JP2006123244A - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which print processing can be carried out at a high speed. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises a means for receiving intermediate data for N (N is an integer of 2 or above) pages obtained by interpreting print data described by Page Description Language and storing it temporarily, a means for generating a page of image data having a space area of the same width as the minimum sheet feed interval between respective pages by collecting the intermediate data for N pages thus stored, and a means for controlling printing of the image data generated by the image generating means while feeding N sheets at the minimum interval. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming program that shorten printing time.

Conventionally, in order to speed up printing processing in an image forming apparatus, it is known to divide one page into a plurality of bands and perform rasterization processing to output bitmap data (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4). ).
JP 2001-171185 A JP 2003-080771 A JP 2003-039744 A JP 2002-337399 A

By the way, the printing process by the image forming apparatus is rapidly digitized, and the printing speed is increased by increasing the speed of hardware processing.
However, in an image forming apparatus that performs processing in units of pages, when printing on a standard sheet, if the processing is not performed with a certain amount of space between the pages, the software page switching process is not in time, and the processing time becomes long. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming program capable of speeding up a printing process.

  The present invention receives intermediate data for N pages (N is a natural number of 2 or more) obtained by interpreting print data described in a page description language, and temporarily stores the received intermediate data. Means for combining the stored intermediate data for N pages, and generating image data for one page having a blank area having the same width as the minimum paper feed interval between the pages, and the minimum interval And a control unit that prints the image data generated by the image generation unit while feeding N sheets of paper.

  The present invention receives intermediate data for N pages (N is a natural number of 2 or more) obtained by interpreting print data described in a page description language, and temporarily stores the received intermediate data. An image forming program for controlling printing processing on an image forming apparatus provided with a means for collecting the stored intermediate data for N pages and forming a blank area having the same width as the minimum paper feed interval between each page. The computer performs image generation processing for generating image data of one page and control processing for printing the image data generated by the image generation processing while feeding N sheets of paper at the minimum interval. It is characterized by making it.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of pages are regarded as one page and drawing processing is executed, page switching processing does not occur, and hardware resetting processing at the time of page switching can be reduced. Therefore, the effect that the printing process can be speeded up can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit that controls the overall processing operation of the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 2 denotes an input unit including a numeric keypad, function keys, a touch panel, and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display or the like. Reference numeral 4 denotes an image reading unit that includes a scanner or the like and generates image data by reading a document on a document table. Reference numeral 5 denotes an image memory for storing image data. Reference numeral 6 denotes a communication unit that receives, from the host computer, intermediate data obtained by interpreting print data described in the page description language in the host computer. Reference numeral 7 denotes a printing unit that performs printing on a sheet based on bitmap data developed from the intermediate data. Reference numeral 8 denotes a conveyance control unit that controls the conveyance of the sheet in the printing unit 7, and controls the sheet interval when continuously feeding paper. Reference numeral 9 denotes a composition processing unit that combines bitmap data of a plurality of pages into one and inserts a blank area having the same width as the minimum paper feed interval at a page break.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a description will be given by taking as an example an operation of receiving and printing intermediate data obtained by converting print data described in a page description language by a printer driver in a host computer (not shown).

  First, the communication unit 6 receives intermediate data from the host computer and temporarily stores it in the image memory 5 (step S1). Subsequently, the control unit 1 analyzes the intermediate data stored in the image memory 5 and determines whether or not the intermediate data is a print of a plurality of pages (step S2). As a result, when printing one page, the control unit 1 generates bitmap data from the intermediate data stored in the image memory 5 and newly stores it in the image memory 5. Then, the control unit 1 notifies each of the printing unit 7, the conveyance control unit 8, and the composition processing unit 9 that printing is one page. In response to this, the composition processing unit 9 reads the bitmap data stored in the image memory 5 and outputs it to the printing unit 7 without performing the composition processing. In addition, the conveyance control unit 8 outputs an instruction to the printing unit 7 to feed one sheet. Thus, printing is performed on one sheet (step S9). That is, the printing process for one page is performed by the same operation as the normal printing process.

  Next, when the intermediate data stored in the image memory 5 is a plurality of pages (two or more pages), the control unit 1 can combine all the pages in one print job into one. Is determined (step S3). This determination is made based on whether or not the number of final pages exceeds a predetermined value n. This value n is the number of pages in which a plurality of pages can be combined into one in the composition processing unit 9, and is a value determined from the capacity of a processing buffer mounted in the image forming apparatus. Here, it is assumed that the value of n is “6”. As a result of this determination, when all pages can be combined into one, the control unit 1 generates bitmap data from the intermediate data stored in the image memory 5 and newly stores it in the image memory 5. Then, the control unit 1 outputs an instruction for combining the print job pages stored in the image memory 5 to the composition processing unit 9 into one. In response to this, the composition processing unit 9 reads out the bitmap data of all pages stored in the image memory 5, and generates data in which all the pages are combined into one (step S4).

On the other hand, when all the pages cannot be combined into one, the control unit 1 generates bitmap data from the intermediate data stored in the image memory 5 and newly stores it in the image memory 5. Then, the control unit 1 outputs an instruction to divide and combine the pages of the print job stored in the image memory 5 into m × n pages to the synthesis processing unit 9 (step S5). Here, if the last page is P, m is obtained by m = int (P / n) +1. For example, when the last page is “14”, m = 14/6 + 1 and m = 3. Receiving this, the composition processing unit 9 reads out the bitmap data of all pages stored in the image memory 5, and generates m pieces of bitmap data in which n pages are combined into one (step S6).
As a result, the composite processing unit 9 generates m pieces of bitmap data that combines all pages into one, or m pieces of bitmap data that combines n pages into one.

  Next, the composition processing unit 9 inserts a blank area between bitmap data sheets in which n pages are combined into one (step S7). Here, a blank area to be inserted between sheets will be described with reference to FIG. The conveyance system for paper feed / discharge in the printing unit 7 is controlled by the conveyance control unit 8, but when a plurality of pages are continuously fed, it is possible to set the interval of each sheet in the sheet feeding direction. . However, the minimum sheet interval is determined due to mechanical limitations of the transport system, and sheets cannot be continuously fed at intervals smaller than the minimum sheet interval. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the bitmap data for six pages is combined into one, a blank area having the same width as the minimum sheet interval determined by the transport system limitation is provided between each page (each sheet). insert. The blank area here is an area where nothing is printed. When combining 6 pages into one, a blank area is inserted between each page, so a total of 5 blank areas are inserted.

  Next, the control unit 1 outputs an instruction to continuously feed the paper at a minimum interval to the conveyance control unit 8 (step S8). Then, the control unit 1 outputs a print instruction to the printing unit 7 and the composition processing unit 9. In response to this, the composition processing unit 9 outputs bitmap data in which n pages are combined into one to the printing unit 7. In parallel with this, the printing unit 7 feeds paper at an interval specified by the conveyance control unit 8 and performs printing processing based on the bitmap data output from the synthesis processing unit 9 (step S9).

  In this way, n-page bitmap data is combined into one and continuously fed with a minimum paper feed interval, so that the paper feed performance of the paper transport system can be maximized, and the printing process can be accelerated. Can be realized. In addition, since a blank area with the same width as the minimum paper feed interval is inserted between each sheet, page switching does not occur during printing for n pages, reducing hardware re-setting processing, etc. Therefore, the speed can be further increased.

  In the above description, the operation of generating a bitmap data having a blank area between each page by putting a plurality of pages together and inserting a blank between the pages has been described. After the blank area data is synthesized at the rear end of the bitmap data, the bitmap data of each blank synthesized page may be combined.

  Further, a program for realizing the function of the processing unit in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed to execute a print control process. You may go. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part, 2 ... Input part, 3 ... Display part, 4 ... Image reading part, 5 ... Image memory, 6 ... Communication part, 7 ... Printing part, 8: Transport control unit, 9: Compositing processing unit

Claims (2)

Receiving means for receiving intermediate data for N pages (N is a natural number of 2 or more) obtained by interpreting print data described in a page description language, and temporarily storing the received intermediate data;
Image generation means for collecting the stored intermediate data for N pages and generating image data for one page having a blank area having the same width as the minimum paper feed interval between each page;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that prints the image data generated by the image generation unit while feeding N sheets at the minimum interval. An image provided with receiving means for receiving intermediate data for N pages (N is a natural number of 2 or more) obtained by interpreting print data described in a page description language, and temporarily storing the received intermediate data An image forming program for controlling printing processing on a forming apparatus,
An image generating process for collecting the stored intermediate data for N pages and generating image data of one page having a blank area having the same width as the minimum paper feed interval between each page;
An image forming program for causing a computer to perform a control process of printing the image data generated by the image generation process while feeding N sheets at the minimum interval.

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