JP4347286B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a printing unit that executes a printing process based on print data transmitted from an external device. In particular, the print data transmitted from the external device is temporarily stored and the print data is stored. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function used for reprinting.

As a conventional image forming apparatus of this type, for example, a technique is known in which print data transmitted from a client computer is temporarily saved and printed using the saved print data as it is at the time of reprinting. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
In a network-connected printing apparatus, PDL data sent from a client computer is converted into general-purpose print format data (PS or PDF), stored in a storage device in the printing apparatus, and the stored data is reprinted. A technique to be used has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Furthermore, a document server is provided between the client computer and the device, and rasterization processing is performed in a format such as PS, PCL, TIFF, JPEG, PDF by RIP processing on the server, and the processed job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. Thus, a technique for performing reprint processing has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2003-248563 A JP 2001-270167 A JP 2001-134390 A

However, in the above-mentioned patent document 1, since the print data transmitted from the client computer is stored as it is, there is a problem that various output settings such as duplex designation and page designation cannot be changed when reprinting.
In Patent Document 2, since the process of converting the PDL data into the general-purpose print format data is performed in parallel with the printing process, there is a problem that the CPU of the printing apparatus is overloaded and the printing process speed becomes slow.

  In Patent Document 3, since print data is converted into a format such as PDF via an intermediary device such as a document server and then sent to the image forming apparatus, the cost of a single document server is required and the cost increases. There is.

  The present invention has been made in order to eliminate such inconvenience, and can perform PDF conversion processing of print data at a low cost without affecting the print processing speed, and can perform reprint output setting. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be changed easily.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus including a printing unit that executes print processing based on print data transmitted from an external device, and the print data is stored in a PDF file. A PDF conversion processing means for converting the information into the printer, and a device status including a print processing status of the printing means, and at least device status information indicating whether or not the printing processing by the printing means is performed to the PDF conversion processing means. The device status monitoring means for notification, the storage means for saving the PDF file converted by the PDF conversion processing means in a predetermined storage area, and the reprint setting based on the PDF file stored and saved in the storage means Reprint setting means for outputting the set reprint data to the printing means, and the PDF conversion processing means is configured to monitor the apparatus status. Based on the notified device status information from the device, to determine when the printing process by the printing means is not performed, there is a configuration for converting the print data into a PDF file in the timing.

According to the above configuration, the PDF conversion processing unit converts the print data into a PDF file at a timing when the printing process by the printing unit is not performed based on the apparatus print information notified from the apparatus state monitoring unit. The PDF conversion processing can be performed without affecting the printing processing speed by the above, and the output setting at the time of reprinting can be easily changed.
In addition, since the print data transmitted from the external device is directly converted into PDF by the image forming apparatus without going through a mediating apparatus such as a document server, an increase in cost due to the mediating apparatus can be avoided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the timing at which the printing process by the printing unit determined by the PDF conversion processing unit is not performed is a standby time, a startup time, a calibration execution time, a toner supply time, a sheet It is configured such that when it is cut, when the cover is opened, when a jam occurs, and when it is offline.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the PDF conversion processing unit temporarily stops the PDF conversion processing when a print event occurs during the PDF conversion processing.
According to the above configuration, in the case of resuming printing or interrupt printing during the PDF conversion process, the PDF conversion process is temporarily stopped, so that the printing process speed by the printing unit can be prevented from being affected.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the reprint setting by the reprint setting includes double-side designated printing and page designated printing.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the device status monitoring unit notifies the PDF conversion processing unit of power-on information as device status information, and the PDF conversion processing unit includes: A timing at which printing processing by the printing unit is not performed is determined based on the power-on information, and the print data is converted into a PDF file at the timing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform PDF conversion processing at a low cost without affecting the printing processing speed, and to obtain an effect that the reprint output setting can be easily changed.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus as an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an example of reprint setting.

  An image forming apparatus 1 that is an example of an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a user terminal (external device) via a network or the like. As shown in FIG. , A PDF conversion processing unit 4, a storage unit 5, and a reprint setting unit 6. Each processing of these means is executed by the CPU after the image editing processing program stored in the storage means (ROM, hard disk, etc.) 5 is loaded into the RAM.

  The printing unit 2 includes a print data receiving unit 7, a drawing development unit 8, and a print processing unit 9. When the print data receiving unit 7 receives the print data transmitted from the user terminal, the drawing development unit 8 develops the print data into a drawing image such as a bitmap image and stores the drawing image in the storage unit 5. The print processing unit 9 executes print processing based on the print data (drawing image data) stored in the storage unit 5.

  The apparatus status monitoring means 3 monitors the apparatus status such as printing processing by the printing means 2, standby, activation, calibration execution, toner replenishment, out of paper, cover open, jam occurrence, and offline. In this embodiment, based on the monitoring information, the PDF conversion processing unit 4 is notified of whether or not the power is turned on (being activated) and whether or not the printing process is performed.

Here, as the apparatus status information for which the printing process notified from the apparatus status monitoring unit 3 to the PDF conversion processing unit 4 is performed, the printing process is performed by executing calibration, toner replenishment, out of paper, cover open, jam occurrence, etc. For example, information on which printing is resumed after the interruption is interrupted, information on the occurrence of a print processing interruption during the PDF conversion processing by the PDF conversion processing means 4, and the like.
On the other hand, examples of apparatus status information that is not subjected to the printing process notified from the apparatus status monitoring unit 3 to the PDF conversion processing unit 4 include calibration execution, toner supply, out of paper, and cover during the printing process of the printing unit 2. For example, information that the printing process is interrupted due to opening, jam occurrence, or the like, or information that no print waiting job exists after the printing process by the printing unit 2 is completed.

  The PDF conversion processing unit 4 determines the timing when the printing process by the printing unit 2 is not performed based on the apparatus status information notified from the apparatus status monitoring unit 3, and prints stored in the storage unit 5 at the timing. It is determined whether or not there is data (drawing image data), and when it is determined that the print data is present, the print data is loaded from the storage means 5 and converted into a PDF file. Save the file in the storage means 5.

  Here, the timing when the printing process by the printing unit 2 determined by the PDF conversion processing unit 4 is not performed is that when the apparatus state monitoring unit 3 receives a power-on notification, the apparatus state monitoring unit 3 prints the printing unit 2. When there is a notification that the printing process has been interrupted due to execution of calibration, toner replenishment, out of paper, cover open, jam occurrence, etc. during the process, printing is performed after the printing process by the printing unit 2 is completed from the apparatus status monitoring unit 3 For example, there is a notification that there is no waiting job.

  Also, the PDF conversion processing means 4 temporarily stops the PDF conversion processing at the timing when a print event occurs during the PDF conversion processing. The timing at which a print event occurs during the PDF conversion process includes the PDF conversion processing means 4 when printing is resumed after the print process is interrupted due to calibration, toner supply, out of paper, cover open, jam occurrence, etc. Or when a print processing interrupt occurs during the PDF conversion process.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reprint setting unit 6 designates a PDF file to be reprinted from among the PDF files stored and saved in the storage unit 5, and various output settings such as duplex designation, page designation, and layout designation. After that, the print data is output to the print processing means 9 of the printing means 2 by pressing a print start button or the like. Thereby, the reprint process is executed.

  Next, an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus during startup, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus during standby and printing processing.

  Here, in FIG. 3, Step S 1, Step S 2, Step S 4 and Step S 6 correspond to the apparatus state monitoring means 3, and Step S 3, Step S 5 and Step S 7 correspond to the PDF conversion processing means 4. In FIG. 4, Steps S12 to S16 correspond to the printing unit 2, and Steps S17, S20, Step S21, Steps S23 to S25, Step S27, and Step S30 correspond to the apparatus state monitoring unit 3, and Step Steps S18, S19, S22, S26, S28, S29, and S31 correspond to the PDF conversion processing unit 4.

  First, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 during startup will be described with reference to FIG. 3. When the power is turned on in step S1, the apparatus state monitoring unit 3 turns on the PDF conversion processing unit 4 in step S2. In step S3, the PDF conversion process for the print data stored in the storage unit 5 is started.

  Next, while the notification of the end of the activation process is not received from the apparatus state monitoring unit 3 in step S4, and the PDF conversion unprocessed data remains in the storage unit 5 in step S5, the PDF conversion process in step S3 is continued. If the PDF conversion unprocessed data disappears in the storage means 5 in step S5, the process proceeds to the standby mode in step S8.

  When the activation process is completed in step S4, the apparatus state monitoring unit 3 notifies the PDF conversion process unit 4 that the activation process has been completed in step S6, and the PDF conversion process by the PDF conversion process unit 4 is temporarily performed in step S7. It stops and shifts to the standby mode of step S8.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 during standby and during printing processing will be described with reference to FIG. 4. When print data transmitted from the user terminal is received in standby mode (step S11) in step S12, In step S13, the drawing expansion means 8 expands the print data into a drawing image such as a bitmap image, and the drawing image is stored in the storage means 5 in step S14, and the flow advances to step S15.

  In step S15, the print processing means 9 starts print processing based on the print data (drawing image data) stored in the storage means 5, and in step S16, calibration is executed, toner replenishment, out of paper, cover is performed during the print processing. It is determined whether or not the printing process has been interrupted due to opening, jam occurrence, or the like. If it is determined that the printing process has not been interrupted, the printing process is continued. The PDF conversion processing means 4 is notified that the printing process has been interrupted due to execution of calibration, toner replenishment, running out of paper, cover opening, jam occurrence, etc., and the process proceeds to step S18.

In step S18, the PDF conversion processing unit 4 determines whether or not unconverted PDF conversion data remains in the storage unit 5. If it remains, the process proceeds to step S19, and PDF conversion is performed until printing is resumed. Processing is performed. In step S20, when the printing process is interrupted due to execution of calibration, toner replenishment, out of paper, cover open, jam occurrence, etc., and printing is resumed, in step S21, the apparatus status monitoring unit 3 changes the PDF conversion processing unit. In step S22, the PDF conversion processing by the PDF conversion processing unit 4 is temporarily stopped.
If the PDF conversion unprocessed data does not remain in the storage unit 5 in step S18, the process proceeds to step S23.

  Next, when it is determined in step S23 that the printing process has been completed, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, it is determined whether there is a job waiting for printing after the printing process is completed, and it is determined that there is a job waiting for printing. If so, the process proceeds to step S13 and the same processing as described above is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no job waiting for printing (usually the standby mode is entered), the apparatus status monitoring unit 3 notifies the PDF conversion processing unit 4 that there is no job waiting for printing in step S25, and in step S26. The PDF conversion processing by the PDF conversion processing means 4 is performed.

  Next, in step S27, it is determined whether or not there is an interruption of the printing process during the PDF conversion process. While there is no interruption and the PDF conversion unprocessed data remains in the storage unit 5 in step S28, the step is performed. If the PDF conversion process of S26 is continued and there is no PDF conversion unprocessed data in the storage unit 5 in step S28, the process proceeds to step S29, and the converted PDF file is stored in the storage unit 5.

Then, the user designates a PDF file to be reprinted from the PDF files stored and stored in the storage means 5, performs various output settings such as duplex designation, page designation, layout designation, etc., and then presses a print start button or the like. When pressed, the print data is output to the print processing means 9 of the printing means 2, whereby reprint processing is executed.
If it is determined in step S27 that there is a print processing interrupt during the PDF conversion process, in step S30, the apparatus status monitoring unit 3 notifies the PDF conversion processing unit 4 that the print process has been interrupted. In step S31, the PDF conversion process by the PDF conversion processing unit 4 is temporarily stopped, and the process proceeds to step S13 to perform the same process as described above.

  As is apparent from the above description, in this embodiment, the PDF conversion processing unit 4 is based on the apparatus print information notified from the apparatus state monitoring unit 3 at a timing when the printing process by the printing unit 2 is not performed. Since the PDF conversion of the print data stored in the storage unit 5 is sequentially executed from the unprocessed portion, the PDF conversion process can be performed without affecting the print processing speed by the printing unit 2. Thereby, it is possible to easily change the output setting during reprinting, for example, duplex designation, page designation, layout designation, and the like.

  Also, when a print event such as resumption of printing or interruption of the printing process occurs during the PDF conversion process, the PDF conversion process is temporarily stopped to give priority to the printing process, and it is determined that the printing process is stopped again. Since the process shifts to the PDF conversion process at the timing, it is possible to prevent the print processing speed by the printing unit 2 from being affected even if there is a print restart or a print process interruption during the PDF conversion process.

  Further, since the print data transmitted from the user terminal is directly converted into PDF by the image forming apparatus 1 without going through an intermediary apparatus such as a document server, an increase in cost due to the intermediary apparatus can be avoided.

  Note that the configurations of the external device, printing means, PDF conversion processing means, apparatus status monitoring means, storage means, reprint setting means, etc. of the present invention are not limited to those exemplified in the above embodiment, Modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the scope of the invention.

1 is a block diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus as an example of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating an example of reprint setting. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an operation of the image forming apparatus during activation. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus during standby and during printing processing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Printing means 3 Apparatus state monitoring means 4 PDF conversion processing means 5 Storage means 6 Reprint setting means 7 Print data receiving means 8 Drawing development means 9 Print processing means

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus including a printing unit that executes a printing process based on print data transmitted from an external device,
PDF conversion processing means for converting the print data into a PDF file;
A device status monitoring unit that monitors a device status including a print processing status of the printing unit, and notifies the PDF conversion processing unit of device status information as to whether or not at least a printing process is performed by the printing unit;
Storage means for storing the PDF file converted by the PDF conversion processing means in a predetermined storage area;
Reprint setting unit configured to perform reprint setting based on the PDF file stored and stored in the storage unit, and to output the set reprint data to the printing unit;
The PDF conversion processing unit determines a timing at which printing processing by the printing unit is not performed based on the device status information notified from the device status monitoring unit, and converts the print data into a PDF file at the timing. An image forming apparatus.   The timing at which the printing process is not performed by the printing unit determined by the PDF conversion processing unit is as follows: standby, start-up, calibration execution, toner replenishment, paper out, cover open, jam occurrence, and offline The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the PDF conversion processing unit temporarily stops the PDF conversion processing when a print event occurs during the PDF conversion processing.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reprint setting by the reprint setting includes duplex designation printing and page designation printing.   The device state monitoring unit notifies the PDF conversion processing unit of power-on information as device state information, and the PDF conversion processing unit detects a timing at which printing processing by the printing unit is not performed based on the power-on information. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data is converted into a PDF file at the timing.

Images