JP2000015876A - Image forming apparatus, image output time calculating method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to know the time needed for the image output at the time of forming and outputting an image on a recording medium from image data stored in a memory means such as a hard disk by calculating the time needed for the image output based on compressed data provided by compressing the image data. SOLUTION: A binarizing part of an electronic sorter part 203 compresses image data, and the compressed data is stored in a hard disk comprising an image memory part of the electronic sorter part 203. A CPU circuit part 205 calculates a data transfer time based on the compressed data amount binarized by the binarizing part and the data transfer rate of the hard disk as well as calculates the time needed for the image output based on the data transfer time, the set output number, the document size, the direction, or the like. An operating part 209 displays the time needed for the image output. Accordingly, the time needed for the image output can be known by the user at the time of forming and outputting an image on a recording medium from the image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image output time calculating method, and a storage medium, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having a function of compressing and storing image data, and an image output time calculating method. And a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses having a function of forming an image on a recording medium such as paper are classified into a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digitalization of copiers among image forming apparatuses has progressed, and multifunction peripherals have appeared. In addition, systemization has been progressed, and paperlessness has been progressing. However, there is still a tendency to record information on paper in terms of information preservation, and the information on paper does not decrease as much as ever.
Therefore, by equipping the image forming apparatus itself with storage means such as a hard disk, the image information is stored in the storage means, and at the time of output, the image information is read out from the storage means to perform image formation, so that only necessary documents are required. 2. Description of the Related Art There is provided an image forming apparatus which can sometimes be obtained in a required number of copies in a short time.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, that is, an image forming apparatus equipped with a storage unit for storing image information, the storage unit for storing image information has a limited capacity. Therefore, the compressed image information is stored. Therefore, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when the image information stored in the storage means is formed on the recording medium and output, the data transfer time differs depending on the compression ratio of the compressed image information, and the Output time is different. Therefore, there is a problem that the user must wait in front of the image forming apparatus until an image is output.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when image data stored in a storage means such as a hard disk is formed on a recording medium and output, the time required by the user for image output is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, an image output time calculation method, and a storage medium that can be known.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of compressing image data and storing the compressed data. Is calculated based on the compressed data.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a compression means for compressing image data, a storage means for storing data compressed by the compression means, and a storage means for storing the data compressed by the compression means Expansion means for expanding the compressed data into image data.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 3, wherein the calculating means calculates a data transfer time based on an amount of data compressed by the compressing means and a data transfer speed with the storage means. The time required for image output is calculated based on the data transfer time, the set number of output sheets, the document size, and the like.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that it has a notifying means for notifying the time required for image output.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the notification means is a display means for displaying a time required for image output.

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the notifying means can output the time required for image output by voice.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the present invention is applicable to a copying machine.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the present invention is applicable to a printer.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that it is applicable to a facsimile.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the present invention is applicable to a combined system of a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image output time calculation method applied to an image forming apparatus capable of compressing image data and storing the compressed data. A calculating step of calculating the time required for the calculation based on the compressed data.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 12 comprises a compression step of compressing image data;
A storage step of storing the data compressed in the compression step; and an expansion step of expanding the compressed data stored in the storage step into image data.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to a thirteenth aspect is characterized in that in the calculating step, a data transfer time is calculated based on a data amount compressed by the compression step and a data transfer speed with the storage step. The time required for image output is calculated based on the data transfer time, the set number of output sheets, the document size, and the like.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to a fourteenth aspect has a notifying step of notifying a time required for image output.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 15 is characterized in that in the notification step, a time required for image output is displayed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 16 is characterized in that in the notification step, the time required for image output can be output as audio.

To achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that it can be applied to a copying machine.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that it is applicable to a printer.

To achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that it is applicable to a facsimile.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the present invention is applicable to a system in which a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile are combined.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a program for executing an image output time calculating method applied to an image forming apparatus capable of compressing image data and storing compressed data is stored. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein the image output time calculation method includes a calculation step of calculating a time required for image output based on compressed data.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the structure of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. An image forming apparatus (copier) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a document table glass 101, a scanner 102, scanning mirrors 105 and 106, a lens 108,
CCD (Charge Coupled Device)
Sensor 109, photoconductor drum 110, primary charger 11
2. Pre-exposure lamp 114, cleaning device 116, transfer charger 118, adsorption charger 119, exposure controller 12
0, developing unit 121, image forming unit 126, transfer belt 13
0, upper cassette 131, lower cassette 132, pickup rollers 133 and 134, paper feed rollers 135 and 13
6, registration roller 137, transfer belt roller 138,
Pre-fixing chargers 139 and 140, fixing device 141, discharge roller 142, deck 150, lifter 151, paper feed roller 1
52, multi manual feed 153, discharge flapper 154, reversing path 155, re-feed tray 156, multiple flapper 15
7, lower transport path 158, paper feed roller 159, path 16
0, a discharge roller 161, a first feed roller 162, a reversing roller 163, and a circulating automatic document feeder (hereinafter abbreviated as RDF) 180.

The configuration of each of the above-described units together with the operation will be described in detail.
An original to be copied is placed on the upper surface of the original platen glass 101. The scanner 102 includes a document illumination lamp 103 that illuminates the document, a scanning mirror 104 that reflects light reflected from the document toward the scanning mirror 105, and the like. When the scanner 102 is reciprocally scanned in a predetermined direction by a motor (not shown), reflected light from a document passes through a scanning mirror 104 in the scanner 102 and a lens 108 via scanning mirrors 105 to 106, and a CCD sensor (Image sensor unit) An image is formed on 109. The CCD sensor 109 photoelectrically converts light into an electric signal. The exposure control unit 120 includes a laser, a polygon scanner, and the like. The laser light 12 is converted into an electric signal by the CCD sensor 109 and modulated based on an image signal subjected to predetermined image processing described later.
9 is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 110.

Around the photosensitive drum 110, a primary charger 112, a developing device 121, a transfer charger 118, a cleaning device 116, and a pre-exposure lamp 114 are arranged. In the image forming unit 126, the photosensitive drum 110 is rotated by a motor (not shown) in a direction indicated by an arrow, and after being charged to a desired potential by the primary charger 112, a laser beam from the exposure control unit 120 is emitted. 129 is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 110 is developed by the developing device 121 and is visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, an upper cassette 131 and a lower cassette 132 are detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 100. Upper cassette 131 or lower cassette 1
The transfer paper fed from 32 by the pickup rollers 133 and 134 is sent to the registration roller 137 side inside the image forming apparatus main body by the feed rollers 135 and 136, and then is fed to the transfer belt 130 by the registration roller 137. Then, the visualized toner image is transferred to transfer paper by the transfer charger 118. Photoconductor drum 110 after transfer
The residual toner is cleaned by the cleaning device 116 and the residual charge is erased by the pre-exposure lamp 114.

After the transfer, the transfer paper is separated from the transfer belt 130, and the toner image is recharged by the pre-fixing chargers 139 and 140, and then sent to the fixing device 141. The transfer paper is fixed by pressure and heat in a fixing device 141, and the discharge roller 1
The sheet is discharged out of the image forming apparatus main body 100 by 42.
The attraction charger 119 attracts the transfer paper sent from the registration roller 137 to the transfer belt 130. The transfer belt roller 138 is used to rotate the transfer belt 130, and is paired with the attraction charger 119.
At 0, the transfer paper is adsorbed and charged. Further, the image forming apparatus main body 100 is equipped with a deck 150 capable of storing, for example, 4000 transfer sheets. Lifter 1 for deck 150
Numeral 51 rises according to the amount of transfer paper so that the transfer paper always contacts the paper feed roller 152. Further, a multi-bypass tray 153 capable of accommodating, for example, 100 sheets of transfer paper is provided at an upper portion of the deck 150.

The discharge flapper 154 switches the path between the double-side recording side or the multiple recording side and the discharge side. Discharge roller 1
The transfer paper sent out from the paper discharge flapper 15
4 switches to the double-side recording side or the multiple recording side. In addition, the lower transport path 158 guides the transfer paper sent from the discharge roller 142 to the re-feed tray 156 by turning over the transfer paper via the reversing path 155. Also, the multiple flapper 157
Is used to switch the path between double-sided recording and multiple recording. By inverting the path to the left in the drawing, the transfer paper is directly guided to the lower transport path 158 without passing through the reverse path 155. The paper feed roller 159 feeds the transfer paper to the photosensitive drum 110 through the path 160.

The discharge roller 161 is a discharge flapper 154.
, And the transfer paper switched to the discharge side by the paper discharge flapper 154 is discharged outside the apparatus. At the time of double-sided recording (double-sided copying) or multiple recording (multiple copying), the discharge flapper 154 is raised upward, and the copied transfer paper is stored in the re-feed tray 156 in a state of being turned over via the lower transport path 158. . At this time, the multiplex flapper 157 is tilted rightward in the figure during double-sided recording, and the multiplex flapper 157 is tilted leftward in the figure during the multiplex recording. At the time of the next backside recording or multiplex printing, the transfer sheets stored in the refeeding tray 156 are fed one by one from the bottom to the sheet feeding roller 15.
9 through the path 160 to the registration roller 137 of the image forming apparatus main body 100.

When the transfer paper is to be inverted and discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100, the discharge flapper 154 is raised upward, the multiple flapper 157 is tilted rightward in the drawing, and the copied transfer paper is moved to the transport path 155 side. After the transfer paper has passed through the first feed roller 162 at the rear end of the transfer paper,
3 to the second feed roller side, and discharge rollers 1
At 61, the transfer paper is turned over and discharged out of the machine.

Next, the configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The control system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an image reading unit 201 having a lens 108, a CCD sensor 109, and an analog signal processing unit 202, an electronic sorter unit 203, a printer unit 204, a CPU 206
CPU circuit section 20 having ROM 207 and RAM 208
5 and an operation unit 209.

The configuration of each of the above-described units together with the operation will be described in detail.
The image reading unit 201 includes a lens 108, a CCD sensor 109, an analog signal processing unit 202, and the like. In the image reading unit 201, a document image formed on the CCD sensor 109 via the lens 108 is
It is converted into an analog electric signal (image information) by the D sensor 109. The converted image information is input to the analog signal processing unit 202, where sample and hold, dark level correction and the like are performed, and then analog-to-digital conversion (A
/ D conversion). The digitized signal is input to the electronic sorter unit 203 after shading correction (variation of a sensor for reading a document and correction of light distribution characteristics of the document illumination lamp 103) and scaling processing are performed.

The electronic sorter unit 203 is composed of each unit shown in FIG. 3 described later, and performs correction processing necessary for an output system such as γ correction, smoothing processing, edge enhancement, other processing, processing, and the like. An image signal is output to the printer unit 204. The printer unit 204 includes the exposure control unit 120 composed of a laser or the like, the image forming unit 126, the transfer paper transfer control unit, and the like described with reference to the cross-sectional configuration diagram of FIG. The image is recorded on the transfer paper by the image signal.

The CPU circuit unit 205 includes a CPU 206, R
It is configured by the OM 207, the RAM 208, and the like. C
The PU 206 controls the image forming apparatus control system. RO
M207 stores a control program. RAM2
Reference numeral 08 is used for a temporary storage of a work area and data of the CPU 206. The CPU 206 of the CPU circuit unit 205
Based on the control program stored in the OM 207, the image reading unit 201, the electronic sorter unit 203, the printer unit 2
04, and switching of screen display in the operation unit 209, and the like, and overall control of the sequence of the image forming apparatus. The operation unit 209 has a display function of displaying a screen as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 described below based on the control of the CPU circuit unit 205, and has an operation function of various keys (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

Next, a detailed configuration of the electronic sorter unit 203, which is a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The electronic sorter unit 203 of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a log conversion unit 301, a binarization unit 302, a control unit 303, an image storage unit 304, a smoothing unit 305, and a γ correction unit 306. It has become.

The configuration of each of the above-described units together with the operation will be described in detail.
The image sent from the image reading unit 201 is
Is input to the electronic sorter unit 203 as luminance data of
It is sent to the og converter 301. The log converter 301
L for converting input luminance data into density data
A UT (Look Up Table) is stored therein, and the luminance data is converted into density data by outputting a table value corresponding to the input data. Thereafter, the density data is sent to the binarization unit 302. The binarization unit 302 binarizes the multi-value density data, and the density value becomes “0” or “255”. 8-bit binarized
Are converted into 1-bit image data of “0” or “1”, and the amount of image data stored in the memory is reduced.

However, when the image is binarized, the number of gradations of the image is changed from 256 gradations to two gradations. Therefore, when binarizing image data such as a photographic image, image quality generally deteriorates remarkably. . Therefore, it is necessary to perform pseudo halftone expression using binary data. In this example, an error diffusion method is used as a method of performing halftone expression in a pseudo manner using binary data.
In this method, when the density of a certain pixel is larger than a fixed threshold, it is determined that the density data is “255”, and when the density is smaller than the fixed threshold, it is determined that the density data is “0”. In this method, a difference between the density data and the binarized data is distributed to surrounding pixels as an error signal. The distribution of the error is performed by multiplying the error generated by the binarization by a matrix-like weighting coefficient prepared in advance and adding the multiplication to the surrounding pixels. As a result, the average density value of the entire image is stored, and the halftone can be represented in a pseudo binary manner.

The binarized image data is sent to the control unit 303 and, depending on the layout mode specified by the operation unit 209, whether to output simultaneously or to output after reading is completed.
A mode selection is made as to whether the read image is stored in a hard disk (to be described later) of the image storage unit 203.
The former is a mode in which image data is stored in the image storage unit 304 and the output of the first image is performed in parallel, and the latter is a mode in which all read images are stored in the image storage unit 304 and then output. Mode. In the latter case, the used area of the hard disk is distinguished depending on whether the image data is stored or not. The case of the mode for storing data in the hard disk will be described later.

After the mode selection as described above, the image data is stored in the image storage unit 304. The image storage unit 304 stores a SCSI (Small Computer S)
system interface) controller and a hard disk, and writes image data to the hard disk according to a command from the SCSI controller.
The plurality of image data stored in the memory is
Are output in the order corresponding to the edit mode specified by. For example, when the "electronic sort" mode is selected, the output of the document is controlled in such a manner as to sort the documents, so that a so-called "sorter" can be electrically performed.

The image data called from the image storage unit 304 and the image data not stored in the image storage unit 304 are sent to the smoothing unit 305. The smoothing unit 305 first converts 1-bit data into 8-bit data, and sets the image data signal to “0” or “255”.
The converted image data is replaced with a value obtained by summing the values obtained by multiplying the coefficients on the predetermined matrix by the density values of the neighboring pixels, that is, weighted average values. As a result, the binary data is converted into multi-valued data according to the density value of the neighboring pixels, and an image closer to the read image can be reproduced. The smoothed image data is input to the gamma correction unit 306. The γ correction unit 306 outputs the density data to the printer unit 2.
The conversion is performed by the LUT in consideration of the characteristics of No. 04, and the output is adjusted according to the density value set by the operation unit 209.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a display example of a copy standby screen displayed on the operation unit 209 of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a file screen displayed on the operation unit 209 of FIG. In the embodiment of the present invention, the operation unit 209 is, for example, of a liquid crystal touch panel type, but is not limited thereto.

On the copy standby screen shown in FIG. 4, an extended function key 401, an image mode key 402, a user mode key 403, an advanced zoom key 404, a call key 408,
Option key 409, sorter key 410, original mixed key 411, same size key 412, paper selection key 413, reduction key 414, enlargement key 415, zoom key 416, reduction magnification variable key 418, enlargement magnification variable key 420, HiF
An i key 421, a character recognition key 422, a copy mode key 424, a fax mode key 425, a printer mode key 426, a file key 427, a screen 428, and the like are displayed. In the file screen of FIG.
1, a print key 502, a name registration key 503, a read key 504, an erase key 505, and the like are displayed.

In this case, the correspondence between the above-described units in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and the respective constituent elements in the claims is as follows. The CPU circuit unit 205 corresponds to a calculating unit, and corresponds to the second electronic sorter unit 203.
The value converting unit 302 corresponds to a compression unit, and the electronic sorter unit 203
The image storage unit 304 of the electronic sorter unit 203 corresponds to a storage unit, and the smoothing unit 305 of the electronic sorter unit 203 corresponds to a decompression unit.
09 corresponds to the notifying means and the displaying means.

Next, in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the electronic sorter 20
The control of the mode for storing data in the hard disk in the third image storage unit 304 and the calculation method of the output time will be described.

To store data in the hard disk of the image storage unit 304, the user selects the file key 427 on the copy standby screen of the operation unit 209 shown in FIG.
To the file screen of the operation unit 209 shown in FIG. By pressing the read key 504, the original on the original platen glass 101 is read, and the binarized image is allocated to it and stored in the hard disk as described above. At this time, a file name can be registered by pressing a name registration key 503 from a file registration screen (not shown) of the operation unit 209. Further, the date of the day and the data amount at the time of binarization by the binarization unit 302 of the electronic sorter unit 203 are obtained and added.

When outputting a file stored in the hard disk of the image storage unit 304, a file is selected on the file screen shown in FIG. On this file screen, a file name (FILE NAME) 508, a date (DAY) 507, a size (SIZE) 509, a number (PAGE) 510, and the like are displayed. Further, the output number setting section (OUT) 511 is selected, and ten keys (not shown) are used.
Can input the number of output sheets. Then, an output time is obtained from the set number of sheets, the size, and the number of originals by using a calculation method described later, and displayed on an output time display unit (TIME) 512. If you want to output the original, print key 5
When the user presses the button 02, the data is output from the printer unit 204. The screen returns to the copy standby screen of FIG. 4 by pressing the form key 501 on the file screen of FIG.

Next, a description will be given of a method of calculating the output time from the set number of sheets, the size, and the number of originals. The data transfer time is determined by the binarizing unit 302 in the electronic sorter unit 203.
Assuming that the amount of data binarized by X is X and the data transfer speed with the hard disk of the image storage unit 304 is V, the data transfer time T (s) = X (bit) / V (bp
s). Assuming that the output time of the first sheet is Tf (s) and the document is output at Y sheets / minute, T (s) <60 / Y
(S), the output time Tout (s) = Tf + ｛[(number of output sheets × 6
0) / Y] − (60 / Y)｝ If T (s)> 60 / Y (s), output time Tout (s) = Tf + ｛[(number of output sheets × 6
0) / Y]-(60 / Y)｝ × T (s). In this case, Y is determined by the document size, direction, and the like.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention, the binarizing section 302 of the electronic sorter section 203 for compressing image data and the electronic sorter section 203 for storing compressed data A hard disk included in an image storage unit 304, a smoothing unit 305 of an electronic sorter 203 for expanding compressed data into image data,
The CPU circuit unit 205 calculates a data transfer time based on a data transfer speed with the hard disk, and calculates a time required for image output based on the data transfer time, a set number of output sheets, a document size, a direction, and the like. With the operation unit 209 for displaying, the following operations and effects are achieved.

In the above configuration, the image data is compressed by being binarized by the binarization unit 302 of the electronic sorter unit 203 and stored in the hard disk of the image storage unit 304.
When compressing image data to store the image data on the hard disk, the amount of compressed data is obtained. From the obtained amount of compressed data, a time required for the smoothing unit 305 to expand the compressed data stored in the hard disk into image data is calculated. Further, the calculation result is stored in the operation unit 20.
9 is displayed on the screen. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, when forming and outputting the image data stored on the hard disk of the image storage unit 304 on a recording medium such as paper, the user may know the time required for the image output. There is an effect that can be.

In the above embodiment of the present invention,
Although the description has been made taking the case of a copying machine as an example of the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to application to a copying machine, but is applicable to a printer, facsimile, -It is also possible to apply to a system that combines facsimile. In the embodiment of the present invention, the time required for image output is displayed on the operation unit 209. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the time required for image output is notified by, for example, a voice message.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus executes the program code stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by executing the reading.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS and the like running on the computer are actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0060]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus capable of compressing image data and storing the compressed data is provided. Has the calculation means for calculating the based on the compressed data, so that the following effects can be obtained. By calculating the time required for image output based on the compressed data and notifying the user of the calculation result by a predetermined method, when forming image data on a recording medium and outputting the image data, the user can reduce the time required for image output. There is an effect that can be known.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, compression means for compressing image data, storage means for storing data compressed by the compression means, and storage means for storing the data. Since the apparatus has the decompression means for decompressing the compressed data into the image data, the following effects can be obtained. By calculating the time required for image output based on the compressed data,
If the calculation result is notified to the user by a predetermined method, the user can know the time required for image output when forming and outputting the image data stored in the storage means on the recording medium. .

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the calculating means calculates the data transfer time based on the amount of data compressed by the compressing means and the data transfer speed with the storage means. Transfer time, set output number,
Since the time required for image output is calculated based on the document size and the like, the following effects are obtained. By calculating the time required for image output based on the data transfer time, the set number of output sheets, the document size, and the like, and notifying the user of the calculation result by a predetermined method, the image data stored in the storage unit is stored on a recording medium. When an image is formed and output, there is an effect that the user can know the time required for image output.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since there is provided a notifying means for notifying the time required for image output, the following effects can be obtained. When forming and outputting image data stored in the storage means on a recording medium,
There is an effect that the user can know the time required for image output by the notification means.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the notification means is a display means for displaying a time required for image output, the following effects are obtained. When the image data stored in the storage means is formed on a recording medium and output, the user can know the time required for image output by the display means.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the notification means can output the time required for image output by voice, the following effects can be obtained. When the image data stored in the storage means is formed on a recording medium and output, the user has the effect of being able to know the time required for image output by voice output.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the image forming apparatus is applicable to a copying machine, the following effects can be obtained. In a copying machine, when an image data stored in a storage unit is formed on a recording medium and output, a user can know the time required for image output.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since it can be applied to a printer, the following effects can be obtained. When a printer forms an image on a recording medium and outputs the image data stored in the storage unit, the user can know the time required for image output.

According to the image forming apparatus of the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the image forming apparatus can be applied to a facsimile, the following effects can be obtained. In a facsimile, when forming image data stored in the storage means on a recording medium and outputting the image data, the user can know the time required for image output.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the present invention is applicable to a system in which a copier, a printer, and a facsimile are combined, the following effects are obtained. In a system in which a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile are combined, there is an effect that when forming image data stored in the storage means on a recording medium and outputting the image, the user can know the time required for image output.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image output time calculation method applied to an image forming apparatus capable of compressing image data and storing the compressed data. Has a calculation step of calculating the time required for the compression based on the compressed data, so that the following effects can be obtained. By calculating the time required for image output based on the compressed data and notifying the user of the calculation result by a predetermined method, when forming image data on a recording medium and outputting the image data, the user can reduce the time required for image output. There is an effect that can be known.

According to the image output time calculation method of the present invention, a compression step of compressing image data, a storage step of storing the data compressed in the compression step, and a storage step of storing the data compressed in the compression step Since it has a decompression step of decompressing the compressed data into image data, the following effects can be obtained. By calculating the time required for image output based on the compressed data, and notifying the user of the calculation result in a predetermined manner, the image data stored in the storage means in the storage step is formed on a recording medium and output. In this case, there is an effect that the user can know the time required for image output.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the calculating step, in the calculating step, a data transfer time is calculated based on a data amount compressed by the compressing step and a data transfer speed with the storing step. Since the time required for image output is calculated based on the data transfer time, the set number of output sheets, the document size, and the like, the following effects are obtained. By calculating the time required for image output based on the data transfer time, the set number of output sheets, the document size, and the like, and notifying the user of the calculation result by a predetermined method, the image data stored in the storage unit in the storage step is recorded. When forming and outputting an image on a medium, there is an effect that the user can know the time required for image output.

According to the image output time calculation method of the present invention, the following steps are provided because the notification step for notifying the time required for image output is provided. When forming and outputting the image data stored in the storage means on the recording medium in the storage step, the user can know the time required for the image output by the notification in the notification step.

According to the image output time calculation method of the present invention, since the time required for image output is displayed in the notification step, the following effects are obtained. When the image data stored in the storage means is formed on a recording medium in the storage step and output, the user can know the time required for image output by displaying the notification step.

According to the image output time calculation method of the present invention, since the time required for image output can be output as audio in the notification step, the following effects are obtained. When the image data stored in the storage means is formed on the recording medium in the storage step and output, the user can know the time required for the image output from the audio output in the notification step.

According to the image output time calculating method of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained because the method can be applied to a copying machine. In the copying machine, when the image data stored in the storage unit in the storage step is formed on a recording medium and output, the user can know the time required for image output.

According to the image output time calculating method of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained because the method can be applied to a printer. In the printer, when the image data stored in the storage means is formed on a recording medium and output in the storage step, the user can know the time required for image output.

According to the image output time calculation method of the present invention, since it can be applied to a facsimile,
The following effects are obtained. In a facsimile, when the image data stored in the storage means in the storage step is formed on a recording medium and output, the user can know the time required for image output.

According to the image output time calculating method of the present invention, since the present invention can be applied to a system in which a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile are combined, the following effects are obtained. In a system in which a copier, a printer, and a facsimile are combined, when the image data stored in the storage unit in the storage step is formed on a recording medium and output,
This has the effect that the user can know the time required for image output.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, a computer storing a program for executing an image output time calculation method applied to an image forming apparatus capable of compressing image data and storing compressed data is provided. A readable storage medium, wherein the image output time calculation method includes:
Since it has a calculation step of calculating the time required for image output based on the compressed data, the following effects are obtained. By calculating the time required for image output based on the compressed data and notifying the user of the calculation result by a predetermined method, when forming image data on a recording medium and outputting the image data, the user can reduce the time required for image output. There is an effect that can be known.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of an electronic sorter unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of an operation unit at the time of copy standby of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of an operation unit at the time of file operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 201 Image reading unit 203 Electronic sorter unit 204 Printer unit 205 CPU circuit unit 209 Operation unit 302 Binarization unit 304 Image storage unit 305 Smoothing unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Isamu Isato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2C087 AA03 BB17 BC14 BD40 CA03 CB13 CB17 5B057 AA11 CA16 CA18 CB16 CB18 CH11 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB25 AB42 AC25

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus capable of compressing image data and storing the compressed data, the image forming apparatus including a calculating unit for calculating a time required for image output based on the compressed data. 2. Compression means for compressing image data, storage means for storing data compressed by the compression means, and expansion means for expanding compressed data stored in the storage means into image data The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The calculating means calculates a data transfer time based on a data amount compressed by the compressing means and a data transfer speed with the storage means, and calculates an image based on the data transfer time, a set number of output sheets, a document size, and the like. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a time required for output is calculated. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit that notifies a time required for image output. 5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said notifying means is a display means for displaying a time required for image output. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the notifying unit is capable of outputting a time required for image output by voice. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is applicable to a copying machine. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is applicable to a printer. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is applicable to a facsimile. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is applicable to a system in which a copier, a printer, and a facsimile are combined. 11. An image output time calculation method applied to an image forming apparatus capable of compressing image data and storing the compressed data, comprising a calculating step of calculating a time required for image output based on the compressed data. An image output time calculation method characterized by the following. 12. A method comprising: a compression step of compressing image data; a storage step of storing the data compressed in the compression step; and an expansion step of expanding the compressed data stored in the storage step into image data. The image output time calculation method according to claim 11, wherein: 13. In the calculating step, a data transfer time is calculated based on an amount of compressed data in the compressing step and a data transfer speed with the storing step, and an image is calculated based on the data transfer time, a set number of output sheets, a document size, and the like. The time required for output is calculated.
Or the image output time calculation method according to 12. 14. An informing step for informing a time required for image output.
The image output time calculation method according to any one of the above. 15. The image output time calculation method according to claim 14, wherein in the notifying step, a time required for image output is displayed. 16. The image output time calculation method according to claim 14, wherein, in said notifying step, a time required for image output can be output as audio. 17. The image output time calculation method according to claim 11, wherein the method is applicable to a copying machine. 18. The image output time calculation method according to claim 11, wherein the method is applicable to a printer. 19. The image output time calculation method according to claim 11, wherein the method is applicable to a facsimile. 20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method is applicable to a system in which a copier, a printer, and a facsimile are combined. 21. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing an image output time calculation method applied to an image forming apparatus capable of compressing image data and storing compressed data, wherein A storage medium, comprising: a calculation step of calculating a time required for image output based on compressed data.