JP2014138342A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of ensuring a desired data transfer rate using a second storage device such as an SSD in combination while effectively utilizing a storage area of an HDD.SOLUTION: In writing image data in an HDD, the image data is preferentially written in a track on an outer peripheral side of a predetermined boundary track among a plurality of tracks in the HDD, and when the track on the outer peripheral side of the predetermined boundary track has no free area, the image data is stored in a second storage device having a data transfer rate higher than when the boundary track of the HDD is used.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using both an HDD and another storage device.

  Conventionally, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) having a low cost per capacity is used as a medium for storing a large amount of data such as image data. The data transfer speed of the HDD may decrease depending on the usage method, usage environment, and the like.

  As a method of maintaining a data transfer rate above a certain level even under the worst conditions of usage and usage environment, for example, by installing multiple HDDs and configuring a RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks) (in parallel) In other words, there is a method (RAID0 (striping)) that improves the data transfer rate (accelerates the data transfer). However, in RAID 0 (striping), the data transfer speed of the slowest HDD among the plurality of HDDs driven in parallel is multiplied by the number of HDDs to obtain the overall data transfer speed. If the data transfer rate decreases, the data transfer rate of the entire RAID 0 is greatly reduced as the data transfer rate decreases.

  If a RAID is configured with a large number of HDDs, it is possible to transfer data at a speed above a certain level even when the data transfer speed of each HDD is reduced. However, when a large number of HDDs are installed, Accordingly, an HDD main body and a SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) controller board are required, which increases costs.

  There is a method of using SSD (Solid State Drive) instead of HDD, but since SSD has a high cost per unit capacity, it is appropriate to store large capacity data such as image data using only SSD. Absent.

  Therefore, a plurality of methods have been proposed in which the storage device to be used is switched from the HDD to the SSD according to the conditions while usually using the HDD.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that various sensors cause temperature, vibration, shock, atmospheric pressure, remaining battery level, sound generated by HDD relative to sound pressure or background noise, or sound generated by a disk device, and the device is turned on. A method is disclosed in which environmental conditions such as time and disconnection are determined, and an HDD and an SSD are switched as a data storage destination in accordance with the determination result (or a user instruction) (Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-338691 A JP 2011-515727 A

  However, the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 describes a method of guaranteeing continuity of processing and data consistency by switching the data write destination to SSD when the operation of the HDD is unstable due to the surrounding environment. However, it does not deal with the problem that the data transfer speed of the HDD decreases.

  According to Patent Document 2, when random access is made to an HDD, it takes more time to transfer data than when sequential access is made. Discloses a method of writing to an SSD instead of an HDD (a method of switching a write destination in accordance with the type of data) (Patent Document 2). However, even when sequential access is performed to the HDD (when continuous data is written), as described above, the data transfer speed of the HDD may decrease depending on the usage method, usage environment, and the like.

  For example, the data transfer speed also changes depending on whether the data write location is the inner peripheral portion or the outer peripheral portion of the HDD (platter). That is, the data transfer speed becomes slower as the place where data is read / written approaches the inner periphery of the platter. Therefore, even when a desired data transfer rate can be achieved when data is read / written on the outer periphery of the platter, this may not be achieved when data is read / written on the inner periphery of the platter.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem, and an image that can ensure a desired data transfer speed by using a storage area of an HDD effectively and also using a second storage device such as an SSD. A forming apparatus is provided.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] An image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper based on image data;
An HDD for storing image data transferred to the image forming unit;
A second storage device;
A control unit for controlling the writing destination of the image data;
With
When writing image data to the HDD, the control unit writes the image data in preference to a track on the outer peripheral side from a predetermined boundary track among a plurality of tracks in the HDD, and the control unit writes the image data on the outer peripheral side from the boundary track. When there is no free space in the track, the inner periphery avoidance control for storing the data in the second storage device is performed,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the second storage device has a faster data transfer rate than when the boundary track of the HDD is used.

  In the above invention, when writing image data to the HDD, data is written in preference to a track on the outer peripheral side from a predetermined boundary track among a plurality of tracks in the HDD, and an empty area is written on a track on the outer peripheral side from the predetermined boundary track. If there is no image data, the image data is stored in the second storage device. As a result, the data transfer rate can be kept higher than the rate desired by the user. The image data may be written in order from the outer track to the inner track. The order of writing is not limited as long as writing is performed in preference to a track on the outer peripheral side from a predetermined boundary track.

[2] having a plurality of operation modes having different vibration intensities generated by the device;
The image forming apparatus according to [1], wherein the control unit changes the boundary track according to the operation mode.

  In the above invention, the boundary track is changed in accordance with a plurality of operation modes having different vibration intensities generated by the own device. For example, since the data transfer speed of an HDD decreases due to the influence of vibration, when executing an operation mode with a lot of vibration (strong), a boundary track serving as a reference for switching between the HDD and the second storage device is set on the outer peripheral side. Change to a track. Thereby, even if it receives to the influence of a vibration, a data transmission speed can be kept more than the speed which a user desires.

[3] The image forming apparatus according to [1] or [2], wherein the control unit performs the inner periphery avoidance control in a specific operation mode.

  In the above invention, the specific operation mode is, for example, a copy job, a PC (Personal Computer) print job, or the like, and the inner periphery avoidance control is performed when the specific operation mode is executed. If the inner periphery avoidance control is not performed, the outer track may be written to the outer track if the outer track is empty, and the inner track may be written only when the outer track is not empty. Even if the outer track is free, control may be performed so that writing is preferentially performed on the inner track. The write destination may be arbitrarily determined.

[4] In the second operation mode, the control unit performs control so that image data is stored with priority given to a track on an inner circumference side over a predetermined boundary track. [1] to [3] The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.

  In the above invention, when the second operation mode is executed, the image data is written with priority on the inner track even if the outer track is free from a predetermined boundary track. Thereby, it is possible to secure an empty area for writing image data when executing a specific operation mode, that is, a track on the outer peripheral side from a predetermined boundary track.

[5] An operation unit for receiving an operation from the user is further provided,
When the control unit receives an operation from the user that is highly likely to instruct execution of the third operation mode in which image data needs to be read at a predetermined data transfer speed or higher, the image data to be read is If it is stored in a track on the inner circumference side from the boundary track, the duplicate data that duplicates the image data is created in the second storage device,
The copy data is read from the second storage device when an operation to instruct execution of the third operation mode for reading the copy source image data of the copy data is received from the user. The image forming apparatus according to [3] or [4].

  In the above invention, when an operation with a high possibility of instructing execution of the third operation mode in which data needs to be read out at a predetermined data transfer speed or more is received from the user, the image data to be read out is read from the boundary track. If the image data is stored on the inner track, the copy data copied from the image data is stored in the second storage device, and the execution of the third operation mode for reading the copy source image data is instructed. When the operation is received from the user, the duplicate data is read from the second storage device. Since the copying of the image data is completed before the operation for instructing the execution of the third operation mode is received from the user, the substantial waiting time of the user can be reduced, and the image data is stored in the inner periphery of the HDD. Even when data is to be read out, the data transfer rate can be maintained at a speed higher than the user desires.

[6] The image forming apparatus according to [3], wherein the specific operation mode includes at least one of copying and PC printing.

[7] The HDD has a RAID configuration,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the image data is stored in the HDD by striping.

[8] The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the second storage device is an SSD.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to ensure a desired data transfer speed by using a storage area of the HDD effectively and using a second storage device such as an SSD together.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the image forming apparatus stores data. It is explanatory drawing which shows each track | truck in HDD, and the data transfer speed on the track | truck as a graph. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed when the image forming apparatus stores data. 5 is an operation mode table in which operation modes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus are described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing, in a graph, each track in the HDD and the data transfer speed on the track when there is little vibration and when there is much vibration. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed when the image forming apparatus stores data in the second embodiment. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing when data stored in an inner peripheral portion of an HDD is to be read in an operation mode that requires a data transfer rate that is equal to or higher than the productivity maintenance rate in the third embodiment. . It is explanatory drawing which shows the data flow in the case of trying to read the data preserve | saved at the inner peripheral part of HDD in the operation mode which requires the data transfer speed more than productivity maintenance speed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 that is connected to the CPU 11 through a bus 23, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13. , Nonvolatile memory 14, DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 15, display unit 16, operation unit 17, network I / F (Interface) unit 18, scanner unit 19, image processing unit 20, and printer unit 21, a facsimile communication unit 22, an SSD controller 30, an HDD controller 31, an SSD 32, and a storage unit 33 including four HDDs (HDD 1, HDD 2, HDD 3, HDD 4).

  The CPU 11 is based on an OS (Operating System) program, on which middleware and application programs are executed. Various programs are stored in the ROM 12, and each function of the image forming apparatus 10 such as job execution is realized by the CPU 11 executing processes according to these programs. The RAM 13 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 11 executes a program, an image memory for storing image data, and the like.

  The nonvolatile memory 14 is a rewritable memory (flash memory) that can retain memory even when the power is turned off. The nonvolatile memory 14 stores device-specific information and various setting information.

  The DMA controller 15 performs data transfer between two devices such as between the HDD controller 31 and the SSD controller 30 and between them and the CPU 11 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 11.

  The SSD controller 30 reads and writes data from and to the SSD 32 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 11. The SSD 32 is a non-volatile storage device and stores setting information that is frequently read. The data transfer rate of the SSD 32 is faster than the data transfer rate when a boundary track (to be described later) is used when data is stored in a RAID 0-configured HDD by striping. In addition, it is less susceptible to vibration and the like than HDD.

  The HDD controller 31 reads and writes data from and to the storage unit 33 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 11. The storage unit 33 includes a plurality of HDDs that are large-capacity nonvolatile storage devices. The HDD stores an OS program, various application programs, print data, image data, job history, setting history, and the like. In the present embodiment, four HDDs (HDD1, HDD2, HDD3, and HDD4) are provided, and when storing image data, a RAID0 (striping) method using the four HDDs is employed.

  The display unit 16 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) and the like, and has a function of displaying various operation screens, setting screens, and the like. The operation unit 17 has a function of accepting various operations such as job input and setting from the user. The operation unit 17 includes a touch panel that is provided on the screen of the display unit 16 and detects a pressed coordinate position, and includes a numeric keypad, a character input key, a print start start button, and the like.

  The network I / F unit 18 communicates with other external devices connected through a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The scanner unit 19 performs a function of optically reading a document and acquiring image data. The scanner unit 19 sequentially moves, for example, a light source that irradiates light on a document, a line image sensor that receives the reflected light for one line in the width direction, and a reading position in units of lines in the length direction of the document. An optical path composed of a lens, a mirror, and the like for guiding the reflected light from the document to the line image sensor to form an image, a conversion unit for converting the analog image signal output from the line image sensor into digital image data, etc. It is prepared for. In the present embodiment, the scanner unit 19 conveys a document by an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), thereby scanning the document while moving the document relative to the reading position (1 to 1 Scan) and the document. The original is read by any method of a reading form (platen scan) while being placed on the platen glass, and image data is acquired.

  The image processing unit 20 performs rasterization processing for converting print data into image data, image data compression and expansion processing, in addition to processing such as image enlargement / reduction and rotation.

  The printer unit 21 has a function of forming an image corresponding to image data on a recording sheet. Here, it has a recording paper transport device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, a cleaning device, a fixing device, and the like, and forms an image by an electrophotographic process. Is configured as a so-called laser printer (printer engine). The image formation may be an ink jet method or other methods. In the present embodiment, the printer unit 21 is capable of color printing. Note that when performing monochrome printing, the printing speed is faster than when performing color printing.

  The facsimile communication unit 22 controls operations related to facsimile transmission and reception.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, the four HDDs 1 to 4 included in the storage unit 33 constitute a RAID, and RAID 0 (striping) is performed when image data is stored. Striping is a method of reading and writing data in a distributed manner on a plurality of HDDs, and the processing speed (data transfer rate) can be increased as compared with the case where one HDD is used alone.

  When writing image data to the HDD (storage unit 33) in a specific operation mode, the CPU 11 determines a write destination so that data is sequentially written from the outer track to the inner track in sequential access. To do. Then, when the determined track is on the inner circumference side from a predetermined track (referred to as a boundary track), the write destination is changed and the image data is written to the SSD 32. Such control is referred to as inner circumference avoidance control.

  In the HDD, the data transfer speed becomes slower as the track gets closer to the inner circumference side. Therefore, when operating in a specific operation mode in which the data transfer speed falls below a predetermined value, By performing avoidance control, a decrease in data transfer speed is prevented.

  For example, when executing a print job (PC print job) received from the PC 40 (see FIG. 2), the speed at which the productivity of the image forming apparatus 10 is maintained, that is, the maximum printing speed on the specifications of the image forming apparatus 10 , Printing is required.

  In a PC print job, the received print data is developed into image data to create image data, and this image data is sequentially stored in the HDD. When the image data for one page is stored in the page memory, the printer unit 21 is instructed to print the page. For this reason, when the developed image data is transferred to the HDD or when the data transfer speed when reading the image data from the HDD to the page memory is low, the printer unit 21 waits for printing, and the productivity of the image forming apparatus 10 is increased. Will fall.

  Therefore, when executing a PC print job, the image data is stored by the inner periphery avoidance control described above. As a result, a data transfer rate above a certain level is maintained, and the productivity as the image forming apparatus 10 can be ensured. Jobs performed in a specific operation mode include a copy job in addition to the above PC print job. Hereinafter, the data transfer speed necessary for maintaining the productivity of the image forming apparatus 10 is referred to as the productivity maintenance speed.

  Each track of the HDD is assigned a track number such that the outermost track number is 0, and increments by 2, 3, 4,... A boundary track, which is a criterion for determining whether or not to change the write destination to the SSD 32, is designated by a track number. The track number of the boundary track is set as a threshold value N.

  FIG. 2 shows a data flow when the image forming apparatus 10 stores image data. The image data read by the scanner unit 19 and the image data received by the network I / F unit 18 from the PC 40 are normally stored in the storage unit 33 (by striping on four HDDs). When the CPU 11 operates in a specific operation mode, the image data storage destination is sequentially determined from the outer peripheral portion (outer track) to the inner peripheral portion (inner track) of the platter.

  Next, the track number Y of the determined write destination track is compared with the track number (threshold value N) of the boundary track described above. If the write destination track number Y is larger than the threshold value N, the write destination is set to the SSD 32. And the data is stored in the SSD 32.

  Even when the image data is being continuously written, when the track determined as the write destination becomes the inner circumference from the boundary track, the image data storage destination is changed to the SSD 32 from that point. It has become. It should be noted that there is a margin in the position of the boundary track (the margin track is set on the outer peripheral side), and once writing to the HDD is started, writing to the HDD is continued until the writing of the series of image data is completed. The write destination may be changed to the SSD 32 from the next time.

  FIG. 3A shows the relationship between a location (track) and data transfer speed when data is read from and written to the HDD. The horizontal axis indicates the track number, and the vertical axis indicates the data transfer rate. Each point that is dense in the upper part of the graph indicates the data transfer rate when four HDDs are striped in a RAID configuration, and each point that exists from the center to the lower part of the graph indicates the data transfer rate of one HDD. .

  As the place (track) for reading and writing advances to the inner circumference side, the data transfer speed becomes slower, and the data transfer speed on the inner circumference side track than the track P1 becomes slower than the productivity maintenance speed.

  FIG. 3B shows the data transfer rate when an SSD is used instead of the HDD on the inner circumference side from the track P2. The track P2 is set on the outer peripheral side with some margin than the track P1. The data transfer speed when reading from and writing to the SSD 32 is kept constant at a speed equal to or higher than the productivity maintenance speed, as shown by graph E in the figure. In this way, when the writing location is on the inner periphery side from the track P2, the data transfer rate can be maintained at a productivity maintenance rate or higher by changing the writing destination from the HDD to the SSD 32.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing write control executed when the image forming apparatus 10 stores image data. When image data is stored in a specific operation mode, inner circumference avoidance control is performed according to the writing destination of the image data.

  First, when saving image data, it is checked whether the operation mode to be executed is a specific operation mode (step S101). If it is not a specific operation mode (step S101; No), data is written in the memory | storage part 33 (HDD1-4) (step S102), and a process is complete | finished. When data is written in step S102, the data may be written on a track on the outer periphery of the HDD, or may be preferentially written on a track on the inner periphery side of the boundary track.

  Examples of the specific operation mode include jobs such as platen-to-copy and HDD-to-print. A detailed description of the operation mode (job) will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If it is a specific operation mode (step S101; Yes), when image data is preferentially written from the outer peripheral side of the HDD, a place (write destination) where the image data is to be written next is determined (step S103). Then, it is determined whether or not the write destination track is on the inner circumference from the boundary track (step S104).

  Specifically, the track number Y of the write destination track is compared with the track number (threshold N) of the boundary track. If the write destination track is not on the inner circumference side of the boundary track (step S104; No), the image data is written to the HDD (storage unit 33) (step S105), and the process is terminated.

  If the write destination track is on the inner circumference side of the boundary track (step S104; Yes), the image data is written to the SSD 32 (step S106), and the process is terminated.

  As described above, when image data is written to the HDD (storage unit 33) in a specific operation mode, if the write destination track is on the inner circumference side of the boundary track, the image data is stored in the SSD 32 instead of the HDD. save. As a result, the data transfer speed is maintained at or above the productivity maintenance speed, so that the productivity of the image forming apparatus 10 is maintained.

  The operation mode (job) will now be described. FIG. 5 shows an operation mode table 100 in which operation modes executable by the image forming apparatus 10 are registered. The operation mode table 100 includes an operation mode column 101, a detailed operation mode column 102, a productivity maintenance request column 103, a vibration level column 104, and a control method column 105. Further, for each operation mode that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 10, whether or not there is a request for a data transfer speed that is higher than the productivity maintenance speed, and the intensity of vibration (vibration level) generated by the image forming apparatus 10 when the operation mode is executed. And the control method in the operation mode are registered in association with each other.

  In the operation mode column 101, types of operation modes roughly classified are described. In this example, six types of multi-operation, copy, print, scan, HDD to xxx, and xxx to HDD are registered. Note that the contents of xxx are described in the corresponding detailed operation mode column 102.

  In the detailed operation mode column 102, individual operation modes included in each category shown in the operation mode column 101 are described. Here, in the first embodiment, control related to reading and writing of image data is changed based on individual operation modes as described in the detailed operation mode column 102.

Details of the individual operation modes (jobs) registered in the detailed operation mode column 102 are as follows.
<Operation Modes belonging to Multi Operation Item in Operation Mode Column 101>
1. Scan to HDD An operation mode in which image data read by the print scanner unit 19 is written to the HDD, and the data is read and printed.

<Operation mode belonging to copy item in operation mode column 101>
2. An operation mode in which a document conveyed by a 1 to 1 copy ADF is printed based on image data obtained by the scanner unit 19 reading the document.
3. Platen copy An operation mode in which printing is performed based on image data obtained by the scanner unit 19 reading a document set on a platen glass.

<Operation Modes belonging to Print Items in Operation Mode Column 101>
4. LAN print An operation mode in which print data received via a LAN is expanded into image data, stored in the HDD, and printed.
5. USB printing An operation mode in which print data read from a USB memory is expanded into image data, stored in the HDD, and printed.
6. HDD to print An operation mode in which print data read from the HDD is expanded into image data, stored in the HDD, and printed.
7. EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) print An operation mode in which print data read from a storage device (external storage device) on the EFI controller side is expanded into image data, stored in the HDD, and printed.

<Operation mode belonging to Scan item in operation mode column 101>
8, (1 to 1 Scan) to HDD
An operation mode in which image data obtained by the scanner unit 19 reading a document conveyed by the ADF is stored in the HDD.
9, (1 to 1 Scan) to E-mail
An operation mode in which image data obtained by the scanner unit 19 reading a document conveyed by the ADF is transmitted by e-mail.
10, (1 to 1 Scan) to EFI
An operation mode in which image data obtained by the scanner unit 19 reading a document conveyed by the ADF is stored in a storage device on the EFI controller side.
11, (Platen Scan) to HDD
An operation mode in which image data obtained by the scanner unit 19 reading a document set on the platen glass is stored in the HDD.
12, (Platen Scan) to E-mail
An operation mode in which image data obtained by the scanner unit 19 reading a document set on a platen glass is transmitted by e-mail.
13, (Platen Scan) to EFI
An operation mode in which image data obtained by the scanner unit 19 reading a document set on the platen glass is stored in a storage device on the EFI controller side.

<Operation modes belonging to the HDD to xxx item in the operation mode column 101>
14, HDD to print (2)
An operation mode in which image data stored in the HDD is read and printed.
15. HDD to PC (download)
An operation mode in which image data stored in the HDD is read and transmitted to the PC 40 (see FIG. 2).

<Operation modes belonging to the item xxx to HDD in the operation mode column 101>
16, PC (upload) to HDD
An operation mode in which data is received from the PC 40 and stored in the HDD.

  In the productivity maintenance request column 103, whether or not there is a request for a data transfer rate equal to or higher than the productivity maintenance rate is displayed for each operation mode described in the detailed operation mode column 102.

  “○” is displayed when there is a request, and “X” is displayed when there is no request. Since the operation mode indicated by ○ is an operation mode in which it is required to maintain productivity, it is necessary to secure a data transfer speed that is equal to or higher than the productivity maintenance speed in order to maintain productivity. Therefore, this operation mode is set as a specific operation mode for performing the above-described inner periphery avoidance control. When the image data is written in the HDD (storage unit 33) in this operation mode, the inner circumference avoidance control described above is performed. If the track determined as the write destination is on the inner circumference side from the boundary track, the data is stored. Control is performed to write to the SSD 32.

  The operation mode in which x is displayed in the productivity maintenance request column 103 is an operation mode in which it is not necessary to maintain productivity. Since the data transfer rate may be low, switching to the SSD 32 is not performed. Further, when data is written to the HDD (storage unit 33) in this operation mode, the data is positively written to a track on the inner circumference side from a predetermined track.

  In the control method column 105, for each operation mode described in the detailed operation mode column 102, a control method (data read / write method) of the HDD (storage unit 33) and the SSD 32 when executing a job in the operation mode. ). For example, in the operation modes belonging to the multi-operation, copy, and print items in the operation mode column 101, data is written from the outer peripheral portion of the HDD, and the control is switched to the SSD when the track reaches the inner peripheral side from a predetermined track. The method, that is, executing the inner periphery avoidance control is described. The description of the vibration level column 104 will be described later.

<Second Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, the boundary track serving as a threshold for switching between the HDD and the SSD 32 is changed according to the operation mode.

  When the image forming apparatus 10 stores data in the HDD (storage unit 33), the data transfer speed changes depending on the intensity of vibration generated in the image forming apparatus 10 during the storage. The stronger the vibration, the lower the data transfer speed of the HDD. Therefore, the location of the boundary track is changed to the outer track as the vibration generated when storing the data is stronger. As a result, even if the data transfer rate of the HDD (storage unit 33) decreases due to vibration, the productivity can be maintained by switching to the SSD 32 before falling below the productivity maintenance rate. Note that the data transfer rate of the SSD 32 does not change depending on the strength of vibration.

  Note that the intensity of vibration generated in the image forming apparatus 10 depends on the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 10, and therefore, the boundary track location (track number) is switched according to the operation mode. That is, the main vibration source of the image forming apparatus 10 is a mechanical operation part, mainly the scanner unit 19 and the printer unit 21. The strength of vibration in each operation mode is the scanner unit 19 in each operation mode. And whether or not the printer unit 21 is used and how it is used.

For example, when comparing a USB (Universal Serial Bus) print and a copy, the copy is more vibrated (stronger) as the scanner unit 19 is operated. Scan
When comparing the to HDD and the copy, there is more vibration (stronger) in the case of performing the copy as the printer unit operates. In the case of color printing and monochrome printing, vibration is increased (stronger) when monochrome printing is performed because the sheet passing speed is faster.

  FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the location (track) and the data transfer speed when reading / writing data from / to the HDD when the vibration generated by the image forming apparatus 10 is strong or weak.

  FIG. 6A shows a case where the vibration is weak, and FIG. 6B shows a case where the vibration is strong. In either case, the tendency of the data transfer speed to become slower as the location (track) for reading and writing advances toward the inner circumference is the same as in FIG. 3, but when the vibration is strong ((B) in the same figure) The data transfer speed in each track is slower than in the case where the signal is weak (FIG. 2A).

  In the graph 92 in FIG. 6A where the vibration is weak, the track P3 is a boundary track, and the write destination is changed to SSD on the inner peripheral side of the boundary track P3, thereby maintaining the data transfer speed at a productivity maintaining speed or higher. Is done.

  However, in the graph 93 of FIG. 6B where the vibration is strong, the data transfer speed is already lower than the productivity maintenance speed in the track on the outer peripheral side than the track P3. Therefore, in the graph 93, the track P4 on the outer peripheral side of the track P3 is set as the boundary track, and the image data to be written in the track on the inner peripheral side from the boundary track P4 is written in the SSD 32. As a result, the data transfer rate is maintained at or above the productivity maintenance rate.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating write control executed when the image forming apparatus 10 stores image data in the second embodiment. As in FIG. 4, when image data is stored in a specific operation mode, inner periphery avoidance control is performed according to the writing destination of the image data.

  First, when saving image data, it is checked whether or not the operation mode to be executed is a specific operation mode (step S201). If it is not a specific operation mode (step S201; No), data is written in the storage unit 33 (HDD1 to HDD4) (step S202), and the process is terminated. As in FIG. 4, when writing data in step S202, the data may be written on a track on the outer peripheral portion of the HDD, or may be written in preference to a track on the inner peripheral side of the boundary track.

  If it is a specific operation mode (step S201; Yes), when image data is preferentially written from the outer peripheral side of the HDD, a place (write destination) where the image data is to be written next is determined (step S203).

  Next, the location (track number) of the boundary track is switched according to the operation mode to be executed (step S204). Here, returning to FIG. 5 temporarily, details of the process of changing the location of the boundary track in accordance with the intensity of vibration will be described.

  In the actual machine vibration level column 104, for each operation mode described in the detailed operation mode column 102, a level indicating the strength of vibration generated by the image forming apparatus 10 when the operation mode is executed is displayed. Displayed at levels 1 to 7, “1” indicates that the vibration is strongest, and the larger the value, the weaker the vibration.

  In the second embodiment, the track number of the boundary track is preset and stored for each vibration level. Specifically, as the vibration level is closer to level 1 (the vibration is larger), the outer track number is set as the track number of the boundary track. When the operation mode to be executed is determined, the CPU 11 determines the track number stored in association with the vibration level of the operation mode as the track number of the boundary track when the operation mode is executed.

  In the operation mode for printing, the actual machine vibration level displayed in the vibration level column 104 is a value for color printing. When printing in monochrome printing, the displayed value is incremented by one. A boundary track is determined on the assumption that vibration of a vibration level is generated. However, when monochrome printing is performed in the operation mode in which the actual machine vibration level displayed in the vibration level column 104 is “1”, for example, the boundary track is further shifted to the outer peripheral side by a predetermined amount.

  Returning to FIG. 7, the description will be continued. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the write destination track is on the inner periphery of the boundary track (step S205). If the write destination track is not on the inner circumference side of the boundary track (step S205; No), the image data is written to the HDD (storage unit 33) (step S206), and the process is terminated.

  If the write destination track is on the inner circumference side of the boundary track (step S205; Yes), the image data is written to the SSD 32 (step S207), and the process is terminated.

  In the second embodiment, the vibration intensity (vibration level) generated by the image forming apparatus 10 is registered for each operation mode, and when a job is executed in an arbitrary operation mode, the vibration of the operation mode is registered. The boundary track according to the level is used. For example, the stronger the vibration, the lower the data transfer speed of the HDD. Therefore, when executing an operation mode in which strong vibration occurs, the boundary track is changed to the outer track. As a result, even if the data transfer rate of the HDD decreases due to vibration, the productivity can be maintained by switching to the SSD 32 before falling below the productivity maintenance rate.

<Third Embodiment>
When data is written in an operation mode in which the data transfer speed may be slower than the productivity maintenance speed, the data is preferentially written to a track on the inner periphery of the HDD (track on the inner periphery side from the boundary track). In some cases, the data written on the track on the inner periphery is read in an operation mode that requires a data transfer rate higher than the productivity maintenance rate. However, when data is read from the track on the inner periphery, the data transfer speed is less than the productivity maintenance speed.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, when an operation with a high possibility of instructing execution of an operation mode in which data needs to be read out at a data transfer rate equal to or higher than the productivity maintenance rate is received from the user, the operation is read. If the data is stored in a track on the inner circumference side of the boundary track of the HDD, the data to be read is copied and stored in the SSD 32, and when reading of the data to be read is instructed in the operation mode, the SSD 32 Read the duplicated data (replicated data) from. As a result, even if the data to be read is stored in the inner periphery of the HDD, the data transfer speed at the time of reading can be kept at a productivity maintaining speed or higher.

  As the operation mode for writing data to the track on the inner periphery, there are (1 to 1 Scan) to HDD, (Platen Scan) to HDD, PC (Upload) to HDD, etc. in the detailed operation mode column 102 of FIG. These operation modes perform only the operation of writing image data to the HDD, and do not require a data transfer speed higher than the productivity maintenance speed.

As an operation mode in which data needs to be read at a data transfer rate equal to or higher than the productivity maintenance rate, the HDD in the detailed operation mode column 102 in FIG.
to print (2).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing when image data is read out from the SSD 32 in the third embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a data flow until copy data is created in the SSD 32 and the data is read out. . The processing flow of FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the data flow of FIG.

  First, until an operation that has a high possibility of instructing execution of an operation mode in which data needs to be read at a data transfer rate equal to or higher than the productivity maintenance rate is received from the user (step S301; No), and when received (step S301; Yes), the storage location of the data to be read in the operation mode is specified (step S302).

  An operation with a high possibility of instructing execution of an operation mode in which data needs to be read at a data transfer speed equal to or higher than the productivity maintenance speed is, for example, causing the display unit 16 to display a preview of image data stored in the HDD. Operation.

  It is checked whether or not the storage location specified in step S302 is a track on the inner circumference side of the boundary track (step S303). If the storage location is not on the inner circumference side of the boundary track (step S303; No), the process is terminated.

  If the storage location is on the inner circumference side of the boundary track (step S303; Yes), the data to be read is read from the HDD and written to the SSD 32 (duplicate data is created) (step S304). The process of step S304 corresponds to S1 in the data flow of FIG.

Returning to FIG. Next, the process waits until an operation instructing execution of the operation mode in which the data to be read out needs to be read out at a data transfer speed equal to or higher than the productivity maintenance speed is received (step S305; No). The operation mode in which the above-described data to be read out needs to be read at a data transfer rate equal to or higher than the productivity maintenance rate is the HDD in the detailed operation mode column 102 in FIG.
to Print (2).

  When an operation for instructing execution of HDD to print (2) in which the copy source data is read in step S304 is accepted (step S305; Yes), the data copied from SSD 32 in step S304 is used instead of the read target data. When reading is performed (step S306) and printing is performed based on the duplicated data (step S307), the process is terminated.

  The process of step S306 corresponds to S2 in the data flow of FIG. The process of step S307 corresponds to S3 in the data flow of FIG.

  In step S305, if the operation for instructing execution of HDD to print (2) for reading the original data in step S304 is not accepted for a certain period of time, the copied data is deleted in step S304. The processing may be terminated.

In step S304 in FIG. 8, before the data duplication is completed on the SSD 32, the data to be read from the duplication source data in step S304 is read out.
to When an operation for instructing execution of print (2) is received, the data copied from the SSD 32 may be read after the copying is completed, or the copied data is read from the SSD 32 while continuing the copying process. You may start.

  In the present invention, when data is written to the HDD (storage unit 33) in an operation mode that requires a data transfer speed that is higher than the productivity maintenance speed, the track where the write is scheduled is on the inner circumference side than the predetermined track. If so, the data is stored in the SSD 32. As a result, the productivity of the image forming apparatus 10 is maintained because the data transfer speed is maintained at or above the productivity maintenance speed without adding an HDD.

  Even if the data transfer speed of the HDD decreases due to vibration, the data transfer speed can be kept higher than the productivity maintenance speed by changing the boundary track according to the strength of the vibration. The productivity of the image forming apparatus 10 is maintained.

  Furthermore, when an operation that is highly likely to instruct execution of an operation mode in which data needs to be read out at a data transfer speed that is higher than the productivity maintenance speed is received from the user, the data to be read out is a predetermined track on the HDD. If the data to be read is stored in the track on the inner periphery side, the data to be read is copied to the SSD 32 (duplicated data is created), and when the reading of the data to be read is instructed in the operation mode, the copied data Are read from the SSD 32. Since the copying of the image data is completed before the operation for instructing the reading is received from the user, the substantial waiting time of the user can be reduced, and the data written in the inner peripheral portion of the HDD is read. Even in such a case, the data transfer speed is maintained at or above the productivity maintenance speed, and thus the productivity of the image forming apparatus 10 is maintained.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the HDD (storage unit 33) and the SSD 32 are used together, but the SSD 32 may be replaced with another storage device. The storage device that can be replaced may be any storage device whose data transfer rate is higher than the data transfer rate in the case where the boundary track of the HDD in which RAID 0 is configured and data is stored is used.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus 10 includes four HDDs, and the four HDDs configure RAID 0. However, the number of HDDs included in the image forming apparatus 10 and the number of HDDs configuring RAID 0 are as follows. Not limited to this. RAID 0 may be configured with a larger number of HDDs. If a data transfer rate higher than the productivity maintenance rate can be secured, striping is not necessary.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, when writing continuous data, a track whose data transfer speed becomes equal to or lower than the productivity maintenance speed when the data is over is set as a boundary track, and the write destination is immediately switched to the SSD 32 when the data is over. However, in order to maintain a data transfer speed that is higher than the productivity maintenance speed even when writing is performed over the boundary track, the data transfer speed is higher than that of the track that is lower than the productivity maintenance speed. The track on the outer peripheral side may be used as a boundary track by a margin. In this case, at the start of data writing, if the track at the write start location is a track on the inner circumference side of the boundary track, the write destination is switched to SSD 32, but if the boundary track is exceeded during the continuous data writing, The continuous data may be written to the HDD until the end.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the boundary track is determined so that the data transfer speed does not fall below the productivity maintenance speed. However, if the data transfer speed desired by the user is equal to or higher than the productivity maintenance speed, this speed is reduced. You may decide not to fall below.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, when a specific operation mode is executed, the write destination is specified so that data is written in order from the outer periphery to the inner periphery of the HDD. However, there is an empty area in the outer periphery. For example, the configuration may be such that writing is performed on the outer peripheral portion and writing is performed on the inner peripheral portion if there is no space in the outer peripheral portion. In this configuration, the order of the writing is not limited as long as the writing is performed in preference to the outer peripheral track from the boundary track. When there is no free area in the outer peripheral portion (track on the outer peripheral side from the boundary track), control is performed so that data is stored in the SSD 32.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus 11 ... CPU
12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
14 ... Non-volatile memory 15 ... DMA storage (HDD1, HDD2, HDD3, HDD4, HDD5)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 ... Display part 17 ... Operation part 18 ... Network I / F part 19 ... Scanner part 20 ... Image processing part 21 ... Printer part 22 ... Facsimile communication part 23 ... Bus 30 ... SSD controller 31 ... HDD controller 32 ... SSD
33: Storage unit (HDD1, HDD2, HDD3, HDD4)
40 ... PC
92 ... Graph (weak vibration)
93 ... Graph (strong vibration)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Operation mode table 101 ... Operation mode column 102 ... Detailed operation mode column 103 ... Productivity maintenance request column 104 ... Vibration level column 105 ... Control method column

Claims (8)

An image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper based on image data;
An HDD for storing image data transferred to the image forming unit;
A second storage device;
A control unit for controlling the writing destination of the image data;
With
When writing image data to the HDD, the control unit writes the image data in preference to a track on the outer peripheral side from a predetermined boundary track among a plurality of tracks in the HDD, and the control unit writes the image data on the outer peripheral side from the boundary track. When there is no free space in the track, the inner periphery avoidance control for storing the data in the second storage device is performed,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the second storage device has a faster data transfer rate than when the boundary track of the HDD is used. It has a plurality of operation modes with different intensity of vibration generated by its own device,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the boundary track according to the operation mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs the inner periphery avoidance control in a specific operation mode. 4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein, in the second operation mode, control is performed so that image data is stored with priority given to a track on an inner circumference side with respect to a predetermined boundary track. 5. The image forming apparatus described in 1. It further includes an operation unit that receives an operation from the user,
When the control unit receives an operation from the user that is highly likely to instruct execution of the third operation mode in which image data needs to be read at a predetermined data transfer speed or higher, the image data to be read is If it is stored in a track on the inner circumference side from the boundary track, the duplicate data that duplicates the image data is created in the second storage device,
The copy data is read from the second storage device when an operation to instruct execution of the third operation mode for reading the copy source image data of the copy data is received from the user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the specific operation mode includes at least one of copying and PC printing. The HDD has a RAID configuration,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is stored in the HDD by striping. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second storage device is an SSD.

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