JPH10100474A - Image processor image processing system and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the total processing speed of a system from lowering at the time of printing small number of copies comprising a plurality of pages where the processing rate is increased before and after printing because a printer is provided with an image memory and print starting process, image data transfer process and printing and stopping process of a plurality of sheets are repeated for every page. SOLUTION: An image processor generates and stores an image data in a memory in units of page based on a PDL data and notifies a prepared number of sheets based on the production of image data and the forming conditions of each page included in the PDL data to a printer 1. Based on the prepared number of sheets, the printer 1 receives a page of image data from the image processor 3 and stores the image data in an image memory 25. At the same time, precedent paper feed is performed and a visible image based on the image data stored in the image memory 25 is formed on a recording medium.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, and a method therefor. For example, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for generating image data based on received image forming information and an image transmitted from an external device. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that forms an image based on data, and an image processing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, a page description language (PDL) is described from a host computer.
An image processing apparatus that receives PDL data, expands raster image data according to a command included in the PDL data, and sends the raster image data to an image forming apparatus to form an image will be described. In the following description, "developing raster image data according to a command included in PDL data" may be simply described as "developing PDL data into image data" or "developing PDL data". .

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image forming system, which is a system including an image processing device 82 and a color copying machine 81 which is a color image forming device.

The host computer 97 sends the image processing device 82
PDL data sent to RGB or YMC
The image data is expanded into image data for each K, and image data for one page is temporarily stored in the image memory 99. Next, when the color copying machine 81 is started by the CPU 98 and image formation of each color starts,
At the same time, the image data 83 read from the image memory 99
Is input to the image processing unit 85 via the switching unit 84. In addition,
When RGB data is sent from the image processing device 82, the image processing unit 85 converts the RGB data into YCMK data.

[0005] Image data 86 that has been subjected to various image processing in the image processing unit 85 is passed to a laser driving unit 87, and the laser driving unit 87 modulates the laser light based on the data. The modulated laser light scans the photosensitive drum 88 to form a latent image. The formed latent image is developed by a developing unit for each color (not shown) to become a toner image. On the other hand, the recording paper supplied from the upper cassette 89 or the lower cassette 90 in synchronization with the formation of the latent image is wound around the transfer drum 91, and
The toner image on 88 is transferred.

The reading of the image data from the image memory 99, the formation of the latent image, the development and the transfer are performed for each color component,
That is, by repeating four times for YMCK, the YMCK toner image is transferred to the recording paper wound around the transfer drum 91. The recording paper onto which the YMCK toner image has been transferred is fused and fixed by the fixing device 92 and is discharged onto a discharge tray 93.

The color copying machine 81 has a copying function for copying an original placed on the automatic document feeder 94 or a document placement unit (not shown), in addition to the above-described printing function. The images of these originals are converted into digital data by the image reading unit 95, and are output as color copy images via the switching unit 84 via the same path as the above-described printing.

Next, the flow and timing of image data in the image forming system will be described.

FIG. 2A is a diagram for explaining the case where YMCK image data is expanded in the image memory 99. In this case, the printing operation of the color copying machine 81, that is, the operation of the transfer drum 91 and the photosensitive drum 88 is performed. The image data 83 is read from the image memory 99 in the order of M, C, Y, and K in the order of image formation. The read image data 83 is sent to the color copying machine 81 and used as image data 86 for image formation. When printing a plurality of images of one page, the image data is repeatedly read from the image memory 99 as many times as the number of prints.
83 is read and sent to the color copier 81. FIG. 2A shows image data 83 and 86 when three images of one page are printed.
Is shown.

FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining the case where RGB image data is expanded in the image memory 99. In this case, the image memory 99
RGB data 83-1 to 83-3 are read in parallel from 99 and sent to the color copying machine 81. Input to color copier 81
The RGB data 83-1 to 83-3 are converted into YMCK data 86 by the image processing unit 85 according to the color component being formed. This RGB
The parallel transfer is performed according to the printing operation of the color copying machine 81, that is, the operation of the transfer drum 91 and the photosensitive drum 88.
This is performed four times per sheet at timings corresponding to the respective image formations of M, C, Y, and K. When printing a plurality of images of one page, the number of times corresponding to the number of images is stored in the image memory.
The image data 83-1 to 83-3 are repeatedly read from 99 and sent to the color copying machine 81.

[0011]

However, the above technique has the following problems.

As described above, with respect to reading image data from the image memory 99, when printing a plurality of sheets with the same data, the data is read a plurality of times. Reading of image data from the image memory 99 is usually performed by
In many cases, the transfer is performed by DMA via the CPU bus of the CPU 98. If the transfer amount of the image data is large, other processes of the CPU 98 are hindered. That is, since the same data is transferred a plurality of times using the CPU bus, there is a first problem that the processing of developing the next page by the CPU 98 is delayed.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2B, the PDL data is RGB.
When the data is expanded to image data, the same RGB data is read four times at each M, C, Y, K image formation timing even if only one sheet is printed, and the CPU 98 develops the next page. There is a second problem that is delayed. Also,
Even if the PDL data is developed into YMCK image data, the M, C, Y, and K image data must be read out four times in total each time one sheet is printed, causing the same problem.

As described above, the reading of image data from the image memory 99 is synchronized with the operation of the image forming apparatus, and is performed at a timing unique to the image forming apparatus. Therefore, when the printing operation of the image forming apparatus is complicated, the control of reading data from the image memory 99 on the image processing apparatus 82 side becomes complicated, and the data reading control dedicated to a specific image forming apparatus is performed. . For this reason, there is a third problem that an image processing apparatus cannot be shared for a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses. In particular, when an image processing apparatus is connected to an image forming apparatus that needs to send CMYK data in parallel and independently for each color as described later, the read timing of the CMYK data becomes complicated. In addition, since the read timing changes depending on the paper feed stage, paper size, type of recording paper, and the like of the image forming apparatus, it is difficult for the image processing apparatus to control the read timing.

By the way, in order to improve the first problem,
In a case where an image memory is provided on the image forming apparatus side and a plurality of sheets are to be printed, a configuration as shown in FIG. 3A for reading out image data from the image memory on the image forming apparatus side has been proposed for a monochrome digital printer.

Referring briefly to FIG. 3A, the monochrome image data sent from the host computer 97 to the image processing device 105 is stored in the image memory 106 by the CPU 107, and the image data 101 read out from the image memory 106 is stored once. Is sent to the printer 104 and written into the image memory 103. Next, the number of times corresponding to the designated number
The image data 102 read from 103 is sent to the image forming unit 100, and a specified number of black and white images are formed.

FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining the flow and timing of image data in the image forming system having the configuration shown in FIG. 3A, and shows a state in which an image of two pages is printed four times on each page (four copies).

When an instruction to start printing is issued from the image processing apparatus 105, the printer 104 is started. At this time, pre-processing 20 such as waiting for the operation of each part to stabilize, such as rotation of a polygon scanner for laser scanning (not shown), adjusting the temperature of the fixing unit, and waiting for the supplied recording paper to arrive at a predetermined position.
The time required for 1 is needed. After that, the image data 101 of the first page is sent from the image memory 106 to the image memory 103, but only the K data is sent since the example is the monochrome printer 104. Next, the image data 102 is read from the image memory 103 and the image formation is performed a number of times corresponding to the designated number of copies, that is, a total of four times in the example of FIG. 3B. When the image formation is completed, the printer 104 goes through a post-process 202 in which automatic density adjustment of the developing device, cleaning of the drum, and waiting for discharge until the toner image is fixed on the recording paper and discharged to the paper discharge tray are performed. Stop. Then, when printing the next page, the printer 104 is started again, and printing is performed in the same procedure as for the first page.

As described above, in the image forming system shown in FIG. 3B, the printer 104 is activated for each page, and a series of processing is performed for each page. This is because when starting printing the first page, it is not known whether there is a second page or later,
Further, even if it is found that there is a second or subsequent page, it is not known whether the image data can be expanded in the image memory 106 within a predetermined time. In particular, when PDL data is received from the host computer 97, the time required for development differs greatly depending on the complexity of the image. For this reason, it is impossible to know in advance whether or not the deployment is completed within a predetermined time.

A printer 104 using an electrophotographic system
In this case, the printing operation needs to be performed at a fixed timing, cannot be temporarily stopped halfway, and the supplied recording paper needs to be discharged after normal image formation. Further, when recording paper is supplied from a cassette having a long paper feeding path, such as the lower cassette 90 shown in FIG. 1, so-called advance paper feeding is performed in which recording paper is supplied prior to an actual printing operation. . In this case, even the printer 104 cannot cancel the printing operation performed on the supplied recording paper.

For these reasons, it is impossible to cause the image processing apparatus 105 to issue a page print instruction for which it is not known whether the image data can be developed in time.

As described above, even when the image forming apparatus is provided with an image memory, the image forming apparatus is started for each page, and the pre-processing, the transfer of the image data, the printing operation of a plurality of sets, and the post-processing are repeated. When the number of copies in a print of a plurality of pages is small, the ratio of the time required for pre-processing and post-processing increases, and there is a fourth problem that the productivity of the entire system is reduced.

The above problems can be summarized as follows.

(1) Since the same data is repeatedly transferred the number of times corresponding to the designated number of copies, the processing for developing the next page by the image processing apparatus is delayed.

(2) The data of the same page must be transferred four times in total for each of the M, C, Y, and K printing operations, which delays the processing of developing the next page by the image processing apparatus.

(3) The reading of image data from the image memory is synchronized with the operation of the image forming apparatus, and is performed at a timing unique to the image forming apparatus.

For this reason, when the printing operation of the image forming apparatus is complicated, the control of reading data from the image memory of the image processing apparatus becomes complicated, and the control of reading data is dedicated to a specific image forming apparatus. Become.

Therefore, the image processing apparatus cannot be used in common for a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses.

When the image forming apparatus has an image memory,

(4) Since the start of the printing operation (pre-processing), the transfer of image data, the printing of a plurality of copies and the stop of the printing operation (post-processing) are repeated for each page, the number of copies in the printing over a plurality of pages is small. In this case, the ratio of the time required for the pre-processing and the post-processing increases, and the processing speed of the entire system decreases.

The present invention addresses the above problems individually or
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing system that do not delay the processing of developing the next page due to transfer of image data, and a method therefor.

An image processing apparatus and an image processing system connectable to a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses,
It is another object to provide such a method.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing system in which the printing operation is made more continuous and the start / stop of the printing operation is less repeated, and a method thereof.

[0034]

The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a receiving unit that receives image forming information; a first generating unit that generates image data in page units based on the image forming information;
A storage unit for storing the image data generated by the first generation unit in units of pages, and an image based on a generation condition of the image data by the first generation unit and a formation condition for each page included in the image formation information A second generation unit for generating generation information, the image generation information being output, and the image generation information being stored in the storage unit according to a synchronization signal for image data transfer transmitted from the image forming apparatus that has received the image generation information. Output means for outputting one page of image data, wherein the synchronization signal is asynchronous with the image forming operation timing of the image forming apparatus.

Receiving means for transmitting a synchronizing signal for transferring image data to the external device based on the image generation information received from the external device and receiving one page of image data;
Storage means for storing the image data received by the receiving means; and forming means for forming a visible image based on the image data stored in the storage means on a recording medium based on the image generation information. The image generation information includes a generation state of image data in the external device and a forming condition for each page, and the synchronization signal is asynchronous with an image forming operation timing of the image forming apparatus.

An image processing system according to the present invention includes an image processing apparatus that generates image data based on received image forming information, and an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data sent from the image processing apparatus. An image processing system comprising: a first generation unit configured to generate image data in page units based on the image forming information; and an image processing apparatus configured to convert the image data generated by the first generation unit into a page. A first storage unit for storing in units, a second generation unit for generating image generation information based on a generation condition of image data by the first generation unit and a formation condition for each page included in the image formation information; The image generation information is output and stored in the first storage unit in accordance with a synchronization signal for image data transfer transmitted from the image forming apparatus that has received the image formation information. Output means for outputting one page of image data, wherein the image forming apparatus transmits a synchronization signal for image data transfer to the image processing apparatus based on image generation information received from the image processing apparatus. And receiving means for receiving image data for one page, and second storing means for storing the image data received by the receiving means,
Forming means for forming a visible image on a recording medium based on the image data stored in the second storage means based on the image generation information, wherein the synchronizing signal is an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus. It is characterized by being asynchronous with the timing.

In the image processing method according to the present invention, a receiving step of receiving image forming information, generating image data in page units based on the image forming information, and storing the generated image data in a storage unit in page units A first generation step of generating the image data, a second generation step of generating image generation information based on a generation condition of image data in the first generation step, and a formation condition for each page included in the image formation information, According to a first output step of outputting generation information and an image data transfer synchronization signal sent from the image forming apparatus that has received the image forming information, the image data of one page stored in the storage unit is output. And a second output step of outputting, wherein the synchronization signal is asynchronous with an image forming operation timing of the image forming apparatus.

A first receiving step of receiving image generation information received from an external device; a transmitting step of transmitting a synchronization signal for transferring image data to the external device based on the image generation information; Receiving the image data of one page sent according to the second receiving step of storing the received image data in the storage unit, and based on the image generation information, the image data stored in the first storage unit. Forming a visible image based on a recording medium, wherein the image generation information includes a generation state of image data in the external device and a formation condition for each page, and the synchronization signal includes It is characterized by being asynchronous with the image forming operation timing of the apparatus.

[0040]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0041]

First Embodiment [Configuration] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the image processing device 3 is a color PD.
It corresponds to L data, and is connected to host computers 2-1 to 2-3 via a network 4. The PDL data sent from any of the host computers 2-1 to 2-3 via the network 4 and the external interface 5 is transmitted to the CPU 6
Thus, the data is temporarily stored in a spool area 8-1 in a storage device (for example, a hard disk device or a magneto-optical disk device). Next, the PDL data read from the spool area 8-1 is developed into RGB raster image data and written into the full page image memory area 10-1 in the RAM 10. The expanded image data is transferred from the full page image memory area 10-1 to the DMA.
(Direct Memory Access) and sent to the printer 1 via the CPU bus 7 and the printer interface 11 to form an image.

The printer interface 11 synchronizes with a synchronizing signal 14 including a main scanning synchronizing signal and a sub-scanning synchronizing signal for image data transfer supplied from the printer 1.
The image data 12 is output. The synchronization signal in the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A is a signal indicating a timing unique to the printer synchronized with the printing operation of the printer.

On the other hand, the synchronization signal 14 in this embodiment is
Since this is a synchronization signal that is not necessarily synchronized with the printing operation of the printer 1 and is used to transfer image data from the image processing device 3 to the printer 1, it is not necessary to indicate a timing unique to the printer 1. That is, the control unit 15 of the printer 1 generates the data from the CPU clock or the like according to the processing timing of the image processing unit 23 and the storage operation timing of the image memory 25. Therefore, the control unit 15 can control the transfer speed of the image data according to the processing speed of the image processing unit 23 and the access speed of the image memory 25, and can transfer the image data according to the state of the printing operation. It can be arbitrarily controlled. The details of the control unit 15, the image processing unit 23, and the image memory 25 of the printer 1 will be described later.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the same synchronization signal 14 for image data transfer can be used for a plurality of types of printers (image forming apparatuses) having different printing operations. It is possible to connect one image processing device 3 to this image forming device.

The program area 8-2 in the storage device 8 is used to hold a program, and the program read from the program area 8-2 is used for storing the program in the work memory area 10-
Stored in 2. The CPU 6 executes a program stored in the work memory area 10-2. Part of the work memory area 10-2 and the work memory area 8-3 in the hard disk 8
It is also used as a temporary storage area for the work of the CPU 6.

The printer communication unit 9 communicates with the control unit 15 of the printer 1 via the communication path 13. The control unit 15 is configured by a one-chip microcomputer having a built-in RAM and a program ROM, for example.

The image memory area 10-1 stores 8 RGB pixels per pixel.
It is composed of a total of 24 bits, has a storage capacity of one page of A3 size, and can store image data of two pages of A4 size. However, the image memory can be expanded, and for example, a storage capacity of four pages in A4 size (two pages in A3 size) or a larger storage capacity can be used. In the present embodiment, the image memory is an RGB 24-bit mode (8 bits for each RGB), an 8-bit mode of 8 bits per pixel in a gray scale mode, and a 1 bit per pixel in a monochrome mode. Also supports bit mode. However, for the sake of simplicity, the following description focuses on the RGB 24-bit mode.

The printer 1 is an electrophotographic full-color copying machine, which will be described in detail later, and forms an image based on RGB 24-bit image data 12 sent from the image processing device 3. However, since the actual image formation is performed using YMCK four color toners, the RGB
Conversion to CK is performed. Further, the image data of the gray scale mode or the monochrome mode developed by the image processing device 3 is similarly sent to the printer 1 and the brightness-density conversion is performed in the printer 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a color copying machine used as the printer 1.

The RGB image data 12 sent from the image processing device 3 to the color copying machine 1 is input to the image processing unit 23 via the switching unit 22. The image processing unit 23 converts the input RGB image data into YMCK image data, performs various types of image processing such as gradation correction, and stores it as YMCK image data 24 in the image memory 25. When one page of image data is stored in the image memory 25, the control unit 15 starts a printing operation. When image formation for each color is started, image data is read from the image memory 25 in accordance with the start of the image formation, and the read image data is input to the laser drive unit 27.

The laser driving section 27 modulates the laser light corresponding to each of YMCK based on the input image data. The modulated laser beams corresponding to the YMCKs respectively scan the photosensitive drums 28-1 to 28-4 to form latent images. The formed latent image is developed by a developing unit for each color (not shown) to become a toner image. On the other hand, the recording paper supplied from the upper cassette 29 or the lower cassette 30 in synchronization with the formation of the latent image is conveyed by the transfer belt 31 and is exposed to the photosensitive drums 28-1 to 28-28.
-4 are sequentially transferred.

The reading of the image data from the image memory 25, the formation of the latent image, the development and the transfer are performed for each color component,
That is, the toner image of YMCK is transferred onto the recording paper on the transfer belt 31 by being performed independently and in parallel in synchronization with the formation of the latent image for each YMCK. The recording paper on which the YMCK toner image has been transferred is fused and fixed by the fixing device 32 and is discharged onto a discharge tray 33.

The color copier 1 has a copying function for copying an original placed on the automatic document feeder 21 or a document placement unit (not shown), in addition to the above-described printing function. The images of these originals are converted into digital data 35 by the image reading unit 34, and then are output as color copy images via the switching unit 22 through the same path as in the above-described printing.

Since the photosensitive drums 28-1 to 28-4 are arranged at a predetermined interval, first, the formation of the Y toner image is started, and then, at time intervals proportional to the interval of the photosensitive drums, M, C, K
It is necessary to start the formation of the toner image in the following order. Therefore,
The timing for reading the image data of each color component from the image memory 25 also needs to start at a time interval proportional to the interval between the photosensitive drums. That is, when image data is transferred from the image processing device 3 to the color copying machine 1, if the timing unique to the color copying machine 1 is used, the control of reading data from the image memory area 10-1 of the image processing device 3 becomes complicated. The data readout control is dedicated to a specific image forming apparatus, thus causing the third problem described above.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when transferring image data from the image processing apparatus 3 to the color copying machine 1,
Since the image synchronizing signal 14 including the virtual main scanning synchronizing signal and the virtual sub-scanning synchronizing signal for image data transfer supplied from the color copier 1 is used, the image memory area 10-1 of the image processing apparatus 3 Data read control becomes easy.
In other words, the image forming apparatus itself controls the timing unique to the image forming apparatus.

When an attempt is made to transfer image data at a timing unique to the image forming apparatus, the transfer is performed between the image forming apparatus having one photosensitive drum shown in FIG. 1 and the image forming apparatus having four photosensitive drums shown in FIG. Because the timing is different,
It is necessary to connect different image processing devices. On the other hand, if the image forming apparatus outputs an image synchronizing signal including a virtual main scanning synchronizing signal and a virtual sub-scanning synchronizing signal for image data transfer, the photosensitive drum shown in FIG. Regardless of whether the photosensitive drum shown in FIG. 5 has four image forming apparatuses, the same image processing apparatus can be connected.

[PDL Data] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining general PDL data.

The PDL represented by the Adobe Systems PostScript (registered trademark) language is, as shown in FIG.
A language that describes an image of one page by combining elements such as image description by character code, (ii) image description by graphic code, and (iii) image description by raster image data. PDL data.

FIG. 7B shows an example of a description using character codes.
The portion indicated by 100 is a description for designating the character color, and the values in parentheses indicate the luminance of R, G, B in order. Note that the minimum of the luminance is 0.0 and the maximum is 1.0. That is, the description specifies a black character color. Next, the portion denoted by 1101 is a description that substitutes the character string “IC” into the variable string1, and the portion denoted by 1102 is a description that specifies that the character string is to be laid out. The xy coordinates, the third parameter indicates the character size, the fourth parameter indicates the character interval, and the fifth parameter indicates the character string (or character string variable) to be laid out. That is, from coordinates (0.0,0.0), with a size of 0.3 and a character spacing of 0.1,
This is an instruction to lay out the character string stored in the variable string1.

FIG. 9C shows an example of a description using a graphic code.
The portion indicated by 103 specifies the color of the line in the same manner as 1100 described above, and this description specifies the red line. Next, the portion indicated by 1104 is a description specifying that a line is drawn, the first and second parameters are the xy coordinates of the start position of the line, the third and fourth parameters are the xy coordinates of the end position, and the fifth parameter is Indicates the thickness of the line. That is, the instruction is to draw a red line having a thickness of 0.1 from the coordinates (0.9, 0.0) to the coordinates (0.9, 1.0).

FIG. 11D shows an example of a description of a raster image.
The part indicated by is a description that substitutes the raster image for the variable image1, the first parameter is the image type and the number of color components of the raster image, the second parameter is the number of bits per color component, and the third and fourth parameters are the raster. Each represents the number of image data in the xy direction of the image. The fifth and subsequent parameters are raster image data, and the number of this image data is the product of the number of color components constituting one pixel and the number of image data in the xy direction,
In the example shown in 1105, since the RGB image is composed of three color components R, G, and B, the image data is 3 × 5 × 5 = 75.

Next, the portion indicated by 1106 is a description for specifying the formation of a raster image. The first and second parameters indicate the start position of raster image formation, and the third and fourth parameters indicate xy.
The image size in the direction indicates the raster image formed by the fifth parameter. That is, 0 from the coordinates (0.0,0.5) in the x direction.
This is an instruction to form an image stored in the variable image1 with a size of 0.5 in the y direction.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the PDL data shown in FIG. 6 is interpreted and developed into one-page raster image data.
Is the character code of FIG. 6 (b), R101 is the graphic code of FIG. 6 (c), and R102 is the raster image of FIG. 6 (d).

That is, the PDL data input from the host computer 2-1 or the like to the image processing apparatus 3 is developed by the CPU 6 as shown in an example in FIG. 7 and written into the image memory area 10-1. In the PDL data, in addition to the description of the image information, control information for instructing the start of printing and the number of copies can also be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which control information is described in PDL data.

In FIG. 8, the description of L107 is an instruction to develop raster image data of each RGB of 8 bits and print a full color page. The description of L108 is an instruction to develop raster image data of K8 bits and print a grayscale page. The description in L109 is an instruction to print four copies of the same page. The description of L110 is an instruction to print a page in A3 size. The description in L111 is a print start instruction, and the description in L112 is to declare the end of a multi-page job.

[Operation] Next, the image formation and the timing of each signal in this embodiment will be described.

In the case of printing a plurality of copies of an A4 size image of a plurality of pages FIG. 9 is an example of a timing chart in a job of printing an A4 size image of three pages and four copies. The printing of three pages and four copies means that there are three pages with different contents, and that each page is printed four times.

At timing 41-1, the image processing apparatus 3 completes the development of the image data of the first page. Accordingly, the image data of the first page is prepared in the image memory area 10-1, and it is possible to print four sheets of the first page. The image processing device 3 notifies the controller 15 of the printer 1 of “4” as the number of ready images, that is, the number of images that can be transferred at the timing 42-1.
At, the control unit 15 is instructed to start printing.

Since the notified ready number is "4", the control unit 15 can feed up to four recording sheets in advance, so that the supply of the first recording sheet is started at the timing 44-1. Let it. In parallel with the preceding paper feeding, the control unit 15 waits for the operation of each unit to stabilize, such as rotation of a laser scanning polygon scanner (not shown) at timing 40-1, and adjusts the temperature of the fixing unit and the supplied recording. Pre-processing 201 such as waiting for the paper to arrive at a predetermined position is performed. Further, the control unit 15 sends a synchronization signal 14 to the image processing device 3, receives the RGB image data 12 sent from the image processing device 3 in synchronization with the synchronization signal 14, and outputs the CMYK image data 24 to the image processing unit 85. And writes it into the image memory 25.

When the preprocessing and the writing of the CMYK image data into the image memory 25 are completed and the recording paper arrives at a predetermined position, the control section 15 first starts reading the Y signal 26-1 from the image memory 25, Start forming the Y image. Slightly after the Y image formation, the reading of the M signal 26-2 is started, and the formation of the M image is started. Similarly, reading and forming of C and K are started slightly later, and image formation of each color component is performed in parallel.

As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of prints
It is executed continuously at a predetermined timing. The recording paper corresponding to each of a plurality of prints is fed in advance at certain timings 44-2 to 44-4 so that the timing of printing is maintained. In this case, since the prepared number is "4", up to four sheets may be fed in advance.

While the printer 1 is printing a plurality of sheets, the image processing device 3 develops the image data of the next page. In this example, since the image is of A4 size, the image memory area 10-1
Can hold two pages, and can expand the image data of the second page while holding the image data of the first page. That is, the development of the image data of the second page can be started immediately after the development of the image data of the first page is completed. In the example of FIG. 9, when the development of the image data of the second page is completed at the timing 41-2 and the image data of the second page is prepared in the image memory area 10-1, the preparation is performed at the timing 42-2. The control unit 15 is notified of four copies of two pages, that is, “8” as the completed number.

On the other hand, in the printer 1, in order to continuously print the second page after the four sheets of the first page, it is necessary to perform the preceding sheet feeding at the timing 44-5. For that purpose, it is necessary to determine whether or not to continue the printing at the timing 43-2. In the case of FIG. 9, the control unit 15
Since it was previously notified at timing 42-2 that the next page is ready, it is decided to continue printing. Since the prepared number is "8", up to a total of eight sheets may be fed in advance, and the control unit 15 starts supplying the fifth recording sheet at timing 44-5.

Since the control unit 15 has decided to continue printing, if the formation of four images on the first page has been completed, the control unit 15 receives the RGB image data 12 on the second page in the same manner as the first page. The YMCK image data is written to the image memory 25, and subsequently, image formation of the second page and four sheets is started.

The state of image formation in the printer 1 is sent from the control unit 15 to the CPU 6 of the image processing apparatus 3 via the communication path 13 as image formation state information shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the image formation status information has a value “FF” immediately after the start of printing.
It becomes "0" when the formation of the first K image on the first page is started, and becomes "1" when the formation of the K image is completed, which means that the first sheet is formed. . Thereafter, the count is similarly increased, and when the formation of the fourth K image on the first page is completed, the count becomes “4”.

The image processing apparatus 3 grasps the image formation status of each page based on the image formation status information. When the image formation status information becomes “4” after instructing the printing of four sheets on the first page, it means that the image formation on the first page has been completed normally, so the image processing apparatus 3 returns to the timing 41-3 at the timing 41-3. Then, the memory area storing the image data of the first page is released, and the development of the image data of the third page is started.

The image processing apparatus 3 completes the development of the image data of the third page at the timing 41-4 and prepares the image data in the image memory area 10-1. 12 "to the printer 1. In printer 1, in order to continuously print the third page after the fourth page of the second page, paper feeding must be started at timing 44-9, so printing is continued at timing 43-3. Decide whether to do it. In the case of FIG. 9, the timing 43-
3 The prepared number notified before is `` 8 '', and since the image formation for seven sheets has already been completed and the eighth sheet is being formed,
The control unit 15 determines the non-continuation of the print at the timing 43-3. Therefore, no paper is fed at timing 44-9.

In the example of FIG. 9, it takes time for the image processing device 3 to develop the image data of the third page, and the update timing 42-3 of the prepared number is determined by the control unit 15 at the timing of determining whether to continue printing or not to continue printing. Printer 1 because it was slower than 43-3
Is completed. In other words, the figure
FIG. 9 shows an example in which the image data of the second page is developed for continuous printing, and the image data of the third page is not developed for continuous printing. The time required to develop the image data of each page cannot be predicted because it varies depending on the complexity of the content of each page, and it may take tertile depending on the page. Although the image forming apparatus can be kept on standby until the image data is expanded, it shortens the life of the photosensitive drum and developing unit, consumes fixing oil, consumes unnecessary power, and reduces noise. But not desirable.

When a series of continuous printing operations is completed, post-processing 40-2 for performing automatic toner density adjustment, cleaning the drum, and waiting for the recording paper on which the toner image is fixed to be discharged to the paper discharge tray. , The printer 1 stops operating. For the third page where the development of the image data was not completed in time, after the development of the image data is completed, the image processing device
From 3, a print start instruction is issued to the printer 1 again, and printing is performed in the same procedure as the first page.

When Partial Printing of A4 and A3 Size Images of a Plurality of Pages FIG. 10 is an example of a timing chart in a job for partially printing two pages of A4 and A3 size images.

First, at the timing 46-1, the development of the A4 size image data is completed. At the timing 47-1, the prepared number "1" is notified. At the timing 48-1, the start of printing is instructed. In 49-1, for example, the supply of the recording paper from the upper cassette 29 is started, and the preprocessing 40-1 is started.

In the example of FIG. 10, since each page is printed on one sheet, the paper feed timing for continuously printing the second page
49-2 is also earlier than in the example of FIG. 9, and accordingly, the print continuation / non-continuation determination timing 48-2 is earlier. That is, compared to the example of FIG. 9, the conditions for continuous printing are stricter, and unless the image processing device 3 develops the image data at high speed, the image data cannot be developed in time, and the continuous printing operation is interrupted. I will. In the example of FIG.
-2 completes the development of the image data of the second page, at timing 47
-2, the prepared number of sheets "2" is notified, so the timing 48-
In 2, the continuation of printing is determined.

Next, the paper feed timing for continuously printing the third page is 49-3. The sheet feeding timing 49-3 is different from the sheet feeding timing of the first sheet or the second sheet for two reasons.

The first reason is that the third page is A3 size,
At timing 49-3, for example, the supply of recording paper from the lower cassette 30 is started. As shown in FIG. 5, the paper feeding path from the lower cassette 30 is longer than the paper feeding path from the upper cassette 29, and if the recording paper is simultaneously supplied from both cassettes,
The recording paper supplied from the upper cassette 29 reaches the Y photosensitive drum 28-1 first. In other words, when recording paper is supplied from the lower cassette 30, the paper feeding operation must be started earlier than when recording paper is supplied from the upper cassette 29.

The second reason is that the third page is A3 size,
This is because the time required to receive the RGB image data from the image processing device 3, convert it to CMYK image data, and write it to the image memory 25 is double that of the A4 size. If the A3 recording paper can be supplied from the upper cassette 29 in the same manner as the A4 size, the time required for processing the image data becomes longer, so that the paper feeding operation can be started later than in the case of the A4 size. it can.

Next, the paper feed timing for continuously printing the fourth page is 49-4. Feed timing 49-3 and 49-4
Is longer than the interval between the sheet feed timings 49-1 and 49-2. This is due to the fact that the image size is A3, RG
This is because not only the transfer time of the B image data 12 becomes longer but also the time required for image formation becomes longer.

As described above, the paper feed timing varies depending on the paper feed stage and the image size, and also varies depending on the type of the recording paper. The type of recording paper is, for example, a distinction between plain paper, transparent sheet, and thick paper. For example, in the case of thick paper, when the toner is melted and fixed, the temperature of the toner is hardly increased, and the fixing is performed over a corresponding time. For that purpose, it is necessary to widen the interval between the recording papers conveyed by the transfer belt 31, which also changes the paper feeding timing.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the print continuation / non-continuation decision timing 48-3 of the third page and the print continuation / non-continuation determination timing 48-4 of the fourth page are determined at the third and fourth pages. Since the development of the image data of the eyes is in time, the printing operation is continued, and a part of the print job including two pages of A4 size and two pages of A3 size ends in a series of operations. However, the example of FIG. 10 is a case where the image memory area 10-1 is equivalent to two pages of A3. If the image memory area 10-1 is equivalent to one page of A3 (two pages of A4), the development of the image data of the third page must be started unless the memory area of the second page is released at timing 45-2. Therefore, the third page cannot be printed continuously.

In the present embodiment, in a series of printing operations, paper feed stages, image sizes, types of recording paper, and the like are used.
Even if the paper feed timing or the image forming timing changes, since the image synchronizing signal including the virtual main scanning synchronizing signal and the virtual sub-scanning synchronizing signal for transferring the image data is used, the reading control of the memory in the image processing device 3 can be performed. There is no complication, and continuous printing is not interrupted if the image data is developed in time.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a difference in sheet feeding timing depending on the sheet feeding stage and the image size, and is an example of a print job of a part of two pages. The first page of recording paper (A4) is supplied from the upper cassette 29 at timing 53-1 and printing is performed in the same manner as in FIG.

When the recording paper (A4) of the second page is supplied from the upper cassette 29, the paper feeding timing is 53-2, and the timing of determining whether to continue printing / non-continuation is 52-2. The development completion timing of the image data of the second page is 50-2,
Before the timing 52-2, it is notified that the preparation of the second page is completed at the timing 51-2, so that the continuation of the printing is determined.

On the other hand, the recording paper (A4) of the second page is the lower cassette.
When the paper is fed from 30, the paper feed timing moves forward to 53-3 as the paper feed path becomes longer,
The non-continuation decision timing is 52-3. In this case, it is notified that the second page is ready at the timing 51-2 after the timing 52-3, so that the print discontinuation is determined,
At timing 53-3, no paper is fed, and the printer 1 temporarily stops.

The recording paper (A3) of the second page is a lower cassette.
When supplied from 30, as shown in FIG. 11, the transfer time of the RGB image data 12 becomes longer, so that the Y image formation start timing is delayed, and as a result, the paper feed timing is also delayed.
-4, and the print continuation / non-continuation decision timing is delayed to 52-4. Therefore, before the timing 52-4, it is notified that the preparation for the second page is completed at the timing 51-2, so that the continuation of the printing is determined.

In a series of printing operations, if the paper feeding timing or the image forming timing changes due to the paper feed stage, image size, recording paper type, etc., the image processing apparatus 3 determines whether or not to continue the printing operation. Is determined, the control becomes complicated, and the versatility of the image processing device 3 is lost. If the image forming apparatus determines whether or not to continue the printing operation as in the present embodiment, not only can it be determined at the optimal timing, but also the image processing apparatus 3 can be connected to the image forming apparatus. It is only necessary to notify the number of prepared sheets, and control of the image processing apparatus 3 becomes extremely easy, and versatility is increased.

Conversely, if the timing for determining whether or not to continue the printing operation is set to the earliest timing in consideration of the paper feed stage, image size, type of recording paper, and the like,
In many cases, the optimal judgment timing is not obtained, so that the rate at which the printing operation is not continuous increases, and the printing time increases. For example, in the example of FIG. 11, if the continuation / non-continuation is always determined at the timing 52-3, the printing operation is interrupted even when the sheet is fed from the upper cassette 29 or in the case of A3 size. In other words, the image forming apparatus determines the continuation / non-continuation at an optimal timing according to the paper feed tray, the image size, the type of the recording paper, and the like, thereby maximizing the ratio of the continuous printing operation, and Time can be reduced.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the difference in feed timing between color and black and white. The first and third pages are color in part of four pages, and the second page is gray scale. The fourth page is an example of a monochrome print job. The recording paper for the first page (A4)
At -1, it is supplied from the upper cassette 29, and printing is performed in the same manner as in FIG.

The recording paper (A4) for the second page is also supplied from the upper cassette 29. In the image memory area 10-1 of the image processing device 3, grayscale image data is expanded, and RG
For example, 8-bit data of the B data 12 is sent to the printer 1 using the R signal line. The image processing unit 24 converts the grayscale image data into K image data,
Write in K area of 5. Then, a K image is formed by the K image data 26-4 read from the image memory 25. On this occasion,
No forming operation is performed on the YMC, and the recording paper passes under the YMC photosensitive drums 28-1 to 28-3.

Feeding timing for forming a black and white image
54-2 is slightly earlier than the paper feed timing 54-5 when a color image is formed under the same conditions. This is because the K image data 26-4 is read out to form a K image immediately after the writing of the K image data to the image memory 25 is completed, so that the Y photosensitive drum 28-1 and the K photosensitive drum 28-4 are formed. This is because it is necessary to supply the recording paper earlier by the distance.

As described above, the paper feed timing changes depending on whether the image to be formed is color or black and white, and the timing for determining whether or not to continue the printing operation also changes. In addition,
In the case of forming a black and white image, an example has been described in which sheet feeding is performed earlier than in the case of forming a color image. However, needless to say, sheet feeding may be performed at the same timing as in forming a color image.

Next, since the third page is color, the same operation as that of the first page is performed, and the recording paper (A4) of the fourth page is supplied from the upper cassette 29. In the image memory area 10-1, monochrome image data is expanded, and for example, R
One-bit data is sent to the printer 1 using the most significant bit of the signal line. The image processing unit 24 converts monochrome image data into density data, and performs binary / multi-value conversion, that is, converts the density data to FF if the data is '1' and to 0 if the data is '0'. Write to. Then, a K image is formed by the K image data 26-4 read from the image memory 25. At this time, the forming operation is not performed for the YMC, and the recording paper passes under the YMC photosensitive drums 28-1 to 28-3.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to switch the sheet feeding and the image forming timing depending on whether the image to be formed is color or monochrome. Therefore, it is possible to easily switch between color image formation and monochrome image formation during the continuous printing operation.

[Recovery Processing] FIG. 13 is a view for explaining recovery processing when an error such as a recording paper jam or no recording paper occurs. In a two-page four-copy print job, the third page of the first page is described. 4 shows a case where a jam has occurred on the third recording sheet during the formation of the image of FIG.

The control unit 15 of the printer 1 knows that the jam has occurred and, since the image formation status information at the timing 59-2 at which the jam occurred is “2”, the image forming for two sheets has been completed. You can know. In addition, since the development of the image data of the second page is completed at the timing 55-2 and the prepared number “8” is notified to the control unit 15 at the timing 56-2, the control unit 15 Thus, it can be known that the image data of the first page and the second page exist in the image memory area 10-1 of the image processing device 3.

When a jam occurs, the control unit 15 stops image formation on the jammed recording sheet, in this example, the third sheet, and discharges up to the second sheet formed before that. Thereafter, post-processing 40-2 is performed, and the printing operation is stopped. Thereafter, when the jammed recording sheet is removed by the operator, the image forming apparatus returns to the image forming enabled state.

On the other hand, the image processing apparatus 3 determines the number of unformed pages of the first page based on the information that the image formation for the two pages has been notified from the control unit 15 and prepares at the timing 56-3. The number of unformed sheets as the number of completed sheets, in this example, "2" is the control unit 1.
Notify 5. Then, the image processing device 3
-2 instructs the control unit 15 to start printing, and sets the image memory area.
The image data of the first page read from 10-1 is sent to the printer 1, and the remaining two images are formed.

Further, since the image data of the second page has been developed, the image processing apparatus 3 prepares “6”, ie, “2” of the first page, at timing 56-4 immediately after timing 56-3.
And "4" on page 2 for a total of "6". Printer 1
In, the recording paper may be fed in advance in accordance with the notified number of prepared sheets, so that the number of prints may change for each page without any problem. Note that the prepared number is valid in a series of print operations, and when the print operation is stopped, the prepared number notified before the stop is invalidated. Also, since the prepared number is notified as an integrated value, the same value may be sent twice, or even if `` 6 '' indicating two copies of three pages is transmitted following `` 2 '' indicating two copies of one page, It is a structure that does not hurt. That is, the image forming apparatus may perform the sheet feeding operation based on the latest prepared number of sheets.

As described above, in the present embodiment, FIG.
As shown in the figure, when an error occurs, the image processing device 3
To send the image data to the printer 1 again, and perform the recovery process. On the other hand, without resending the image data,
There is also a non-retransmission method in which recovery processing is performed by reading image data from one image memory 25. Compared to the non-retransmission recovery processing, the recovery processing for retransmission has the following advantages.

(1) If the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off during the jam processing, recovery cannot be performed in the case of non-retransmission.

(2) In the case of non-retransmission, it is necessary to maintain the image data stored in the image memory of the image forming apparatus even after the jam processing, and it is not known when the image memory may be opened. For example, if the operation of the image processing apparatus ends due to a timeout or the like during the jam processing, the image memory may not be used for other purposes forever, and for example, the copying operation may not be possible.

(3) In a configuration in which the image forming apparatus does not have an image memory, it is necessary to retransmit image data from the image processing apparatus at the time of recovery processing. In other words, if the recovery processing for retransmission is performed, the image processing apparatus can be an image processing apparatus regardless of the presence or absence of the image memory of the image forming apparatus.

[Control Procedure of Image Processing Apparatus] FIGS. 14A to 14C
Is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure of the image processing apparatus 3, which is executed by the CPU 6.

Reception Task First, the flow of the reception task shown in FIG. 14A will be described. In step S11, it waits for a request to receive PDL data from the host computers 2-1 to 2-3. When a reception request is sent, the use state of the spool area 8-1 is checked in step S12, and if there is no free space in the spool area 8-1, reception is performed by the reception request source, for example, the host computer 2-1 in step S13. Notify that it is not possible. Then, step S1
Return to step 2 and wait for a free area to be created in the spool area 8-1. However, it is assumed that the spool area 8-1 has a storage capacity capable of storing one page or more of PDL data.

If there is a free space in the spool area 8-1, in step S14, for example, the host computer 2-1 of the reception request source transmits
Receives PDL data and stores the received PDL data in the spool area
Write in 8-1. Subsequently, in step S15, it is determined whether the PDL data for one job has been received, for example, by checking whether there is an end_of_job line that declares the end of the job illustrated in L112 in FIG. If the reception of the PDL data has been completed, the process returns to step S11 and waits for a reception request again.If the reception of the PDL data has not been completed, the process returns to step S12 to determine the free area of the spool area 8-1 and determine the PDL data. Repeat receiving.

[Development Task] Next, the flow of the development task shown in FIG. 14B will be described. One page of PDL read from spool area 8-1 in step S21
The data is stored in the work memory area 10-2. Subsequently, in step S22, it is determined whether or not there is a free space in the image memory area 10-1. Image memory area
If there is free space in 10-1, work memory area 1 is set in step S23.
The PDL data stored in 0-2 is expanded into image data and stored in the image memory area 10-1. At this time, in the color mode, the data is expanded to a total of 24 bits for each of the 8 bits of RGB, in the gray scale mode, to 8 bits, and in the monochrome mode, to 1 bit. The 8-bit and 1-bit data are developed on, for example, an R plane, and the 1-bit data is further developed on the most significant bit of 8 bits.

Next, the page forming conditions developed in step S24 are recorded in the work memory area 10-2. The forming conditions are copy indicating the number of copies and col indicating the color mode shown in FIG.
or, paper indicating the recording paper size, and its paper feed stage. Then, when the development process for one page is completed, step S2
It returns to 1 and starts the expansion processing of the next page. Therefore, pages are developed one after another as long as there is a free space in the image memory area 10-1.

Next, the flow of the print task shown in FIG. 14C will be described. In step S31, the prepared number is initialized to 0 and the start flag is initialized to '0'. The start flag “0” means that the image forming apparatus has not been instructed to start printing.

Next, in step S32, it waits for one page of image data to be developed by the development task. When the developed page is created, the number of copies (copy) of the page is added to the prepared number in step S33, and the prepared number and the page forming condition are notified to the image forming apparatus. However, in order to prevent double processing from being performed on the notified page, the processing is not performed in step S33, and the processing is performed on the unreported expanded page.

Next, in step S34, when the start flag is "0", the image forming apparatus is instructed to start printing.
Set the start flag to '1'. Then, step S35
Then, it waits for the synchronization signal 14 to be sent from the image forming apparatus. That is, when the print start is instructed in the immediately preceding step S34, the synchronization signal 14 is sent from the control unit 15 after the pre-processing 40-1 is completed, and therefore, it is necessary to wait for the period of the pre-processing 40-1. become. When the synchronization signal 14 is sent, the image data for one page is transferred to the image forming apparatus in synchronization with this.

Next, in step S36, it is checked whether or not a new page has been expanded. If there is a newly expanded page, the number of copies (copy) of the page is reduced to the prepared number in the same manner as in step S33. In addition, the new prepared number and the page forming conditions are notified to the image forming apparatus. Subsequently, in step S37, the communication path 13
The image formation status information and the error information sent from the image forming apparatus through the above are received, and in step S38, the print state is monitored based on the received information.

Then, in step 38, it is determined whether printing is in progress or the printing has been completed normally or abnormally, and the processing branches according to the result of the determination. In this case, if the image formation status information has reached the number of copies of the page, the process ends normally.
If the number of copies of the page has not been reached and an error has occurred, it is determined that the printing has been abnormally ended. If no error has occurred, it is determined that printing is in progress. If printing is in progress, the process returns to step S36, and checking of a newly developed page and monitoring of the printing state are repeated. If the printing is normally completed, the process proceeds to step S41, and the image memory area storing the image data of the page for which printing is normally completed is released.

If the developing task is waiting for a free space in the image memory area 10-1 in step S22, and the image memory area is released in step S41 of the print task, the developing task proceeds to step S23. The expansion processing of the next page is started. When the image memory area 10-1 has a storage capacity for two pages, the expansion task can expand the first two pages continuously. The process has to be completed and wait until the image memory area storing the image data of the first page is released in step S41 of the print task.

Next, in step S42, the process branches based on the result of the determination made by the control unit 15 as to whether the printing operation is to be continued or not, which is sent via the communication path 13. That is, the result determined at the determination timing 43-2 or 43-3 shown in FIG. 9 is received, and the process branches depending on the result.
If the control unit 15 has not made the determination, the determination is made in step 42, and the control unit 15 waits for the result to be notified. Then, when the printing operation is continued, the process returns to step S32, and shifts to a process for continuously printing the next page. On the other hand, if the printing operation is not continued, after the printing operation is stopped, the process returns to step S31 and shifts to processing for printing the next page by a new printing operation.

On the other hand, if an abnormal end is detected in step S38, the flow advances to step S39 to wait until an abnormality such as a jam or no recording paper is resolved and the image forming apparatus returns to a printable state. Set the start flag to '0'. When the image forming apparatus is ready for printing, in step S40, based on the image forming status information, it is recognized how many pages of the page being printed have been normally printed before an error occurs, and the unprinted number is prepared. The number is set to the number of completed pages, and the image forming apparatus is notified together with the page forming conditions. After that, the process returns to step S34, and again instructs the image forming apparatus to start printing, and causes the remaining printing to be performed.

[Control Procedure of Image Forming Apparatus] FIGS. 15A and 15
5B is a flowchart for explaining a control procedure of the image forming apparatus such as the printer 1, and is executed by the control unit 15.

First, the flow of the image forming task shown in FIG. 15A will be described. In step S51, the process waits for receiving a print start instruction from the image processing apparatus 3. The instruction to start printing is
It is transmitted and received by a communication task of the image processing apparatus 3 and a communication task of the image forming apparatus, not shown.

When print start is instructed, step S5 is performed.
In step 2, the print flag is set to "1", and pre-processing 40-1 for starting the printing operation is performed. The print flag “1” means that the printing operation can be continued.

Next, in step S53, the print flag is checked. If it is "0", post-processing 40-2 is performed in step S56, and then the printing operation is terminated and the flow returns to step S51.
If the print flag is “1”, one page of image data is received from the image processing device 3 and the processed image data is written to the image memory 25 in step S54.

Next, in step S55, an image is sequentially formed on the recording paper for the number of copies of the page, which is supplied by a paper feeding task described later, and the image forming status information is notified to the image processing apparatus 3. . In this image formation, color image formation or black-and-white image formation is selected in accordance with the page formation conditions received in advance, and when image formation of the specified number of copies is completed for the page being formed, step S53 is performed. And the process proceeds to the next page forming process.

If an abnormal state occurs during image formation, that is, if an abnormal state occurs in step 55, the image processing apparatus 3 is notified of the occurrence of the abnormality, and the recording paper on which the image formation is normally performed and which can be discharged is performed. After the discharge, the print flag is set to '0', and the process returns to step S53. Therefore, after the post-processing 40-2 is performed in step 56, the printing operation is stopped.

[Feeding Task] Next, the flow of the feeding task shown in FIG. 15B will be described. In step S61, the start of printing is instructed, and it waits until the print flag becomes '1'. When the print flag is set to "1", the number of fed sheets is initialized to 0 in step S62, and it is determined in step S63 whether or not the sheet is in an abnormal state and whether or not the sheet is to be fed. If an abnormal state (no paper jam or no recording paper) is detected, the paper feed is stopped in step S66, the print flag is set to '0', and the stop of the printing operation is instructed to the forming task. Wait for the flag to become '1'.

The paper feed timing is the paper feed timing described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, and varies according to the paper feed stage, recording paper size, color or black and white as described above. Since the information indicating the paper feed stage, recording paper size, and whether to form a color image or a black and white image for each page has been received in advance by the communication task, the paper feed timing according to the information is used.

At the paper feed timing, the prepared number and the supplied number are compared in step S64, and if the prepared number ≦ the supplied number, the printing operation is terminated in step S66. On the other hand, if the number of prepared sheets is larger than the number of supplied sheets, in step S65, the next recording sheet is supplied, the number of supplied sheets is incremented, and the process returns to step S63.

As described above, the number of prepared sheets and the number of fed sheets are integrated values in a series of printing operations, and the number of recording sheets corresponding to the number of prepared image data sets is supplied.
When the number of fed sheets catches up with the number of ready sheets, the printing operation is terminated and discontinued.

In the above description, an example has been described in which the forming conditions (number of copies, paper feed stage, recording paper size, color / monochrome distinction, etc.) are made variable for each page and the forming conditions are notified for each page. It is also possible not to change the forming conditions within one job. In this case, it is only necessary to instruct the start of printing and the forming conditions.

[0136]

Second Embodiment Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment,
The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a second embodiment in which an image forming method, an image data transfer method, a recovery method, and the like are different from the first embodiment will be described.

[Configuration] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a color copying machine 1 functioning as an image forming apparatus in the image forming system of the second embodiment.

The first difference from the first embodiment is that the image processing apparatus 3 expands PDL data into YMCK image data. Therefore, the image data 12 sent from the image processing apparatus 3 to the color copying machine 1 is not RGB parallel but YMCK parallel, and the image processing unit 23 of the color copying machine 1
Does not perform luminance-density conversion.

As described above, the image data sent from the image processing apparatus 3 to the image forming apparatus may be RGB parallel or CMYK parallel as long as the image data is transferred once per page. Dot-sequential transfer in which R, G, B or C, M, Y, K are transferred for each line, line-sequential transfer in which R, G, B or C, M, Y, K are transferred for each line, Frame-sequential transfer may be used in which transfer is performed while switching R, G, B or C, M, Y, K for each page.

In the frame-sequential transfer, since image data is transferred for each plane of CMYK, it takes time to transfer.
Compared to other transfer methods, the effect of transferring only once per page is smaller, but if multiple copies are to be printed, the image data only needs to be transferred once per page. This has the effect of shortening the image forming time rather than repeatedly transferring image data of the same page. In addition, since the dot-sequential or line-sequential transfer allows the respective color component data of the same pixel to be sent at relatively close timing, the operation becomes similar to parallel transfer, and the effect of transferring once per page is as follows. Although smaller than parallel transfer, it is larger than frame sequential transfer.

The second different point from the first embodiment is that the structure of the color copying machine 1 is a single drum type image forming apparatus in which the photosensitive drum 28 is one. The one-drum image forming apparatus obtains a color image by repeating a latent image formation and toner development by one photosensitive drum 28 and a transfer of the toner image onto the recording paper wound around the transfer drum 20 four times. Things. Therefore, the image data 26
Is read out sequentially.

As described above, the image forming method of the image forming apparatus differs between the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and the supply timing of the image data when forming an image is greatly different. However, it is common to transfer image data from the image processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus once per page in accordance with a virtual synchronization signal. Further, there is a difference that the image data transfer method of the first embodiment is RGB parallel, and the image data transfer method of the second embodiment is CMYK parallel. In order to absorb this difference, the method of expanding the PDL data in the image processing device was changed, the storage capacity for four planes was prepared in the image memory area 10-1, and the signal lines for image data transfer were divided into four colors. And other measures are required. However, these measures are much easier than changing the supply timing of image data.

Therefore, the image data transfer method according to the present invention, that is, the image data is transferred from the image processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus once per page according to the virtual synchronization signal,
By using this method, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that can be used in common with the four-drum system image forming apparatus shown in the first embodiment and the one-drum system image forming apparatus shown in the second embodiment. Further, since such an image processing apparatus can absorb differences between image forming apparatuses, it can be connected to various types of image forming apparatuses, for example, three-color (CMY) or four-color (CMYK). It is also possible to connect to an ink-jet type image forming apparatus for forming an image with the ink of (a).

[Operation] Next, the image formation and the timing of each signal in the second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 17 is an example of a timing chart in a job for printing three pages and three copies of an A4 size image in which a plurality of A4 size images are printed.
This corresponds to FIG. 9 in one embodiment. In addition, the image processing device
It is assumed that the third image memory area 10-1 has a storage capacity for two pages.

First, the operation is substantially the same as the example of FIG. 9 until the development of the image data of the first page is completed at timing 60-1 and the supply of the first recording sheet is performed at timing 63-1. Next, in parallel with the preprocessing 40-1, the transfer of the image data 12 of the first page is performed in YMCK parallel, and is written in the image memory 25. Subsequently, the printing operation is started, and the image data 26 is read out from the image memory 25 in the order of M, C, Y and K from the image memory 25 in synchronization with the formation of the latent image of each color, the toner development, and the transfer of the toner image. The reading of the image data 26 is repeated for the number of copies forming the image.

Before the image formation for the first page is completed, the image memory area for the first page is released at timing 60-2. This is because, as described later, in the second embodiment, the recovery process is performed using the image data stored in the image memory 25, and the image data transferred to the image forming apparatus is stored in the image memory area 10-1. May be deleted from

The recovery processing using the image data stored in the image memory of the image forming apparatus has the following advantages.
That is, even when the storage capacity of the image memory of the image processing apparatus is small and the number of storable pages is small, the image memory can be released at an early timing, so that the start of the expansion processing of the next page can be expedited. For example, while the image forming apparatus is forming the image of the first page, the image data of the second page can be developed, and the rate at which the printing operation can be continued can be increased.

Next, at timing 60-3, the development of the image data of the second page is completed, and at timing 61-2, the number of prepared sheets "6"
Is notified. This prepared number of prints
Since the notification is made before the timing 62-2 for determining the non-continuation, the second page is also printed continuously.

When the transfer of the image data of the second page is completed, the memory of the second page is released at timing 60-4. Since the memory of the first page has already been released at the timing 60-2, the expansion processing of the third page is started immediately after the expansion processing of the second page is completed, and is completed at the timing 60-5. Then, at the timing 61-3, the prepared number “9” is notified. But,
The prepared number is notified after the timing 62-3 for determining whether the printing operation is to be continued or not, so that the printing operation is temporarily stopped.

In the present embodiment, a method different from that of the first embodiment is used for counting the image formation status information. In the first embodiment, the method of up-counting the image formation status information on a page basis is used. However, in the present embodiment, a method of up-counting the image formation status information on a continuous print basis is used. The former has an advantage that the number of pages formed correctly for each page is easy to understand, and the latter has an advantage that it is easy to correspond to an integrated value such as a prepared number or a fed number. Also,
There is also a method of counting down in page units instead of counting up in page units. In the down-counting method, the initial count value is the number of copies designated on the page, and the countdown is performed every time a part is printed. Therefore, there is an advantage that the number of remaining prints can be easily understood, and whether or not the specified number of copies has been normally printed can be determined regardless of the number of specified copies, that is, based on whether or not the number of remaining prints is zero.

FIG. 18 is a timing chart example of a job for partially printing four pages of an A4 size image in an A4 size image.
-1 has a storage capacity for one page. Although the number of copies and the storage capacity of the image memory area 10-1 are different, they correspond to FIG. 10 in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 18, when the image data of the first page is transferred to the image forming apparatus, the image processing apparatus 3 releases the image memory area 10-1 at a timing 64-2 immediately after the transfer. Then, the expansion processing of the second page is started immediately, at timing 64-3.
Is completed, the ready number is notified at timing 65-2. The prepared number of prints is
Since the notification is made before the timing 66-2 for determining non-continuation, the printing operation is continued, and thereafter, continuous printing of a part of four pages is performed similarly.

As described above, in the job shown in FIG. 18, even though the image memory area 10-1 has only one page of storage capacity, continuous printing of four pages is partially performed. No.
In one embodiment, if the image memory area 10-1 has only a storage capacity for one page, continuous printing of a plurality of pages cannot be performed, so that the image memory area 10-1 has a storage capacity for two or more pages, so-called By configuring a double buffer, image data of a plurality of pages has been processed. In the second embodiment, the image memory area 10-1 of the image processing apparatus 3 and the image memory 26 of the image forming apparatus constitute a kind of double buffer, so that the image memory area 10-1 corresponds to one page. Despite having only this storage capacity, continuous printing of part of four pages as shown in FIG. 18 can be performed. In other words,
The image memory area 10-1 of the image processing apparatus 3 is dedicated to the development of image data, and the image memory 26 of the image forming apparatus is assigned a role for image formation, while the prepared number and image formation status information are interposed. The work is being done in cooperation.

[Recovery Processing] FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the recovery processing in the second embodiment. In a print job of two pages and three copies, two sheets of the first page are formed while forming the second image. This shows a case where a jam has occurred on the recording paper of the eye. Note that FIG. 19 corresponds to FIG. 13 in the first embodiment, and as described above, in the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the image processing device 3 does not retransmit image data at the time of recovery. .

The control unit 15 of the image forming apparatus knows the occurrence of the jam, and since the image formation status information at the timing 72-2 at which the jam occurred is “1”, it is determined that one image has been formed. You can know. Further, the image memory area 10-1 is released at the timing 68-2, and the development processing of the second page is completed at the timing 68-3, so that the image memory area memory 10-1 at the time of the jam 72-2 is stored in the image memory area 10-1. Does not have image data for the first page. Therefore, the control unit 15
After the recording paper 40-2 and the recording paper jammed by the operator are eliminated, the printing operation is restarted at the timing 70-2, the image data of the first page is read from the image memory 25, and the rest is printed. Further, since the image data of the second page is stored in the image memory area 10-1, the image processing apparatus 3 notifies the prepared number “2” at the timing 69-3, and then, In step -4, the ready number "5" reflecting the completion of the development of the second page is notified, and the image forming apparatus prints the remaining two copies of the first page, and then continuously prints three copies of the second page. Print.

As described above, the second embodiment has the following advantages as compared with the first embodiment.

(1) Since the image memory of the image processing apparatus can be quickly released, the start of the expansion processing of the next page can be expedited.

(2) Even if the storage capacity of the image memory of the image processing apparatus is small, for example, only for one page, a continuous printing operation can be performed.

(3) In the recovery processing, the processing speed is increased by the absence of retransmission of image data.

[0162]

Third Embodiment Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment,
The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a description will be given of a third embodiment in which an image forming method, an image data reading method, a recovery method, and the like are different from the first embodiment.

[Structure] The first difference from the first embodiment is that the image forming apparatus of the third embodiment is a four-drum type like the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment.
And a delay memory (not shown) between the laser driver 27 and the laser driver 27. This delay memory is stored in each of the four photosensitive drums 28-1.
It serves to absorb ~ 28-4 intervals.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the method of reading image data from the image memory 25 changes because the third embodiment has a delay memory. That is,
In the first embodiment, the YMCK data is read from the image memory 25 independently of each color and in parallel according to the forming operation of each color. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the YMCK data is read from the image memory 25 in parallel only once for one sheet of recording paper, and only once in accordance with the Y image formation timing. Of the YMCK data read from the image memory 25, the Y data is sent to the laser drive unit 27 as it is, and the M, C, and K data are each delayed by the delay memory by a time corresponding to the drum interval. Sent to The provision of the delay memory has an advantage that read control from the image memory 25 is simplified, although the cost is increased accordingly.

[Operation] Next, image formation and timing of each signal in the third embodiment will be described.

In the case of printing a plurality of copies of a plurality of A4 size images FIG. 20 is a timing chart example of a job for printing three copies of A4 size images on three pages, and corresponds to FIG. 9 in the first embodiment. The image memory area 10-1 of the image processing device 3 has a storage capacity for two pages.

First, the operation is substantially the same as the example of FIG. 9 until the development of the image data of the first page is completed at the timing 73-1 and the supply of the first recording paper is performed at the timing 76-1.

Next, in the first embodiment, the image data sent from the image processing device 3 is processed, and once written into the image memory 25, the image data is read from the image memory 25 to form the image. Was done. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, when image data is sent from the image processing device 3, the image data is written to the image memory 25, and the first image data is written to the image memory 25. Is formed. In other words, the image data sent from the image processing device 3 is written into the image memory 25, and the Y data 26-1 is sent to the laser drive unit 27 to start the formation of the Y image, and the M, C, K After each data is delayed by the above-mentioned delay memory, it is sent to the laser drive unit 27, and M, C,
The formation of the K image is sequentially started.

For the second and subsequent images, the image memory
Image data is read from 25 to form an image,
Image data is read out from the image memory 25 only once in accordance with the Y image formation timing. That is, the third
In the embodiment, it can be said that the number of times of reading image data from the image memory 25 is −1,
Is equivalent to reading the data of the first part at the same time as writing the data to the. The effect of reading out the image data to be used for the second and subsequent copies from the image memory 25 is the same as in the first embodiment.

As described above, in the third embodiment in which the first image is formed together with the writing to the image memory 25, the transfer of the image data from the image processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus is different from the first embodiment. Since the first printing can be performed in parallel, there is an advantage that the printing time can be reduced. However, there is a disadvantage that the transfer of image data from the image processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus depends on the image forming timing due to the influence of the image forming timing of the image forming apparatus.

Also, an intermediate method between the first embodiment and the second embodiment, that is, while writing image data in the image memory 25, the image data is read from the image memory 25 with a slight delay to the writing, and the first sheet is formed. There is also a way to do it. The printing time of this method is intermediate between the first embodiment and the third embodiment,
The independence of the image processing apparatus from the image forming apparatus is also intermediate between the first embodiment and the third embodiment.

Further, in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, at the timing 77 during the execution of the post-processing 40-2, the normal number of prints (FIG.
In the example, "8") is notified. The image processing apparatus 3 according to the first embodiment manages the number of normal prints based on the image formation status information. Although the method of the first embodiment is excellent in real-time performance, if an error occurs near the timing at which the image formation status information changes, the image formation status information cannot be updated in time, and recovery is performed more than necessary, that is, There is a possibility that more than the number of prints will be performed.

Also, in an image forming apparatus in which the operation of the entire apparatus is immediately stopped when a recording paper jam occurs,
Even the recording paper on the discharge side from the recording paper where the jam has occurred may not be discharged and may remain in the apparatus. When such an image forming apparatus is combined with the first embodiment, recovery cannot be performed on a recording sheet on which an image has been formed but has not been discharged. According to the third embodiment, regardless of abnormal termination or normal termination, the number of normal prints is explicitly notified to the image processing apparatus, so that the normal prints ejected during the post-processing 40-2 are printed. The number is notified, and a complete recovery process can be performed. Although there is a drawback that the information for performing the recovery process is not notified until after the post-process 40-2, the above-mentioned image can be recovered even from the formed recording sheet but not yet discharged.

FIG. 21 is an example of a timing chart in a job for printing four pages of an A4 size image, which has a different image size but corresponds to FIG. 10 in the first embodiment. I do.

The printing of the first page is performed in the same manner as in FIG.
The feed timing of the second page is timing 79-2 before the transfer of the image data of the first page, and the continuation / non-continuation of the printing operation is determined at timing 78-2. Therefore, if the developing process of the second page is completed before the timing 78-2 and the updated prepared number is not notified, the printing operation is not continued. In other words, the image data of the first page is transferred, and before the image of the first page is formed, a total of two sheets of recording paper for the first page and the second page must be fed in advance. In particular, the preceding sheet feeding based on the number of prepared sheets becomes effective.

Further, since the image memory area 10-1 has a storage capacity for two pages, the image data of the first page is transferred to develop the image of the second page while forming the image of the first page. Can do it. However, the feed timing of the third page is 79-3, and the determination timing is 78-3. At timing 78-3, since the image data of the first page is being transferred and the second page has been developed, in order to finish the development processing of the third page and continue the printing operation by this time, Image memory area 10-1
Requires a recording capacity of at least three pages.

For the fourth page, the judgment timing
The expansion process should be completed by 78-4. Therefore, after the transfer of the image data of the first page is completed and the memory of the first page is released, the expansion processing of the fourth page may be performed.

[0179]

[Modification] In the first embodiment, the image memory area 1
The image data stored in 0-1 is retained until the image formation is completed, in case an abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus.
As in the second embodiment, the image memory area 10-1 is released immediately after the image data is transferred to the image forming apparatus, and when an error occurs, the image data is re-developed from the PDL data separately stored in the spool area 8-1. Then, the re-developed image data can be retransmitted to the image forming apparatus. With this configuration, recovery can be performed even if the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off when an abnormality occurs. In addition, the image processing apparatus generally has an advantage that the processing for developing the next page can be started quickly.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the continuation of the printing operation determined based on the sheet feeding timing /
It is also possible to have a range in the decision timing of non-continuation. In other words, if the new prepared number is not notified even at the decision timing, the paper supply is postponed rather than stopped, and a predetermined time is waited for the notification of the new prepared number. If not, the paper feed may be stopped and the printing operation may be discontinued. In this case, there is a disadvantage that the determination of discontinuation of the printing operation is delayed, but there is an advantage that the ratio of continuous printing increases.

In the above description, the embodiment including the color image processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus has been described.
The effect of the present invention is remarkable because the color image forming apparatus forms an image of four colors of YMCK for one page, and the image forming method and operation timing are greatly different depending on the type of the image forming apparatus. However, the feature of enabling continuous printing of N pages and M sections while performing advance feeding can be applied equally to monochrome image formation and color image formation, and the present invention provides a monochrome image processing apparatus and image processing apparatus. Of course, the present invention can be applied to a system including a forming apparatus.

In each of the above embodiments, an example has been described in which a so-called video interface for transferring image data using a synchronization signal is used for transferring image data between the image processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus. The video interface has features that it is easy to control and can send image data at high speed in real time. However, a general-purpose interface such as SCSI or a LAN can be used instead of the video interface. When a general-purpose interface or a LAN is used to transfer image data, there is no need to send image data in real time, and each device can be provided with a completely independent interface.

In each of the above embodiments, an example has been described in which PDL data is received from a host computer. When PDL data is used, character data, graphic data, and raster image data can be handled uniformly. However, instead of PDL data, it is also possible to receive raster image data and write it to the image memory. With this configuration, since the image processing apparatus does not perform complicated expansion processing, a low-speed CPU or RAM can be used for performing the expansion processing, and the cost of the image processing apparatus can be reduced.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, an example has been described in which the raster image data is held in the image memory as it is. With this configuration, the hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus can be simplified. However, the raster image data may be compressed in some way and stored in the image memory. In this case, the hardware configuration becomes complicated, but the storage capacity of the image memory can be reduced. Furthermore, YMCK
When transferring data, image data can be sent while being compressed from the image memory area 10-1 to the image memory 25, and the transfer time of the image data can be reduced.
There is an effect that the expansion processing of the next page by the image processing apparatus can be started earlier.

In each of the above embodiments, an example has been described in which image data such as PDL data is received by communication from an external host computer or the like. However, image data may be received via a removable medium such as a floppy disk. You may. Further, PDL data created by an application program (not shown) may be transferred on the main memory.

In each of the above embodiments, it goes without saying that the image forming apparatus and the image processing apparatus may be integrated.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a value obtained by integrating the number of copies to be printed on a page on which image data has been developed is notified as the number of ready sheets. As described above, this method has an advantage that the control is not disturbed even if the same value is retransmitted or skipped. However, the same object can be achieved when notifying the prepared number of sheets by the following method.

(1) Each time the image data of each page is developed, the number of prints of the page is notified.

(2) After notifying the number of print copies in advance, the number of developed pages is notified.

(3) After notifying the number of print copies in advance, it notifies that the development of a new page has been completed.

As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, in an image forming system including an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus both having an image memory, a page-by-page developing process in the image processing apparatus, By coordinating the printing operation of a plurality of copies for each page and the printing operation of each color, an image forming system that can perform printing operations of a plurality of pages more continuously without stopping or interrupting the operation can be provided.

[0192]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.
Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the PU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM,
CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts. Each module shown in the map example is stored in the storage medium. That is,
At least the program code of each module of “receiving image forming information”, “generating (developing) image data”, “creating image generating information”, “outputting image generating information”, and “outputting image data” is stored in a storage medium. I just need. Also, at least the program codes of the modules of “receiving image generation information”, “transmitting synchronization signal”, “receiving image data”, and “forming an image” may be stored in the storage medium.

[0197]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing system that do not delay the processing for developing the next page due to transfer of image data, and a method thereof.

An image processing apparatus and an image processing system connectable to a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses,
A method can be provided.

Further, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing system in which the printing operation is made more continuous and the start / stop of the printing operation is less repeated, and a method thereof.

Further, since the image data is transferred based on a synchronous signal which is asynchronous to the image forming operation, the image processing apparatus and the image processing system can transfer the image data without being affected by the timing of the image forming operation. When,
A method can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing image forming timing when YMCK image data is expanded in an image memory;

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing image forming timing when RGB image data is expanded in an image memory 99;

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a digital printer that reads image data from an image memory of an image forming apparatus when printing a plurality of sheets;

FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining the flow and timing of image data in the image forming system having the configuration shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a color copying machine used as the printer shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining general PDL data,

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the PDL data shown in FIG. 6 is interpreted and developed into one-page raster image data;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which control information is described in PDL data;

FIG. 9 is an example of a timing chart in a job for printing three pages and four copies of an A4 size image,

FIG. 10 is a timing chart example of a job for partially printing two pages of A4 and A3 size images,

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a difference in paper feed timing depending on a paper feed stage and an image size.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a difference in sheet feeding timing between color and black and white.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a recovery process when an error such as a recording paper jam or no recording paper occurs,

FIG. 14A is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 14B is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 14C is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure of the image processing apparatus,

FIG. 15A is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 15B is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a color copying machine that functions as an image forming apparatus in the image forming system according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a timing chart example of a job for printing three pages and three copies of an A4 size image;

FIG. 18 is a timing chart example of a job for partially printing four pages of an A4 size image,

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a recovery process according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 20 is an example of a timing chart in a job for printing three pages and four copies of an A4 size image,

FIG. 21 is an example of a timing chart in a job for partially printing four pages of an A4 size image.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of a storage medium storing a program code according to the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of a storage medium storing a program code according to the present invention.

Claims (18)

[Claims] A receiving unit configured to receive image forming information; a first generating unit configured to generate image data in page units based on the image forming information; and an image data generated by the first generating unit. A storage unit for storing in units of pages, a second generation unit for generating image generation information based on a generation state of image data by the first generation unit and a formation condition for each page included in the image formation information, Output means for outputting image generation information and outputting one page of image data stored in the storage means according to a synchronization signal for image data transfer transmitted from the image forming apparatus which has received the image generation information; An image processing apparatus, wherein the synchronization signal is asynchronous with an image forming operation timing of the image forming apparatus. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first generation unit starts generating image data of the next page based on information indicating the number of formed images sent from the image forming apparatus. The image processing device according to 1. 3. When information indicating an image forming error is sent from the image forming apparatus, the second generating unit includes:
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image generation information is updated based on information indicating the number of formed images. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when information indicating the image formation error is sent, the output unit outputs the updated image generation information. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming information is described in a page description language. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image generation information includes information obtained by integrating the number of image formations for each generated image data. 7. A receiving means for transmitting a synchronization signal for transferring image data to the external device based on image generation information received from the external device and receiving one page of image data; Storage means for storing the image data, and a forming means for forming a visible image based on the image data stored in the storage means on a recording medium based on the image generation information. An image processing apparatus comprising: a generation state of image data in the external device; and a forming condition for each page, wherein the synchronization signal is asynchronous with an operation timing of the forming unit. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the forming unit reads the image data from the storage unit a number of times corresponding to the number of pages formed in the image generation information and forms an image. Image processing device. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling supply of a number of recording media based on said image generation information prior to image formation by said forming means.
9. The image processing device according to claim 7 or claim 8. 10. The control means continues the operation of the forming means when the image generation information is updated by a predetermined timing after the preceding supply of the recording medium is performed, and otherwise, 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the operation of the forming unit is stopped. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the timing for determining whether to continue / stop the operation of the forming unit changes according to the forming condition for each page. 12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit notifies the external device of information indicating the number of recording media on which an image has been formed. Image processing device. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image generation information includes information obtained by integrating the number of formed images for each generated image data. 14. An image processing system comprising: an image processing device that generates image data based on received image forming information; and an image forming device that forms an image based on image data sent from the image processing device. A first generation unit configured to generate image data in page units based on the image formation information; and a first storage unit configured to store the image data generated by the first generation unit in page units. A storage unit, a second generation unit that generates image generation information based on a state of generation of image data by the first generation unit and a formation condition for each page included in the image formation information, and outputs the image generation information Then, in accordance with an image data transfer synchronization signal transmitted from the image forming apparatus that has received the image forming information, the image data for one page stored in the first storage unit is output. The image forming apparatus transmits a synchronization signal for transferring image data to the image processing apparatus based on the image generation information received from the image processing apparatus, and receives one page of image data. Receiving means, a second storage means for storing image data received by the receiving means, and a visible image based on the image data stored in the second storage means based on the image generation information. And a forming unit for forming on a medium, wherein the synchronization signal is asynchronous with an image forming operation timing of the image forming apparatus. 15. A receiving step of receiving image forming information, a first generating step of generating image data in page units based on the image forming information, and storing the generated image data in a storage unit in page units. A second generation step of generating image generation information based on a state of generation of image data by the first generation step and a page-by-page formation condition included in the image formation information; and a first step of outputting the image generation information Outputting the image data of one page stored in the storage means in accordance with a synchronization signal for image data transfer sent from the image forming apparatus that has received the image forming information. Wherein the synchronization signal is asynchronous with the image forming operation timing of the image forming apparatus. 16. A first receiving step of receiving image generation information from an external device, a transmitting step of transmitting a synchronization signal for transferring image data to the external device based on the image generation information, and a transmitting step according to the synchronization signal. A second receiving step of receiving the received image data of one page and storing the received image data in a storage unit; and performing a visualization based on the image data stored in the storage unit based on the image generation information. Forming an image on a recording medium, wherein the image generation information includes a generation state of image data in the external device and a formation condition for each page, and the synchronization signal includes an image of the image forming device. An image processing method which is asynchronous with a forming operation timing. 17. A computer readable memory in which a program code for image processing is stored, wherein image data is generated for each page based on a code of a receiving step for receiving image forming information, and the image forming information is generated. Generating the image data based on a code of a first generation step of storing the generated image data in a storage unit for each page, a generation state of the image data in the first generation step, and a formation condition for each page included in the image formation information. A code of a second generation step of generating information, a code of a first output step of outputting the image generation information, and an image forming operation timing transmitted from the image forming apparatus that has received the image formation information. A second output for outputting one page of image data stored in the storage means in accordance with an asynchronous image data transfer synchronization signal; A computer-readable memory, characterized in that it comprises a step of coding. 18. A computer-readable memory storing a program code of image processing, the first memory receiving image generation information including an image data generation state in the apparatus and a page forming condition from an external apparatus. A code of a receiving step, a code of a transmitting step of transmitting a synchronization signal for image data transfer that is asynchronous to an image forming operation timing to the external device based on the image generation information, and a code transmitted in accordance with the synchronization signal. The image data of the page is received, the code of the second receiving step of storing the received image data in the storage means, and a visible image based on the image data stored in the storage means based on the image generation information. Computer-readable memory comprising: a code for a forming step formed on a recording medium.