JP2019171608A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus which can improve the convenience of executing printing jobs with different degrees of urgency in an environment of sharing the image formation apparatus.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus 100 shifts between the operation state of executing various operations and the idle state different from the operation state. A communication unit 50 receives a printing instruction from an external terminal device E. The various operations include the operation of forming the image by an image formation unit 60. The normal printing instruction NS out of the printing instructions has printing job information indicating the normal print image. The idle printing instruction DS out of the printing instructions has idle printing tag information and printing job information indicating the idle print image. A control unit 10 determines whether the printing instruction is the idle printing instruction DS or the normal printing instruction NS on the basis of the presence/absence of the idle printing tag information. The control unit 10 controls the image formation unit 60 so as to form the idle print image on the sheet in the idle state when determining that the printing instruction is the idle printing instruction DS.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  Computer systems that schedule job execution are known. As such a computer system, the job scheduling apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 acquires a resource amount required for job execution and an estimated execution time required for job execution from the job to be scheduled. The job scheduling apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 searches for free time from reservation information indicating a resource usage state. According to the job scheduling apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to reserve execution of a job by assigning a job to be scheduled to a free time.

JP2012-73690A

  However, since the job scheduling apparatus described in Patent Document 1 assigns a job to a vacant time based on the resource amount acquired from the job and the expected execution time, there is a possibility that execution of a job with high urgency for the user is delayed. is there. Therefore, in an environment where a device that executes jobs is shared and used, the convenience of executing jobs with different urgency levels is low.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of improving the convenience of executing print jobs having different urgency levels in an environment in which the image forming apparatus is shared and used. With the goal.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention transitions between an operation state in which various operations are performed and an idle state different from the operation state. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit, a communication unit, and an image forming unit. The control unit controls transition between the operation state and the idle state. The communication unit receives a print instruction from an external terminal device. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The various operations include an operation of forming the image by the image forming unit. The print instruction is a normal print instruction or an idle print instruction. The normal print instruction has print job information indicating a normal print image. The idle print instruction includes idle print tag information and print job information indicating an idle print image. The idle print tag information indicates information for forming the idle print image on the sheet in the idle state. The control unit determines whether the print instruction is the idle print instruction or the normal print instruction based on the presence / absence of the idle print tag information. When determining that the print instruction is the idle print instruction, the control unit controls the image forming unit to form the idle print image on the sheet in the idle state.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to improve the convenience of executing print jobs having different urgency levels in an environment where the image forming apparatus is shared and used.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a storage unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a printing process. It is a flowchart which shows a printing process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is not repeated.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 is, for example, a printer or a multifunction device. For example, the multifunction machine has functions of a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the image forming apparatus 100 is a multifunction peripheral will be described.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 50, a storage unit 20, a control unit 10, an input unit 30, a display unit 40, and an image forming unit 60. The configuration of the image forming unit 60 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The communication unit 50 can communicate with the external terminal device E. Specifically, the communication unit 50 is connected to the external terminal device E via the network N so as to be capable of wired or wireless communication, and transmits and receives various signals and data (for example, image data). The network N includes the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), and a public line network. The communication unit 50 performs, for example, facsimile communication with an external facsimile apparatus. The communication unit 50 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit), a modem, and an encoding / decoding unit. The communication unit 50 receives a print instruction from the external terminal device E, for example.

  The external terminal device E is, for example, a personal computer. For example, the number of external terminal devices E is one, but may be plural. The external terminal device E includes a terminal control unit, a terminal storage unit, a terminal communication unit, an input device, and a display device. The terminal control unit includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The terminal storage unit includes, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory). Various programs are stored in the terminal storage unit. The various programs are, for example, an OS (Operating System) and a printer driver. The printer driver is compatible with the image forming apparatus 100. The terminal communication unit is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network N so that wired or wireless communication is possible. The input device and the display device function as a user interface.

  The terminal control unit generates a print instruction according to a user operation. The print instruction is, for example, a normal print instruction NS or an idle print instruction DS. The normal print instruction NS has print job information. The idle print instruction DS includes idle print tag information and print job information.

  The print job information includes image data indicating a print image. The print image corresponding to the normal print instruction NS corresponds to “normal print image”. The print image corresponding to the idle print instruction DS corresponds to “idle print image”. Specifically, the print job information is a file indicating a print command for various types of document information (for example, a word file) or image information (for example, a PDF (Portable Document Format) file). The print job information includes, for example, distinction between monochrome printing and color printing, necessity of aggregate printing (for example, 2 in 1), and the number of copies.

  The normal print instruction NS includes, for example, print job information indicating a small number of print copies (for example, one copy) or print job information with a high degree of urgency. The idle print instruction DS includes, for example, print job information indicating a large number of print copies (for example, 100 copies) or print job information with a low degree of urgency. A user designates the image forming apparatus 100 as an output destination of a print instruction via the input device, and executes a print command. The terminal communication unit transmits a print instruction to the communication unit 50 of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The idle print tag information indicates information for forming an idle print image on the sheet in the idle state. Details of the idle state will be described later with reference to FIG. 2, and details of the idle print tag information will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The storage unit 20 includes, for example, an HDD, a RAM, and a ROM. The storage unit 20 may include an external memory. The external memory is a removable medium. The storage unit 20 includes, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory and an SD (Secure Digital) card as external memories. The storage unit 20 stores various data, control programs, and application programs. The data is, for example, a print instruction having print job information. The control program is a program for controlling the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 and is executed by the control unit 10.

  The control unit 10 is a hardware circuit including a processor such as a CPU. The control unit 10 controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 by the processor reading and executing the control program stored in the storage unit 20. Further, the processor reads and executes the application program stored in the storage unit 20. The control unit 10 includes a determination unit 11 and a reception unit 12. Details of the determination unit 11 and the reception unit 12 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The control unit 10 determines whether the print instruction is an idle print instruction DS or a normal print instruction NS based on the presence / absence of idle print tag information. When determining that the print instruction is the idle print instruction DS, the control unit 10 controls the image forming unit 60 to form an idle print image on the sheet in the idle state.

  Various instructions are input to the input unit 30 in accordance with user operations. Specifically, the input unit 30 is an operation panel having a touch panel function and various hardware buttons, for example. The various instructions are, for example, a document reading instruction, a copy printing instruction, a facsimile transmission instruction, or various setting instructions. The reading instruction is an instruction to read an image of a document. The copy print instruction is an instruction to copy and print a document. The facsimile transmission instruction is an instruction to read an image of a document and perform facsimile transmission. The various setting instructions are instructions for changing various settings of the image forming apparatus 100, for example, idle print setting instructions. Details of the idle print setting instruction will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The display unit 40 is, for example, a display having a touch panel function, and is disposed on the operation panel. Such a display unit 40 can also serve as the input unit 30. Specifically, the display unit 40 includes a screen and a touch sensor, and displays various images on the screen. The various images indicate, for example, software buttons or various operation screen images. The display is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display (Organic ElectroLuminescence display).

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the communication unit 50, the storage unit 20, the control unit 10, the input unit 30, the display unit 40, and the image forming unit 60 described with reference to FIG. 1. In addition to the above, a reading unit 70, a feeding unit 80, a transport unit 90, and a discharge unit 91 are further provided.

  The reading unit 70 includes a document conveying device 71, a document placing plate 72, and a scanner 73 (optical system). The document M is placed on the tray or the document placement plate 72 of the document transport device 71. The reading unit 70 reads an image of the document M in response to a document reading instruction. The reading unit 70 generates image data from the read image. The feeding unit 80 includes a feeding roller. The feeding unit 80 stores a plurality of sheets S and feeds the sheets S to the conveyance unit 90. The sheet S is, for example, a sheet made of paper or synthetic resin. The conveyance unit 90 includes a plurality of conveyance roller pairs and conveys the sheet S to the image forming unit 60.

  The image forming unit 60 forms an image on the sheet S. Specifically, the image forming unit 60 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a replenishing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, a charge eliminating device, and a fixing device. The image forming unit 60 forms an image on the sheet S by electrophotography, and heats and presses the image to fix the image on the sheet S. For example, the image is an image of the original M, a facsimile image, a normal print image, or an idle print image.

  The conveyance unit 90 conveys the sheet S on which the image is fixed to the discharge unit 91. The discharge unit 91 includes a discharge roller pair and discharges the sheet S to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100. The control unit 10 executes the printing process by controlling the operations of the image forming unit 60, the feeding unit 80, the transport unit 90, and the discharge unit 91.

  The image forming apparatus 100 transitions between an operation state and an idle state different from the operation state. Specifically, the control unit 10 controls transition between the operation state and the idle state. The control unit 10 transmits a control signal to each unit of the image forming apparatus 100. Further, the control unit 10 receives a signal indicating an operation state or an idle state from each unit. The control unit 10 determines whether the image forming apparatus 100 is in an operating state or an idle state based on a signal received from each unit.

  The operation state indicates a state in which the image forming apparatus 100 is performing various operations. Various operations include an operation of forming an image by the image forming unit 60. The various operations are, for example, a job printing operation, a copy printing operation, or a facsimile reception printing operation. In the operating state, the control unit 10 controls each unit so as to drive the roller of each unit, for example.

  The job print operation indicates an operation based on a print instruction transmitted from the external terminal device E. When executing the job printing operation, the control unit 10 controls the operations of the communication unit 50, the feeding unit 80, the transport unit 90, the image forming unit 60, and the discharge unit 91, for example.

  The copy print operation indicates an operation based on a copy print instruction. When executing the copy printing operation, the control unit 10 controls the operations of the reading unit 70, the feeding unit 80, the conveying unit 90, the image forming unit 60, and the discharge unit 91, for example.

  The facsimile reception printing operation is an operation for receiving and printing facsimile image data from an external facsimile apparatus. When executing the facsimile reception printing operation, the control unit 10 controls the operations of the communication unit 50, the feeding unit 80, the transport unit 90, the image forming unit 60, and the discharge unit 91, for example.

  The idle state indicates a state different from the operation state. Specifically, the idle state includes a state in which the image forming unit 60 stands by without performing an operation for forming an image. In the idle state, the control unit 10 controls each unit so as not to drive the rollers of each unit, for example. The idle state may include a state in which the communication unit 50 is on standby without receiving image data from the external terminal device E. The image data is, for example, facsimile image data or normal print image data.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation state in which various operations are performed and an idle state that is different from the operation state. Transition between. Various operations include an operation of forming an image by the image forming unit 60. The communication unit 50 receives a print instruction from the external terminal device E. The print instruction is a normal print instruction NS or an idle print instruction DS. The control unit 10 determines whether the print instruction is an idle print instruction DS or a normal print instruction NS based on the presence / absence of idle print tag information. When it is determined that the print instruction is the idle print instruction DS, the control unit 10 controls the image forming unit 60 so as to form an idle print image on the sheet S in the idle state. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can execute a specific print instruction such as the idle print instruction DS in the idle state without delaying the execution of the normal print instruction NS received from the external terminal device E, for example. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the execution of the printing process with a high degree of urgency for the user is delayed. As a result, in an environment where the image forming apparatus 100 is shared and used, the convenience of executing print jobs with different urgency levels can be improved.

  According to the present embodiment, the idle state preferably includes a state in which the communication unit 50 is on standby without receiving image data from the external terminal device E. The control unit 10 controls each unit so as not to execute the idle printing operation during the image data receiving operation with a high degree of urgency. Therefore, it is possible to suppress delaying the printing process based on image data with a high degree of urgency.

  Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and further with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image displayed on the display unit 40. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the storage unit 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 40 displays an operation screen image G. The operation screen image G is, for example, a home screen image. The home screen image includes various software buttons. Various instructions are input to the software buttons according to user operations. The software buttons are, for example, a copy print button G1, a data transmission button G2, a facsimile transmission button G3, a custom box button G4, a job box button G5, a removable memory button G6, a facsimile box button G7, and an idle print setting button G8.

  A copy print instruction is input to the copy print button G1. An instruction to transmit predetermined data (for example, scan data) is input to the data transmission button G2. A facsimile transmission instruction is input to the facsimile transmission button G3. Each of the custom box button G4, the job box button G5, the removable memory button G6, and the facsimile box button G7 receives a browsing display instruction (for example, a list display instruction) for data stored in a predetermined area of the storage unit 20. Is done.

  An idle print setting instruction is input to the idle print setting button G8. The idle print setting instruction indicates a setting instruction for switching between ON setting and OFF setting of the idle print enable mode. When the idle print enable mode is set to ON, the control unit 10 executes print processing based on the idle print instruction DS in the idle state. When the idle print enable mode is set to OFF, the control unit 10 performs print processing in the order received by the communication unit 50 based on each of the idle print instruction DS and the normal print instruction NS. The ON setting of the idle printable mode may be set in advance by default.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the storage unit 20 includes, for example, a normal print box 21. The normal print box 21 indicates a predetermined area of the storage unit 20. The normal print box 21 can store a normal print instruction NS (see FIG. 1). Further, an idle print box 22 is created in the storage unit 20 when the idle print enable mode is set to ON. The idle print box 22 indicates a predetermined area of the storage unit 20.

  As already described with reference to FIG. 1, the control unit 10 includes a determination unit 11 and a reception unit 12. When the communication unit 50 receives a print instruction from the external terminal device E, the determination unit 11 determines whether the print instruction is the idle print instruction DS or the normal print instruction NS based on the presence / absence of the idle print tag information DT. To do. When the determination unit 11 determines that the print instruction is the idle print instruction DS, the reception unit 12 receives the idle print instruction DS and stores it in the storage unit 20. Specifically, the reception unit 12 stores the received idle print instruction DS in the idle print box 22. A plurality of idle print instructions DS can be stored in the idle print box 22 in the order of acceptance by the accepting unit 12. For example, when the user inputs a browsing display instruction to the custom box button G4, the user can check the idle print instruction DS waiting for execution.

  On the other hand, when the determination unit 11 determines that the print instruction is the normal print instruction NS, the reception unit 12 receives the normal print instruction NS and stores it in the normal print box 21. In the normal print box 21, a plurality of normal print instructions NS can be stored in the order received by the receiving unit 12. For example, when the user inputs a browsing display instruction to the job box button G5, the user can confirm the normal printing instruction NS that is waiting to be executed.

  When the operation state transitions to the idle state, the determination unit 11 determines whether or not the idle print instruction DS is stored in the storage unit 20. The image forming unit 60 forms an idle print image on the sheet S when the determination unit 11 determines that the idle print instruction DS is stored in the storage unit 20. Specifically, if the determination unit 11 determines that the idle print instruction DS is stored in the idle print box 22, the signal indicating the determination result is sent to the feeding unit 80, the conveyance unit 90, the image forming unit 60, and the discharge unit. It outputs to each part of 91. Upon receiving a signal indicating the determination result, each unit executes an idle print image print process based on the idle print instruction DS.

  The idle print instruction DS includes idle print tag information DT and print job information J. The idle print tag information DT may include interruption necessity information DT1. Specifically, the interruption necessity information DT1 indicates whether or not to execute an interruption operation. The interruption operation indicates an operation of interrupting an operation for forming an idle print image (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “idle print operation”) to form a normal print image.

  During the period from when the image forming unit 60 starts the idle printing operation on the sheet S to the completion of the idle printing operation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “in idle printing operation”), the communication unit 50 normally A print instruction NS may be received. When the communication unit 50 receives the normal printing instruction NS, the determination unit 11 determines whether or not to execute the interruption operation based on the interruption necessity information DT1. Specifically, the interruption necessity information DT1 includes interruption instruction information or continuation instruction information. The interruption instruction information indicates an instruction to execute the interruption operation. The continuation instruction information indicates an instruction to continue the idle printing operation without executing the interruption operation. When the determination unit 11 determines that the interruption necessity information DT1 has the continuation instruction information, the image forming unit 60 continues the idle printing operation without executing the interruption operation. On the other hand, when the determination unit 11 determines that the interruption necessity information DT1 has interruption instruction information, an interruption operation is executed. The image forming unit 60 resumes the idle printing operation after executing the interruption operation.

  Further, when an idle print image is formed across a plurality of sheets S, the idle print tag information DT may include priority page number information DT2. Specifically, the priority page number information DT2 indicates the number of priority pages. The priority page indicates a page on which the idle print image is preferentially formed on the sheet S among a plurality of pages constituting the idle print image. When the determination unit 11 determines to execute the interruption operation, the image forming unit 60 executes the interruption operation after forming an idle print image corresponding to the number of pages on the sheet S.

  For example, when the number of priority pages indicates 0, the image forming unit 60 executes the interruption operation when the communication unit 50 receives the normal print instruction NS from the start to the completion of the idle printing operation. . Further, for example, when the number of priority pages indicates 10 pages, the image forming unit 60 forms an idle print image corresponding to the first page to the tenth page on the sheet S and executes the interruption operation. Further, for example, when the number of priority pages indicates the 10th page, the image forming unit 60 is 10 before the idle print images corresponding to the 1st to 9th pages are formed on the sheet S. An idle print image corresponding to the page is formed on the sheet S and the interruption operation is executed.

  The idle print tag information DT may include completion time limit information DT3. The completion time limit information DT3 indicates a time limit for completing the idle printing operation (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “idle printing completion time limit”). The idle printing completion time limit is, for example, specific date information. The image forming unit 60 forms an idle print image on the sheet S before the idle print completion time limit comes. That is, the control unit 10 controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 so that the idle printing operation is completed before the idle printing completion time has come. The idle printing completion time period may be as soon as possible information indicating a time period that is as urgent as possible. The image forming unit 60 applies the sheet S based on the idle print instruction DS including the urgent information as much as possible when another idle print instruction DS with a low reception order by the reception unit 12 is stored in the idle print box 22. An idle print image is formed.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, according to the present embodiment, the determination unit 11 stores the idle print instruction DS in the storage unit 20 when the operation state transitions to the idle state. It is preferable to determine whether or not. The image forming unit 60 forms an idle print image on the sheet S when the determination unit 11 determines that the idle print instruction DS is stored in the storage unit 20. In this way, the control unit 10 controls the image forming unit 60 so as not to execute the idle print instruction DS until the operation state transitions to the idle state. Therefore, it is possible to wait for the idle print image printing operation until the normal print image printing operation is completed. As a result, it is possible to improve user convenience when the image forming apparatus 100 is shared and used.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the idle print tag information DT preferably includes the interruption necessity information DT1. When the communication unit 50 receives the normal print instruction NS from when the image forming unit 60 starts the idle printing operation to when it is completed, the determination unit 11 executes the interruption operation based on the interruption necessity information DT1. Determine whether or not. In this way, the control unit 10 can determine whether or not to prioritize the execution of the idle print image with respect to the normal print instruction NS received during the idle print operation. Therefore, the priority of the idle print instruction DS with respect to the normal print instruction NS can be adjusted according to the convenience of the user.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when an idle print image is formed over a plurality of sheets S, it is preferable that the idle print tag information DT includes the priority page number information DT2. The control unit 10 can preferentially print only a specific page of the idle print image with respect to the normal print instruction NS received during the idle print operation. Therefore, the priority of the idle print instruction DS with respect to the normal print instruction NS can be adjusted in more detail according to the convenience of the user.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the idle print tag information DT preferably includes the completion time limit information DT3. The image forming unit 60 forms an idle print image on the sheet S before the idle print completion time has come. Therefore, the priority of the idle print instruction DS can be adjusted in more detail according to the convenience of the user.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the printing process. By executing Steps S101 to S129, the image forming apparatus 100 executes print processing based on the print instruction. Specifically, it is as follows.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, in step S <b> 101, the communication unit 50 receives a print instruction transmitted from the external terminal device E. The process proceeds to step S103.

  Next, in step S103, the determination unit 11 determines whether or not the print instruction includes idle print tag information DT. If the print instruction includes idle print tag information DT (Yes in step S103), the process proceeds to step S105. On the other hand, when the print instruction does not include the idle print tag information DT (No in Step S103), the process proceeds to Step S129.

  If No in step S103, the image forming unit 60 forms a normal print image on the sheet S in step S129. Then, the process ends as shown in FIG.

  If Yes in step S103, in step S105, the accepting unit 12 accepts the print instruction as an idle print instruction DS. The accepting unit 12 stores the accepted idle print instruction DS in the storage unit 20. The process proceeds to step S107.

  Next, in step S107, the determination unit 11 determines whether or not the image forming apparatus 100 is in an idle state. If the image forming apparatus 100 is in the idle state (Yes in step S107), the process proceeds to step S109. On the other hand, when image forming apparatus 100 is not in the idle state (No in step S107), control unit 10 repeats step S107 until image forming apparatus 100 transitions from the operating state to the idle state.

  In the case of Yes in step S107, in step S109, the determination unit 11 determines whether or not the idle printing instruction DS is stored in the storage unit 20. If the idle print instruction DS is stored in the storage unit 20 (Yes in step S109), the process proceeds to step S111. On the other hand, when the idle printing instruction DS is not stored in the storage unit 20 (No in step S109), the process ends as shown in FIG.

  In the case of Yes in step S109, the image forming unit 60 starts an operation of forming an idle print image on the sheet S in step S111. The process proceeds to step S113 as shown in FIG.

  Next, in step S113, the determination unit 11 determines whether or not the communication unit 50 has received the normal print instruction NS. If the communication unit 50 has received the normal print instruction NS (Yes in step S113), the process proceeds to step S115. On the other hand, when the communication unit 50 has not received the normal print instruction NS (No in step S113), the process proceeds to step S127.

  In the case of Yes in step S113, in step S115, the determination unit 11 determines whether or not the interruption necessity information DT1 has interruption instruction information. When the interruption necessity information DT1 includes interruption instruction information (Yes in step S115), the process proceeds to step S117. On the other hand, when the interruption necessity information DT1 does not include interruption instruction information (No in step S115), the process proceeds to step S127.

  In the case of Yes in step S115, in step S117, the determination unit 11 determines whether or not there is a priority page in the priority page number information DT2. If there is a priority page (Yes in step S117), the process proceeds to step S119. On the other hand, when there is no priority page (No in step S117), the process proceeds to step S121.

  In the case of Yes in step S117, the image forming unit 60 forms an idle print image corresponding to the number of priority pages on the sheet S in step S119. The process proceeds to step S121.

  Next to step S119 or in the case of No in step S117, in step S121, the image forming unit 60 interrupts the operation of forming an idle print image on the sheet S. The process proceeds to step S123.

  Next, in step S123, the image forming unit 60 forms a normal print image on the sheet S. The process proceeds to step S125.

  Next, in step S125, the image forming unit 60 resumes the operation of forming an idle print image on the sheet S. The process proceeds to step S127.

  After step S125, or when any of step S113 and step S115 is No, in step S127, the image forming unit 60 completes the operation of forming an idle print image on the sheet S. Then, the process ends.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 6). However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined. In order to facilitate understanding, the drawings schematically show each component as a main component, and the thickness, length, number, interval, etc. of each component shown in the drawings are actual for convenience of drawing. Is different. In addition, the number of pages, the material, and the like of each component shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and are not particularly limited, and various changes can be made without departing from the configuration of the present invention. .

  (1) The various operations in the operation state described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are, for example, a job printing operation, a copy printing operation, or a facsimile reception printing operation, but the present invention is not limited to this. . Various operations may be operations with low urgency. For example, the various operations may be various report printing operations or calibration operations. The various reports are, for example, a status confirmation report of the image forming apparatus 100 or a facsimile transmission / reception report. The calibration operation is, for example, a refresh operation of the developing device or a refresh operation of the photosensitive drum.

  (2) Although the image forming apparatus 100 described with reference to FIG. 2 is an electrophotographic multifunction peripheral, the present invention is not limited to this. The image forming apparatus 100 only needs to have a configuration capable of forming an image on the sheet S. The image forming apparatus 100 may be, for example, an ink jet recording type printer. In the embodiment in which the image forming apparatus 100 is an ink jet recording type printer, the image forming unit 60 may include a recording head.

  The present invention can be used in the field of image forming apparatuses.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Control part 100 Image forming apparatus 50 Communication part 60 Image forming part DS Idle print instruction DT Idle print tag information E External terminal apparatus J Print job information NS Normal print instruction S Sheet

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus that transitions between an operation state in which various operations are performed and an idle state different from the operation state,
A control unit that controls transition between the operation state and the idle state;
A communication unit that receives a print instruction from an external terminal device;
An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet,
The various operations include an operation of forming the image by the image forming unit,
The print instruction is a normal print instruction or an idle print instruction,
The normal print instruction has print job information indicating a normal print image,
The idle print instruction has idle print tag information and print job information indicating an idle print image.
The idle print tag information indicates information for forming the idle print image on the sheet in the idle state,
The control unit determines whether the print instruction is the idle print instruction or the normal print instruction based on the presence or absence of the idle print tag information,
The control unit controls the image forming unit to form the idle print image on the sheet in the idle state when it is determined that the print instruction is the idle print instruction. A storage unit;
The control unit includes a determination unit and a reception unit,
When the communication unit receives the print instruction from the external terminal device, the determination unit determines whether the print instruction is the idle print instruction or the normal print instruction based on the presence / absence of the idle print tag information. Determine
When the determination unit determines that the print instruction is the idle print instruction, the reception unit receives the idle print instruction and stores it in the storage unit,
When the operation state transitions to the idle state, the determination unit determines whether the idle print instruction is stored in the storage unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit forms the idle print image on the sheet when the determination unit determines that the idle printing instruction is stored in the storage unit. The idle print tag information includes interruption necessity information indicating whether or not to execute an interruption operation,
The interruption operation indicates an operation of interrupting an operation of forming the idle print image to form the normal print image,
In the determination unit, the communication unit issues the normal print instruction after the image forming unit starts the operation for forming the idle print image on the sheet until the operation for forming the idle print image is completed. When receiving, determine whether to perform the interruption operation based on the interruption necessity information,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming unit resumes the operation of forming the idle print image after executing the interruption operation. When the idle print image is formed across a plurality of the sheets, the idle print tag information includes priority page number information indicating the number of priority pages,
The priority page indicates a page that preferentially forms the idle print image on the sheet among a plurality of pages constituting the idle print image.
The said image formation part performs the said interruption operation | movement after forming the said idle print image corresponding to the said number of pages on the said sheet | seat, when the said determination part determines with performing the said interruption operation | movement. Image forming apparatus. The idle print tag information includes completion time limit information,
The completion time period information indicates a time period for completing the operation of forming the idle print image,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit forms the idle print image on the sheet before the time limit arrives.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the idle state includes a state in which the image forming unit is on standby without executing an operation of forming the image.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the idle state includes a state in which the communication unit is on standby without receiving image data from the external terminal device.

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