JP2000229452A - Control method for image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out the transfer and storage of an image data efficintly, and thereby shorten the processing period of time by transferring an image data stored in a page buffer to a printing means, and effecting the transfer and storage of an image data asynchronously. SOLUTION: An image producing part 61 runs of form an image data in a page buffer on RAM 22 in terms of PDL(page description language) received by a network I/F 21. The image data formed is transferred to a print part 4 by an image transfer part 62 via a print part I/F 23, and then stored by an image storing part 63 in HDD 3 via an HDD controller 25. The image administration part 65, when both the transfer and storage of the image data is completed, operates to release the page buffer with an image data stored therein, and make the transfer and storage of the image data asynchronous in order to give an independent instruction to the image transfer part 62 and image storing part 63.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a method for controlling an image forming apparatus having a jam recovery function and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a printer,
The image data used for printing is stored in a storage device such as a hard disk, and after a jam occurs, when the jam is released, the image data stored in the storage device is read out and reprinted. A recovery method is known. In the jam recovery method, the transfer of image data to the print mechanism and the storage of the image data on the hard disk are performed by synchronizing the two in page units.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the timing of transfer and storage of image data in a conventional image forming apparatus. As shown in the drawing, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when the creation of the image data of the first page is completed, the transfer and the storage of the image data of the same page are started. When both the transfer and the storage of the image data are completed,
If the creation of the image data for the second page has been completed at that time, the transfer and storage of the image data for the second page are started.

When the transfer of the image data to the print mechanism and the storage on the hard disk are synchronized in page units, the overall processing time is determined by the slower of the transfer and the storage.

The time required to transfer and store image data is not always constant. For example, if the print mechanism is under power saving control, the transfer of image data is not required until the print mechanism returns from the power saving state. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the time required to transfer the image data of the first page becomes long. As a result, the storage of the image data of the first page is completed, and the transfer of the image data of the second page is completed even though the creation of the image data of the second page is completed. The saving of the image data is not started. For this reason, in the example shown in FIG. 11, the final processing ends when the saving of the image data of the fourth page ends.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the image data is stored in a storage device such as a hard disk in synchronization with the transfer of the image data for each page for jam recovery. However, if the transfer and storage are performed in synchronization with each page, for example, if the transfer time becomes longer for some reason, the storage is performed even though the creation of the image data has been completed. However, ultimately, the entire processing time becomes longer due to the time required for storage. This is a wasteful processing time when a jam does not occur, regardless of the occurrence of a jam during printing, and becomes more conspicuous as the jam occurrence rate is lower.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently transferring and storing image data and reducing unnecessary processing time.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an image forming apparatus which transfers image data stored in a page buffer to a printing unit and stores the image data in a storage device. Wherein the transfer and storage of the image data are performed asynchronously.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the state of the image data is managed in a table, and the table is updated at the end of the transfer and at the end of the storage. I do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the transfer of the image data is completed, the image data is transferred to the page on the condition that the storage of the image data is completed. It is characterized in that it is deleted from the buffer.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the storage of the image data is completed, the image data is transferred to the page under the condition that the transfer of the image data is completed. It is characterized in that it is deleted from the buffer.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when a jam occurs in the printing means, after the jam is cleared, the image data stored in the storage device is transferred. It is characterized in that it is read into the page buffer asynchronously with storage.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for transferring image data stored in a page buffer to a printing device and storing the image data in a storage device, the image transferring device transfers the image data to the printing device. And image storage means for storing the image data in the storage device, and management means for operating the image transfer means and the image storage means asynchronously.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, the management means manages the state of the image data in a table, and when the image transfer means finishes transferring the image data and stores the image data. The table is updated when the storing of the image data by the means is completed.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the image data transfer by the image transfer means is completed, the management means finishes storing the image data. The image data is deleted from the page buffer under the condition of

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, when the image data is completely saved by the image saving means, the management means terminates the transfer of the image data. The image data is deleted from the page buffer under the condition of

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further comprises image reading means for reading image data from the storage device, and wherein the management means releases the jam by the printing means. In this case, the image reading means is operated asynchronously with the image transfer means and the image storage means.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a method and an apparatus for controlling an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the timing of transfer and storage of image data in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention asynchronously transfers and stores image data. When the transfer and storage of the image data are performed asynchronously, the time required for the entire process is shorter than in the conventional case. For example, the time required to create, transfer, and save the image data shown in FIG. 1 is the same as that of the conventional case shown in FIG. 11, but since the transfer and saving of the image data are performed asynchronously, The time required for the entire process is shorter than in the case shown in FIG. Also, in the case of the timing shown in FIG. 1, the image transfer is performed continuously from the first page to the fourth page, and the end time of the entire process is also equal to the transfer end time of the image data. That is, there is no delay in processing time caused by storing image data for jam recovery.

Next, the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention and a control method thereof will be described by taking a network printer as an example. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the network printer. As shown in FIG. 1, the network printer 1 includes a control unit 2, an HDD (hard disk drive) 3, and a print unit 4.

The control unit 2 receives P from the network.
The print data such as DL (Page Description Language) is developed into image data, and the HDD 3 and the print unit 4 are controlled. The HDD 3 is a storage device for storing image data for reprinting when a jam occurs, and the printing unit 4 prints an image on a sheet based on the image data.

The control unit 2 includes a network I / F 21 which is an interface for exchanging data with the network, and a printing unit which is an interface for exchanging data with the RAM 22 and the printing unit 3. It comprises an I / F 23, a ROM 24, an HDD controller 25 for controlling the HDD 3, and a CPU 26, each of which is connected to a bus.

The CPU 26 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 24 (using the RAM 22 as a work area), and executes a task 60 as shown in FIG. The task 60 includes an image creation unit 61 for creating image data, an image transfer unit 62 for transferring image data to the print unit 4, an image storage unit 63 for saving image data in the HDD 3, and an image for reading image data from the HDD 3. A reading unit 64, an image management unit 6 that manages image data and controls other units;
5 are included.

The image creation unit 61 is provided with a network I /
F21 creates image data in a page buffer (not shown) on the RAM 22 based on the PDL (page description language) received from the network. The image data created on the page buffer is transferred to the print unit 4 via the print unit I / F 23 by the image transfer unit 62, and is stored in the HDD 3 via the HDD controller 25 by the image storage unit 63. The image reading unit 64 transmits the reprint image data to the HDD controller 2 when a jam occurs in the printing unit 4 or the like.
5 from the HDD 3. Image management unit 65
Manages image data, and this image data is managed using a table as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a table for managing image data. The ID is assigned to each page of the image data.
And an address on the page buffer, and a save flag indicating a save state in the HDD 3.

In the state shown in the figure, the image data with the ID “1” has the address “00000000” and the save flag “save”. Indicates that it has been saved. Further, the image data with the ID “3” has the address “01000000” and the save flag indicates “save”. Therefore, the image data with the ID “3” is stored in the page buffer with the address “01000000” as the top address, and is also stored in the HDD 3. It indicates that. I
The image data whose D is “5” has the address “0180”.
0000 "and the save flag indicate" unsaved ", indicating that the address 01800000 is stored in the page buffer with the head address as the head address, but is not stored in the HDD 3.

Next, the operation of the image creating section 61 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the image creation unit 61. When the network I / F 21 receives the PDL, the image creating unit 61 starts processing (step 101), secures a page buffer in the RAM 22 (step 102), and analyzes the PDL command (step 103). If a buffer cannot be secured in the RAM 22, the image creating unit 61 is in a standby state until a buffer can be secured. However, the operation at this time is the same as a general processing mechanism (a mechanism provided by an OS or the like). Description is omitted.

Subsequently, if the analyzed command does not indicate the end of the page (NO in step 104), the command is executed to create an image on the page buffer (step 105), and the next command is analyzed. (Step 103). The analysis and execution of this command are repeated, and if the analyzed command indicates the end of the page (YES in Step 104), the address of the created page buffer is notified to the image management unit 65 (Step 1).
06) If PDL still remains (step 1)
(NO at 07), returning to step 102 to create an image for the next page. Create an image in this way
When all the commands of the DL have been executed (YES in step 107), the process ends (step 108).

Next, the operation of the image management section 65 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the image management unit 65. When the network I / F 21 receives the PDL (under the same conditions as the processing start of the image creation unit 61 described above), the image management unit 61 starts executing the job (step 201), and sets a variable P for managing the number of pages. Is initialized to 1 (step 20).
2) Initialize the management table shown in FIG. 4 (step 20)
3) Wait for an event to occur (step 204). An event is a notification or instruction from other units, for example,
The notification of the page buffer address from the image creation unit 61 described above (see step 107 in FIG. 5) is also the occurrence of an event. The operation at the time of waiting for an event is a general process (for example, a process of placing the task in a waiting state until an event occurs using a synchronization mechanism provided by the OS, etc.). , A standby state in the function, and a return from the function when an event occurs).

When an event occurs, if the event is the end of creation of a new image (see step 107 in FIG. 5) (YES in step 205), the address is registered in the management table (step 206).

Here, if the image data of the page number indicated by the variable P can be transferred, that is, if the image data exists in the page buffer and the image transfer unit 62 is in the Idle state (the occurrence of an event described later) Wait)
(YES in step 207), the image transfer unit 62 is instructed to transfer the image data of the page number indicated by the variable P (step 208).

Subsequently, if there is storable image data, that is, if there is unsaved image data in the page buffer, and the image storage unit 63
If it is in a state (waiting for the occurrence of an event described later) (YES in step 209), the image data (not necessarily the page indicated by the variable P) is stored in the image storage unit 63.
Is stored (step 210), and the process waits for the occurrence of the next event (step 204).

If the event that has occurred is a transfer end notification (details will be described later) from the image transfer unit 62 (NO in step 205, YE in step 211).
S), the value of the variable P is incremented (step 21)
2) It is determined based on the save flag in the management table whether or not the image data whose transfer has been completed has been saved. If the image data has been saved (YES in step 213), the page storing the image data is determined. The buffer is released (step 214), the management table is updated, that is, “00000000” is written in the address column of the image data (step 215), and the process proceeds to step 207 described above. On the other hand, if the transferred image data has not been saved (NO in step 213), the process proceeds to step 207 without performing any operation.

If the event that has occurred is a storage end notification (details will be described later) from the image storage unit 63 (NO in step 205, NO in step 211, and YES in step 216), the management table is updated. That is, the storage flag of the image data whose storage has been completed is set to "save" (step 217). Next, it is determined from the value of the variable P whether or not the image data has been transferred. (The variable P is incremented only when the initial value is 1 and the image transfer is completed. Indicates the number of pages in the list), and if the transfer has been completed (step 21)
8), the page buffer storing the image data is released (step 219), and the management table is updated, that is, "00" is displayed in the address column of the image data.
"000000" (step 220), and the process proceeds to step 207 described above. On the other hand, if the image data whose storage has been completed has not been transferred (NO in step 218), the process proceeds to step 207 without performing anything.

If the event that occurred is neither a notification of a new image from the image creation unit 61, a transfer end notification from the image transfer unit 62, nor a storage end notification from the image storage unit 63 (step 205). NO at step 211, N at step 216
O), the image management unit 65 ends the job (Step 221).

As described above, when both the transfer and the storage of the image data are completed, the image management unit 65 releases the page buffer storing the image data,
Since independent instructions are given to the image transfer unit 62 and the image storage unit 63, transfer and storage of image data can be performed asynchronously.

In this case, the variable P is used to determine whether or not the transfer of the image data has been completed. However, a flag relating to the transfer of the image data is set in the management table, and the same as in the case of the storage. May be managed.

Next, the operation of the image transfer unit 62 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the image transfer unit 62.

When the process is started (step 301), the image transfer unit 62 waits for the occurrence of an event (a transfer instruction from the image management unit 61) (step 302). When an event occurs, if transfer of image data is possible (YES in step 303), if it is not possible (NO in step 303), preparation for transfer is made (step 304). The transfer to the print unit 4 is performed (step 305). When the transfer is completed, the image management unit 61 is notified of the end of the transfer (step 30).
6) Wait for the next event to occur (step 302).

Next, the operation of the image storage section 63 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the image storage unit 63.

When the processing is started (step 401), the image storage section 62 waits for the occurrence of an event (a storage instruction from the image management section 61) (step 402). When the event occurs, the image data is stored in the HDD 3 (step 403), and when the storage is completed, the image management unit 61 is notified of the completion of the storage (step 40).
4) Wait for the next event to occur (step 402).

Next, the operation of the image management section 61 when a jam occurs in the printing section 4 and the job is restarted by clearing the jam will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the operation of the image management unit 61 after the jam recovery. When the jam is cleared, the image management unit 61 resumes the job execution (step 501), and changes the value of the variable P to the value before the occurrence of the jam, that is, the page number of the last page normally discharged from the print unit 4. (Step 502). Here, if the image data to be transferred next, that is, the image data of the page indicated by the variable P is in the page buffer (YE in step 503).
S), check and instruction of transfer unit (step 207 in FIG. 6)
And 208) (step 504), but if there is no image data on the page buffer (step 50).
If NO in step 3), if the RAM 22 has enough free space (YES in step 505), a page buffer is secured in the RAM 22 (step 506), and a read instruction is given to the image reading unit 64 (step 507).

Next, the storage unit is checked and instructed (step 508, corresponding to steps 209 and 210 in FIG. 6), and the occurrence of an event is waited for (step 509).

Subsequently, an event occurs, and if the generated event is the end of creation of a new image (step 51)
If YES, the process for the new image is performed (step 511, corresponding to step 206 in FIG. 6), and if the generated event is the end of image transfer (step 51).
(NO at 0, YES at step 512), and performs processing for the end of transfer (step 513, step 212 in FIG. 6).
To 215), if the generated event is the end of image storage (NO in step 510, step 51)
2; NO, step 514: YES), and performs processing for storage end (step 515, step 217 in FIG. 6).
To 220), and returns to step 502.

If the event that has occurred is a read end notification (details will be described later) from the image reading unit 64 (NO in step 510, NO in step 512, step 5)
(NO at 14 and YES at step 516), the management table is updated, that is, the address of the management table is changed to the address where the image data is stored (step 517),
Returning to step 502, if the event that occurred is not any of the above (NO in step 510, NO in step 512, NO in step 514, step 516
(NO at step 518), and ends the job (step 518).

The processing described here is basically the same as the processing described with reference to FIG. 6, but when transferring image data that is not in the page buffer, ie, when the job is restarted, the image data from the HDD 3 And read
If there is no free space in the RAM 22 (YES in step 504)
S), wait until the other image data is saved and the buffer is released, and then read. When the reading of the image data that needs to be read is completed, the same operation as in the normal case shown in FIG. 6 starts. When performing these processes, each unit operates asynchronously.

Next, the operation of the image reading section 64 will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the operation of the image storage unit 64.

When the processing is started (step 601), the image storage section 64 waits for the occurrence of an event (a read instruction from the image management section 61) (step 602). When an event occurs, the image data is read from the HDD 3 and stored in the page buffer (see step 506 in FIG. 9) secured by the image management unit 65 (step 60).
3) When the reading is completed, the image management unit 61 is notified of the completion of the reading (step 604), and waits for the next event (step 602).

In this embodiment, the image management unit 5
5 managed the image data using the management table,
The management method of the image data is not limited to this.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image data for the jam recovery is stored in the storage device such as the HDD in a manner asynchronous with the transfer to the print unit. The time wasted time can be saved, and the time required for the printing process can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing timings for transferring and storing image data in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing tasks executed by a CPU 26.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a table for managing image data.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the image creation unit 61.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the image management unit 65.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the image transfer unit 62.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the image storage unit 63.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of the image management unit 61 after a jam recovery.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the image storage unit 64;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing timings of transferring and storing image data in a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network printer 2 Control part 3 HDD 4 Printing part 21 Network I / F 22 RAM 23 Printing part I / F 24 ROM 25 HDD controller 26 CPU 60 Task 61 Image creation part 62 Image transfer part 63 Image storage part 64 Image reading part 65 Image Management Department

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus for transferring image data stored in a page buffer to a printing unit and storing the image data in a storage device, wherein the image data is transferred and stored asynchronously. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the state of the image data is managed in a table, and the table is updated at the end of the transfer and at the end of the storage. 3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein when the transfer of the image data is completed, the image data is deleted from the page buffer on condition that the storage of the image data is completed. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image data has been stored, the image data is deleted from the page buffer on condition that the transfer of the image data has been completed. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus. 5. When a jam occurs in the printing unit, the image data stored in the storage device is read into a page buffer asynchronously with the transfer and storage after the jam is cleared. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 6. An image forming apparatus for transferring image data stored in a page buffer to a printing unit and storing the image data in a storage device, wherein the image data is transferred to the printing unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image storage unit that stores data in a storage device; and a management unit that operates the image transfer unit and the image storage unit asynchronously. 7. The management unit manages a state of the image data in a table, and updates the table when the transfer of the image data by the image transfer unit and the storage of the image data by the image storage unit are completed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 8. When the image data transfer by the image transfer means is completed, the management means deletes the image data from the page buffer on condition that the storage of the image data is completed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the image data storage by the image storage device is completed, the image data is deleted from the page buffer on condition that the transfer of the image data is completed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 10. An image reading means for reading image data from the storage device, wherein the management means replaces the image reading means with the image transfer means when a jam occurs in the printing means and the printing means releases the jam. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image forming apparatus is operated asynchronously with the image storage unit.