JPH1138838A - Recording apparatus, recording control system, and recording control method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] A recording apparatus and a recording control system capable of performing recording while reducing toner consumption without impairing reproducibility of colors and colors when set in a toner saving consumption mode. , And a recording control method. SOLUTION: Thinning processing of image data 29 is performed based on a signal obtained by dividing a horizontal synchronizing signal 27 in synchronization with a vertical synchronizing signal 26, and an image signal 40 thinned in the sub-scanning direction is output.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, a recording control system, and a recording control method. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image recording apparatus using a laser beam exposure system capable of reducing the consumption of toner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic recording apparatus used for monochrome image recording, when the consumption of toner used for development progresses and the remaining amount of toner falls below a predetermined amount, a warning of toner low is issued. To prompt the operator to replace the toner cartridge, or to continue printing while checking the state of the printed image.

In recent years, the concept of ecology has been introduced, and in order to prevent wasteful toner consumption, the density of a printed image is reduced even when the toner low is not displayed, and the life of the toner cartridge is reduced. An electrophotographic recording apparatus having a function of increasing the number of prints, that is, a function of increasing the number of printed sheets with one cartridge, has been embodied.

As a patent relating to such a function, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2505226 has been proposed. In essence, the patent entails that the toner has a normal consumption mode and a saving consumption mode, and when a warning of toner low is issued, the mode switches to the saving consumption mode, in which the drive current of the laser diode is reduced and one dot is reduced. By reducing the development width per hit and lowering the print image density, toner consumption is reduced.

[0005]

However, when the invention is applied to a color electrophotographic recording apparatus using the above-mentioned Patent Publication No. 2505226, in particular, a color electrophotographic type having a halftone reproducing ability using pulse width modulation. When used in a recording device, the following inconveniences occur.

As shown in FIG. 12, the electrophotographic development characteristics are such that when input data is small and when input data is large, the image density for the input data varies, that is, the image density varies linearly with the input data. Characteristic).

FIG. 13 shows the amount of toner on a sheet when printing is performed using a conventional color electrophotographic recording apparatus. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a case where all the Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) toners are printed in the same amount for easy understanding. Further, FIG.
FIG. 226 is a schematic diagram described by a method described in Japanese Patent No. 226.

As shown by the development characteristics (non-linear characteristics) in FIG. 12, since the development density varies when the image data is small, it is clear that the colors vary even when four colors are superimposed. It is. Further, it is apparent that the reproducibility of the accurate color tone required in the color electrophotographic method is impaired.

In a color electrophotographic recording apparatus, there is a method of thinning out scanning lines as a method of reducing toner consumption. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the toner riding amount when thinning is performed. In FIG. 15, the individual riding amounts of the colors Y, M, C, and K indicate the riding amounts shown in FIG. 13, but the scanning of each color is thinned out for each line. As is apparent from FIG. 15, a certain scanning line has become orange between Y and M due to thinning.

Further, other scanning lines have C
And K overlap, resulting in a blue-black color. By thinning out the scanning lines in this way,
The colors will vary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus and a recording apparatus capable of performing recording while reducing toner consumption without impairing reproducibility of color and tint when set to a toner saving consumption mode. It is to provide a control system and a recording control method.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a latent image is formed by outputting an image signal on the basis of a vertical and horizontal synchronization signal, and irradiating light on a photosensitive member in accordance with the image signal. A mode setting means for switching the toner consumption mode from a normal consumption mode to a toner saving consumption mode; and setting the toner consumption mode to the toner saving consumption mode. A thinning means for thinning out image data based on a signal obtained by dividing the horizontal synchronizing signal in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal and outputting an image signal thinned out in the sub-scanning direction. The recording apparatus is configured by recording the image data using the thinned image signal.

According to the present invention, an image signal is output on the basis of a vertical and horizontal synchronization signal, and a light is irradiated on a photoreceptor in accordance with the image signal to form a latent image, and the image is formed by applying toner. An electrophotographic recording apparatus for recording data, wherein a mode setting means for switching the consumption mode of the toner from a normal consumption mode to a toner saving consumption mode; and Thinning means for performing thinning processing of image data based on a signal obtained by dividing the video clock signal in synchronization with the synchronization signal and outputting an image signal thinned in the main scanning direction; The recording device is configured by recording the image data using.

The present invention also relates to a recording control system for exchanging data between a host computer and a recording apparatus, wherein the recording control system is provided on the host computer and changes a toner consumption mode from a normal consumption mode to a toner saving mode. Mode setting means for switching to a consumption mode, provided on the recording apparatus side, wherein when the toner saving consumption mode is set, image data of image data is divided based on a signal obtained by dividing a horizontal synchronization signal in synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal. A thinning means for performing a thinning process and outputting an image signal thinned in the sub-scanning direction, and outputting the thinned image signal and irradiating light on the photoconductor in accordance with the image signal to form a latent image Then, an image recording means for recording image data by applying toner is provided, thereby constituting a recording control system.

The present invention also relates to a recording control system for exchanging data between a host computer and a recording apparatus, wherein the recording control system is provided on the host computer and reduces a toner consumption mode from a normal consumption mode to a toner saving mode. Mode setting means for switching to a consumption mode, and provided on the recording apparatus side, wherein when the toner saving consumption mode is set, the image data is divided based on a signal obtained by dividing a video clock signal in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal. A thinning means for performing a thinning process and outputting an image signal thinned in the main scanning direction, and outputting the thinned image signal, and irradiating light onto the photoconductor in accordance with the image signal to form a latent image. Forming
An image recording unit that records image data by applying toner is provided to constitute a recording control system.

Here, when at least one of the toner cartridges of a plurality of colors is set to the toner saving mode, the mode setting means sets the other colors to the toner saving mode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic recording control method for outputting an image signal based on a vertical and horizontal synchronization signal and recording image data in accordance with the image signal. The mode is switched from the normal consumption mode to the toner saving consumption mode. When the mode is set to the toner saving consumption mode, the image data is thinned based on a signal obtained by dividing the horizontal synchronization signal in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal. Processing, outputting a thinned image signal in the sub-scanning direction, irradiating light on the photoconductor in accordance with the thinned image signal to form a latent image, and applying toner to form a latent image. Records can be made.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic recording control method for outputting an image signal based on vertical and horizontal synchronization signals and recording image data in accordance with the image signal. The mode is switched from the normal consumption mode to the toner saving consumption mode. When the toner saving consumption mode is set, the image data thinning process is performed based on a signal obtained by dividing the video clock signal in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal. And outputs a thinned image signal in the main scanning direction, irradiates light on the photoconductor in accordance with the thinned image signal to form a latent image, and applies toner to record image data. It can be performed.

Here, in the toner consumption mode, when at least one of the toner cartridges of a plurality of colors is set to the toner saving consumption mode, the other colors are also set to the toner saving consumption mode.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described based on.

First, an overall configuration of a color electrophotographic recording apparatus used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

A transfer paper cassette 6 for storing the transfer paper 5 is provided below the apparatus, and a paper feed roller 7 is provided above the transfer paper cassette 6. In addition, a scanner unit 8 for irradiating the photosensitive drum 12 with laser light is provided above the apparatus.
Are arranged. A laser light source (not shown) is provided inside the scanner unit 8, and the laser light emitted from the light source is converted into horizontal scanning by a scanner mirror 10 connected to a high-speed motor 9. Then, the scanned light is reflected by the folding mirror 11, and the photosensitive drum 1 provided in the photosensitive drum unit 1 is provided.
2 is irradiated.

An optical sensor (not shown) is provided near the photosensitive drum 12, and emits a signal when the laser beam crosses the optical sensor. This signal becomes a horizontal synchronizing signal (main scanning direction) when scanning the image on the photosensitive drum 12, and is used as a normal beam detect signal (BD signal).

In the photosensitive drum unit 1, a scraping roller 13 for cleaning toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is provided.

On the other hand, four developing device units 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are arranged in the developing cartridge unit 2, and each stores a toner visualized in accordance with the electrostatic potential of the photosensitive drum 12. . The color of each toner is
In the case of a color electrophotographic recording apparatus, the recording apparatus includes yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Developing unit 2a, 2
Each of b, 2c, and 2d includes a developing roller 15 and a toner container 16 for storing the toner 14.

The cyan, magenta, yellow, and black images developed by the photosensitive drum 12 and the developing roller 15 are developed for each color, and are sequentially transferred onto the transfer belt 3 so that the transfer belt 3 A color image is formed thereon. When a color image is formed on the transfer belt 3, the transfer paper 5 is fed from a transfer paper cassette 6 by a feed roller rotated by a drive motor (not shown). A photo interrupter 2 is provided on the transfer belt 3.
A hole 21 is provided so that 0 can be detected. The holes 21 are provided for the purpose of adjusting the timing at which the laser light is written on the photosensitive drum 12, and are provided on the transfer belt 3 for each color so that the image position is not disturbed. A signal obtained by the photo interrupter 20 is a sub-scanning synchronization signal (TOP) for synchronizing the sub-scanning.
Signal). The image data of each color formed on the transfer belt 3 by the amount of the toner of each color is transferred to the transfer paper 5 in the sequence described below.

The color image on the transfer belt 3 is transferred to the transfer paper 5 by passing the fed transfer paper 5 while contacting the lower part of the transfer belt 3. Further, the transfer paper 5 is conveyed by the transfer belt 17 and the fixing unit 4
And is stacked on a discharge stacker 19 by a transport belt 18.

Next, an example of operation when the above-described color electrophotographic recording apparatus is connected to a host computer to form a system will be described with reference to FIGS.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a host computer, which comprises a Macintosh, a DOS machine, or the like. An image is formed by the host computer 22 and input to the controller 23 via the communication line 25. The communication line 25 is bidirectional, and is connected to the controller 2 described below.
3 or the status of the color electrophotographic recording device 24 can be notified to the host computer 22.

The image data input from the host computer 22 to the controller 23 is developed into an image signal optimal for the color electrophotographic recording device 24. The developed image signal is transmitted to the color electrophotographic recording device 24 in synchronization with a sub-scanning synchronization signal (hereinafter referred to as a TOP signal 26) generated by the color electrophotographic recording device 24. . Further, the color electrophotographic recording device 24
Horizontal synchronization signal (hereinafter referred to as BD signal 27)
In synchronization with the video clock signal (hereinafter, referred to as VCLK28) and the image signal DATA2.
9 is started.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the above-described signals, TO,
P signal 26, BD signal 27, VCLK28, DATA2
9 shows the waveform. In response to the TOP signal 26, the BD signal 2
7 is generated, and DATA 29 is transmitted in response to the BD signal 27. As shown in FIG. 4, in the color electrophotographic recording apparatus, yellow DATA 29 is first transmitted as DATA 29 in response to the first TOP signal 26.
Magenta for the next TOP signal 26, and the next TO signal
Cyan data for the P signal 26 and black data for the last TOP signal 26 are sent. As described above, by repeatedly superimposing the image data of four times on the transfer belt 3,
A color image is formed. FIG. 5 is an enlarged timing chart of the yellow portion in FIG. In response to the BD signal 27, a VCLK signal 28 is transmitted.

Next, a specific example of the saving and consuming mode in the above-described color electrophotographic recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a logic circuit for realizing such a saving and consuming mode. Reference numeral 30 denotes a D flip-flop, and an output terminal of / Q is feedback-connected to a D input terminal. Reference numeral 31 denotes a two-input NAND circuit, one of which is connected to a TOP signal 26, and the other of which is connected to an output signal (ENABLE) of a CPU to be described later. The output of the NAND circuit 31 is the D flip-flop 3
0 is connected to the reset terminal. The BD signal 27 is connected to the clock input terminal of the D flip-flop 30.

Output terminal / Q of D flip-flop 30
Is connected to one input terminal of the two-input AND circuits 32-39. The other input terminals of the two-input AND circuit are connected to D0 to D7 of the image signal DATA29. The output terminals of the two-input AND circuits 32-39 are DATA
It is output as an image signal 40 of −0. From the circuit connection as described above, as the operation of this logic circuit, the image data 29 corresponding to the BD signal 27
Each time 0 is toggled, it is output.
If the image data 29 is not output, the thinning processing of the image data 29 is performed.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the operation of the logic circuit shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows the case where the present logic circuit is not operating, and FIG. 2 shows the case where the present logic circuit is operating. As is apparent from FIG. 2, in each range of the TOP signal 26, the thinning processing of the image data 29 is performed using the signal obtained by dividing the BD signal 27. Thereby, for the input image data 29,
An image signal 40 thinned out in the sub-scanning direction is output.
That is, in each sub-scanning period, a signal that has been subjected to the thinning processing of the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black image data 29 is output. Thereafter, the image signal 40 thinned out in this manner is used as a driving signal for the laser light source in the scanner unit 8 in FIG. 7 described above, so that the recording process can be performed with toner consumption suppressed. It becomes possible.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the toner riding amount after the thinning processing. The horizontal direction indicates the width of the scanning line, and the vertical axis indicates the amount of toner loaded. Thus, it can be seen that the amounts of toner of the respective colors overlap at the same position. By performing color printing with such a toner riding amount, it is possible to perform recording while saving toner consumption without impairing the color of a color image.

Next, the ENABLE signal 47 described with reference to FIG.
Is generated based on FIGS. 8 to 9. FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration of a control unit including a toner sensor in a color electrophotographic recording apparatus. 41 is a CPU for controlling the electrophotographic recording device. Reference numeral 42 denotes a Y toner notice sensor that monitors the remaining amount of yellow toner and generates a notice signal when the amount is low. Similarly, an M toner advance notice sensor 43, a C toner advance notice sensor 44, and a K toner advance notice sensor 45 are provided. Each sensor output is connected to the input ports i1, i2, i3, i4 of the CPU 41. i5 includes an external signal, for example, FIG.
As described above, the communication line 25 from the host computer 22 and the communication line command / status line 46 via the controller 23 are connected.

Here, while the host computer 22 is being operated, when the toner saving consumption mode is selected, the input of i5 becomes high level. In the operation flow of the system shown in FIG. 9, when the energy saving command, that is, the toner saving consumption mode is set from the outside (step S1).
Sets the ENABLE signal 47 to 1 (step S
6). Next, when the Y toner notice signal is input (Step S2), similarly, the M toner notice signal (Step S3), the C toner notice signal (Step S4), and the K toner notice signal (Step S5) are inputted. If you have, EN
An ABLE signal 47 is output (step S6). As described above, in the case of a color electrophotographic recording apparatus, when one toner cartridge outputs a notice signal, all the other toners are set to the same saving mode so that the reproducibility of the tint is not impaired. Recording can be performed while saving toner consumption.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the same parts as in the first embodiment is omitted.

In the first embodiment, the image data is thinned in the sub-scanning direction using the BD signal 27. However, since it is only necessary to realize the toner saving mode without deteriorating the color reproducibility of the color electrophotographic recording apparatus, it is obvious that similar performance can be obtained even if the image data is thinned out in the main scanning direction. .

In this embodiment, an example in which image data can be thinned out in the main scanning direction will be described. FIG.
Shows an example of a logic circuit for performing the thinning process. The clock input terminal of the D flip-flop 30
Instead of inputting the BD signal 27 as described above,
In this example, the VCLK signal 28 is input. Also, TOP
Instead of processing in synchronization with the signal 26, processing is performed in synchronization with the BD signal 27. Thereby, the VCLK signal 2
The thinning process of the image data 29 can be performed based on the signal obtained by dividing the frequency of 8. FIG. 11 shows a timing chart of the thinning processing. As an example, image data (only yellow is described) is thinned out according to the VCLK signal 28. As described above, in each of the main scanning sections, an image signal that has been subjected to the thinning processing of the image data 29 of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is output. 3, it is possible to perform recording while suppressing toner consumption.

Although the present invention has been described using four colors, practically, the background removal and background correction UCR (UNDE)
RCOLOR REMOVAL), and the optimum amount of color riding for electrophotography is defined. Generally, it is set between 2.0 and 2.5.

Further, in the present invention, the thinning processing of the main or sub-scanning lines has been described one by one (see FIG. 3). Further, the request may be instructed from the host.

Further, in the present invention, the main scanning and the sub-scanning are described independently, but an energy saving mode may be provided by mixing the two.

The present invention is also effective in processing such as dithering and error diffusion used in halftone processing.

[0047]

As described above, a signal obtained by dividing a horizontal synchronization signal in synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal or a signal obtained by dividing a video clock signal in synchronization with a horizontal synchronization signal is used as a reference. Since the image data is thinned out and an image signal thinned out in the sub-scanning direction or the main scanning direction is output, the developing characteristics of the electrophotographic recording apparatus are not impaired, or the scanning line of each color is By being mixed, printing can be performed with less toner consumption without impairing the color that should be originally output.

Further, according to the present invention, for example, when a toner low is detected in at least one of the four color toner cartridges and the printer enters the economy mode, the other three color cartridges also enter the economy mode. Therefore, printing can be performed continuously without impairing the color reproducibility of the color electrophotographic recording apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a logic circuit that performs a thinning process according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the operation of the thinning process in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a toner riding amount on a recording medium after a thinning process.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing an operation in a normal mode in which no thinning process is performed.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged timing chart showing a part of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a system configuration applied to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a color electrophotographic recording apparatus applied to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a sensor unit in the printing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for setting a toner saving consumption mode.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a logic circuit that performs a thinning process according to a second embodiment of this invention.

11 is a timing chart showing the operation of the thinning-out process of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a characteristic diagram showing development characteristics of electrophotography.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a toner riding amount on a sheet when printing is performed by a conventional color electrophotographic recording apparatus.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a toner riding amount disclosed in a patent publication.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a conventional thinning process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 26 vertical synchronizing signal 27 horizontal synchronizing signal 29 image data 30 to 39 thinning means 40 image signal 41 to 47 mode setting means

Claims (9)

[Claims] An image signal is output on the basis of vertical and horizontal synchronization signals, and a latent image is formed by irradiating light on a photoconductor in accordance with the image signal, and toner is applied to the image to thereby form image data. An electrophotographic recording apparatus for performing recording, wherein: a mode setting unit that switches the toner consumption mode from a normal consumption mode to a toner saving consumption mode; and when the toner saving mode is set, the vertical synchronization signal Thinning means for performing image data thinning processing on the basis of a signal obtained by dividing the horizontal synchronization signal in synchronization with the horizontal synchronizing signal, and outputting an image signal thinned in the sub-scanning direction. A recording apparatus for recording image data by using the recording apparatus. 2. An image signal is output on the basis of a vertical and horizontal synchronization signal, a light is irradiated on a photoconductor in accordance with the image signal, a latent image is formed, and toner is applied to form a latent image. An electrophotographic recording apparatus for performing recording, wherein: a mode setting unit that switches the toner consumption mode from a normal consumption mode to a toner saving consumption mode; and when the toner saving mode is set, the horizontal synchronization signal Thinning means for performing image data thinning processing on the basis of a signal obtained by dividing a video clock signal in synchronization with the image clock signal and outputting an image signal thinned in the main scanning direction, and using the thinned image signal. A recording device for recording image data by using the recording device. 3. The mode setting unit according to claim 2, wherein when at least one of the plurality of color toner cartridges is set in the toner saving mode, the other colors are also set in the toner saving mode. 3. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A recording control system for exchanging data between a host computer and a recording apparatus, wherein the recording control system is provided on the host computer and switches a toner consumption mode from a normal consumption mode to a toner saving consumption mode. A mode setting unit, provided on the recording apparatus side, and when the toner saving consumption mode is set, performs a thinning process of image data based on a signal obtained by dividing a horizontal synchronization signal in synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal. Thinning means for outputting an image signal thinned in the sub-scanning direction; outputting the thinned image signal; irradiating light on a photoconductor in accordance with the image signal to form a latent image; A recording control system, comprising: an image recording unit that records image data by applying. 5. A recording control system for exchanging data between a host computer and a recording apparatus, wherein the recording control system is provided on the host computer and switches a toner consumption mode from a normal consumption mode to a toner saving consumption mode. A mode setting unit, provided on the recording apparatus side, wherein when the toner saving consumption mode is set, the image data thinning process is performed based on a signal obtained by dividing a video clock signal in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal. A thinning means for outputting a thinned image signal in the main scanning direction; outputting the thinned image signal; irradiating light on a photosensitive member in accordance with the image signal to form a latent image; And a recording control system for recording image data by applying a liquid. 6. The mode setting means, wherein when at least one of the toner cartridges of a plurality of colors is set in the toner saving consumption mode, the other colors are also set in the toner saving consumption mode. The recording control system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein 7. An electrophotographic recording control method for outputting an image signal based on a vertical and horizontal synchronization signal and recording image data in accordance with the image signal, wherein a toner consumption mode is set to a normal mode. Switching from the consumption mode to the toner saving consumption mode, when the toner saving consumption mode is set, the image data thinning process is performed based on a signal obtained by dividing the horizontal synchronization signal in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal, Outputting a thinned image signal in the sub-scanning direction, forming a latent image by irradiating light on the photoconductor in accordance with the thinned image signal, and applying toner to record image data; A recording control method. 8. An electrophotographic recording control method for outputting an image signal on the basis of a vertical and horizontal synchronization signal and recording image data in accordance with the image signal. The mode is switched from the consumption mode to the toner saving consumption mode. When the toner saving consumption mode is set, the image data is thinned out based on a signal obtained by dividing the video clock signal in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal. It outputs an image signal thinned out in the scanning direction, irradiates light onto the photoconductor in accordance with the thinned image signal, forms a latent image, and applies toner to record image data. Characteristic recording control method. 9. The toner consumption mode is such that when at least one of the toner cartridges of a plurality of colors is set to the toner saving consumption mode, the other colors are also set to the toner saving consumption mode. 9. The recording control method according to claim 7, wherein: