JP2008221699A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor which dispenses with unnecessary operation of pre-processing executed prior to printing, depending on print data, and executes efficient processing. <P>SOLUTION: Upon reception of print data from an outside device, a control section of the image processor analyzes the print data, and starts image processing of image data in the print data. The control section predicts completion timing of the image processing, based on a result of the analysis, and determines printing timing T1. Then the control section determines starting timing T2 of the pre-processing such that completion of the pre-processing coincides with completion timing of the image processing. When the time reaches the starting timing T2, the pre-processing is started, and upon completion of the image processing, the pre-processing is also completed, followed by starting printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that prints an image based on print data input from an external apparatus such as a personal computer.

  In an image processing apparatus including an image forming unit for printing an image, when in a standby state, pre-processing is performed as preparation necessary for printing in the image forming unit before printing is started. Preprocessing includes driving a polygon motor in the laser scanning unit, heating the fixing roller, cleaning and charging the photosensitive drum, stirring the developer, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when print data is input from an external apparatus, the image processing apparatus receives the print data and processes the print data for printing. Also, pre-processing of the image forming unit is started. Even after receiving the print data, the data processing continues. When the data processing ends, printing is started. The preprocessing ends in accordance with the end timing of the data processing.

  In the preprocessing, the time until preparation for printing is completed is substantially constant. If the time required for data processing is long, the image forming unit continues to operate in a state where printing preparation is complete until the data processing is completed. However, this operation is a useless operation, which causes deterioration of members constituting the image forming unit and unnecessarily consumes energy.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 describes that the image forming unit is activated when a predetermined amount of image data for one page is stored in the memory. As a result, printing can be started immediately without waiting for the pre-rotation of the photosensitive drum.
JP-A-5-323708

  As described above, unnecessary operations are reduced by delaying the start timing of the preprocessing. However, if the data processing takes a long time, the preprocessing time also increases accordingly. Unnecessary operations still remain, and it cannot be said that the processing is efficient.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can perform efficient processing by eliminating unnecessary preprocessing.

  The present invention includes an image forming unit that prints an image based on input print data, and a control unit that controls the image forming unit so as to perform pre-processing necessary for printing. The start timing of preprocessing is determined according to the print timing.

  The input print data differs each time depending on the image to be printed and the amount of data. Therefore, the time for processing the print data is different, and the start timing at which printing can be started changes. By determining the start timing of the preprocessing in accordance with the start timing, the preprocessing can be controlled to end immediately before the start of printing. Therefore, unnecessary preprocessing is eliminated.

  Specifically, the control unit analyzes the print data, predicts the print timing, and calculates the start timing from the print timing. When predicting the print timing, the control unit predicts based on the time required for image processing of print data.

  Since printing can be started immediately after the image processing is completed, the start timing of the preprocessing is determined in accordance with the end of the image processing. That is, the control unit determines the start timing so that the end of the pre-processing and the end of the image processing of the print data are simultaneously performed. The image forming unit starts printing in accordance with the end of the preprocessing and the end of the image processing. As a result, the end of the preprocessing and the end of the image processing are simultaneously performed, printing can be started immediately, and efficient processing can be performed.

  When print data is input from an external device, the control unit determines whether the print data includes image data. If the image data is included, the control unit determines a start timing after the input of the print data, and determines the image data. Is not included, the start timing is determined when print data is input.

  The image data included in the print data includes image data and image data other than image data such as characters and graphics. Each image data has a different time required for image processing. Particularly in the case of image data, the amount of data affects image processing. Since the amount of data is known when the input of the print data is completed, in the case of image data, an appropriate decision can be made by determining the start timing at this point.

  The control unit determines the start timing based on the print information included in the print data. The image processing performed on the image data is determined by the print information. That is, the image processing executed based on the print information is different, and the time required for this image processing is also different. Accordingly, the start timing determined in accordance with the print information is different, and the start timing can be determined so as not to cause unnecessary operations.

  In addition, the control unit varies the start timing according to the amount of print data, or varies the start timing between color printing and monochrome printing. In either case, since the time required for image processing is different, the start timing is also different.

  According to the present invention, since the start timing of the preprocessing can be appropriately determined in accordance with the printing timing, unnecessary operations for the preprocessing are eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to perform printing efficiently, reduce the time during which the image processing apparatus operates wastefully, and realize an energy saving image processing apparatus.

  An image processing apparatus of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The image processing apparatus is a multifunction machine that executes a copy mode, a print mode, a scanner mode, and a facsimile mode. The image processing apparatus 2 reads an original and inputs image data into a cabinet 1 and processes the image data. The image forming unit 3 for printing, the storage unit 4 for storing the image data, the communication unit 5 for communicating with the external device, the operation panel 6 for input operation, and the processing unit are controlled, and the image according to the mode And a control unit 7 that executes data processing. The processing unit performs processing to output input image data, and includes the image forming unit 3, the storage unit 4, and the communication unit 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading unit 2 is disposed above the cabinet 1 and includes a scanner unit 10 and an automatic document feeder 11. The automatic document feeder 11 is provided above the scanner unit 10 and automatically conveys a document in order to read image data of the document.

  A document table 12 made of platen glass is provided on the upper surface of the cabinet 1, and a document cover 13 that covers the document table 12 is provided. The automatic document feeder 11 is integrally mounted on the document cover 13. The document cover 13 can be freely opened and closed. When the document cover 13 is in a closed state, the document is conveyed by the automatic document conveyance unit 11. When the document cover 13 is open, the document can be placed on the document table 12. Opening / closing of the document cover 13 is detected by a cover opening / closing sensor. A document size detection sensor for detecting the size of the document placed on the document table 12 is also provided.

  When a document is set on the document set tray 15 of the automatic document feeder 11, the document detection sensor 16 detects that the document has been set. Then, on the operation panel 6, copy conditions such as the size of the recording sheet to be printed and the scaling ratio are input. Thereafter, reading of the image of the document is started by an input operation of the start key.

  In the automatic document feeder 11, each document on the document set tray 15 is pulled out one by one by the pickup roller 17. The document passes through between the separating plate 18 and the transport roller 19 and is sent to the document table 12. The document is transported in the sub-scanning direction on the document table 12 and discharged to the document discharge tray 20. The document discharge tray 20 is provided with a document discharge sensor to detect the presence or absence of a document on the document discharge tray 20.

  The scanner unit 10 includes a first reading unit 21 and a second reading unit 22. A reading area is formed on one side of the document table 12 and passes through the reading area when the document is conveyed on the document table 12. Below the reading area, the first scanning unit 23 of the first reading unit 21 is positioned, and the surface (lower side) of the document is read.

  When the document is transported to the document table 12 by the automatic document transport unit 11, the first scanning unit 23 is moved to the reading position and positioned, and the second scanning unit 24 is also positioned at a predetermined position. The surface of the document is irradiated from below the document table 12 by the exposure lamp of the first scanning unit 23. Reflected light from the document is guided to the imaging lens 25 by the respective reflection mirrors of the first and second scanning units 23 and 24. The reflected light of the document is condensed on the CCD 26 by the imaging lens 25. An image on the surface of the document is formed on the CCD 26. As a result, the image on the surface of the conveyed document is read.

  Further, the second reading unit 22 reads the back surface (upper side surface) of the document. The second reading unit 22 is disposed above the document table 12 and has an LED that irradiates the back side of the document, an exposure lamp array having a fluorescent lamp, a self-focal lens array that collects reflected light of the document for each pixel, and a cell. A contact image sensor (CIS) that photoelectrically converts reflected light from a document received through a fock lens array and outputs an analog image signal is provided. As a result, the image on the back side of the conveyed document is read.

  When a document is placed on the document table 12, the first reading unit 21 reads an image on the surface of the document. The first and second scanning units 23 and 24 move in the sub-scanning direction while maintaining a predetermined speed relationship with each other. The document on the document table 12 is exposed by the first scanning unit 23, and reflected light from the document is guided to the imaging lens 25 by the first and second scanning units 23 and 24. An image of the original is formed on the CCD 26 by the imaging lens 25.

  When the image on one or both sides of the document is read in this way, the image data on one or both sides of the document is input to the control unit 7. The control unit 7 includes an image processing unit 8, and the image processing unit 8 performs various image processes on the image data. This image data is output to the image forming unit 3.

  The image forming unit 3 prints a color image or a monochrome image on a recording sheet based on the input image data. The image forming unit 3 includes a laser scanning unit 30, four image stations 31, an intermediate transfer belt unit 32, a fixing device 33, and a conveying device 34.

  Each image station 31 forms a color image corresponding to each color of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Each image station 31 includes a photosensitive drum 35, a developing device 36, a charging device 37, a cleaning device 38, and a charge eliminating device (not shown).

  The photosensitive drum 35 is rotationally driven in one direction, the cleaning device 38 cleans the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35, and the neutralization device neutralizes the surface of the photosensitive drum 35. The charging device 37 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 35.

  The laser scan unit 30 modulates the laser beam based on the input image data, and repeatedly scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 in the main scanning direction with this laser beam, and the electrostatic latent image is read from the photosensitive drum 35. Form on the surface. The developing device 36 supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 to develop the electrostatic latent image, and forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 32 includes an intermediate transfer belt 40, an intermediate transfer roller 41, a transfer belt cleaning device 42, and a tension mechanism 43. The intermediate transfer belt 41 is disposed above each photosensitive drum 35, is wound around the driving roller 44 and the driven roller 45, and rotates in the direction of arrow B.

  The intermediate transfer roller 41 is disposed to face the photosensitive drum 35 with the intermediate transfer belt 40 interposed therebetween, and a transfer bias voltage is applied thereto. The toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 40 by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner by the intermediate transfer roller 41. The toner images of the respective colors are laminated on the intermediate transfer belt 40, and a combined multi-color toner image is formed.

  The transfer roller 41 is disposed in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer belt 40, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 40 is transferred by the transfer roller 46 to a recording sheet conveyed between the transfer roller 46 and the intermediate transfer belt 40. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 40 is removed by the transfer belt cleaning device 42.

  The toner image transferred to the recording sheet is heated and pressurized by the fixing device 33 and fixed on the recording sheet, and an image is formed on the recording sheet. The recording sheet on which the image is printed in this manner is discharged to a discharge tray 50 provided in the upper part of the cabinet 1.

  The transport device 34 transports the recording sheet from the sheet cassette 51 or the manual feed tray 52 along the transport path 53. The conveyance path 53 passes between the intermediate transfer belt 40 and the transfer roller 46, passes through the fixing device 33, and reaches the discharge tray 50.

  The transport device 34 includes a pickup roller 54, a transport roller 55, a registration roller 56, and a discharge roller 57. The recording sheets in the sheet cassette 51 or the manual feed tray 52 are sent one by one to the transport path 53, transported through the transport path 53, and discharged to the discharge tray 50. During the conveyance of the recording sheet, an image is printed on the recording sheet. In addition, a switchback conveyance path 58 is provided for duplex printing. The recording sheet after fixing passes through the switchback conveyance path 58 by the conveyance roller 55 and is conveyed between the intermediate transfer belt 40 and the transfer roller 46. The recording sheet printed on both sides passes through the fixing device 33 and is discharged to the discharge tray 50.

  The operation panel 6 is provided in the scanner unit 10 and includes an operation unit 60 and a display unit 61. The operation unit 60 includes various operation keys. The display unit 61 includes a liquid crystal display and is a touch panel. Touch keys are formed in the operation screen displayed on the display unit 61, and these also function as operation keys.

  The communication unit 5 includes a communication interface, and the communication interface is connected to a network such as a LAN or a WAN. A plurality of external devices are connected to the network. The external device is another image processing device, an information processing device such as a personal computer, or a server. The network is connected to the Internet from a router through a communication line such as a telephone line or an optical fiber. The communication unit 5 can communicate with an external device through a network using a predetermined communication protocol. The image processing apparatuses can also communicate with each other. Communication within the network may be wired or wireless. An image processing system is formed by these image processing devices and external devices.

  The communication unit 5 includes a modem device. A telephone line is connected to the modem device. The image processing apparatus can perform facsimile communication. The image processing apparatus can also perform data communication by Internet facsimile through a network. Furthermore, the communication unit 5 includes a communication terminal and a communication card for wireless communication. A storage medium such as a USB memory or an IC card is connected to the communication terminal, and the communication unit 5 transmits / receives data to / from the storage medium. In addition, data is transmitted and received by wireless communication with a communication terminal such as a mobile phone or PDA through a communication card.

  The information processing apparatus has a printer driver. The printer driver creates print data by PDL (Page Description Language) based on the created image data. Then, it outputs the print data to the image processing apparatus. The print data includes set print information related to printing together with image data.

  The storage unit 4 includes a hard disk device. The storage unit 4 stores image data input from the image reading unit 2 or image data input from the communication unit 5. The input image data is temporarily stored in an image memory such as a DRAM, subjected to image processing and encryption processing, and then transferred from the image memory to the storage unit 4. Further, when image data is read from the storage unit 4, the image data is subjected to image processing and decoding processing and stored in an image memory. Thereafter, the image data is output to the outside by printing, data transmission, and facsimile communication according to the processing to be executed.

  The storage unit 4 includes a management table 62, and information necessary for operating the image processing apparatus such as control information, setting information, and user authentication information of the image processing apparatus is stored in the management table 62. When these pieces of information are created and changed, the information in the management table 62 is updated. The management table 62 may be provided in a non-volatile memory different from the storage unit 4.

  The control unit 7 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU reads a control program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executes the control program. Each unit operates according to the control program. When image data is input from an input unit such as the image reading unit 2 or the communication unit 5, based on input information from the operation unit 60 or processing information input from an external device, a print mode, a copy mode, a scanner mode, a facsimile One of the modes is executed. In addition, the control program includes a browser and mail software, and the control unit 7 performs data communication with an external device or transmits / receives e-mails using a communication protocol such as TCP / IP protocol.

  The control unit 7 temporarily stores the input image data in the storage unit 4 when performing each mode. Further, the control unit 7 executes a filing mode in which the input image data is stored in the storage unit 4 and managed. The stored image data is re-output according to the instructed process.

  The output image data is erased from the storage unit 4 according to an instruction from the control unit 7. At the time of this erasure, the image data is invalidated so that it cannot be restored by overwriting the image data with random data. In this way, invalidation of image data is prevented by performing invalidation processing and further encryption processing.

  In the image processing apparatus, when image data is printed, preprocessing necessary for printing is performed when the image forming unit 3 is in a standby state. Thereby, the warming up of each member constituting the image forming unit 3 is performed. When the preprocessing is completed, the image forming unit 3 can print.

  The control unit 7 controls the image forming unit 3 to perform preprocessing at a predetermined timing when print data is input from an external device. This print data is print data transmitted from the information processing apparatus or print data transmitted from a facsimile machine.

  The control unit 7 analyzes the input print data, and the image processing unit 8 performs image processing on the image data included in the print data according to the analysis result. For example, in the print data from the information processing apparatus, the image data is processed according to the print information to create bitmap data. In the print data received from the facsimile machine, the encoded image data is decoded to create image data for printing.

  At this time, the control unit 7 predicts the time required for image processing based on the print data, and determines the print timing for starting printing. The print timing is synchronized with the end timing at which the image processing ends. Then, the control unit 7 determines the start timing of the preprocessing so that the end of the preprocessing is synchronized with the end of the image processing. Since the time required for the preprocessing is a fixed time, the start timing is a fixed time before the printing timing. Note that the time required for the pretreatment varies depending on the environment such as temperature and humidity and the period of the standby state, but a fixed time is set in consideration of these effects.

  The procedure for performing the preprocessing will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the information processing apparatus performs printing based on the print data created by PDL. The image processing apparatus receives print data from the information processing apparatus (S1). When the print data is input, the control unit 7 immediately analyzes the print data and acquires the type of image data and the print information included in the print data (S2). As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 7 performs image processing on image data in parallel with reception of print data.

  Based on the analysis result, the control unit 7 determines whether the image data is image data (S3). Image data includes image data, character data, and graphic data. In the print data, commands and data are created according to the type of image data. Therefore, the type of image data can be determined by analyzing the print data. If image data, character data, or the like is mixed, the control unit 7 determines that the image data.

  When the image data is character data or graphic data, the control unit 7 performs an operation for determining the timing immediately after determining the image data. First, the end timing of image processing is predicted based on the print information of the print data, and the print timing T1 is determined. Then, the preprocessing start timing T2 is calculated from the printing timing T1 (S4). Thus, a predetermined time from the time when the print data is received to the start timing T2 is determined.

  When the predetermined time has elapsed (S5), the control unit 7 controls the image forming unit 3 to start preprocessing (S6). When the image processing is finished, the preprocessing is finished almost simultaneously (S7). The image forming unit 3 starts printing (S8).

  When the image data is image data, as shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 7 waits for the completion of reception of the print data without determining the start timing when the print data is received. When the reception is completed (S9), the control unit 7 performs an operation for determining the timing, determines the printing timing T1 in the same manner as described above, and calculates the start timing T2 (S4). A predetermined time from the time when reception of print data is completed to the start timing T2 is determined, and when the predetermined time elapses (S5), pre-processing starts (S6).

  As described above, when the image data is image data, the time required for image processing varies depending on the data amount. Therefore, the end timing of image processing cannot be predicted unless the data amount is known. When the reception of print data is completed and the amount of data is determined, the end timing can be predicted. That is, the start timing varies depending on the data amount. As the amount of data increases, the end timing of image processing is delayed and the start timing is delayed.

  On the other hand, in the case of character data or graphic data, the time required for image processing is shorter than that of image data. If the image processing times are the same, the amount of image data other than image data is larger than the amount of image data. Therefore, the start timing differs between image data other than image data and image data. In the case of image data other than image data, the start timing is earlier than in the case of image data.

  Also, the image processing time varies depending on whether the image data is a color image or a monochrome image. The image processing time for a color image is longer than that for a black and white image. Therefore, the start timing differs depending on whether color printing or monochrome printing. In the case of color printing, the start timing is later than in the case of monochrome printing.

  Further, the print information of the print data includes commands such as N-up, single-side / double-side, and enlargement / reduction. Image processing is performed based on such print information. Therefore, the image processing time varies depending on the instructed print information, and the start timing also varies.

  As described above, by determining the start timing of the preprocessing, it is possible to eliminate the time lag between the end of the image processing for the print data and the end of the preprocessing. When the preprocessing is completed, printing is started immediately. can do. Therefore, unnecessary preprocessing is eliminated, and printing processing can be performed efficiently.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. Even when the image processing apparatus receives print data by facsimile communication and prints it, the start timing of pre-processing is determined according to the print data.

Control block diagram of image processing apparatus of the present invention The figure which shows the schematic whole structure of an image processing apparatus Flow chart showing operations from data reception to printing start Time chart from data reception to printing start for image data other than image data Time chart from data reception to printing start when image data is image data Conventional time chart from data reception to printing start

Explanation of symbols

2 image reading unit 3 image forming unit 4 storage unit 5 communication unit 6 operation panel 7 control unit 8 image processing unit

Claims (8)

An image forming unit that prints an image based on input print data, and a control unit that controls the image forming unit to perform pre-processing necessary for printing, the control unit according to the print timing of the image An image processing apparatus characterized by determining a start timing of preprocessing. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit analyzes the print data, predicts a print timing, and calculates a start timing from the print timing. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit predicts a print timing from a time required for image processing of the print data. When print data is input from an external device, the control unit determines whether the print data includes image data. If the image data is included, the control unit determines a start timing after the input of the print data, and determines the image data. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the print data is not included, the start timing is determined when the print data is input. The control unit determines the start timing so that the end of the preprocessing and the end of the image processing of the print data are simultaneous, and the image forming unit starts printing in accordance with the end of the preprocessing and the end of the image processing. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit determines a start timing based on print information included in the print data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit varies the start timing according to the data amount of the print data. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit varies the start timing between color printing and monochrome printing.

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