JP2001083750A - Control device for image processor and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently control an image forming condition utilizing a reference image based on a state of a recording part such as residue quantity of recording material of each color. SOLUTION: In this device, the residue quantity of color toner and black toner provided in an image forming part 203 is detected by a DC controller 202 and when the toner is finished, that is notified to a reader controller 106. Ability for monochrome and/or mono color image formation is displayed by a reader controller 101 when no toner is notified to it and a host computer 210 is notified through a printer controller 207.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control apparatus and method for an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to a control apparatus and method for controlling an image processing apparatus for forming a color image and a monochrome image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a general configuration for realizing a print function. That is, the host computer 21
04 or the network data sent from the network 2105 is input to the printer controller 2103, and the printer controller 2110 is operated in accordance with the operation of the printer engine 2102.
It is sent from 03 to the printer engine 2102.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which an image reading device 2501 is added to the configuration shown in FIG. 1. An image reading function is provided by connecting the image reading device 2501 via a network 2105 or directly to a host computer 2104. Things.

[0004] In addition, a printing function and a copying function can be realized by adopting the configuration shown in FIG. That is, a reader (image reading device) 2501 that reads a document image,
Reader 2 is attached to printer controller 2103 shown in FIG.
Controller 2602 and reader 250 that enable communication with 501
A selector 2603 for selecting one of the outputs of the controller 1 and the controller 2602;
And a communication line 2601 between them.

[0005] Even a full-color image forming apparatus has a function of forming a monochrome image in many cases, and depending on the environment in which it is used, there are cases in which there are more opportunities to form a monochrome image.

[0006]

In some full-color image forming apparatuses, printing cannot be performed without color toner. However, rather than full-color images,
In an environment where many monochrome or monocolor images are formed, it is inconvenient that monochrome or monocolor images cannot be formed due to the lack of color toner. Further, even if a monochrome or monocolor image can be formed, since control such as toner density control is performed for all color components, there is a problem that extra time is required.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem, and efficiently controls image forming conditions using a reference image based on the state of a recording unit such as the remaining amount of recording material of each color. The purpose is to:

[0008]

The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

[0009] A control device according to the present invention is a device for controlling an image processing device for forming a color image on a recording medium based on an input image signal, and corresponds to a plurality of color components provided in the image processing device. A signal generating means for generating information on the remaining amount of recording material to be performed, and controlling the formation conditions of color image formation and monochrome image formation using a reference image based on the generated information on the remaining amount of recording material. And control means.

[0010] A control method according to the present invention is a control method for controlling the image processing apparatus by bidirectionally communicating with an image processing apparatus that forms a color image based on an input image signal on a recording medium. In detecting the state of the recording unit corresponding to a plurality of color components provided in the image processing apparatus,
A color image formation and a monochrome image formation using a reference image are controlled based on the detected information on the state of the recording unit.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Overall Configuration] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an overview of a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

In the reader 101 shown in FIG. 4, reference numeral 102 denotes a document table, 103 denotes a light source, 104 denotes a photoelectric converter such as a CCD, and 105 denotes an analog signal processing unit having functions such as analog / digital conversion. In the printer 201, reference numeral 202 denotes a DC controller that controls paper conveyance and image formation, and reference numeral 203 denotes an image forming unit. A reader controller 106 and a printer controller 207 are both built in the printer 201. 204 is a sheet cassette deck that can be added as an option, 205 is a sorter that can be added as an option, and 206 is an option controller that controls the sheet cassette deck 204 and the sorter 205.

Reference numeral 210 denotes a host computer connected to the printer controller 207 one-to-one or via a network.

The reader controller 106 has a function of communicating with an analog signal processing unit 105, a motor control unit (not shown) for the reader 101 to read an original image, a DC controller 202, and a printer controller 207. In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the reader controller 106 is arranged in the printer 201 and the DC controller 20
2 and a cable for communicating with the printer controller 207 is not provided outside the apparatus.

[Configuration of Printer Unit] An outline of the printer 201 will be described with reference to FIG. A printer interface 211 performs communication between the host computer 210 or the network and the printer controller 207. The printer controller 207 is connected to the host computer 2
10 or receive data sent over the network. This data is sent in various formats such as a bitmap and a page description language (Page Description Language) format. The printer controller 207 expands the received data into a memory, and as raster-format data,
Transfer to DC controller 202.

The DC controller 202 forms a visible image in the image forming unit 203 based on the video signal received from the printer controller 207, and transfers the visible image to recording paper.
After fixing, the sheet is discharged out of the apparatus. To realize such an image forming sequence, the DC controller 202
Has various functions, and also has a function of detecting the status of the printer 201 and notifying the printer controller 207 of the status.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a video interface for connecting the printer controller 207 and the DC controller 202.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining signals of the video interface.
Signals shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are exchanged between the printer controller 207 and the DC controller 202.
The signal preceded by "/" is a negative logic signal.

The / PPRDY signal is a signal indicating that communication with the printer controller 207 is enabled after power is supplied to the printer 201 and processing such as initialization processing is completed.

The / CPRDY signal is output to the printer controller 207
Is a signal indicating that communication with the DC controller 202 has been enabled after power is supplied to the DC controller 202 and the processing such as initial processing or processing is completed.

The / RDY signal is generated by a print start instruction (/ PRNT signal described later) from the printer controller 207.
This signal indicates that the printing operation has been enabled. The condition that this signal becomes true is that each part of the printer 201 is in a normal state, such as when the temperature of the fixing unit reaches a predetermined temperature, there is no remaining recording paper in the printer 201, and the polygon mirror is rotating at a predetermined speed. There are cases.

The / PRNT signal is output by the printer controller 207.
This is a signal for instructing the DC controller 202 to start or continue the printing operation.

The / TOP signal is a synchronization signal sent from the DC controller 202 to the printer controller 207 and serving as a reference for vertical scanning of an image.
An NT signal is output and is output after a certain period of time. The / LSYNC signal is a synchronization signal that is sent from the DC controller 202 to the printer controller 207 and is used as a reference for horizontal scanning of an image.Similar to the / TOP signal, the / PRNT signal is output from the printer controller 207, and the / LSYNC signal is output for a certain period of time. Output after elapse.

The / VCLK signal is output from / VDOEN and / VDOEN
Synchronous clock for signal, printer controller 20
Generated by 7.

The / VDOEN signal is output to the printer controller 207
Is a signal for permitting the DC controller 202 to input the image signal / VDO. DC controller 202 is / VC
In synchronization with the LK signal, it detects whether the / VDOEN signal is true or false, and if true, inputs the image signal / VDO. The / VDO signal is an image signal output from the printer controller 207. The / TOP signal is used in the vertical direction, the / LSYNC signal is used in the horizontal direction, and the / VDO signal is output in synchronization with the / VCLK signal. You.

The / CCLK signal is used when the printer controller 207 sends a command to the DC controller 202 and when the DC controller 202
Synchronous clock when returning to printer controller 207
Output from

The / CBSY signal is output by the printer controller 207.
This is a signal indicating to the DC controller 202 that the command is transmitted using the / CMD signal. The / CMD signal is a signal used when the printer controller 207 sends a command to the DC controller 202.

The / SBSY signal is a signal indicating to the printer controller 207 that the DC controller 202 is returning a status using the / STS signal. The / STS signal is a signal used when the DC controller 202 returns the status of the printer to the printer controller 207.

The / CCRT signal is a signal for notifying the printer controller 207 that the state of the printer 201 has changed. Upon receiving this signal, the printer controller 207 makes an inquiry about what has changed in the status of the printer 201 using the / CMD signal. In response to this query, DC controller 202 uses the / STS signal to inform what has changed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the image forming unit 203.

A laser scanner 401 scans a laser beam corresponding to the / VDO signal output from the printer controller 207 in the main scanning direction by a polygon mirror and irradiates the photosensitive drum 402 with the laser beam. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 402 reaches the color developing device 403 and the black developing device 404 by rotating the photosensitive drum 402 in a counterclockwise direction. From the developing units 403 and 404, an amount of toner corresponding to the charge on the photosensitive drum 402 is supplied, and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 402 is developed. When developing a monochrome image, use a black developing device
Only 404 is used, and when developing a color image, both developers 403 and 404 are used.

The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 402 is transferred to the intermediate transfer drum 405 rotating clockwise by rotating the photosensitive drum 402 counterclockwise.
The transfer to the intermediate transfer drum 405 is completed in one rotation of the intermediate transfer drum 405 for a monochrome image and four rotations for a color image.

On the other hand, the recording paper picked up from the upper cassette 408 or the lower cassette 409 by the pickup roller 411 or 412 and conveyed by the paper feed roller 413 or 414 is conveyed to the registration roller 419 by the conveyance roller 415. Then, at the timing when the transfer to the intermediate transfer drum 405 ends, the recording paper is conveyed between the intermediate transfer drum 405 and the transfer belt 406. Thereafter, the recording paper is conveyed by the transfer belt 406 and pressed against the intermediate transfer drum 405, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer drum 405 is transferred to the recording paper. The toner image transferred to the recording paper is heated and pressed by a fixing roller and a pressure roller 407, and is fixed on the recording paper.

The recording paper on which the image has been fixed is conveyed to one of a face-up discharge port 417 and a face-down discharge port 418 specified in advance by the printer controller 207 and discharged.

Signal Timing FIG. 9 is a timing chart of signals exchanged through the video interface.

First, in the printer controller 207,
When the VDO signal can be output, the / PRNT signal becomes true, and at the same time, the / VCLK signal used for transferring the / VDO signal is generated. On the other hand, the DC controller 202 performs various settings of the printer 201, and outputs the / TOP signal and the / LSYNC signal to the printer controller 207 when the / VDO signal becomes acceptable. Printer controller 207
Outputs a / VDO signal and a / VDOEN signal in accordance with the / TOP signal and the / LSYNC signal.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart of commands and statuses exchanged during the printing operation. First, a case where the / CCRT signal shown in the lower part of FIG. 10 is not used will be described.

When the printer controller 207 wants to issue a command to the DC controller 202, it makes the / CBSY signal true and sends the command by the / CMD signal synchronized with the / CCLK signal. Upon receiving this, the DC controller 202
After confirming that the SY signal is false, the / SBSY signal is made true and the status corresponding to the command is returned by the / STS signal synchronized with the / CCLK signal. The printer controller 207 that has received this status performs continuation or interruption of the printing process according to the status of the printer 201 indicated by the status.

Next, the / CCRT signal will be described. / CCRT
The signal is a signal that becomes true when the status of the printer 201 specified by the printer controller 207 changes in advance. For example, the printer controller 207 is preset to set the / CCRT signal to true when “paper out” occurs, there is only one remaining recording sheet, and the printer controller 207 prints two sheets. Is requested, the first sheet is processed as usual, but at the stage when the image formation of the second sheet is started, the DC controller 202 detects a state change and changes the / CCRT signal to true. / CCRT
The change in the signal is transmitted to the printer controller 207.
The printer controller 207 issues a command requesting the DC controller 202 for a status indicating the presence or absence of paper in the paper supply unit to the DC controller 202 in order to know which paper supply cassette has entered the “paper out” state. In accordance with this command, the DC controller 202 returns a status indicating the cassette in the “paper out” state to the printer controller 207. Note that / CCRT
The signal is cleared when the / SBSY signal becomes true.

Command / Status Exchange FIG. 11 shows the printer controller 207 and DC controller 2
This is a diagram specifically illustrating the exchange of commands / status during 02, and assumes formation of a color image.

The printer controller 207 requested to start printing from the host computer 210 or the like checks the ready state of the printer 201 with the DC controller 202 while processing print data and the like. Next, the printer controller 207 issues a command for designating a paper feed stage for recording paper, and further issues a command for requesting a recording paper size in the designated cassette. In response to these commands, the DC controller 202 returns a corresponding status.

Next, the printer controller 207 issues a command for designating a paper discharge port, and issues a page mode designation command for designating the number of pages of an image to be formed. Finally, a command for specifying whether the image to be formed is monochrome or color is issued from the printer controller 207, and all settings on the printer 201 side are completed.

After that, the printer controller 207 switches to / PRNT
Generate a signal. DC controller 2 in response to / PRNT signal
02 returns a / TOP signal and a / LSYNC signal after a predetermined time.
The / VDO signal whose vertical scanning direction is synchronized with the / TOP signal and the horizontal scanning direction is synchronized with the / LSYNC signal is transferred from the printer controller 207 to the DC controller 202 in synchronization with the / VCLK signal.

FIG. 11 shows the operation of forming a color image, so that a / TOP signal for four colors of CMYK is generated and one color image is formed. Then, after the last / TOP signal is generated, the / PRNT signal becomes false. As a result, the DC controller 202 detects that the print request has been completed, and shifts to post-processing such as a cleaning operation of the intermediate transfer drum 405. Further, the recording paper onto which the toner image has been transferred passes through the fixing roller 407, and is discharged to a designated discharge port.

Lastly, the printer controller 207
The recording paper is not in a transport state with respect to the controller 202,
In other words, the state in which the paper ejection has been completed is confirmed, and the state is ready until the next print request is issued.

During the above printing operation, the recording paper jam,
When an illegal state such as no paper or a door open by the user occurs, the abnormality of the printer 201 is immediately transmitted from the DC controller 202 to the printer controller 207 by the aforementioned / CCRT signal, and the printer controller 207 responds to the abnormal state. Perform processing.

[Structure of Reader Controller] FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a case where a reader for optically reading an original image, converting the digital image into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal is attached to the printer 201 described above.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a document feeder for conveying a document to a position where an image is optically read, and 112 denotes an optical reader. The document feeder 111 is driven in synchronization with the optical reading device 112, and when the document is transferred onto the platen glass by the document feeder 111, the optical reading device 112 scans the document image and performs appropriate optical processing. Is transmitted to the analog signal processing unit 105 having the photoelectric converter 104.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of electrical connection among the printer controller 207, the DC controller 202, and the reader controller 101. That is, the reader controller 101 includes the printer controller 207 and the DC controller 20.
2, and a signal between the printer controller 207 and the reader controller 101,
Also, the signal between the DC controller 202 and the reader controller 101 has the same type of function as the signals shown in FIGS. These signals are slightly different from the signals shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and therefore, in the drawing, / CPPRD is compared to / PPRDY.
A signal name is prefixed with "C" or "P" as in Y or / PPPRDY for distinction, but in the following description, "C" or "P" at the beginning may be omitted.

The reader controller 101 includes an image signal processing unit 112, a document scanning optical system control unit 113 for controlling the optical reading device 112, and a document feeding control unit 11 for controlling the document feeding device 111.
4 and an operation unit 115. A digital image signal representing a document image output from the analog signal processing unit 105 is transmitted to an image signal processing unit 902 in the reader controller 207.
Is input to

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the reader controller 207.

In FIG. 14, reference numeral 221 denotes a selector, which is the output signal of the image signal processing unit 112 or the printer controller 2.
Then, any one of the signals sent from 07 is selected and output to the DC controller 202. The signal systems switched by the selector 221 are / VCLK, / VDOEN and / VDO.

Reference numeral 222 denotes a serial communication controller for communicating with the DC controller 202, reference numeral 223 denotes an input / output port for exchanging signals for supplementing the communication of the communication controller 222, and reference numeral 224 denotes an interrupt controller. The interrupt controller 224 includes:
An image leading end request signal / PTOP and / PCCRT indicating a change in printer status are input.

Reference numeral 225 denotes a serial communication controller for communicating with the printer controller 207, and reference numeral 226 denotes an input / output port for exchanging signals for supplementing the communication of the communication controller 225.

227 and 230 are gates and DC controllers
It is used for controlling whether or not / LSYNC and / TOP sent from 202 are sent to the printer controller 207. 228 is a control circuit having a gate function and a flag setting function,
It is used to send / control CCRT to the printer controller 207. Opening / closing of gates 227 and 230 causes / CCRT issued by DC controller 202 to be
207 is controlled. Also, by setting a flag using the control circuit 228, the reader controller 10
1 can issue / CCRT to the printer controller 207.

The above control and the control of each block are performed by CP
Performed by U229.

[Copy Operation] Next, a copy operation in a color mode for reading a full-color image of a document and printing out a color image will be described.

When the copy start key on the operation unit 115 of the reader controller 101 is pressed, the reader controller 101
Gates 227, 230 and control circuit for copy operation
228 is opened, and the selector 221 sends the image signal processing unit 112
Select the output of Next, the reader controller 101
Check the / RDY signal indicating the ready state of the DC controller 202 via the input / output port 223.

Next, the reader controller 101 issues a command through the serial communication controller 222 and
The controller 202 makes various settings. In particular,
A command for designating the paper feed stage of the recording paper is issued, and a command for requesting the recording paper size in the designated cassette is issued. In response to these commands, the DC controller 202 returns a corresponding status. Next, a command for specifying the paper discharge port is issued to determine the paper discharge port, a page mode specification command for specifying the number of pages of the image to be formed is issued, and finally, the formation of a monochrome or color image is specified. Issue a command. Thus, all the settings of the printer 201 are completed.

Subsequently, the reader controller 101 controls the document feeder 111 to supply the document onto the document glass table, and then generates / PRNT to the DC controller 202.
In response to this, after a predetermined time from the DC controller 202,
The TOP signal is returned. This is processed by the interrupt controller 224, and the optical reader 112 is operated so that an image signal synchronized with the / TOP signal is obtained. Reader controller 101
Synchronizes vertical scanning with the / TOP signal and horizontal scanning with / LSYNC
An original image is read in synchronization with a signal, and the obtained image signal (/ VDO) is transferred to the DC controller 202 in synchronization with / VCLK.

In this example, since the color mode has been set, the reader controller 101
One sheet of the document image is scanned four times by the optical reading device 112 in accordance with the signal, and image signals for four colors of CMYK are sequentially output.
After the final / TOP signal is generated, the / PRNT signal is set to false. As a result, the DC controller 202 detects that the print request has been completed, and shifts to post-processing such as a cleaning operation of the intermediate transfer drum 405. After the recording paper on which the toner image has been further transferred passes through the fixing roller 407,
The paper is discharged to the specified paper exit.

Finally, the reader controller 101 confirms with the DC controller 202 that the recording paper is not in a transport state, that is, a state in which the paper discharge has been completed, and is in a ready state until the next print request occurs.

[Print Operation] Next, a print operation for printing out an image corresponding to print data input to the printer controller 207 will be described.

When the above-described copying operation is completed, the reader controller 101 enters the ready state, and closes the gates 227 and 230 and the control circuit 228 (state in which a signal passes) to enable the printing operation. Next, the reader controller 101 checks the / RDY signal indicating the ready state of the DC controller 202 via the input / output port 223. If the printer 201 is in the ready state, the printer controller 207 sends / RDY indicating that the printer 201 is in the ready state to the printer controller 207 via the input / output port 226.

Next, the printer controller 207 issues a command for making various settings. These commands are received by the serial communication controller 225 of the reader controller 101 and analyzed by the CPU 229. The CPU 229 issues a command via the serial communication controller 222 according to the analysis result, and causes the DC controller 202 to perform various settings. In response to these commands, the DC controller 202 returns a corresponding status. These statuses are received by the serial communication controller 222 and analyzed by the CPU 229. And the CPU 229 is a serial communication controller 225
Is returned to the printer controller 207 via the. As described above, the reader controller 101 relays commands and statuses between the printer controller 207 and the DC controller 202.

Next, the print controller 207 generates / PRNT, the reader controller 101 relays this, and the / PRNT is sent to the DC controller 202. In response, after a predetermined amount of time, DC controller 202 sends / TOP and / LSYNC
Is generated, and the reader controller 101 relays this,
/ TOP and / LSYNC are sent to the reader controller 207. The print controller 207 includes / TOP, / LSYNC and /
Outputs / VDO synchronized with VCLK and sets the reader controller 10
1 relays this, and an image is formed by the printer 201.

[Difference in Print Operation and Copy Operation] Here, the difference in image transmission timing between the print operation and the copy operation will be described.

Although a detailed description of the configuration of the printer controller 207 is omitted, there is an image memory in which image data to be printed is stored in advance. Therefore, in the printing operation, the time required for the printer controller 207 to output / VDO with respect to / TOP sent from the DC controller 202 is almost an electrical delay time.

On the other hand, in the copying operation, the optical reader 112 is operated to read the original image and output the image data. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, an acceleration time from when the optical reading device 112 is stopped to when the speed required to read the document image is reached is required,
For example, a time of about several hundred milliseconds is required. Therefore, if the DC controller 202 outputs / TOP at the same timing as the print operation in the copy operation, a delay of several hundred milliseconds occurs until / VDO is obtained. There are the following two methods as a countermeasure for that. (1) In the copy operation, / TO
Output P (2) Provide / RSTART signal for copy operation

To perform the method (1), the reader controller 1
The configuration of 01 may be the same as in Fig. 14, and the document reading device
The operation of 112 is started. In order to perform the method (2), the configuration of the reader controller 101 may be as shown in FIG. That is, / TO output from DC controller 202
P is used only for print operation, and the reader controller 1
It is not input to the 01 interrupt controller 224. On the other hand, / RSTART, which is a signal requesting the start of operation of the image reading device, is a signal necessary only for the copy operation, and the print controller
It does not need to be sent to 207.

[Communication Between Controllers] Next, communication between controllers will be described. As an example, a case where a setting command for the printer 201, for example, a paper feed cassette change command is issued from the printer controller 207 will be described.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a command issuing sequence when the reader controller 101 is not provided. 17, the left side shows the processing in the printer controller 207, and the right side shows the processing in the DC controller 202.

The printer controller 207 determines in step S1
Issue the paper cassette change command at
In step S2, a response from the DC controller 202 is waited. If there is a response, it is determined in step S3 whether the setting corresponding to the command has been executed, and the command issuing sequence ends.

On the other hand, the DC controller 202 determines in step S4
When the command is received from the printer controller 207 in step S5, the setting corresponding to the command received in step S5, in this case, the paper cassette is changed, and the setting corresponding to the command (change of paper cassette) in step S6 is successful. The printer controller 207 is notified of whether this is the case.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of a command issuing sequence when the reader controller 101 is present.

The reader controller 101 determines in step S11 whether there is a command stored in the engine command queue, and if not, determines in step S12 whether a command has been received from the printer controller 207. If a command has been received from the printer controller 207, it is determined in step S13 whether the command can be relayed.

For example, if the DC controller 202 is not processing a command issued from the reader controller 101 to perform a copy operation, the printer controller 2
It is possible to relay the command sent from 07 to the DC controller 202. In this case, the reader controller 101 relays the command received in step S14, waits for a response from the DC controller 202 in step S15,
In step S16, it is determined whether the setting corresponding to the command has been executed. In step S17, the printer controller 207 is notified that the setting corresponding to the command has been executed.

On the other hand, for example, in a state where the reader controller 101 performs a copy operation by designating a paper feed cassette, when a change command of the paper feed cassette sent from the printer controller 207 is relayed to the DC controller 202, the copy is performed. The operation will not be performed properly. In such a case, the reader controller 101 stores the commands received in step S18 in the engine command queue in the order of reception (issue order) without relaying the commands to the DC controller 202. Since the response to the command must be returned to the printer controller 207, the reader controller 101 notifies the printer controller 20 in step S17 that the setting corresponding to the command has been successfully completed.
Notify 7.

On the other hand, if there is a command stored in the engine command queue, the reader controller 101 determines in step S19 whether the command can be issued without affecting the copy operation. If it is in the issuable state, in step S20, the reader controller 101 issues the earliest issued command among the commands stored in the engine command queue in the issuance order, and proceeds to step S2.
In step S1, the process waits for a response from the DC controller 202. In step S22, it is determined whether the setting corresponding to the command has been executed. In step S23, the command is deleted from the engine command queue.

If it is determined in steps S16 and S22 that the setting corresponding to the command has not been executed, error processing is executed in step S24.

As described above, the printer controllers 207 and D
In a configuration in which the reader controller 101 is inserted between the printer controller 207 and the C controller 202,
When issuing a normal command to the controller 202, inconsistency does not occur in operation and processing.

[Various Controls] Next, a description will be given of a process performed when a change in the state of the engine, for example, a state where an error has occurred is notified from the DC controller 202 to the reader controller 101 by / CCRT.

The state change of the printer 201 that the reader controller 101 wants to know may be different between the reader controller 101 and the printer controller 207. For example, there is a case where a jam occurs on the recording paper being conveyed. Assuming that a jam has occurred while the printer 201 is performing a copy operation, only the reader controller 101 needs to know this state change.
Even if the occurrence of a jam is notified to the printer controller 207, the jam is not occurring during the printing operation, so that the printer controller 207 cannot perform an appropriate action. Furthermore, if the printer controller 207 performs control equivalent to the reader controller 101,
The printer controller 207 has error handling software that does not need to be installed.
A lot of waste such as quality evaluation and software size will be generated.

Therefore, in the printing operation, the state change should be notified to the printer controller 207, and in the copying operation, the state change should be notified to the reader controller 101. However, even in the copy operation,
The printer controller 207 may want to know a change in the status of the printer 201. For example, it is necessary to notify the printer controller 207 of information such as a change in the paper feed cassette or no paper. These do not require strict control of the time from issuance of / CCRT by the DC controller 202 until processing is performed in each controller.

Therefore, in the copy operation, the / CCRT sent from the DC controller 202 is masked for the printer controller 207 by using the gate function of the control circuit 228, and the reader controller 101 is interrupted via the interrupt controller 224. Only receive. Then, in the copy operation, the reader controller 101 performs the control shown in FIG.

The reader controller 101 determines in step S31
When / CCRT becomes true, a command for acquiring details of the state change is issued to the DC controller 202 in step S32. Then, in step S33, a response from the DC controller 202 is waited, and the status change of the printer 201 is grasped in detail from the status returned in step S34. Then, in a step S35, it is determined whether or not the state change is to be notified to the printer controller 207. For example, the change of the paper feed cassette or the absence of paper is notified to the printer controller 207. If it is not a status change to be notified, error processing is executed in step S40.

In the case of a state change to be notified, the reader controller 101 issues / CCRT using the control circuit 228 in step S36, and issues a / CCRT in step S37.
Waits for a command for inquiring the details of the state change from 207, relays the status received from DC controller 202 in step S38, sets / CCRT to false in step S39, and executes error processing in step S40. .

On the other hand, in the printing operation, the control circuit
The gate function of 228 is set to pass-through, and / CCRT issued by the DC controller 202 is relayed to the printer controller 207.

Control of Copy and Print Operations Next, control of the execution command will be described. For example,
Reader controller 101 executed when printer controller 207 issues a print request during a copy operation
Control will be described.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining control when a print request occurs during a copy operation. At this time, DC
The controller 202 forms an image based on the image signal / VDO sent from the reader controller 101. At this time, the paper feed cassette, the paper discharge port, the image forming mode, and the like have been set by serial communication between the reader controller 101 and the DC controller 202.

In FIG. 20, reference numeral 1301 denotes a reader controller buffer in which various set values are stored. The set value designated by the reader controller 101 and the set value designated by the printer controller 207 are stored in the buffer. In, the setting value specified by the reader controller 101 is set in the printer 201.

During the copy operation, the printer controller 207
Even if a print request is issued, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of usability that the print operation is performed by interrupting the copy operation being performed. Therefore, it is desirable that the print request in such a situation be postponed until the copy operation is completed. However, / STS must be returned in response to / CMD from the printer controller 207. Therefore, among the setting values of the buffer 1301, the setting value for printing is set as required. Then, as for the difference between the set value for copy and the set value for print, the reader controller 101 may instruct the DC controller 202 to set after the copy operation is completed and before the print operation is started.

This processing will be described below with reference to a specific example. It is assumed that the upper cassette and the face-up discharge port are currently selected during the copy operation, and the color image forming mode is set. Here, when a print request is issued from the printer controller 207, the print operation is postponed, but various settings can be made. It is assumed that this print request selects the upper cassette and the face-down discharge port, and requests the monochrome image forming mode. Since the upper cassette is selected in both operations for the paper feed cassette, there is no need to change the paper feed cassette even if the operation is switched from the copy operation to the print operation.
On the other hand, since the designation of the discharge port and the image forming mode is different between the two operations, when the copy operation is completed, a command for designating the discharge port and the image forming mode is issued from the reader controller 101 to the DC controller 202. I do.

As described above, the reader controller 101
In response to a print request from the printer controller 207, the printer controller 207 not only delays the print request but also instructs the DC controller 202 to perform different settings in the copy operation and the print operation, and does not instruct the DC controller 202 to repeat the same setting. Make a judgment as follows.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining control when a copy request occurs during a printing operation. in this case,
From the viewpoint of usability, it is desirable that copying can be executed by interrupt processing by pressing a copy start button.

In this case, / VDO sent from the printer controller 207 is sent to the DC controller 202. It is assumed that the print operation is set to the upper cassette, the face-down discharge port, and the monochrome image mode. DC
The controller 202 receives / P from the printer controller 207.
Since the end of the print request can be detected only after the RNT becomes false, it is not known how many prints are to be made. Here, it is assumed that four images are to be printed. If no copy request is issued from the reader controller 101, D
The C controller 202 generates / TOP four times, and / VDO corresponding to the print image is transmitted from the printer controller 207 to the DC controller 202 via the reader controller 101 according to / TOP.

Here, it is assumed that a copy request for copying one color image occurs during the printing of the second sheet. The reader controller 101 relays the / PRNT issued by the printer controller 207 to the DC controller 202, and generates the / PRNT generated by the DC controller 202.
TOP is relayed to the printer controller 207. In this way, as shown in the timing chart at the time of interrupt copying in FIG. 22, the first image 1501 and the second image 1502
Is executed.

When a copy request is issued during the printing of the second image 1502, the reader controller 101 issues / CCRT to the printer controller 207. This / CCRT
Is transmitted from the reader controller 101 to the printer controller 207 in order to obtain control of the printer 201. In response to / CCRT, the printer controller 207 issues a command for inquiring the details of the status change.
In response to this command, the reader controller 101 returns a status indicating that "copying is in progress". In this case, the printer controller 207 keeps / PRNT true.
Wait for / TOP to be received. Normally, if / TOP is not received within a predetermined time after / PRNT is set to true, a timeout error occurs.However, when the status indicates `` copying operation '', the printer controller 207 has a sufficiently long time. Set to wait for time / TOP.

On the other hand, the reader controller 101 which has generated the / CCRT receives the / TOP sent from the DC controller 202 next.
Is interrupted by outputting / VDO corresponding to one image 1506 in synchronization with this / TOP without masking and sending to the printer controller 207. When the interrupt copy is completed, the reader controller 101 releases the mask of / TOP, and the printer controller 207 outputs / VDO corresponding to the image 1503 and the image 1504 in synchronization with / TOP, thereby printing the remaining two prints. Can be performed.

As described above, the control of the printer 201 and the timing at which a command should be issued are all controlled by the reader controller 101.
The requests from the two controllers to the controller 202 can be appropriately processed.

Control for Setting Information Confirmation Next, control when the printer controller 207 issues a command for confirming the setting information of the printer 201 will be described.

The printer controller 207 is a printer
If you want to check the setting information, issue a command to check the setting information as / CMD. The reader controller 101 that has received this checks the buffer 1301 shown in FIG. 20, and if the setting information requested by the printer controller 207 is obtained from the buffer 1301, notifies the printer controller 207 of the setting information as / STS. If the setting information cannot be obtained from the buffer 1301, the reader controller 101 sends a command for confirming the setting information to / CMD.
And the setting information returned as / STS from the DC controller 202 is relayed to the printer controller 207.

[Detection of Remaining Amount of Color Toner] FIG. 23 is a view showing a cartridge containing the color toner. 2701 is printer 20
1 is a window into which light from an LED (not shown) is incident.
The window 2701 is on the side of the toner container 2702 containing the color toner. If there is the color toner, the light from the LED is reflected by the color toner and reaches a toner remaining amount detection sensor (not shown) inside the printer 201. If there is no color toner, the light from the LED is not reflected and does not reach the toner remaining amount detection sensor. Of course, as the amount of color toner decreases, the amount of reflected light also decreases, so the amount of light reaching the remaining toner detection sensor also decreases. Therefore, the DC controller 202 can know the presence or absence and the remaining amount of the color toner from the output of the remaining toner amount detection sensor.

[Detection of Black Toner Remaining] FIG. 24 is a view showing a cartridge containing black toner. A piezo element (not shown) is connected inside the black toner cartridge. The DC controller 202 monitors the signal from the piezo element, and can detect the presence or absence and the remaining amount of the black toner from a change in the signal.

[Control when there is no Color Toner] When the absence of color toner is detected, the printer engine control CPU 1202 of the DC controller 202 shown in FIG. 25 notifies the reader controller 101 of the information that there is no color toner via the video interface. . Upon receiving the information indicating that there is no color toner, the reader controller 101 outputs the information indicating “no color toner” to the operation unit 115.
In addition, in order to execute monochrome printing, the reading of the original image is set to the monochrome mode, and the DC controller 202 is instructed to form a monochrome image.

[Display of Presence or Absence of Toner] FIGS. 26 and 27 are views showing an example of the operation unit 115. FIG. Reference numeral 3001 denotes a toner presence / absence display controlled by the reader controller 101. Figure 2
FIG. 6 shows that there are four color toners.
In, the absence of yellow toner is detected, the display corresponding to the yellow toner of 3001 changes, and messages 3002 and 3003 indicating "no yellow toner" and "copy in monochrome" are displayed.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a message indicating that there is no toner displayed on the monitor of the host computer 210 when the host computer 210 instructs printing. Without the color toner, the host computer 21
When a color print is requested from 0, the reader controller 101 transmits information indicating that there is no color toner to the host computer 210 via the print controller 207. The printer driver application running on the host computer 210 receives the information indicating that there is no color toner, and
Is displayed on the monitor.

FIGS. 29 and 30 show a DC controller, for example.
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an operation screen for adjusting color balance on the screen of the operation unit 202. When the absence of yellow toner is detected, only monochrome printing can be performed, so that the color balance adjustment of yellow, cyan, and magenta cannot be performed as shown in FIG.

[Density Control] Next, the density control will be described.

In an image forming apparatus, particularly in a color image forming apparatus, if the balance of the density of each color component YMCK used for image formation is lost, an appropriate image cannot be output.
Factors that cause the density balance to be lost include an increase in the amount of charge remaining on the photoreceptor due to repeated image formation, and changes in the temperature and humidity of the device environment, making it impossible to properly control image formation with the initial settings. It is in. Therefore, density control is performed to keep the density constant for some parameters relating to these factors.

The parameters that can be detected by the printer engine control CPU 1202 of the DC controller 202 include the continuous stationary time in the standby state, the number of discharged recording sheets, and the number of images formed on the intermediate transfer drum 405. Further, the output of an environment sensor (such as a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor) installed in the printer 201 is monitored by the printer engine control CPU 1202, so that an environmental change can be detected as a parameter. When the above parameters change, the density of the entire output image often decreases. The main purpose of density control is to return this reduced density to an appropriate value.

The printer engine control CPU 1202 constantly monitors whether or not a change in a parameter meets a predetermined condition. That is, when the integrated number, the number of images, the continuous stationary time, the output of the environment sensor, or the like reaches a predetermined value, it is determined that the density control needs to be performed. Then, we need to know that concentration control is needed in / CCRT and / STS
To the reader controller 101 using

When the reader controller 101 is notified of the necessity of the density control, the reader controller 101 instructs the DC controller 202 to execute the density control if the density control can be executed based on the operation state of the entire apparatus. In other words, even during image formation, when it is necessary to execute density control, the reader controller 101 instructs the DC controller 202 to temporarily stop image formation, and causes the DC controller 202 to enter a standby state. After confirming that the printer 201 is in the standby state, the reader controller 101 instructs the DC controller 202 to execute density control.

The printer engine control CPU 1202 waits for an instruction to execute the density control from the reader controller 101, and starts the density control when the instruction is issued. When the toner cartridge is replaced, the printer engine control
The CPU 1202 determines that the toner cartridge has been replaced by detecting the operation of a support lever (not shown) for supporting the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the main body. Of course, by detecting the presence or absence of toner before and after the operation of the support lever, and detecting the change from the absence of toner to the presence of toner, whether to execute only the density control of black or the density control of all colors Judge. Of course, when the replacement of the toner cartridge is detected, regardless of whether or not the execution of the density control is instructed from the reader controller 101, the printer engine control is performed.
The CPU 1202 starts density control.

When the density control is started, the printer engine control CPU 1202 forms a density patch pattern corresponding to a predetermined density value on the intermediate transfer drum 405 when the printer engine is started and reaches a steady state. Note that the patch pattern is stored in a ROM or a gate array in the DC controller 202 in advance. The density of the formed patch pattern is read by a density sensor 420 (see FIG. 8) disposed near the intermediate transfer drum 405.

The printer engine control CPU 1202 compares the density value of the patch pattern read by the density sensor 420 with the density value of a preset patch pattern to determine whether an appropriate density is maintained. Judge. If it is determined that the density is not appropriate, the intermediate transfer drum 405 and the like are cleaned, and the parameters for controlling the density of the output image, such as the charging potential, the developing bias, and the transfer bias, are adjusted.
The formation of a patch pattern and the measurement of its density are performed again.
By performing such control, the density can be maintained at an appropriate value.

The above-described density control is performed by, for example,
2 The first rotation forms a yellow patch pattern, the second rotation forms a magenta patch pattern, the third rotation forms a cyan patch pattern, and the fourth rotation forms a black patch pattern. The density is read.

When it is detected that the black toner remains but no color toner (any one color) exists, in the present embodiment, control is performed so that printing is performed only in black. Therefore, it is useless to control the density of the color toner in the above density control. Therefore, in the present embodiment, only the patch pattern of the black toner is formed,
By reading the density, only the density control of black is performed, and the time required for density control is reduced.

Normally, density control when all the YMCK toners are present is executed for all colors. The developing bias is set in several stages for each color patch pattern, patches corresponding to the developing bias of each stage are formed on the intermediate transfer drum 405, and the density of each patch pattern is measured by the density sensor 420.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the developing bias and the measured density of the patch pattern to be formed. The horizontal axis represents the developing bias value in several stages, and the vertical axis represents the density measured by the density sensor 420. Represent. From a density value of a patch having a value around a preset target density, a development bias value corresponding to the patch is calculated. From the calculated developing bias value, the charging potential is also calculated by a predetermined calculation formula.
At the time of image formation, a developing bias value and a charging potential obtained by the above processing are set.

The above processing is performed for each color.
The cleaning of the intermediate transfer drum 405 is executed, and the process ends. In the configuration of the present embodiment, when there are toners of all colors, it is necessary to form each patch for each YMCK color.
Therefore, in the case of full color, only for patch formation, for four colors,
That is, the patch forming process for four rotations of the intermediate transfer drum 405 is executed.

Therefore, the density control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 31 is executed. The processing shown in FIG. 31 is executed by the printer engine control CPU 1202.

In the first step S51 of the density control, the presence or absence of toner of all colors is checked. If there are toners of all colors, the normal density control described above is performed in steps S53 and S54. That is, in step S56, the developing bias is set in several steps to form a Y patch pattern in each step, and in steps S57 to S59, the developing bias is set in several steps, and each of the M, Y, C, and K in each step is set. Form a patch pattern.
Then, in step S60, the density measurement of each patch pattern is executed, and the development bias value corresponding to the patch is calculated from the density value of the patch having a value before and after the preset target density. Further, in step S61, the charging potential is calculated from the calculated developing bias value, the cleaning of the intermediate transfer drum 405 is executed, and the density control ends.

On the other hand, if there is no toner in any one color, it is determined in step S52 whether or not there is a black toner. If there is black toner, only black density control is executed in step S54 and thereafter. For other colors, default values are set, and no patch pattern formation or density measurement is performed. If there is no black toner, the density control is stopped in step S55, and default values are set for the charging potential, the developing bias, the transfer bias, and the like.

By performing the density control as described above,
It is possible to eliminate waste of time required for density control.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the absence of color toner is detected, monochrome printing can be performed with black toner. Further, by issuing a toner-out warning including which color toner is missing to the user, the user can immediately know the color toner that has run out, so that monochrome printing can be performed if possible, It is possible to quickly deal with the absence of toner. Further, when there is no color toner and there is black toner, only the density control of black is executed, so that the time required for the density control can be wasted.

In the above description, an example has been described in which only a monochrome image is formed when the color toner, which is a color recording agent, runs out. However, it is easy to extend the present embodiment to the formation of a monocolor image that can be performed by using color toners other than the color toner that has been lost. The present embodiment also includes the formation of a monocolor image when the color toner of the color runs out.

The density control method is not limited to the above example, but may be a method of forming a plurality of gradation patches for each color to create a gamma table.

[0129]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments are recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. Alternatively, it is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. 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. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above.

[0133]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to efficiently control the image forming conditions using the reference image based on the state of the recording unit such as the remaining amount of the recording material of each color.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a general configuration for realizing a print function;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration in which an image reading device is added to the configuration shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration for realizing a print function and a copy function;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an overview of a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the printer shown in FIG. 4;

6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a video interface connecting the printer controller and the DC controller shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 illustrates a signal of a video interface.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming unit illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of signals exchanged through a video interface;

FIG. 10 is a timing chart of commands and statuses exchanged during a printing operation,

FIG. 11 is a diagram specifically illustrating the exchange of commands / status between the printer controller and the DC controller;

FIG. 12 is an overview diagram when a reader is attached to the printer,

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of electrical connection between a printer controller, a DC controller, and a reader controller.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a reader controller.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a delay in starting reading of a document image by a reader;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a second configuration example of the reader controller;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a command issuing sequence when there is no reader controller;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a command issuing sequence when a reader controller is present,

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a control example of a reader controller in a copy operation;

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining control when a print request occurs during a copy operation;

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining control when a copy request occurs during a print operation;

FIG. 22 is a timing chart at the time of interrupt copying,

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a cartridge containing a color toner.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a cartridge containing black toner.

FIG. 25: Printer engine control CPU of DC controller
Figure showing

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation unit of the reader controller.

FIG. 27 illustrates an example of an operation unit of the reader controller.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message indicating that there is no toner displayed on a monitor of a host computer.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an operation screen for adjusting a color balance;

FIG. 30 is a view showing an operation screen for adjusting a color balance;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing density control,

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a relationship example between a developing bias and a measured density of a patch pattern to be formed.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) G03G 15/08 507 G03G 21/00 386 5C079 21/14 500 21/00 386 H04N 1/29 G 500 E H04N 1/29 G03G 15/08 507K 21/00 372 1/46 H04N 1/46 Z F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AQ06 AR01 AS02 HK11 HN15 HP00 HQ12 2H027 DA32 DD02 DD05 EB04 EB06 EE07 EF09 EJ15 EK11 FA28 FA35 GA03 GB03 GB03 GB03 AD16 BB34 BB36 2H077 DA15 DA16 DA82 GA13 5C074 BB02 DD08 DD16 DD21 EE08 EE14 EE20 FF15 FF16 GG13 GG17 GG19 HH02 HH04 5C079 HA13 KA15 KA17 KA18 KA20 LA01 LA31 LB15 MA01 PA23

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for controlling an image processing apparatus for forming a color image based on an input image signal on a recording medium, comprising: a remaining amount of recording material corresponding to a plurality of color components provided in the image processing apparatus. Signal generation means for generating information about the remaining amount of the recording material to be generated, and control means for controlling the formation conditions of the color image formation and the monochrome image formation using the reference image based on the generated information on the remaining amount of the recording material. A control device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the signal generation unit receives information indicating that there is no color recording material, the control unit displays a message indicating that monochrome and / or monocolor image formation is possible. The control device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The control means supplies an image signal to the effect that monochrome and / or monocolor image formation is possible when information indicating that there is no color recording material is notified from the signal generation means. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the notification is sent to a source. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays information indicating a color component that has run out of the recording material when the information indicating that there is no color recording material is notified from the signal generation unit. Item 2. The control device according to Item 1. 5. When the signal generation means receives information indicating that there is no color recording material from the signal generation means, the control means notifies the image signal supply source of information indicating a color component that has run out of the recording material. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means further detects a change in a parameter relating to image formation for determining the necessity of adjusting an image forming condition of said image processing apparatus. An adjusting unit for adjusting the image forming condition, wherein when the detecting unit detects the necessity of adjusting the image forming condition, the adjusting unit is instructed to adjust the image forming condition. Item 2. The control device according to Item 1. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the signal generation unit receives information indicating that there is no color recording material from the signal generation unit, and instructs to adjust the image formation conditions, the control unit changes only the image formation conditions relating to black. 7. The control device according to claim 6, wherein adjustment is performed. 8. When the signal generation unit receives information indicating that there is no color and black recording material from the signal generation unit, the control unit changes the image formation condition when an instruction to adjust the image formation condition is issued. 7. The control device according to claim 6, wherein the control device is set to a default value. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a supply unit that receives an image forming request and an image signal from a host machine and supplies them to the control unit. Control device. 10. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising image input means for supplying an image signal obtained by reading a document image to said control means. 11. A control method for controlling the image processing apparatus by bidirectionally communicating with an image processing apparatus that forms a color image based on an input image signal on a recording medium, the method comprising: Detecting a state of a recording unit corresponding to a plurality of color components provided in the processing apparatus, and controlling color image formation and monochrome image formation using a reference image based on information on the detected state of the recording unit. And control method. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when information indicating that there is no color recording material is detected, an indication that monochrome and / or monocolor image formation is possible is displayed. Control method. 13. When the information indicating that there is no color recording material is detected, a notification that a monochrome and / or monocolor image can be formed is sent to an image signal supply source. Item 14. The control method according to Item 11. 14. The control method according to claim 11, wherein when information indicating that there is no color recording material is detected, information indicating a color component that has run out of the recording material is displayed. 15. The image signal supply device according to claim 11, wherein when information indicating that there is no color recording material is detected, information indicating a color component having no recording material is notified to an image signal supply source. Control method. 16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting a change in a parameter relating to image formation for determining the necessity of adjusting the image forming condition of the image processing apparatus; and determining that the image forming condition needs to be adjusted. 12. The control method according to claim 11, wherein in the case where the image forming condition is adjusted, the image forming condition is adjusted. 17. When it is determined that there is no color recording material and it is determined that the image forming conditions need to be adjusted, only the image forming conditions relating to black are adjusted. 17. The control method according to claim 16, wherein: 18. When it is determined that there is no recording material for color and black, and it is determined that the image forming condition needs to be adjusted, the image forming condition is set to a default value. 17. The control method according to claim 16, wherein: 19. A recording medium on which a program code for controlling the image processing apparatus by bidirectionally communicating with an image processing apparatus for forming a color image based on an input image signal on the recording medium is recorded. Wherein the program code includes at least a code of a step of detecting a state of a recording unit corresponding to a plurality of color components provided in the image processing apparatus; and a reference image based on information on a detected state of the recording unit. A code for controlling a color image formation and a monochrome image formation using the same.