JP2009020176A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten execution time for one job and to place papers on a paper ejection tray in a state of arranging pages in order when a plurality of pages different in image forming conditions are mixed in one job. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a control part 110 for executing image formation with priority for a page group other than the page group where there are most pages same in image forming conditions, temporarily stacking paper with images formed on them having the pages which have been executed with priority, to an intermediate stacking tray, inserting the pages with the images formed on them which are temporarily stacked to the intermediate stacking tray, to the pages concerned during execution of image formation for the last executed page group where there are most pages same in image forming conditions, and discharging and placing the paper with images formed on them, onto the paper ejection tray so that the pages are arranged in order for the job. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus having a facsimile, a printer, and a copy function has image data consisting of a plurality of pages and image forming conditions for each page, and executes image forming execution in the order in which it is acquired, and forms an image on a sheet. Had gone. However, depending on the image formation conditions included in the job, if some characteristic processing must be performed before the start of image formation, output is performed in the order in which the jobs are received. It may take a lot of time to output everything.
Therefore, as a technique for improving the productivity by reducing the time required for outputting a plurality of jobs, there is a technique for changing the execution order for each job.

  For example, when executing a plurality of jobs, the number of times the image forming conditions are changed or changed based on the current image forming conditions (fixing temperature, image forming speed, etc.) and the image forming conditions corresponding to the type of job recording medium Discloses an image forming apparatus that controls the execution order so that the time required for the process is reduced (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, there is a technique for improving productivity by reducing the time required for changing the image forming speed when continuously forming images on sheets having different image forming modes and image forming speeds. For example, when image formation is continuously performed on paper having different image formation speeds, when the image formation speeds of the preceding paper and the paper are different, depending on the relative magnitude relationship between the image formation speeds of the preceding paper and the paper, An image forming apparatus that changes the sequence execution order for switching the image forming speed is disclosed (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2005-225039 A JP 2006-220827 A

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 changes the execution order in units of jobs. When focusing on a single job, if the image forming conditions differ in units of pages in the job, the techniques in units of pages Since the execution order is not changed, the time for executing one job is not shortened. Further, the technique described in Patent Document 2 merely shortens the switching time of the image forming speed and does not change the image forming order of the sheets. Therefore, the number of times of switching the image forming speed within one job is changed. Therefore, the time for executing one job cannot be shortened.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce the execution time of one job and discharge in a state in which the page order is aligned when a plurality of pages having different image forming conditions are mixed in one job. It is to load on the tray.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image forming unit that forms an image by executing a job having pages with different image forming conditions, an intermediate stack tray that temporarily stacks sheets on which images have been formed, and the image forming conditions A control unit that changes an image forming order of pages in the job so that image formation of the same page group is continuously performed in a batch, and the control unit has the same image forming condition Priority is given to image formation for pages other than the page group with the largest number of pages, and the pre-executed page image-formed paper is temporarily stacked on the intermediate stack tray, and the same image to be executed last During image formation of the page group with the most forming conditions, the image-formed page temporarily stacked on the intermediate stack tray is inserted into the page, and the page order of the job is aligned. It is stacked to discharge the image-formed sheet to the sheet discharge tray as the image forming apparatus is provided, wherein.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image forming condition is changed according to a type of paper on which an image is formed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image forming condition is a fixing condition, an image forming speed, or a combination thereof.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to continuously perform image formation on a group of pages having the same image formation condition, so that the number of changes in the image formation condition can be reduced. Since the total time required for changing the image forming conditions can be shortened, the execution time of a single job can be shortened. Furthermore, even if the image formation order is changed and image formation is performed, the sheets can be stacked on the paper discharge tray in a state where the page order is aligned.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained, and high-quality image formation can be performed by changing to different image formation conditions depending on the type of paper. it can.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first or second aspect, as well as fixing conditions and images that require a lot of time when changing to different image forming conditions depending on the type of paper. Since it is possible to continuously form images on pages of the same type of forming speed, or a combination thereof, it is possible to shorten the job execution time.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 reads an image from a document, forms an image of the read image on a sheet P, page data including image data from an external device or the like, image forming conditions of each image data, and the like. A digital multi-function peripheral including a print unit 40 that forms an image on paper P based on the received job, a post-processing unit 50 that temporarily stores the paper on which the image is formed, and the like. is there. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 20, an operation display unit 30, a printing unit 40, a post-processing unit 50, and the like.

  The image reading unit 20 includes an automatic document feeder 21 called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) and a reading unit 22. The document d placed on the document tray T1 of the automatic document feeder 21 is conveyed to a contact glass as a reading location, and an image on one or both sides of the document d is read by an optical system, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 22a. As a result, the image of the document d is read. Here, the image means not only image data such as graphics and photographs but also text data such as characters and symbols.

  An image (analog image signal) read by the image reading unit 20 is output to a reading processing unit 140 of an image control board, which will be described later, A / D converted by the reading processing unit 140 and subjected to various image processing, and then printed. Is output to the unit 40.

  The operation display unit 30 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a touch panel 31 provided so as to cover the LCD, and other operation key groups (not shown). The operation display unit 30 receives user input and outputs input information to the control unit 110. Further, various setting screens for inputting various setting conditions, various processing results, and the like are displayed in accordance with a display signal input from the control unit 110.

  Various setting screens as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 are displayed on the touch panel 31 of the operation display unit 30. FIG. 2 shows an example of a basic setting screen G1, FIG. 3 shows an example of an application setting screen G2, FIG. 4 shows an example of an intersheet setting screen G3, and FIG. 5 shows an example of an insertion sheet setting screen G4.

  The basic setting screen G1 shown in FIG. 2 has a document setting area E1, an image quality setting area E2, a magnification setting area E3, an application setting area E4, an output setting area E5, a duplex setting area E6, and a paper reservation setting area E7. This is a screen for performing various settings for an image to be formed and various settings for a sheet on which an image is formed. The application setting area E4 includes an application setting button B1 for displaying an application setting screen G2.

  The application setting screen G2 shown in FIG. 3 is a screen that is displayed when the application setting button B1 of the basic setting screen G1 shown in FIG. 2 is selected. A page editing area E21 for setting various application functions that can be selected, and an image application area E22 for setting application functions for an image formed on a sheet based on each page data. The page edit area E21 includes an intersheet setting button B2 for displaying an intersheet setting screen G3.

  The intersheet setting screen G3 shown in FIG. 4 is a screen that is displayed when the intersheet setting button B2 in the application setting screen G2 shown in FIG. 3 is selected, and a front cover button B3a for setting a front cover. A back cover button B3b for setting a cover page and an insertion sheet button B3c for displaying an insertion sheet setting screen G4 for setting a sheet to be inserted when an image based on each page data is formed on the sheet are provided.

  The insertion sheet setting screen G4 shown in FIG. 5 is a screen that is displayed when the insertion sheet button B3c of the intersheet setting screen G3 shown in FIG. 4 is selected, and includes an insertion page setting unit B4a and an insertion number setting unit B4b. , A printing / blank sheet setting unit B4c, a single-side / double-side setting unit B4d, a tray selection unit B4e, an OK button B4f, and the like.

  The insertion page setting unit B4a accepts a setting instruction for a page number into which a sheet is inserted (hereinafter referred to as an insertion page number). The insertion number setting unit B4b accepts an instruction to set the number of sheets to be inserted into the set insertion page number. The number-of-insertions setting unit B4b accepts a setting instruction for forming an image based on page data corresponding to the insertion page number of the job (printing) or forming blank image data (blank) on the sheet to be inserted. The single-sided / double-sided setting unit B4d can accept a setting instruction when the printing / blank sheet setting unit B4c is instructed to set printing, and forms an image based on page data on one side of the paper or on both sides of the paper. An instruction to set whether to form an image is received. The tray selection unit B4e accepts a setting instruction for a paper feed tray that stores a sheet to be inserted.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the insertion page setting unit B4a is “4”, the insertion number setting unit B4b is “1”, the printing / blank page setting unit B4c is “printing”, and the single side / double side setting unit B4d is “single side”. When the tray selection unit B4e accepts the setting instruction for “tray 1” and the OK button B4f is selected, the job is placed on one side of the paper stored in the tray 1 (here, B5 size white thick paper). The setting for image formation based on the page data of the fourth page is set for the job.

  The print unit 40 performs electrophotographic image forming processing based on input print data, and includes a paper feed unit 41, a paper feed conveyance unit 42, an image formation unit 43, and a carry-out unit 44. Is done.

  The paper feed unit 41 includes a plurality of paper feed trays 41a, paper feed means 41b, a manual feed tray T2, and the like. The paper feed tray 41a stores paper P identified in advance for each paper type for each paper feed tray 41a. The paper feed means 41b directs the paper P from the top to the paper feed / conveyance section 42 one by one. Transport. The manual feed tray T2 can stack various types of paper P according to the user's needs, and transports the paper P stacked by the paper feed rollers one by one from the top to the paper feed transport unit 42. To do.

The sheet feeding / conveying section 42 conveys the sheet P conveyed from the sheet feeding tray 41a or the manual feed tray T2 to the transfer device 43a via a plurality of intermediate rollers, registration rollers 42a, and the like.
Further, the sheet feeding / conveying section 42 conveys the sheet P on which the single-sided image formation processing has been performed to the duplex conveying path by the conveyance path switching plate, and again conveys it to the transfer device 43a via the intermediate roller and the registration roller 42a.

  The image forming unit 43 includes an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device 43a, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser output unit that outputs laser light based on image data, and a polygon mirror that scans the laser light in the main scanning direction. A cleaning unit and a fixing device 43b are provided. Specifically, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating a photosensitive drum charged by a charging device with laser light using an exposure device. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image by attaching charged toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum by the developing device is transferred to the paper P by the transfer device 43a. Further, after the toner image is transferred to the paper P, residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum is removed by the cleaning unit.

  The fixing device 43 b thermally fixes the toner image transferred to the paper P conveyed by the paper feed conveyance unit 42. The fixed sheet P is sandwiched between the discharge rollers of the carry-out unit 44 and conveyed from the carry-out port to the post-processing unit 50.

  The post-processing unit 50 includes an intermediate stacker 51 that temporarily stores image-formed paper, a post-processing unit 52 that performs post-processing on the image-formed paper, and then discharges the paper.

  The intermediate stacker 51 includes an intermediate stack tray 51a serving as a plurality of storage units that temporarily store the paper on which the image is formed by the print unit 40 for each paper type, a transport unit 51b, and the like.

In the intermediate stack tray 51a, the paper P conveyed from the printing unit 40 is temporarily accommodated for each paper type.
The transport unit 51b transports the paper P transported from the printing unit 40 to the intermediate stack tray 51a for each paper type, or the post-processing unit 52 for the paper P accommodated in each intermediate stack tray 51a one by one. Further, the paper P conveyed from the printing unit 40 is directly conveyed to the post-processing unit 52.

  The post-processing unit 52 includes a paper discharge tray T3 as a paper discharge unit on which the paper P conveyed from the intermediate stacker 51 is discharged and stacked.

  The post-processing unit 52 includes a sorting unit for performing sorting, a punching unit for performing punching processing, a stapling unit for performing stapling processing for binding a bundle of sheets at a set binding position, a folding unit for performing folding processing, and a cutting process. A cutting section to perform is provided.

FIG. 6 shows a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1.
As shown in FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body 1a, a printer controller 1b, and a post-processing unit 50 connected to the main body 1a. The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to an external apparatus 2 on the network 3 through a LANIF (Local Area Network InterFace) 14 of the printer controller 1b so as to be able to send and receive information to and from each other.

  The main body unit 1a includes an image reading unit 20, an operation display unit 30, a printing unit 40, and an image control board 100. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure same as each part demonstrated in FIG. 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The image control board 100 includes a control unit 110, a nonvolatile memory 120, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 130, a reading processing unit 140, a compression IC 150, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) control IC 160, an image memory 170, a decompression IC 180, and a writing process. Part 190.

The control unit 110 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, reads a system program stored in the non-volatile memory 120 and a specified program from various application programs, expands the RAM 130, and expands the RAM 130. Various processes are executed in cooperation with the program, and each part of the image forming apparatus 1 is centrally controlled.
For example, in accordance with an instruction signal input from the operation display unit 30 or the external device 2, the copy mode, printer mode, and scanner mode are switched, and control such as copying, printing, and reading of image data is performed.

  The control unit 110 reads out the job execution program according to the present embodiment from the nonvolatile memory 120 and various data such as image data and image forming conditions constituting the job from the image memory 170, and cooperates with the program and the various data. Thus, when executing a job for forming an image on a plurality of types of paper under different image forming conditions, a process for changing the image forming order so that pages having the same image forming condition are continued is performed. Control.

  In addition, when the image forming of the page group having the same image forming condition is collectively performed continuously, the control unit 110 performs the last image forming of the page group having the most pages having the same image forming condition in the job. And the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray T3. Then, during the execution of the image formation of the page group having the largest number of the same image forming conditions, the sheet of the image-formed page temporarily stacked on the intermediate stacker 51 is inserted into the page, and the page of the job Sheets on which images have been formed are discharged and stacked on the discharge tray T3 so that the order is aligned.

  The paper type is classified according to the material and manufacturing process of paper such as thick paper, coated paper, glossy paper, etc., excluding the paper size, and has a specific image forming condition.

  The image forming condition is a condition associated with execution of image formation based on each page data of the job, for example, a fixing temperature, an image forming speed, or a combination thereof.

  In addition to various processing programs and data related to image formation, the nonvolatile memory 120 stores a job execution program according to the present embodiment, image forming conditions for each paper type, data processed by various programs, and the like. In addition, various types of information such as the name of the type of paper stored in each paper feed tray, paper size (for example, A4, A3, B5, etc.), paper weight, and the like are stored.

  The RAM 130 corresponds to various programs executed by the control unit 110, data related to these programs, various data constituting a job, types of sheets stored in each intermediate stack tray 51a, and sheets conveyed to the post-processing unit 52. A work area for temporarily storing page data and the like to be formed is formed.

  The reading processing unit 140 performs various processing such as analog processing, A / D conversion processing, and shading processing on the analog image signal input from the image reading control unit 200 of the image reading unit 20, and then generates digital image data. To do. The generated image data is output to the compression IC 150.

  The compression IC 150 performs compression processing on the input digital image data and outputs it to the DRAM control IC 160.

  The DRAM control IC 160 controls the image data compression processing by the compression IC 150 and the decompression processing of the compressed image data by the decompression IC 180 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 110, and performs input / output control of image data to the image memory 170. For example, when an instruction to store the image signal read by the image reading unit 20 is given, the compression processing of the image data input from the reading processing unit 140 is executed by the compression IC 150, and the compressed image data is compressed in the image memory 170. It is stored in the memory 171. When the print output of the compressed image data stored in the compression memory 171 is instructed, the compressed image data is read from the compression memory 171, decompressed by the decompression IC 180, and stored in the page memory 172. Further, when an instruction to print out the image data stored in the page memory 172 is issued, the image data is read from the page memory 172 and output to the writing processing unit 190.

  The image memory 170 includes a compression memory 171 and a page memory 172 configured from DRAM (Dynamic RAM). The compression memory 171 is a memory for storing compressed image data, and the page memory 172 is a memory for temporarily storing image data (print data) for print output.

  The decompression IC 180 performs decompression processing on the compressed image data.

  The write processing unit 190 generates print data for image formation based on the image data input from the DRAM control IC 160 and outputs the print data to the print unit 40.

  The image reading unit 20 includes a CCD 22a, an image reading control unit 200, and other automatic document feeding unit 21 and reading unit 22 shown in FIG. The image reading control unit 200 controls the automatic document feeding unit 21, the reading unit 22, and the like to execute exposure scanning of the document surface, and performs photoelectric conversion on the reflected light of the light by the CCD 22a to read the image. The read analog image signal is output to the reading processing unit 140.

  The operation display unit 30 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a touch panel 31 provided to cover the LCD, an operation display control unit 300, and other operation key groups such as a numeric keypad (not shown). The operation display control unit 300 displays various setting screens for inputting various setting conditions, various screens as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, various processing results, and the like on the LCD in accordance with display signals input from the control unit 110. . Further, the operation display control unit 300 outputs an operation signal input from the operation key group or the touch panel 31 to the control unit 110.

  The print unit 40 includes various units related to print output, such as the image forming unit 43 shown in FIG. The print control unit 400 controls the operation of each unit of the print unit 40 such as the image forming unit 43 according to an instruction from the control unit 110, and forms an image on the paper P based on the print data input from the writing processing unit 190. In addition, an instruction signal for operating each part of the post-processing unit 50 according to an instruction from the control unit 110 is output to the post-processing control unit 500.

  Next, each part of the printer controller 1b will be described. The printer controller 1b manages and controls jobs input to the image forming apparatus 1 from the external apparatus 2 connected to the network 3 when the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a network printer. The data to be printed is received, and the data is transmitted as a job to the main body 1a.

  The printer controller 1b includes a controller control unit 11, a DRAM control IC 12, an image memory 13, and a LANIF 14.

  The controller control unit 11 comprehensively controls the operation of each unit of the printer controller 1b, and transmits data input from the external device 2 to the main body unit 1a via the LANIF 14 as a job.

  The DRAM control IC 12 controls storage of data received by the LANIF 14 in the image memory 13 and reading of data from the image memory 13. The DRAM control IC 12 is connected to the DRAM control IC 160 of the image control board 100 via a PCI (Peripheral Components Interconnect) bus, and reads data to be printed from the image memory 13 in accordance with instructions from the controller control unit 11. Output to the control IC 160.

  The image memory 13 is composed of a DRAM and temporarily stores input output data.

  The LANIF 14 is a communication interface for connecting to a network 3 such as a NIC (Network Interface Card) or a LAN such as a modem, and receives data from the external device 2. The received data is output to the DRAM control IC 12.

  The post-processing unit 50 is provided with various processing units such as an intermediate stacker 51 and a post-processing unit 52, and transporting means such as transport rollers for transporting paper to the various processing units. Is controlled in a centralized manner. The post-processing control unit 500 transports the paper P to a predetermined processing unit along the transport path in accordance with a post-processing instruction signal input from the control unit 110 via the print control unit 400, and drives and controls each unit. Then, a predetermined post-processing is performed on the paper P, and the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray T3.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of job execution processing in the present embodiment. The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is a process executed by the control unit 110.

  The controller 110 starts job acquisition (step S1), and determines whether or not job acquisition is completed (step S2). When the job acquisition is not completed (step S2; No), the control unit 110 returns to step S2.

  When the acquisition of the job is completed (step S2; Yes), the control unit 110 refers to the acquired job, and sets the largest number of paper feeds among the paper feed trays set for each page data of the job. The type of paper stored in the tray is set as the standard paper (step S3). That is, the process in step S3 is to set the type of paper with the largest number of images formed as the standard paper in the acquired job.

  The control unit 110 sequentially refers to the first page data of the job and determines whether there is unreferenced page data (step S4).

  When there is unreferenced page data (step S4; Yes), the control unit 110 determines whether or not the paper type set in the page data is a standard paper (step S5). When the paper type set in the page data is a standard paper (step S5; Yes), the control unit 110 returns to step S4.

  When the paper type set in the page data is not a standard paper (step S5; No), the control unit 110 determines that the fixing temperature as the image forming condition of the type of paper set in the page data is the standard paper. It is determined whether or not the fixing temperature is different (step S6).

  When the fixing temperature of the sheet on which the page data is image-formed is equal to the fixing temperature of the standard sheet (step S6; No), the control unit 110 returns to step S4.

  When the fixing temperature of the paper on which the page data is image-formed is different from the fixing temperature of the standard paper (step S6; Yes), the control unit 110 performs an image forming condition changing process (step S7), and converts the page data into an image. The paper discharge destination of the paper to be formed is changed to the intermediate stack tray (step S8), the paper is fed from the paper feed tray set in the page data, the image is formed on the fed paper, and the intermediate stack is formed. A print process for discharging the paper to the tray is executed (step S9), and a print process for the page data corresponding to the number of copies set in the job is executed.

  The control unit 110 determines whether or not printing for the number of copies has been completed, that is, whether or not print processing for the page data for the number of copies set in the job has been completed (step S10).

  If the printing for the number of copies has not been completed (step S10; No), the control unit 110 returns to step S9. If the printing for the number of copies has been completed (step S10; Yes), the control unit 110 returns to step S4.

  If there is no unreferenced page data (step S4; No), the control unit 110 starts print processing after sequentially changing the image forming conditions from the top page data of the job (step S11).

  Note that when there is no unreferenced page data in step S4, the control unit 110 finishes referring to all the page data constituting the job, and is a different type of paper from the standard paper and different from the standard paper. The page data for forming an image on a sheet of temperature is when the execution of the printing process is completed and the sheet on which the image is formed based on the page data is discharged and stored in the intermediate stack tray.

  The control unit 110 determines whether or not there is next page data. If there is (step S12; Yes), the page data is stored in the intermediate stack tray after completion of the print processing and image formation. It is determined whether it has been completed (step S13).

  When the execution of the printing process is completed and the image-formed paper is already stored in the intermediate stack tray (step S13; Yes), the control unit 110 determines the page data stored in the intermediate stack tray. Paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray (step S14), and the process returns to step S12.

  The controller 110 determines that the page data has the same fixing temperature as that of the standard paper or the standard paper when the execution of the printing process is completed and the paper on which the image has been formed is not accommodated in the intermediate stack tray (step S13; No). If there is page data for image formation on the sheet, print processing is executed based on the page data (step S15), and the process returns to step S12.

  The print processing executed in step S15 feeds paper from a paper feed tray set in page data for image formation on standard paper or paper having the same fixing temperature as that of the standard paper, and the image is fed to the fed paper. This is a process of forming and ejecting paper onto a paper ejection tray.

  When there is no next page data (step S12; No), the control unit 110 ends the process.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B show examples of job execution operations. FIG. 8A shows a conventional example, and FIG. 8B shows an example of this embodiment.
The jobs shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B are jobs for forming an image on one side of a sheet of three pages of 5 pages of page data. It is assumed that image formation is performed on the paper accommodated in the paper and the page data of the fourth page is image-formed on the paper accommodated in the tray 2. The paper stored in the tray 1 is plain paper, and the paper stored in the tray 2 is cardboard.

  Based on the page data, the time required for the printing process to feed the paper from the set paper feed tray to form an image and eject the paper to the paper ejection tray or intermediate stack tray is 1 second per sheet.

  As an example of different fixing temperatures for each paper type, the fixing temperature of plain paper is 180 ° C., and the fixing temperature of thick paper that is thicker than plain paper is 200 ° C. Further, the time required to increase the fixing temperature from 180 ° C. to 200 ° C. is 30 seconds, and the time required to decrease the fixing temperature from 200 ° C. to 180 ° C. is 60 seconds. The time for changing the fixing temperature is not limited to this because it varies depending on the installation environment of the image forming apparatus 1 and the structure and heat capacity of a fixing member (for example, a fixing roller) used in the fixing apparatus. It is assumed that the fixing temperature before execution of the job is maintained at 180 ° C.

  In FIGS. 8A and 8B, the page data of the first to fifth pages are abbreviated as P1 to P5, and the time required for the printing process and the time required for changing the fixing temperature are shown in parentheses.

First, the operation of the conventional job execution process shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8A, conventionally, the job is sequentially executed from the top page data of the job.
The page data print processing for the first to third pages is executed, and three plain sheets on which images are formed based on the page data for the first to third pages are discharged to the discharge tray.

  Since the page data of the fourth page is formed on thick paper, after the fixing temperature is changed from the current fixing temperature of 180 ° C. to the thick paper fixing temperature of 200 ° C., print processing is executed, and page data of the fourth page One thick sheet on which an image is formed based on the above is discharged to a discharge tray. Accordingly, it takes 30 seconds to raise the fixing temperature from 180 ° C. to 200 ° C. before forming an image based on the page data of the fourth page.

  Since the page data of the fifth page forms an image on plain paper, the fixing temperature is changed from the current fixing temperature of 200 ° C. to the fixing temperature of plain paper of 180 ° C., and then the printing process is executed. A sheet of plain paper on which an image is formed based on the data is discharged to a discharge tray. Therefore, it takes 60 seconds to lower the fixing temperature from 200 ° C. to 180 ° C. before forming an image based on the page data of the fifth page.

  Thus, it takes 95 seconds to form an image on one side of a sheet of paper for 5 pages and discharge it. Since the above-described operation is repeated twice for the second and third copies, the job execution time required to form and discharge three pages of page data for five pages on one side of the paper is 285. Second.

  Therefore, in the conventional job execution operation, the operation for changing the fixing temperature from 180 ° C. to 200 ° C. is performed three times and the operation for changing the fixing temperature from 200 ° C. to 180 ° C. is performed three times. This is necessary, and the fixing temperature must be changed many times during the execution of one job, which makes it difficult to shorten the job execution time.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the job execution operation in the present embodiment performs image formation in a continuous manner for each type of paper on which image formation is performed based on page data. The image formation based on the page data for the type of paper having the largest number of images to be formed among a plurality of page data is finally executed.

  First, referring to the job, the type of paper with the largest number of images to be formed is plain paper on which image formation is performed based on the page data of the first to third and fifth pages. Is set.

  A plurality of page data constituting the job is referred to from the top, and the page data of the first to third pages is not executed because the paper on which the image is formed is a standard paper.

  The page data for the fourth page is a thick paper for image formation, and the fixing temperature for the thick paper is different from the fixing temperature for the standard paper. Therefore, the discharge of the thick paper for image formation based on the page data for the fourth page is used. The paper tip is changed to the intermediate stack tray. Since the page data of the fourth page is formed on thick paper, after the fixing temperature is changed from the current fixing temperature 180 ° C. to the thick paper fixing temperature 200 ° C., the print processing based on the page data of the fourth page is 3 Part executed.

  After the print processing of the page data for the fourth page is executed, the job is referred to from the top, and there is page data for the fifth page as unreferenced page data. For this reason, the print process is not executed.

  Again, since the job is referred from the beginning but there is no unreferenced page data, print processing for discharging the paper to the paper discharge tray is started. Since the page data of the first page is page data that has not been printed yet and has not been discharged to the discharge tray and is not stored in the intermediate stack tray, the print processing based on the page data is executed. Since the page data of the first page is formed on plain paper, after the fixing temperature is changed from the current fixing temperature of 200 ° C. to the fixing temperature of plain paper of 180 ° C., printing is performed based on the page data of the first page. Processing will be executed.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not page data that has not been ejected exists in the paper ejection tray, and the page data for the second page is page data that has not been printed yet and has not been ejected to the paper ejection tray and is not stored in the intermediate stack tray. Then, print processing based on the page data is executed. Similarly, print processing based on page data for the third page is executed.

  The page data of the fourth page is page data that has not been ejected to the paper ejection tray, but is page data that has been printed and has been ejected to the intermediate stack tray. The fourth page is inserted by discharging the image-formed sheet of the fourth page to the discharge tray. Note that a time (insertion time) required for transporting paper from the intermediate stack tray to the paper discharge tray is α. α is 1 to 2 seconds.

  Since the page data of the fifth page is page data that has not been printed yet and has not been discharged to the discharge tray, the print processing based on the page data is executed and the first copy is generated.

  Since three copies are set for the job, it is determined again whether there is unprinted page data in the paper discharge tray without printing, and print processing based on the page data of the first to third pages is executed. . Then, the sheet on which the image is formed based on the page data of the fourth page stored in the intermediate stack tray is discharged to the discharge tray, and the printing process is executed based on the page data of the fifth page. Will be generated.

  Similarly to the above, since three copies are set for the job, it is determined again whether or not there is page data that has not been printed yet and has not been discharged on the discharge tray, and printing based on the page data for the first to third pages. Processing is executed. Then, the sheet on which the image is formed based on the page data of the fourth page stored in the intermediate stack tray is discharged to the discharge tray, and the printing process is executed based on the page data of the fifth page. Will be generated.

  Accordingly, in the job execution operation of the present embodiment, the operation for changing the fixing temperature from 180 ° C. to 200 ° C. can be performed only once, and the operation for changing from 200 ° C. to 180 ° C. can be performed only once. The total time for changing is 90 seconds, and the total time for changing the fixing temperature is shortened compared to the conventional case. The job execution time required to form an image on three sides of three pages of page data on one side of the sheet is 105 + 3α. Second.

  When comparing the job execution time between the prior art and this embodiment, the insertion time α is 1 to 2 seconds, which is 60 seconds, so that the job execution time can be shortened.

  In this embodiment, the fixing temperature is described as the image forming condition. However, the same effect can be obtained even at the image forming speed, the fixing temperature, and the image forming speed. As long as the device state of the image forming apparatus 1 at the time of image formation is sufficient, it is not limited thereto.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to continuously perform image formation on the same type of paper with the same image forming condition, so that the number of times of changing the image forming condition can be reduced. Since the total time required for changing the image forming conditions can be shortened, the job execution time can be shortened.

  In particular, as the image forming conditions, it is possible to continuously form images on the same type of paper having the same fixing temperature, image forming speed, or a combination thereof, which requires a lot of time when changing image forming conditions that differ depending on the type of paper. Therefore, the total number of times of changing the image forming conditions and the time required for the change can be reduced.

  Further, the image formation on the type of paper (standard paper) having the largest number of images to be formed is finally executed and discharged to the paper discharge tray, and the image formation of the standard paper is executed and the paper discharge tray. When ejecting to the image, the image formation is executed in the order of image formation set in the job. When the image formation order of the paper stored in the intermediate stack tray is reached, the paper is ejected from the intermediate stack tray. By discharging paper to the tray, it is possible to discharge the paper on which images are continuously formed for each paper of the same type with the same image forming condition to the paper discharge tray in the order set in the job.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiment.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the basic setting screen G1. It is a figure which shows the example of the application setting screen G2. It is a figure which shows the example of the inter sheet | seat setting screen G3. It is a figure which shows the example of the insertion sheet setting screen G4. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of a job execution process. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a conventional job execution operation example, and FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a job execution operation example according to the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 1a Main part 1b Printer controller 2 External apparatus 3 Network 11 Controller control part 12 DRAM control IC
13 Image memory 14 LANIF
20 Image Reading Unit 21 Automatic Document Feeding Unit 22 Reading Unit 22a CCD
30 Operation display unit 31 Touch panel 40 Printing unit 41 Paper feeding unit 41a Paper feeding tray 41b Paper feeding means 42 Paper feeding conveyance unit 42a Registration roller 43 Image forming unit 43a Transfer device 43b Fixing device 44 Unloading unit 50 Post-processing unit 51 Intermediate stacker 51a Intermediate stack tray 51b Conveying means 52 Post-processing unit 100 Image control board 110 Control unit 120 Non-volatile memory 130 RAM
140 Reading processing unit 150 Compression IC
160 DRAM control IC
170 Image memory 171 Compression memory 172 Page memory 180 Decompression IC
190 Writing processing unit 200 Image reading control unit 300 Operation display control unit 400 Print control unit 500 Post-processing control unit B1 Application setting button B2 Intersheet setting button B3a Front cover button B3b Back cover button B3c Insert paper button B4a Insert page setting unit B4b Inserted sheet number setting unit B4c Print / Blank setting unit B4d Single-sided / double-sided setting unit B4e Tray selection unit B4f OK button d Original E1 Original setting area E2 Image quality setting area E3 Magnification setting area E4 Application setting area E5 Output setting area E6 Both-side setting area E7 Paper reservation setting area E21 Page editing area E22 Image application area G1 Basic setting screen G2 Application setting screen G3 Intersheet setting screen G4 Insert paper setting screen P Paper T1 Document tray T2 Manual feed tray T3 Paper discharge tray

Claims (3)

An image forming unit that forms an image by executing a job having pages with different image forming conditions;
An intermediate stacker that temporarily stacks the paper on which images have been formed;
A control unit that changes the image forming order of the pages in the job so as to continuously and continuously form images in a group of pages having the same image forming conditions.
The control unit preferentially executes image formation for pages other than the page group having the most pages with the same image forming condition, and temporarily stacks the image-formed sheets of the preferentially executed pages on the intermediate stacker. During the execution of the image formation of the page group having the most same image formation conditions to be executed last, the image formed page temporarily stacked in the intermediate stacker is inserted into the page, and the job Discharging the image-formed paper to the output tray so that the page order is aligned,
An image forming apparatus. The image forming conditions are changed according to the type of paper on which an image is formed,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming conditions are fixing conditions, image forming speed, or a combination thereof.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

Images