JPH07291518A - Method and device for image forming - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the convenience of users by counting the time for the prescribed period of time after the image of one page unit is formed when the staple mode is selected by an external equipment, and starting and controlling the staple when the elapse of the prescribed time is detected. CONSTITUTION:The print output is judged (S61) from an external equipment, and when the print output is present, a judgment is made whether the print output of one page is completed or not (S62). As a result, a judgment (S63) is made whether the print output selects staple mode or not, and when the staple mode is selected, the image of one page unit is formed, a judgment (S64) is made whether the print output completion timer is started or not, a judgment (S65) is made whether the print output completion timer reaches or exceeds the prescribed value or not, and when the prescribed time is reached, the staple is started, and the print output is made (S66). This constitution improves the convenience of users.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is connected to an external device,
The present invention relates to an image forming method and apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium and performing post-processing to enable stapling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus interprets a page description language for each page sent from an external device such as a host computer, develops it into bit map information, and
An image is formed on the sheet based on page-by-page bitmap information. After the image-formed recording medium is post-processed, in the case of the page description language, the unit for handling an image is one page unit and the end of the job cannot be determined. Therefore, stapling is prohibited.

[0003]

For this purpose, a plurality of sheets,
Alternatively, a plurality of copies are interpreted into a page description language in page units sent from an external device such as a host computer and developed into bitmap information, and an image is formed on a sheet based on the bitmap information in page units. In this case, there is a problem in that a plurality of bundles are separated from each other and the page order is not known, which makes the handling of the user complicated.

In addition, when an image is formed by information from an external device such as a host computer, an original image is converted into an image signal and an image is formed on a recording medium based on the input image signal, the external device is used. There is also a problem that the output paper on which the image is formed and the output paper on which the image is formed from the original stack are overlapped with each other, which makes the handling of the user complicated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method and apparatus with improved convenience for the user.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the following constitution.

That is, in an image forming apparatus which is connected to an external device, forms an image on a recording medium, and performs post-processing to enable stapling, when the staple mode is selected from the external device, the image is formed in page units. After that, there is provided a time measuring means for measuring a predetermined time, and a control means for controlling to start stapling when the elapse of the predetermined time is detected by the time measuring means.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming method according to the present invention has the following steps.

That is, in an image forming method of an image forming apparatus which is connected to an external device, forms an image on a recording medium, and performs post-processing so that stapling is possible, when the staple mode is selected from the external device, one page unit After the image is formed, a time measuring step of measuring a predetermined time and a control step of controlling to start stapling when the elapse of the predetermined time is detected by the time measuring step.

[0010]

In this structure, when the staple mode is selected from the external device, a predetermined time is counted after forming an image on a page-by-page basis, and the stapling is controlled when the elapse of the predetermined time is detected.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image forming system according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, an image input device 1 (hereinafter referred to as a reader unit) 1 converts a document image into image data. An image output device (hereinafter referred to as a printer unit) 2 has a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes, and outputs image data as a visible image on the recording paper according to a print command. An external device 3 is electrically connected to the reader unit 1 and has various functions. The external device 3 is connected to a facsimile (fax) unit 4, a file unit 5, an external storage device 6 connected to the file unit 5, a computer such as a personal computer (PC) or a workstation (WS), or a LAN. An image for accumulating the information from the computer interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8 for converting the information from the computer into a visible image, the reader unit 1 and the information sent from the computer. Memory unit 9 and core unit 10 for controlling each of the above functions
And so on.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2. The structure and operation will be described below.

When the originals stacked on the original feeding device 101 are sequentially conveyed one by one onto the original glass platen surface 102 and are conveyed to a predetermined position on the glass surface 102, the lamp 103 of the scanner unit is turned on and The scanner unit 104 moves to illuminate the document. Light reflected from the original is reflected by the mirror 1.
The signals are input to the CCD image sensor unit 109 (hereinafter, referred to as CCD) via 05, 106, 107 and the lens 108.

In the image processing section 110, various image processings set by the operation section described later are performed. Further, it has an image memory and also has a function of rotating the output direction of the image.
The rotation of the image is performed in the formatter unit 8 by the same method as described later.

The external switching circuit of the image processing unit 110 is
It is a selector that switches a signal from the reader unit 1 to the printer unit 2 or the external device 3. Further, it also functions to select either the signal from the reader unit 1 or the signal from the external device 3 and connect it to the printer unit 2.

The electric signal connected to the printer unit 2 by this external switching circuit is converted into an optical signal modulated by the exposure control unit 201 and irradiates the photosensitive member 202. The latent image formed on the photoconductor 202 by the irradiation light is developed by the developing device 203. The transfer paper is conveyed from the transfer paper stacking unit 204 or 205 at the same timing as the leading edge of the developed image, and the developed image is transferred to the transfer unit 206. The transferred image is fixed on the transfer paper by the fixing unit 207, and then discharged from the paper output unit 208 to the outside of the apparatus. The transfer paper output from the paper output unit 208 is discharged to each bin when the sort function is working in the sorter 220, or to the highest bin of the sorter when the sort function is not working. .

Next, a method for outputting sequentially read images on both sides of one output sheet will be described. First, the output sheet fixed by the fixing unit 207 is once output to the paper output unit 208.
After the sheet is conveyed, the sheet conveying direction is determined and the sheet is conveyed to the re-transferred transfer sheet stacking section 210 via the conveying direction switching member 209.

When the next original is prepared, the original image is read in the same manner as the above-mentioned process, but the transfer paper is fed from the re-transferred transfer paper stacking section 210, so that the same result is obtained. It is possible to output two original images on the front surface and the back surface of the output paper.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the operation panel in the reader unit 1. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a display unit that displays operating states and messages. The surface of the display unit 301 is composed of a touch panel, and touches the surface to function as a selection key. A numeral key 302 is a key for inputting numbers. Reference numeral 303 denotes a start key, and the operation is started by pressing this key.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

First, in FIG. 4, after the power is turned on, initialization is performed (step S1). Operation panel display 30
The operation mode selection key is displayed at 1, and the mode is selected by touching the panel on the selection key. It is determined whether or not the selected mode is the copy mode (step S2). When the selected mode is the copy mode, step S shown in FIG.
Fly to 11. Also, when the copy mode is not selected, it is determined whether the mode is the fax transmission mode (step S
3) In the fax transmission mode, jump to step S21 shown in FIG. Similarly, when the fax transmission mode is not selected, it is determined whether it is the file mode (step S4), and when it is the file mode, the process jumps to step S31 shown in FIG.

Further, when the file mode is not selected, it is judged whether or not the input mode is from the computer interface (step S5). When the input mode is from the computer interface, the process jumps to step S41 shown in FIG. Further, when the input mode from the computer interface is not detected, it is judged whether it is the fax reception mode (step S6), and when it is the fax reception mode, the process jumps to step S51 shown in FIG. When the fax reception mode is not detected, the print output monitoring subroutine, which will be described in detail later, is processed (step S7), and then the process returns to the judgment of the copy mode (step S2) and the selection mode judgment of steps S2 to S6 described above The print output monitoring in step S7 is repeated.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart when the copy mode is selected.

First, the initialization of the copy operation is performed (step S11), and the key 3 input from the operation panel is entered.
01 and 302 are read, copy conditions are set (step S12), and the input of the start key 303 is awaited (step S13). Then, when the start key is pressed, the document is read by the reader unit 1 (step S14) and the printer unit 2 prints (step S15). This operation is publicly known and the description thereof is omitted. When printing is completed, the process returns to the initial settings of step S1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart when the fax transmission mode is selected.

First, initialization settings for fax transmission are performed (step S21), the keys 301 and 302 input from the operation panel are read, fax transmission conditions are set (step S22), and the input of the start key 303 is waited for. (Step S23). After that, when the start key is pressed, the document is read by the reader unit 1 (step S2
4) Send the image data to the fax unit 4. The fax unit 4 performs fax transmission according to the set format and the determined protocol (step S25). When the transmission is completed, the process returns to the initial setting of step S1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart when the file mode is selected.

First, initialization setting of file operation is performed (step S31), mode selection of file recording or search is displayed on the operation panel, and key input is waited (step S31).
32). When the recording key is selected, the recording condition is set (step S33), the document is read from the reader section 1 (step S34), the data is sent to the file section 5, and the file is recorded in the external storage device 6 (step S34). Step S
35). If the file search key is selected in step S32, search condition setting is performed (step S32).
36), the external storage device 6 is searched for a file (step S37), and the result is output. When the recording or the search is completed, the process returns to the initial setting of step S1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart when command data is input to the computer interface from the outside.

First, the command is accepted by the computer interface (step S41), the data is sent to the formatter unit 8 via the core unit 10 for interpretation, and the information is expanded in the bit map memory (Step S42). Succeedingly, in the processing of step S43, it is determined whether or not the printer is in operation, and the operation is waited for. When the operation is completed, an appropriate paper is selected and paper feeding is started (step S
44). Then, the paper is fed from the paper cassettes 204 and 205 and moved to the transfer position 206. Here, the image developed in the bitmap memory in the process of step S42 is developed and read based on the information such as the orientation and size of the paper. The read image information is used as the exposure control unit 2
01, and printing is started (step S45). The printing part is common to each operation described so far. Then, after outputting the data, the process returns to the initial setting step S1.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart when a fax is received.

First, when fax reception is performed by the fax unit 4 (step S51), it is determined whether the printer unit 2 is operating (step S52). If not, data is sent to the printer unit 2, It is printed (step S53). If the printer unit 2 is operating in step S52, it is stored in the hard disk of the fax unit 4 (step S54), and is printed out when the printer unit 2 is not operating (steps S52, S5).
3). Then, after the printing is completed, the process returns to the initial setting of step S1 in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the detailed processing of the print output monitoring routine of step S7 shown in FIG.

First, it is determined whether or not there is a print output (step S61), and if there is a print output, 1
It is determined whether the print output of the page is completed (step S62). As a result, if YES, it is determined whether the printed output is in the staple mode (step S63), and if the printed output is in the staple mode, it is determined whether or not the print output end timer is started. Judgment (step S6
4). In the case of YES in this determination, it is determined whether or not the print output end timer has exceeded a certain time (step S65), and if the print output end timer has exceeded the certain time, the print output is stapled (step S66). ), And returns to the initial setting of step S1 of FIG.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S64 is NO, the print output end timer is started (step S64).
67), and returns to step S1 shown in FIG.

If the determinations in steps S61, S62 and S63 are NO, the print output end timer is stopped and the process returns to the initial setting of step S1 shown in FIG.

Here, the interrupt process for counting the print output end timer will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

It is determined by a 100 msec timer interrupt whether the print output end timer has started (step S71). If the print output end timer has not started, the interrupt is returned as it is.

However, if it is determined in step S71 that the print output end timer has started, the timer value is counted up to indicate that 100 msec has elapsed (step S72), and the interrupt is returned.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the external device such as the host computer, the page description language for each page for sending information from the external device to the image forming means, and the page description language are interpreted. A page description language expanding means for expanding the bitmap information, a second image forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on the bitmap information for each page expanded by the page description language expanding means, and the image A sheet post-processing apparatus configured to post-process a recording medium on which an image has been formed by the forming unit and to be stapled, and when the staple mode is selected from the external device, the second image forming unit is configured to output one page unit. A time measuring means for counting after image formation is completed,
By having the control means for starting stapling by the output from the time measuring means, a plurality of bundles are stapled one by one, and there is an effect that handling by the user becomes very easy.

When an image is formed by information from an external device such as a host computer, an original image is converted into an image signal and an image is formed on a recording medium based on the input image signal, the external device is used. Even when the output sheet on which the image is formed and the output sheet on which the image is formed from the original stack are overlapped, there is an effect that the user can handle the output sheet.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case of being achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an image forming method and apparatus with improved user convenience.

[0045]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system in this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a reader unit 1 and a printer unit 2 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of an operation panel in the reader unit 2 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the overall operation in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of a copy function.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of a facsimile transmission function.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing of a file function.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of a printer function.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing of a facsimile reception function.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of print output monitoring.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 reader unit 2 printer unit 3 external device 4 facsimile unit 5 file unit 6 external storage device 7 computer interface unit 8 formatter unit 9 image memory unit 10 core unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hatsumatsu Tsuyoshi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hirohiko Tashiro 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Kya Non-Incorporated (72) Inventor Yoshihiko Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Akiyoshi Kimura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Minor Nada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinichi Nakamura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Kenji Kobayashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ki In Canon Inc. (72) Inventor, Noriyuki Miyake 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus which is connected to an external device, forms an image on a recording medium, and performs post-processing to enable stapling, when a staple mode is selected from the external device,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a time measuring unit that measures a predetermined time after forming an image on a page-by-page basis; and a control unit that controls to start stapling when the time measuring unit detects the elapse of the predetermined time. apparatus. 2. An image forming method of an image forming apparatus, which is connected to an external device, forms an image on a recording medium, and performs post-processing to enable stapling, when a staple mode is selected from the external device,
An image forming method comprising: a time counting step of timing a predetermined time after forming an image on a page-by-page basis; and a control step of controlling to start stapling when the predetermined time is detected by the time counting step. Method.