JP2005172849A - Image forming apparatus and its control method, image processing method, and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color image forming apparatus and its control method, by which in the case of the formation of the images of documents in which monochrome pages containing no color images and multicolor pages containing color images are mixed by pages, deterioration progress of an image carrier is restrained and time needed for the image formation is shortened, and the page order of recording materials obtained after the image formation is the same as the page order of the original document. <P>SOLUTION: In the image processing of the image forming apparatus, order of image data is changed for each page so that images for a group of monochrome pages containing no color images and images for a group of multicolor pages containing color images are separately formed (S2). Image formation mode information is added to the image data whose order has been changed (S3). Thereafter, conveying table information is added to it (S4). After the image data is printed on paper (S5), the paper is ejected onto a specific one of the bins of a sorter on the basis of the conveyance table information (S6). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, a control method therefor, and an image processing method in color image formation.

  Conventionally, each of four image formations having an image carrier on which electrostatic latent images corresponding to images of a plurality of colors, for example, four colors of K: black, C: cyan, M: magenta, and Y: yellow are formed. 2. Description of the Related Art A tandem type color image forming apparatus is known in which stations (image forming units and image forming means) are arranged in parallel along the recording material conveyance direction so as to increase the image output speed. In such a conventional tandem color image forming apparatus, it is not necessary to use an image forming station of another color when forming a monochromatic image. Therefore, normally, at the time of monochromatic image formation, rotation of the image carrier is stopped at an image forming station other than the necessary color.

  By stopping the rotation of the image carrier in this manner, the image carrier does not come into excessive contact with the recording material, the intermediate transfer medium, or the like, so that deterioration of the image carrier due to friction or the like can be prevented. And by performing such control, a running cost can be reduced. In particular, in a color image forming apparatus, since the frequency of black and white (monochrome) image formation is higher compared to full color or single color image formation, each of the C, M, and Y image forming stations excluding the K image forming station is used. In many cases, the image carrier is not in contact with the recording material or the intermediate transfer medium.

  Here, when switching between black-and-white image formation and color image formation, an image carrier that is not rotated is separated from or brought into contact with a transfer belt that is a transfer carrier. For this reason, in the conventional general technique, the rotation of the image carrier is started after the recording material is discharged from the transfer belt. Then, the image carrier is moved, or the transfer belt or the transfer conveyance carrier that supports the transfer belt is moved so that the image carrier to be rotated and the transfer belt are brought into contact with each other. By moving the transfer conveyance carrier that supports the belt, the image carrier is stopped after the image carrier that is not rotated and the transfer belt are separated from each other.

  However, since a certain amount of time is required for the operation related to the separation and contact between the image carrier and the transfer belt, as a result, an original including a monochrome page not including a color image and a multicolor page including a color image is mixed. There has been a problem that it takes time to form an image.

  Therefore, various techniques for solving the above-described problems have been proposed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a rearrangement control means for appropriately rearranging the order of pages on which images are formed when forming an image by dividing into a page group including a color image and a monochrome page group not including a color image. The providing technique is disclosed. Since this technique can reduce the number of times the transfer / carrying carrier is moved, it is possible not only to reduce the running cost but also to reduce the above-mentioned problem, that is, the overall image formation time.

Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an image forming apparatus capable of improving the image forming speed without changing the page order of the recording materials, and has changed from a monochromatic image forming mode in a state where the recording materials are still on the transfer carrier. A device that switches to a color image forming mode is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-133697 (Publication date: May 21, 1999) JP 2003-149901 A (publication date: May 21, 2003)

  However, although the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 can shorten the image formation time, a new problem such as a decrease in user convenience occurs. That is, since the recording materials on which images are formed by using the rearrangement control means are in a different order, the user has to perform collation work himself.

  As a method for solving the above problems, by providing an intermediate tray or the like that can temporarily store the recording material in the color image forming apparatus, the order of the recording material on which the image is formed first and the recording material on which the image is formed later is arranged. Although it is possible to rearrange them in a predetermined order, the provision of the intermediate tray increases the number of members of the color image forming apparatus and further increases the manufacturing cost, which is an effective solution. Not.

  The technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 can improve the image forming speed without changing the page order of the recording materials. However, in this image forming apparatus, the image forming order itself remains the original page order. Therefore, the number of times of mode switching increases, resulting in a problem that the image forming operation is performed inefficiently.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. When an image of a document including a monochrome page that does not include a color image and a multicolor page that includes a color image is formed, the image carrier is deteriorated. Color image forming apparatus, image processing method, and image forming method capable of suppressing the progress and improving the image forming speed without changing the page order of the recording material obtained after image formation from the page order of the original document The purpose is to provide. More specifically, it is possible to easily collate pages by controlling the paper discharge destination based on the conveyance table information added to the image data without using an apparatus for temporarily storing recording materials such as an intermediate tray. Is to provide a way to do the work.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a color image forming apparatus according to the present invention is a color image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material based on information of image data of a read original, and the conveyance direction of the recording material A plurality of image forming units arranged in parallel along a line, a single-color image forming mode in which only one image forming unit among the plurality of image forming units forms an image, and image forming by the plurality of image forming units When performing image formation of image data read from a document in which a mode switching means for switching between the multicolor image formation mode and a monochromatic page not including a color image and a multicolor page including a color image are mixed. The order of image data for image formation is arranged for each page so that images are formed separately in groups of single-color pages that do not contain images and groups of multi-color pages that contain color images. Rearrangement control means, paper discharge means having a plurality of paper discharge sections for discharging and storing the image-formed recording material, and image data on which the image-formed recording material is formed on the recording material And a paper discharge section control means for controlling which paper discharge section of the plurality of paper discharge sections is discharged based on the page order of the corresponding document.

  Here, the “document page order” is the page order of a document composed of a plurality of (page) documents, and the order in which the document is read by the document reading unit of the image forming apparatus. It is also a thing. Therefore, “the page order of the document corresponding to the image data image-formed on the recording material” means the page number in the document corresponding to the image data recorded on the recording material. .

  In the color image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the paper discharge unit control unit may store a document when the recording materials discharged to the plurality of paper discharge units are stacked in the arrangement order of the paper discharge units. The discharge of the recording material may be controlled so as to be in page order.

  In the color image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the rearrangement control unit may determine whether the single-color page group or the multi-color page group has a larger page number when paper discharge is performed face-up. When the paper discharge is performed face-down, the single-color page group and the multi-color page group may be rearranged in order from the smallest page number.

  Here, “page number” means a number assigned in the order of the read paper (that is, the page order of the original) when reading for each paper (page) constituting the original. To do. In addition, “face-up” means that, in the case of single-sided printing, lamination is performed with the surface on which the image is recorded facing upward. “Face-down” means the opposite of face-up, and refers to laminating with the image-recorded surface facing down.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the color image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a paper discharge unit that discharges single-color pages and a paper discharge unit that discharges multicolor pages in the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus. If the document page numbers are consecutive in the single color page group, or if the document page numbers are consecutive in the multicolor page group, the paper discharge unit control means It may be controlled to be discharged to the same paper discharge unit.

  In the color image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the paper discharge unit control unit may include the same discharge unit for each set in which the page number of the single-color page and the page number of the multi-color page are consecutive in the document. You may control to discharge to a paper part.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color image forming apparatus control method comprising: a color image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming units arranged in parallel along a recording material conveyance direction; A switching step for switching between a monochromatic image forming mode in which image formation is performed only by the image forming means and a multicolor image forming mode in which image formation is performed by the plurality of image forming means, and a monochrome page and a color image not including a color image are included. When forming an image of a manuscript that contains a mixture of multicolor pages, the order of the pages on which the images are to be formed is divided into a group of single-color pages that do not include color images and a group of multicolor pages that include color images. The paper discharging step includes a rearranging step for rearranging and a paper discharging step for discharging the recording material obtained by image formation to a plurality of paper discharging units. It is characterized in that the controlled so that the page order of the document when superimposed by the recording material in the arrangement order of the discharge portion.

  In the color image forming apparatus control method according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, in the rearranging step, when the paper discharge is performed face-up, the single-color page group and the multi-color page group are assigned page numbers. When the paper is discharged face down, the single-color page group and the multi-color page group may be rearranged in order from the smallest page number.

  In the color image forming apparatus control method according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, in the paper discharge step, a paper discharge unit that discharges a single-color page and a paper discharge unit that discharges a multicolor page are different. In addition, when the document page numbers are consecutive within the single color page group, or when the document page numbers are consecutive within the multicolor page group, the consecutive pages are discharged to the same paper discharge unit. May be controlled.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the color image forming apparatus control method according to the present invention includes, in the paper discharge step, for each set of continuous page numbers of single-color pages and multi-color pages in the original document. Control may be performed so that the paper is discharged to the same paper discharge unit.

  An image processing method according to the present invention is an image processing method performed on image data read from an original when an image is formed by a color image forming apparatus, and includes a monochrome page and a color image that do not include a color image. The image data order for each page is divided so that the image information of a document that contains multi-color pages including the image is divided into a group of single-color pages that do not include color images and a group of multi-color pages that include color images. And a transport table information adding step for adding transport table information to which paper discharge section of the plurality of paper discharge sections the recording material is discharged to the rearranged image data. In the transport table information addition step, transport is performed so that the recording materials discharged to the plurality of paper discharge units are arranged in the page order of the original when the recording materials are stacked in the arrangement order of the paper discharge units. It is characterized in adding Buru information.

  In the image processing method according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, in the rearranging step, when the paper discharge is performed face-up, the single-color page group and the multi-color page group are respectively ordered in descending order of the page number. When rearrangement and paper discharge are performed face-down, the single-color page group and the multi-color page group may be rearranged in order from the smallest page number.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the image processing method according to the present invention is different in a paper discharge unit from which a single color page is discharged and a paper discharge unit from which a multicolor page is discharged. If the document pages are consecutive in the multicolor page group, the transport table information adding step causes the transport table so that each successive page is discharged to the same paper discharge unit. Information may be added.

  In the image processing method according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, in the transport table adding step, the same paper discharge unit is provided for each set in which a page number of a single color page and a page number of a multicolor page are continuous in the document. The transport table information may be added so that it is discharged.

  A computer program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method described above.

  A computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention stores a program for causing a computer to execute the above-described image processing method according to the present invention.

  Further, the image forming method according to the present invention forms an image on a recording material based on information on image data of a document in which a single-color page that does not include a color image and a multi-color page that includes a color image, and a plurality of discharges. An image forming method of an image forming apparatus for discharging a recording material to a paper portion, wherein the image data is divided into a group corresponding to a single color page not including a color image and a group corresponding to a multicolor page including a color image. A monochrome step based on whether the sorted image data is monochrome image data or multicolor image data, and a sorting step that sorts the order of image data for image formation for each page to output. An image formation mode information addition step for adding image formation mode information indicating whether to perform formation or multicolor image formation, and to the rearranged image data, Based on the transport table information adding step for adding the transport table information to which paper discharge section of the number of paper discharge sections the recording material is discharged, and the image forming mode information added to the image data And a paper discharge step for discharging the image-formed recording material to a predetermined paper discharge unit based on the transport table information after the image formation is performed. is there.

  As described above, the color image forming apparatus and the control method thereof according to the present invention are configured so that the recording materials discharged to the plurality of paper discharge units are arranged in the page order of the original when they are stacked in the order of the paper discharge units. Since the sheet control unit is provided, the discharged recording materials are in the page order of the original. In other words, according to the above configuration, for example, when the discharged recording materials are obtained in order from the top (or from the bottom) of the paper discharge units arranged in the vertical example, they are arranged in the same order as the page order of the originals. The recorded recording material set can be obtained. Therefore, there is no need for the user to perform collation work by himself, and the convenience is improved.

  The color image forming apparatus and the control method therefor according to the present invention provide a monochrome page that does not include a color image when forming an image of a document that includes a single-color page that does not include a color image and a multicolor page that includes a color image. In a rearrangement control means for rearranging the order of pages on which images are formed so as to form images in groups of colors and multicolor pages including color images, a single-color page group when paper discharge is performed face up And the multi-color page group are sorted in order from the page number with the largest page number, and when paper discharge is performed face down, the monochrome page group and the multi-color page group are sorted in order from the page number with the smallest page number. To do. Therefore, there is an effect that it can be applied to both the case where paper is discharged face up and the case where paper is discharged face down.

  In addition, the color image forming apparatus and the control method thereof according to the present invention are different in a paper discharge unit from which a single color page is discharged and a paper discharge unit from which a multicolor page is discharged, and the page number of the document is within the single color page group. When continuous, and when the document page numbers are consecutive within a multicolor page group, each continuous page is provided with a discharge unit control means for discharging to the same discharge unit. One single-color page and a continuous multi-color page are sufficient to use one paper discharge unit. Therefore, there is an effect that the recording material can be discharged in the order of the pages of the original even when the number of pages of the original is larger than the number of paper discharge units.

  Further, the color image forming apparatus and the control method thereof according to the present invention provide a paper discharge unit control means for discharging a set of continuous page numbers of single-color pages and multi-color pages to the same paper discharge unit in a document. The number of paper discharge units to be used can be further reduced. Therefore, there is an effect that the paper discharge unit can be effectively used. When the paper discharge unit from which the single color page is discharged and the paper discharge unit from which the multicolor page is discharged are different, the number of paper discharge units is reduced. Even in the case where there is a shortage, the recording material can be discharged in the page order of the original document.

  According to the image processing method of the present invention, the process of rearranging the monochrome page group and the multicolor page group performed in the rearrangement step in the order of the page numbers and the paper discharge unit performed in the transport table information addition step are controlled. The process of adding the information can be performed by an external image output device such as a host computer. Therefore, the image data that has been subjected to the image processing in advance can be sent to the color image forming apparatus. As a result, the time required for image processing in the color image forming apparatus can be shortened. Further, since the image formation can be started when the image data for one page is prepared, the storage capacity of the storage device can be reduced.

  In addition, according to the computer program of the present invention, the above-described image processing method can be executed on the computer. Further, by storing an image processing program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method in a computer-readable recording medium, the image processing program can be executed on an arbitrary computer.

  In addition, according to the image forming method of the present invention, it is possible to form an image in a desired image forming mode by adding the image forming mode information, and to record the image-formed recording material based on the conveyance table information. The sheet can be discharged to a desired sheet discharge section among a plurality of sheet discharge sections. For this reason, if the transport table information is added to the image data so that the recording material discharged to the plurality of paper discharge sections is stacked in the order of the paper discharge sections, the same order as the page order of the originals. A set of recording materials after image formation arranged in the above can be obtained. Therefore, there is no need for the user to perform collation work by himself, and the convenience is improved.

[Embodiment 1]
A color image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 and FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a multifunction peripheral including the color image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the color image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 forms multi-color and single-color images on a predetermined sheet (recording material) according to image data transmitted from the outside. As shown in FIG. Developing unit 2, photosensitive drum 3, charger 5, cleaner unit 4, transfer conveyance belt unit 8, fixing unit 12, image forming unit 108 including sheet conveyance path S, paper feed tray 10, document discharge tray ( Sheet stacking unit) 15 and the like.

  The image data handled in the image forming apparatus 100 corresponds to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Accordingly, the exposure unit 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d), the developing device 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), the photosensitive drum 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d), the cleaner unit 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) and four chargers 5 (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are provided so as to form four types of latent images corresponding to the respective colors, a being black (K) and b being respectively Four image stations (image forming means) are configured with cyan (C), c set to magenta (M), and d set to yellow (Y).

  The photosensitive drum 3 is disposed (attached) at substantially the center of the image forming apparatus.

  The charger 5 is a charging means for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential. FIG. 2 shows a charger-type charger, but a contact-type roller-type or brush-type charger is shown. A charger can be used. The exposure unit 1 has a function of forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data on the surface thereof by exposing the charged photosensitive drum 3 according to the input image data. As the exposure unit 1, for example, an EL or LED writing head in which light emitting elements are arranged in an array, or a laser scanning unit (LSU) including a laser irradiation unit and a reflection mirror is used. The developing device 2 visualizes the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 3 with (K, C, M, Y) toner. The cleaner unit 4 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after development and image transfer.

  The transfer conveyance belt unit 8 disposed below the photosensitive drum 3 includes a transfer belt 7, a transfer belt drive roller 71, a transfer belt tension roller 72, a transfer belt driven roller 73, a transfer belt support roller 74, and a transfer roller 6 ( 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) and a transfer belt cleaning unit 9.

  The transfer belt drive roller 71, the transfer belt tension roller 72, the transfer roller 6, the transfer belt driven roller 73, and the transfer belt support roller 74 stretch the transfer belt 7 and rotate the transfer belt 7 in the direction of arrow B. is there.

  The transfer roller 6 is rotatably supported by a frame (not shown) inside the transfer belt unit, and transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 onto a sheet conveyed by being attracted onto the transfer belt 7. It is.

  The transfer belt 7 is provided so as to be in contact with each photosensitive drum 3. Each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 3 is sequentially superimposed on the sheet and transferred, thereby forming a color toner image (multicolor toner image). This transfer belt is formed endlessly using a film having a thickness of about 100 μm.

  Transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 3 to the sheet is performed by the transfer roller 6 that is in contact with the back side of the transfer belt 7. A high voltage (a high voltage having a polarity (+) opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)) is applied to the transfer roller 6 in order to transfer the toner image. The transfer roller is based on a metal (for example, stainless steel) shaft having a diameter of 8 to 10 mm, and its surface is covered with a conductive elastic material. Thereby, a high voltage can be uniformly applied to the sheet. In the present embodiment, the transfer roller 6 is used as the transfer electrode, but a brush or the like can be used in addition thereto.

  Further, since the toner adhering to the transfer belt 7 due to contact with the photosensitive drum 3 causes the back surface of the sheet to become dirty, the toner is set to be removed and collected by the transfer belt cleaning unit 9. The transfer belt cleaning unit 9 includes a cleaning blade that contacts the transfer belt 7, and the transfer belt 7 is supported by a transfer belt support roller 74 from the back side at a position where the cleaning blade contacts. The means for removing the toner adhering to the transfer belt 7 in the transfer belt cleaning unit 9 is not limited to the cleaning blade, and any means having the same function may be used.

  The sheet feeding tray 10 is a tray for storing sheets used for image formation, and is provided below the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus 100. In addition, the paper discharge tray 15 provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus 100 mounts printed sheets face down (in the case of single-sided printing, the image-recorded surface is laminated downward). It is a tray for. A sorter device (paper discharge means) 101 attached to the side portion of the image forming apparatus 100 faces up an image-formed sheet (in the case of single-sided printing, it is laminated with the surface on which the image is recorded facing up). This is a paper discharge device having a plurality of paper discharge bins (paper discharge units) to be placed on.

  In FIG. 2, the paper discharge tray 15 is configured to be discharged face-down, and the sorter apparatus 101 is configured to be discharged face-up. However, the present invention is not limited to this. By providing a mechanism for reversing the sheet in the conveyance path until the sheet is discharged to the discharge unit, both the discharge tray 15 and the sorter apparatus 101 can discharge the sheet face-down or face-up. It is possible.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with an S-shaped sheet conveyance path S for sending the sheets in the sheet feeding tray 10 to the document discharge tray 15 via the transfer conveyance unit 8 and the fixing unit 12. Yes. Further, in the vicinity of the paper conveyance path S from the paper feed tray 10 to the document discharge tray 15 and the sorter device 101, a pickup roller 16, a registration roller 14, a fixing unit 12, a conveyance direction switching gate 34, and conveyance for conveying a sheet. A roller 25 and the like are arranged.

  The conveyance rollers 25 are small rollers for promoting and assisting conveyance of the sheet, and a plurality of conveyance rollers 25 are provided along the sheet conveyance path S. The pickup roller 16 is a drawing roller that is provided at the end of the paper feed tray 10 and supplies sheets from the paper feed tray 10 to the paper transport path S one by one. The conveyance direction switching gate 34 is rotatably provided on the side cover 35, and separates the sheet from the middle of the sheet conveyance path S by changing from the state indicated by the solid line to the state indicated by the broken line, and the sheet is transferred to the sorter device 101. It can be discharged. In the state indicated by the solid line, the sheet passes through the conveyance unit S ′ (part of the sheet conveyance path S) formed between the fixing unit 12, the side cover 35, and the conveyance switching guide 34, and the upper document discharge tray. 15 is discharged.

  The registration roller 14 temporarily holds the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveyance path S, and rotates the photosensitive drum 3 so that the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 can be satisfactorily transferred onto the sheet. The sheet has a function to convey the sheet with good timing.

  That is, the registration roller 14 conveys the sheet so that the front end of the toner image on each photosensitive drum 3 is aligned with the front end of the image forming range on the sheet based on a detection signal output from a pre-registration detection switch (not shown). Is set to

  The fixing unit 12 includes a heat roller 31, a pressure roller 32, and the like, and the heat roller 31 and the pressure roller 32 rotate with a sheet interposed therebetween.

  The heat roller 31 is set so as to reach a predetermined fixing temperature by a temperature control unit (not shown) based on a temperature detection value from a temperature detector (not shown). Has a function of fusing, mixing, and pressing the multi-color toner image transferred to the sheet and thermally fixing the sheet.

  The sheet on which the multicolor toner image has been fixed is transported to the reverse paper discharge path of the paper transport path S by the plurality of transport rollers 25 and discharged in a reversed state (with the multicolor toner image facing downward). The paper is discharged onto the paper tray 15.

  An automatic document feeder (not shown) is provided on a document table made of transparent glass on the upper surface of the image reading device 105. The automatic document feeder is a device that automatically feeds a plurality of documents set on a document setting tray one by one onto a document table.

  The image reading device 105 scans and reads an image of a document placed on a document table, and includes a first scanning unit, a second scanning unit, an optical lens, and a CCD line sensor that is a photoelectric conversion element. Have. The first scanning unit includes an exposure lamp unit that exposes the document surface, a first mirror that reflects a reflected light image from the document in a predetermined direction, and the like. The second scanning unit includes a second mirror and a third mirror that guide reflected light from the document reflected from the first mirror to a CCD line sensor that is a photoelectric conversion element. The optical lens focuses reflected light from the original on the CCD line sensor.

  Further, the image reading device 105 reads an image of a document automatically conveyed by the automatic document conveying device by an operation related to the automatic document conveying device, and uses this as image data in the image processing device 103 shown in FIG. The image data is input to the image data input unit 103c. A predetermined image process is performed on the image data by the rearrangement control means 103a and the paper discharge bin control means (paper discharge section control means) 103d in the image processing apparatus 103, and then the storage device in the image processing apparatus 103. 103b is temporarily stored, and an image in the storage device 103b is read in response to an output instruction and transferred to an optical writing device (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 100.

  Although FIG. 2 illustrates an image reading apparatus with an automatic document feeder, the present invention is not limited to this and the automatic document feeder may not be mounted.

  In addition, although FIG. 2 shows a paper feed desk device having a three-stage paper feed tray, the present invention is not limited to this, and one having a single-stage paper feed tray or two trays in parallel are arranged. A device equipped with a tandem tray or a device that simply functions as a desk can be installed according to the user's request.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the print controller 106 receives print job data from the host computer 107 by wire or wireless such as a network. The print job data is analyzed and converted into image data in a format that allows the image forming apparatus 100 to form an image, and the converted image data is sent to the image data input unit 103c. A predetermined image process is performed on the image data by the rearrangement control means 103a and the paper discharge bin control means (paper discharge section control means) 103d in the image processing apparatus 103, and then the storage device in the image processing apparatus 103. 103b is temporarily stored, and an image in the storage device 103b is read in response to an output instruction and transferred to an optical writing device provided in the image forming apparatus 100.

  Next, an image processing apparatus that performs image processing on image data of a document read by the image reading apparatus 105 will be described. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the color image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 11 specifically shows the internal configuration of the image processing apparatus 103 provided in the image forming apparatus 100.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the image processing apparatus 103 includes a rearrangement control unit 103a, a storage device 103b, an image data input unit 103c, and a discharge bin control unit (discharge unit control unit) 103d. The image data input unit 103c receives the image data transmitted from the image reading device 105 or the print controller 106, and temporarily stores it in the storage device 103b. Next, rearrangement control means 103a performs page rearrangement, image formation mode information addition, and the like on the image data. Further, in the paper discharge bin control means 103d, transfer table information is added.

  Here, “rearrangement of image data pages” performed by the rearrangement control means 103a refers to image data read from a document in which a single-color page not including a color image and a multicolor page including a color image are mixed. The order of image data to be imaged is rearranged for each page so that images are formed separately for groups of monochrome pages that do not contain color images and groups of multicolor pages that contain color images. The formation mode information is added.

  Further, the paper discharge bin control means 103d has a plurality of paper discharge bins 77 (discharges) provided on the sorter device 101 based on the page order of the originals of the image data recorded on the sheets. The paper discharge bin of the paper portion) is controlled. The “conveyance table information” added to the image data here is information on which paper discharge bin (any of B1 to B7) out of the plurality of paper discharge bins 77 is to be discharged. It is.

  When an image is actually formed using image data on which predetermined image processing has been performed, the control unit 104 is configured so that each unit in the image forming apparatus 100 (the paper feeding desk device 102, the image forming unit 108, the sorter device 101). Etc.) to control all operations such as image formation, sheet feeding / conveyance / sheet ejection. A mode switching unit for switching between the monochromatic image forming mode and the multicolor image forming mode is included in the control unit 104. That is, the control unit 104 performs mode switching control.

  FIG. 12A shows the state of the conveyance belt unit 8 in the single color image formation mode, and FIG. 12B shows the state of the conveyance belt unit 8 in the multicolor image formation mode. In the monochrome image forming mode, only the K photosensitive drum 3a is in contact with the transfer belt 7, and the C, M, and Y photosensitive drums 3b, 3c, and 3d are in contact with each other (FIG. 12A). ). On the other hand, in the multi-color image forming mode, all of the K, C, M, and Y photoconductive drums 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d are in contact with the transfer belt 7 (FIG. 12B). This is achieved by the transfer / conveyance belt unit 8 rotating about the rotation fulcrum X. A motor M for moving the separation / contact mechanism is in charge of the driving source for the rotation operation.

  The image forming apparatus 100 forms not only image data of a document read by the image reading apparatus 105 but also image data transmitted from the host computer 107 connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via a LAN or the like. It is also possible to perform. In this case, the image data transmitted from the host computer 107 is sent to the image processing apparatus 103 via the print controller 106 in the image forming apparatus 100.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sorter apparatus 101 is installed side by side with the image forming apparatus 100 on the side of the image forming apparatus 100. The sheet on which image formation has been completed by the image forming apparatus 100 is introduced into the sorter apparatus 101 by the carry-in roller pair 75. A plurality of paper discharge bins (paper discharge units) 77 (B1 to B7) are provided on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction of the sorter apparatus 101 main body, and the sheets are separately discharged to the paper discharge bins 77. Here, the paper discharge bin is a tray for discharging the sheet after image formation, and may be called a paper discharge tray.

  Sheet discharge to each discharge bin 77 is performed by the action of a plurality of switching gates 76 provided downstream of the carry-in roller pair 75 in the discharge direction. A paper roller pair 78 is provided. Although FIG. 2 shows the one having seven-stage paper discharge bins, the number of stages is not limited to this.

  Next, the flow of the entire image forming process in the present embodiment, which is an example of the image forming method according to the present invention, will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the image data input from the image reading device 105 or the print controller 106 to the image processing device 103 is once spooled in the storage device 103b in the image processing device 103 (step S1). Next, the spooled image data is analyzed and processed (step S2: rearrangement step), and image formation information indicating whether printing is performed using a multi-color or single-color image formation mode is added to the image data ( Step S3: Image forming mode information adding step). Next, transport table information for determining how to discharge the image-formed sheet is added (step S4: transport table information adding step). Thereafter, the sheet is fed from the sheet feeding tray 10, and the image forming unit 108 performs image formation (printing) based on the image forming mode added in step S3 (step S5: image forming step). Finally, In accordance with the transport table information added in step S4, the sheet is discharged to a predetermined discharge bin (any one of B1 to B7) of the plurality of discharge bins 77 (step S6: discharge step).

  Here, step S2 of FIG. 1 will be described in detail using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not the spooled image data is a color / monochrome mixed image (step S21). This determination is performed on a page-by-page basis, and when both a page containing a color image and a page containing only a monochrome image are present in the image data, it is determined as a color / monochrome mixed image, and the process proceeds to step S22. If a color image is included in all pages, it is determined that the image is only a color (multicolor), and the process proceeds to step S23. If all the pages are monochrome only, the image is determined to be a monochrome (single color) image, and the process proceeds to step S23.

  If it is determined that the image is a mixed color / monochrome image, it is separated into a multicolor page group and a single color page group in step S22. For example, in the case of a 9-page color / monochrome mixed image as shown in FIG. 6 (1), as shown in FIG. 6 (2), a multicolor page group (1, 3, 4, 7, 9) and a monochrome page Divide into groups (2, 5, 6, 8 pages).

  Next, when the sheets are discharged face up, YES is determined in step S23, and the sheets are rearranged in descending order of page numbers in step S24. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (2), when the page numbers are arranged in ascending order, as shown in FIG. 6 (3), a multicolor page group (9, 7, 4, 3, 1 page) and Rearrange to a single color page group (8, 6, 5, 2 pages).

  If the sheets are discharged face-down, NO is determined in step S23, and the sheets are rearranged in order of increasing page numbers in step S25.

  The above-described image data rearrangement operation is performed by the rearrangement control means 103a.

  Next, step S3 in FIG. 1 will be described in detail using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S3 of FIG. 1, image formation mode information is added to the image data divided into the multicolor page group and the single color page group in step S2 of FIG. First, in step S31, multicolor image formation mode information is added to the head of the multicolor page group. In step S32, monochrome image forming mode information is added to the head of the monochrome page group.

  Next, in step S33, it is determined whether or not the first printed page is at the top. If the first printed page is at the top (YES), the next step, that is, step S4 in FIG. move on. If the first printed page is not at the top (NO), the process proceeds to step S34, and the multicolor page group and the single color page group are rearranged so that the first printed page is at the top.

  For example, in the case of image data as shown in FIG. 6 (3), image formation mode information is added to the head of each of the multicolor / monochromatic page group as shown in FIG. 6 (4). In this case, since the last page (9th page) to be imaged first is at the top, NO is determined in step S33, and the process proceeds to step S4 in FIG. 1 without proceeding to step S34.

  The rearrangement control means 103a performs the operation of adding the above-described image formation mode information and rearranging so that the first image-formed page comes first.

  Next, step S4 in FIG. 1 will be described in detail using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S4 in FIG. 1, image formation mode information is added in step S3 in FIG. 1, and conveyance table information (hereinafter also referred to as bin information) is applied to the image data in which the first image formed page comes first. ) Is added. Here, if the number of paper discharge bins is n, m = n-1. The work of adding the transport table information is performed by the paper discharge bin control means 103d.

  First, in step S41, it is determined whether or not the image is a mixed color / monochrome image. If NO, that is, if the image is a monochrome page only image or only a color page image, the process proceeds to step S43. The default paper discharge bin (predetermined by the apparatus) or paper discharge bin information designated by the user (conveyance table information) is added to the page to be processed. Next, if “YES” in the step S41, that is, in the case of a color / monochrome mixed image, the process proceeds to a step S42, and the bin information B (n) is added to the head of the image data of the page on which the image is formed first. For example, in the case where the number of paper discharge bins is seven and the image data is as shown in FIG. 6 (4), first, as shown in FIG. Bin information B7 is added before. Next, in order to determine the switching between the multicolor page group and the single color page group, it is checked in step S44 whether there is image formation mode information at the top of the next page (that is, whether there is a color / monochrome mode change). To do.

  Here, the next page means a next page of a group including a page on which an image is first formed. For example, in the case of the image data as shown in FIG. 6 (4), the next page of the ninth page (color) for which an image is formed first is the seventh page (color). If there is no image formation mode information at the head of the next page in step S44 (NO), the process proceeds to step S45, and it is determined whether or not the page currently focused on is continuous with the previous page. If it is continuous, “YES” is determined in the step S45, the target page is switched to the next page, and the process returns to the step S44. If not continuous, NO is determined in the step S45, and the process proceeds to a step S46. In step S46, bin information having a number two less than the number of bin information added previously (indicated as n ← n-2 in FIG. 5) is added to the head of the page, and the page of interest is switched to the next page. Then, the process returns to step S44.

  For example, if the number of paper discharge bins is seven and the image data is as shown in FIG. 6 (4), the bin information B7 is first displayed before the first 9th page (color) image data in step S42. Is added, and the process proceeds to step S44. Since the next page is the seventh page (color) and there is no image formation mode information (NO in step S44), the process proceeds to step S45, and is not continuous with the previous page (9th page) (NO in step S45). Therefore, the bin information B5 is added before the image data of the seventh page (color) in step S46. The target page is switched to the fourth page (color) which is the next page, and the process returns to step S44. Since NO is determined in step S44 and NO in step S45, the image data of the fourth page (color) is displayed in step S46. Bin information B3 is added. Since the next page is the third page (color) and is continuous with the previous page (fourth page), the answer is YES in step S45. Therefore, the bin page is not added before the image data of the third page (color), the target page is switched to the first page (color) as the next page, and the process returns to step S44. Similarly, the steps are advanced and bin information B1 is added before the image data of the first page (color). Through the above steps, bin information as shown in the upper part of FIG. 6 (5) is added to the multicolor page group.

  The next page of the last page of the group including the page to be imaged first is the first page of the other group. For example, in the case of image data as shown in FIG. 6 (4), the next page of the first page (color) is the eighth page (monochrome). When the page of interest is switched to the first page of the other group and the process returns to step S44, the image formation mode information is at the top of this page (YES in step S44), so the process proceeds to step S48, and the bin information is at the top of this page. B (m) is added. Here, m = n−1. For example, in the case of the image data as shown in FIG. 6 (4), the eighth page (monochrome) to which the monochromatic image formation information is added proceeds from step S44 to step S48, and as shown in FIG. Bin information B6 is added in front of the page (monochrome) image data.

  Next, the target page is switched to the next page, and the process proceeds to step S49. If the previous page is the last page, that is, if there is no page to be noted in step S49, the previous page is determined as the last page (step S49). YES in S49), the step is finished. If there is a page to be noted, it is determined that the previous page is not the last page (NO in step S49), and the process proceeds to step S50 to determine whether or not the page currently focused on is continuous with the previous page. If it is continuous, “YES” is determined in the step S50, the target page is switched to the next page, and the process returns to the step S49. If not continuous, NO is determined in the step S50, and the process proceeds to a step S51. In step S51, bin information having a number two less than the number of bin information added previously (indicated as m ← m-2 in FIG. 5) is added to the head of the page, and the page of interest is switched to the next page. The process returns to step S49.

  For example, in the case where the number of paper discharge bins is seven and the image data is as shown in FIG. 6 (4), first in step S48, before the eighth page (monochrome) image data of the first monochrome page group. The bin information B6 is added, and the process proceeds to step S49. The next page is the sixth page (monochrome), and the previous page is not the last page (NO in step S49) and is not continuous with the previous page (8th page) (NO in step S50). Thus, bin information B4 is added in front of the image data of the sixth page (monochrome). The target page is switched to the fifth page (monochrome), which is the next page, and the process returns to step S49. Since NO in step S49, the process proceeds to step S50. Here, since the fifth page (monochrome) is continuous with the previous page (sixth page), YES is determined in step S50, and bin information is not added before the image data of the fifth page (monochrome). The page to be switched is switched to the second page (monochrome) as the next page, and the process returns to step S49. Similarly, the steps are advanced, and bin information B2 is added before the image data of the second page (monochrome), and the process returns to step S49. Since there is no page next to the second page (monochrome), the previous page is determined as the last page in step S49 (YES), and the step ends. Through the above steps, the original image data in FIG. 6A is converted into image data as shown in FIG.

  Here, the next page of interest in steps S44 and S45 in FIG. 5 means the same page. Bin information B (n) or B (m) means that the discharge bins of the discharge destination are B1 to B7, respectively.

  Through the above steps, the preparation of the image data is completed, after which image formation (printing) is performed at step S5 in FIG. 1, and finally the recording paper is discharged according to the conveyance table information added at step S6 in FIG. 1 (step S6). ). For example, FIG. 7 shows the state of sheets (discharge paper) accumulated in the paper discharge bin after the discharge of all pages of the original image as shown in FIG. It can be seen that the page order of the original document is maintained when the recording sheets accumulated in the discharge bin B1 to the discharge bin B7 are stacked as they are in the order from the upper discharge bin B1 toward the lower step. Eventually, the user can do the work of stacking the recording sheets that have finally accumulated in each paper discharge bin, or the tray section of the paper discharge bin can be moved and finally all the recording paper is discharged to the bottom. You may pile up mechanically by dropping into a bottle.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, a second embodiment of the color image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS. 8 to 12.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a multifunction peripheral including the color image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the color image forming apparatus 100. The structure of the color image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 11 is the same as that of the first embodiment and has already been described in detail.

  Next, the overall image processing flow in this embodiment is shown in FIG. Since FIG. 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment and has already been described in detail, description thereof is omitted here.

  Details of step S2 of FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows the steps for analyzing and processing the image data, and is the same as the description in the first embodiment.

  For example, in the case of a 20-page color / monochrome mixed image as shown in FIG. 9A, the color / monochrome mixed image is determined in step S21, and the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, as shown in FIG. , Multicolor page group (1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18) and single color page group (2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16, 19, 20 pages).

  Next, when the sheets are discharged face-up, YES is determined in step S23, and the sheets are rearranged in descending order in step S24. For example, as shown in FIG. 9 (2), when the page numbers are arranged in ascending order, as shown in FIG. 9 (3), the multicolor page group (18, 17, 15, 14, 11, 9, 7, 4, 3, 1 page) and monochrome page groups (20, 19, 16, 13, 12, 10, 8, 8, 6, 5, 2 pages).

  If the sheets are discharged face down, NO is determined in step S23, and the sheets are rearranged in order of increasing page numbers in step S25.

  The above-described image data rearrangement operation is performed by the rearrangement control means 103a.

  Details of step S3 in FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a step of adding image forming mode information, which is the same as the description in the first embodiment.

  For example, in the case of image data as shown in FIG. 9 (3), image formation mode information is added to the head of each of the multicolor / monochromatic page group. In this case, in the state of FIG. 9 (3), the multicolor page group is arranged so that the image is formed first, but the last page to be imaged first is the 20th page of the single color page group. Therefore, the result of step S33 in FIG. 4 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S34, where the multicolor page group and the single color page group are switched so that the first image formed page (20th page) comes first.

  The rearrangement control means 103a performs the operation of adding the above-described image formation mode information and rearranging so that the first image-formed page comes first.

  Next, step S4 in FIG. 1 will be described in detail using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S4 in FIG. 1, image formation mode information is added in step S3 in FIG. 1, and conveyance table information (hereinafter also referred to as bin information) is applied to the image data in which the first image formed page comes first. ) Is added. Here, if the number of paper discharge bins is n, m = n. The work of adding the transport table information is performed by the paper discharge bin control means 103d.

  First, in step S71, it is determined whether or not the image is a mixed color / monochrome image. If NO, that is, if the image is a monochrome page only image or only a color page image, the process proceeds to step S73. The default paper discharge bin (predetermined by the apparatus) or paper discharge bin information designated by the user (conveyance table information) is added to the page to be processed. Next, in the case of YES in step S71, that is, in the case of a color / monochrome mixed image, the process proceeds to step S72, and bin information B (n) is added to the head of the image data of the page on which the image is formed first. For example, in the case where the number of paper discharge bins is seven and the image data is as shown in FIG. 9 (4), first, as shown in FIG. 9 (5), the first 20th page (monochrome) image data. Bin information B7 is added before. Next, in order to determine the switching between the multi-color page group and the single-color page group, it is checked in step S74 whether there is image formation mode information at the top of the next page (that is, whether there is a color / monochrome mode change). To do.

  Here, the next page means a next page of a group including a page on which an image is first formed. For example, in the case of the image data as shown in FIG. 9 (4), the next page of the 20th page (monochrome) for the first image formation is the 19th page (monochrome), and the next page of the 19th page (monochrome). Is the 16th page (monochrome). If there is no image formation mode information at the top of the next page in step S74 (NO), the process proceeds to step S75, and it is determined whether or not the page currently focused on is continuous with the previous page. If it is continuous, “YES” is determined in the step S75, the target page is switched to the next page, and the process returns to the step S74. If not continuous, NO is determined in the step S75, and the process proceeds to a step S76. In step S76, bin information of a number one less than the number of bin information added before (indicated as n ← n-1 in FIG. 8) is added to the top of the page, and the page of interest is switched to the next page. Then, the process returns to step S74.

  For example, if the number of paper discharge bins is 7 and the image data is as shown in FIG. 9 (4), the bin information B7 is set before the first 20th page (monochrome) image data in step S72. Is added, and the process proceeds to step S74. Since the next page is the 19th page (monochrome) and there is no image formation mode information (NO in step S44), the process proceeds to step S75 and continues to the previous page (20th page) (YES in step S75). Therefore, the bin information is not added before the 19th page (monochrome) image data, and the page of interest is switched to the 16th page (monochrome) which is the next page, and the process returns to step S44. Since the 16th page (monochrome) is NO in step S74 and NO in step S75, bin information B3 is added before the image data of the 16th page (monochrome) in step S76. As described above, when Steps S74 to S76 are repeated until Step S74 becomes YES, that is, the second page (monochrome) which is the last page of the monochrome page group, the monochrome page group has the upper part of FIG. Such bin information is added.

  The next page of the last page of the group including the page to be imaged first is the first page of the other group. For example, in the case of image data as shown in FIG. 9 (4), the next page of the second page (monochrome) is the 18th page (color). When the page of interest is switched to the first page of the other group and the process returns to step S74, there is image formation mode information at the top of this page (YES in step S74), so the process proceeds to step S78, and bin information is placed at the top of this page. B (m) is added. Here, m = n. For example, in the case of the image data as shown in FIG. 9 (4), the 18th page (color) to which the multicolor image formation information is added proceeds from step S74 to step S78, as shown in FIG. 9 (5). Bin information B7 is added in front of the image data of the 18th page (color).

  Next, the target page is switched to the next page, and the process proceeds to step S79. If the previous page is the last page, that is, if there is no page to be noted in step S49, the previous page is determined to be the last page (step YES in S49), the step is finished. If there is a page to be noted, it is determined that the previous page is not the last page (NO in step S49), and the process proceeds to step S80 to determine whether or not the page currently focused on is continuous with the previous page. If it is continuous, “YES” is determined in the step S80, the target page is switched to the next page, and the process returns to the step S79. If not continuous, NO is determined in the step S80, and the process proceeds to a step S81. In step S81, bin information having a number one less than the previously added bin information number (described as m ← m−1 in FIG. 8) is added to the top of the page, and the page of interest is switched to the next page. Then, the process returns to step S79.

  For example, in the case where the number of paper discharge bins is 7 and the image data is as shown in FIG. 9 (4), first in step S78, the front of the 18th page (color) image data at the top of the multicolor page group is displayed. In addition, the bin information B7 is added, and the process proceeds to step S79. The next page is the 17th page (color), and the previous page is not the last page (NO in step S79) and is continuous with the previous page (8th page) (YES in step S50). The bin information is not added before the eye (color) image data, the target page is switched to the 15th page (color) which is the next page, and the process returns to step S79. Here, since the 15th page (color) is not continuous with the previous page (17th page), the answer to step 80 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S81 to display bin information before the 15th page (color) image data. B6 is added. As described above, when steps S79 to S81 are repeated until step S79 becomes YES, that is, until the first page (color) which is the last page of the multicolor page group, the multicolor page group is displayed in FIG. ) Bin information as shown at the bottom is added. Through the above steps, the original image data in FIG. 9A is converted into image data as shown in FIG.

  Here, the next page focused on in steps S74 and S75 in FIG. 8 means the same page. Bin information B (n) or B (m) means that the discharge bins of the discharge destination are B1 to B7, respectively.

  Through the above steps, the preparation of the image data is completed, after which image formation (printing) is performed in step S5 in FIG. 1, and finally the recording paper is discharged according to the transport table information added in step S6 in FIG. S6). For example, FIG. 10 shows a state of the recording paper accumulated in the paper discharge bin after the discharge of all pages of the original image as shown in FIG. If the sheets (discharge sheets) accumulated in the discharge bin B1 to the discharge bin B7 are stacked in order from the upper discharge bin B1 to the lower stage, the page order of the original document is maintained. Understand. Eventually, the user can do the work of stacking the recording paper collected in each bin by himself, or make the tray part of the paper discharge bin movable and finally drop all the recording paper into the lowest bin. May be stacked mechanically.

  In the color image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the transport table shown in the first embodiment is arranged so that the discharge bin for discharging a single color page and the discharge bin for discharging a multicolor page are different. The discharge bin control means for adding information and the set of continuous page numbers of single-color pages and multi-color pages shown in the second embodiment are discharged to the same discharge bin. A color image forming apparatus having both a paper discharge bin control means for adding conveyance table information to the image forming apparatus. In this case, it is preferable to provide a step of determining which paper discharge bin control means to select based on the information of the original document in step S3 of FIG.

  Next, the image processing method of the present invention will be described below.

  The image processing method of the present invention is an image processing method performed on image data read from an original when an image is formed by a color image forming apparatus, and includes a single-color page and a color image that do not include a color image. The image data order is arranged on a page-by-page basis so that the image information of a document that contains multicolor pages is divided into a group of single-color pages that do not include color images and a group of multicolor pages that include color images. A rearrangement step for changing, and a transfer table information adding step for adding to the rearranged image data, transfer table information indicating to which paper discharge section a recording material is to be discharged. is there.

  As an example of the image processing method of the present invention, the image processing in S1 to S4 described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above can be given. Note that the processing in steps S1 to S4 (see FIG. 1) described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment is performed in the image processing apparatus 103 (FIGS. 2 and 11) of the image forming apparatus 100.

  In the case of printing in FIG. 1, the image processing in steps S2 to S4 can be performed in advance by a printer driver on the host computer 107 (FIG. 11). That is, the image processing method according to the present invention is not limited to the image processing method implemented in the image processing apparatus 103 in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, but is performed by a printer driver on a host computer. An image processing method for performing the processes of steps S2 to S4 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8) is also included.

  In this case, image data that has undergone image processing is transmitted to the print controller 106, and various information necessary for image formation, such as page rearrangement and discharge bin designation, has been added to the image processing apparatus 103. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform steps S2 to S4 in the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, immediately after the image data is received and spooled in step S1, printing can be started in step S5. Further, in the above case, it is not necessary to spool the entire image data, and as soon as the data for one page is ready, the printing operation in step S5 may be started.

  The present invention also includes a computer program that causes a computer to execute the image processing method and a computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program is recorded.

  The inventors have arranged a plurality of image forming units in parallel along the recording material conveyance direction for a document in which a single color page not including a color image and a multicolor page including a color image are mixed (tandem type). Using a color image forming apparatus, the printing speeds were compared when printing was performed in the order in which monochromatic pages and multicolor pages were mixed, and when printing was performed separately for monochromatic page groups and multicolor page groups. The file used is a text document in which color pages and monochrome pages appear alternately (Word file, page 60: odd pages are colored, even pages are monochrome). When printing was performed in the same page order, it took 12 minutes and 04 seconds to complete the discharge of the 60th page. On the other hand, when all pages 1 to 30 were printed as color pages and pages 31 to 60 were printed as monochrome pages, it took 4 minutes and 02 seconds.

  This result indicates that the higher the number of times of switching the image forming mode, the easier the high-speed printing is realized. In other words, when forming an image of a document in which a single color page that does not include a color image and a multicolor page that includes a color image are formed, it is possible to form an image separately in a single color page group and a multicolor page group. It can be said that it is very preferable for shortening. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus includes rearrangement control means for rearranging the order of image data for image formation for each page so as to form an image by dividing into a single color page group and a multicolor page group, and further ejects the image-formed recording material. A plurality of paper discharge units having a plurality of paper discharge units, and a recording material on which an image is formed, based on the page order of the original corresponding to the image data on which the image data is formed on the recording material. By including a paper discharge unit control unit that controls which paper discharge unit to discharge, it is possible to realize a color image forming apparatus that discharges paper at high speed based on the page order of the document.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and technical means disclosed in different embodiments are appropriately combined. Needless to say, embodiments obtained in this manner are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the page order of the recording material obtained after the image formation is provided as the page order of the original document by providing the paper discharge bin control means for controlling the paper discharge device having a plurality of bins. can do. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus with high user convenience without increasing manufacturing costs and maintenance costs, and is considered to have high utility value.

5 is a flowchart showing an overall flow of image processing performed in the image forming apparatus according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a system configuration of an image forming apparatus according to first and second embodiments of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing details of step S2 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 1 in the first and second embodiments of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing details of step S3 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 1 in the first and second embodiments of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing details of step S4 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 1 in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows a mode that image data is rearranged in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of a paper discharge bin after all the image data shown in FIG. 6 is printed and discharged in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, it is a flowchart which shows the detail of step S4 of the flowchart shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that image data is rearranged in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state of a paper discharge bin after all the image data illustrated in FIG. 9 is printed and discharged in the second embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an image forming apparatus according to first and second embodiments of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of the conveyance belt unit in each image forming mode in the image forming apparatus according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, and (a) is a diagram illustrating a state in the monochromatic image forming mode. (B) is a diagram showing a state in the multicolor image forming mode.

Explanation of symbols

100 Image forming apparatus 101 Sorter device (paper discharge means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Paper feed desk apparatus 103 Image processing apparatus 103a Rearrangement control means 103b Storage device 103c Image data input part 103d Paper discharge bin control means (paper discharge part control means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 104 Control part 105 Image reader 106 Print controller 107 Host computer 108 Image forming unit 1a-d Exposure unit 2a-d Developer 3a-d Photosensitive drum 4a-d Cleaner unit 5a-d Charger 6a-d Transfer roller 7 Transfer Belt 8 Transfer conveyor belt unit 9 Transfer belt cleaning unit 10 Paper feed tray 12 Fixing unit 14 Registration roller 15 Document discharge tray (sheet stacking section)
Reference Signs List 16 Pickup Roller 25 Transport Roller 31 Heat Roller 32 Pressure Roller 34 Transport Direction Switching Gate 35 Side Cover 71 Transfer Belt Drive Roller 72 Transfer Belt Tension Roller 73 Transfer Belt Driven Roller 74 Transfer Belt Support Roller 75 Transfer Roller Pair 76 Switch Gate 77 Multiple Output bin (output section)
B1 to B7 Paper output bin (paper output unit)
78 Paper discharge roller pair

Claims (16)

A color image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material based on information of image data of a read original,
A plurality of image forming means arranged in parallel along the recording material conveyance direction;
A mode switching unit for switching between a single color image forming mode in which image formation is performed by only one image forming unit among the plurality of image forming units and a multicolor image forming mode in which image formation is performed by the plurality of image forming units; ,
A group of single-color pages that do not include a color image and a multicolor page that includes a color image when performing image formation of image data read from a document that contains both a single-color page that does not include a color image and a multicolor page that includes a color image Rearrangement control means for rearranging the order of image data for image formation for each page so as to form an image separately for each group;
A paper discharge means having a plurality of paper discharge sections for discharging and storing the image-formed recording material;
Paper discharge for controlling which paper discharge unit of the plurality of paper discharge units discharges the image-formed recording material based on the page order of the original on which the image data formed on the recording material corresponds. A color image forming apparatus.   The paper discharge unit control means controls the discharge of the recording material such that the recording materials discharged to the plurality of paper discharge units are arranged in the page order of the original when the recording materials are stacked in the arrangement order of the paper discharge units. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The rearrangement control means rearranges the single color page group and the multicolor page group in order from the largest page number when the paper discharge is performed face up, and the single color page when the paper discharge is performed face down. 3. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the page group and the multicolor page group are rearranged in order from the smallest page number. In the image forming operation in the image forming apparatus, a paper discharge unit from which a single color page is discharged is different from a paper discharge unit from which a multicolor page is discharged, and
When the document page numbers are consecutive within the single color page group, or when the document page numbers are consecutive within the multicolor page group, the paper discharge unit control means has the same paper discharge for each successive page. 4. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color image forming apparatus is controlled so as to be discharged to a portion.   2. The discharge unit control means controls to discharge to a single discharge unit for each set in which a single-color page number and a multi-color page number are consecutive in a document. 4. The color image forming apparatus according to any one of items 3 to 3. In a color image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming means arranged in parallel along the recording material conveyance direction,
A switching step of switching between a single-color image forming mode in which image formation is performed by only one image forming unit among the plurality of image forming units and a multi-color image forming mode in which image formation is performed by the plurality of image forming units;
When forming a document with a mixture of single-color pages that do not include color images and multi-color pages that include color images, separate the images into groups of single-color pages that do not include color images and multi-color pages that include color images. A rearrangement step for rearranging the order of the pages to be imaged to form,
A paper discharge step for discharging the recording material obtained by image formation to a plurality of paper discharge units,
A control method for a color image forming apparatus, wherein, in the paper discharge step, control is performed so that when the discharged recording materials are stacked in the order of arrangement of the paper discharge unit, the page order of the original is set.   In the rearrangement step, the single color page group and the multicolor page group are rearranged in order from the largest page number when the paper discharge is performed face up, and the single color page is displayed when the paper discharge is performed face down. 7. The method of controlling a color image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the group and the multicolor page group are rearranged in order from the smallest page number. In the paper discharge step, a paper discharge unit for discharging a single color page and a paper discharge unit for discharging a multicolor page are different, and
When the document page numbers are consecutive within a single-color page group, or when the document page numbers are consecutive within a multi-color page group, control is performed so that each successive page is discharged to the same paper discharge unit. The method of controlling a color image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:   8. The paper discharge step performs control so that a set of continuous page numbers of monochromatic pages and page numbers of multi-color pages is discharged to the same paper discharge unit in the document. A control method for a color image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An image processing method for image data read from a document when performing image formation with a color image forming apparatus,
The image information of a manuscript in which a single color page not including a color image and a multicolor page including a color image are mixed is divided into a group of single color pages not including a color image and a group of multicolor pages including a color image to form an image. A rearrangement step for rearranging the order of image data for each page,
A transport table information adding step for adding transport table information to which of the plurality of paper discharge sections the recording material is discharged to the rearranged image data,
In the transport table information adding step, the transport table information is added so that the recording materials discharged to the plurality of paper discharge units are arranged in the page order of the original when the recording materials are stacked in the arrangement order of the paper discharge units. Image processing method.   In the rearrangement step, the single color page group and the multicolor page group are rearranged in order from the largest page number when the paper discharge is performed face up, and the single color page is displayed when the paper discharge is performed face down. The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein the group and the multicolor page group are rearranged in order from the smallest page number. The paper discharge unit that discharges single-color pages differs from the paper discharge unit that discharges multicolor pages, and
If the document page numbers are consecutive within a single color page group, or if the document page numbers are consecutive within a multicolor page group,
12. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein in the transport table information adding step, transport table information is added so that each successive page is discharged to the same paper discharge unit.   In the transport table adding step, the transport table information is added so that a set of continuous page numbers of single-color pages and multi-color page numbers is output to the same discharge unit in the document. The image processing method according to claim 11.   A computer program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to any one of claims 10 to 13.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 14 is recorded. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material based on information on image data of a document in which a single-color page that does not include a color image and a multicolor page that includes a color image coexists, and discharges the recording material to a plurality of paper discharge units An image forming method of
The image data is rearranged for each page so that the image data is divided into a group corresponding to a single color page not including a color image and a group corresponding to a multicolor page including a color image. A replacement step;
An image to which image formation mode information indicating whether to perform monochromatic image formation or multicolor image formation is added based on whether the rearranged image data is single color image data or multicolor image data. Forming mode information addition step;
A transport table information adding step of adding transport table information to which paper discharge section of the plurality of paper discharge sections to which the recording material is discharged to the rearranged image data;
An image forming step of forming an image based on the image forming mode information added to the image data;
An image forming method, comprising: a paper discharge step of discharging the image-formed recording material to a predetermined paper discharge unit based on the transport table information after image formation.

Images