JP2007052375A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing delay of a printing job due to deficient coloring agents when a stamp pattern is formed. <P>SOLUTION: A laser printer 1 forms an image or the stamp pattern on recording paper by using a plurality of toner colors. A controller 2 is provided to perform control so that when the image and the stamp pattern are formed on the recording paper, when the remaining quantity of the toner of a color which is necessary for an image forming process for the stamp pattern is less than the quantity necessary for the image forming processs of the stamp pattern, the stamp pattern is formed by using the toner of sufficient remaining quantity in place of the toner of deficient remaining quantity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image or a stamp pattern using colorants of a plurality of colors, and in particular, image formation that can prevent a print job from stagnation due to a shortage of colorant in the stamp pattern image forming process. Relates to the device.

When printing in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, one plane of K (black) color is used for monochrome printing, and each color of C, M, Y, K (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) is used for color printing. Print information data generated by the host computer is converted to video data and expanded into a bitmap of up to 4 planes, and the expanded plane video data is output in synchronization with the activated printing process to create an image. There is something.
In addition to the image processing so far, footer information such as the number of pages and document names, background patterns, stamp patterns such as confidential and company name logos are registered in advance, and the registered pattern data is overlaid with the image processed data. Some have a function of printing (stamp printing) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-11-245473

However, when the above-mentioned stamp printing is frequently used, there is a problem that consumption of the toner of the color used in the stamp pattern increases, the toner is rapidly decreased, and the printing operation is stopped due to a shortage of toner and normal printing cannot be performed. It had occurred.
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that can prevent a print job from stagnation due to a lack of colorant when forming a stamp pattern.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image or a stamp pattern on a recording sheet using a plurality of colorants. When the image and the stamp pattern are formed thereon, if the remaining amount of the colorant necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process is less than the amount required for the stamp pattern image forming process, the remaining amount is A control unit that controls to form the stamp pattern by using a colorant having a sufficient remaining amount instead of the insufficient colorant is provided.
The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that it is possible to set whether or not to perform control for forming the stamp pattern by changing a colorant to be used.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the colorant used in the image forming process of the stamp pattern is changed, the stamp and the stamp pattern have different colors based on the color of print data of the image. It is characterized by determining the color of the colorant used in the pattern imaging process.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, based on the color of the print data of the image, the color of the colorant used in the image forming process of the stamp pattern is determined so that the color of the image and the stamp pattern are different. It is possible to set whether or not to perform control for changing the colorant used in the image forming process of the stamp pattern.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus capable of forming an image or a stamp pattern on a recording sheet using a plurality of colorants, the image and the stamp pattern are formed on the recording sheet. When the remaining amount of the colorant necessary for the stamp pattern image formation process is less than the amount required for the stamp pattern image formation process, the remaining amount of the colorant is insufficient. Instead, a stamp pattern is formed using a colorant having an arbitrary color, regardless of the remaining amount of colorants different from the colorant necessary for the image formation process of the stamp pattern. It is characterized by including a control unit for controlling as described above.
The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that it is possible to set whether or not to perform control for forming the stamp pattern by changing a colorant to be used.

According to the present invention, when the colorant of the color used in the stamp pattern is less than the amount required for the image forming process, the remaining amount of the colorant is controlled to form the stamp pattern using a sufficient colorant, The print operation is not stopped due to the absence of the colorant, and the stagnation of the print job can be avoided. In addition, by setting whether or not to perform such control, it is possible to perform printing according to usage conditions and needs.
Also, when changing the colorant used in the stamp pattern image formation process, the colorant color used in the stamp pattern image formation process is based on the color of the image print data so that the color of the image and the stamp pattern is different. Is determined and control is performed to form the stamp pattern, so that the stagnation of the print job can be avoided and the color separation of the image and the stamp pattern can be avoided. In addition, by setting whether or not to perform such control, it is possible to perform printing according to usage conditions and needs.
Also, instead of the remaining amount of the colorant, any specified color can be used regardless of the remaining amount of the colorant different from the colorant required for the stamp pattern imaging process. By controlling so as to form the stamp pattern using the colorant, it is possible to avoid the stagnation of the print job and to prevent the color coding of the image and the stamp pattern from being impaired. In addition, by setting whether or not to perform such control, it is possible to perform printing according to usage conditions and needs.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a laser printer 1 as the best mode for carrying out the image forming apparatus of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the laser printer 1 includes a controller (control unit) 2, an operation panel 4, and a printer engine 13. The operation panel 4 includes a display unit indicating the printer status and a switch unit for switching the printer mode, font, and the like.
The printer engine 13 creates and develops an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member based on the video signal and the control signal from the controller 2, feeds the transfer paper from the paper feed unit, and transfers the developed image onto the transfer paper. Fix and form an image. Further, the printer engine 13 starts an image forming process of planes (bitmaps) required for C, M, Y, and K (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) according to the color to be printed, and each color toner (colorant) ) Can be used to perform color printing.
The controller 2 includes a panel I / F 8, host I / F 5, network I / F 16, CPU 9, program ROM 6, RAM 10, HDD (mass storage device) 17, NV-RAM 11, font ROM 7, engine I / F 12, and option RAM 14. In accordance with the control mode set at that time and the control code from the externally connected host machine 3 or network 15, the print data is converted into video data and output to the printer engine 13.
A panel I / F 8 is an interface between the controller 2 and the operation panel 4. The host I / F 5 is an interface for inputting / outputting control signals and data from the host machine 3 to the laser printer 1 and status signals from the printer to the host. The network I / F 16 is an interface that inputs and outputs control signals and data from the network 15 to the laser printer 1 and status signals from the laser printer 1 to the network 15.

The CPU 9 processes data (print data, control data) from the host machine 3 according to the program ROM 6. The RAM 10 is a work memory when the CPU 9 processes, a buffer that manages data from the host in units of pages and temporarily stores the data, and a bitmap memory that converts the data stored in the buffer into an actual print pattern and stores video data Used for etc.
An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 17 is a mass storage device that stores a large amount of data. The NV-RAM 11 is a non-volatile RAM for storing data to be retained even when the power is turned off. The program ROM 6 stores a program for processing and managing data in the controller and controlling peripheral modules. The font ROM 7 has various types of fonts used for printing. The engine I / F 12 is an interface for inputting and outputting control signals and video signals from the controller 2 to the printer engine 13 and status signals from the laser printer 1 to the controller 2.

Here, an outline of data processing will be described. The data sent from the host machine 3 through the host I / F 5 is analyzed by the CPU 9 according to the data analysis program on the program ROM 6, and the print data and print control data (SP, CR, LF, HT, VT, etc.). And others.
The print data and print control data are temporarily stored in the reception buffer on the RAM 10. The received data once stored is taken out one by one by the control program on the program ROM 6 and processed. For example, if the extracted data is a character code, an intermediate code including a print position, a print size, a character code, font information, and the like is created and stored in an intermediate buffer provided on the RAM 10.
If the command is a control code, escape sequence, or the like, a predefined process is performed on them. For example, if the print position is specified, the next character code position is set to the specified position, or if the font is changed, the font information of the next character code is specified. The process is performed such as changing to a new font.
In this way, when the print command from the host I / F 5 is processed or the processed data exceeds one page, the intermediate code stored in the intermediate buffer is converted into video data in accordance with the control program. Do. When the conversion is completed, the controller 2 issues a print start command to the printer engine 13 through the engine I / F 12 and transfers video data in synchronization therewith. The print data from the host I / F 5 is printed via the printer engine 13 in the series of flows as described above.

Next, a printing operation performed by the laser printer 1 when a sufficient amount of toner used for stamp pattern printing does not remain will be described with reference to the first to third embodiments. Here, the stamp pattern is a stamp image such as “secret”, “confidential”, “external secret”, etc. formed on the output paper in order to perform confidentiality management of the output image. In this example, a case where green print data (text data) in which print information requested for printing from the host machine 3 is drawn and developed and a red “secret” stamp pattern is overlaid and printed (see FIG. 2) will be described. To do.
In this printing operation, print data from the host machine 3 is received, the received data is stored in the reception buffer, the print data (text data) stored in the reception buffer is read, and the read print data is stored. The data is expanded into a bitmap, and the print data is downloaded to the storage means of the program ROM 6, RAM 10, HDD 17 and stored, or the print data (stamp pattern) is written to the font ROM 7, and the generated bitmap data and the storage means are stored. The written print data (stamp pattern) is superimposed and the print data is output from the engine I / F 12 to the printer engine 13.

Example 1
In the first embodiment, when the image is formed in green and the “secret” stamp pattern is formed in red, of M (magenta) and Y (yellow) necessary to form red, the toner of M It is an example of control by the controller 2 when the remaining amount is less than the amount necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process.
The body data obtained by developing the print data received from the host machine 3 uses C (cyan) and the Y plane. When printing without superimposing the stamp patterns, the printer engine 13 is requested to start the C and Y image forming process, and the C and Y bitmap data is synchronized with the image forming process of the printer engine 13 in the printer. Output to the engine 13 and perform printing. However, when printing with the “secret” stamp pattern in red, the red uses the M and Y planes. Do.
However, at this time, if the remaining amount of M toner is less than the amount necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process, the image forming process cannot be started and printing cannot be performed. Therefore, the controller 2 performs control so as to perform the operation of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, first, when there is a print data drawing instruction in step S1, it is checked in step S2 whether there is a stamp pattern print instruction. If there is a stamp pattern print instruction, the process proceeds to step S3. If there is no instruction to print the stamp pattern, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S3, it is checked whether the remaining amount of M toner is less than the amount necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process. If the toner is insufficient, the process proceeds to step S4. If the toner is not insufficient, step S7 is performed. Proceed to In step S4, it is confirmed whether or not the setting as to whether or not to perform control by the controller 2 that forms the stamp pattern by changing the toner to be used is made. This is because when the remaining amount of the color (M) toner necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process is smaller than the amount required for the stamp pattern image forming process, the remaining amount of M toner is replaced. This is a function that can set whether or not to perform control to form a stamp pattern using another toner having a sufficient remaining amount.
In step S4, if the setting is ON, the process proceeds to step S5, and if the setting is OFF, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S5, it is confirmed whether or not the plane color (M) used by the stamp pattern matches the insufficient toner color (M). If they match, the process proceeds to step S6. Proceed to In step S6, the plane is replaced with a plane corresponding to another color (C) toner having a sufficient remaining amount with respect to the toner amount necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process (see FIG. 4). In step S7, the print data (image) and the stamp pattern bitmap are merged. After step S7 or when there is no instruction to execute stamp pattern printing in step S2, printing is executed in step S8 as shown in FIG.
As described above, when there is less color toner used in the stamp pattern than is necessary for the image forming process, control is performed so that the stamp pattern is formed using sufficient toner so that there is no toner. The printing operation is not stopped by the print job, and the stagnation of the print job can be avoided. In addition, by setting whether or not to perform such control, it is possible to perform printing according to usage conditions and needs.

(Example 2)
In the first embodiment, the stamp pattern is printed by replacing it with C toner that has a sufficient remaining amount in other colors that are not used in the stamp pattern. However, the text data that uses C and Y toner is the same as the toner that is used. The print color of the stamp pattern is the same as or similar to the color of the text data. Therefore, such a toner change process is not suitable when it is desired to separate the stamp pattern and the text image by color.
Therefore, in the second embodiment, when the plane of the stamp pattern is replaced with a plane having a sufficient toner remaining amount, the controller 2 selects the replacement color so that the text image does not become the same as the color plane used. Control. The operation in this case is shown in the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, first, if there is a print data drawing instruction in step S11, it is checked in step S12 whether there is a stamp pattern print instruction. If there is a stamp pattern print instruction, the process proceeds to step S13. If there is no instruction to print the stamp pattern, the process proceeds to step S20.
In step S13, it is confirmed whether the remaining amount of M toner is less than the amount necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process. If the toner is insufficient, the process proceeds to step S14. If the toner is not insufficient, step S19 is performed. Proceed to In step S <b> 14, it is confirmed whether or not the setting as to whether or not the controller 2 that forms the stamp pattern by changing the toner to be used is set. This is because when changing the toner used in the stamp pattern image formation process, the toner color used in the stamp pattern image formation process is set so that the color of the image and the stamp pattern is different based on the color of the print data of the image. This is a function that can set whether or not to control to form a stamp pattern by determining.

If the setting is ON in step S14, the process proceeds to step S15, and if the setting is OFF, the process proceeds to step S19. In step S15, it is checked whether or not the plane color (M) used by the stamp pattern matches the missing toner color (M). If they match, the process proceeds to step S16. Proceed to In step S16, the plane is replaced with a plane corresponding to another color toner having a sufficient remaining amount with respect to the toner amount necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process (see FIG. 6).
Then, the process proceeds to step S17, and if it is replaced, it is confirmed whether or not the use planes of the stamp pattern and the text data (image) are all the same. Is replaced with a different plane combination from the body data (image). For example, instead of replacing M with C, M is replaced with Y so that the stamp pattern is Y-colored. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, at the same time as replacing M with C, Y is also replaced with C to obtain a C one-color stamp pattern.
After step S18, the process proceeds to step S19. If it is confirmed in step S17 that the use pattern of the stamp pattern and the text data (image) is not the same, the process also proceeds to step S19. In step S19, the print data (image) and the bitmap of the stamp pattern are merged (fused). After step S19 or if there is no instruction to execute stamp pattern printing in step S12, printing is executed in step S20 as shown in FIG.
As described above, when changing the toner used in the stamp pattern image formation process, the toner used in the stamp pattern image formation process so that the color of the image and the stamp pattern is different based on the color of the print data of the image. By determining the color and controlling to form the stamp pattern, it is possible to avoid the stagnation of the print job and to prevent the color separation of the image and the stamp pattern from being impaired. In addition, by setting whether or not to perform such control, it is possible to perform printing according to usage conditions and needs.

(Example 3)
In the third embodiment, when the remaining amount of toner of the color necessary for the image formation process of the stamp pattern is less than the amount necessary for the image formation process, the toner of a color different from that of the color required for the image formation process of the stamp pattern is used. In this example, a stamp pattern is formed using toner of a predetermined color regardless of the remaining amount of toner.
In this case, the controller 2 performs control so as to perform the operation of FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, first, if there is a print data drawing instruction in step S21, it is checked in step S22 whether or not there is a stamp pattern print instruction. If there is a stamp pattern print instruction, the process proceeds to step S23. If there is no stamp pattern printing instruction, the process proceeds to step S28.
In step S23, it is confirmed whether or not the remaining amount of M toner is less than the amount necessary for the image forming process of the stamp pattern. If the toner is insufficient, the process proceeds to step S24. If the toner is not insufficient, step S27 is performed. Proceed to In step S24, it is confirmed whether or not the setting as to whether or not to perform control by the controller 2 that forms the stamp pattern by changing the toner to be used is made. This is because, when the remaining amount of the color (M) toner necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process is smaller than the amount necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process, the remaining amount of M toner is replaced. The stamp pattern is formed by using the toner of any color that has been specified, regardless of the remaining amount, out of the toner of the color (M) necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process. This function allows you to set whether or not to perform control.
If the setting is ON in step S24, the process proceeds to step S25, and if the setting is OFF, the process proceeds to step S27. In step S25, it is checked whether the color (M) of the plane used by the stamp pattern matches the color of the missing toner (M). If they match, the process proceeds to step S26, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to step S27. Proceed to

In step S26, the plane required for the stamp pattern image forming process is replaced with a plane corresponding to a preset color (K: black) toner (see FIG. 8). In the example of FIG. 8, the color plane used in the stamp pattern is printed with being superimposed on K. However, since it may be dark black when superimposed on K, the stamp pattern to be superimposed with K is superimposed. The number of combined planes is drawn for a few minutes. In step S27, the print data (image) and the stamp pattern bitmap are merged. After step S27 or when there is no instruction to execute stamp pattern printing in step S22, printing is executed in step S28 as shown in FIG.
As described above, in place of the toner that is insufficient in the remaining amount, any specified toner can be used regardless of the remaining amount of toner that is different from the color toner necessary for the stamp pattern image forming process. By controlling the color toner to form the stamp pattern, it is possible to avoid the stagnation of the print job and to prevent the color separation of the image and the stamp pattern from being impaired. In addition, by setting whether or not to perform such control, it is possible to perform printing according to usage conditions and needs.
In the embodiment shown here, the case where toner is used as a colorant for image formation has been described as an example. However, the colorant is not limited to toner, for example, liquid ink or the like May be used.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a laser printer 1. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the printing process of a green text image and a red stamp pattern. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a printing process according to the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a printing process according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a printing process according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Laser Printer, 2 Controller, 3 Host Machine, 4 Operation Panel, 5 Host I / F, 6 Program ROM, 7 Font ROM, 8 Panel I / F, 9 CPU, 10 RAM, 11 NV-RAM, 12 Engine I / F F, 13 Printer engine, 14 Option RAM, 15 Network, 16 Network I / F, 17 HDD

Claims (6)

In an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image or a stamp pattern on a recording paper using a plurality of colorants,
When forming the image and the stamp pattern on the recording paper, if the remaining amount of the colorant necessary for the image formation process of the stamp pattern is less than the amount required for the image formation process of the stamp pattern, An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls to form the stamp pattern using a colorant having a sufficient remaining amount instead of a colorant having a remaining amount.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is possible to set whether to perform control for forming the stamp pattern by changing a colorant to be used.   When changing the colorant used in the image forming process of the stamp pattern, the colorant used in the image forming process of the stamp pattern so that the color of the image and the stamp pattern is different based on the color of the print data of the image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a color is determined.   Coloring used in the image forming process of the stamp pattern by determining the color of the colorant used in the image forming process of the stamp pattern based on the color of the print data of the image so that the color of the image and the stamp pattern are different. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein it is possible to set whether to perform control for changing the agent. In an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image or a stamp pattern on a recording paper using a plurality of colorants,
When forming the image and the stamp pattern on the recording paper, if the remaining amount of the colorant necessary for the image formation process of the stamp pattern is less than the amount required for the image formation process of the stamp pattern, Instead of the colorant having a short remaining amount, a colorant having a color of a specified color is selected regardless of the remaining amount from among the colorants having a color different from the colorant necessary for the image forming process of the stamp pattern. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls to form a stamp pattern using a colorant. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein it is possible to set whether or not to perform control for forming the stamp pattern by changing a colorant to be used.

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