JP2008009216A - Image forming apparatus and image forming program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten printing time while ensuring secure printing in a printer. <P>SOLUTION: A print job receiving section 1 receives a print job. Upon the reception of the print job, the print job receiving section 1 requests a print engine 5 to primarily feed paper. Based upon the print job from the print job receiving section 1, an image forming section 3 forms a print image and outputs it to the print engine 5. Also, the image forming section 3 requests the print engine 5 to secondarily feed paper. The print engine 5 primarily feeds paper 7 from a paper feed cassette upon the primary paper feed request, secondarily feeds paper 7 upon the secondary paper feed request, and then transfers and fixes the print image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming program. For example, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming program suitable for a printer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when performing copy processing with a copying machine, a multifunction device, etc., as shown in FIG. Image formation is requested, the image forming unit receives it and forms an image and issues a paper feed start request to the print engine. The print engine primarily feeds the paper from the paper feed stage to the registration rollers. After the arrival, the sequence control is performed so that the paper is secondarily fed, discharged through the print fixing process.

In order to speed up the copying process in these copying machines, multifunction devices, etc., a primary paper feed start request is issued during the reading of the original, and the paper is first fed in advance or the primary paper feed is performed. A technique for increasing the conveyance speed is disclosed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-102727 (Patent Document 1) is of this type.
JP-A-6-102727

  However, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, primary paper feeding is started while reading a document to speed up the copy process. However, when operating as a printer, the capacity of received print jobs varies from small to large. Yes, it is necessary to devise a special idea as to when it is preferable to start the primary paper feeding and accelerate the copy process.

  Furthermore, there are many cases where image processing such as enlargement, reduction, or rotation processing is required for a print image to be printed. Similarly, special measures are also required in such a case.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming program that can easily shorten a printing time in a printer function.

  In order to solve such a problem, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention receives a print job and a print engine that transfers and fixes a print image by secondary feeding of a sheet that has been primarily fed from a sheet feed tray. In addition, a print job receiving unit that controls the start of primary paper feeding of the print engine, a print image formed from the print job received by the print job receiving unit, output to the print engine, and the secondary paper feeding And an image forming unit for starting control.

  In the present invention, it is possible to form the print job receiving unit so as to start and control the primary paper feed when the reception of the print job is started.

  In the present invention, it is possible to form the print job receiving unit so as to start and control the primary paper feed when reception of the print job is completed.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, it is possible to form the image forming unit so as to start the secondary paper feed after the print image is formed.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, a configuration in which the image forming unit is formed so as to have a function of enlarging, reducing, or rotating the print image is possible.

  In the image forming program of the present invention, the print image formed from the print job is printed on the paper to the print engine that transfers the paper image that is secondarily fed from the paper feed stage and transfers and fixes the print image. A print job reception process for receiving a print job and controlling the start of the primary feed of the print engine to a control computer for print control, and a print image is formed from the print job received in the print job reception process. In addition, the image forming process is executed to output to the printing engine and to start the secondary paper feeding control.

  Such an image forming apparatus and an image forming program according to the present invention provide a print job receiving unit for a print engine that transfers a sheet of paper that has been primarily fed from a sheet feeding stage to transfer and fix a print image. The print job is received and the primary feed of the print engine is controlled to start. The image forming unit forms the print image from the print job received by the print job receiving unit and outputs the print image to the print engine. Since the start of feeding is controlled, it is easy to shorten the printing time in the printer function.

  In the configuration in which the print job receiving unit is formed so that the primary paper feed is controlled to start when the reception of the print job is started, the printing time can be further shortened.

  In addition, in the configuration in which the print job receiving unit is formed so as to start and control the primary paper feed when reception of the print job is completed, it is possible to shorten the printing time while ensuring reliable printing.

  Furthermore, in the configuration in which the image forming unit is formed so that the secondary paper feeding is started after the print image is formed, the printing time can be shortened while ensuring reliable printing.

  Furthermore, in the configuration in which the image forming unit is formed so as to have a function of enlarging, reducing, or rotating the print image, it is possible to shorten the printing time while ensuring reliable printing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming program according to the present invention will be described in the process of describing the image forming apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, a print job receiving unit 1 has an input port function for inputting a print job from an external computer (not shown) in a printer, for example, and is connected to an image forming unit 3.

  The print job receiving unit 1 has a function of instructing a print engine 5 (to be described later) to start primary paper feed, for example, when receiving a print job, and is also connected to the print engine 5. The primary paper feed start instruction to the print engine 5 can be formed so as to instruct all print jobs at the end of reception.

  The image forming unit 3 has a function of analyzing the print job from the print job receiving unit 1, forming a print image (image data) including, for example, bit image data for each page, and outputting the print image to the print engine 5. Yes.

  The image forming unit 3 has a function of instructing the print engine 5 to start secondary paper feeding after forming a print image, and enlarges, reduces, or rotates the print image from a print job or an operation panel (not shown). If there is an instruction for processing or the like, the image processing is performed, and then the print engine 5 is instructed to start secondary paper feeding.

  The print engine 5 includes a paper feed stage (paper feed cassette) 9 in which the paper 7 is set, a roller 11 that primarily feeds the paper 7 from the paper feed stage 9, and feed timing control in the middle of the primary paper. And a registration roller 13 that adjusts the position, transfer rollers 15 and 17 that transfer an image to the sheet 7 that is secondarily fed from the registration roller 13, a heating roller 19 that heats and presses the sheet 7 on which the image is transferred, and pressurization The roller 21 is formed with a fixing portion, and an electronic circuit and a driving mechanism (not shown) for driving and controlling them.

  In order to facilitate understanding in the printing engine 5, for convenience, the paper 7, the paper feed stage 9, the roller 11, the registration roller 13, the transfer rollers 15 and 17, the heating roller 19, and the pressure roller 21 are separately provided in the printing engine. 5 is shown.

  When the print engine 5 receives a primary paper feed start instruction, the paper 7 is firstly fed from the paper feed stage 9 by the roller 11 to the registration roller 13 and receives a secondary paper feed start instruction. Under the state, when the image transfer preparation to the transfer rollers 15 and 17 is completed based on the print image, the sheet 7 waiting for timing control is secondarily fed by the registration roller 13 and is transferred by the transfer rollers 15 and 17. The image is transferred to the sheet 7 and the image is fixed by the heating roller 19 and the pressure roller 21 and discharged.

  Note that various functions performed by a part of the image forming unit 3 and the print engine 5 are realized by software.

  Next, the operation of the above-described image forming apparatus will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  When a print job is transmitted from the host computer, the print job receiving unit 1 receives the print job and requests the print engine 5 to start primary paper feed at the reception start timing. In response to the start instruction, the primary feeding of the sheet 7 is started.

  On the other hand, the print job receiving unit 1 continues to receive print jobs, and when the reception of all print jobs is completed, the print job receiving unit 1 outputs the print job to the image forming unit 3 and makes an image formation request.

  In response to this, the image forming unit 3 forms a print image from the print job, performs necessary image processing such as enlargement, reduction, or rotation, and sends the print image to the print engine 5 together with a secondary paper feed start instruction. .

  The print engine 5 prepares for image transfer based on the print image and controls the registration roller based on the secondary paper feed start instruction, and performs the secondary paper feed, image transfer, and image fixing processing as described above. .

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention receives a print job in addition to the print engine 5 for transferring and fixing the print image by secondary feeding of the paper that has been primarily fed from the paper feed tray. A print job receiving unit 1 that controls the start of primary paper feeding in the print engine 5 at the start of reception of the print job, and forms a print image from the print job received by the print job receiving unit 1 and outputs the print image to the print engine 5 And an image forming unit 3 that controls the start of secondary paper feeding after the print image is formed.

  For this reason, since the start of primary paper feed in the print engine 5 is controlled simultaneously with the start of reception of a print job, the inevitably generated timing such as the start of reception of a print job is effectively used as the start timing in the printer function. It is easy to shorten the printing time while ensuring reliable printing, and the configuration is not complicated.

  Further, if the print job receiving unit 1 is formed so as to start and control the primary paper feed at the end of reception of the print job, the secondary paper feed of the primary fed paper can be performed regardless of the size of the print job. The paper standby period tends to be constant, and the printing time can be shortened while ensuring reliable printing.

  By the way, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the secondary paper feed is controlled to start after the print image is formed, and the secondary paper feed start control is performed according to the formation of the print image. The image forming unit 3 may be formed.

  However, in the configuration in which the function for enlarging, reducing, or rotating the print image is provided in the image forming unit 3, the period required for image formation is likely to vary depending on the capacity of the print image. The configuration in which the start control is performed is preferable in order to shorten the printing time while ensuring reliable printing.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, or a combination machine combining these, and can be applied to various printing devices. In particular, the capacity of individual print jobs is likely to be different. Suitable for printers.

  By the way, in the image forming program according to the present invention, the control computer that controls various functions of the print job receiving unit 1, the image forming unit 3, and the print engine 5 receives the print job and inputs 1 to the print engine 5. A print job reception process for starting the next paper feed control, and a print image is formed from the print job received in the print job reception process and output to the print engine 5 and a secondary paper feed to the print engine 5 is started. The image forming process to be controlled is executed.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus according to FIG. 1. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print job receiving part 3 Image forming part 5 Print engine 7 Paper 9 Paper feed stage (paper feed cassette, print engine)
11 Roller (printing engine)
13 Registration roller (printing engine)
15, 17 Transfer roller (print engine)
19 Heating roller (fixing part, printing engine)
21 Pressure roller (fixing unit, printing engine)

Claims (6)

A printing engine for transferring and fixing a printed image by secondary feeding of the paper first fed from a paper feed stage;
A print job receiving unit that receives a print job and controls the start of primary paper feeding of the print engine;
An image forming unit that forms the print image from the print job received by the print job receiving unit, outputs the print image to the print engine, and controls the start of the secondary paper feeding;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print job receiving unit controls to start the primary paper feeding when reception of the print job is started. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print job receiving unit controls to start the primary paper feed when reception of the print job is completed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit controls the start of the secondary paper feeding after the print image is formed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming unit has a function of enlarging, reducing, or rotating the print image. To a control computer that forms a print job and controls printing of the print image on the paper to a print engine that transfers the paper image that has been primarily fed from the paper feed stage to transfer and fix the print image. In contrast,
A print job reception process for receiving the print job and controlling the start of primary paper feed of the print engine;
An image forming process for forming the print image from the print job received in the print job receiving process, outputting the print image to the print engine, and controlling the start of the secondary paper feed;
An image forming program for executing

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