JP2008135805A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which has high productivity by setting replacement intervals of HDDs to a proper time. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus which has a plurality of HDDs and can form a color image has a measuring means of measuring cumulative operation times of the HDDs respectively, and a control means of storing black data to an HDD having the shortest cumulative operation time measured by the measuring means among the HDDs when a monochromatic mode is selected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of HDDs.

  Conventionally, 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is used as a storage means for various devices, in which a magnetic disk is rotated by a motor and data is stored and read by a magnetic head.

  The HDD is provided with a bearing for rotating the magnetic disk by a motor, and the bearing portion is worn as the magnetic disk rotates. For this reason, failure due to wear of the bearing portion may occur, and the HDD is considered as one of consumable parts.

  In general, the HDD has a guaranteed life of 20,000 hours when the operation is repeated for less than 8 hours.

  Small 2.5-inch HDDs generally adopt an L / U (load / unload) system that repeats operation / retraction every time the magnetic head is accessed, and L / U (load / unload). ) Type HDD is recommended to be operated / retracted about 300,000 times for a life of 20000 hours due to deterioration associated with operation / retraction of the magnetic head.

  That is, it is recommended that the average continuous rotation operation time per access is about 4 minutes (20000 hours / 300,000 times = 4 minutes).

  In addition, since conventional image forming apparatuses are resistant to impact and are small in size, L / U type HDDs are often employed, and digital image data is L / U type HDDs having the characteristics described above. I remembered.

In a color image forming apparatus that processes a color image, a plurality of (for example, four units corresponding to Y, M, C, and K colors) HDDs are provided, and image data of a predetermined color is stored in each HDD. There was a thing (for example, refer to patent documents 1).
JP 2005-260905 A

  However, when comparing a monochrome image with a color image, there are many opportunities to print a monochrome image, and in the image processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, there are many opportunities to store image data in a specific HDD, for example, corresponding to K color. Become.

  When monochrome images are often printed as described above, the accumulated operation time of the HDD corresponding to K color is longer than that of the HDD corresponding to non-K color, and the deterioration of the HDD corresponding to K color is described above. It was necessary to exchange it in a short time.

  Further, the continuous operation time of the HDD corresponding to the K color becomes long (for example, 4 minutes or more), and in the case of the L / U type HDD, there is a possibility of promoting the deterioration of the HDD from the viewpoint of the operation / retraction of the magnetic head. was there.

  As described above, the invention described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that HDD replacement takes a short time, and the stop time of the image processing apparatus becomes long, which may reduce the productivity of the image processing apparatus. was there.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with high productivity by setting an HDD replacement interval to an appropriate time.

  The operation of the HDD refers to the state where the motor that drives at least the magnetic disk for recording information is rotating, and the continuous operation refers to the period from when the magnetic disk starts to rotate due to access until the magnetic disk ends when the access ends. .

1. In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of HDDs and capable of forming a color image,
Measuring means for measuring the accumulated operating time of each of the HDDs, and control means for storing black data in the HDD having the smallest accumulated operating time measured by the measuring means among the HDDs when the monochrome mode is selected An image forming apparatus comprising:

  2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1, further comprising conversion means for converting the image data of each color into the black data of black.

  3. Among the plurality of jobs, the black data of the first job converted by the conversion unit is stored in the HDD having the shortest cumulative operation time, and the black data of the second job converted by the conversion unit is stored in the HDD. 3. The image forming apparatus according to item 1 or 2, further comprising the control unit that stores the black data sequentially in the same manner in the HDD that has the second smallest cumulative operation time.

  4). The system has continuous operation time measuring means for measuring each continuous operation time of the HDD, and when the measured continuous operation time exceeds a predetermined time, the data storage or data reading to the HDD exceeding the predetermined time is stopped. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the control unit that continues data storage or data reading to another HDD.

  5. 5. The image forming apparatus according to 4, wherein the other HDD is an HDD having a shorter cumulative operation time than an HDD that is storing or reading data.

  6). The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 5, wherein the HDD is a load / unload type HDD.

  7. The control unit calculates the job information amount from the job image information, and determines the storage order of the black data in the HDD based on the job information amount, the cumulative operation time of each HDD, and the predetermined time. The image forming apparatus as described in any one of 1 to 6 above.

  8). 8. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cumulative operating time is a sum of a cumulative operating time when information is recorded and a cumulative operating time when information is read.

  In the monochrome mode, storing the K color data in the HDD having the smallest cumulative operating time reduces the increase in the cumulative operating time of a specific HDD and improves the averaging of the cumulative operating time of a plurality of HDDs. Is possible. In addition, by switching the HDDs one after another without continuously operating for a predetermined time or longer, it is possible to suppress deterioration concentration related to the operation / retraction of the magnetic head of a specific HDD and to achieve uniformization. Maintenance time as a forming apparatus becomes longer and productivity is improved.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the structure of this invention is not limited to the following embodiment, It can change suitably in the technical scope of this invention.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention only needs to have a plurality of HDDs and can form an image on a recording material. For example, a copying machine, a multi-function peripheral (MFP), a printer, a FAX, and the like can be used. Can be mentioned.

  Hereinafter, a tandem type full-color copier having a plurality of HDDs and processing color images will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus.

  A case where a color image is formed will be described with reference to FIG.

  A tandem type full-color copying machine 1 as an example of an image forming apparatus includes a document image reading unit 10, a document transport unit 20, an image forming unit 30, a sheet feeding unit 40, a fixing device 50, and a sheet that stores a fixed recording material. And a stacking tray 60.

  Examples of the recording medium used in the image forming apparatus include paper and an OHP sheet. Hereinafter, the recording medium is referred to as paper.

  An original image reading unit 10 and an original conveying unit 20 are arranged above the image forming unit 30 that forms an image. An image of the original d conveyed by the original conveying unit 20 is an original image reading unit 10. The image is formed on the line image sensor CCD by the optical system and read.

  The analog signal photoelectrically converted by the line image sensor CCD is subjected to analog processing, A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing, and the like in the image processing unit 804, and Y (yellow), M (magenta), C ( Digital image data Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk for each color of cyan and K (black).

  The digital image data Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk for each color are stored in HDDs, which will be described later, corresponding to the digital image data for each color.

  A drum-shaped photosensitive member (hereinafter also referred to as a photosensitive member) 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K corresponding to each color of Y, M, C, and K is a charging device 2Y, 2M, It is uniformly charged by 2C and 2K.

  The exposure apparatuses 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K corresponding to each color have laser diodes LD1 (LDy), LD2 (LDm), LD3 (LDc), and LD4 (LDk) that perform exposure for each color, and perform exposure for each color. Laser diodes LDy, LDm, LDc, and LDk to be formed form latent images on the photoreceptors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K based on digital image data Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk for each color stored in the HDD, which will be described later. .

  Each color toner is supplied to the developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K from the toner supply devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K for each color that supplies new toner, and the colors formed on the photoreceptors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. The latent image corresponding to is visualized with toner.

  The developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K are arranged in a vertical column, and can be rotated by winding rollers 71, 72, 73, and 74 on the left side of the photoreceptors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K in the drawing. An intermediate transfer member 70, which is a semiconductive endless belt-like second image carrier stretched between the two, is disposed.

  The intermediate transfer member 70 is driven in the direction of the arrow by a driving device (not shown) connected to the roller 71 by a roller 71.

  The primary transfer rollers 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K corresponding to the respective colors as the primary transfer unit are selectively operated according to the type of image by a control unit (not shown), and the corresponding photoreceptors 1Y, 1M, and 1C are respectively associated. The intermediate transfer member 70 is pressed to 1K.

  Thus, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoreceptors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K by the developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K are rotated by the primary transfer rollers 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K. The images are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 70 to form a combined color image.

  After the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 70 by the primary transfer rollers 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K, the residual toner is removed from the photosensitive members 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K by the cleaning units 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K. The

  The photosensitive members 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, the charging devices 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, the exposure devices 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K, and the toner replenishing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K related to image formation. Developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K and primary transfer rollers 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, cleaning means 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K, intermediate transfer body 70, rollers 71, 72, 73, 74 and secondary transfer. The roller 75 and the cleaning unit 77 are also referred to as an image forming unit 30.

  The paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 401 is fed by a paper feed roller 4011 and passes through a plurality of intermediate rollers 42, 43, 44, 45, etc. and a registration roller 46, and is subjected to secondary transfer as secondary transfer means. The toner image is conveyed to the roller unit, and the combined toner image on the intermediate transfer member is collectively transferred onto the sheet by the secondary transfer roller 75.

  The secondary transfer roller 75 presses the intermediate transfer body 70 and the sheet against the roller 72 only when the sheet passes through the secondary transfer roller 75 and the secondary transfer is performed.

  The sheet on which the color image has been transferred is subjected to a fixing process by a fixing device 50 having a heating roller 61 on the image surface side and a pressure roller 62 on the non-image surface side.

  Then, the fixed paper is sandwiched between the paper discharge rollers 76, discharged from the discharge port 26, and stacked on the paper stacking tray 60.

  On the other hand, after the color image is transferred onto the sheet by the secondary transfer roller 75, the residual toner is removed by the cleaning unit 77 from the intermediate transfer body 70 obtained by separating the curvature of the sheet.

  The operation panel 90 is composed of a touch panel or the like and displays various information and various input keys. For example, mode selection information by pressing a monochrome mode key or a color mode key is input to the control means 80.

  The control means 80 controls the tandem type full color copying machine 1 as described above.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus.

  The control unit 80 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 801, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 802, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 803, an image processing unit 804, an operation panel 90, a document image reading unit 10, and document conveyance. An I / O controller 805 for controlling the unit 20, the image forming unit 30, the paper feeding unit 40, the fixing device 50, and the communication unit 81 under the control of the CPU 801, a bus 806 for interconnecting them, and an image processing unit Based on the control of the image processing unit 804, the LD selector 807 that switches the laser diode to be exposed among the plurality of laser diodes LD1 (LDy), LD2 (LDm), LD3 (LDc), and LD4 (LDk). The digital image data Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk for each color. Of HDD 1, HDD 2, HDD 3, and a HDD selector 808, to switch either stored in which HDD of HDD 4.

  The ROM 803 stores a program for controlling the entire image forming apparatus in advance, and the CPU 801 reads the program into the RAM 802 to control the image forming apparatus.

  The operation panel 90 displays various operation screens via the source I / O controller 805 controlled by the control unit 80, and operation information selected on the operation screen (selection information of various keys) is input to the control unit 80. The

  The operation panel 90 also functions as a mode selection unit that selects a monochrome mode and a color mode, and a tray selection unit that selects a paper feed tray for feeding paper.

  When the document image reading instruction information is input from the operation panel 90, the document image reading unit 10 starts from the document conveyed by the document conveying unit 20 via the I / O controller 805 under the control of the control unit 80. The image is read and input to the control means 80 as analog original image information of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) colors.

  Then, when the color mode is selected, the control unit 80 causes the image processing unit 804 to process the read analog original image information of each color into the digital image data Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk for each color, as described above. The data is stored in the corresponding HDD by the HD selector 808.

  When the monochrome mode is selected, the read analog original image information of each color is processed by the image processing unit 804 to obtain black digital image data Dk.

  The communication unit 81 is connected to an external PC (personal computer), an image forming apparatus, a server, etc. 812 via a network 811 or the like, and these and the digital image via a communication control unit (not shown) under the control of the control unit 80. Send and receive information such as data.

  The control means 80 stores the received digital image data in a predetermined HDD by the HD selector 808 described above.

  The image forming unit 30 forms a toner image on the photosensitive member by a corresponding laser diode based on the digital image data read from the HDD via the original I / O controller 805 controlled by the control unit 80.

  Then, the toner image is transferred onto a sheet fed from the following sheet feeding unit.

  The paper feed unit 40 feeds paper from a predetermined paper feed cassette based on the paper feed cassette information input from the operation panel 90 via the source I / O controller 805 controlled by the control means 80.

  The fixing device 50 adjusts the temperature of the heating roller 61 via the original I / O controller 805 controlled by the control unit 80 to fix the toner image.

  The sheet stacking tray 60 moves up and down to a position where the discharged sheets are easily stacked via the original I / O controller 805 controlled by the control means 80.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the flow of image data when a color image is formed.

  The original image is read by the line image sensor CCD, and analog B, G, R image data DAb, DAg, DAr are output. An AFE (Analog Front End) performs A / D conversion, converts it into digital image data DDb, DDg, DAr of each color of B, G, R, and inputs them to the image processing unit 804.

  When color mode selection information is input from the operation panel 90, the image processing unit 804 performs shading correction on the image data DDb, DDg, DAr for each color and then digital image data D1y for each color. , D1m, D1c, D1k, digital image data for each color is subjected to image compression processing, etc., and digital image data D2y, D2m, D2c, D2k for each color that has undergone image compression processing is generated. ,Output.

  Which color data is stored in which HDD among the plurality of HDDs (for example, Y color digital image data D2y is stored in HDD1, M digital image data D2m is stored in HDD2, and C digital image is stored in HDD3) Data D2c and K4 digital image data D2k are stored in the HDD 4).

  Under the control of the CPU 801, the image processing unit 804 controls the HDD selector 808 to store the digital image data D2y in the HDD1, the digital image data D2m in the HDD2, the digital image data D2c in the HDD3, and the digital image data D2k in the HDD4. Store.

  At the time of image formation, the image processing unit 804 controls the HDD selector 808 under the control of the CPU 801 to read the digital image data D2y from the HDD1, read the digital image data D2m from the HDD2, and read the digital image data D2c from the HDD3. The digital image data D2k is read from the read HDD 4.

  Then, under the control of the control unit 80, the image processing unit 804 decompresses the digital image data D2y, D2m, D2c, and D2k for each color read from the HDD.

  Then, the image processing unit 804 controls the LD selector 807, and laser diodes LD1 (LDy), LD2 (LDm), and LD3 (LDc) corresponding to the decompressed digital image data D3y, D3m, D3c, and D3k for each color. , LD4 (LDk) is selected.

  The control unit 80 emits corresponding laser diodes LDy, LDm, LDc, and LDk according to the digital image data D3y, D3m, D3c, and D3k for each color, and forms latent images on the photoreceptors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. Let

  As described above, when the color mode is selected, a color image can be formed.

  When printing of a plurality of copies is selected on the operation panel, the time for reading image information from the HDD at the time of printing is required for a plurality of times when printing one copy.

  For this reason, the CPU 801 calculates a plurality of times of storing and reading (the number of sheets constituting a job × image information reading time per sheet × the number of copies), and if the calculation result exceeds a predetermined time, a plurality of [ (Job composition number × image information reading time per sheet × number of copies) / predetermined time] is stored in a divided manner for a predetermined time, and image information is sequentially read from a plurality of HDDs when reading (printing) image information. Is read.

  As described above, even when the number of print copies is large and the readout time is long, the image information is stored in a plurality of HDDs each time the predetermined time is exceeded, and the continuous operation time per unit is kept within the predetermined time by sequentially reading the image information. It is possible to reduce the maintenance time of the plurality of HDDs, shorten the maintenance time as the image forming apparatus, and improve the productivity.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow of first image data when a monochrome image is formed.

  First, a case where an HDD that stores image information is determined based on the accumulated operation time of the HDD will be described.

  The cumulative operating time of the HDD indicates the sum of the cumulative operating time at the time of recording information and the cumulative operating time at the time of reading information.

  The original image is read by the line image sensor CCD, and analog B, G, R image data DAb, DAg, DAr are output. AFE (Analog Front End) performs A / D conversion, converts it into digital B, G, and R color image data DDb, DDg, DAr, and inputs them to the image processing unit 804.

  When monochrome mode selection information is input from the operation panel 90, the image processing unit 804 performs shading correction or the like on the image data DDb, DDg, DAr for each color.

  Then, the image processing unit 804 converts the image data DDb, DDg, DAr into black digital image data D1K, performs image compression processing, etc. on the black digital image data D1K, and has undergone image compression processing, etc. Digital image data D2K is generated and output.

  The CPU 801 of the control unit 80 measures the accumulated operation time of each of the plurality of HDDs (HDD1, HDD2, HDD3, HDD4).

  Then, it is determined that the black digital image data D2K is stored in the HDD having the shortest cumulative operating time among the cumulative operating times t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the plurality of HDDs (HDD1, HDD2, HDD3, and HDD4). To do.

  For example, if the cumulative operation time t at a certain time is t1 = 1.5 hours, t2 = 2 hours, t3 = 0.5 hours, and t4 = 1.0 hours, the shortest cumulative operation time (t3: 0.5 hours) Deciding to store in HDD3.

  Under the control of the CPU 801, the image processing unit 804 controls the HDD selector 808 to store the black digital image data D2K ′ in the HDD (for example, HDD 3) having the shortest accumulated operation time.

  Here, the CPU 801 stores in the RAM 802 which HDD stores the black digital image data D2K ′.

  At the time of image formation, the image processing unit 804 reads to which HDD the black digital image data D2K ′ is stored (for example, HDD3) from the RAM 802 under the control of the CPU 801. Next, under the control of the CPU 801, the image processing unit 804 reads the black digital image data from the HDD (eg, HDD 3) storing the black digital image data D2K ′ by controlling the HDD selector 808.

  Note that the cumulative operating time of the HDD is also measured when reading black digital image data.

  Then, under the control of the control unit 80, the image processing unit 804 decompresses the black digital image data D2K '.

  Then, the image processing unit 804 controls the LD selector 807 to select the laser diode LD4 (LDk) corresponding to the decompressed black digital image data D3k ′.

  The control unit 80 causes the corresponding laser diode LDk to emit light in accordance with the black digital image data D3k ', thereby forming a latent image on the photoconductor 1K.

  The next (for example, second) image data is stored in an HDD (for example, the second) having the next shortest accumulated operation time.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the flow of second image data when a monochrome image is formed.

  Next, when a U / L (load / unload) type HDD is used as a storage unit for storing image information, a case where the HDD for storing image information is switched based on the continuous operation time of the HDD will be described.

  Conventionally, in the U / L (load / unload) type HDD, as described above, the deterioration related to the operation / retraction of the magnetic head has occurred, and the recommended value for use is about 300,000 times for the life of 20000 hours. Operation / retraction of is set.

  Therefore, since the average continuous operation time per access is about 4 minutes [20,000 hours / 300,000 times], the following description will be made assuming that the predetermined value is 4 minutes as the limit of the continuous operation time.

  The CPU 801 of the control means 80 stores the black digital image data D2K ′ and measures the continuous operation times t1 ′, t2 ′, t3 ′, and t4 ′ of the plurality of HDDs (HDD1, HDD2, HDD3, and HDD4). .

  If any of the continuous operation times t1 ′, t2 ′, t3 ′, and t4 ′ of the plurality of HDDs (HDD1, HDD2, HDD3, and HDD4) exceeds a predetermined continuous operation time, the black digital image data D2K ′ Suspend storage. Then, the HDD selector 808 is controlled to switch to the HDD having the shortest continuous operation time, and the storage of the black digital image data D2K ′ is continued / resumed.

  Hereinafter, until the storage of the black digital image data D2K is completed, every time the continuous operation time exceeds a predetermined continuous operation time, the HDD is switched to the HDD with the shortest continuous operation time at that time. Continue storing.

  For example, the continuous operation times t ′ of HDD1, HDD2, HDD3, and HDD4 at a certain point in time are t1 ′ = 1.5 minutes, t2 ′ = 2.5 minutes, t3 ′ = 3.5 minutes, t4 ′ = 1. If it is 0 minutes, the digital image data D2K ′ is stored by switching to the HDD 4 with the shortest continuous operation time (t4: 1.0 minute).

  Here, the CPU 801 stores in the RAM 802 the order in which the black digital image data D2K ′ is divided and stored in which HDD.

  At the time of image formation, the image processing unit 804 reads from the RAM 802 which black digital image data D2K ′ is divided and stored in which HDD and in what order under the control of the CPU 801.

  Next, the image processing unit 804 controls the HDD selector 808 to read the black digital image data stored first from the first stored HDD, and then stores the black stored second from the second stored HDD. The digital image data is read out, and all the digital image data D2K ′ are read out repeatedly in order.

  Then, under the control of the control unit 80, the image processing unit 804 decompresses all the digital image data D2K 'subjected to the image compression processing.

  Then, the image processing unit 804 controls the LD selector 807 to select the laser diode LD4 (LDk) corresponding to the decompressed black digital image data D3k ′.

  The control unit 80 causes the corresponding laser diode LD4 (LDk) to emit light according to the black digital image data D3k ', thereby forming a latent image on the photoconductor 1K.

  Note that the control for switching the HDD that stores the image information based on the continuous operation time of the HDD described with reference to FIG. 5 is performed by controlling the HDD that stores the image information based on the cumulative operation time of the HDD described with reference to FIG. Although it is preferable to perform in addition to the control to be determined, it may be performed independently.

  The control shown in the following flowchart is performed by the control means 80.

  FIG. 6 is a first flowchart for forming a monochrome image.

  A case where the HDD that stores the image information is determined based on the accumulated operation time of the HDD will be described.

  1. The processing time of input data is calculated based on a set of image data (job image data) obtained from the document image reading unit 10 or the communication means 81 and the number of copies of job image data input from the operation panel 90.

  Specifically, the image information amount of the job, which is the product of the job image data and the number of copies, is calculated, the image information amount of the job is divided by the data read amount per unit time, and the processing time of the input data is calculated (Step S101).

  2. Monitor the operation panel 90 to check whether the monochrome mode is selected. If the monochrome mode is selected (yes), the process proceeds to the next step in order to measure the accumulated operation time, and if not, the process jumps to step S111 (step S102).

  3. Monitor the access status of each HDD to determine whether it is operating or not, and measure the operating time of each HDD. The accumulated operation time for each HDD is measured by adding the measured operation time to the accumulated operation time before operation.

  Note that the accumulated operation time is measured from the storage time when storing data, and from the read time when reading data (step S103).

  4. The order in which HDDs are used is determined in the order of shorter cumulative operating time (step S104).

  5. Select the HDD with the shortest cumulative operating time, store the job image data captured in step S101 in the HDD with the shortest cumulative operating time, and measure the storage time of the job image data. When reading, the time spent for reading is measured (step S105).

  6. The storage time of the job image data performed in step S105 is added to the cumulative operation time measured in step S103, and the cumulative operation time of the HDD having the shortest cumulative operation time is updated. In the case of reading, the time spent for reading is accumulated and updated (step S106).

  7. Check whether all the reserved jobs have been processed, and if completed (yes), jump to the end, otherwise go to step S108 to process the next job (step S107).

  8. The second job image data fetched in step S101 is stored in the HDD having the second shortest accumulated operation time determined in step S104, and the storage time of the job image data is measured. In the case of reading, the time spent for reading is measured (step S108).

  9. Since step S109 is the same as step S106, description thereof is omitted (step S109).

  10. Check whether all the reserved jobs have been processed, and if completed (yes), jump to the end, otherwise jump to step S108 to process the next job (step S110).

  11. When the color mode is determined and the color printing is performed, the operation time of each HDD corresponding to each color is measured, and the accumulated operation time of each HDD is updated with the measured operation time (step S111).

  As described above, the first digital image data flow described in FIG. 4 or the flow described in FIG. 6 makes it possible to store black digital image data in the HDD having the shortest accumulated operation time, and the accumulation of a specific HDD. It is possible to reduce the increase in the operation time, improve the averaging of the accumulated operation time of the plurality of HDDs, shorten the maintenance time as the image forming apparatus, and improve the productivity.

  FIG. 7 is a second flowchart for forming a monochrome image.

  A case will be described in which an HDD that stores image information is determined based on the cumulative operation time and continuous operation time of the HDD.

  1. Since step S201 is the same as step S101, description thereof is omitted (step S201).

  2. Step S202 is the same as step S102, and thus the description thereof is omitted (step S202).

  3. Since step S203 is the same as step S103, description thereof is omitted (step S203).

  4. Since step S204 is the same as step S104, description thereof is omitted (step S204).

  5. Since step S205 is the same as step S105, description thereof is omitted (step S205).

  6. It is determined whether or not the storage time of the job image data performed in step S205 has passed a predetermined time (for example, 4 minutes). If the storage time is, for example, 4 minutes or less (no), the next step is to store image data further. If, for example, 4 minutes have passed (yes), the process jumps to step S208. When reading, the time spent for reading is measured (step S206).

  7. The storage time of the job image data is added to the cumulative operation time of the HDD that is being used. When reading, the time spent for reading is added (step S207).

  8. Stop storing the job image data in the used HDD (the HDD with the shortest cumulative operating time selected in step S205), and use the storage time (read time) of, for example, 4 minutes. The cumulative operating time is added and updated (step S208).

  9. The job image data is continuously and restarted and stored in the HDD having the second shortest accumulated operating time determined in step S204, and the storage time of the job image data is measured. When reading, the time spent for reading is measured (step S209).

  10. Determine whether or not the storage time of the job image data measured in step S209 has passed, for example, 4 minutes. If it is 4 minutes or less (no), for example, the process proceeds to the next step to store the image data. For example, if 4 minutes have elapsed (yes), the process jumps to step S212. In the case of reading, the time spent for reading is determined (step S210).

  11 and step S211 are the same as step S207, and the description thereof is omitted (step S211).

  12. Check whether or not all job image data has been processed, and if completed (Yes), jump to the end, otherwise jump to step S209 to store in the next HDD (step S212) ).

  13. When the color mode is determined and the color printing is performed, the operation time of each HDD corresponding to each color is measured, and the accumulated operation time of each HDD is updated with the measured operation time. (Step S213).

  As described above, when the continuous operation time has passed the predetermined time in the monochrome mode according to the flow of the second image data described with reference to FIG. 5 or the flow described with reference to FIG. By storing, it is possible to reduce an increase in the cumulative operation time of a specific HDD, reduce failures associated with continuous operation, shorten maintenance time as an image forming apparatus, and improve productivity.

As another method for determining the storage order of black data,
1. In step S201 described above, the input data is determined based on the batch of image data (job image data) obtained from the document image reading unit 10 or the communication unit 81 and the number of copies of job image data input from the operation panel 90. Calculate the processing time (printing time) (calculate the amount of job information),
2. In step S204, the order of storing the black data in the HDD is determined based on the information amount of the job image data, the accumulated operating time of each HDD, and a predetermined time (for example, 4 minutes).

  Specifically, when determining the storage order of black data, if the calculated value of the job information amount considering the read time of job image data at the time of printing exceeds a predetermined time (for example, 4 minutes), the accumulation of each HDD The order in which the HDDs are used is determined in the order of shorter operating time.

  Note that the order in which the HDDs are used may be initially determined in the order in which the cumulative operation time of each HDD is short, and thereafter, the order in which the HDDs are to be used in the order in which the continuous operation time is short.

  3. In step S205 to step S213, the HDD is successively switched every time a predetermined time (for example, 4 minutes) is exceeded, and the black data is continuously stored.

  When image formation is performed, black data is read from the HDD in accordance with the order of use of the HDD determined in step S204, and exposure is performed with a laser diode.

  As described above, in the case of printing a plurality of copies, the same black data must be read a plurality of times, thereby reducing the problem of extending the continuous operation time, reducing the increase in the cumulative operation time of a specific HDD, and failure related to continuous operation As a result, the maintenance time of the image forming apparatus is shortened, and the productivity can be improved.

1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure explaining the flow of the image data in the case of forming a color image. It is a figure explaining the flow of the 1st image data in the case of forming a black image. It is a figure explaining the flow of the 2nd image data in the case of forming a monochrome image. It is a 1st flowchart in the case of forming a monochrome image. It is a 2nd flowchart in the case of forming a monochrome image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tandem type full color copying machine 80 Control means 90 Operation panel 801 CPU
802 RAM
803 ROM
804 Image processing unit 805 I / O controller 807 LD selector 808 HDD selector Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk Digital image data LD1 (LDy), LD2 (LDm), LD3 (LDc), LD4 (LDk) Laser diode HDD1, HDD2, HDD3, HDD4 hard disk

Claims (8)

In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of HDDs and capable of forming a color image,
Measuring means for measuring the accumulated operating time of each of the HDDs, and control means for storing black data in the HDD having the smallest accumulated operating time measured by the measuring means among the HDDs when the monochrome mode is selected An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising conversion means for converting the image data of each color into the black data of black. Among the plurality of jobs, the black data of the first job converted by the conversion unit is stored in the HDD having the shortest cumulative operation time, and the black data of the second job converted by the conversion unit is stored in the HDD. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: the control unit that stores in the HDD having the second smallest cumulative operation time, and sequentially stores the black data in the same manner. 4. The system has continuous operation time measuring means for measuring each continuous operation time of the HDD, and when the measured continuous operation time exceeds a predetermined time, the data storage or data reading to the HDD exceeding the predetermined time is stopped. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the control unit that continues data storage or data reading to another HDD. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the other HDD is an HDD having a shorter cumulative operation time than an HDD that is storing or reading data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the HDD is a load / unload type HDD. The control unit calculates the job information amount from the job image information, and determines the storage order of the black data in the HDD based on the job information amount, the cumulative operation time of each HDD, and the predetermined time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cumulative operation time is a sum of a cumulative operation time when information is recorded and a cumulative operation time when information is read.

Images