to rotate.

A width guide member 28 for regulating the width direction of the recording material 15 is provided downstream of the transport roller device 26. The width guide member 28 is configured to adjust the guide width according to the width of the recording material 15 by a guide width adjustment mechanism (not shown).

On the downstream side of the width guide member 28, a substantially U-shaped first loop (slack) 30 is formed.
On the downstream side of the loop 30, a punch hole 31 is formed in the recording material 15.
A punch 32 for punching (shown in FIG. 3) is provided. The first loop 30 is for absorbing intermittent conveyance / stop of the recording material 15 during operation of the punch 32 disposed on the downstream side.

The punch holes 31 are provided in a discharge section 82 described later.
The recording is performed for cutting of the recording material 15 performed in the above, or for positioning at the time of exposure scanning or back print processing, and for positional information for each print or for a unit number of sheets appropriately set for one film. It is pierced in the material 15.

On the downstream side of the punch 32, a conveying roller 34 driven by a pulse motor to change the conveying direction of the recording material 15 to substantially 90 degrees along a curve having a relatively small radius of curvature, and the conveying roller 34. An endless belt 38 wound around three guide rollers 36 is disposed so as to face the roller 34, and forms a bent portion on the transport path.

Further, the guide roller 36 in the conveyance path
A second loop (slack) 40 having a substantially U-shape is provided on the downstream side of
Are formed. An exposure unit 42 is provided downstream of the second loop 40. This exposure unit 42
A substantially U-shaped third loop 50 is formed on the downstream side of.

The exposure section 42 detects the punch holes 31 provided by the punch 32, controls the feeding operation of the recording material 15 by a predetermined feed amount, determines the image exposure start position,
The recording material 15 conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (from right to left in FIG. 2) is two-dimensionally deflected by a light beam deflected in a main scanning direction (a direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. 2) orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction. It is designed to perform scanning exposure, and includes a sub-scanning conveyance device 44 and a light beam scanning device 46 using a pulse motor as a driving source.

The sub-scanning conveyance device 44 includes two pairs of registration rollers 52 and a width guide member 54 that are driven to rotate by a pulse motor that guides the recording material 15 to an exposure position.
Further, on the downstream side thereof, there is provided a pair of conveying rollers 56 driven to rotate by two sets of pulse motors, so that the recording material 15 can be accurately conveyed to the exposure position of the light beam scanning device 46.

The light beam scanning device 46 includes the image processing unit 20
Using a light beam that is modulated according to the output image data (exposure conditions) derived and is deflected in the main scanning direction, the recording material 15 conveyed with high accuracy by the sub-scanning conveyance device 44 is subjected to two-dimensional Scanning exposure,
A latent image is formed on the recording material 15.

The second loop 40 and the third loop 50
The problem caused by conveyance means (eg, a conveyance roller rotated by a pulse motor) disposed upstream and downstream with respect to the conveyance of the recording material 15 in the sub-scanning conveyance device 44, that is, so-called back tension, pulling, etc. The recording material 15 is provided for absorption, so that the recording material 15 can be transported with high accuracy.

On the downstream side of the third loop 50, the recording material 1
A transport roller 48, which is rotationally driven by a pulse motor for changing the transport direction of the transport roller 5 by approximately 90 degrees, is disposed downstream of the transport roller 48. In the back print section 58, the printing device 62 records various data such as the photographing date of the original film and the recording date on the recording material 15 on the back surface of the print (recording material).

Downstream of the back print section 58, a transport roller 64 driven by a pulse motor for changing the transport direction of the recording material 15 by approximately 90 degrees is arranged downstream of the back print section 58. , A first cutter 66 are arranged. The first cutter 66 cuts the recording material 15 at a required position.

On the downstream side of the first cutter 66, a substantially U-shaped fourth loop 60 housed in the reservoir 24 is formed. The fourth loop 60 housed in the reservoir 24 is provided to absorb the difference in processing speed between the printer unit 12 and the processor unit 14 and perform efficient print creation.

On the downstream side of the fourth loop 60, a transport roller 68 driven to rotate by a pulse motor is disposed, and further downstream thereof, a second cutter 72 is disposed.
The second cutter 72 is a cutter for cutting the recording material 15 when a trouble or the like occurs.

For example, the second cutter 72 is used when the amount of the recording material 15 stored in the reservoir 24 becomes less than a predetermined amount or when a trouble occurs in the processor unit 14 or the like. By cutting the recording material 15, the recording material 15 stored in the reservoir 24 is cut.
This prevents the recording material 15 from being unnecessarily pulled into the processor unit 14 and damaging each transport unit in the transport unit 18.

A substantially U-shaped fifth loop 70 is formed downstream of the second cutter 72. The fifth loop 70 finally absorbs the difference between the processing speed in the transport unit 18 and the processing speed in the processor unit 14 and the transport / stop of the recording material 15 by each transport unit in the transport unit 18. This is for preventing the recording material 15 from being unnecessarily pulled and damaged by the transporting means in the section 14.

On the downstream side of the fifth loop 70, a final transport roller 74, which is driven to rotate by a pulse motor for supplying to the processor section 14, and two nip rollers 76 facing the final transport roller 74. The recording material 15 that has been exposed is sent to the developing unit 78 of the processor unit 14.

At a position adjacent to the downstream side of the transport roller 74 and the nip roller 76, a transport state detecting means 75 for the recording material 15 is disposed. This transport state detecting means 7
Numeral 5 is configured to detect the conveyance state of the recording material 15 carried into the processor unit 14 based on position information or the like read from the punch holes 31.

As shown in FIG. 1, the processor unit 14
The exposed recording material 15 on which the latent image is formed is developed, fixed and
A developing unit 78 for performing a water washing process, a drying unit 80 for performing a subsequent drying process, and a discharge unit 82 having a third cutter 84 for cutting and separating the long recording material 15 into a predetermined length for each image frame; A sorter unit 86 for storing the finished prints is provided, and the exposed recording material 15 sent from the printer unit 12 is transported by a conveying unit (pulse motor) provided in the processor unit 14. It is conveyed while passing through each part by a conveying roller which is driven to rotate.

The developing section 78 includes a developing tank 88, a fixing tank 90, and a washing tank 92. The exposed recording material 15 is conveyed in a substantially U-shaped loop in each tank. Are subjected to a developing process, a fixing process, and a washing process.
Also in the drying unit 80, the recording material 15 after the water washing process is conveyed and dried in a substantially U-shaped loop, and conveyed to the discharge unit 82 in the next step.

The discharge section 82 automatically sorts out the discharged finished prints and stores them in a predetermined place of the sorter section 86.

In the image recording apparatus configured as described above,
The control device 23 controls the control device 23 to automatically execute the control operation of executing the processing of each image forming process while transporting the recording material 15 drawn from the magazine 16 by a transport roller or the like that is driven to rotate by a pulse motor. It is configured.

For this reason, although not shown, the image recording apparatus 10
Are configured to be controllable by the control device 23 based on a command signal input by a user using various operation keys arranged in the image processing unit 20.

The control device 23 of the image recording apparatus executes processing control of processes for performing various processes for recording an image on the ordinary recording material 15 and corrects an error actually generated in the feed amount of the recording material. Is executed in order to appropriately execute the correction of the feed amount of the recording material 15.

Next, processing control in a normal image forming process by the control device 23 of the image recording apparatus 10 will be described.

In the process control in the image forming process, the user waits until an order of the image forming process is input by using various operation keys and the like arranged in the image processing section 20. Then, when the order of the image forming process is input, the image forming process is executed.

In this image forming process, the recording material 15 stored in the magazine 16 is
6, the width guide member 2 is pulled out from the outlet 100.
The conveyance unit 18 is guided in the conveyance state to convey the conveyance unit 18, and is stored in the first loop 30 by an appropriate length, and then the punch 32 disposed on the conveyance unit 18 on the downstream side of the first loop 30.
Is transported by a predetermined recording material 15 feed amount.

In the punch 32, the recording material 1
5, a punch hole 31 for detecting position information and the like is formed. The recording material 15 having the punched holes 31 is conveyed to the exposure unit 42 by the conveyance roller 34 changing the conveyance direction by a substantially 90 ° angle along a curve having a relatively small radius of curvature.

In the exposure section 42, the recording material 15 is conveyed by the sub-scanning conveyance device 44, and the light beam scanning device 46 two-dimensionally scans and exposes the recording material 15 with a light beam to form a latent image on the recording material 15.

After the printing exposure processing in the exposure unit 42, the recording material 15 is temporarily stopped by a second loop 50, and then the recording material 15 is conveyed to the back print unit 58 by a predetermined feed amount of the recording material 15. Various data such as the date of photographing the original film and the date of recording on the recording material 15 are recorded.

Further, the recording material 15 carried out from the back print unit 58 is passed through the first cutter 66 and stored in the reservoir 24, and waits until the order of the development processing in the processor unit 14 comes.

The recording material 15 waiting in the reservoir 24 is conveyed from the reservoir 24 by the conveying roller 68 and passed through the second cutter 72 when the turn of the developing process is started. After a proper length is stored in the processor unit 14, the final transfer roller 74 and the nip roller 76 for supply to the processor unit 14 pass through the transfer state detecting unit 75, and
To the developing unit 78.

At this time, the conveyance state detecting means 75 transmits the position information and the like read from the punch holes 31 formed in the recording material 15 when the recording material 15 passes, to the control device 23. The timing to start the next control can be set.

Next, in the processor section 14, the developing section 78
The exposed recording material 15 on which the latent image has been formed is developed, fixed and washed. Subsequently, the drying section 80 performs a drying process, and the third cutter 84 cuts and separates the long recording material 15 into a predetermined length for each image frame while feeding the recording material 15 by a predetermined feed amount. The cut prints are sorted and stored in a sorter unit 86.

As shown in FIG. 2, this image recording apparatus 10
Then, the long recording material 15 pulled out from the magazine 16
The first cutter 66 is a cutter that can be cut at the most upstream side on the transport unit 18 that transports the above for the above-described process processing.

Therefore, in the image recording apparatus 10, the recording material 15 corresponding to the input contents of the process is input.
After the image forming process is completed by the punch 32, the light beam scanning device 46, the printing device 62, and the like on the required portion of the long recording material 15 while the When the boundary between the processed portion and the unprocessed portion in 15 comes to the position of the first cutter 66 by feeding the recording material 15 by a predetermined feed amount,
The boundary between the processed portion and the unprocessed portion of the long recording material 15 is cut by the first cutter 66.

The processed portion of the recording material 15 is directly conveyed from the reservoir 24 to the processor section 14 at a predetermined timing, and the subsequent processing is continued.

The unprocessed leading end portion of the recording material 15 cut by the first cutter 66 is driven by a rewinding device (not shown) mounted on the magazine 16 to drive the shaft core member 21.
The recording material 15 pulled out from the recording material roll 19 is transported in the reverse direction by rotating the transport roller on the transport path in the reverse direction, and the recording material roll 1 is rotated.
After being rewound to the 9 side and stored, the process waits until the user next inputs a process processing order to the image recording apparatus 10.

Next, a description will be given of the correction control of the feed amount of the recording material 15 by the control device 23 of the image recording apparatus so as to appropriately correct the error occurring in the feed amount of the recording material.

The correction control of the feed amount of the recording material 15 is as follows.
The amount of error when an image is actually formed on a print by the image recording device 10 is fed back to the amount of correction of the amount of feeding of the recording material 15 so that appropriate correction control of the amount of feeding of the recording material 15 can be performed. I do.

For this reason, before starting the use of the image recording apparatus 10 (at the time of shipment at a manufacturing factory or when the image recording apparatus 10 is installed at the place of use), the correction of the feed amount of the recording material 15 is performed. Set the error correction amount.

The setting operation of the error correction amount is performed by using an image formed on prints of different sizes. For this reason, the image recording apparatus 10 allows, for example, a small-sized white margin print (or a frame print),
Large size white border print (may be frame print)
Next, an image is formed.

In the image recording apparatus 10, when processing for forming an image on a long recording material 15 is performed inside the apparatus main body, a frame as shown in FIG. A punch hole 31 as information is punched.

Further, the image recording apparatus 10 is arranged such that the recording material 15 positioned with respect to each punch hole 31 of the recording material 15 is used as a reference.
An image is formed in the upper image area 33.

Further, the image recording apparatus 10 stores the recording material 1
The cutting is performed along the cutting line 35 positioned with reference to the punch holes 31 of No. 5 to obtain a white edge print 37 as illustrated in FIG.

In this way, a small-size white-margin print (a frame print may be formed) on which an image is formed, and a large-size white-margin print (a frame print may be formed) on which an image is formed.

At this time, a case where the image areas 33 when the images are formed on the small size and large size white margin prints 37, respectively, are properly centered as shown by solid lines in FIG. Need not be set, and there is no need to perform the work of setting the error correction amount of the feed amount.

However, one or both of the small-size and large-size white border prints 37 are unevenly distributed with respect to the white border prints 37, as shown in an image area 33A indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. The image recording device 1
The controller 23 that performs the correction control of the feed amount of the recording material 15 at 0 performs a setting operation of the error correction amount of the feed amount.

First, means for setting specific numerical values of the resolution of the pulse motor and the offset amount corresponding to the error in the feed amount of the recording material when the work of setting the error correction amount of the feed amount is performed manually will be described. I do.

In this case, the user sets the white margin print 37
4, the distance between the trailing edge of the image area 33A in the transport direction and the leading edge of the white print 37 in the transport direction, which is unevenly distributed as indicated by the imaginary line in FIG.

Next, an operation key as an input unit of the control device 23 is operated, and as shown in FIG. For example, 8 which is a distance measured by a ruler between the rear edge of the unevenly distributed image area 33A in the transport direction and the front edge of the white edge print 37 in the transport direction.
Write the small-sized actual measurement value of 9.2 to the controller 23
9.2 Enter the small size measured value.

Next, an operation key as an input unit of the control device 23 is operated, and as shown in FIG. For example, 3 is a distance measured by a ruler between the unevenly distributed image area 33A in the transport direction and the white-edge print 37 in the transport direction.
The large-sized measured value of 44.8 is written, and the large-sized measured value of 304.8 is input to the control device 23.

Then, the control device 23 automatically calculates the difference between the small-size measured value 89.2 and the large-sized measured value 304.8 by taking the difference between each corresponding target value shown in FIG. 5, the feed amount of the recording material is set to Y (mm), the number of pulses is set to X, and the resolution is set to a (mm).
/ Pulse), and is used to control the feed amount of the recording material when the offset amount is b (mm).
A specific numerical value is applied to the equation of Y = aX + b for setting.

When the expression of Y = aX + b is used to control the feed amount of the recording material as described above, the correction for the error actually occurring in the feed amount of the recording material is performed by changing and adjusting the resolution a. Together with this, the correction is made based on the offset amount b (mm).

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, Y = aX +
The straight line represented by the equation b can pass both the point S1 corresponding to the small-sized measured value 89.2 and the point S2 corresponding to the large-sized measured value 304.8.

As described above, when correcting for an error that actually occurs in the feed amount of the recording material, it is possible to prevent an error in the feed amount of the recording material 15 even when the small-size recording material 15 is fed short. At the same time, it is possible to prevent an error in the feed amount of the recording material 15 even when the large-sized recording material 15 is fed in a long length.

Further, even when the medium-size recording material 15 is fed by an intermediate distance between the short feeding and the long feeding, an error can be prevented from occurring in the feeding amount of the recording material 15.

In the case where the correction for the error actually occurring in the feed amount of the recording material is performed only by changing the feed amount Y of the recording material by changing the resolution a in the equation of Y = aX, FIG. As exemplified by the dashed line, a straight line represented by the equation of Y = aX corresponds to a W1 point corresponding to a small-sized measured value,
Since it is not possible to pass through both the point W2 and the point W2 corresponding to the large-size measured value, for example, when the recording material is set so as not to cause an error in the feeding amount of the recording material when the recording material is fed short, A large error occurs in the feeding amount when the recording material is fed in a long format corresponding to a large-size print.

If the recording material is set so as not to cause an error in the feeding amount when the recording material is fed in a long format corresponding to a print of a predetermined large size, the feeding amount of the recording material when feeding the recording material in a short size is used. Will cause a large error.

Next, when the controller 23 for controlling the correction of the feed amount of the recording material 15 in the image recording apparatus 10 automatically executes the work of setting the error correction amount of the feed amount,
Means for setting specific numerical values of the resolution a of the pulse motor and the offset amount b corresponding to an error in the feed amount of the recording material will be described.

In this case, a scanner is mounted on the image recording apparatus 10 and the rear edge of the small-sized white margin print 37 in the transport direction of the image area 33A and the front edge of the white margin print 37 in the transport direction are arranged. Is automatically measured and input to the control device 23.

At the same time, a large-sized white border print 37
Is automatically measured and input to the control device 23, between the rear end of the image area 33A in the conveyance direction and the front end of the white edge print 37 in the conveyance direction.

The control unit 23 to which the respective distances have been input in this way applies specific numerical values to the equation of Y = aX + b, which is an equation used for controlling the feeding amount of the recording material by performing the arithmetic processing. To set.

Then, when the image recording apparatus 10 is used, the control operation of the short feed or the long feed is automatically corrected based on the equation of Y = aX + b and appropriately executed.

When applying specific numerical values to the equation of Y = aX + b, the white margin prints 3 of many sizes are set.
When measuring about 7, a specific value of the offset amount b (mm) may be set using the least squares method.

In this image recording apparatus 10, Y = a
In the equation of X + b, the resolution a and the offset amount b (m
The value of m) may be set for each width size (paper width size) of the recording material 15 or may be set for each surface type of the recording material 15.

For example, in this image recording apparatus 10, 1c
recording material 1 in 32 areas from h to 32 ch
5 for each width size (paper width size) or recording material 1
Resolution a and offset b (mm) differ for each surface type
Is stored, and the recording material 1 is stored in the image recording apparatus 10.
When the image forming process of No. 5 is executed, the values of the resolution a and the offset amount b (mm) of the channel corresponding to the width size (paper width size) and the surface type of the target recording material 15 are read out. A specific numerical value is applied to the equation of Y = aX + b and set, and the Y = aX + b
May be configured so that the feed amount of the recording material is automatically corrected based on the following formula to appropriately execute the image forming process.

As a means for automatically correcting a simple amount of feeding of a recording material in the image recording apparatus 10, 1ch
When the values of the resolution a and the offset amount b (mm) related to the width size (paper width size) of a certain recording material 15 and the surface type of the recording material 15 are stored in the area A configuration may be provided in which all 32 areas up to 32 channels have the function of storing the same value of the resolution a and the offset amount b (mm).

In the case of such a configuration, the user is required
By storing the values of the resolution a and the offset amount b (mm) relating to the width size (paper width size) of a certain recording material 15 and the surface type of the recording material 15 in the area h, the same data is stored in all the channels. Since the same effect as the input is obtained, a simple control for correcting the feed amount of the recording material for the width size (paper width size) of all the recording materials 15 and the surface type of the recording materials 15 is executed. As a result, the labor of the operator can be greatly reduced.

Further, in the image recording apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, a recording material roll 19 in which a long recording material 15 is wound is stored in a magazine 16. Alternatively, the present invention can be applied to an image recording apparatus 10 which is used by mounting a sheet cassette in which a plurality of recording materials 15 previously cut to a predetermined size are stored.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the image recording apparatus 10 according to the above-described embodiment, but may be used to cut and cut recording materials other than the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment. The present invention is also applicable to a printer that performs exposure after forming a sheet. Further, it can be used for a printer using ordinary direct exposure. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to such a photo printer but also to various image recording apparatuses such as an image recording apparatus using a heat development recording material and a recording apparatus using a light and heat sensitive recording material.

[0111]

The image recording apparatus according to the present invention is driven by a pulse motor to feed a recording material to a processing section by means of a transport means Y and a pulse number X for controlling the rotation angle of the pulse motor. And a relational expression between the resolution a of the pulse motor and the offset amount b corresponding to the error in the feed amount of the recording material, Y =
Since the control device controls the drive of the recording material based on aX + b to control the feed amount of the recording material, the control device takes into account the error that occurs during the actual feeding operation, and controls the conveyance unit driven by the pulse motor. Since the drive control can be performed, there is an effect that the feeding amount of the recording material when the recording material is actually sent to the processing unit can be set to a more appropriate feeding amount of the recording material.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an entire image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a printer section of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a recording material illustrating an example in which an image is formed in an image area of a long recording material by the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a white-margin print in which an image is formed in an image area by the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining a relational expression used by the control device in the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention to control the operation of the recording material conveying means.

FIG. 6 is a front view exemplifying a screen displayed on a display when setting a specific numerical value for controlling the operation of the conveying means in the control device in the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 image recording device 12 printer unit 15 recording material 18 transport unit 20 image processing unit 22 electrical unit 23 control device 26 transport roller device 31 punch hole 32 punch 33 image area 33A image area 34 transport roller 37 white print 42 exposure unit 44 sub Scanning conveyance device 48 conveyance roller 52 registration roller pair 56 conveyance roller pair 64 conveyance roller 68 conveyance roller 74 conveyance roller 75 conveyance state detecting means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A conveying means driven by a pulse motor to feed a recording material to a processing unit; a feed amount Y of the recording material; a pulse number X for controlling a rotation angle of the pulse motor; Resolution a
And a control device for controlling the feed amount of the recording material by driving and controlling the pulse motor based on a relational expression of the offset amount b corresponding to the error of the feed amount of the recording material, Y = aX + b. An image recording apparatus, comprising: 2. A conveying means driven by a pulse motor to feed a recording material to a processing section; a feed amount Y of the recording material; a pulse number X for controlling a rotation angle of the pulse motor; Resolution a
A control device that controls the feed amount of the recording material by controlling the drive of the pulse motor based on a relational expression of the offset amount b corresponding to the error of the feed amount of the recording material, Y = aX + b; When a plurality of recording materials having different sizes are actually conveyed by the feed amount of the recording material, a plurality of recording materials generated between the target value and the actual feed amount of each of the plurality of recording materials having different sizes are generated. By the error value of
Means for automatically calculating and setting specific numerical values of the resolution a of the pulse motor and the offset amount b corresponding to an error in the feed amount of the recording material. 3. A specific numerical value of a resolution a of the pulse motor and an offset amount b corresponding to an error in the feed amount of the recording material is set for each size and surface type of the recording material.
3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device drives and controls the pulse motor based on a formula of Y = aX + b. 4. 4. The controller according to claim 1, wherein a specific value of a resolution a of the pulse motor corresponding to a specific size and surface type of the recording material, and an offset amount b corresponding to an error in the feed amount of the recording material are transmitted to the control device. When set, the resolution a of the pulse motor and the offset b corresponding to the error in the feed amount of the recording material correspond to the size and surface type in all the other recording materials, and the size of the specific recording material 3. The image according to claim 1, wherein the resolution is set to a specific numerical value of a resolution a of the pulse motor corresponding to a surface type and an offset amount b corresponding to an error of a feed amount of the recording material. 4. Recording device.