JP2930038B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
Prints images based on data obtained by processing
To an image forming apparatus. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
Image type that prints images based on input image information
The printer should print out the input image information.
After processing the data, printing is performed. For example,
Page page for printing received data page by page
The printer prints one page of received data
After the intermediate code conversion for printing, printing is performed. this
At this time, the print engine prints
In a state where it can be restarted. Here, for some reason
If the processing of the image information ends more slowly, for example,
Long time to convert one page of received data to intermediate code
If the print engine requires
To continue waiting in the operating state until it ends,
Drums and parts of the electrophotographic process wear out, shortening their life
There is a risk of becoming. [0003] It is an object of the present invention to reduce the life and energy.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that prevents waste. [0004] Image formation according to the present invention
The apparatus comprises: an input unit for inputting image information;
Processing means for processing the image information into data to be printed;
An image is printed based on the data processed by the processing means.
Print engine and image processing by the processing means
The print engine can be printed based on the situation
The print state from the print state
Determine if the engine should be stopped to stop
Stop determining means for stopping the operation and the stop determining means
When it should be determined that the print engine should be
Print control means for controlling to be in the stop state;
It is characterized by having. The image forming device
Prints images based on data obtained by processing information.
Print engine. Stop state judgment hand
The stage is a printer based on the image processing status of the processing means.
Print engine stopped from print state
To determine whether or not it should be stopped
The control means determines that the stop determination means should be in the stopped state.
When set, the print engine is stopped. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in the following order. a. Configuration of electrophotographic printer b. Bitmap control flow c. Interface control flow d. Electrophotographic control flow e. (A) Configuration of an electrophotographic printer FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention which is capable of graphic drawing.
Configuration of Processing System with Functional Printer System 10
It is. Data from the general-purpose data processing device 1 is
File to improve the throughput of the data processing device 1.
After being stored in the buffer 2, the printer system 10
Is output. The printer system 10 uses a bitmap
Type data processing device 3, electrophotographic process and laser
Print engine 4 using an external paper feed unit 5
And an auxiliary device such as a sorter 6. FIG. 2 is a control overview of the printer system 10.
It is a schematic block diagram. Bitmap data processor
3 is a bitmap control unit 30 (see FIG. 3),
BM-RAM32 for backup, drawing on this BM-RAM32
Bitmap writing unit 31 (see FIG. 4)
G part 33. The connection with the print engine 4 is restricted.
Bus B3 for control data (number of sheets, accessory control, etc.)
This is performed by the image data bus B4. Print en
The gin 4 mainly includes three controllers. Ma
The interface control unit 40 is a bitmap control unit.
Processing of control data from 30; display panel control; and
Timing control of the entire printer 4 through the internal bus B5
I will do it. The electrophotographic control unit 41 (see FIG. 6) has an internal bus
Sent from interface control unit 40 through B5
The control of the electrophotographic process unit 45 is performed according to the data.
U. The print head control unit 42 (see FIG. 7)
Received via the internal writing unit 31 and the internal bus B4.
Image data through the internal bus B5.
Print in accordance with the information sent from the
To the semiconductor laser 431 of the pad section 43 (see FIG. 7).
While controlling the light emission of the conductor laser 431, the polygon
-Control the rotation of the motor 432. The external paper feed unit
Unit 5 and sorter 6 are also interconnected via internal bus B5.
Controlled by the face control unit 40. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the bit map control unit 30.
FIG. The bitmap control unit 30 controls the internal bus B3
It consists of several blocks connected by 01
You. The BM-CPU 301 performs bitmap data processing.
And a data processing device.
Communication with the data processing device 1 through the
Or print data conversion and bitmap
Through the writing unit interface 306, the bitmap
It controls the writing unit 31 and print engine interface.
The print engine 4 is controlled through the server 307. SY
The S-ROM 302 is a program for the BM-CPU 301
Is stored. The SYS-RAM 303 is a BM-CPU3
01, a stack and basic flags
Used for storage. The R-buffer 304 is a data processing device.
Buffer for communication with the device 1
Asynchronization of communication between the processing program and the data processing device 1
With the goal. P-RAM 305 writes bitmap
The attribute of each font loaded from the font unit 33 by the unit 31
Data from the data processing apparatus 1
As intermediate code converted from font attributes
I do. The print engine interface 307
Interface with the lint engine 4
JOB information such as the number of print jobs and J such as print commands
The OB control command is sent to the interface of the print engine 4.
Exchange with the chair through bus B3. FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the bit map writing section 31.
FIG. The function of the bitmap writing unit 31 is
Separately, the drawing function on the BM-RAM 32 and the printing
The BM-RAM 32 data to the print engine 4
Output function. Drawing on BM-RAM32
Functions can be further divided into two
Drawing of lines and circles performed by the
Font drawing performed by the print image writing unit 311
It consists of a picture. Both are bitmap control interface
Sent from the bitmap control unit 30 through the interface 317
Logic that operates on intermediate code
Most of the processing of the basic image writing unit 316
Analyze the parameters in the code and draw them on the BM-RAM32.
While the font image writing unit 311
Most of the processing is performed according to the data in the intermediate code.
The font section 33 through the interface section 314
Font image read from BM-RAM32
I do. On the other hand, the data output function during printing is
By the printhead control unit interface 315
It is. That is, the interface from the bitmap control unit 30
The print start code sent via the chair 317
Upon receipt, print head control of the print engine 4
Sent from the section 42 (see FIG. 8) via the bus B4.
The data of BM-RAM32 is printed according to the period signal
Output to the head control unit 40. FIG. 5 shows an interface of the print engine 4.
FIG. 3 shows a detailed block diagram of a case control unit 40. Interf
The interface control unit 40 is a one-chip microcomputer.
And an IFC-CPU 400 using
To the interface 404 of the IFC-CPU 400.
An external ROM 4 is connected via the expanded bus B401.
07, RAM 408, and bitmap control unit 30
Interface 409 is connected. External R
OM407 can be replaced by a socket,
In the mask ROM 403 inside the IFC-CPU 400,
While the standard program is stored, the external RO
M407 stores different programs depending on the destination.
You. The IFC-CPU 400 includes a CPU 401, an RA
M402, ROM 403, and serial communication serial communication
The input / output unit (SIO) 405 and the parallel input / output unit (PI
O) 406 is built in. SIO405 is an electronic photo
For controlling the true control unit 41 and the print head control unit 42
Control the bus B5. PIO 406 is a display panel
Used to control 44. FIG. 6 is a detailed block diagram of the electrophotographic control unit 41.
FIG. The electrophotographic control unit 41 includes an IFC-CPU 4
One-chip microcomputer MC-
Controlled by the CPU 410. The CPU 411 has a RAM
413 and ROM 414 are connected. Interface
Unlike the control unit 40, expansion is not performed using only standard programs.
No. Serial input / output unit (SIO) 412 is connected via bus B5
To communicate with the interface control unit 40. parallel
An input / output unit (PIO) 415 is used for input / output of process control.
I have. FIG. 7 is a detailed block diagram of the print head controller 42.
FIG. In the print head controller 42, the bus B5
Sent from the interface control unit 40 through
In accordance with the data, the polygon model
Control the rotation of the
Image sent from the data processor 3 via the bus B4
The scan data of the laser scan (SO
S) The semiconductor laser 431 is synchronized with the signal from the
Control the emission of light. The print head control unit 42 is an electrophotographic system.
As with the control unit 41, a one-chip microcomputer
It is composed mainly of PHC-CPU420, and serial input / output
The force controller (SIO) 422 includes an interface controller 40
A bus B5 that communicates with the network is connected. Parallel input / output
The unit (PIO) 425 includes a drive of the polygon motor 432.
And a scanning detector (S
OS) 433 and bitmap type data processing device
Of the semiconductor laser according to the image data from the device 3
A print head control circuit 426 for controlling light is connected.
You. The image data sent through the bus B4 is
The print head control circuit 426 is a parallel type.
Is mainly used to sequentially image the semiconductor laser 431
Parallel-serial conversion to emit light according to the
Perform printhead control of bitmap writing unit 31
Image data conversion to the
A timing signal for synchronizing transmission is also generated. (B) Flow of Bitmap Control The system will now be described with reference to flowcharts.
The operation of will be described. 8 to 10 show bit map control.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a unit 30. Figure 8
When the power is turned on (step # 100), the internal
Initialization (step # 101), and print / image
From the BM-RAM 32 and the data processing device 1
PR storing a value obtained by converting received data into an intermediate code
AM305, JOBACT flag indicating that printing is in progress
B indicating the write state of the BM-RAM 32
Reset the M-WRITE flag (step # 10)
2) Then, read the font attribute from the font section 33.
(Step # 103). It will be explained in section (d)
As described above, in the electrophotographic control unit 41, the temperature control of the fixing unit and the cooling
(Step # 301 in FIG. 14, standby mode).
Do 1). Next, the process enters a reception data processing loop. First place
The principle is processing of received data. First, P-RA
It is checked whether there is a free space in M305 (step # 104). Sky
If there is, the interrupt processing routine shown in FIG.
Data processing device 1 stored in R-buffer 304
(Step # 105, Step # 105)
Step # 106) and execute the processing corresponding to the code (see FIG. 9).
(Step # 107). FIG. 9 shows the reception data processing (step # in FIG. 8).
107). Print data is included in the received data.
Gin-related codes, job control codes, format control codes,
And print codes. Of these, pudding
The engine-related code is stored in the interface control unit 40.
(Step # 151, Step # 152). J
OB control code includes PAGE used for page break
EJECT code and JOB delimiter (one page group)
There are two of the JOBSTART codes used. JOB system
The control code is stored in the P-RAM 305 as a corresponding flag.
(Steps # 153 to # 156). Format
In the case of the control code (step # 157), the next character
Change the write address to the BM-RAM 32 (step
# 158). Other received data is regarded as character code
None, intermediate code to output to bitmap writer 31
And writes it to the P-RAM 305. Intermediate code
Format is font address (step # 159), BM
-Write address to RAM 32 (step # 160)
And a write mode (step # 161). this
Then, depending on the font size, etc., the BM of the next font
-Change the write address to the RAM 32 (step
# 162). However, it does not change when drawing lines or circles.
No. Referring back to FIG. 8, the data is written to the P-RAM 305.
BM-RAM32 prints the intermediate code
Not in use (NO in step # 108) and
If printing is not in progress (NO in step # 109),
The data is output to the map writing unit 31 (step # 116).
However, while the previous character is being drawn, (Step
(YES in step # 110), the next drawing cannot be performed. If the beginning
When writing all data (BM-WRITE flag = 0)
(YES in steps # 111 and # 112), BM-WRI
The TE flag is set to 1 (step # 113), and the print
Paper to advance preparations such as paper feeding for gin 4
Interface control of the first command PFCMD
Output to the unit 40 (step # 114). This allows
The preparation for printing of the mapp data processing device 3 is completed.
(Steps # 305 to # 311 in FIG. 14),
Laser exposure is possible immediately, corresponding to the paper feeding time
Throughput is improved. A bit map writing unit from the P-RAM 305
Output to 31 is performed sequentially as long as there is intermediate code data.
Detects the PAGEJECT code
(YES in step # 115), signal conversion for one page
Is completed, and the printing operation starts. First, BM-RA
Set the JOBACT flag to prohibit writing to M32.
Set to prohibit updating of the BM-RAM 32 (step
# 117), print head control unit interface 3
15 is ready for printing (step # 118).
Print command PRNCM to the interface controller 40
D is output (step # 119). This allows the pudding
The printhead control unit interface 315
The password sent from the control circuit 426 of the head control unit 42
Data in the BM-RAM 32 in synchronization with the bus B4.
Output through During printing, the print head
Check the operation of the control unit interface 315
Since the answer is YES at Step # 108, the next print
And convert the received data to P-RAM 305
Only processing (steps # 104 to # 107) is performed. When printing is completed, JOBACT is still performed.
Since the flag is set, the process proceeds from step # 109.
Proceed to step # 120 and check whether the interface control unit 40
Exposure end command EXPEND (step # in FIG. 15)
413) Waiting. This is for multi-print
The number control is performed by the interface control unit 40.
That's because. JOB which is the parameter of this command
If the END flag is set (step # 12)
1), reset the JOBACT flag and set the BM-RAM
32 (step # 122), and the next page is
Start preparing for the event. When multi printing is not completed
Starts the next print with the same BM-RAM data
(Steps # 118 and below). FIG. 10 shows a data processing device.
Shows the flow when there is an interruption in data transmission from 1
You. When there is an interrupt, data is read from the data processing device 1.
(Step # 181), the bitmap control unit 30
Writing to the R-buffer 304 (step # 182). So
And return. (C) Interface Control Flow FIG. 11 is a processing flow of the interface control unit 40.
is there. After turning on the power, the interface control unit 40
After the initialization of the section (step # 201), the
Controller 41, printhead controller 42, sorter 6, and
Start signal to external paper supply unit 5 through bus B5
To initialize the entire system of the print engine 4.
Perform (Step # 202). And permission of advance feeding of paper
Set the initial value 1 of the PFENB flag indicating
Step # 203), and enters the following processing loop. In the processing loop
Is the first command from the bitmap control unit 30.
Waits for PFCMD (see step # 114 in FIG. 8).
(Step # 204). When the first command is received,
When the delivery is permitted (PFENB = 1) (Step # 2
05, YES), the electrophotographic control unit 41 through the bus B5.
FEEDREQ is output to the CPU (step #)
206). As a result, the electrophotographic control unit 41
Start of activation of electrophotographic process unit 45 for printing
I do. However, the paper is waiting at the specified position (
Out) state. However, if the external paper feed unit 5 is
If it is set, the electrophotographic control unit 41
Only the start of the process unit 45 is activated, and paper is fed to the external paper feed unit.
It is performed at 5. Note that the paper standby position is the same.
is there. Then, the interface control unit 40
Waits for the print command PRNCMD (step # 2)
At the same time as 11), indicates the permission of the next print
Set the provisional value 1 to the NPFENB flag and
The mer T is started (step # 207). This Thailand
The Mar-T has two functions. First, one is a bit
When drawing on the BM-RAM 32 by the map control unit 30 is long
The electrophotographic process unit 45 remains in the operating state.
It becomes a nuisance, photosensitive drums and various parts of the electrophotographic process
To prevent the life of the timer from shortening, the timer T
The YES signal at step # 208 causes the STANDBY signal
(Step # 209) and stop the print engine 4.
State (standby mode 2). As a result,
The life of the image processing section is greatly reduced. Wait once
Starts the next paper feeding and image forming process when the mode is changed to mode 2.
Is performed after the end of conversion of received data to intermediate code
Will be. Another function is to indicate the next advance permission
By resetting the NPFENB flag (step
# 210), advance of paper for the next print is prohibited
It is to stop. This is usually within one job
The same type of information is frequently printed (for example,
To print this data).
And has an effect of preventing a shortening of the service life. This way
In this case, the throughput will decrease, but once
Even if advance of the paper is prohibited, the next print
Before the end of the immersion time T, the print command PRNC
If MD is input, NPFENB flag is set
So that the next print is
Will be. (Normally, before the end of data conversion,
-"First-out" and wait on the timing roller
Therefore, the throughput does not decrease. ) For the above two functions
Increase throughput and prevent wasted life
It will be. In the interface control unit 40, the printer
Receiving the command PRNCMD (step # 211)
YES), if the paper has not been advanced (PFE
(NB = 0) (YES in step # 212)
FEEDREQ is output (step # 213), and the next program
Update the PFENB flag of the lint (step #
214). That is, when print data is generated,
The paper is executed (FIG. 14, step # 304, step # 304).
321, steps # 307 to # 311), and
Transport to the position. In addition, the STANDBY signal
Off (step # 215), that is, the standby mode 2
Is released, and the image forming process section of the electrophotographic control section 41 stabilizes.
The MCRDY signal indicating that the
(YES in step # 216), the exposure
An EXPENB signal indicating permission is output (step # 2)
17). This allows the actual exposure to be controlled by the printhead controller.
At 42 is performed. The print head control unit 42
When the light ends, an EXPEND signal is output (FIG. 15).
Step # 413). Interface control unit 40
Then, when this is detected (step # 218), the bit
Output an EXPEND command to the
(Step # 219), again, the paper advance command P
Wait for FCMD. FIG. 12 shows a timing chart of printing.
You. Here, X is the main mode of the electrophotographic process unit 45.
Is the time from the start of the data until it becomes stable, and Y is
From the start of paper feeding to the arrival at the timing roller (standby position)
It is the time required for Conventionally (lower), paper is
Stopping is performed at least for the time Z by the imaging roller. Real truth
In the embodiment (upper side), the paper is
Extra waiting compared to the conventional (lower)
Time runs out and printing ends earlier. Print data output
When the printer starts up, the printer
May be notified that the printer has been selected. Figure
FIG. 13 shows the operation of the image forming process unit according to the present embodiment.
Imming is shown in comparison with the conventional example. As shown in the figure,
If it takes time to convert data (timer T
The main motor stops, and enters standby mode.
It becomes 2. At this time, the main charger and developing bias
The voltage is sequentially stopped prior to the stop of the main motor.
In the interface control unit 40, other than the above control
The communication control in the print engine 4 is performed by the
At the same time as performing data exchange with each control unit through B5,
It also has a relay function for communication between the control units.
Is not directly related, so a detailed description is omitted. Note that the advance timing in this embodiment is
The effect of logging control is when converting received data to intermediate code.
And the drawing time in the bitmap writing unit 31
The conversion time and drawing time are short for the long case.
Even if the data processing device 1 or the file buffer
The same effect is obtained when the transmission time from No. 2 is long. Ma
In this embodiment, priority is given to throughput,
Performs paper advance control, but performs paper advance control.
Switching means for selecting whether or not to perform graphic processing
In case of, priority is given to drawing processing and advance control is not performed
You may do so. (D) Flow of electrophotographic control FIG. 14 is an operation flow of the electrophotographic control unit 41. Electric
After the power is turned on (step # 300), the child photograph control unit 41
After the internal initialization (step # 301), the interface
An activation signal from the face control unit 40 (step # in FIG. 11)
202) (step # 302). Ki
When a motion signal is detected (step # 302), the interface
Paper advance command PFCMD from the chair control unit 40
(See step # 114 in FIG. 8), the sheet feed request signal F
Wait until EEDREQ is output (step # 304).
In the machine mode 1, the apparatus enters a waiting state (step # 303). Waiting
In mode 1, the main motor and drum are rotated.
Only the temperature of the fixing section and the cooling fan are turned on.
You. When receiving the feed request signal FEEDREQ (step
# 304), start the image forming process section for printing
For example, turning on the main motor (step # 305)
MCR indicating preparation is completed to the face control unit 40
A DY signal is output (step # 306), and paper feeding is started.
(Step # 307). At the same time as feeding starts,
Marker T ₁ Is set (step # 308), and this timer
T ₁ Ends and the paper approaches the specified standby position.
(Step # 309), the print head controller 42
And a PRDY signal indicating that paper preparation is complete
Is output (step # 310), and the paper conveyance is stopped.
(Step # 311). Normally, immediately from the bitmap control unit 30
The print command (PRNCMD) is output to the
(See step # 119), and then the print head controller 4
2 outputs the paper restart signal TRON
(See step # 411 in FIG. 15).
By detecting this signal (step # 318),
Restart from the position of the timing roller.
(Step # 319), the image on the photosensitive drum is
Transcribed to par. Thereafter, in the electrophotographic control unit 41,
Further, a predetermined timer T _Two (Step # 3)
20), and waits for the next sheet feed request signal FEEDREQ (scan
(Step # 321) When the signal is input, the next sheet is opened.
The process starts (step # 306). Timer T _Two By the end of
When no signal is input (YES in step # 322)
Returns to the standby mode 1 (step # 303). If
Processing time or data processing in the data map control unit 30
The transmission time from the device 1 is long, and the print head control unit 4
When TRON signal is not output from 2 (Bitmap
The control unit 30 sends a command to the interface control unit 40.
(If no print command is output)
The STANDBY signal is output from the chair control unit 40
(See step # 209 in FIG. 11). In the electrophotographic control unit 41
Upon detecting this signal (step # 312),
Off the MCRDY signal to the
Step # 313), and enters the standby mode 2 (step # 31)
4). In this standby mode 2, the main motor and the
All processes are stopped and paper is waiting at the standby position
Becomes This prevents unnecessary shortening of printer life.
This is to prevent it. Then, the bitmap control unit 30
When the signal conversion processing is completed, the interface control unit 40
When the STANDBY signal is turned off, the electrophotographic control unit
At 41, this is detected (step # 315), and the image forming process is performed.
Restart the interface (step # 316),
The MCRDY signal is output to the control unit 40 again (the
Step # 317). (E) Flow of print head control FIG. 15 shows a processing flow in the print head controller 42.
Show. In the print head control unit 42, after the power is turned on (scan)
(Step # 400), and internal initialization is performed (Step # 40)
1), interface control similar to the electrophotographic control unit 41
Start signal from controller 40 (see step # 202) is detected
After that (step # 402), the process enters a processing loop. Processing
First of all, the printer waits for printing to start. Pudding
There are two conditions for the start of the event. One is the interface
Laser exposure permission signal EXPE from the interface controller 40
NB (step # 406), interface control
It is output from the unit 40 (see step # 217 in FIG. 11).
The other is that the polygon motor 432 is set to a predetermined rotation speed.
This is a PMLOCK signal indicating that the operation has been completed. polygon·
The motor 432 is controlled at the same timing as the main motor.
(Step # 403), the electrophotographic control unit 41
Mode 1 or standby mode 2 and the main motor is stopped.
During this time, the life of the polygon motor 432 is
Rotation at a half speed of about half of the rotation speed of the
405) Printing starts and the main motor turns on.
Then, the full speed state, which is the normal rotation speed (step # 404)
Becomes And that the rotation speed is stable at full speed
The PMLOCK signal shown in FIG.
7 is output. When the two conditions are satisfied (step
# 406, step # 407 both YES), print
A start signal is sent to the read control circuit 426 to start exposure.
(Step # 408). This allows the print head
In the bit control circuit 426, the bit map writing unit 31
Request image data in sequence and respond to the received data.
First, the emission of the semiconductor laser 431 is controlled. Also
In the lint head control unit 42, a predetermined
Two timers T ₁ , T _Two Start (Step #
409). Timer T ₁ Is fixed regardless of paper size
Timer and restart the paper in the standby position
To control the resist timing.
Timer T ₁ Is completed (YE in step # 410).
S), the electrophotographic control unit 41 receives a paper restart
A signal TRON is output (step # 411). Also,
Timer T _Two Synchronizes with the bitmap control unit 30
And is variable depending on the paper size.
Timer T _Two (YE at step # 412)
S), EXPEN to the interface control unit 40
The D signal is output (step # 413). According to the present invention, the stop state judging means is an image by the processing means.
Print engine print status based on image processing status
From the printer to determine if it should be stopped.
The control means determines that the stop determination means should be in the stopped state.
When set, the print engine is stopped. Was
For example, in an embodiment of the present invention, bitmap control
If drawing on the BM-RAM 32 by the unit 30 takes a long time
In this case, the electrophotographic process unit 45 also remains in the operating state.
As a result, the service life of the photosensitive drum and each part of the electrophotographic process is short.
It becomes. Therefore, in such a case, the print engine is stopped.
The print engine, and stop the print engine
Greatly improve life loss.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an electrophotographic printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a bitmap data processing device and a print engine. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a bitmap control unit. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a bitmap writing unit. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an interface control unit. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electrophotographic control unit. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a print head control unit and a print head unit. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an operation of a bitmap control unit. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an operation of received data processing. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a reception interrupt operation. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an operation of an image forming process unit. FIG. 12 is a timing chart of the operation of the image forming process unit. FIG. 13 is a timing chart of the operation of the image forming process unit. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the operation of the electrophotographic control unit. FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the operation of the print head control unit. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Data processing device 3 ... Bitmap type data processing device 4 ... Print engine 10 ... Printer system 30 ... Bitmap control unit 31 ... Bitmap writing unit 40 ... Interface control unit ,
41: an electrophotographic control unit; 43: a print head unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 21/00 370-540 G03G 21/14 B41J 5/00-5/52 B41J 21/00-21/18 B41J 29/00-29/70 G06F 3/09-3/12

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] Input means for inputting image information, processing means for processing the input image information into data to be printed, a print engine for printing an image based on the data processed by the processing means, and an image by the processing means A stop judging unit for judging whether or not the print engine should be brought into a stop state for stopping the print engine from a print state in which the print engine is operated in a printable state based on a processing state; An image forming apparatus comprising: a print control unit that controls the print engine to be in the stop state when it is determined that the print engine should be in the state.