JPH011546A - Optical writing printer control device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a control device for an optical writing printer such as a laser printer.

(Prior Art) In an optical writing printer such as a laser printer, a photoreceptor belt has a maximum width of 23 sheets (297 m) in row A, for example.
m), and it also supports paper number 4 in column A (210
mm) is used vertically and the paper is fed with the center aligned, (297-210)/2=43.5 at both ends of the photoreceptor belt.
There will be a blank space of mm.

In such a case, the printer generally informs the controller of the paper size that it is currently trying to feed, and the controller accordingly forms image information with white information inserted in the area corresponding to the above 43.5 mm and supplies it to the printer. things are being done.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, if it is connected to a controller that does not have such an image forming means, data will be written in the blank 43.5 mm area, and the data will be hidden on the photoreceptor belt. I image it.

As a result, toner adhering to areas outside the width of the fed paper is drawn toward the transfer charger during transfer, contaminating the wire of the transfer charger, and causing a major hindrance to subsequent printing operations.

In order to eliminate such inconveniences, the present invention forcibly writes white information in the margins at both ends corresponding to the above-mentioned 43.5wv area in the write control device of the printer, so that white information is forcibly written in the margins at both ends corresponding to the above-mentioned 43.5wv area. The purpose is to reliably eliminate toner adhesion.

(Means for solving problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following features: The actual maximum paper width that can be fed by the paper source.

In order to erase the portion of the photoconductor corresponding to the difference in the width of the paper used, information 1't3 regarding the length of the difference portion is required.
(NE, 2-0.NI:Rst), the storage means (3) stores information regarding write control timing, and the storage means (3) stores information regarding write control timing. 3) a sequence control means (4) for sequentially specifying each storage section and controlling the sequence; and a sequence control means (4) for controlling the sequence by sequentially specifying each storage section, and instructing the section to be erased based on the information read from the storage means (3) and a write clock signal. a counter means (5) that generates a timing signal; and a write control means (13) that generates a write signal for erasing based on the timing signal output from the counter means (5) and instructing the portion to be erased.
It is characterized by having the following.

(Function) The present invention provides information for forcibly erasing and writing in the storage means (3) a portion of the photoreceptor corresponding to the difference between the width of the maximum paper that can be used by the paper feeding means and the width of the paper that is actually used. (
N1Rso+Ne*st) is stored. Based on the stored information, the counter means (5) generates a timing signal for the portion to be erased, and the writing 81 control means (
13) performs erase writing. Specifically, for example, in the above example, the storage unit (registers ER9O, ER3I)
The above 43.5 mm and paper width 210 mm are divided by the pixel size (i.e., the above 43.5 mm and paper width 210 mm are divided by the pixel size).
A value expressed by the number of pixel dots representing the dimension of 0 mm) is stored in the storage section, and white information is forcibly written at both ends.

Note that information on the erased portion can be automatically set in the storage section (registers ER9O, ERSI) based on the output of the paper width detection sensor.

Therefore, the present invention uses a write control device of a printer to forcibly write white information on both end portions corresponding to the above 43.5 mrR area to ensure that toner does not adhere to areas other than the width of the fed paper. It can be done.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an optical writing control circuit in a laser printer embodying the present invention.

The oscillation circuit l is a crystal oscillation circuit that generates a signal with a frequency N+=of the frequency of the data synchronization clock WCLK, and its output is given to the (i2-phase synchronization control circuit 2).

The phase synchronization control circuit 2 receives the same amount detection signal D from the synchronization detector provided on the laser diode (LD) drive boat.
Based on the ETP and the output of the oscillation circuit 1, data synchronization clocks WCLK and ~VCL1(2) are generated.

Register group 3 consists of 10 types 1 connected as shown in FIG.
5 registers A, B, CA, CB, D.

E, F, TM, S'T, TPHO, TPHI, TPTO
, TPVI, ER9O, and ER3I, and stores the data related to the operation timing received via the data bus DBO~7 from the CPU in the engine board that controls the printer process in the register specified by the address bus AO~3. Then, it is read out by address designation of the sequencer 4 and sent to the main counter circuit 6 or the erase counter/control circuit 5, and is used to generate various control pulses for the optical writing circuit.

In response to the carry output from the main counter circuit 6, the sequencer 4 reads the necessary data from the register group 3 by address bus in a fixed order, and sends it to the erase counter/control circuit 5 or the main counter circuit 6. This is to control the sequence for

Based on the data given from the register group 3, the erase counter/control circuit 5 determines whether the photoconductor write is valid 1t4.
Generates control pulses for writing white information on the left and right edges corresponding to the difference between the width of the paper (maximum usable paper width, also referred to as paper passing width) and the paper width actually used, and sends it to the LD printing circuit 13. This is a control circuit that

The main counter circuit 6 sets the data to be counted received from the register group 3 in the preset counter that constitutes the main counter, counts up by the clock WCLK, and outputs a carry when the value of the data is reached. , a circuit that outputs a control signal to the sequencer 4 and the write timing control circuit 7.

The timing control circuit 7 receives the synchronization detection signal DETP.
, a timing signal for selectively controlling the data recording start position of the printer based on the output signals of the main counter circuit 6 and the sequencer 4, that is, the image data transfer request signal L.
SYNC (line synchronization signal), valid data start signal LG
It generates ATE and also supplies timing signals to the LD light amount adjustment circuit 8, LD control circuit 13, and the like.

The LD light amount adjustment circuit 8 receives a light amount detection signal LDCT from the LD drive board, a write timing signal from the write timing control circuit 7, and a programmable timer 10.
A light amount adjustment signal LDDO~9 for adjusting the light amount of the LD during printing or when the power is turned on is generated based on a signal from the LDDO.

The error control circuit 9 detects a polygon error PLGERR.

It detects errors such as power overflow P W OV F , power underflow PWUDF, and LD error LDERR, and outputs the signals to the CPU of the engine board.

The negative circuit 12 receives print data WD from the controller.
It receives the ATA, inverts it, and transmits it to the LD light emission width control circuit 14.

The LD control circuit 13 receives the signal ERAS 1/2 from the erase counter/control circuit 5. Signal LDER9 from f writing timing control circuit 7, signal LDONI from LD light amount adjustment circuit 8, signal LD from LD light emission width control circuit 114
The LD on/off signal VIDEO is generated based on the signal LDON2 from the NT, the interface circuit 15, and the like.

The LD light emission width control circuit 14 is a circuit that extends the white or black of the print data to VDATA according to the pattern of the image information, thereby improving the reproducibility of the recorded data.

This circuit generates a test pattern for white extension or black extension of the test pattern generation circuit 11+ and the tLD light emission width control circuit 14.

The interface circuit 15 receives a signal for timing control in the sub-scanning direction from the engine hoard, and sends a frame synchronization signal FSY indicating the effective printing time of one page to the controller.
It supplies NC.

In general, there are two types of paper feeding devices: one that feeds paper by aligning the center of the paper with the medium heat of the photoreceptor heald, and the other that feeds paper by aligning the left edge of the paper with the left edge of the photoreceptor belt. However, this embodiment shows an example in which paper is fed in a centered manner.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of register group 3 in FIG. 1.

This register group 3 is used to set parameters that determine the timing of various operations in optical writing, and the set parameters are specified by a sequencer 4 to sequentially read out from predetermined registers. The read parameters are set in the main counter circuit 6 or the preset counter in the erase counter/control circuit 5,
Optical writing is controlled by counting write synchronizing pulses WCLK and obtaining various timing pulses.

By changing the settings of these parameters, the optical writing mode can be easily changed to a desired one.

In this embodiment, the data set in each register and the operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 1 based on the data will be explained with a focus on the registers.

K2 and Sujikuko.

Register A stores data NA regarding the period from when the same detection is obtained and the LD is turned off to when the LD is turned on to erase the left end margin.

This data NA is determined by the following equation. However, dA
is the dimension shown in Fig. 3 (unit: mm), and D
P I l+α is a value representing the pixel density in dots/inch. Therefore, (
The dAXDPI value/25.4) corresponds to the distance dA expressed in the number of pixel dots. This 11ri is determined from the mechanical dimensions and pixel dimensions and does not depend on the paper size, so it can be set when the power is turned on.

NA=(dAXDPI value/25.4) When this register A is specified by the sequencer 4 at time a (register A read) shown in FIG. 3, data NA is read from that register A and sent to the main counter circuit. 6
Output to. The main counter circuit 6 counts the value of the data NA and outputs the carry a' to the sequencer 4 as a control signal. Sequencer 4 is its carry a
In response to ', reading of register B is instructed at time b (register B read) in FIG.

The carry a' is also given to the write timing control circuit 7, which generates a control signal for raising the left end erase signal and outputs it to the LD control circuit 13. This left end erase signal is terminated in response to a signal bIT, which will be described later.

Register B contains data NB regarding the left end erase period.
It is used to store. Normally, the width of the photoconductor belt is set slightly larger than the paper passing width, but this left edge erase is done to prevent unnecessary toner from adhering to the photoconductor in that area. be.

If the controller supports center alignment as shown in Fig. 4(a), data NB corresponds to the value obtained by dividing the length dB (mm) of the left end margin erase shown in Fig. 3 by the pixel size. , can be determined by the following equation. This is determined from the mechanical dimensions and pixel dimensions and does not depend on the paper size used, so it can be set when the power is turned on.

NB= (dBXDP I value/25.4) When the controller is aligned to the left as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4(b), the write signal WDATA to be
If the recording data portion is sent out first, if the print start request signal LSYNC is sent at the same timing as the center alignment, the data to be recorded and the paper will be misaligned as shown in Figure 4 (C). , the above timing is delayed as shown in FIG. 4(d).

Data NB for this purpose is calculated as follows.

NB= (d[l+ (paper width/2)> XDPI value/
25.4 As described above, when the sequencer 4 immediately instructs to read the register B, the contents NB of the register B are read out and output to the main counter circuit 6.

The main counter circuit 6 counts the value of the data NB and outputs the carry b' to the write timing control circuit 7, and the harm timing control circuit 7 sends an image data transfer request number 18 LSYNC (line synchronous signal)
is output to the controller. The controller responsively provides print data WDATA during the L G AT E fi period.

Further, after the carry b', the main counter circuit 6 counts 16 and generates a carry b''. The signal b1
In response to this, the write timing control circuit 7 outputs a signal LGATE representing the valid period of main scanning to the startup controller.

The signal b++ is output to sequencer 4,
specifies register ER9O, then that register ER5
The contents of O N6□3o are output to the erase counter/control circuit 5. The functions performed by the erase counter/control circuit 5, the register ERSO, and the register ER31, which will be described later, are the characteristics of the present invention and will be described in detail later.

Subsequently, register C is designated by the sequencer 4 at time C (register C read).

The register C to the left of k stores data NC related to a period in which data can be recorded (a period corresponding to the maximum width of paper that can be passed). If the controller is compatible with the centering type, the data NC corresponds to the pixel dimension plus one of the maximum width of the paper that can be passed, dC (nun), shown in FIG. It is determined by the following formula.

NC=(dcXDPI value/25.4.) If the controller is left-aligned, calculate as follows.

NC=1 (paper width) x DPI value/25.4) When register C is designated by the sequencer 4, its contents NC are given to the main counter circuit 6, and the carry is outputted as a result of the count.

In response to the signal C', the omission timing control circuit 07
terminates the signal LGATE that was being sent to the controller. At the same time, a control signal for raising the right end erase signal is sent to the LD control circuit 13.

The register D on the left side stores data ND related to the right end erase period.

Regardless of whether the controller aligns the center or the left edge, the data ND corresponds to the value obtained by dividing the length dD (mm) of the right edge margin erase shown in FIG. 3 by the pixel size, and is determined by the following equation. It should be set when the power is turned on.

ND=dDXDPI value/25.4 Sequencer 4 instructs reading of register D in response to signal c1. The content ND of the register D is supplied to the main counter circuit 6, and the main counter circuit 6 counts the value ND and writes a carry d' to the timing control circuit 7.
As shown in FIG. 3, a control signal for terminating the right end erase signal is generated and sent to the LD control circuit 13.

Further, the carry d' is output to the sequencer 4, and the sequencer 4 specifies reading of the register E in response.

k The left-right calm register E is set to L after completing the right end erase shown in FIG.
It stores data NE regarding the period after turning off D until turning on the direct LD that approaches the edge of the polygon.

Regardless of whether the controller is centered or left edge aligned, the data NE is determined by the following equation. Independent of paper size. Just set it when the power is turned on. After dE, the LD is automatically turned on for two pixels at the edge.

NE=dEXDP It direct/25.4 When the sequencer 4 specifies the register E, its content NE is given to the main counter circuit 6, and according to the count, a carry e" is output to the sequencer 4 and the write timing control circuit 7. Ru.

Sequencer 4 specifies reading of register F at time f in response to carry e'.

The erase counter control circuit 5 automatically erases the LD for two pixels.
LD, 1'/I 1a11 circuit 13 to turn on
send a signal to.

k time 1m Register F is used to turn off the LD after lighting the LD of the polygon crest shown in Figure 3, and then turn on the L for the next same gate detection.
D pre(-) is used to store data NF that intersects in the period until the light is turned on.

The data NF is the dimension dF (IIIll
) divided by the pixel size, and is determined by the following formula. This is determined from mechanical dimensions and pixel dimensions. Independent of paper size. Just set it when the power is turned on.

NF=dFXDP I value/25.4 Registration value 1j2Ly- The register TM is a timer register in which data NT of a timer for checking the light amount adjustment of the LD is set.

When the register TM is designated by the sequencer 4, its contents are set in the programmable timer 10.

Register ST is used to set data indicating the functions used by the optical writing circuit, that is, status information. The status information is a signal PP5EL that instructs whether processing is to be performed in a positive-positive development process or in a negative-positive development process.

Signal BLKEXT indicating whether to extend black, white or black and white, test pattern instruction signal T
There are P etc.

This is a register for setting test pattern data in the water flow direction, and consists of two 8-bit registers TPHO and TPII.
It consists of I.

JLiXiiLL This is a register that sets data indicating a vertical pattern by specifying whether horizontal test pattern data is valid or invalid for each row.

1 - This register is a component of the present invention, and when the paper passing width (maximum usable paper width) and the paper width of the paper to be used are different in centering paper feeding, the register is a register that is a component of the present invention. This register is used to set data NER51° for erasing the left margin. The data N and Rso are determined by the following equation.

For example, if the paper feeding device is designed so that the largest paper to be used is number 3 in column A, the paper passing width is the width of number 3 in column A, that is, 297IllI11. In this case, an example of the recording pixel density and the data NER9° set in the register ER3O when using No. 4 in column A for paper is as follows. That is, ■ Row A, No. 4 (width 21
When using paper of 0mm), when using 240DP I, N+ = eso = 25 (16
Base number 19) When 300DP I, NE*so= 32
(Hexadecimal 20) 400DP When I, Na*so=
42 (Hexadecimal 2A) ■ Column A No. 3 (297
When using paper of mm, ), N mm, regardless of the recording pixel density. =O (hexadecimal 0) According to the carry output b11 of the counter circuit 6, the sequencer 4 specifies reading of this register ER5O, and its contents are output to the erase counter/control circuit 5, and based on the contents, the above left side is Count the duration of the signal (a) for erasing the margin. The count value is in register ER5O
When the value read from is reached, a carry is output, and in response, the signal (A) for erasing the left margin is terminated, and the sequencer 4 is notified to specify the reading of register ER51. Ru.

This register ERS1 is also a component of the present invention like the above-mentioned register ER6O, and sets data NcRst regarding the width of the paper actually used in the paper passing area (maximum paper width). It is a register. The data NER3□ is determined by the following equation.

For example, if the paper feeding device is designed so that the largest paper to be used is number 3 in column A, the paper passing width is 30 in column A.
The radius is 297 mm. In that case, record pixel density and register E when using A column No. 4 for paper.
An example of the data N eFIS set in RS 1 is as follows. That is, ■ Row A No. 4 (width 210mm
) When using paper with 240DPI, NE*st=62 (hexadecimal 3E) When using 300DPI, NER91=78 (
Hexadecimal number 4E) When 400DP +, N+=Rst=
104 (6 days in hexadecimal)■ Row A, number 3 (width 297m)
When using paper m), N-g. This is a specific condition where NεR31 is set to O, and the circuit is inhibited.
There is no need to set .

The carry output b of the counter circuit 6 is used to erase the portion of the paper passing area on the right side that protrudes to the right from the right edge of the paper according to IT. This is useful for safety when the controller cannot send out white information for this area.

When reading of the register ER51 is designated, its contents are given to the erase counter/control circuit 5, and a count is performed to determine the rise of the signal (b) in FIG.

In the case of this embodiment, in which the paper feeding device is of the centering type and the data sending of the controller is of the centering type, registers A, B, C, D, E, F, TM, and ST are only set when the power is turned on. , register ER5O, ERSI
must be set again when the paper size to be used is changed. To change the paper size, a sensor for detecting the paper size is attached to the paper feed tray, and necessary values can be automatically set in the registers ERS0 and ERS1 according to the detection signal.

If the paper feeding device is a center alignment method and the controller data transmission is a left edge alignment method, registers A, E, and F
, ER9O, ER91, TM, and ST need only be set when the power is turned on, and registers B, C, and D need to be reset each time the paper size to be used is changed. To change the paper size, use the above-mentioned center alignment method or the paper feed tray that comes with a sensor that detects the paper size, and automatically sets the necessary values in registers B, C, and D according to the detection signal. Bye.

As described above in detail, the optical write control circuit of the present embodiment shown in FIG. The stored timing data is read out and preset in the preset counter, and when the preset counter counts the write synchronization clock and reaches the preset value, it outputs various timing signals for desired write control. By changing the timing data set in 3, you can flexibly deal with whether the paper feeding position of the paper feeding device is designed as , or the size of the paper is as . It is something that can be done. In particular, the present invention is characterized by forcing registers ER3O and ER5I of register group 3 to have a photoconductor portion corresponding to the difference between the width of the maximum paper that can be fed by the paper feeder and the width of the paper that is actually used. Information 9F3N ER8OI N ER8I for erasing write is stored, and based on the stored information, the erase counter/control circuit 5 generates a timing signal for the part to be erased.
The D control circuit 13 forcibly writes white information in the left and right end portions or the right end portion. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent toner from adhering to areas other than the width of the fed paper.

In the embodiment, only an example in which the paper feeding device is centered is explained, but it is of course applicable to a method in which the paper feeding device feeds paper aligned with the left edge or a method in which the paper feeding device is set at an arbitrary position and fed. There is ゛C. In these cases,
By setting the values for each register in the register group appropriately according to the mechanical dimensions, paper passing area, paper passing position of the paper being used, format of image data sent by the controller, etc., the centering method can be adjusted. It is possible to achieve the same effects as the present embodiment.

(Effect of the invention) The present invention relates to register ER5O of register group 3.

Information for forcibly erasing the photoconductor portion corresponding to the difference between the width of the maximum paper that can be fed by the paper feeder and the width of the paper actually used in the ER31 N ER901N
gRst is stored, the erase counter/control circuit 5 generates a timing signal for the part to be erased based on the stored information, and the LD control circuit 13 forcibly writes white information on both the left and right ends or the right end.
It is possible to reliably eliminate toner adhesion on areas other than the width of the fed paper, and unnecessary toner will not interfere with printing operations. Further, the position where the white information is generated and written can be arbitrarily set according to the information format from the controller, and it is possible to flexibly adapt to various combinations of the controller and paper feeding device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an optical writing control circuit for a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of the register group 3 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a timing diagram for explaining the present invention in detail. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the relationship among the photoreceptor, paper feeding position, and written data. 1... Oscillation circuit, 2... Phase synchronization control circuit, 3...
- Register group, 4... Sequencer, 5... Erase counter/control circuit, 6... Main counter circuit, 7...
・Write timing control circuit, 8... LD light amount adjustment circuit, 9... Error control circuit, 10... Programmable timer, 11... Test pattern' generation circuit, 1
2...Negation circuit, 13...LD control circuit, 14...
- LD light width control circuit, 15... interface circuit. Patent applicant Ricoh Co., Ltd.Figure 4. ) (d)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A paper feeder with a paper width detection sensor that detects the width of the paper being used, and a photoreceptor portion that corresponds to the difference between the maximum paper width that can be used by the paper feeder and the width of the paper that is currently being used. For erasing, the storage means includes a plurality of storage parts including a storage part for storing information regarding the length of the difference part, and a storage means for storing information regarding write control timing; a sequence control means for controlling the sequence by sequentially specifying each storage section; a counter means for generating a timing signal instructing the portion to be erased based on the information read from the storage means and the write clock signal; 1. A control device for an optical writing printer, comprising: write control means for generating a write signal for erasing based on a timing signal output by the counter means that instructs the portion to be erased. (2) The control device for an optical writing printer according to claim (1), wherein information regarding the length of the difference portion is determined based on the output of the paper width detection sensor and is set in a storage unit.