JP3437297B2 - Image processing apparatus and control method for image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing apparatus control method capable of communicating with an external apparatus and an external printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, energy-saving measures such as automatically lowering the temperature of a fixing device or executing power-saving processing such as turning off the power when no operation is performed for a certain period of time in a copying machine or the like in consideration of energy saving. Is being carried out.

There is also an image processing apparatus that receives PDL data from a host computer or the like, develops it into a raster image, then performs image processing and transfers the image data to an image printing apparatus. At this time, in order to reduce the power consumption of the image printing unit of the image printing apparatus, if the PDL data is not sent from the external device such as the host computer and the unprocessed state continues for a certain period of time, the image printing unit is moved to the image printing unit. It is conceivable to control so that the power supply of is shut off to shift to the shut-off state.

When the PDL data to be printed is transferred from the external device, power is supplied to the image printing unit of the image printing device, and the image printing device is warmed up so that the image printing device is ready for printing. At that time, the image data is transferred to the image printing apparatus and the image is printed.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned configuration of the prior art, when a large amount of PDL data is transferred from an external device, it takes a long time to develop it into a raster image. Would waste power in the image printing section.

Further, when the image processing apparatus is used in a network environment and a plurality of users print image data one after another, the image printing apparatus repeatedly shuts off and warms up, resulting in poor efficiency. There were problems such as wasting power.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in which raster image data is accumulated and managed in advance for a predetermined transfer time, and when the predetermined transfer time is reached, an external printing device can print. By transitioning to this state, until the predetermined amount of raster image data that can be printed by the external printing device is spooled in the storage unit, the external printing device is kept in the low power consumption state and the predetermined amount of raster image data is It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and a control method of the image processing apparatus, which can continuously print a predetermined amount of spooled rasterized image data after the spool is spooled in an external printing apparatus in a printable state. .

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device and an external printing device stores a first accumulation of image information input from the external device. Means, rasterizing means for rasterizing raster image data based on the image information stored in the first storing means, second storing means for storing raster image data expanded by the developing means, and the second storing means. A time setting means for setting a desired time for printing by the external printing device based on the raster image data stored in the second storage means; and a time set by the time setting means,
It has a comparison means for comparing the present time and a control means for changing the external printing device to a printable state according to the comparison result by the comparison means.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the second storage means is a hard disk.

In a third aspect of the present invention, the second storage means can store raster image data relating to a plurality of jobs.

A fourth invention according to the present invention further comprises a storage means for job management for storing, for each job, identification information relating to the raster image data stored in the second storage means.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is further directed to the external printing in response to completion of all printing of raster image data corresponding to a plurality of jobs identified by the identification information stored in the storage means. It has a command issuing means for issuing a shut-off command to the external printing device when it receives a print end notification from the device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in a method of controlling an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device and an external printing device, image information input from the external device is stored in a first storage means. 1 accumulation step, a rasterizing step for rasterizing into raster image data based on the image information accumulated in the first accumulating means, and raster image data rasterized by the expanding step are accumulated in the second accumulating means. A second accumulating step; a time setting step for setting a desired time for printing by the external printing device based on the raster image data accumulated in the second accumulating means; and a time set by the time setting step. ,
It has a comparison step of comparing with the current time, and a control step of changing the external printing apparatus to a printable state according to the comparison result of the comparison step.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the second storage means is a hard disk.

In an eighth aspect of the present invention, the second storage means can store raster image data relating to a plurality of jobs.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, further, a management information storing step of storing identification information regarding the raster image data accumulated in the second accumulating means in a job managing storage means for storing each job. Is to have.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention, the external printing is further performed in response to completion of printing of raster image data corresponding to a plurality of jobs identified by the identification information stored in the storage means. Upon receipt of the print end notification from the apparatus, a command issuing step of issuing a shutoff command to the external printing apparatus is included.

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

[0028]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 100 is an image processing apparatus and 10
1 is a host computer for forming an image,
The created image data is transferred to the image processing apparatus as PDL data. Reference numeral 102 denotes an I / O for loading the PDL data from the host computer 101 into the image processing apparatus.
O interface.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a CPU for expanding the PDL data sent from the host computer 101 into a raster image, and controls the circuits of the image processing apparatus and issues control commands for the image printing apparatus. A ROM 104 stores an execution program for causing the CPU 103 to perform image processing and control of each unit. 1
Reference numeral 05 denotes a work RAM for storing temporary image data for the CPU 103 to perform image processing, and also for storing data necessary for program execution.

Reference numeral 106 denotes PDL by the CPU 103.
Hard disk (HD) for storing the raster image expanded from the image until it is transferred to the image printing apparatus 110.
Is. Reference numeral 107 denotes a RAM for managing the image data sent to the image processing apparatus 100, a job management RAM for storing the file ID and the file name attached to the raster-developed image data, and the CPU 103 The content of the image data stored in the hard disk (HD) 106 is detected from the information in the job management RAM 107.

The job management RAM 107 also stores the state of the image printing apparatus 110, and refers to this data to control activation of the image printing apparatus and switching of power supply shutoff.

Reference numeral 108 denotes an I / O interface for transmitting the image data stored in the hard disk to the image printing apparatus, and also for obtaining a control signal to the image printing apparatus 110 and a status of the image printing apparatus 110. A system bus 109 is a data bus connecting each circuit, an address bus,
It is composed of control signals and the like.

The image printing apparatus 110 prints the image data transferred from the image processing apparatus on a medium such as paper. The image printing apparatus 110 also includes a printer engine that supports a predetermined printing method.

[0035]

[0036]

The printer control method of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows an example of the image information spooling processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart shown. Note that (1) to (5) indicate each step.

The operation for spooling the PDL data sent from the host computer 101 has been described.

First, from the host computer 101 to PD
The L data is transferred to the inside of the image processing apparatus via the I / O interface 102. At this time, the CPU 103 turns the RO
Execute the program stored in M104,
The DL data is expanded into a raster image (1) and the data is stored in the work RAM 105 (2).

At this time, the data in the work RAM 105 is saved as binary or multi-valued image data depending on the program to be executed. At this time, if the work RAM 105 does not have enough capacity to expand the raster image, the raster image can be expanded on the hard disk 106.

On the other hand, from the host computer 101,
When sending the PDL data to the image processing apparatus, there is also a file name that can be arbitrarily set by the user, and information indicating whether the image is printed or spooled to the image processing apparatus without the need for printing. Transferred.

These pieces of information are set on the print screen of the host computer 101 as shown in FIG.

If the host computer 101 requests the already output, the expanded image data is not stored in the hard disk 106 but transferred to the image printing apparatus 110 under the control of the CPU 103.

On the other hand, when the host computer 101 selects spool, the file name sent from the host computer 101 is stored in the job management RAM 107 (3). At this time, the CPU is added at the beginning of the file name.
The ID number determined by 103 is attached. R for job management
If the file name stored so far in the AM 107 does not exist, the file ID becomes “1”, and then
When new image data is transferred, I
The D number increases.

The image developed in the work RAM 105 is transferred to the hard disk 106 with this ID number added to the head of the data (4), (5).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the power saving processing method of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. In addition,
(1) to (10) show respective steps, which correspond to a process of transferring the image data spooled in the hard disk 106 inside the image processing apparatus to the image printing apparatus 110.

First, when the number of images stored in the hard disk 106 reaches a preset number N (1), the operation of transferring data to the image printing apparatus is started and the CPU
103 confirms the state of the image printing device in the job management RAM 107, and if the image printing device 110 is OFF (2), sends a command of a start command to the image printing device 110 (3).

As shown in FIG. 4, the image printing apparatus 1
10 has an I / O interface unit 401, and is capable of transmitting / receiving image data and control commands to / from the image processing apparatus 100. Image printing device 1
Even when 10 is shut off, the I / O interface 401 and the CPU 402 in the image printing apparatus 110 continue to be energized.
An ON / OFF control command from 00 can be accepted. Further, a start instruction command from the image processing apparatus 100 is sent to the CPU 4 via the I / O interface 401.
CPU40 which was transmitted to 02 and received the start command
2 controls to energize the image printing unit 403.

Next, when the image printing unit 403 is energized and the image data from the image processing apparatus 100 can be received, the CPU 402 completes the image printing apparatus preparation through the I / O interface 401. A command to notify is issued (4). When the CPU 103 inside the image processing apparatus receives the image processing apparatus preparation completion command, the job management RAM 107 stores information indicating that the image processing apparatus has started (5), and raster image data stored in the hard disk 106. Is controlled so as to be transferred to the image printing apparatus (6).

In this way, the ID numbers of the respective image data stored in the hard disk 106 are referred to and the ID numbers 1 to N are sequentially output. When the output image data is printed by the image printing apparatus 110, the CPU 103 deletes (deletes) the ID number and file name of the image data stored in the job management RAM 107 (7).

Next, for all the image data stored in the job management RAM 107, the output of the image data to the image printing apparatus is completed, and it is received from the image printing apparatus that all the printing of the image data is completed ( 8), C
The PU 103 starts the operation so as to shut off the image printing apparatus 110. First, the C in the image processing apparatus 100 is
The PU 103 issues a shutoff command to the image printing apparatus 110 via the I / O interface (9).

Next, the CPU inside the image printing apparatus 110
When the 402 receives the shut-off command, it controls to turn off the power to the image printing unit 403. In this way, when the power to the image printing unit 403 is cut off, the CP
The U402 notifies the image processing apparatus 100 of the shutoff completion. When the CPU 103 inside the image processing apparatus receives the shutoff completion notification from the image printing apparatus (1
0), the image printing apparatus 11 in the job management RAM 107
The information is updated to 0 (11), and the host computer 101 waits until the PDL data is transferred.

[0053]

[0054]

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The difference from the first embodiment is that a timer circuit 501 is added, and the printing operation can be started at a specific time using this timer circuit 501.

That is, when the time to print the image data spooled on the hard disk 106 is input from the operation unit of the image processing apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 7, the information is stored in the register inside the timer circuit 501. .

The timer circuit 501 compares the current time with the time in the register, and if the comparison results match, the CPU 1
An interrupt signal is transmitted to the image processing device 03, and at the time when the currently performed process is completed, a start command is issued to the image printing apparatus 110 via the I / O interface 108. When the image printing apparatus 110 finishes booting, the CPU 103 outputs the image spooled in the hard disk 106 to the image printing apparatus 110. Hard disk 1
The image printing apparatus 1 prints all the images spooled in 06.
When the image printing apparatus 110 outputs the image to the image printing apparatus 110 and receives a print end notification from the image printing apparatus 110, the CPU 103 causes the image printing apparatus 110
The shutoff command to the image printing apparatus 110.
Shut off.

As described above, since the image spooled at the specific time set by the user is output, the image printing apparatus 11
Avoid the time 0 is frequently used, the image printing device 11
Since image printing is performed collectively at times when 0 is relatively low in frequency of use, the image printing apparatus 110 can be used more efficiently.
It is possible to prevent wasteful power consumption.

[0060]

[0061]

[0062]

[0063]

[0064]

[0065]

[0066]

[0067]

[0068]

[0069]

When the print request key KEY for spool image data is input from the operation unit PAL shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 103 in the image processing apparatus 100 causes the job management RA to be executed.
With reference to the contents of M107, the list as shown in FIG. 8 is output to the operation unit screen DSP. The file name of the spooled image and the ID number assigned to each are displayed in the list, and the user inputs the ID number of the image data to be printed from the operation unit PAL shown in FIG.

In response to this, the image processing apparatus 100 determines that the ID
When the number is input, a start command command is transmitted to the image printing apparatus 110, and when the image printing preparation is completed, I
The image data corresponding to the D number is output from the hard disk 106 to the image printing device 110. When the image printing apparatus 110 finishes printing, the job management RAM
File name and ID of the printed file in 107
The number is deleted, and then a shutoff command is issued to the image printing apparatus 110 to shut off the image printing apparatus 110.

Since any image data spooled in the hard disk 106 can be image-printed at any time, the operability for the user can be improved.

The present embodiment may be mounted inside the image printing apparatus 110 or independent from the image printing apparatus 110, and realizes the same function for any external apparatus and image input / output apparatus. Is also possible.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. It also applies to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

According to the above embodiment, the image data described in PDL sent from an external device such as a computer is expanded into a raster image, and the expanded image is temporarily stored in an image recording medium such as a hard disk.

At this time, the image data that needs to be output is transferred to the image printing apparatus without being spooled in the hard disk. Next, the image printing apparatus is warmed up when a prescribed number of images is stored in the hard disk or at a preset time. Then, all the image data stored in the hard disk is transferred to the image printing apparatus, and when the image printing is completed, the image printing apparatus is shut off.

As a result, it is possible to eliminate wasteful power consumption in the image printing apparatus during the time of image development. Even when the image processing device is used in a network environment, the image data is recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk until the number of image data to be printed reaches a certain specified number or the usage frequency of the image printing device decreases. Is temporarily saved, the image printing device is warmed up at a certain specified time or at a certain specified time, and the image printing device is shut off when all the image data is printed. Becomes shorter,
The use efficiency is improved and the power consumption of the image printing apparatus can be reduced.

[0078]

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus and the control method of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, raster image data is accumulated and managed up to a predetermined transfer time in advance, and the raster image data is stored at the predetermined transfer time. When the external printing device is reached, the external printing device is controlled to transition to a printable state, so that the external printing device consumes less power until a predetermined amount of raster image data that can be printed by the external printing device is spooled to the storage unit. After the predetermined amount of raster image data is spooled, the external printing apparatus is set to the printable state, and the spooled predetermined amount of rasterized image data can be continuously printed.

[0079]

[0080]

[0081]

[0082]

[0083]

[0084]

[0085]

[0086]

[0087]

[0088]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an image information spooling processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a print designation screen on the host computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image printing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a power saving processing method of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation unit of the image printing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

8 is a diagram showing an example of a spool file list displayed on the operation unit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 image processing device 101 host computer 103 CPU 104 ROM 105 work RAM 106 hard disk (HD) 107 job management RAM 110 image printing device

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-4-3220 (JP, A) JP-A-6-32026 (JP, A) JP-A-6-127082 (JP, A) JP-A-62-28277 (JP , A) JP-A-5-162421 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 29/38 G06F 1/32 G06F 3/12

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device and an external printing device, comprising: first storage means for storing image information input from the external device; and an image stored in the first storage means. Rasterizing means for rasterizing raster image data based on information; second accumulating means for accumulating the raster image data rasterized by the expanding means; and the raster image data accumulating in the second accumulating means. Time setting means for setting a time desired to be printed by an external printing device, comparing means for comparing the time set by the time setting means with the current time, and the external means according to the comparison result by the comparing means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that transitions the printing apparatus to a printable state. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second storage unit is a hard disk. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second storage unit can store raster image data regarding a plurality of jobs. 4. The image processing according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for job management that stores identification information on the raster image data stored in the second storage unit for each job. apparatus. 5. The external device is further responded to when all printing of raster image data corresponding to a plurality of jobs identified by the identification information stored in the storage means is completed.
The command issuing means for issuing a shut-off command to the external printing device upon receiving a print end notification from the external printing device.
The image processing device according to item 1. 6. A method of controlling an image processing device capable of communicating with an external device and an external printing device, comprising: a first storing step of storing image information input from the external device in a first storing means; A rasterizing step of rasterizing the raster image data based on the image information stored in the first storing means; a second storing step of storing the raster image data expanded by the developing step in the second storing means; A time setting step for setting a desired time for printing by the external printing device based on the raster image data stored in the second storage means, and a comparison for comparing the time set by the time setting step with the current time. And a control step of transitioning the external printing device to a printable state according to the comparison result of the comparison step. Method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim Rukoto. 7. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second storage unit is a hard disk. 8. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second storage unit can store raster image data regarding a plurality of jobs. 9. A management information storing step for storing identification information about the raster image data accumulated in the second accumulating means in a job managing storage means for storing each job. Item 7. A method for controlling an image processing device according to item 6. 10. Furthermore, the in response to the printing of raster image data corresponding to a plurality of job identified by the identification information stored in the storage unit has been completed
The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a command issuing step of issuing a shutoff command to the external printing apparatus when receiving a print end notification notified from the external printing apparatus. Control method.