JP2018056887A - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method, allowing for shortening of stand-by time for the start of image formation processing when accepting a command of requesting storage and printing of image data.SOLUTION: A first processing unit 163 stores input image data D1 into RAM 161 when a command requesting storage and printing of the image data D1 is accepted. A printing control unit 164 reads the image data D1 from the RAM 161 and causes an image forming unit 13 to perform image forming processing based on the image data D1. A second processing unit 165 starts storage of the image data D1 into an auxiliary storage unit 15 simultaneously with or after the start of reading of the image data D1 from the RAM 161 by the printing control unit 164.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

  When image forming processing is performed based on image data of a document read by a scanner unit or image data of a document sent from a personal computer or the like via a network, the image data is stored in an auxiliary storage such as a hard disk. An image forming apparatus stored in the apparatus is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In the image forming apparatus, since the image data used for the image forming process is stored in the auxiliary storage device, when the image forming process is executed again based on the same image data after that, the auxiliary storage device The image data can be read and image forming processing can be executed.

JP 2002-44329 A

  However, in the image forming apparatus, during the first image forming process based on the image data, the image data is temporarily stored in the auxiliary storage device, and then the image data is transferred from the auxiliary storage device to the memory (main storage device). And image forming processing is executed based on the image data. Therefore, the waiting time until the image forming process is started becomes long.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of shortening a waiting time until an image forming process is started when an instruction to store and print image data is received. There is to do.

  An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a memory, an auxiliary storage unit, an image forming unit, an image input unit, a command receiving unit, a first processing unit, a print control unit, and a second process. A section. The image forming unit executes an image forming process based on the image data. The image input unit inputs the image data. The command receiving unit receives a specific command for requesting storage and printing of the image data. The first processing unit stores the image data input by the image input unit in the memory when the specific command is received by the command receiving unit. The print control unit reads the image data stored in the memory by the first processing unit from the memory, and causes the image forming unit to execute an image forming process based on the image data. The second processing unit starts saving the image data in the auxiliary storage unit at the same time or after the start of reading of the image data from the memory by the print control unit.

  An image forming method according to another aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including a memory, an auxiliary storage unit, an image forming unit that executes an image forming process based on image data, and an image input unit that inputs the image data. An image forming method. The image forming method includes a command receiving step, a first processing step, a printing control step, and a second processing step. In the command receiving step, a specific command for requesting storage and printing of the image data is received. In the first processing step, the image data input by the image input unit when the specific command is received in the command receiving step is stored in the memory. In the printing control step, the image data stored in the memory in the first processing step is read from the memory, and an image forming process based on the image data is executed by the image forming unit. In the second processing step, the storage of the image data in the auxiliary storage unit is started at the same time or after the reading of the image data from the memory is started in the printing control step.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of shortening a waiting time until an image forming process is started when an instruction for saving and printing image data is received. Is done.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of control processing executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of image data when an image forming process is executed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flow of image data when stored in the auxiliary storage unit in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an operation display unit 10, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 11, and an image reading unit 12 (an example of the “image input unit” of the present invention). , An image forming unit 13, a communication I / F 14 (an example of the “image input unit” of the present invention), an auxiliary storage unit 15, a control unit 16, and the like. Specifically, the image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and the like. The present invention is not limited to a multi-function machine, and can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, and a facsimile machine.

  The operation display unit 10 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays information, and an operation unit such as a touch panel and operation buttons that accept user operations.

  The ADF 11 is an automatic document conveyance device that includes a document setting unit, a conveyance roller, a document pressing unit, and a paper discharge unit, and conveys a document to be read by the image reading unit 12.

  The image reading unit 12 includes a document table, a light source, a mirror, an optical lens, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and can read an image of the document and output it as image data D1.

  The image forming unit 13 can execute an image forming process for forming an image on a sheet based on the image data D1 by an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. For example, when the image forming unit 13 is an electrophotographic image forming unit, the image forming unit 13 includes a photosensitive drum, a charger, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device.

  The communication I / F 14 complies with a predetermined communication protocol with an external facsimile apparatus or a host computer 2 such as a personal computer (see FIG. 3) via a communication network such as a telephone line, the Internet, or a LAN. It is a communication interface capable of executing communication processing.

  The auxiliary storage unit 15 is a non-volatile storage unit such as a hard disk or an EEPROM (registered trademark). The auxiliary storage unit 15 stores various control programs executed by the control unit 16, image data D1, and the like. The auxiliary storage unit 15 may be detachable from the image forming apparatus 1.

  The control unit 16 includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM 161 (see FIG. 3). The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which information such as a control program for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM 161 is a volatile or nonvolatile storage unit used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU. The RAM 161 is an example of the “memory” in the present invention. The RAM 161 can read and write data faster than the auxiliary storage unit 15. Note that the RAM 161 has a smaller storage capacity than the auxiliary storage unit 15 and is generally non-volatile. Therefore, when it is necessary to store the image data D1 temporarily or for a long period of time, it is generally stored in the auxiliary storage unit 15 instead of the RAM 161.

  Specifically, the control unit 16 includes a command receiving unit 162, a first processing unit 163, a print control unit 164, and a second processing unit 165. The control unit 16 functions as each of these processing units by executing various processes according to the control program. Moreover, the control part 16 may be provided with the electronic circuit which implement | achieves a part or some processing function of each of these process parts.

  By the way, when image forming processing is performed based on image data of a document read by a scanner unit or image data of a document sent from a personal computer or the like via a network, the image data is stored in a hard disk or the like. An image forming apparatus stored in an auxiliary storage device is known. In the image forming apparatus, since the image data used for the image forming process is stored in the auxiliary storage device, when the image forming process is executed again based on the same image data after that, the auxiliary storage device The image data can be read and image forming processing can be executed. However, in the image forming apparatus, in the first image forming process based on the image data, the image data is temporarily stored in the auxiliary storage device, and then the image data is transferred from the auxiliary storage device to the memory (main storage device). And image forming processing is executed based on the image data. Therefore, the waiting time until the image forming process is started becomes long. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the image forming process is started when a command for requesting storage and printing of the image data D1 is received by the configuration and operation described below. Can be shortened.

  The command receiving unit 162 receives a command (hereinafter referred to as “specific command”) for requesting storage and printing of the image data D1 (see FIG. 3). For example, the specific command may be input from the host computer 2 through the communication I / F 14 or may be input through the operation display unit 10.

  Note that the image data D1 to be stored and printed may be input to the image forming apparatus 1 through the communication I / F 14, for example. In this case, the communication I / F 14 corresponds to the “image input unit” of the present invention. Alternatively, the image data D1 may be input by reading an image of a document with the image reading unit 12. In this case, the image reading unit 12 corresponds to the “image input unit” of the present invention.

  In the following description, the case where the specific command and the image data D1 are input from the host computer 2 through the communication I / F 14 will be described.

  The first processing unit 163 stores the image data D1 input through the communication I / F 14 in the RAM 161 when the specific command is received by the command receiving unit 162 (see FIG. 3). Note that the image data D1 may be image data corresponding to an image for one page, or may be image data corresponding to an image for a plurality of pages. When the image data D1 is data corresponding to images for a plurality of pages, the first processing unit 163 stores the entire image data D1 corresponding to the images for the plurality of pages in the RAM 161. When the free space of the RAM 161 is insufficient, the first processing unit 163 stores, for example, the data for the first page or several pages of the image data D1 in the RAM 161 and the image data D1. Data for the remaining pages may be stored in the auxiliary storage unit 15.

  The print control unit 164 reads the image data D1 stored in the RAM 161 by the first processing unit 163 from the RAM 161, and causes the image forming unit 13 to execute an image forming process based on the image data D1 (see FIG. 3). If the specific command is a command that saves the image data D1 and prints a plurality of copies, the print control unit 164 stores the image data D1 stored in the RAM 161 by the first processing unit 163. Are repeatedly read by the number of copies, and the image forming section 13 is caused to repeatedly execute image forming processing based on the image data D1 by the number of copies.

  The print control unit 164 performs image formation based on the image data D1 stored in the auxiliary storage unit 15 by the second processing unit 165 in accordance with a predetermined specific operation (for example, a predetermined operation on the operation display unit 10). It is also possible to cause the unit 13 to re-execute the image forming process. Thus, the print control unit 164 causes the image forming unit 13 to re-execute the image forming process based on the image data D1 easily and quickly without retransmitting the image data D1 from the host computer 2 to the image forming apparatus 1. be able to.

  The second processing unit 165 starts saving the image data D1 in the auxiliary storage unit 15 at the same time or after the printing control unit 164 starts reading the image data D1 from the RAM 161 (see FIG. 4). . In addition, when the image forming process for a plurality of pages is executed in the image forming unit 13 based on the image data D1, the second processing unit 165, for example, at least the first page of the plurality of pages in the image data D1. After the data corresponding to the page is read from the RAM 161 by the print control unit 164, the storage of the image data D1 in the auxiliary storage unit 15 is started.

  If the free capacity of the auxiliary storage unit 15 is insufficient to store the image data D1, the second processing unit 165 interrupts the image forming process based on the image data D1 by the image forming unit 13. Instead, a predetermined error process may be executed. For example, the second processing unit 165 may display a message on the operation display unit 10 as the error process, “Image data was not saved because there is not enough free space in the auxiliary storage unit”.

  Next, an example of the procedure of the control process executed by the control unit 16 will be described as an example of the image forming method of the present invention with reference to FIG. Here, steps S11, S12,... Represent the numbers of processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 16. The control process is started in response to, for example, the power supply of the image forming apparatus 1 being turned on, and then ended in response to the power supply of the image forming apparatus 1 being turned off.

<Step S11>
First, in step S11 (an example of the “command receiving step” in the present invention), the control unit 16 (command receiving unit 162) receives the specific command, that is, a command for requesting storage and printing of the image data D1. Determine whether. If it is determined that the specific command has been input (S11: Yes), the process proceeds to step S12. On the other hand, if it is determined that the specific command has not been input (S11: No), the process proceeds to step S18.

<Step S12>
In step S12 (an example of the “first processing step” in the present invention), the control unit 16 (first processing unit 163) stores the image data D1 input through the communication I / F 14 in the RAM 161 (see FIG. 3). .

<Step S13>
In step S13 (an example of the “printing control step” of the present invention), the control unit 16 (printing control unit 164) reads the image data D1 stored in the RAM 161 in step S12 from the RAM 161 and sends it to the image forming unit 13. An image forming process based on the image data D1 is executed (see FIG. 3).

<Step S14>
In step S <b> 14, the control unit 16 (second processing unit 165) determines whether data corresponding to the first page in the image data D <b> 1 has been read from the RAM 161 by the print control unit 164. If it is determined that the data corresponding to the first page has been read (S14: Yes), the process proceeds to step S15. On the other hand, if it is determined that the data corresponding to the first page has not yet been read (S14: No), the process of step S14 is performed until it is determined that the data corresponding to the first page has been read. Is repeated.

<Step S15>
In step S15, the control unit 16 (second processing unit 165) determines whether or not the free capacity of the auxiliary storage unit 15 is sufficient to store the image data D1. When it is determined that the free space in the auxiliary storage unit 15 is sufficient (S15: Yes), the process proceeds to step S16. On the other hand, when it is determined that the free capacity of the auxiliary storage unit 15 is insufficient (S15: No), the process proceeds to step S17.

<Step S16>
In step S16 (an example of “second processing step” in the present invention), the control unit 16 (second processing unit 165) starts saving the image data D1 in the auxiliary storage unit 15 (see FIG. 4). Then, the process proceeds to step S18.

<Step S17>
In step S <b> 17, the control unit 16 (second processing unit 165) executes a predetermined error process. For example, the control unit 16 displays on the operation display unit 10 a message “Image data was not saved because there is not enough free space in the auxiliary storage unit”. Then, the process proceeds to step S18.

<Step S18>
In step S <b> 18, the control unit 16 (print control unit 164) determines whether or not a command for requesting reprinting (hereinafter referred to as “reprint command”) is input. For example, the control unit 16 determines that the reprint command is input when a predetermined operation is performed on the operation display unit 10. If it is determined that the reprint command is input (S18: Yes), the process proceeds to step S19. On the other hand, if it is determined that the reprint command has not been input (S18: No), the process returns to step S11.

<Step S19>
In step S19, the control unit 16 (printing control unit 164) expands the image data D1 stored in the auxiliary storage unit 15 (that is, the image data D1 stored in the auxiliary storage unit 15 in step S16) in the RAM 161. To do.

<Step S20>
In step S20, the control unit 16 reads the image data D1 developed in the RAM 161 in step S19 from the RAM 161, and causes the image forming unit 13 to re-execute image forming processing based on the image data D1. Then, the process returns to step S11.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the specific command is received, the input image data D1 is not temporarily stored in the auxiliary storage unit 15 and then expanded in the RAM 161, but is input to the image. The data D1 is directly stored in the RAM 161, and an image forming process based on the image data D1 is started. That is, in the present embodiment, when the specific command is received, the image forming process is started without waiting for the image data D1 stored in the auxiliary storage unit 15 to be expanded in the RAM 161. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the waiting time until the image forming process is started when a command for requesting storage and printing of the image data D1 (the specific command) is received. is there.

  In the present embodiment, saving of the image data D1 in the auxiliary storage unit 15 is started at the same time or after the start of reading of the image data D1 from the RAM 161 by the print control unit 164. That is, in the present embodiment, the image forming process is started without waiting for the image data D1 to be stored in the auxiliary storage unit 15. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the waiting time until the image forming process is started when a command for requesting storage and printing of the image data D1 (the specific command) is received. is there.

  Note that when the print control unit 164 reads the image data D1 from the RAM 161 and the image data D1 is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 15 at the same time, the print control unit 164 reads the image data D1 from the RAM 161. There is a possibility that the reading speed of the image data D1 by the print control unit 164 may be reduced as compared with the case where only the data is performed. However, like step S14, after the data corresponding to the first page in the image data D1 is read from the RAM 161 by the print control unit 164, the storage of the image data D1 in the auxiliary storage unit 15 is started. This prevents a decrease in the reading speed of data corresponding to the first page in the image data D1. Thereby, it is possible to shorten the waiting time until the image forming process is started.

  The storage of the image data D1 in the auxiliary storage unit 15 may be started after data corresponding to all pages in the image data D1 is read from the RAM 161 by the print control unit 164. Furthermore, the storage of the image data D1 in the auxiliary storage unit 15 may be started after the image forming process based on the image data D1 is completed.

  In the present embodiment, when the specific command is accepted, even if the free capacity of the auxiliary storage unit 15 is insufficient to store the image data D1, the image formed by the image forming unit 13 The image forming process based on the data D1 is not interrupted. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when a command for requesting storage and printing of the image data D1 is received, the free capacity of the auxiliary storage unit 15 is insufficient to store the image data D1. However, at least the printing process can be executed. Similarly, when a command for saving the image data D1 and printing a plurality of copies is received, similarly, even if the free capacity of the auxiliary storage unit 15 is insufficient to save the image data D1. It is possible to execute printing processing for at least the plurality of copies.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the image data D1 received from the host computer 2 is stored and printed (printed) has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an image of a document read by the image reading unit 12 The present invention can also be applied when data D1 is stored and printed (copied).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Host computer 13 Image forming part 15 Auxiliary memory | storage part 16 Control part 161 RAM
162 Command reception unit 163 First processing unit 164 Print control unit 165 Second processing unit D1 Image data

Claims (6)

Memory,
An auxiliary storage unit;
An image forming unit that executes image forming processing based on image data;
An image input unit for inputting the image data;
A command receiving unit that receives a specific command for requesting storage and printing of the image data;
A first processing unit that stores the image data input by the image input unit in the memory when the specific command is received by the command receiving unit;
A print control unit that reads out the image data stored in the memory by the first processing unit from the memory and causes the image forming unit to execute an image forming process based on the image data;
A second processing unit that starts saving the image data in the auxiliary storage unit at the same time or after the start of reading of the image data from the memory by the print control unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The second processing unit is data corresponding to at least a first page of the plurality of pages in the image data when image forming processing for a plurality of pages is executed in the image forming unit based on the image data. Is started from the memory by the print control unit, and then starts storing the image data in the auxiliary storage unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. When the specific command is a command for saving the image data and requesting to print a plurality of copies, the print control unit can store the image data stored in the memory by the first processing unit. And repeatedly reading out the image forming unit based on the image data.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The second processing unit, in advance, without interrupting the image forming process based on the image data by the image forming unit when the free capacity of the auxiliary storage unit is insufficient to store the image data. Perform prescribed error handling,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The print control unit causes the image forming unit to re-execute image forming processing based on the image data stored in the auxiliary storage unit by the second processing unit in accordance with a predetermined specific operation.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming method in an image forming apparatus including a memory, an auxiliary storage unit, an image forming unit that executes image forming processing based on image data, and an image input unit that inputs the image data,
A command receiving step for receiving a specific command for requesting storage and printing of the image data;
A first processing step of storing, in the memory, the image data input by the image input unit when the specific command is received in the command receiving step;
A printing control step of reading the image data stored in the memory in the first processing step from the memory and causing the image forming unit to execute an image forming process based on the image data;
A second processing step for starting the storage of the image data in the auxiliary storage unit simultaneously with or after the start of reading of the image data from the memory in the printing control step;
An image forming method comprising:

Images