JP2010017982A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming operation based on printing data stored in a storage unit is performed when a storage state of printing data in a storage unit is set in advance, and overflow of the storage unit is prevented.
A CPU 101 of an image forming apparatus 100 determines whether print data input during execution of a power saving mode is print data to which a control command instructing suppression of power consumption is added. . When the print data to which the control command is added is input, the CPU 101 stores the print data in the image memory 104 without executing the image forming operation. The CPU 101 integrates the storage amount of the print data in the image memory 104, and performs an image forming operation based on the print data in the image memory 104 when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction machine that executes an image forming operation based on printing data, an image forming method executed by the image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus connected to each other. The present invention relates to an image forming system.

  As an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming operation based on printing data, an image forming apparatus that performs an electrophotographic image forming operation raises the temperature of the fixing device to a set temperature that is equal to or higher than the melting temperature of the toner during the image forming operation. It is necessary to keep it. However, if the set temperature is maintained even during the standby of the image forming operation, power is wasted.

  In view of this, there is an apparatus that can execute a power saving mode (power saving mode) that consumes less power than the operation mode in which the image forming operation is possible during standby of the image forming operation.

  In addition, a printing system has been proposed in which, while the image forming apparatus is executing the power saving mode, a release request for instructing the release of the printing data or the power saving mode is not output from the external apparatus to the image forming apparatus. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a reduction in power saving effect due to frequent cancellation of the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus connected to a plurality of external apparatuses.

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, when a plurality of external apparatuses are connected to the image forming apparatus, in order to prevent the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus from being released, all the external apparatuses are protected. Therefore, it is necessary to perform complicated work for instructing to restrict transmission of print data and release request. Also, in order for the image forming apparatus to perform an image forming operation, printing data from the external apparatus must be transmitted when the image forming apparatus is not executing the power saving mode, and the same printing is performed from the external apparatus. It may be necessary to transmit the data for multiple times. This complicates processing in the external device.

Therefore, it is conceivable to output a command for instructing whether or not to maintain the power saving mode together with the print data from the external device. The print data input together with the command for instructing the maintenance of the power saving mode is stored in the image forming apparatus. When a command for canceling the power saving mode is input, it is conceivable that the power saving mode is canceled and the image forming operation is performed on the input print data and stored print data.
JP 2001-209514 A

  However, if all of the print data input together with the command instructing maintenance of the power saving mode is stored in the storage unit, the storage unit may overflow when the power saving mode is continued for a long time. Some print data cannot be stored. The printing data that has not been stored needs to be output again from the external device. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to provide a large-capacity storage unit, which causes an increase in cost.

  An object of the present invention is to form an image based on printing data stored in the storage unit by switching from the power saving mode to the operation mode when the storage state of the printing data in the storage unit is set in advance. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and an image forming system that operate and do not cause overflow of a storage unit.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming operation on a recording sheet based on printing data input from an external device, and includes a control unit and a storage unit. The control unit selectively executes an operation mode in a power consumption state in which an image forming operation can be performed or a power saving mode in a power consumption state that is less than that in the image forming operation to control the image forming operation. The storage unit stores printing data that is input during execution of the power saving mode and to which a control command instructing suppression of power consumption is added. The control unit switches to the operation mode and stores the print data stored in the storage unit when the storage state of the print data stored in the storage unit becomes a predetermined state set in advance during execution of the power saving mode. An image forming operation based on the business data is performed.

  In the image forming method implemented with this configuration, a control command for instructing suppression of power consumption is added from an external device during execution of the power saving mode in which the power consumption state is less than that during the image forming operation based on the print data. When the printing data is input, the printing data is stored in the storage unit, and stored in the storage unit when the storage state of the printing data in the storage unit becomes a predetermined state set in advance. The image forming operation based on the printing data is executed.

  Therefore, if a predetermined state is set in advance so that the amount of print data stored in the storage unit does not exceed the capacity of the storage unit, even if the power saving mode continues for a long time, the storage unit overflows. It does not occur.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is communicably connected to at least one information processing apparatus to constitute an image forming system.

  In this configuration, it is preferable that the storage state is the storage amount of the printing data in the storage unit, and the storage amount of the printing data in the storage unit is integrated by the control unit. Alternatively, it is preferable that the storage state is the number of pages of printing data in the storage unit, and the number of pages of printing data in the storage unit is integrated by the control unit. In these cases, it is more preferable that the control unit performs an image forming operation based on all print data stored in the storage unit.

  Image formation based on print data stored in the storage unit by switching to the operation mode when the storage amount reaches a predetermined value or when the number of pages reaches a predetermined value Operation is performed. Even when the power saving mode is continued for a long time, the storage unit does not overflow, the print data not stored in the storage unit need not be output again from the external device, and the storage unit capacity is compared. The cost can be reduced.

  Further, the storage state may be the storage time of print data in the storage unit, and the storage time of the print data in the storage unit may be measured by the control unit. When the power saving mode is continued for a long time by switching to the operation mode when the storage time reaches a preset value and performing the image forming operation based on the printing data stored in the storage unit However, it is possible to prevent the storage unit from overflowing.

  Furthermore, it is preferable to further include an operation unit that accepts a predetermined value setting operation. The predetermined value can be appropriately set according to the usage status of the image forming apparatus and the capacity of the storage unit.

  In addition, it is preferable that the control unit returns to the power saving mode after the image forming operation based on the printing data stored in the storage unit is completed. It is possible to prevent the operation mode from being continued after the end of the image forming operation and to suppress power consumption.

  According to this invention, even when the power saving mode is continued for a long time, the overflow of the storage unit can be prevented. Printing data that could not be stored in the storage unit need not be output again from the external device, the capacity of the storage unit can be made relatively small, and cost reduction can be realized.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, a printer driver program, and an image forming system according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 is a multifunction machine having a copy function and a printer function, and forms a color image or a monochrome image on a sheet by an electrophotographic image forming operation based on print data. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 10, a communication unit 20, a paper feeding unit 80, a laser scanning unit (LSU) 90, image forming units 30A to 30D, an intermediate transfer unit 40, a secondary transfer unit 50, and a fixing unit. 60 and a document reading unit 70.

  The control unit 10 controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 in an integrated manner. The communication unit 20 inputs and outputs data with an external device. During printer operation, print data is input from an external device via the communication unit 20.

  The document reading unit 70 is an image reading unit according to the present invention, and reads printing data from the image surface of a document placed on the upper surface of the document table 71 during a copying operation. The upper surface of the document table 71 can be opened and closed by an automatic document feeder 72.

  The LSU 90 irradiates laser light modulated by printing data input via the communication unit 20 or printing data read by the document reading unit 70.

  The image forming units 30A to 30D respectively correspond to four hues of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, which are three primary colors of black and subtractive color mixing.

  As an example, the image forming unit 30A includes a photosensitive drum 31A, a charger 32A, and a developing device 33A. The charger 32A uniformly charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31A. The portion of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31A that has been charged by the charger 32A is scanned with a laser beam from the LSU 90, and forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to black printing data. The developing device 33A supplies black toner to the electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31A, and visualizes the toner image.

  The image forming units 30B to 30D are configured similarly to the image forming unit 30A, and cyan, magenta, and yellow toner images are formed on the photosensitive drums 31B to 31D, respectively.

  The intermediate transfer unit 40 includes an endless intermediate transfer belt 41 and transfer units 42A to 42D. The toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 31A to 31D by the image forming units 30A to 30D are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 41 by a transfer electric field formed by the transfer units 42A to 42D.

  The paper feed unit 80 includes a paper feed cassette 1 and a manual feed tray 2. The sheets stored in the sheet feeding cassette 1 or the manual feed tray 2 are fed one by one toward the intermediate transfer belt 41 and the secondary transfer unit 50.

  The secondary transfer unit 50 transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 41 to the paper fed from the paper feed unit 80.

  The fixing unit 60 heats and presses the paper on which the toner image is transferred via a heating roller and a pressure roller, and heat-fixes the toner image on the paper. For this reason, during the image forming operation, an operation mode for maintaining the temperature of the heating roller of the fixing unit 60 at the toner melting temperature is executed. While the operation mode is being executed, a relatively large amount of power is required to maintain the temperature of the heating roller at the toner melting temperature. If the operation mode is continuously executed even during the standby for the image forming operation, power is wasted. The Therefore, during the standby of the image forming operation, the power saving mode is executed in which the temperature of the heating roller is controlled to a temperature lower than the toner melting temperature to suppress the power consumption.

  For example, when the standby state of the image forming operation continues for a predetermined time, the operation mode is switched to the power saving mode.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus. The image forming system 1 connects the image forming apparatus 100 and the information processing apparatus 200 via the LAN 2 as an example. The image forming apparatus 100 and the information processing apparatus 200 can be connected via the Internet or a public telephone line. In addition, a plurality of information processing apparatuses 200 can be connected to the image forming apparatus 100.

  The control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 100 is configured by connecting a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an image memory 104, interfaces 105 to 113, and a sensor 120 to a CPU 101 that is a control unit of the present invention.

  The ROM 102 stores a program that defines the operation of the CPU 101. The RAM 103 temporarily stores data input / output to / from the CPU 101. The memory area MA1 in the RAM 103 is assigned to a timer that counts a predetermined time by counting clock pulses output from an internal clock (not shown). The image memory 104 is a storage unit according to the present invention, and stores printing data.

  The interfaces 105 to 113 include the image forming units 30A to 30D, the intermediate transfer unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, the fixing unit 60, the document reading unit 70, the paper feeding unit 80, the LSU 90, the operation panel unit 130, and the communication unit 20. It is connected. The CPU 101 controls each unit through the interfaces 105 to 113 according to a program stored in the ROM 102.

  The sensor 120 detects the open / closed state of the upper surface of the document table 71 by the automatic document feeder 72 and inputs a detection signal to the CPU 101. The operation panel unit 130 inputs key switch operation data to the CPU 101 via the interface 113.

  The information processing apparatus 200 is an external apparatus of the present invention, and includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, an HDD 204, and interfaces 205 to 208.

  The CPU 201 executes processing according to a program stored in advance in the ROM 202. The RAM 203 temporarily stores data input / output to / from the CPU 201. Application programs including a printer driver program are installed in the HDD 204. A display controller 210, a keyboard 211, a mouse 212, and a communication unit 209 are connected to the interfaces 205 to 208, respectively. The communication unit 209 inputs and outputs data with the communication unit 20 of the image forming apparatus 100 via the LAN 2.

  The display controller 210 displays a display screen on the display 213 based on the display data supplied from the CPU 201. Operation data of the keyboard 211 and mouse 212 is input to the CPU 201 via the interfaces 207 and 208.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the information processing apparatus constituting the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. When the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 200 receives print processing instructions in the image forming apparatus 200 (S1) during creation of print data by an application program such as word processing software (S1), the printer installed in the HDD 205 The driver program is activated (S3). The CPU 201 supplies display data of a printer driver screen G1 shown in FIG. 4, for example, to the display controller 210 according to the printer driver program (S4). As a result, the printer driver screen G1 is displayed on the display 213.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the printer driver screen G1 includes a main screen G1A, a paper screen G1B, a print setting screen G1C, a watermark screen G1D, and a version screen G1E.

  On the main screen G1A, a direction setting unit 301, a quality setting unit 302, a number setting unit 303, a paper feed setting unit 304, and a power saving setting unit 306 are displayed. The direction setting unit 301 accepts a print direction setting input. The quality setting unit 30 receives a print quality setting input. The number setting unit 303 accepts a setting input for the number of copies. A paper feed setting unit 304 receives a paper feed method setting input. The order selection unit 305 receives a print order setting input. The power saving setting unit 306 receives an instruction input for the power consumption state of the image forming apparatus 200.

  When the power saving setting unit 306 on the main screen G <b> 1 </ b> A instructs “with power saving printing”, the CPU 201 adds a control command for instructing suppression of power consumption to the printing data to be output to the image forming apparatus 100. (S5, S6).

  When the execution button 310 on the printer driver screen G1 is clicked, the CPU 201 outputs print data to the image forming apparatus 100 (S7, S8).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. When the power is turned on, the CPU 101 of the image forming apparatus 100 performs warming up (S11). The warming up includes a process of raising the temperature of the heating roller of the fixing unit 60 to a set temperature equal to or higher than the melting temperature of the toner.

  When the warm-up is completed, the CPU 101 waits for input of print data (S12). When printing data is input, an image forming operation based on the printing data is performed (S13). When the timer T1 measures a predetermined time without inputting printing data (S14), the CPU 101 switches to the power saving mode (S15).

  The CPU 101 waits for input of print data from the information processing apparatus 200 during execution of the power saving mode (S16). When the print data is input, the CPU 101 temporarily stores the print data together with the identification information in the image memory 104 (S17), and then determines whether or not a control command is added to the print data, that is, the power consumption amount. It is determined whether or not suppression is instructed (S18).

  When a control command is added to the print data, the storage amount of the print data is integrated while continuing the power saving mode (S19), and it is determined whether or not the integrated value of the storage amount has reached a predetermined value. It discriminate | determines (S20). This predetermined value is a value set in advance as a value smaller than the storage capacity of the image memory 104. If the accumulated value of the storage amount has not reached the predetermined value, the CPU 101 waits for input of print data (S16).

  When a control command is not added to the print data or the accumulated value of the storage amount reaches a predetermined value, the CPU 101 switches from the power saving mode to the operation mode (S21), and the heating roller melts the toner. It waits for it to become more than temperature (S22). When the heating roller becomes equal to or higher than the toner melting temperature, the CPU 101 performs an image forming operation based on printing data to which no control command is added or printing data to which a control command stored in the image memory 104 is added. Perform (S23). The CPU 101 erases the print data that has undergone the image forming operation from the image memory 104.

  As described above, when the storage amount of the print data in the image memory 104 reaches a predetermined value, the image forming operation based on the stored print data is performed, and the image memory 104 does not overflow. Note that the image forming operation may be performed based on at least one of the printing data stored in the image memory 104. However, it is more preferable to perform the image forming operation for all the printing data described in the image memory 104. The frequency of switching from the power saving mode to the operation mode is reduced, and the power consumption can be further suppressed. Further, the storage capacity of the image memory 104 is restored to the maximum value, and printing data having a large capacity can be reliably stored in the image memory 104.

  When the image forming operation is completed, the CPU 101 switches from the operation mode to the power saving mode (S15). The operation mode is not continued for a long time, and the power consumption can be further suppressed.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the process of step S31 is performed instead of the process of step S19 shown in FIG. Other processes are the same as those in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When a control command is added to the print data, the CPU 101 accumulates the page number of the print data while continuing the power saving mode (S31), and whether the accumulated value of the page number has reached a predetermined value. It is determined whether or not (S20). This predetermined value is a value set in advance as a value smaller than the number of pages of print data corresponding to the storage capacity of the image memory 104. When the integrated value of the number of pages reaches a predetermined value, the CPU 101 switches from the power saving mode to the operation mode (S21), and is stored in the image memory 104 after the heating roller becomes equal to or higher than the toner melting temperature. An image forming operation is performed based on the printing data to which the control command is added (S22, S23).

  Also by this process, the same effect as the process shown in FIG. 5 can be obtained.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the processes of steps S32 and S33 are performed instead of the process of step S19 shown in FIG. Other processes are the same as those in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When a control command is added to the print data, the CPU 101 stores the current time in association with each print data as the print data storage time (S32). While waiting for input of print data, the CPU 101 determines whether there is print data in which the elapsed time from the storage time is equal to or greater than a predetermined value in the image memory 104 (S33). This predetermined value is a value set in advance based on the storage capacity of the image memory 104, the input frequency of print data, and the like. When printing data whose elapsed time from the storage time has reached a predetermined value is present in the image memory 104, the CPU 101 switches from the power saving mode to the operation mode (S21), and the heating roller exceeds the melting temperature of the toner. After that, the image forming operation is performed based on the printing data whose elapsed time from the storage time has reached a predetermined value (S22, S23).

  Also by this process, the same effect as the process shown in FIG. 5 can be obtained. In each power saving mode, when the elapsed time from the time when the printing data to which the control command is first added is stored in the image memory 104 reaches a predetermined value, a part or all of printing in the image memory 104 is performed. An image forming operation based on data may be performed.

  In any of the above examples, the predetermined value is appropriately set according to the usage state of the image forming apparatus 100, the storage capacity of the image memory 140, and the like by the key operation of the operation panel unit (the operation unit of the present invention) 130. It may be settable. This predetermined value is stored in the memory area MA1 of the RAM 103 backed up by the battery.

  The above description of the embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

1 is a schematic front view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the information processing apparatus that constitutes the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen in the display of the information processing apparatus. 3 is a flowchart showing a part of a processing procedure of the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of a processing procedure of an image forming apparatus constituting an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of a processing procedure of an image forming apparatus constituting an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1-image forming system 10-control unit 70-document reading unit (image reading unit)
100-Image forming apparatus 101-CPU (control unit)
104-Image memory (storage unit)
200-Information processing device (external device)

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus that performs an image forming operation on a recording sheet based on printing data input from an external device,
A control unit that selectively executes an operation mode in a power consumption state in which an image forming operation can be performed or a power saving mode in a power consumption state that is less than that in the image forming operation to control the image forming operation;
A storage unit for storing print data, which is print data input during execution of the power saving mode and to which a control command instructing suppression of power consumption is added,
The control unit switches to the operation mode when the storage state of the print data stored in the storage unit becomes a predetermined state set in advance during execution of the power saving mode. An image forming apparatus that performs an image forming operation based on printing data stored in the computer. The storage state is a storage amount of print data in the storage unit,
The control unit integrates the storage amount of the print data in the storage unit, switches to the operation mode when the storage amount reaches a predetermined value set in advance, and stores the print data stored in the storage unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image forming operation based on data is performed. The storage state is the number of pages of print data in the storage unit,
The control unit accumulates the number of pages of print data in the storage unit, and switches to the operation mode when the page number reaches a predetermined value set in advance, and is stored in the storage unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image forming operation based on data is performed. The storage state is a storage time of print data in the storage unit,
The control unit measures the storage time of the print data in the storage unit, and switches to the operation mode when the storage time reaches a predetermined value set in advance, and is stored in the storage unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image forming operation based on data is performed.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs an image forming operation based on all print data stored in the storage unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an operation unit that receives a setting operation of the predetermined value.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit returns to the power saving mode after an image forming operation based on printing data stored in the storage unit is completed.   When printing data to which a control command for instructing suppression of power consumption is added is input from an external device during execution of the power saving mode in which the power consumption state is less than that in the image forming operation based on the printing data, An image forming operation based on the printing data stored in the storage unit when the printing data is stored in the storage unit and the storage state of the printing data in the storage unit reaches a predetermined state set in advance An image forming method for executing.   The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein after the image forming operation based on the printing data stored in the storage unit is finished, the image forming method returns to the power saving mode.   Image formation in which at least one information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information processing apparatus is the external apparatus, are connected to be communicable with each other. system.

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