JP6194771B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

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

  One index indicating the performance of the image forming apparatus is FCOT (Fast Copy Output Time). The FCOT is defined as the time from when the user of the image forming apparatus presses the copy start button until the transfer paper is discharged, and the shorter the FCOT, the higher the transfer performance.

  In order to shorten the FCOT, the data transfer of the image data read by the scanner to the memory and the data transfer from the memory to the printer are processed in parallel, and the printing process of the printer is started before the reading process of the scanner is completed. A technique is conventionally known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  However, in the above prior art, when the data transfer speed from the scanner to the memory is changed during the transfer, there is a problem that an unintended image may be printed on the transfer paper.

  That is, for example, in an image forming apparatus that generates and transfers a margin for a portion exceeding the input document size when the input document size is different from the transfer paper size, the data transfer speed to the memory of the image data read by the scanner The data transfer speed of the generated blank image data to the memory is different, and the data transfer speed from the scanner to the memory is switched during the transfer. In such a case, the printing process of the printer may be completed before the reading process of the scanner is completed, and an unintended image is printed on the transfer paper.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and determines whether or not the transfer speed for transferring image data read from an input medium to a storage area is changed during transfer, and starts image forming processing on an output medium. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of calculating an appropriate timing.

  In order to achieve the above object, claim 1 of the present application includes a storage unit that stores image data for performing image forming processing, and the image data is generated by reading an input medium, and the image data is stored in the storage unit. A reading means for transferring; a determining means for determining whether or not the transfer speed of the transfer is switched to a different transfer speed during the transfer; and if it is determined that the transfer speed is switched during the transfer, the transfer speed is switched to the switching speed. A start timing calculating unit that calculates a timing for starting the image forming process based on the image data, and an image forming unit that acquires the image data based on the calculated timing and performs the image forming process on the image data on an output medium. It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not the transfer speed for transferring the image data read from the input medium to the storage area is changed during the transfer, and to calculate an appropriate timing for starting the image forming process on the output medium. it can.

1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. 1 is a processing block diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a figure explaining the case where the data transfer speed concerning this embodiment switches. It is a sequence diagram of an example of a printing process according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart of an example of the transfer rate switching determination process which concerns on this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of an example of a print start timing calculation process according to the present embodiment.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes an operation panel 11, an arithmetic processing device 12, a memory device 13, a scanner device 14, and a printer device 15 that are connected to each other via a bus B.

  The operation panel 11 is realized by a touch panel or the like having a display function, and displays an operation screen for operating the image forming apparatus 10.

  The arithmetic processing unit 12 implements various processes as described later according to various programs stored in the memory device 13.

  The memory device 13 reads and stores various programs from the storage area when the image forming apparatus is activated. The memory device 13 stores image data transferred from the scanner device 14. The memory device 13 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) area for storing the various programs, a RAM (Random Access Memory) area used when the arithmetic processing unit 12 executes the various programs, and an image transferred from the scanner device 14. It has an image memory area for storing data. Each of these areas may be configured by different hardware.

  The scanner device 14 includes a scanner, a scanner engine, an engine control unit, and the like. The scanner device 14 scans an input document and generates image data. The scanner device 14 generates image data related to the margin of the output document. In addition, the scanner device 14 transfers the generated image data to the memory device 13.

  The printer device 15 includes a plotter, a plotter engine, an engine control unit, and the like. The printer device 15 acquires image data from the memory device 13 and prints the image data on an output document (transfer sheet).

  The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can realize various processes described later with the above hardware configuration.

  Note that the image forming apparatus 10 in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and may be configured without the operation panel 11. FIG. 1 shows an example in which one image forming apparatus has the above-described configurations, but the present invention is not limited to this. You may have said each structure ranging over several image forming apparatuses.

  Further, it may be an output device that generates input data by reading or collecting sound, and outputs an image or sound, such as a projection device such as a projector or an audio device such as audio.

<Software configuration>
The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is realized by, for example, the processing blocks illustrated in FIG. FIG. 2 is a processing block diagram of an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 10 implements an operation receiving unit 101, a transfer speed switching determination unit 102, a print start timing calculation unit 103, a scanning unit 104, a printing unit 105, and an image data storage unit 106 by executing a program.

  The operation reception unit 101 receives an operation performed by the user via the operation panel 11 or the like. In addition, the operation reception unit 101 requests another processing unit to perform processing according to an operation received from the user. The operations accepted by the operation accepting unit 101 include, for example, operations such as a copy instruction from the user, input document size designation, resolution designation, variable magnification designation, output document (transfer paper) size designation, and copy number designation. is there.

  The transfer rate switching determination unit 102 determines whether the transfer rate of the image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched during transfer based on the information notified from the operation reception unit 101. Further, when the transfer rate switching determination unit 102 determines that the transfer rate is switched during transfer, the print start timing calculation unit 103 indicates the timing at which the transfer rate is switched (for example, the number of input original lines and the time at which the transfer rate is switched). Notify Note that the number of lines is the number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction of the document.

  Here, when the transfer rate switching determination unit 102 determines that the transfer rate of the image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched in the middle, for example, an output document (transfer sheet) from the operation reception unit 101. The transfer area of the input document is smaller than the output document size (for example, the input document size is A4, the output document size is A3, and the magnification is 100%). In this case, since a margin is necessary for the output document (transfer sheet), the scan unit 104 needs to generate margin image data. Therefore, the transfer speed of the image data generated by scanning the input document to the image data storage unit 106 is different from the transfer speed of the blank image data to the image data storage unit 106. In general, the transfer speed of blank image data is often slower than the transfer speed of image data generated by scanning an input document.

  The print start timing calculation unit 103 is based on the information notified from the operation reception unit 101 and the transfer speed switching determination unit 102, for example, the timing at which the print unit 105 starts print processing (for example, the number of input original lines to start print processing, Time). Further, the print start timing calculation unit 103 notifies the scan unit 104 of the calculated start timing of the printing process.

  The scan unit 104 scans the input document according to an instruction from the operation reception unit 101 and generates image data. The scanning unit 104 can be realized using the scanner device 14. For example, when the transfer area of the input document is smaller than the output document size, the scan unit 104 generates blank image data. The scan unit 104 transfers the generated image data to the image data storage unit 106. Note that the transfer speed when the blank image data is transferred to the image data storage unit 106 is slower than the transfer rate when the image data generated by scanning the input document is transferred to the image data storage unit 106.

  Note that image data generated by the scan unit 104 is sequentially transferred to the image data storage unit 106. That is, the scan unit 104 sequentially transfers the image data to the image data storage unit 106 for each predetermined unit (for example, image data for one line of the input document) before the scan of the input document is completed.

  The print unit 105 acquires image data from the image data storage unit 106 in accordance with an instruction to start a print process from the scan unit 104, and performs a print process for forming an image of the image data on an output document (transfer paper). The printing unit 105 can be realized using the printer device 15.

  The image data storage unit 106 stores the image data transferred (written) from the scanning unit 104. The image data storage unit 106 acquires (reads) the image data from the print unit 105. Note that these transfer processing (writing processing) from the scanning unit 104 and acquisition processing (reading processing) from the printing unit 105 can be executed in parallel. The image data storage unit 106 can be realized using the memory device 13.

<Details of processing>
Details of processing of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described below.

  First, a case where the transfer rate of image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched during transfer will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a case where the data transfer speed according to the present embodiment is switched.

  The user designates the input document size, the scaling factor, and the output document (transfer sheet) size via the operation panel 11 of the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the input document size is designated as A4, the scaling factor is 110%, and the output document size is designated as A3. As shown in FIG. 3, when the input document transfer area 1010 transferred to the output document in accordance with the input document size and the scaling factor is smaller than the size of the output document 1000, a blank image addition area 1020 is added to the output document 1000.

  The transfer speed at which the scan unit 104 transfers the image data in the input document transfer area 1010 to the image data storage unit 106 is set to transfer speed 1, and the scan unit 104 transfers the image data in the margin image addition area 1020 to the image data storage unit 106. The transfer speed is 2. At this time, the transfer speed 1 and the transfer speed 2 are different, and the transfer speed of the image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched during the transfer. In general, transfer rate 1 ≧ transfer rate 2, but in this embodiment, transfer rate 1 and transfer rate 2 are different (not including the case of transfer rate 1 = transfer rate 2).

≪Print processing≫
Next, processing when the user performs printing (copying) with the image forming apparatus 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a printing process according to the present embodiment.

  The user performs a copying operation by setting an input document on the document table of the image forming apparatus 10 and pressing a copy start button on the operation panel 11 (step S101). The operation accepting unit 101 accepts a copying operation from the user, and notifies the transfer instruction to the transfer speed switching determining unit 102 (step S102). Further, the operation receiving unit 101 notifies the transfer rate switching determination unit 102 of information regarding various operation instructions from the user received by the operation receiving unit 101 together with the copy instruction. The information related to various operation instructions is information such as input document size, resolution, magnification, output document (transfer paper) size, number of copies, and the like.

  Based on the information notified from the operation receiving unit 101, the transfer rate switching determination unit 102 determines whether or not the transfer rate of the image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched during transfer (step S103). ). Details of the transfer rate switching determination process will be described later. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the transfer rate switching determination unit 102 determines that the transfer rate of image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched during transfer.

  The transfer rate switching determination unit 102 notifies the print start timing calculation unit 103 of the determination result of the transfer rate switching determination process and the timing at which the transfer rate of the image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched (step S104). ). The timing at which the transfer rate is switched may be the number of lines or time.

  The print start timing calculation unit 103 calculates the timing at which the printing unit 105 starts the printing process based on the transfer speed 1, the transfer speed 2, and the timing at which the transfer speed notified from the transfer speed switching determination unit 102 is switched ( Step S105). The timing at which the printing unit 105 starts the printing process may be the number of lines or time. Details of the print start timing calculation process will be described later.

  The timing for starting the printing process is preferably such that the printing process by the printing unit 105 is completed immediately after the scanning process by the scanning unit 104 is completed.

  The print start timing calculation unit 103 notifies the scan unit 104 of the timing at which the print unit 105 calculated in the print start timing calculation process starts printing (step S106). The print start timing calculation unit 103 notifies the scan unit 104 of a scan start instruction. The scan start instruction may be issued via the operation reception unit 101.

  The scan unit 104 performs a scan process on the input document set by the user on the document table of the image forming apparatus 10 (step S107). Note that the scanning unit 104 transfers the image data generated by performing the scanning process on the input document to the image data storage unit 106 at the transfer speed 1. Further, the scan unit 104 generates margin image data for image data of a portion (for example, a margin image addition region 1020 in FIG. 3) outside the input document transfer area in the output document (transfer paper). The image data is transferred to the image data storage unit 106 at the transfer speed 2.

  The scan unit 104 sequentially transfers the image data. That is, the image data is not transferred after scanning the entire input document, but is transferred to the image data storage unit 106 each time the input document is scanned to generate image data.

  When the print unit 105 notified from the print start timing calculation unit 103 has reached the timing to start printing, the scan unit 104 issues a print start instruction to the print unit 105 (step S108). The print unit 105 is in a waiting state (wait state) until a print start instruction is notified from the scan unit 104.

  The print unit 105 acquires image data from the image data storage unit 106, and performs print processing (image formation processing) on the output document (transfer paper) for the acquired image data (step S109).

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not the transfer speed of the image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is changed in the middle according to the operation content from the user. Can do. Further, based on the determination result, an appropriate timing at which the printing unit 105 starts the printing process is calculated. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the printing process by the printing unit 105 from being completed earlier than the scanning process by the scanning unit 104 and an unintended image forming process to be performed.

  That is, it is possible to prevent an unintended image from being printed by determining the start timing of the printing process so that the printing process by the printing unit 105 is completed immediately after the scanning process by the scanning unit 104 is completed. Further, the FCOT can be shortened by completing the printing process by the printing unit 105 immediately after the scanning process by the scanning unit 104 is completed.

≪Transfer speed switching judgment process≫
Next, details of the transfer rate switching determination process in step S103 of FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of a transfer rate switching determination process according to the present embodiment.

  The transfer speed switching determination unit 102 acquires the input document size, magnification, resolution, and output document (transfer sheet) size notified from the operation receiving unit 101 (step S201).

The transfer speed switching determination unit 102 calculates the sub-scanning size of the input document transfer area from the input document size and the scaling factor (step S202). The sub-scanning size of the input document transfer area can be calculated by the following equation. Note that the unit of the sub-scanning size of the input document transfer area and the sub-scanning size of the input document is the number of lines.
Sub-scan size of input document transfer area = sub-scan size of input document × magnification ratio For example, when the input document size is A5 (148 mm × 210 mm), the magnification ratio is 150%, and the resolution is 600 dpi, sub-scan of the input document transfer area The size is 210 / 25.4 × 600 × 1.50 = 7440 (line).

  The transfer speed switching determination unit 102 compares the sub-scanning size of the input document transfer area with the sub-scanning size of the output document (transfer sheet) (step S203). If the sub-scanning size of the input document transfer area is smaller than the sub-scanning size of the output document (transfer paper), the transfer speed switching determination unit 102 determines that the transfer speed is switched, and proceeds to step S204. If the sub-scanning size of the input document transfer area is equal to or larger than the sub-scanning size of the output document (transfer paper), the transfer speed switching determination unit 102 determines that the transfer speed is not switched, and proceeds to step S205.

  For example, when the output document size is A3 (297 mm × 420 mm), the sub-scanning size of the output document is 420 / 25.4 × 600 = 9921 (line). In this case, since the sub-scanning size of the input document transfer area is 7440 (line) and the sub-scanning size of the output document is 9921 (line), it is necessary to add a margin to the output document (the margin shown in FIG. 3). Image addition area 1020). Accordingly, the transfer speed of the image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched during the transfer.

  When it is determined in step S203 that the transfer speed is switched during transfer, the transfer speed switching determination unit 102 notifies the determination result and the number of switching lines to the print start timing calculation unit 103 in step S104 of FIG. 4 (step S204). ). Here, the number of switching lines is the number of lines at which the transfer speed of image data from the scanning unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched, and is the same value as the sub-scanning size of the input document transfer area calculated above.

  If it is determined in step S203 that the transfer speed does not change during transfer, the transfer speed switching determination unit 102 notifies the determination result to the print start timing calculation unit 103 in step S104 of FIG. 4 (step S205).

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not the transfer speed at which image data is transferred from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched during transfer based on an operation instruction from the user. be able to. Then, according to the determination result of the determination process, an appropriate timing at which the printing unit 105 starts the print process can be calculated in a print start timing calculation process described later.

≪Print start timing calculation process≫
Next, details of the print start timing calculation process in step S105 of FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example of a print start timing calculation process according to the present embodiment.

  The print start timing calculation unit 103 acquires the determination result notified from the transfer speed switching determination unit 102 and determines whether or not the transfer speed of the image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched during transfer. (Step S301). When the transfer speed is switched, the process proceeds to step S302. If the transfer speed is not switched, the process proceeds to step S305.

  When the transfer speed is switched, the print start timing calculation unit 103 acquires the timing (number of switching lines) at which the transfer speed notified from the transfer speed switching determination unit 102 is switched (step S302).

The print start timing calculation unit 103 calculates transfer speed 1 and transfer speed 2 (step S303). In this embodiment, the transfer rate 1 and the transfer rate 2 are given by the following equations.
Transfer speed 1 = Scanning speed × Variation ratio (1)
Transfer speed 2 = scan speed (2)
Here, the scanning speed in the expressions (1) and (2) is a speed at which the scanning unit 104 scans the input document in the sub-scanning direction, and the unit is mm / s.

  The print start timing calculation unit 103 calculates a print start timing that is a timing at which the print unit 105 starts the printing process (step S304). The print start timing is given by the following equation.

ここで、式（３）における付加ライン数とは、次の式で与えられる。
付加ライン数＝転写紙副走査サイズ−切替ライン数 ・・・式（４）
すなわち、付加ライン数とは、図３の余白画像付加領域１０２０の副走査サイズである。

Here, the number of additional lines in equation (3) is given by the following equation.
Number of additional lines = transfer paper sub-scanning size-number of switching lines (4)
That is, the number of additional lines is the sub-scanning size of the blank image addition area 1020 in FIG.

  In addition, the printer speed in Expression (3) is a speed at which the printing unit 105 prints on the output original (transfer paper) in the sub-scanning direction, and the unit is mm / s.

  When the transfer speed is not switched, the print start timing calculation unit 103 calculates a print start timing that is a timing at which the print unit 105 starts the printing process (step S305). The print start timing at this time is given by the following equation.

なお、式（５）はスキャン部１０４から画像データ記憶部１０６への画像データの転送速度が切り替わらない場合の印刷開始タイミングであり、従来より知られた算出方法であるため説明を省略する。

Note that Expression (5) is a print start timing when the transfer speed of the image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is not switched, and is a conventionally known calculation method, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not the transfer speed of the image data from the scan unit 104 to the image data storage unit 106 is switched at the print start timing that is the timing at which the print unit 105 starts the printing process. It can be calculated according to Thereby, it is possible to calculate an appropriate timing at which the printing unit 105 starts the printing process.

Here, a specific example of the print start timing shown by the above formula (3) will be shown. The print start timing is calculated under the following conditions.
Scan speed: 160 mm / s, printer speed: 260 mm / s, input document size: A5LEF (210 mm × 148 mm), transfer paper size: LG (215.9 mm × 355.6 mm), variable magnification: 155%, resolution: 600 dpi
At this time, Formula (1) to Formula (4) are as follows, respectively.
Transfer rate 1: 160 × 1.55 = 248 (mm / s)
Transfer rate 2: 160 (mm / s)
Number of additional lines: 355.6 / 25.4 × 600−148 × 1.55 / 25.4 × 600 = 2982 (lines)
Printing start timing: ((5418/248 + 2982/160) − (8400/260)) × 248 = 2027 (line)
That is, in the above specific example, the scanning unit 104 issues a print start instruction to the printing unit 105 when scanning 2027 lines of the input document. At this time, the scanning process by the scanning unit 104 and the printing process by the printing unit 105 are completed almost simultaneously (the printing process by the printing unit 105 is completed immediately after the scanning process by the scanning unit 104 is completed).

<Summary>
The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment reads an input original, generates image data, and transfers the image data to a storage area. Further, the image data stored in the storage area is acquired, and an image forming process is performed on the output document. The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can perform the transfer of the image data to the storage area and the acquisition of the image data from the storage area for performing the image forming process in parallel.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can determine whether or not the transfer speed when transferring the image data read from the input document to the storage area is switched during the transfer. Further, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can calculate an appropriate timing for starting the above-described image forming process depending on whether or not the transfer speed is switched during the transfer.

  Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the image forming process from being completed before the image forming apparatus 10 completes the process of reading the input document. Further, the FCOT can be shortened by calculating an appropriate timing for starting the image forming process such that the image forming process is completed immediately after the input document reading process is completed.

  The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

  The scan unit 104 described above is an example of a reading unit. The transfer rate switching determination unit 102 is an example of a determination unit and a switching timing calculation unit. The print start timing calculation unit 103 is an example of a start timing calculation unit. The print unit 105 is an example of an image forming unit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Operation panel 12 Arithmetic processing device 13 Memory device 14 Scanner device 15 Printer device 101 Operation reception part 102 Transfer speed switching determination part 103 Print start timing calculation part 104 Scan part 105 Print part 106 Image data storage part

JP 2002-314663 A

Claims (6)

Storage means for storing image data for performing image formation processing;
Reading means for generating the image data by reading an input medium and transferring the image data to the storage means;
Determining means for determining whether or not the transfer rate of the transfer is switched to a different transfer rate during the transfer;
Start timing calculation means for calculating a timing for starting the image forming process based on the transfer speed to be switched when it is determined that the transfer speed is switched during transfer;
Image forming means for acquiring the image data based on the calculated timing and performing the image forming process of the image data on an output medium;
An image forming apparatus.   The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit makes a determination based on a document size of an input document for generating the image data, a document size of an output document to be subjected to the image forming process, and a scaling factor of the image forming process. apparatus. A switching timing calculating means for calculating a timing at which the transfer rate is switched;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the start timing calculation unit calculates a timing for starting the image forming process based on a timing at which the transfer speed is switched.   The start timing calculating unit further determines a timing for starting the image forming process based on a reading processing speed at which the reading unit reads the input medium and a processing speed at which the image forming unit performs the image forming process on the output medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, which calculates the image forming apparatus.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit can simultaneously store the image data transferred by the reading unit and acquire the image data by the image forming unit. 6. A reading procedure for generating image data for performing image forming processing by reading an input medium, and transferring the image data to a storage unit for storing the image data;
A determination procedure for determining whether or not the transfer rate of the transfer is switched to a different transfer rate during the transfer;
A start timing calculation procedure for calculating a timing for starting the image forming process based on the transfer speed to be switched when it is determined that the transfer speed is switched during transfer;
An image forming procedure for acquiring the image data based on the calculated timing and performing the image forming process of the image data on an output medium;
An image forming method comprising:

Images