JP2013119221A - Printer and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer, which comes into a power saving state when not in use, and to provide the printer or the like, which can improve power saving effect without delaying printing finish time when print request is received during the power saving state.SOLUTION: The printer that performs printing by printing processing including a preparation processing and an exertion processing comprises: a printing mechanism section; and a control section configured to perform switching between a printable state and the power saving state. When print request is input during the power saving state, the control section exerts first operation control in which the timing of canceling the power saving state is determined, switching from the power saving state to the printable state is carried out at this timing, and as soon as coming into the printable state, the exertion processing is performed consecutively concerning all pages of the print request. The timing is determined so that the finish timing of the printing processing by the first operation control coincides with the finish timing by second operation control, in which the power saving state is canceled after the input of the print request, a preparation processing is performed for each page, and as soon as the preparation processing is finished, the exertion processing is performed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus or the like that performs power saving control that suppresses power consumption by entering a power saving state when not in use.

  Conventionally, a printing apparatus such as a laser printer may be provided with an operation mode such as an energy saving mode or a power saving mode, and in this mode, all or part of the printing mechanism when a non-use state is continued for a predetermined time. The power is turned off to save energy. Further, when a print request is received in a power saving state in which the power is turned off, control is normally performed so that energization is immediately started and the requested print process is prepared.

  In the case of energization timing immediately after receiving this print request, in the case where it takes time for print data preparation processing or the like before the actual print processing on paper or the like is started, the printing mechanism waits for a while in a printable state. This is not preferable from the viewpoint of energy saving. In particular, a fixing device of a laser printer or the like keeps a high temperature state as it is, and consumes a lot of electric power before performing a printing process.

  In view of this, several proposals have been made in the following patent documents in order to execute further power saving in such a case.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151561 discloses that a preparation time required for preparing print data is calculated and the energization timing of the fixing heater is set according to the difference between the fixing rise time and the preparation time.

  In the following Patent Document 2, regardless of the type of print data, the print data conversion process time is predicted with relatively high accuracy, and the print data conversion process completion time is matched with the return time to the printable state. It has been shown.

JP 2002-72761 A JP 2005-148172 A

  However, the processing for the first page of the printed matter described in Patent Document 1 is power saving within the time required for preparation for printing one page, and a large power saving effect cannot be expected. In addition, the setting of the energization timing that matches the start-up timing of the fixing heater with the preparation completion timing of all the printed pages shown in the document provides a significant power saving effect, but printing is performed as soon as the preparation of each page is completed. There is a problem that the print completion time of all pages is delayed as compared with the case of normal control.

  In addition, these problems cannot be solved by the contents described in the cited document 2. Further, when the printing apparatus is used as a copying apparatus, the above cited document does not show power saving measures, and it is desirable to further save power in this case.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is a printing apparatus that is in a power saving state when not in use, and improves the power saving effect without delaying the print completion time of the print request when a printing request is received in the power saving state. It is providing the printing apparatus etc. which can be used.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a printing apparatus that performs printing by a printing process including a print data preparation process and a print execution process according to the print data performs printing. A mechanism unit, and a control unit that performs control to switch between a printable state and a power saving state of the printing mechanism unit, and the control unit receives the print request when the print request is input in the power saving state. Determine the timing to cancel the power state, shift from the power saving state to the printable state at the timing, and execute the execution continuously for all pages of the print request as soon as the printing mechanism unit becomes printable. The timing at which the first operation control for executing the process is executed and the power saving state is released is the end timing of the print processing by the first operation control, and the print request is input. The power-saving state is released after being executed, the preparation process is executed for each page, and the execution process is performed as soon as the preparation process is completed. To be determined.

  In the above invention, a preferable aspect thereof is that the control unit includes a total printing time from reception of the print request to completion of the printing process, including a time required for the preparation process for all pages, and the power saving state. The rise time until the print mechanism unit is ready to print after the release of the print and the total execution time required for the execution processing of all pages are predicted, and after the print request is input, the total print time is The timing at which the time obtained by subtracting the rise time and the total execution time has been determined as the release timing.

  In the above invention, according to one aspect, the input of the print request is input of print data transmitted from a host device of the printing device, and the control unit determines the time required for the preparation processing of all pages, The prediction is based on the print data.

  In the above invention, another aspect further includes a scan unit that acquires image data to be copied, and realizes a copy function by executing the printing on the image data acquired by the scan unit. The input of the print request is an input of an instruction to execute the copy function, and the control unit detects a copy target set in the scan unit or receives input data to copy The number of copies is acquired, and the time required for the preparation processing of all the pages is predicted based on the number of copies.

  Further, in the above invention, another aspect further includes a fax receiving unit that receives facsimile data, and realizes a facsimile function by executing the printing on the facsimile data received by the fax receiving unit, The input of the print request is the input of the facsimile data, and the control unit predicts the time required for the preparation process for all the pages based on the facsimile data.

  Further, in the above invention, according to one aspect, the control unit determines the release timing when the control unit determines that the time required for the preparation process for all the pages cannot be predicted. It is characterized by the timing when the processing is completed.

  Further, in the above invention, another aspect is that the control unit executes the second operation control when it is determined that the time required for the preparation processing of all the pages cannot be predicted. It is characterized by.

  In the above invention, a preferred aspect thereof is characterized in that a user can select which of the first operation control and the second operation control is to be executed by the control unit.

  In the above invention, a preferable aspect is that the printable state includes a standby state in which the execution process is possible and the execution process is not performed, and the execution process is not performed. The printing unit is included, and when the print request is input in the power saving state, the control unit shifts from the power saving state to the printing state at a timing of releasing the power saving state, The first operation control for executing the execution process continuously for all pages of the print request without taking a standby state is performed.

  In order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention provides a printing mechanism unit that performs printing by printing processing including printing data preparation processing and printing execution processing according to the printing data, and performs printing. , In a control method of a printing apparatus comprising a control unit that performs control to switch between a printable state and a power saving state of the printing mechanism unit, when the control unit receives a print request in the power saving state, Determine the timing to cancel the power saving state, shift from the power saving state to the printable state at the timing, and as soon as the printing mechanism unit is in a printable state, continuously for all pages of the print request The timing for executing the first operation control for causing the execution process to be performed and releasing the power saving state is the timing for ending the printing process by the first operation control. A timing for ending the printing process by the second operation control, causing the power saving state to be released after a print request is input, executing the preparation process for each page, and causing the execution process to be performed upon completion of the preparation process; It is determined to be the same.

1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is the figure which showed an example of the time chart for demonstrating each operation mode. It is the flowchart which illustrated the process sequence of electricity supply control. It is the figure which illustrated the interface for user operation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but extends to the matters described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. When the printer 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied and a print request is received in the power saving state and the printer 2 is in the power saving mode, the printing mechanism unit 23 is ready as soon as printing is ready for each page. Predicts the printing completion time in the normal mode for executing the printing process, determines the energization timing to the printing mechanism unit 23 so that the printing can be completed at the time, and does not energize until that timing, The printing mechanism 23 executes the printing process continuously for all pages as soon as the printable state is reached. Therefore, in the printer 2, by using the power saving mode, the printing mechanism unit 23 stands by without executing the printing process even though the printing mechanism unit 23 is energized and ready to print. In the case of printing that requires time to prepare for printing, a great power saving effect can be obtained and printing can be completed at the same time as the normal mode, so that user convenience is not reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 2 according to this embodiment is connected to one or more host computers 1 via a network 3 and executes a printing process in response to a print request from the host computer 1, This is a so-called multi-function machine that executes processing as a copying machine and processing as a facsimile machine. Accordingly, the printer 2 uses the image data transmitted in the case of a print request from the host computer 1, the scanned image when used as a copying apparatus, and the received data when used as a facsimile apparatus. Each prints on a print medium such as paper.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 2 includes a scanning unit 21, a controller unit 22, a printing mechanism unit 23, a fax receiving unit 24, and an operation unit 25.

  The controller unit 22 is a control unit of the printer 2 that causes the printing mechanism unit 23 to execute print processing based on print data received from the host computer 1, the scan unit 21, and the FAX reception unit 24. The controller unit 22 executes setting processing of operation modes (normal mode and power saving mode) provided in the printer 2 in addition to control of each unit of the printer 2 at the time of printing. The printer 2 is characterized by power saving control by the controller unit 22, and specific contents thereof will be described later.

  Although not shown, the controller unit 22 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an ASIC that interfaces with the printing mechanism unit 23, and the like. The RAM is provided with a page buffer, and the page buffer stores image data of each page that has been prepared for printing. As will be described later, when printing is performed in the power saving mode, Since the printing process for the page is not always executed immediately after the printing preparation is completed, a RAM having a relatively large storage capacity is prepared. In addition, the ASIC performs decompression processing, screen processing, and the like of the image data stored in the page buffer in synchronization with processing by the printing mechanism unit 23, and transmits processed information to the printing mechanism unit 23. Note that other processing by the controller unit 22 is mainly performed by the CPU operating in accordance with a program stored in the ROM.

  Next, the printing mechanism unit 23 is a part that executes a printing process on a printing medium such as paper. Here, a printing method of a laser printer is adopted as an example. Although not shown, the printing mechanism unit 23 includes a photoreceptor, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, an intermediate medium, a fixing device, a printing medium transport device, and the like. The fixing device is provided with a heater, and when performing printing, the fixing device needs to be maintained at a predetermined high temperature by the heater. Further, in the power saving state (sleep state) of the printer 2 described later, the energization to the heater of the fixing device is cut off.

  Next, the scanning unit 21 is a part that scans a document to be copied and generates image data (bitmap data) of the image (description content). For example, bitmap data in which each pixel is expressed by RGB (red, green, blue) density gradation values is generated. The generated image data is transferred to the controller unit 22 as print data. Further, the scanning unit 21 is provided with an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and the operation of placing the document to be copied at a predetermined position at the time of scanning may be performed by the ADF or manually performed by the user. You may go.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fax receiving unit 24 is connected to the telephone line 4, receives facsimile data transmitted via the telephone line 4, converts the received data into print data, and converts the received data into a controller unit 22. It is a part to pass to. For example, the contents of the facsimile are converted into image data expressed by monochrome bitmap data, and the image data is transferred to the controller unit 22 as print data.

  The operation unit 25 is a part that controls an interface with the user of the printer 2, and includes a display device that displays information to the user, operation buttons for the user to input information, and the like. Information input from the operation unit 25 is transmitted to the controller unit 22, and information displayed on the operation unit 25 is controlled by the controller unit 22. The operation unit 25 is used when the user sets the operation mode of the printer 2 or inputs a copy number (scanning number) described later.

  Specific processing contents in the printer 2 having the configuration described above will be described below.

  First, processing contents of a printing process when a print request is received will be described. Here, the printing process for one page will be described. In the printing process, first, a print data preparation process (hereinafter referred to as a preparation process) until the image data of the page is stored in the page buffer described above, and then printing on the print medium by the printing mechanism unit 23 is performed. It is roughly divided into processing (hereinafter referred to as execution processing). The execution process includes the process by the ASIC of the controller unit 22 described above.

  The preparation process is started upon reception of a print request, but the specific process differs depending on which function of the printer 2 is used for printing. First, in the case of a print request from the host computer 1, print data transmitted from the host computer 1 via the network 3 is received by the controller unit 22, and the data received by the controller unit 22 is print data. When the determination is made, the preparation process is started.

  Thereafter, when the received print data is data expressed in units of objects such as PDL (page description language), the controller unit 22 converts the data into bitmap data (each pixel has a density gradation value of each color). Execute rasterization processing that expands to (data). In general, the rasterization is a time-consuming process. On the other hand, if the printer 2 constitutes a host-based printing system, the received print data is bitmap data, so this process is not executed.

  Next, the controller unit 22 executes color conversion processing as necessary. Usually, since the color representation format in the host computer 1 and the color representation format of the color material used in the printer 2 are different, the color representation format of the generated (received) bitmap data is converted to the latter format. I do. For example, when the data transmitted from the host computer 1 is expressed in RGB and the toner used for development of the printing mechanism unit 23 of the printer 2 is CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), expressed in RGB The above-described bitmap data is converted into bitmap data expressed in CMYK. The color conversion process is performed with reference to a LUT (Look Up Table) prepared in advance.

  The controller unit 22 compresses the converted data, stores the compressed data in the page buffer, and ends the page preparation process. In addition to the above-described processing, the preparation processing may include correction processing according to the characteristics of the printing mechanism unit 23.

  Next, when the copy function is used, the preparation process is started when the user operates the operation unit 25 to instruct the start of the copy operation. Thereafter, the scanning unit 21 scans the copy target set at a predetermined position by the user's hand or by the ADF, and generates bitmap data of the image. The generated bitmap data is transmitted from the scan unit 21 to the controller unit 22.

  The controller unit 22 performs a color conversion process on the received bitmap data. This process is the same as the color conversion process described above. For example, RGB data generated by the scan unit 21 is converted into CMYK data. Thereafter, the controller unit 22 compresses the color-converted data, stores the compressed data in the page buffer, and ends the page preparation process. In addition to the above-described processing, the preparation processing may include correction processing according to the characteristics of the printing mechanism unit 23.

  When the facsimile function is used, the preparation process is started when the printer 2 receives the facsimile data via the telephone line 4. Thereafter, the facsimile data received by the fax receiving unit 24 is converted into bitmap data for printing, and the converted data is transmitted to the controller unit 22.

  The controller unit 22 compresses the received data, for example, monochrome bitmap data, stores the compressed data in the page buffer, and finishes the page preparation process. The preparation process may include a correction process according to the characteristics of the printing mechanism unit 23 in addition to the above process.

  Next, in the execution process, in synchronization with the operation of the printing mechanism unit 23, first, the ASIC of the controller unit 22 reads out and compresses the bitmap data of each color stored in the page buffer in a predetermined order. Data decompression processing, screen processing, and pulse width modulation processing are performed, and pulse width information is transmitted to the printing mechanism unit 23.

  In the printing mechanism unit 23, after the photosensitive member is charged, the photosensitive member is exposed based on the transmitted pulse width information, and then development with toner is performed. Then, the toner of each color attached to the photoconductor is transferred to a sheet (print medium) through an intermediate medium. The toner adhering to the paper is fixed by the fixing device, and then the printed paper is discharged from the printer 2.

  The above execution process is similarly executed regardless of whether a print request is received from the host computer 1, a copy function is used, or a facsimile is received. When the printing mechanism unit 23 is a four-cycle printing mechanism using CMYK toners, the process up to transfer to the intermediate medium is sequentially performed for each color, and the printing mechanism unit 23 is a tandem type. In the case of a printing mechanism, processing up to transfer to an intermediate medium is executed in parallel for all colors.

  Next, the operation mode of the printer 2 will be described. First, in the printer 2, an operation mode in which energization is interrupted for all or a part of the printing mechanism unit 23 when the state in which the printing process is not performed continues for a preset time after the apparatus is turned on. Is set as the default. Here, as an example, the energization of the heater of the fixing device with high power consumption is cut off. It is also possible to set an operation mode in which the energization is not cut off. Further, the state where the energization is cut off is a power saving state, the state where all parts of the printer 2 are energized and printable and the execution process is not executed is a standby state, and the execution process is executed. The state is referred to as a print state.

  In the operation mode for taking the power saving state, the printer 2 further has two operation modes. In these operation modes, the return timing from the power saving state and the sequence of the preparation process and the execution process of each page described above are different.

  One of the operation modes is called the normal mode, and when any of the above print requests is received in the power saving state, the energization that was immediately cut off is started, and the preparation process for the page is completed for each page. Immediately thereafter, this is an operation mode in which the execution process of the page is performed immediately. Note that so-called flying printing may be performed in which the execution process is started before the preparation process is completely completed at a timing at which the preparation process is not in time for the execution process. The process is executed in order.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a time chart for explaining each operation mode. In FIG. 2, in any of the cases (a), (b), and (c), a preparation process is shown at the top of the time chart, and a heater startup process of the fixing device is shown below the preparation process. Below that, execution processing is shown. Further, it is assumed that the same print request is received in any of the cases (a), (b), and (c), and the print request is required to execute printing of 6 pages. is there. In the print processing for executing the print request, it is assumed that the preparation time of each page is longer than the execution time.

  FIG. 2A shows a time chart after receiving a print request in the normal mode. In the operation mode, after receiving the print request (t0a), as described above, the power saving state is immediately canceled and energization of the heater of the fixing device is started (t1a). Thereafter, when the fixing device reaches a predetermined temperature by the heater and becomes ready for printing, an execution process is started (t2a). That is, the execution process for the first page is started. Here, it is assumed that the preparation process for the first page has been completed during the heater start-up process time T2a. Further, since the preparation process takes longer than the execution process and there is no need to interrupt the process, the process is continuously executed for all pages (T1a).

  After the execution process is started, as described above, when the preparation work for each page is completed, the execution process for the page is performed. Therefore, the execution processing of each page is performed at the timing indicated by the dotted arrows in FIG. When the last page execution process is completed, the print process for the print request is completed (t4a). In this case, although it is intermittent, the time required for the execution process is T3a, and the total print time from the reception of the print request to the completion of the print process is Ta. In FIG. 2A, the timing at which the preparation process is completed (t3a) does not coincide with the start timing of the last page execution process because the above-described flying printing is executed for the page. Yes, when the execution process is performed after the preparation process for the page is completed, both timings coincide.

  Further, the lower part of FIG. 2A shows the transition of each state described above when the printing process is performed in the normal mode. In the figure, a dotted line represents a power saving state, a broken line represents a standby state, and a solid line represents a printing state. As is apparent from the figure, in the normal mode, the printing state and the standby state appear alternately in accordance with the intermittent execution process described above.

  Next, the second operation mode is referred to as a power saving mode. When one of the print requests described above is received in the power saving state, the energization that was immediately cut off is not started, and the total printing time is the normal mode. This is an operation mode in which the energization is started after a lapse of a predetermined time within a range that does not take longer than that, and then the execution process for all pages is continuously performed as soon as the print is enabled. The power saving mode is a feature of the printer 2.

  FIG. 2B shows a time chart in the power saving mode. As in the case of the normal mode, the preparation process takes more time than the execution process. Therefore, after the print request is received (t0b), the preparation process is continuously executed, and the preparation process is completed in the same time (T1b) as in the normal mode ( t3b). As described above, the heater start-up of the fixing device is started after the elapse of the predetermined time Tsb (t1b), and the printer is ready for printing at substantially the same time T2b as in the normal mode.

  Thereafter (t2b), the execution process is started, and all pages are continuously processed as described above. Upon completion (t4b), the printing process ends, and the total printing time Tb is the same as the total printing time Ta in the normal mode.

  In this case, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 2B, the power saving state shifts to the printing state, and then the printing process ends without taking the standby state.

  Therefore, in the power saving mode, printing can be completed in the same printing time as in the normal mode, and the energization time to the heater of the fixing device with high power consumption can be shortened, so that further power saving can be performed.

  The controller unit 22 determines the predetermined time Tsb that waits for energization of the heater. The specific contents will be described later.

  As described above, the controller unit 22 executes the operation control for the normal mode (second operation control) and the operation control for the power saving mode (first operation control).

  The normal mode / power saving mode can be selected and set by the user.

  FIG. 2C shows a time chart when the printing process is executed by one method described as the background art. In this method, the heater energization timing (t1c) is determined so that the heater start-up process is completed at the timing (t3c) when the preparation process for all pages is completed. As can be seen from the figure, in this case, since the execution process is started after the preparation process for all pages is completed (t2c), the timing for completing the execution process for all pages (t4c) This is slower than in the power saving mode, and the total printing time Tc also becomes longer. Further, the time Tsc until the energization of the heater is started is longer than the predetermined time Tsb in the power saving mode described above, but the time (T2c + T3c) during which the energization is performed does not change.

  Next, energization control performed by the controller unit 22 of the printer 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of energization control. Hereinafter, the energization control when any of the above-described print requests is received in the power saving state will be described with reference to FIG. When the controller unit 22 receives the print request (when the print request is input), the controller unit 22 indicates the operation mode set at that time, that is, whether the operation mode set at that time is the normal mode described above. Whether the power saving mode is selected is checked (step S1). If the normal mode is set (Yes in step S1), as described above, the energization of the heater of the fixing device is immediately performed, and thus the energization process is immediately performed (step S8).

  On the other hand, when the power saving mode is set (No in step S1), the controller unit 22 takes the time required for the preparatory process for all pages in the print process according to the received print request (see (b) in FIG. 2). In the example shown, it is determined whether or not T1b) can be predicted (step S2). If the print data received from the host computer 1 does not have enough information to make the prediction, or if it cannot communicate with the communication source of the received facsimile data and cannot obtain sufficient information to make the prediction. When it is determined that the prediction is impossible (No in Step S2), the controller unit 22 waits for the preparation process for all the pages to be completed (Step S7), and then energizes the heater of the fixing device. That is, energization processing is executed (step S8). In such a case, although the printing end timing is delayed as compared with the case described with reference to FIG. 2B, since the execution process of each page can be performed continuously, the standby state can be eliminated and the power saving effect can be eliminated. Is obtained.

  When it is determined that the prediction is possible (Yes in step S2), the controller unit 22 predicts the time required for the preparation process for all the pages (step S3).

  If the received print request is from the host computer 1, if the received print data includes information for calculating the preparation processing time T1b, the controller unit 22 uses the information to prepare. Time T1b is obtained. Specifically, information such as the size of the print data, the number of pages, the data format, and the communication speed is acquired from the print data, and the preparation processing time T1b is calculated from the information and a predetermined processing speed of the controller unit 22. .

  If the received print data does not contain sufficient information for calculating the preparation processing time T1b, the preparation processing time T1b is calculated from the table information prepared in advance. Since the print data usually includes information for identifying whether the image is monochrome or color and information about the number of pages, the table information includes information for each page in the case of monochrome printing and color printing. The preparation processing time T1b can be calculated by keeping the preparation processing time. The table information can be measured values obtained by performing actual processing on a plurality of print data in advance. In addition, every time printing processing is performed, the preparation processing time is measured and stored together with information about monochrome printing or color printing, and the value of the table information is updated at a predetermined timing. May be. The table information may further include a preparation processing time for each data format.

  If sufficient information for calculating the preparation processing time T1b from the print data is not included, it waits for the preparation processing for one page to be completed and prepares all pages based on the preparation processing time. The processing time T1b may be predicted. Specifically, it can be obtained by multiplying the preparation processing time of the first page by the number of pages.

  Next, when the received print request uses the copy function, the preparation processing time T1b is predicted as follows. First, in the copying operation using the ADF of the scanning unit 21, after the user sets a document to be copied in the ADF, an operation for instructing the start of the copying operation is executed. Here, when the printer 2 has a function of automatically detecting the number of documents set in the ADF, after the start instruction, the document is set at the scan position, scanned, and imaged for each page. The above-described preparation processing such as data generation is executed.

  Further, when the printer 2 is not provided with the automatic detection function, the procedure is to have the user input the expected number of copies to be copied and then perform an operation to instruct the start of the copy operation. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an interface for the user operation. The interface shown in FIG. 4 is provided in the operation unit 25, and the user inputs the estimated number of sheets by the operation button indicated by A, and the input number is displayed on the display unit indicated by B. In response to the operation button indicated by C, a copy operation start instruction is issued. And after the said operation, a preparation process is similarly started.

  When this ADF is used, the processing capability, scanning speed, image data generation and processing speed of the ADF are known, and the preparation processing time for one page is obtained from these values, and the number of copies (document The preparatory processing time T1b is predicted by multiplying the number of sheets). Note that when the user inputs the predicted number, the number may be inaccurate, so it is preferable to perform the prediction using a value slightly smaller than the input value. This can prevent the copy completion time from being delayed.

  Further, when the copy function is used without using the ADF, the preparation process is started by an instruction to start the copy operation for the first page performed after the above-described input operation of the expected number by the user. In this case, since the document is manually set at the scanning position, the time required for the setting may be a value measured in advance or a value obtained from the time actually taken in the first few pages. it can. Since other processing times have known values as in the case of using ADF, the preparation processing time for one page is obtained from these values and multiplied by the number of copies (number of documents) to predict the preparation processing time T1b. To do. In this case as well, the predicted number input by the user may not be accurate, so it is preferable to perform the above prediction using a value slightly smaller than the input value.

  Next, when the received print request uses the facsimile function, the fax receiving unit 24 receives the facsimile data, and the preparation process is started. In this case, the controller unit 22 predicts the preparation processing time T1b from the communication speed of the telephone line 4, the amount of data to be received, and the processing capability on the printer 2 side. The amount of data to be received is obtained by negotiating with the communication source terminal device.

  The preparation processing time T1b is predicted as described above. When the prediction processing takes time, especially when the above-described preparation processing time for the first page is actually measured and predicted, or several pages are manual. In the case of predicting after measuring the operation according to, the time taken for the processing is subtracted from the predicted value to obtain the predicted value of the preparation processing time T1b.

  When the prediction of the preparation processing time T1b is completed in this way, the controller unit 22 causes the heater start-up processing time (T2b in FIG. 2B) and the execution processing time for all pages (( b) T3b) and the total printing time (Tb in FIG. 2B) are predicted (step S4).

  The heater start-up processing time T2b has a known start-up performance, and can be obtained from the temperature of the heater detected at that time. It can also be predicted by the elapsed time from when the power saving state is entered and the power supply to the heater is cut off.

  The execution processing time T3b for all pages is determined by the processing capability (pages / minute) of the printing mechanism unit 23 (engine) and can be easily obtained from the value.

  The total printing time Tb can be obtained by adding the execution processing time of the last page to the predicted preparation processing time T1b. The execution processing time of the final page is obtained from the processing capacity of the engine. In the case of performing flying printing, if the timing can be predicted, the total printing time Tb is obtained by subtracting the timing. If it cannot be predicted, the preparation processing time T1b may be set as the total printing time Tb. In addition, the preparation processing time T1b may be the total printing time Tb regardless of flying printing.

  Next, the controller unit 22 checks whether or not the total printing time Tb is longer than the sum of the heater start-up processing time T2b and the execution processing time T3b of all pages, using the obtained times. (Step S5).

  When the total printing time Tb is not longer than the sum of the heater start-up processing time T2b and the execution processing time T3b for all pages (No in step S5), the controller unit 22 immediately turns to the heater of the fixing device. The energization process is executed in order to energize (step S8).

  On the other hand, when the total printing time Tb is longer than the combined time of the heater start-up processing time T2b and the execution processing time T3b for all pages (Yes in step S5), the controller unit 22 determines from the total printing time Tb: After waiting for the time (Tsb in FIG. 2B), which is obtained by subtracting the sum of the heater start-up processing time T2b and the execution processing time T3b of all pages, to the heater of the fixing device, An energization process is executed to energize (step S8). That is, energization is performed after the above-described predetermined time Tsb has elapsed.

  As described above, the energization control is executed, and the return from the power saving state is performed (the power saving state is canceled).

  When it is determined that it is impossible to predict the preparation processing time T1b for all pages (No in step S2), the energization process (S8) is performed immediately, and then the printing process is performed in the normal mode. You may make it do. In this way, it is possible to prevent delaying the end of the printing process.

  When the copy function is used, a slightly larger value than the input value may be used when the estimated copy number input by the user is used for the prediction of the preparation processing time. In this case, although there is a possibility that the end timing of the printing process may be delayed, continuous execution processing without a standby state can be reliably performed, and the power saving effect can be surely improved.

  As described above, in the printer 2 according to the present embodiment, when a print request is received in the power saving state by the power saving mode, when the preparation processing time of the print processing is longer than the execution processing time, The standby state of the heater of the fixing device can be eliminated without delaying the printing completion time of all pages, and power saving can be achieved as compared with the normal mode. Further, for the user, even when printing is requested in the power saving mode, it is possible to obtain the printing results of all pages requested to be printed at the same time as when printing is requested in the normal mode. As described above, the print result of all pages can be obtained at the same timing regardless of the operation mode, which is convenient for the user and excellent in convenience. In the power saving mode, the completion of printing of an early page such as the first page is slower than in the normal mode, but this usually does not impair user convenience.

  In addition, the printer 2 can select an operation mode depending on whether printing speed is important or power saving is important, and user convenience is high.

  The same effect can be obtained when the copy function is used and when the facsimile function is used.

  In this embodiment, the printing apparatus is a multifunction peripheral. However, the present invention can also be applied to a normal printer that does not have a copy function and a facsimile function.

  Further, although the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment is a laser printer, the present invention can also be applied to a printing apparatus using another printing method.

  Further, as in the preparation process and the execution process in the printer 2, in an apparatus that performs a pre-process that can predict a processing time and takes a relatively long time, and a post-process that consumes a large amount of power and has a relatively short process time, Similarly, the present invention can be applied.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer, 2 Printer, 3 Network, 4 Telephone line, 21 Scan part, 22 Controller part (control part), 23 Printing mechanism part, 24 Fax receiving part, 25 Operation part

Claims (10)

A printing apparatus that performs printing by print processing including print data preparation processing and print execution processing according to the print data,
A printing mechanism that performs printing;
A control unit that performs control to switch between a printable state and a power saving state of the printing mechanism unit,
The controller is
When a print request is input in the power saving state, a timing for releasing the power saving state is determined, and the power saving state is shifted from the power saving state to the printable state at the timing, and the printing mechanism unit is in a printable state. As soon as the first operation control is performed, the execution process is continuously performed on all pages of the print request.
The timing for releasing the power saving state is such that the end timing of the printing process by the first operation control causes the power saving state to be released after the printing request is input, and the preparation process is executed for each page. The printing apparatus, which is determined to be the same as the end timing of the printing process by the second operation control that causes the execution process to be performed as soon as the preparation process is completed. In claim 1,
The control unit can print the total printing time from the reception of the print request to the end of the printing process, including the time required for the preparation process for all the pages, and the printing mechanism unit after releasing the power saving state. A time obtained by predicting a rise time until a state is reached and a total execution time required for the execution processing of all pages, and subtracting the rise time and the total execution time from the total print time after the print request is input The printing apparatus is characterized in that the timing at which the time elapses is determined as the release timing. In claim 2,
The input of the print request is an input of print data transmitted from the host device of the printing device,
The control unit predicts a time required for a preparation process for all the pages based on the print data. In claim 2 or 3,
Furthermore, it has a scanning unit that acquires image data to be copied,
A copy function is realized by executing the printing on the image data acquired by the scanning unit,
The input of the print request is an input of an instruction to execute the copy function,
The control unit detects a copy target set in the scan unit, or receives input data, obtains the number of copies, and requires preparation processing for all pages based on the number of copies. A printing device characterized by predicting time. In any one of Claims 2 thru | or 4,
Furthermore, it has a fax receiving unit for receiving facsimile data,
A facsimile function is realized by executing the printing on the facsimile data received by the fax receiving unit,
The input of the print request is input of the facsimile data,
The printing apparatus, wherein the control unit predicts a time required for the preparation process for all the pages based on the facsimile data. In any one of Claims 2 thru | or 5,
When the control unit determines that the time required for the preparation process for all the pages cannot be predicted, the release timing is set as the timing when the preparation process for all the pages is completed. Printing device. In any one of Claims 2 thru | or 5,
The printing apparatus, wherein the control unit executes the second operation control when it is determined that the time required for the preparation process for all the pages cannot be predicted. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 7,
The printing apparatus, wherein the user can select which of the first operation control and the second operation control is to be executed by the control unit. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 8,
The printable state includes a standby state in which power is applied and the execution process is possible and the execution process is not performed, and a print state in which power is applied and the execution process is performed,
The controller is
When a print request is input in the power saving state, the power saving state is shifted from the power saving state to the printing state at the timing of releasing the power saving state, and all pages of the print request are continuously performed without taking the standby state. Then, the first operation control for executing the execution process is executed. Printing by print processing including print data preparation processing and print execution processing according to the print data, and control for switching between a print mechanism unit that performs printing, and a printable state and a power saving state of the print mechanism unit A control method of a printing apparatus comprising a control unit for performing
The control unit is
When a print request is input in the power saving state, a timing for releasing the power saving state is determined, and the power saving state is shifted from the power saving state to the printable state at the timing, and the printing mechanism unit is in a printable state. As soon as the first operation control is performed, the execution process is continuously performed on all pages of the print request.
The timing for releasing the power saving state is such that the end timing of the printing process by the first operation control causes the power saving state to be released after the printing request is input, and the preparation process is executed for each page. A control method for a printing apparatus, characterized in that it is determined to be the same as the end timing of the printing process by the second operation control that causes the execution process to be performed as soon as the preparation process is completed.

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