JP2006218750A - Image forming apparatus and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of carrying out the controlling of switching to an optimum printing direction for reducing a processing time period without damaging a function of assortment printing, and a method for controlling the same. <P>SOLUTION: A printing controller 205 preliminarily determines a printing direction of each assortment unit 2061 to be different from the previous printing direction. When it is predicted that the printing in the longitudinal direction is performed at a longitudinal direction paper loading supply port 204 based on the preliminarily determined printing direction, it is judged whether or not it is necessary to switch the printing direction to a lateral direction paper loading supply port 203 based on a switching condition 2062. When the switching is necessary, the controlling of printing is carried out such that the paper sheet is output without printing at the longitudinal direction paper loading supply port 204, and then a document that the longitudinal printing is predicted is switched to the lateral direction paper loading supply port 203. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for performing sorting printing by selecting a paper feed tray that shortens printing time.

  As a technique for sorting print documents in document units or copy units, a method is known in which the paper direction is switched for each document, or for each copy by alternately switching the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

  The “printing apparatus” disclosed in Patent Document 1 prints only the first page of a document by selecting a hopper in which a vertical print sheet is stored when switching between printed documents. Proposes a method of selecting and printing a hopper storing horizontal printing paper.

Also, the “image forming apparatus control method” disclosed in Patent Document 2 proposes a method of discharging a blank sheet using a sheet different from the sheet direction of a printed document as a separating sheet.
JP-A-11-79530. JP-A-9-114328.

  In sorting printing, when comparing the case of conveying in the vertical direction with respect to the paper conveyance direction and the case of conveying in the horizontal direction, the conveyance time in the vertical direction in which the length of the paper becomes longer in the conveyance direction is It becomes longer than the time for carrying in the horizontal direction.

  Therefore, there is a problem that the longer the number of output sheets and the number of print copies of a document to be printed in the vertical direction, the more time is required for the printing process than when the same number of output sheets and the number of print copies are printed in the horizontal direction.

  In order to solve this problem, it is possible to minimize the number of printing sheets conveyed in the vertical direction using the method of Patent Document 1 described above.

  However, when the number of pages to be printed is small, the number of printing sheets printed in the horizontal direction is also small, so that the effect of improving the speed of the printing process cannot be sufficiently obtained, and furthermore, the number of pages to be printed is only one page. If not, there is a problem that sorting printing does not function.

  On the other hand, by using the method of the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, it is possible to function sorting printing even when there is a one-page document. However, the separator sheet is printed in the horizontal direction, and the document is printed in the vertical direction. In the case of printing with, there is a problem that the printing performance is remarkably deteriorated.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of switching and controlling the printing direction that minimizes the printing time without impairing the function of sorting printing according to the number of copies to be printed and the number of output pages, and a control method therefor. And

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is directed to an image forming apparatus having a document sorting function for alternately switching a sheet in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction in a print document unit or a print copy unit unit. When switching to a direction, a determination unit that determines whether a print document unit to be printed next or a unit of the number of copies satisfies a predetermined condition, and a vertical direction when the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied And printing control means for printing the unit of print document or the number of copies to be printed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the predetermined condition is that the print document unit or the number of copies to be printed next is a predetermined number or more.

  Further, in the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1, the predetermined condition is that the print document unit or the number of copies to be printed next is printed on vertical paper and printed on horizontal paper. The expected time difference is equal to or longer than a predetermined time.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the control method of an image forming apparatus having a document sorting function for alternately printing paper in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction in units of print documents or print units, the paper is switched in the vertical direction. In this case, the determination unit determines whether the next print document unit or the number of copies to be printed satisfies a predetermined condition. If the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the unit is switched to the vertical direction. The printed paper is output as white paper, and then the paper is switched to the horizontal direction, and the next print document unit or print unit is printed on the paper.

  According to the present invention, the processing performance of sorting printing can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 200 includes a print data receiving unit 201, a paper feed port switching control unit 202, a vertical paper loading paper feed port 203, a horizontal loading paper feed port 204, a print control unit 205, and a storage unit 206. It is configured.

(Information recorded in the storage unit 206)
The storage unit 206 stores and manages the sorting unit 2061 and the switching condition 2062.

  The sorting unit 2061 is setting information indicating a switching unit between vertical printing and horizontal printing when sorting printing is performed. Specifically, “document” is used to switch by document unit when a user makes a print request. Either “unit” or “unit of number of copies” for switching the print direction for each copy when an instruction to print a plurality of copies of the document designated by the print request is made is stored.

  The switching condition 2062 is that when printing is performed by switching the printing direction in the unit set in the sorting unit 2061, a document that is expected to be printed in the vertical direction is printed in the horizontal direction after discharging one blank sheet of vertical paper. A determination condition and a determination reference value for determining whether or not to perform control to be switched to are stored.

  The print data receiving unit 201 analyzes the data received from the print host 100 to determine whether it is a print request or data instructing a change of the sorting unit 2061 or the switching condition 2062, and sets the received data as the received data. Based on this, the corresponding information in the storage unit 206 is updated, and in the case of print data, it is output to the print control unit 205.

  The vertical paper loading paper feed port 204 is a paper feed tray that feeds paper in the vertical direction with respect to the transport direction.

  The lateral paper loading slot 203 is a paper feed tray that feeds paper laterally with respect to the transport direction.

A paper feed port switching control unit 202 performs selection switching control between a vertical paper loaded paper feed port 204 and a horizontal paper loaded paper feed port 203 as a paper feeding unit based on an instruction from the print control unit 205. When the data received from the print data receiving unit 201 is a print request, the unit 205 performs sorting printing based on the sorting unit 2061 and the switching condition, and the data received from the print data receiving 201 is used as the sorting unit 2061. In the case of a setting information update request for the switching condition 2062, the corresponding data in the storage unit 206 is rewritten based on the received data.

  When performing sort printing, the print control unit 205 determines a print direction based on the sort unit 2061 and the print direction in the immediately preceding sort unit temporarily stored in the storage unit 206, and print request for which vertical printing is expected. In response to this, a process for determining whether or not the condition set in the switching condition 2062 is satisfied is performed, and it is determined whether or not switching to horizontal printing is to be performed.

  At this time, if the determination condition set in the switching condition 2062 is a condition related to the number of output sheets that are expected to be printed, the print control unit 205 causes the output sheet number calculation unit 2022 to determine the expected output number of sheets required for the determination. Calculate

  Specifically, when “unit” is set as the sorting unit 2061 and a plurality of print copies are designated, the number of output sheets in which the vertical printing is expected, the output is performed when the vertical printing is switched to the horizontal printing. Calculate the number of blank paper sheets that are expected to be printed.

  On the other hand, when the determination condition set in the switching condition 2062 is a condition related to the expected print processing time, the print control unit 205 calculates the expected process time required for the determination by the required print time prediction unit 2021.

  Specifically, when the expected processing time for each of the vertical printing and horizontal printing, or when multiple printings are specified and sort printing is specified for each copy, the document that is expected to be printed in the vertical direction is displayed in the horizontal direction. The expected time when switching is performed or the expected time when switching is not performed is calculated.

(Registration settings for sorting units and paper feed switching conditions)
FIG. 2 is an example of a management screen on which the print host 100 sets and changes the sorting unit 2061 and the switching condition 2062 that are stored and managed in the storage unit 206 of the image forming apparatus 200.

  In FIG. 2, the management screen has a setting registration area for the sorting unit 2061 and a setting registration area for the switching condition 2062.

  The setting registration area of the sorting unit 2061 includes a “document unit” that switches the printing direction as a sorting unit in units of print jobs, and a “unit of number of copies” that switches the printing direction at each boundary when a plurality of printing copies are specified. An input area for selecting one of the following.

  The setting registration area of the switching condition 2062 corresponds to the selection result in the sorting unit 2061, and when the document unit is designated, the number of prints per document expected to be printed in the vertical direction or the estimated processing time If there are multiple copies, the expected number of prints in the vertical print for the number of copies expected to be printed in the vertical direction and the vertical print when the vertical print is switched to the horizontal print Area for entering the threshold for the difference in the expected number of blank paper output, or the expected time when the horizontal printing and vertical printing are performed alternately, and when the vertical printing is switched to horizontal printing. It has an area for inputting a threshold value for the difference in expected time.

  Next, the combination of the sorting unit 2061 and the switching condition 2062 set on the management screen shown in FIG. 2, the number of prints specified by the print request transmitted from the print host 100, the output page of the print document, and the print setting A typical example of sorting printing controlled according to the above is shown as a processing image.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing image when “document unit” is set as the sorting unit 2061 and the number of output sheets is set as the switching condition 2062.

  In FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 200 switches the print direction in units of documents, and therefore, for example, the print request B received next to the print request A that has been subjected to horizontal printing is vertical printing.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus 200 determines whether or not the number of print outputs of the image print request B exceeds the number set in the switching condition 2062, and if it exceeds, one blank sheet is discharged in the vertical printing. Thereafter, the document of the print request B is printed by horizontal printing. On the other hand, if it does not exceed, the document of print request B is printed by vertical printing based on the initial determination.

  Then, the print direction of the print request C processed next to the print request B is the vertical print when the print direction of the print request B is switched to the horizontal print, and the horizontal direction when the print request B is not switched. It becomes the object of direction printing.

  The processing image shown in FIG. 3 is an example in which a threshold value for the number of output sheets of printing paper is set as the switching condition 2062, but the printing direction switching control is similarly performed even when the entire document is expected to be printed. Is done.

  In FIG. 4, printing of a plurality of copies is specified by the received print request, “number of copies” is set in the sorting unit 2061, and “vertical printing output expected when there is no switching of vertical printing” is set in the switching condition 2062. This is a processing image when a “switching reference value for the difference between the number of sheets and the number of output sheets of blank paper when a document that is expected to be printed in the vertical direction is switched to the horizontal direction printing” is set.

  The image forming apparatus 200 specifies the number of output copies specified in the print request and the expected number of outputs per part, and when sorting printing is performed in units of copies, the number of output sheets of printing paper that are expected to be printed in the vertical direction ( The difference between (A) in FIG. 4 and the estimated output number of blank paper (B in FIG. 4) when the vertical printing is switched to the horizontal printing exceeds the reference value set in the switching condition 2062. In this case, the vertical printing is switched to the horizontal printing, and sorting printing ((B) in FIG. 4) is selected to perform printing processing.

  In FIG. 5, “number of copies” is set as the sorting unit 2061, and a plurality of copies (a plurality of copies are specified in the print request, and the switching condition 2062 indicates “the total number of prints expected when the vertical printing is not switched”. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing image of “when a switching reference value is set for a difference between time and the total number of expected printing times when switching from vertical printing to horizontal printing”.

  In FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus 200 performs processing time T (A) ((A) of FIG. 5) when the print document is switched between the horizontal printing and the vertical printing alternately in units of copies, and ( A difference from the processing time T (B) ((B) of FIG. 5) when all the target documents expected to be printed in the vertical direction shown in A) are switched to the horizontal printing is calculated. When the reference value set in the condition 2062 is exceeded, all the vertical direction printing is switched to the horizontal direction printing and sorting printing is performed ((B) of FIG. 5).

  The method for calculating the processing times T (A) and T (B) is determined based on the designated number of print copies, the number of pages of the print document specified by the print data, and the print output setting. Calculated based on the expected output number of sheets.

  Next, the sorting printing operation by the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of sort printing in the image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus 200 receives print data from the print host 100 (S101 YES), and determines whether the sorting unit 2061 is “copy unit” or “document unit” (S102).

  When the sorting unit 2061 is “document unit” (S102 “document”), the image forming apparatus 200 performs sorting printing in document units (S103).

  When the sorting unit 2062 is “copying” (S102 “copying”), the image forming apparatus 200 outputs the printing paper when the switching condition 2062 is set with respect to the printing paper printing number (S104 printing). Sorting printing is performed in units of copies based on the expected number of sheets (S106).

  On the other hand, if the sorting unit 2062 is set with a condition related to the expected print processing time (S104 time), the sorting printing is performed based on the difference in the expected print processing time (S105).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of sorting printing operation in document units shown in step S103 of FIG.

  In FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 200 tentatively determines the print direction for the received print request based on the previous print direction stored in the storage unit 202 (S201).

  If the tentatively determined printing direction is “horizontal printing” (NO in S202), the image forming apparatus 200 processes all the documents specified in the print request by horizontal printing (S217).

  On the other hand, when the printing direction provisionally determined in step S201 is “vertical printing” (YES in S202), the image forming apparatus 200 determines whether the switching condition set by the switching condition 2062 is based on the number of output documents, It is determined which condition is the expected time (S203).

  When the setting condition of the switching condition 2062 is a condition related to “estimated number of output sheets of printing paper” (S203 number), the image forming apparatus 200 calculates the number of output sheets that are expected to be printed in the vertical direction in sorting printing. (S204).

  When the calculated expected output number exceeds the reference value set in the switching condition 2062 (S204 YES), the image forming apparatus 200 sets the switching flag for vertical printing to “ON” (S206).

  On the other hand, when the calculated expected output number does not exceed the reference value set in the switching condition 2062 (S204 NO), the image forming apparatus 200 sets the switching flag to “OFF” (S207).

  Returning to the process of step 203 again, if the condition regarding the print process expected time is set in the switching condition 2062 (S203 time), the image forming apparatus 200 calculates the process expected time for vertical printing (S208). ).

  If the calculated expected time exceeds the reference value set in the switching condition 2062 (S209 YES), the image forming apparatus 200 sets the switching flag to “ON” (S210).

  When the regulated expected time does not exceed the reference value set in the switching condition 2062 (NO in S209), the image forming apparatus 200 sets the switching flag to “OFF” (S211).

  When the switching flag set in steps S206, S207, S210, and S211 is “ON” (YES in S212), vertical printing is performed on all documents.

  On the other hand, if the switching flag is “OFF” (NO in S212), the image forming apparatus 200 performs blank printing in vertical printing and vertical printing, and then prints all documents in horizontal printing (S213). ).

  When the printing process for all the documents is completed, the image forming apparatus 200 stores the print direction in the storage unit 206 (S215), and monitors the next print request (S216).

  FIG. 8 shows that when the sorting unit is “number of copies” and the switching condition 2062 is set, the number of output sheets of the vertical printing paper when the vertical printing is expected and the vertical printing is switched to the horizontal printing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of sorting printing based on a reference value for a difference in the total number of output sheets of blank paper.

  The image forming apparatus 200 specifies the number of copies to be printed and the number of output sheets per part from the received print data (S301).

  When the designated number of copies is “single number of copies” (NO in S302), the image forming apparatus 200 starts from the horizontal direction printing for the first part and does not expect the vertical direction printing, so the switching flag is set to “OFF”. Setting is made (S307).

  On the other hand, in the case of the designated number of copies “multiple copies” (YES in S302), the image forming apparatus 200 calculates the number of print sheets (X) that are expected to be printed in the vertical direction in sorting printing in units of copies ( Next, the expected output number (Y) of blank paper when the document that is expected to be printed in the vertical direction is switched to the horizontal print is calculated (S304).

  If a document that is expected to be printed in the vertical direction is not switched to horizontal printing, the number of output sheets (X) that are expected to be printed in the vertical direction and output when the vertical printing is switched to horizontal printing are expected. When the difference from the output sheet (Y) of blank paper is calculated and the calculated result exceeds the reference time set in the switching condition 2062 (S305 YES), the image forming apparatus 200 sets the switching flag to “ON”. (S306).

  On the other hand, when the calculated time difference does not exceed the reference time of the switching condition 2062 (S305 NO), the image forming apparatus 200 sets the switching flag to “OFF” (S307).

  When the switching flag is determined in any of the processes in steps S306 and S307, the image forming apparatus 200 performs the number of copies printing process with the determined switching flag (S308).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the copy number printing operation shown in step S308 of FIG.

  In FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 200 first sets the horizontal direction as the initialization process of the print direction flag for determining the print direction for each unit, and also sets the number of print copies that have been printed and the remaining unprocessed print processing. A processing counter for managing the number of copies is initialized to 1 (S501), and the printing direction is determined based on the setting value of the switching flag determined in the processing of FIG. 8 (S502).

  When the determined printing direction is the horizontal direction (NO in S502), the image forming apparatus 200 performs a printing process for a part of the documents in the horizontal direction (S508), and sets the printing direction flag to “horizontal direction” (S509). ).

  On the other hand, when the determined printing direction is the vertical direction (S502 YES), the image forming apparatus 200 determines the value of the switching flag set in the processing flow of FIG. 8 (S503).

  When the switching flag is “ON” (YES in S503), the image forming apparatus 200 discharges one blank sheet in the vertical printing, and then prints a part of the document in the horizontal printing (S504), and forms the image. The apparatus 200 sets “horizontal direction” in the print direction flag (S505).

  On the other hand, when the switching flag is OFF (NO in S503), the image forming apparatus 200 prints a part of the document by vertical printing (S506), and sets “vertical” in the printing direction flag (S507).

  If the value of the processing counter is smaller than the number of prints specified in step S501 (S510 YES), that is, if there is an unprocessed remaining number of copies, the processing counter is incremented (S511) and the next based on the print direction flag. The printing direction of a part to be printed on is determined (S512).

  When the printing direction is determined, the process returns to step S502, and the next printing process for the remaining number of copies is performed.

  On the other hand, when the value of the processing counter matches the number of copies to be printed (S510 NO), the image forming apparatus 200 ends the number of copies printing process.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of sorting printing (expected time) in units of copies shown in step S105 of FIG.

  In FIG. 10, the image forming apparatus 200 identifies the number of copies specified in the print request and the number of output sheets per part (S 401).

  When the specified number of copies is a single number (S402 YES), the image forming apparatus 200 sets the switching flag to “OFF” (S408).

  On the other hand, if the specified number of print copies is plural (NO in S402), the image forming apparatus 200 calculates the expected processing time T (A) when the horizontal printing and the vertical printing are switched in each unit (S403). The expected processing time T (B) when the document which is expected to be printed in the vertical direction is switched to the horizontal direction printing after discharging the blank paper in the vertical direction printing is calculated (S404).

  When the difference between the calculated T (A) and T (B) exceeds the reference value of the switching condition 2062 (S405 YES), the image forming apparatus 200 sets the switching flag to “ON” (S406), while the calculated When the difference between T (A) and T (B) does not exceed the reference value of the switching condition 2062 (S405 NO), the image forming apparatus 200 sets “OFF” in the switching flag (S408).

  Then, based on the switching flag determined in step S406 or step S408, the number of copies printing process is performed (S407).

The operation in step S407 is the same as the process shown in FIG.

Note that when “number of copies” is set as the sorting unit 2061, assuming that the sorting function between print requests does not matter, a process starting from “horizontal printing” when a plurality of copies is specified. The last print direction of the print request printed immediately before is stored so as to ensure the sorting function between the print requests and between each part in the print request, and the first part is based on the stored print direction. Sorting printing processing for temporarily determining the printing direction of the eyes may be performed.

  In addition to the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus 200 can naturally be implemented by an apparatus that performs image forming processing on paper, such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, and provides a document sorting function in the direction of output paper. It is.

  The image forming apparatus and the control method thereof according to the present invention can be used in an image forming apparatus that performs document sorting according to the difference in the direction (vertical and horizontal) of the printed paper. In particular, the number of pages of a document to be printed and the number of copies This is effective for an image forming apparatus that is required to select a printing direction in which the print processing time is the shortest and give the highest priority to the printing efficiency while maintaining the sorting function.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control configuration when the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to a printer. FIG. 10 is a screen image diagram illustrating an example of a management screen for setting sorting units and printing direction switching conditions for the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of first sorting printing processing by the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of second sorting printing processing by the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The figure which shows the example of the 3rd sorting printing process by the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the whole sort printing process. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of sorting printing operation when a document unit is set as a sorting unit. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example when a unit of number of copies is specified as a sorting unit and a condition regarding the number of output sheets is set as a switching condition. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation for printing the number of copies. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example when the number of copies unit is set as a sorting unit, and the condition regarding the processing expected time is set as a switching condition.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Print host 200 Image forming apparatus 201 Print data receiving part 202 Paper feed tray switching control part 2021 Print required time estimation part 2022 Output paper number calculation part 203 Horizontal paper loading paper feed port 204 Vertical paper loading paper feed paper 205 Print control Part 206 Storage part 2061 Sorting unit 2062 Switching condition

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus having a document sorting function that prints by alternately switching paper in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction in print document units or print unit units,
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a printing document unit or a printing copy unit to be printed next satisfies a predetermined condition when switching the paper in the vertical direction;
When it is determined by the determination means that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the paper that has been switched to the vertical direction is output as a blank sheet, and then the paper is switched to the horizontal direction to print the next print document unit or print An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing control unit that prints the number of copies. The predetermined condition is:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a print document unit or a print copy unit to be printed next is a predetermined number or more. The predetermined condition is:
The image according to claim 1, wherein a difference in expected time between when the next printed document unit or the number of copies is printed on the vertical paper and when printed on the horizontal paper is a predetermined time or more. Forming equipment. In a control method of an image forming apparatus having a document sorting function for alternately switching paper in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction in a print document unit or a print unit number,
When the paper is switched in the vertical direction, the determination unit determines whether a print document unit or a print copy unit to be printed next satisfies a predetermined condition,
When the determination means determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the paper switched in the vertical direction is output as a blank sheet,
Thereafter, the paper is changed over in the horizontal direction, and the print document unit or the number of copies to be printed next is printed on the paper.

Images