JP2001103203A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cope with energy-saving by eliminating waste of the power consumption furthermore and also acquire an image with a prescribed density even when an image forming means is not used for a long time. SOLUTION: A composite machine 100 is provided with a FAX control means 13 that communicates data according to a prescribed communication control procedure, an image memory 16 that stores received coded image data S2, a decoding means 24 that decodes the coded image data D2, and an image forming means 18 that forms an image on recording paper on the basis of the decoded data and has a fixing means 25 that fixes the image on the recording paper. The composite machine 100 is also provided with a discrimination means 5 that discriminates whether or not the image forming means 18 immediately forms an image from the received coded image data D2 and with a control means 15 that arises the fixing means 25 as its control when the mans 5 discriminates that the image forming means 18 immediately forms an image. The control means 15 starts a density adjustment of the image forming means 18 when receiving the coded image data D2 as its control.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a low power consumption function and a density adjustment function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of information processing technology and the improvement and improvement of information networks, facsimile machines have been increasingly used not only in corporate companies but also in ordinary households. As is well known, a facsimile apparatus includes a memory having a predetermined capacity for temporarily storing received image data, and image forming means for forming an image on recording paper based on the received image data. The image forming means is provided with a heat fixing device, which applies a predetermined heat to the recording paper after the transfer of the developing toner to fix the toner image. Of course, the heat fixing device is provided with a heating element, and generates a predetermined heat energy at the time of image formation.

Accordingly, in a reception standby state of this type of facsimile apparatus, the image forming means is not in a state in which the image forming means can immediately form an image, that is, in a so-called ready state. In standby with reduced power consumption.

[0004] An image forming apparatus for reducing the power consumption of the heat fixing unit is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-1 of the technical literature.
4673. According to this technical document, when the facsimile apparatus shifts from the reception waiting state to the ready state, the thermal fixing device is started based on the incoming call signal. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the thermal fixing device in the reception waiting state.

[0005]

However, according to a recent facsimile apparatus, the coded image data transmitted from the other party is transferred to another image forming apparatus (transfer function) with the multifunction of the apparatus. )
It may be related to "confidentiality" that specified the recipient (confidential function).

Accordingly, when the above-mentioned coded image data is received, the facsimile apparatus is shifted from the reception waiting state to the ready state even though the image forming means does not need to immediately form an image. Then, the heat fixing unit is started up. For this reason, useless heat energy is generated in the heat fixing device, and power of an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine is wasted.

On the other hand, this type of image forming means is provided with a developing device for developing the toner, and if the developing device is not used for a long time, the density of the image formed on the recording paper fluctuates. There is. For this reason, it is necessary to perform image density adjustment for toner agitation and resetting of image forming conditions. If the image density adjustment is not performed, there arises a problem that the image density of the recording paper fluctuates remarkably, or that the reproducibility of photographic images and characters cannot always be stably obtained.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to cope with energy saving by eliminating further waste of power consumption, and the image forming means has not been used for a long time. Even in such a case, it is an object to provide an image forming apparatus capable of acquiring an image having a desired density.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a communication means for performing data communication according to a predetermined communication control procedure, and a code received by the communication means. Storage means for storing encoded image data, decoding means for decoding encoded image data stored in the storage means, and formation of an image on a recording sheet based on the data decoded by the decoding means. And an image forming device having a fixing device for fixing an image on the recording paper, wherein the encoded image data received by the communication device forms an image immediately by the image forming device. Determining means for determining whether or not the image forming means is to form an image immediately by the determining means; It is characterized in.

According to the first image forming apparatus of the present invention, for example, based on the attribute information of the file related to the encoded image data received by the communication means, the determining means forms the image immediately by the image forming means. It is determined whether or not
If the encoded image data is data to be transferred to another image forming apparatus or data related to confidentiality specifying the recipient, the received encoded image data is stored only in the storage unit, and the fixing unit is used. Can be controlled not to start.

A second image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit for receiving print data from a host computer via a predetermined communication unit, a storage unit for storing the print data received by the receiving unit, and a storage unit for storing the print data. Command processing means for decoding the print data read from the means and expanding the data as dot patterns for drawing in page units; a frame memory for storing at least one page of the print data expanded in the dot pattern by the command processing means; In the image forming apparatus, the print data stored in the frame memory is input, an image is formed on a recording sheet, and the image forming section is provided with a fixing section for fixing an image on the recording sheet. Determining means for determining whether or not the received print data is to be immediately subjected to image formation by the image forming means; If it is determined that the immediately image formed by the image forming means, is characterized in that a control means for controlling so as to raise up the fixing means is provided.

According to the second image forming apparatus of the present invention, for example, based on the attribute information of the file related to the print data received by the receiving means, whether or not the determining means forms the image immediately by the image forming means is determined. Therefore, if the print data is transfer data to another image forming apparatus or data related to confidentiality specifying the recipient, the received print data is stored only in the storage unit. , So that the fixing means is not activated.

A third image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a communication unit for performing data communication according to a predetermined communication control procedure, a storage unit for storing coded image data received by the communication unit, and a storage unit for storing the encoded image data. Decoding means for decoding the encoded image data, and an image is formed on a recording sheet based on the data decoded by the decoding means,
In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit having a fixing unit for fixing an image on a recording sheet, a density adjustment operation of the image forming unit is started when encoded image data is received by a communication unit. A control means for controlling is provided.

According to the third image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the coded image data is received by the communication means, the density adjusting operation of the image forming means is started, so that an image can be formed at an optimum density. it can. Therefore, even when the image forming apparatus has not been used for a long time, an image having a desired density can be obtained.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a multifunction peripheral 100 to which the first to third image forming apparatuses as each embodiment of the present invention are applied. The multifunction peripheral 100 has a facsimile function embodied by the first and third image forming apparatuses and a printer function embodied by the second and third image forming apparatuses. Of course, it also has a copying function.

The MFP 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a data bus 1 and a control bus 2. The data bus 1 and the control bus 2 include an image reading unit 11, a printer communication unit 12,
FAX communication means 13, compression / decompression means 14, control means 1
5, an image memory 16, a control storage unit 17, an image forming unit 18, an image processing unit 21, a print control unit 22, an encoding unit 23, a decoding unit 24, and the like.
The power supply 26 is connected to the control unit 15, and the image forming unit 18 includes the frame memory 8, the electrophotographic engine unit 19, the fixing unit 25, and the automatic image density adjusting unit 28.

(1) Facsimile Function In this example, at least the facsimile function is performed by the facsimile communication unit 13, the control unit 15, the image memory 16, the image forming unit 18, the image processing unit 21, the encoding unit 23, and the decoding unit 24. Is achieved. In the operation at the time of facsimile transmission, first, when a document is placed on the image reading means 11, the document image is read from the control bus 2 by a read signal S0.
Is read based on The image data D1 read by the image reading means 11 is transferred to the compression / decompression means 14 through the data bus 1. The compression / expansion means 23 outputs the image data D1 based on the compression / expansion signal S14 from the control bus 2.
Is performed. This compression processing is to store as much image data D1 as 1 bit in the image memory 16 and to effectively use the memory capacity.

The compressed image data D1 is temporarily stored in the image memory 16 through the data bus 1. The image memory 16 stores the image reading means 11, the printer communication means 1
2 and shared by the facsimile communication means 13 and used by being divided into a plurality of memory areas. For example, the image memory 16 is allocated to a copy / printer area and a facsimile area, and these memory areas may be used by being further divided into a file memory, a page memory, and the like. Of course, the image memory 16 can be added.

In the image memory 16, the image data D1 is read out in page units based on the memory control signal S2 from the control bus 2. The image data D1 is transferred to the compression / expansion means 14 through the data bus 1. The compression / expansion means 14 performs expansion processing of the image data D1 based on the compression / expansion signal S14 from the control means 15.

The decompressed image data D1 is transferred to the coded image means 24. In the coded image unit 24, the image data D1 is coded into a predetermined code based on the coded control signal S4 from the control unit 15 and compressed. The encoded image data D2 after compression passes through the data bus 1 to the FA
Transferred to X communication means 13. The facsimile communication unit 13 connects a communication line with a terminal device of the other party to perform data communication according to a predetermined communication control procedure. As a result, the encoded image data D2 can be faxed to a desired destination.

Next, in the operation at the time of facsimile reception, for example, when the transmission request signal S1 from the other party is detected by the facsimile communication means 13, this signal S1 is notified to the control means 15 via the control bus 2. At the same time, the encoded image data D2 sent from the other terminal device is received and temporarily stored in the image memory 16 through the data bus 1. Thereafter, in the image memory 16 to which the memory control signal S2 from the control unit 15 has been input, the encoded image data D2 is read out for each page. The encoded image data D2 is transferred to the decoding means 23 through the data bus 1. In the decoding means 23, the decoding control signal S3 from the control bus 2
The decoding process of the encoded image data D2 is performed based on.

The decoded image data D1 is transferred to the image processing means 21 or transferred to the compression / decompression means 14. In the image processing means 21, the image data D
1, the image is rotated or scaled based on the image control signal S12. In this image rotation processing, if the image is formed as it is with the image data D1 transmitted from the other party, the image size may not fit on the recording paper prepared in advance in the vertical and horizontal lengths of the image. Data D
1 is rotated by 90 degrees, for example, or the image data D1 is reduced or enlarged at a predetermined magnification. Thus, the size of the image data D1 can be adjusted to the size of the recording paper prepared in advance.

The image data D1 after the image processing is transferred to the compression / expansion means 14. The compression / expansion means 14 performs compression based on a compression / expansion signal S14 from the control means 15. Thereafter, in the image memory 16 to which the memory control signal S2 from the control bus 2 is input, the image data D1
Is read. The image data D1 is transferred to the compression / expansion means 14 through the data bus 1. Compression / expansion means 2
In 3, the image data D1 is expanded based on the compression and expansion signal S14 from the control unit 15.

The decompressed image data D1 is temporarily stored in a frame memory 8 provided in the image forming means 18. Thereafter, the memory control signal S2 'from the control means 15
Is input to the frame memory 8, the image data D 1 is read out in units of one page, and supplied to the electrophotographic printer unit 19. The electrophotographic engine unit 19 is provided with a developing unit, a photoconductor, a transfer unit, and the like (not shown). In the electrophotographic engine unit 19, an electrostatic latent image based on the image data D1 is recorded on the photoconductor based on the image forming signal S5, and toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image based on the development control signal S6. A toner image is formed on the photoconductor. This toner image is transferred to recording paper. As a result, the document image sent from the destination can be printed out.

(2) Print Function In this example, a printer function is realized by the printer communication unit 12, the control unit 15, the image memory 16, the image forming unit 18, the image processing unit 21, and the print control unit 22. For example, when the printer communication unit 12 connected to a host computer (referred to as an external computer) 102 outside the multifunction peripheral receives the communication request signal S11, the print data D3 transmitted from the external computer 102 is received.
Is received. The print data D3 is temporarily stored in the image memory 16 through the data bus 1.

Thereafter, in the image memory 16 to which the memory control signal S2 from the control bus 2 has been input, the print data D3 is read out for each page. The print data D3 is transferred to the print control unit 22 as a command processing unit via the data bus 1. The print control unit 22 decodes the print data D3 based on the print control signal S13 from the control unit 15 and develops the print data D3 in page units as a dot pattern for drawing.

The decompressed print data D3 is transferred to the compression / decompression means 14 through the data bus 1. The compression / expansion unit 23 performs a compression process on the print data D3 based on the compression / expansion signal S14 from the control unit 15. This compression process is for effectively using the image memory 16.

The print data D3 after compression is temporarily stored in the image memory 16 through the data bus 1. After that, in the image memory 16 to which the memory control signal S2 from the control unit 15 is input, the print data D3 is read for each page. The print data D3 is transferred to the compression / expansion means 14 through the data bus 1. The compression / expansion means 14 performs expansion processing of the print data D3 based on the compression / expansion signal S14 from the control bus 2.

The expanded one-page print data D3 is transferred to the frame memory 8 of the image forming means 18 and temporarily stored. After that, in the frame memory 8 to which the memory control signal S2 'from the control means 15 is input, the print data D3 is read out for each page and supplied to the electrophotographic printer unit 19. In the electrophotographic engine unit 19, an electrostatic latent image is formed by recording the print data D3 on the photoconductor based on the image forming signal S5. Further, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image based on the development control signal S6, and the toner image formed on the photoconductor is transferred to a recording sheet. As a result, an image based on the print data D3 sent from the external computer 102 can be printed out.

(3) Copy Function In this example, a copy function is realized by the image reading means 11, the control means 15, the image memory 16, the image forming means 18, and the image processing means 21. In this copying function, first, when a document is placed on the image reading means 11, the document image is read based on a read signal S0 from the control bus 2. Image data D1 read by image reading means 11
Is transferred to the compression / expansion means 14 through the data bus 1. The compression / expansion means 23 performs a compression process on the image data D1 based on the compression / expansion signal S14 from the control means 15. This compression process is for effectively using the image memory 16.

The compressed image data D1 is temporarily stored in the image memory 16 through the data bus 1. Thereafter, in the image memory 16, the image data D1 is read for each page based on the memory control signal S2 from the control means 15. The image data D1 is transferred to the compression / expansion means 14 through the data bus 1. The compression / expansion means 14 performs expansion processing of the image data D1 based on the compression / expansion signal S14 from the control means 15.

The decompressed image data D1 is transferred to the image processing unit 21 or transferred to the image forming unit 18. In the image processing means 21, the image data D1
, An image rotation or enlargement / reduction process is performed based on the image control signal S12. In the image rotation process, when the image is formed as it is with the image data D1 of the original image read by the image reading unit 11, the vertical and horizontal lengths of the image size may not fit on the prepared recording paper. Because there is
For example, the image data D1 is rotated by 90 degrees, or the image data D1 is reduced or enlarged at a predetermined magnification.

Of course, the image rotation processing is not limited to 90 °, and the image data D1 is rotated by a predetermined angle so as to eliminate the displacement when the original is bent and placed by the image reading means 11. Will be modified. This allows
The size of the image data can be adjusted to the size of the recording paper prepared in advance.

The image data D1 after the image processing is temporarily stored in the frame memory 8 of the image forming means 18. After that, in the frame memory 8 to which the memory control signal S2 'from the control means 15 is inputted, the image data D1 is read out for each page and supplied to the electrophotographic printer unit 19. In the electrophotographic engine unit 19, an electrostatic latent image based on the image data D1 is recorded on the photoconductor, and toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image based on the development control signal S6. Is transferred to the recording paper. Thus, the document image read by the image reading unit 11 can be copied.

(4) Other Functions The image forming means 18 has a fixing means 25 of a roller fixing type. In this example, the toner image is fixed on the recording paper by the fixing unit 25 to which the fixing control signal S15 from the control bus 2 is input. For example, the fixing unit 25 includes a fixing roller (not shown) and has a halogen heater therein. A rubber roller is provided at a position facing the fixing roller, and a temperature sensor is provided in contact with or near the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller to monitor the surface temperature of the fixing roller. By controlling the blinking ratio of the halogen heater based on the difference between the temperature detection signal from the temperature sensor and the reference signal, the fixing roller is maintained in a desired temperature range. Recording paper is passed between the fixing roller and the rubber roller, and the toner image is fixed.

A power supply means 26 is connected to the fixing means 25, and a power supply control signal S7 for executing the energy saving mode.
, A predetermined drive voltage is supplied. This multifunction machine 1
At 00, a save mode and a sleep mode are prepared as energy saving modes. In the save mode, a state in which the roller set temperature is significantly lower than the normal fixable set temperature is maintained. Thus, heat dissipated from the fixing roller is reduced, so that power consumption can be reduced. Further, in the sleep mode, power supply to the halogen heater provided inside the fixing roller is cut off, so that power consumption can be further reduced.

This mode switching is performed by the electrophotographic engine unit 1.
When the idling state of No. 9 has passed the first predetermined time,
The mode is set to the save mode, and when the idling state further passes the second predetermined time after the save mode, the mode is set to the sleep mode. Multifunction machine 1 during normal use time such as daytime
00 has many idling states or save mode states,
It is in sleep mode at midnight or during office breaks.

In this example, the image forming means 18 is provided with a fixing detecting means 27, and based on the temperature of the fixing means 25, it is detected whether or not the image forming means 18 is ready for image formation. A temperature sensor or the like is used for the fixing detection unit 27. This temperature sensor generates a temperature detection signal S8. This temperature detection signal S8 is output to the control means 15.

In this example, the control unit 15 is provided with the determination unit 5, which determines whether the encoded image data D 2 received by the facsimile communication unit 13 is to be immediately subjected to image formation by the image formation unit 18. You. As the determination means 5, a comparator or a CPU is used.

The judgment at this time is that the temperature detection signal S8 from the fixing detecting means 27 is a digital temperature detection signal (data).
After the conversion, the temperature detection signal is compared with a preset reference temperature signal (data).
In step 8, it is determined that an image is to be formed immediately. In this case, the control unit 15 controls the fixing unit 25 in the image forming unit 18 to start up. Further, when the fixing detection unit 27 detects that the image forming unit 18 is ready for image formation, the control unit 15 controls the image forming unit 18 to start image formation.

Further, the image forming unit 18 is provided with an automatic image density adjusting unit 28. For example, in the developing unit of the electrophotographic engine unit 19 shown in FIG. 1, toner is adjusted based on a density adjusting signal S 17 from the control unit 15. A stirring operation is performed. Further, a patch image is formed on the photoconductor, and thereafter, the patch image is measured, and the density of the patch image is compared with a preset reference density. Image forming conditions such as the toner concentration in the developer are adjusted so that the reference density is obtained.

The automatic image density adjusting means 28 has an operation completion detecting means 29. This operation completion detecting means 29
Then, it is detected whether or not the density adjustment operation of the image forming unit 18 has been completed. Although the operation completion detecting means 29 is not shown, for example, it has a register,
When the density adjustment ends, the end flag Df indicating the end is written. Then, the contents of the register can be read out by the control means 15 at any time.

When the density adjustment operation of the image forming means 18 is completed and the operation completion detecting means 29 detects that the image forming means 18 is ready for image formation,
The control unit 15 controls the image forming unit 18 to start image formation. The control means 15
Is controlled so that the above-described density adjustment operation is not performed even when the coded image data D2 is received by the facsimile communication unit 13 and when the determination unit 5 determines that image formation is not to be performed immediately. .

For example, the elapsed time from the previously performed density adjustment is measured, and a preset reference time is compared with the elapsed time. If the elapsed time exceeds the reference time, image formation is performed. The density adjusting operation of the means 18 is performed. If the elapsed time does not exceed the reference time,
The image forming unit 18 does not perform the density adjustment operation. This is because, within a predetermined time after the previous density adjustment operation, even if the density adjustment is not performed, the density of the image formed on the recording paper does not fluctuate remarkably, and the image of the expected density is obtained. Therefore, the density adjustment operation in which the recording is interrupted during the operation is not implemented.

In this example, at least the image data D2 at the time of facsimile and the image data D1 by the image reading means 11 are stored in the image memory for each unit page by file formation, and the attribute information (file management information) D4 relating to this file is stored. It is created by the control means 15. The control means 15 is connected to the control storage means 17 via the data bus 1. The control storage means 17 stores the image data D1 and D2 stored in the image memory 16.
And file attribute information D4 related to print data D3
Is stored based on the file management signal S16. The data relating to the attribute information is appropriately updated by the control unit 15 as the image data processing step proceeds.

For example, image data input to the image memory 16 is managed on a page basis, and file name No., function type #, start time, end time, transmission destination, confidential I
Items such as D, processing type, and progress status are stored in the control storage unit 17 two-dimensionally (in a table) for each file.

The attribute information D4 is appropriately updated in accordance with the progress of the image data processing process. For example,
As an example of the configuration of file management information related to facsimile reception, when the function type is normal reception, the function type is updated to 01: receiving, 10: received / recording, 11: recording completed. The function type is further divided into items such as 001: normal communication, 010: relay reception, and 011: confidential reception.

When the data of the function type item is 01, the reception is normal, so the control unit 15 determines that "it is necessary to start the image forming unit 18 immediately". If the reference value for controlling the fixing roller based on the determination result is not the set value for fixing the toner image on the recording paper onto the recording paper, switch to this setting value. The temperature of the fixing roller is raised by switching the heater drive circuit to a normal mode of a normal state.

On the other hand, when the operation command of the automatic image density adjusting means 28 of the electrophotographic engine unit 19 is "necessary",
An operation start command is output to the image density automatic adjusting means 28. Then, for example, when the image forming unit 18 returns to normal, the image data read from the image memory 16 in file units (page units) in order from the earliest reception start time is supplied to the image forming unit 18, The image data D1 is printed out on recording paper by the image forming means 18.

In this example, the image data D 1 and D 2 and the print data D 3 that are sequentially updated in the control storage
The control unit 15 determines whether or not to form an image immediately by the image forming unit 18 based on the attribute information D4. Further, a plurality of job instructions in which priorities regarding image formation by the image forming unit 18 are determined in advance are stored in the control storage unit 17. The control means 15 outputs the file management signal S16 to the control storage means 17, and in accordance with the job command from the storage means 17, the image reading means 11, the printer communication means 12, and the image forming means 1
8 is executed to execute the job instruction.

The operation unit 9 is connected to the control means 15 so that an instruction signal S9 can be input when setting the recording paper size and the document size. Further, a display unit 10 is connected to the control means 15 so that an error screen or the like can be displayed based on the display signal S10. Of course, each control signal S0, S2 to S7, S10
S17 and the like are generated by the control means 15 based on the transmission request signal S1, the temperature detection signal S8, the instruction signal S9, and the communication request signal S11.

The transmission request signal S1 and the temperature detection signal S
8 and the communication request signal S11 are received by the control means 15 through the control bus 2, and read signal S0, memory control signals S2, S2 ', decoding control signal S3, encoding control signal S4, image forming signal S5, development control signal S6, power control signal S7, image control signal S12, print control signal S
13, a compression / expansion signal S14, a fixing control signal S15, a file management signal S16, and a density adjustment signal S17 are supplied to each means through the control bus 2.

Next, an example of the overall operation of the multifunction peripheral 100 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a multifunction peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment.
10 is a flowchart showing an example of the entire operation of the 00. In this example, if the facsimile reception function, the copy function, and the printer function conflict, the copy function is executed with priority, and if the copy function and the facsimile reception function conflict, the copy function has priority. In the case where the facsimile reception function and the printer function conflict with each other, the facsimile function is preferentially executed.

In this example, the data processing system leading to the image forming process is largely divided into two. That is, data processing relating to the facsimile receiving function is executed in steps A1 to A16 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and data processing relating to the copying function, the printing function, and the facsimile transmitting function are executed in steps A7 to A19.

In the facsimile receiving function, first, in step A1, a "call" of the terminal device of the other party is waited. Where F
The AX communication means 13 detects the "call" of the other party. If the "call" of the other party is detected, the process proceeds to step A2, where the encoded image data D2 sent from the other party is F
It is received by the AX communication unit 13. Then, the process proceeds to step A3, where the encoded image data D2 received by the facsimile communication unit 13 is temporarily stored in the file memory of the image memory 16.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step A4, where the encoded image data D2 from the other party is read from the file memory and decoded, and the image data D2 is expanded. Then, the process proceeds to step A5, where the decoded image data D2 from the other party is subjected to recording image processing.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step A6, where the encoded image data D2 from the other party is written to the page memory of the image memory 16. Then, in step A13, it is detected whether there is a request to use the image forming means 18 by the copying function. At this time, a request to use the image forming means 18 caused by the execution of the copying function is received, for example, by the control means 15, and the control means 15 compares the priority of use of the image forming means 18 written in the storage means 24 with the priority. Then, the use of the image forming means 18 is given to the copying function based on the collation result.

Therefore, if there is no request to use the image forming means 18 by the copying function in step A13,
The flow shifts to 16, where an image forming process using the facsimile function is performed. If there is a request to use the image forming means 18 by the copying function in step A13, the process proceeds to step A14 and waits while the image data is held in the page memory in the facsimile function until the image forming process by the copying function ends. .

Then, the process shifts to step A15 to detect whether or not the use of the image forming means 18 by the copying function is completed. Regarding this detection, a method of checking whether the image forming means 18 is used every time a predetermined time elapses, or generating an end flag when the use of the image forming means 18 by the copying function is completed. Then, the control means 15 checks the end flag.

Therefore, if the use of the image forming means 18 is not completed, the flow returns to step A14 to return to the image forming means 1.
Wait until 8 becomes free. When its use is over,
In step A16, the image data is read from the page memory of the image memory 16 and the image forming process is executed.

In the copy function, the print function, and the facsimile transmission function, the job is largely divided into a copy function / facsimile transmission function and a print function according to an operation input from the user in step A7. The former is a job using the image reading unit 11, and the latter is a job using the printer communication unit 12. Therefore, if the former is selected, the process proceeds to step A8, where the image of the document is read by the image reading means 11 and the image data D1 is compressed by the compression / expansion means 14, and then the control means 1
5, the compressed image data is stored in the image memory 16.

If the latter is selected, step A9
The print data D3 sent from the external computer 102 is received by the printer communication unit 12, and under the control of the control unit 15, the compressed image data is stored in the image memory 16. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step A10, where the image data D1 or the print data D3 is recorded image processing. Here, for example, in order to match the sizes of the image data D1 and the print data D3 to the size of the recording paper prepared in advance, the print data D3 received from the printer communication unit 12 is read out from the image memory 16 and rotated. The image data D1 is subjected to a compression process by the compression / expansion means 14 and then stored in the image memory 16 again.

Then, the flow proceeds to step A11, where the control means 15 separates the jobs of the copy function, print function and facsimile transmission function. When the copying function is executed by the control unit 15, the process proceeds to step A16, where the image forming unit 18 is used preferentially for the print function and the facsimile reception function, and the image forming process is executed.

If the printer function is to be executed in step A11, the process proceeds to step A13, where the control unit 15 detects whether there is a request to use the image forming unit 18 by the copying function. This detection is as described above. Therefore, if there is no request to use the image forming means 18 by the copying function in step A13, the process proceeds to step A16, where an image forming process is performed based on the image data D1 read from the page memory.

If there is a request to use the image forming means 18 by the copying function in step A13, the process proceeds to step A14 in the same manner as in the case of the facsimile receiving function, and waits until the image forming processing by the copying function is completed. Then, in step A15, it is detected whether or not the use of the image forming means 18 by the copying function has been completed. If the use has not been completed yet, the process waits until the image forming means 18 becomes empty in step A14. When the use is completed, step A
The process proceeds to 16 to execute an image forming process.

If the facsimile transmission function is to be executed in step A11, the flow goes to step A17 to encode and compress the image data D1 to be sent to the other party.
In step A18, the encoded image data D2 is temporarily stored in the file memory. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step A19, where the coded image data D2 is transmitted by the facsimile communication unit 13 to the terminal device of the other party.

(5) First Embodiment Next, an operation of the multifunction peripheral 100 to which the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts (parts 1 and 2) showing an operation example at the time of facsimile reception. In this embodiment, there is provided a case in which the judging means 5 for judging whether or not the encoded image data D2 transmitted from the other party is to be immediately image-formed by the image forming means 18 is provided in the control means 15. Encoded image data D2 is transfer data to another multifunction device, or "confidential" specifying the recipient
If the data is related to the data, the control is performed so that the fixing unit 25 is not started.

In this example, it is assumed that the power consumption of the fixing unit 25 of the image forming unit 18 is reduced, and the MFP 100 is in, for example, a save mode. Based on this, steps B1 to B1 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
The case where the reception processing of the encoded image data D2 is performed in step B8 and the image forming processing is performed based on the reception image data D0 in steps B9 to B17 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

First, in step B1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, a transmission request from the facsimile
It is detected by the AX communication unit 13. If there is a transmission request from the other party, a transmission request signal S1 is output from the facsimile communication unit 13 to the control unit 15, so that step B
In step 2, the receiving function of the MFP 100 is transmitted from the control unit 15 to the other party via the FAX communication unit 13.

Thereafter, in step B3, a receiving instruction from the other party is waited. If there is a receiving command from the other party, F
Since the AX communication means 13 notifies the control means 15 to that effect, the process proceeds to step B4, where the encoded image data D2 transmitted from the other party is stored in the image memory 16 based on the memory control signal S2 from the control means 15. Is written to.

Thereafter, in step B 5, whether the transmission of the encoded image data D 2 from the other party is completed is detected by the control means 15 via the facsimile communication means 13. If "end of transmission" from the other party is detected, step B6
Then, the writing to the image memory 16 is completed. Then, in step B7, the control means 15 detects via the facsimile communication means 13 whether "reception confirmation" has been transmitted to the other party. If you haven't sent that "acknowledgment,"
The process shifts to step B8 to transmit "reception confirmation" to the other party.

When the "reception confirmation" is transmitted, the flow proceeds to step B9 to form an image, and the control means 15 confirms whether or not the encoded image data D2 is stored in the image memory 16. . Encoded image data D2
If is not stored, the process moves to step B22 and the control unit 15 performs an error process. The error processing at this time is to output the display signal S10 so as to notify that the coded image data D2 transmitted from the other party could not be stored, and display the display signal S10 on the display unit 10.

If it is confirmed in step B9 that the coded image data D2 is present in the image memory 16, the process proceeds to step B10, where the control means 15 immediately forms an image of the coded image data D2. Judge what is.
In this example, the attribute information D4 of the encoded image data D2 sequentially updated in the control storage unit 17 is stored in the file management signal S2.
16 and the encoded image data D2
Is an image formed immediately by the image forming means 18 or is transferred to another facsimile machine, or is the encoded image data D2 related to "confidentiality" specifying the recipient? The determination is made by the determination means 5.

The coded image data D2 is used to transfer data to another facsimile apparatus and the "confidential"
If the data corresponds to the above, it is determined that an image is to be formed immediately, so that the process proceeds to step B11, and the power supply control signal S7 is output from the control unit 15 to the power supply unit 26. The fixing unit 25 is controlled by the power control signal S7.
Is launched. At the same time, the decoded signal S3 is output to the decoding unit 23, so that the decoded image data D2 is decoded and expanded by the decoding unit 23 based on the decoded signal S3. The data after the decoding is the received image data.

Thereafter, the flow shifts to step B12, where the received image data is written into the frame memory 8 based on the memory control signal S2 '. Thereafter, in step B13, it is detected whether or not the image forming means 18 is ready for image formation. In this example, the temperature detection signal S8 from the fixing detection unit 27 and a preset reference temperature signal are
When it is detected that the temperature of the fixing unit 25 exceeds the reference temperature, it is determined that the image forming unit 18 is in a state where an image can be formed.

If the image forming means 18 is not in a state in which an image can be formed, the monitoring of the temperature detection signal S8 is continued in step B13. When the image forming unit 18 is ready to form an image, the process proceeds to step B14, where the control unit 15 sends the image forming signal S to the image forming unit 18.
5, since the development control signal S6 and the fixing control signal S15 are output, image formation on recording paper is started.

Thereafter, it is detected in step B15 whether or not the image formation has been completed. If the image formation is not completely completed, the image formation signal S5 and the development control signal S5
6, and the image forming process is continued based on the fixing control signal S15. When all the image formation is completed, the process proceeds to step B16, and it is determined whether the fixing unit 25 is set to the save mode. In the save mode in this example, a power control signal S for executing the energy saving mode is supplied to the power unit 26.
7 is output, and the drive voltage to the fixing unit 25 is reduced.

Therefore, by detecting this signal level, it can be determined whether the fixing means 25 has been set to the save mode. Also, it can be determined from the temperature detection signal S8 from the fixing detection unit 27 whether the fixing unit 25 has been set to the save mode. If the fixing unit 25 is not in the save mode, the process proceeds to step B17 to reduce the power consumption of the fixing unit 25, execute the save mode, and temporarily end the image forming process. Thereafter, when the fixing unit 25 is set to the save mode in step B16, and
If the save mode is being executed in step B17, the process proceeds to step B18, and it is detected whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the save mode was entered.

If the predetermined time has not elapsed from the save mode, the flow returns to step B17 to continue the save mode. If the predetermined time has elapsed from the save mode in step B18, the process proceeds to step B19, where the sleep mode is executed, and the image forming process ends.

If it is determined in step B10 that the encoded image data D2 does not immediately form an image, the process proceeds to step B20 to execute other data processing. Here, data processing such as transferring the encoded image data D2 to another facsimile machine or notifying that the encoded image data D2 is "data related to confidentiality specifying the recipient" is performed. . The data relating to the confidentiality is stored in the image memory 16, for example, the encoded image data D2 is read out from the image memory 16 based on the ID card of the specific recipient, and thereafter, the process proceeds to an image forming process or the like. You.

Then, the flow shifts to step B21, where it is detected whether or not all other data processing has been completed. If all other data processing has not been completed, the process returns to step B20 to continue the processing, and if all of the processing has been completed, the processing ends without performing the image forming processing. At this time, the fixing unit 25 remains in the save mode or the sleep mode last time.

As described above, the multifunction peripheral 1 according to the first embodiment
In step B20, the coded image data D2 received by the facsimile communication unit 13 is determined in step B10 by the determination unit 5 as to whether or not the image is to be immediately formed by the image forming unit 18. If D2 is data to be transferred to another multifunction device or data related to confidentiality specifying the recipient, the received encoded image data D2 is stored only in the image memory 16 and the fixing means 25 Can be controlled not to start. Therefore,
It is possible to eliminate wasteful power consumption in the fixing unit 25,
This greatly contributes to energy saving of the multifunction peripheral 100.

(6) Second Embodiment Next, an operation of the multifunction peripheral 100 to which the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts (parts 1 and 2) showing an operation example at the time of the print request. In this embodiment, the control means 15 is provided with a judgment means 5 for judging whether or not the print data D3 transmitted from the external computer 102 is to be immediately subjected to image formation by the image formation means 18. Print data D3 is transfer data to another multifunction device, or "confidential" specifying the recipient
If the data is related to the data, the control is performed so that the fixing unit 25 is not started.

In this example, it is assumed that the power consumption of the fixing unit 25 of the image forming unit 18 is reduced, and the multifunction peripheral 100 is in a save mode, for example. Based on this, steps C1 to C1 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
In step C8, print data D3 is received, and FIG.
Step C9 to Step C17 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
The case where the image forming process is performed based on the print data will be described.

First, a communication request from the external computer 102 is detected by the printer communication means 12 in step C1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. If this communication request has been made, a communication request signal S11 is output from the printer communication unit 12 to the control unit 15, so that step C
In step 2, the reception function of the MFP 100 is transmitted from the print control unit 22 to the external computer 102 via the printer communication unit 12. Then, step C3
Waits for a reception command from the external computer 102. When the receiving instruction is issued, the printer communication unit 12 notifies the printing control unit 22 of the reception instruction. Therefore, the process proceeds to step C4 and the print data D3 transmitted from the external computer 102 is transmitted from the control unit 15 to the printing control unit 22. Is written to the image memory 16 based on the memory control signal S2.

Thereafter, the printer control means 22 detects via the printer communication means 12 whether or not the transmission of the print data D3 from the external computer 102 has been completed in step C5. If "transmission end" from the external computer 102 is detected, the image memory 1
6 is completed. Then, in step C7, it is determined whether the “reception confirmation” has been transmitted to the external computer 102 via the printer communication unit 12 by the printer control unit 2.
2 detected. If the “acknowledgement” has not been transmitted, the process proceeds to step C8, and the “acknowledgement” is transmitted to the external computer 102.

When the "reception confirmation" is transmitted, the flow proceeds to step C9 to form an image, and the print data D3 is stored in the image memory 16 by the printer control means 22.
It is checked whether it is stored in. The print data D3 temporarily stored in the image memory 16 from the external computer 102 is read out by the print control means 22 based on the print control signal S13, and the print data D2 is decoded to form a dot pattern for drawing in page units. The print data D2 is expanded. The print data D3 developed into the dot pattern is transferred to the image memory 16 or the frame memory 8. In the former case, the image rotation processing is required, and in the latter case, the processing is not required.

If the print data D3 is not stored in the image memory 16, the process proceeds to step C22 where the control unit 15 performs an error process. In the error processing at this time, the display signal S10 is output so as to notify that the print data D3 transmitted from the external computer 102 could not be stored, and the display unit 10 displays the display signal S10.

If it is confirmed in step C9 that the print data D3 exists in the image memory 16, the process proceeds to step C9.
In step S10, the control unit 15 determines whether the print data D3 forms an image immediately. In this example,
The attribute information D4 of the print data D3 that is sequentially updated is read out by the control storage unit 17, and based on the attribute information D4, whether the print data D3 forms an image immediately by the image forming unit 18, or The determination unit 5 determines whether the print data D3 is to be transferred to the data processing device or whether the print data D3 is related to “confidentiality” specifying the recipient.

If the print data D3 corresponds to the data to be transferred to another data processing apparatus and the data relating to “confidentiality” specifying the recipient, it is determined that an image is to be formed immediately. Then, the power supply control signal S7 is output from the control means 15 to the power supply means 26. The fixing unit 25 is started up by the power control signal S7.

If image rotation processing is necessary, the control means 15 sends an image control signal S12 to the image processing means 21.
Is output, the image processing means 21 performs image rotation processing or the like on the print data D3 based on the image control signal S12. The print data after this image processing is stored in the image memory 1
6 is stored.

Thereafter, the flow shifts to step C12, where the print data D3 is transferred from the image memory 16 to the frame memory 8 based on the memory control signal S2 '. Thereafter, in step C13, it is detected whether or not the image forming means 18 is ready for image formation. In this example, the control unit 15 compares the temperature detection signal S8 from the fixing detection unit 27 with a preset reference temperature signal, and when it is detected that the temperature of the fixing unit 25 has exceeded the reference temperature, It is determined that the image forming unit 18 is ready to form an image.

If the image forming means 18 is not in a state where an image can be formed, the monitoring of the temperature detection signal S8 is continued in step C13. If the image forming unit 18 is ready to form an image, the process proceeds to step C14, where the control unit 15 sends the image forming signal S to the image forming unit 18.
5, since the development control signal S6 and the fixing control signal S15 are output, image formation on recording paper is started.

Thereafter, it is detected in step C15 whether the image formation has been completed. If the image formation is not completely completed, the image formation signal S5 and the development control signal S5
6, and the image forming process is continued based on the fixing control signal S15. If all the image formation has been completed, the process proceeds to step C16 to determine whether the fixing unit 25 has been set to the save mode. In the save mode in this example, a power control signal S for executing the energy saving mode is supplied to the power unit 26.
7 is output, and the drive voltage to the fixing unit 25 is reduced.

Therefore, by detecting this signal level, it can be determined whether the fixing means 25 has been set to the save mode. Also, it can be determined from the temperature detection signal S8 from the fixing detection unit 27 whether the fixing unit 25 has been set to the save mode. If the fixing unit 25 is not in the save mode, the process proceeds to step C17 to reduce the power consumption of the fixing unit 25, execute the save mode, and temporarily end the image forming process. Thereafter, when the fixing unit 25 is set to the save mode in step C16, and
If the save mode is being executed in step C17, the process proceeds to step C18, and it is detected whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the save mode was entered.

If the given time has not elapsed from the save mode, the process returns to step C17 to continue the save mode. If a predetermined time has elapsed from the save mode in step C18, the process proceeds to step C19, where the sleep mode is executed, and the image forming process ends.

If it is determined in step C10 that the print data D3 does not immediately form an image,
The process shifts to step C20 to execute other data processing.
Here, data processing is performed to transfer the print data D3 to another facsimile machine or to notify that the print data D3 is "data relating to confidentiality specifying the recipient". The data relating to this confidential is stored in the image memory 1
6, the print data D3 is read from the image memory 16 based on the ID card of the specific recipient, for example.
Thereafter, the process is shifted to an image forming process or the like.

Then, the process shifts to step C21 to detect whether or not all other data processing is completed. If all other data processing has not been completed, the process returns to step C20 to continue the processing, and if all of the processing has been completed, the processing ends without performing the image forming processing. At this time, the fixing unit 25 remains in the save mode or the sleep mode last time.

As described above, in the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment, it is determined whether or not the print data D3 received by the printer communication unit 12 is to be immediately image-formed by the image forming unit 18 in step C10. If the print data D3 is transfer data to another data processing device or data relating to confidentiality specifying the recipient in step C20, the received print data D3 is stored in the image memory. 16 can be controlled so that the fixing unit 25 is not activated. Accordingly, wasteful power consumption in the fixing unit 25 can be eliminated, which greatly contributes to energy saving of the multifunction peripheral 100.

(7) Third Embodiment Next, an operation of the multifunction peripheral 100 to which the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 are flowcharts (parts 1 to 3) showing other operation examples of the multifunction peripheral 100 at the time of facsimile reception. In this example, the multifunction peripheral 100 is in the sleep mode.
2, when the encoded image data D2 is received, it is assumed that after starting the fixing unit 25, it is determined whether or not to perform the density adjustment, and the image forming unit 18 is controlled to start the density adjustment operation. . Based on this, the reception processing of the encoded image data D2 is performed in steps D1 to D8 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 7 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The processing during this period is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Therefore, if it is confirmed at step D9 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 that the coded image data D2 is present in the image memory 2, the process proceeds to step D10.
The control unit 15 determines whether or not the encoded image data D2 forms an image immediately. Also in this example, based on the attribute information D4 of the encoded image data D2 sequentially updated in the control storage unit 17, whether the encoded image data D2 is to be immediately subjected to image formation by the image forming unit 18, or The determination means 5 determines whether the image data is to be transferred to the facsimile apparatus or the coded image data D2 is related to “confidentiality” specifying the recipient.

This coded image data D2 is used to transmit data to another facsimile apparatus and the "confidential"
If the data corresponds to the above, it is determined that an image is to be formed immediately. Therefore, the process proceeds to step D11, where the power supply control signal S7 is output from the control unit 15 to the power supply unit 26, and the fixing unit 25 starts up Can be Decoding means 3
Output the decoded signal S3, the encoded image data D2 is decoded and expanded.

Thereafter, the process shifts to step D12 to determine whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous image formation. At this time, the elapsed time measured from the previous concentration adjustment time is read out, for example, from the control storage means (general-purpose memory or the like) 17, and a preset reference time and the elapsed time are determined by the control means 15. Be compared. If the elapsed time exceeds the reference time as a result of the comparison, the process proceeds to step D13, and the density adjustment operation of the image forming unit 18 is started. If the elapsed time does not exceed the reference time in step D12, the process proceeds to step D14 without performing the density adjustment operation of the image forming unit 18.

In this step D14, the received image data is written into the frame memory 8 based on the memory control signal S2 '. Thereafter, in step D15, it is detected whether or not the image forming unit 18 is ready for image formation. In this example, by reading the contents of the register of the operation completion detecting means 29, it is possible to detect whether or not the density adjustment has been completed. For example, when the logical value of the end flag Df set by the register matches the logical value of the preset end flag Dref, it can be determined that the image forming unit 18 is ready for image formation. Of course, the judgment method of the first embodiment may be adopted.

Therefore, when the image forming means 18 is not in a state in which an image can be formed, the contents of the register of the operation completion detecting means 29 are monitored in step D15, and the temperature detection signal S8 from the fixing detecting means 27 is detected. Continue monitoring.
When the image forming unit 18 is ready to form an image, the process proceeds to step D16, where the control unit 15 outputs the image forming signal S5, the development control signal S6, the fixing control signal S15, and the like to the image forming unit 18. Therefore, image formation on the recording paper is started.

Thereafter, in step D17, it is detected whether or not all the image formation has been completed. If the image formation is not completely completed, the image formation signal S5 and the development control signal S5
6, and the image forming process is continued based on the fixing control signal S15. If all the image formation has been completed, the process proceeds to step D18, where it is determined whether the fixing unit 25 has been set to the sleep mode. In this example, similarly to the first and second embodiments, the power supply control signal S7 for executing energy saving is output to the power supply unit 26, and the driving voltage to the fixing unit 25 is reduced.

If the fixing unit 25 is not in the save mode, the process proceeds to step D19 to reduce the power consumption of the fixing unit 25, execute the save mode, and temporarily terminate the image forming process. Thereafter, when the fixing unit 25 is set to the save mode in step D18,
If the save mode is being executed in step 19, the process proceeds to step D20, and it is detected whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the save mode was entered. If the fixed time has not elapsed from the save mode, the process returns to step D19 to continue the save mode. If a predetermined time has elapsed from the save mode in step D20, the process proceeds to step D21 to execute the sleep mode, and the image forming process ends.

If the coded image data D2 is not stored in the image memory 16 in step D9, the process proceeds to step D24, where error processing is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In step D10, the control unit 1
If it is determined in step 5 that the encoded image data D2 does not immediately form an image, the process proceeds to step D22, executes other data processing in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and proceeds to step D23. It is detected whether the data processing has been completed. If all other data processing has not been completed, the process returns to step D22 to continue the processing. When all the processes are completed, the start-up of the fixing unit 25 ends without performing the density adjustment and the image forming process from the beginning.

As described above, in the third embodiment, in addition to the reduction in power consumption according to the first embodiment, when the printer communication unit 12 receives the encoded image data D2,
Since the density adjustment operation of the image forming means 18 is started in Step D13, it is possible to form an image with an optimum density. Therefore, even when the multifunction peripheral 100 has not been used for a long time, an image having the desired density can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the case of the multifunction peripheral 100 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a multifunction peripheral having only a copying function and a facsimile function, or only a facsimile apparatus. In this embodiment, the control storage means 17
Has been described in which the image forming means 18 determines whether or not to immediately form an image based on the attribute information D4 which is sequentially updated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. To the image data D1, D2
Alternatively, when the print data D3 is output, and when the image data D1, D2 or the print data D3 is output from the decoding unit 23 to the frame memory 8, the image is immediately formed by the image forming unit 18 by the determining unit 5. You may decide.

[0111]

As described above, according to the first image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the encoded image data received by the communication unit is to be immediately subjected to image formation by the image forming unit. A determination means is provided for controlling the fixing means to be activated when the determination means determines that image formation is to be performed immediately. With this configuration, if the encoded image data received by the communication unit is data to be transferred to another image forming apparatus or data related to confidentiality specifying the recipient, the received encoded image data is stored in the storage unit. Since the fixing unit is not activated just because it is stored in the image forming apparatus, wasteful power consumption of the fixing unit can be eliminated, which greatly contributes to energy saving of the image forming apparatus.

According to the second image forming apparatus of the present invention, the judging means for judging whether or not the print data received by the receiving means is to immediately form an image by the image forming means is provided. Thus, when it is determined that the image is to be formed immediately, the fixing unit is controlled to start up. According to this configuration, when the print data received by the receiving unit is transfer data to another image forming apparatus or data related to confidentiality specifying the recipient, the received print data is stored in the storage unit. Thus, the fixing means cannot be started up, so that wasteful power consumption of the fixing means can be eliminated in the same manner as in the first image forming apparatus, which greatly contributes to energy saving.

According to the third image forming apparatus of the present invention, the control means for controlling the image forming means to start the density adjustment operation when the coded image data is received by the communication means is provided. . With this configuration, it is possible to form an image at an optimum density based on the received encoded image data, so that even if the image forming apparatus has not been used for a long time, an image with the desired density can be obtained. it can. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is very suitable when applied to a facsimile apparatus, a multifunction peripheral, or the like having a power saving function and a density adjusting function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a multifunction peripheral 100 to which first to third image forming apparatuses are applied as each embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an overall operation example of the multifunction peripheral 100.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example (No. 1) of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment at the time of facsimile reception.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example (part 2) of the multifunction peripheral 100 at the time of facsimile reception.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example (No. 1) of the MFP 100 at the time of a print request as the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example (No. 2) of the multifunction peripheral 100 at the time of a print request.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating another operation example (part 1) of the multifunction peripheral 100 at the time of facsimile reception as the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another operation example (part 2) of the multifunction peripheral 100 at the time of facsimile reception.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating another operation example (part 3) of the multifunction peripheral 100 at the time of facsimile reception.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 ... determination means, 8 ... frame memory, 11 ...
Image reading means, 12 printer communication means (reception means), 13 facsimile communication means (communication means), 14.
..Compression / expansion means, 15 control means, 16 image memory (storage means), 17 control storage means, 1
8 ... image forming means, 19 ... electrophotographic engine unit, 21 ... image processing means, 22 ... print control means, 24 ... decoding means, 24 ... encoding means,
25: fixing means; 27: fixing detecting means;
..Automatic image density adjusting means, 29 ... operation completion detecting means, 100 ... multifunction machine

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 21/14 H04N 1/32 Z H04N 1/32 G03G 21/00 372 (72) Inventor Akihiko Oda Tokyo 2970, Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Retsuro Morohashi 2970, Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Inside Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Kimura 2970, Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation In-house (72) Inventor Takashi Kamata 1 Sakura-cho, Hino-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation In-house F-term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AP07 AQ06 AS02 HK03 HN15 HT03 HT13 2H027 DA09 DA38 DA50 EA12 EC03 ED25 ED30 EF04 EJ15 FD08 ZA07 2 CA03 CA05 CA07 CA30 CA48 5C062 AA02 AA13 AB08 AB42 AC04 AC31 AC43 AC60 AC61 AE15 AF06 AF07 AF14 BA00 BC03 5C075 CA14 CF05 EE06 FF03 FF 90

Claims (11)

[Claims] A communication unit that performs data communication according to a predetermined communication control procedure; a storage unit that stores encoded image data received by the communication unit; and a decoding unit that decodes the encoded image data stored in the storage unit. Decoding means, based on the data decoded by the decoding means,
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording sheet and fixing the image on the recording sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: Determining means for determining whether or not to immediately form an image, and control means for controlling the fixing means to start up when the determining means determines that image formation is to be performed immediately. And an image forming apparatus. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines whether the image forming unit immediately forms an image based on attribute information of a file related to the encoded image data stored in the storage unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a fixing detecting unit configured to detect whether the image forming unit is in an image forming enabled state based on a temperature of the fixing unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to start the image forming by the image forming unit when the state is detected. 4. apparatus. 4. A receiving unit for receiving print data from a host computer via a predetermined communication unit, a storage unit for storing the print data received by the receiving unit, and decoding the print data read from the storage unit. Command processing means for developing a dot pattern for drawing on a page-by-page basis, a frame memory for storing at least one page of print data developed into a dot pattern by the command processing means, and printing stored in the frame memory. Enter the data,
An image forming unit having a fixing unit for forming an image on a recording sheet and fixing the image on the recording sheet, wherein the print data received by the receiving unit is immediately converted into an image by the image forming unit. Determining means for determining whether or not to form, and control means for controlling the fixing means to start up when the determining means determines that the image forming means is to form an image immediately. An image forming apparatus, wherein: 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the determining unit determines that an image is to be immediately formed by the image forming unit based on attribute information of a file related to print data stored in the storage unit. Image forming apparatus. 6. A fixing detection unit for detecting whether or not the image forming unit is ready for image formation based on a temperature of the fixing unit, wherein the image forming unit is capable of forming an image by the fixing detection unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a control unit configured to start image formation by the image forming unit when the state is detected. apparatus. 7. Communication means for performing data communication according to a predetermined communication control procedure, storage means for storing encoded image data received by said communication means, and decoding of encoded image data stored in said storage means Decoding means, based on the data decoded by the decoding means,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet and has a fixing unit that fixes the image on the recording sheet; wherein the communication unit receives the encoded image data, An image forming apparatus, further comprising a control unit for controlling a density adjusting operation of the forming unit to be started. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the density adjusting operation is a toner stirring operation in the image forming unit and / or an image forming condition setting operation based on the density of the patch image measured after the formation of the patch image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the image forming unit immediately forms an image based on the encoded image data received by the communication unit. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein even when image data is received, if the determination unit determines that image formation is not to be performed immediately, control is performed so that the density adjustment operation is not performed. 10. Any one of the image forming apparatuses. 10. An operation completion detecting means for detecting whether or not the density adjustment of the image forming means has been completed, wherein the control means sets the image forming means in an image forming enabled state by the operation completion detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein control is performed such that when image formation is detected, image formation by the image forming means is started. 11. A density adjustment operation of the image forming means,
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operation is not performed within a predetermined time from the previously performed density adjustment operation.