JP2017049292A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a reduction in first print time together with image formation at a proper temperature.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: a fixing heater control part that heats a fixing heater; and an image formation control part that supplies a primary heating request for heating the fixing heater to a first fixing temperature to the fixing heater control part, analyzes the colors of a document image to be formed into an image and determines to execute, on the basis of a result of the color analysis, which one of a first image formation mode of performing image formation by using the fixing heater heated to the first fixing temperature and a second image formation mode of performing image formation by using the fixing heater heated to a second fixing temperature higher than the first fixing temperature, and when determining to execute the second image formation mode, supplies a secondary heating request for further heating the fixing heater heated to the first fixing temperature to the second fixing temperature, to the fixing heater control part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention is an image forming method capable of selectively executing a monochrome image forming mode in which an image is formed using a fixing heater heated to a low temperature and a color image forming mode in which an image is formed using a fixing heater heated to a high temperature. Relates to the device.

  An image forming apparatus capable of selectively executing a monochrome image forming mode in which an image is formed using a fixing heater heated to a low temperature and a color image forming mode in which an image is formed using a fixing heater heated to a high temperature is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). As such image forming apparatuses become more sophisticated, it is increasingly required to shorten the first print time (the time from the image formation request to the discharge of the first sheet (first page)).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-344639 JP 2008-008936 A

  According to Patent Document 1, the data transfer speed input from an external device is measured, and the drive start time of the motor system and the heater system in the image forming apparatus is estimated and driven from the measured value and the size of the image memory. Minimize print waiting time (see abstract). However, according to this technique, the control of the fixing temperature is started before the data itself is acquired. For this reason, the predicted fixing temperature is different from the fixing temperature suitable for the actual data, and there is a possibility that an image of a desired quality may not be formed, or more power than necessary may be consumed.

  According to Patent Document 2, the fixing temperature is controlled to a fixing temperature for single color printing when the power is turned on, and the fixing temperature is switched to the fixing temperature for full color printing in response to an external input related to full color printing. Item 1). However, according to this technology, even if the actual print target is a single color original, if the external input is related to full color printing, the single color original is printed at the fixing temperature for full color printing. As a result, there is a possibility that an image of a desired quality may not be formed, and there is a possibility that more power than necessary is consumed.

  In view of the circumstances as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of realizing both shortening of a first print time and image formation at an appropriate temperature.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes:
A fixing heater controller for heating the fixing heater;
A primary heating request for heating the fixing heater to the first fixing temperature is supplied to the fixing heater controller.
From the first image forming mode for performing image analysis using the fixing heater heated to the first fixing temperature based on the color analysis result, and the first fixing temperature based on the color analysis result. Determining which of the second image forming modes for performing image formation using the fixing heater heated to a high second fixing temperature;
When the second image forming mode is determined, a secondary heating request for further heating the fixing heater heated to the first fixing temperature to the second fixing temperature is supplied to the fixing heater control unit. And an image formation control unit.

  According to this embodiment, the fixing heater is heated in two stages. Specifically, first, the fixing heater is heated in advance to the first fixing temperature (low temperature). Subsequently, it heats to 2nd fixing temperature (high temperature). Thus, in the first image forming mode, an image can be formed immediately using a fixing heater preheated to the first fixing temperature. In the second image forming mode, it is necessary to additionally heat up to the second fixing temperature. However, since the fixing heater is preheated to the first fixing temperature, the heating is performed as compared with the case of heating in one step. As a result, the time until the start of image formation is shortened. As a result, in both the first image forming mode and the second image forming mode, an image can be formed at an appropriate fixing temperature, and at the same time, the first print time can be shortened.

The image forming apparatus further includes a paper feed control unit that primarily feeds paper from the cassette to the registration unit,
When the image forming control unit supplies a primary sheet feeding request for causing the sheet feeding control unit to perform the primary sheet feeding to the sheet feeding control unit, the primary image reading is completed before the reading of the document image is completed. A heating request is supplied to the fixing heater controller.

  According to this embodiment, in the first print in which paper is fed from the cassette at an earlier timing than usual, the fixing heater is preheated to the first fixing temperature (low temperature) before the reading of the original image is completed. . Thereby, the first print time can be shortened.

The paper feed control unit causes the primary fed paper to be secondary fed from the registration unit to the transfer unit,
When the image forming control unit determines that the second image forming mode is set, the image forming control unit supplies a second sheet feeding request to the sheet feeding control unit to cause the sheet feeding control unit to perform the second sheet feeding. The next heating request is supplied to the fixing heater controller.

  According to the present embodiment, in the second image forming mode, the fixing heater is changed from the first fixing temperature (low temperature) to the second fixing temperature (high temperature) when the paper is supplied to the transfer unit in the first print. Heat. Thereby, it is possible to heat to the second fixing temperature at the timing when the image formation on the sheet is actually started.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce both the first print time and the image formation at an appropriate temperature.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the MFP according to the embodiment. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the MFP. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the MFP. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the MFP.

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

(1. Hardware configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus (Multifunction Peripheral, hereinafter referred to as MFP) according to an embodiment.
The MFP 10 includes a control unit 11. The control unit 11 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a dedicated hardware circuit, and the like, and governs overall operation control of the MFP 10. A computer program that causes the MFP 10 to function as each functional unit (described later) is stored in a non-transitory storage medium such as a ROM.

  The control unit 11 is connected to the document reading unit 12, the image processing unit 102, the image memory 15, the engine control unit 14, the image forming unit 16, the operation unit 17, the storage unit 18, the communication control unit 19, and the like. The control unit 11 performs operation control of each of the above connected units and transmission / reception of signals or data to / from each unit.

  The control unit 11 operates for each function such as a scanner function, a print function, and a copy function function in accordance with a job execution instruction input from the user through the operation unit 17 or a personal computer (not shown) connected via a network. Controls the drive and processing of the mechanisms necessary to perform the control.

  The document reading unit 12 reads an image from a document.

  The engine control unit 14 controls the hardware of the image forming unit 16.

  The image memory 15 is an area for temporarily storing document image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit 12 and temporarily storing data to be printed by the image forming unit 16.

  The image forming unit 16 forms an image such as image data read by the document reading unit 12.

  The operation unit 17 includes a touch panel unit and operation key units that receive instructions from the user regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the MFP 10. The touch panel unit includes a display unit 17a such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) provided with a touch panel.

  The communication control unit 19 is an interface for connecting to the network N.

  The storage unit 18 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD that stores an original image read by the original reading unit 12.

(2. Functional configuration of MFP)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the MFP 10.
The MFP 10 includes an image formation control unit 101, an image processing unit 102, a counter unit 103, an engine control unit 14, and an image formation unit 16. Specifically, the engine control unit 14 includes a fixing heater control unit 141, a paper feed control unit 142, and a motor control unit 143.

  The image formation control unit 101 supplies a load request for loading image data to the image processing unit 102. The image formation control unit 101 reads the loaded image data from the image memory 15, performs color analysis on the read image data, acquires color analysis information, and determines the image formation color information. In addition, the image formation control unit 101 supplies a request for controlling each hardware unit of the image forming unit 16 to the engine control unit 14.

  The image processing unit 102 performs image processing on the image data of the image read by the document reading unit 12 as necessary. For example, the image processing unit 102 performs image processing such as shading correction in order to improve the quality after the image read by the document reading unit 12 is formed. When acquiring a load request from the image formation control unit 101, the image processing unit 102 loads image data into the image memory 15.

  The image forming unit 16 typically includes a cassette, a resist unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper discharge unit in this order from upstream to downstream (not shown).

  The fixing heater control unit 141 heats the fixing heater of the fixing unit in response to a request from the print control unit 101.

  The paper feed control unit 142 feeds paper from the cassette to the registration unit in response to a request from the print control unit 101.

  The motor control unit 143 feeds the paper from the registration unit to the transfer unit in response to a request from the print control unit 101.

  The counter unit 103 updates the count information.

(3. Operation of MFP)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the MFP 10. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the MFP 10.
When the document reading unit 12 starts reading an image from the document, the image formation control unit 101 supplies a load request for loading image data of the first page of the read image to the image processing unit 102 ( Step S1). When the image processing unit 102 acquires a load request from the image formation control unit 101, the image processing unit 102 starts to load image data into the image memory 15 (step S2).

  When supplying the load request, the image formation control unit 101 supplies the primary heating request to the fixing heater control unit 141. The “primary heating request” is a request for heating the fixing heater to the first fixing temperature. The “first fixing temperature” is a fixing temperature for forming a monochrome image, and is lower than a fixing temperature for forming a color image (second fixing temperature described later).

  The image formation control unit 101 further supplies a primary paper feed request to the paper feed control unit 142 (step S3). The “primary paper feed request” is a request for feeding paper from the cassette to the registration unit. The “primary paper feed request” describes that the image formation target is the first page and the paper size, paper type, and color setting information (color or monochrome). Each information (paper size, paper type, color setting information) described in “primary paper feed request” is set in advance by the user using the operation unit 17 of the MFP 10 or a personal computer that can communicate with the MFP 10. is there.

  When the fixing heater control unit 141 obtains the primary heating request from the print control unit 101, the fixing heater control unit 141 heats the fixing heater to the first fixing temperature (step S4).

  When acquiring the primary paper feed request from the print controller 101, the paper feed controller 142 feeds the paper from the cassette to the registration unit (step S5).

  On the other hand, when the image processing unit 102 completes loading the image data of the first page into the image memory 15, the image processing unit 102 supplies a load completion notification to the image formation control unit 101 (step S6).

  When the image formation control unit 101 acquires the load completion notification, the image formation control unit 101 reads the loaded image data from the image memory 15. The image formation control unit 101 performs color analysis on the read image data, and acquires color analysis information (color, monochrome, blank paper) (step S7). The “color analysis information” is information obtained by actually analyzing the color of the image data, and is information independent of the “color setting information” which is information set by the user. The image formation control unit 101 compares the color setting information with the color analysis information, and determines the image formation color information based on the result (step S8). “Image forming color information” is color information (color, monochrome, blank paper) when an image is actually formed.

The relationship between “color setting information” and “color analysis information” will be described. The relationship between “color setting information” and “color analysis information” can be the following six types.
(1) Color setting information: Color Color analysis information: Color (2) Color setting information: Color Color analysis information: Monochrome (3) Color setting information: Color Color analysis information: Blank paper (4) Color setting information: Monochrome Color analysis information : Color (5) Color setting information: Monochrome Color analysis information: Monochrome (6) Color setting information: Monochrome Color analysis information: Blank paper

  In (1) and (5), the color setting information is the same as the color analysis information. On the other hand, (2), (3), (4), and (6) differ in color setting information and color analysis information (color mismatch). Consider (2), (3), (4) and (6) where color mismatch occurred. In general, the color image formation cost is higher than the monochrome image formation cost. Considering the image forming cost, in the case of (2), it is considered that the user desires to form a monochrome image based on the actual color analysis information (monochrome) even if the color is set as the color setting information. On the other hand, in view of the image formation cost, in the case of (4), even if the color analysis information is color, the user can form an image in monochrome based on the color setting information (monochrome) intentionally set by the user. Is thought to want. In the case of (3) and (6), in view of the image formation cost, it is considered that the user desires to discharge blank paper without performing image formation regardless of the color setting information.

In view of the above, the image formation control unit 101 determines the image formation color information as follows based on the comparison result between the color setting information and the color analysis information (step S8).
In the case of (1), in the case of image formation color information: color (2), in the case of image formation color information: monochrome (3), in the case of image formation color information: blank paper (4), image formation color information: monochrome (5) ) Image formation color information: monochrome (6), image formation color information: blank paper

  The image formation control unit 101 supplies a secondary heating request to the fixing heater control unit 141 when the image formation color information (step S8) is “color”. The “secondary heating request” is a request for heating the fixing heater to the second fixing temperature. The “second fixing temperature” is a fixing temperature for forming a color image, and is higher than the fixing temperature for forming a monochrome image (the first fixing temperature).

  The image formation control unit 101 further supplies a secondary paper feed request to the color transfer position to the motor control unit 143 (step S9). The “secondary paper feed request” is a request for feeding paper from the registration unit to the transfer unit.

  When acquiring the secondary heating request from the print control unit 101, the fixing heater control unit 141 heats the fixing heater to the second fixing temperature (step S10).

  When the motor control unit 143 receives the secondary paper feed request from the print control unit 101 to the color transfer position, the motor control unit 143 feeds the paper from the registration unit to the color transfer position of the transfer unit. Control is performed (step S11). The image forming unit 16 forms a color image on the sheet fed to the color transfer position of the transfer unit using the fixing heater heated to the second fixing temperature (step S10) (step S12).

  On the other hand, when the image formation color information (step S8) is “monochrome”, the image formation control unit 101 supplies a secondary paper feed request to the monochrome transfer position to the motor control unit 143 (step S13). That is, the image formation control unit 101 does not output “secondary heating request” when the image formation color information is “monochrome”.

  When the motor control unit 143 receives the secondary paper feed request from the print control unit 101 to the monochrome transfer position, the motor control unit 143 feeds the paper from the registration unit to the monochrome transfer position of the transfer unit, and forms a monochrome image. Control is performed (step S14). The image forming unit 16 forms a monochrome image on the sheet fed to the monochrome transfer position of the transfer unit using the fixing heater heated to the first fixing temperature (step S4) (step S15).

  When completing the image formation, the image forming unit 16 supplies a count-up notification to the image control unit 101 (step S16). The “count-up notification” describes whether monochrome or color image formation has been performed (image formation color information) and the number of images on which image formation has been performed.

  When acquiring the count-up notification, the image control unit 101 outputs a count information update request to the counter unit 103 (step S17). The “count information update request” is a request for updating the count information with information (image forming color information, number of sheets) included in the count-up notification.

  Upon obtaining the count information update request, the counter unit 103 updates the count information with information (image forming color information, number of sheets) included in the count up notification (step S18). “Count information” is used, for example, when the number limit is set for color or monochrome image formation.

  On the other hand, when the image formation color information (step S8) is “blank”, the image formation control unit 101 discharges the blank without performing image formation (step S19).

(4. Summary)
According to this embodiment, the fixing heater is heated in two stages in the first print in which paper is fed from the cassette at a timing earlier than usual. Specifically, before the loading of the original image is completed, the fixing heater is preheated to the first fixing temperature (for monochrome image formation, low temperature) during primary paper feeding (from the cassette). Next, the second fixing temperature (for color image formation, high temperature) is heated at the time of secondary paper feeding (from the resist portion). Thereby, at the time of monochrome image formation, an image can be formed immediately after secondary paper feeding using a fixing heater preheated to the first fixing temperature. During color image formation, it is necessary to additionally heat to the second fixing temperature, but since the fixing heater is preheated to the first fixing temperature, the heating time is shorter than when heating in one step. As a result, the time until the start of image formation is shortened. In other words, the image can be heated to the second fixing temperature at the timing when image formation on the sheet is actually started. As a result, in both monochrome image formation and color image formation, an image can be formed at an appropriate fixing temperature, and at the same time, the first print time can be shortened.

  According to this embodiment, the image formation color information is determined based on the comparison result between the color setting information and the color analysis information, and the fixing temperature suitable for the image formation color information and the feeding position of the transfer unit are selected. As a result, even if a color mismatch (color setting information and color analysis information differ) occurs, the fixing temperature suitable for the color setting (color or monochrome) for actually forming an image and the paper feed position of the transfer unit are set. Can be selected. Furthermore, since the count information is updated based on the image forming color information, erroneous counting can be avoided.

(5. Modifications)
In the above embodiment, the image formation control unit 101 compares the color setting information with the color analysis information, and determines the image formation color information based on the result (step S8). Alternatively, the image formation control unit 101 may use the color analysis information as it is as the image formation color information without comparing the color setting information and the color analysis information. In particular, for example, when the number limit is not set for color or monochrome image formation, there is no problem even if the color analysis information is used as the image formation color information as it is.

  According to this modification, since the comparison between the color setting information and the color analysis information is omitted, the image formation control unit 101 can output the secondary heating request and the secondary paper feed request as soon as possible ( Step S9). As a result, the fixing heater can be quickly heated to the second fixing temperature to feed the transfer portion. As a result, the first print time when forming a color image can be further shortened.

10 ... MFP
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Document reading part 14 ... Engine control part 15 ... Image memory 16 ... Image formation part 101 ... Image formation control part 102 ... Image processing part 103 ... Counter part 141 ... Fixing heater control part 142 ... Paper feed control part 143 ... Motor control Part

Claims (3)

A fixing heater controller for heating the fixing heater;
A primary heating request for heating the fixing heater to the first fixing temperature is supplied to the fixing heater controller.
Color analysis is performed on a document image to be image-formed, and based on the color analysis result, a first image forming mode in which image formation is performed using the fixing heater heated to the first fixing temperature and higher than the first fixing temperature. Determining which of the second image forming modes for performing image formation using the fixing heater heated to the second fixing temperature,
When the second image forming mode is determined, a secondary heating request for further heating the fixing heater heated to the first fixing temperature to the second fixing temperature is supplied to the fixing heater control unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming control unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
A paper feed control unit that primarily feeds paper from the cassette to the registration unit;
When the image forming control unit supplies a primary sheet feeding request for causing the sheet feeding control unit to perform the primary sheet feeding to the sheet feeding control unit, the primary image reading is completed before the reading of the document image is completed. An image forming apparatus for supplying a heating request to the fixing heater control unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The paper feed control unit causes the primary fed paper to be secondary fed from the registration unit to the transfer unit,
When the image forming control unit determines that the second image forming mode is set, the image forming control unit supplies a second sheet feeding request to the sheet feeding control unit to cause the sheet feeding control unit to perform the second sheet feeding. An image forming apparatus for supplying a next heating request to the fixing heater control unit.

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