JPH10309827A - Image-forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-forming apparatus which reduces errors in manipulation by an operator thereby enhancing ease of use. SOLUTION: When a job being read is not registered in a print standby table (YES in #121), the image-forming apparatus adds the job to the print standby table when a print start condition is satisfied (YES in #123), and prints with a resolution conforming to a data source of the job. The print start condition is satisfied when image data of all pages are completely read in the case of a weekly magazine bind mode as a print mode, and when image data of one page are completely read in the case of a face up mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image with a plurality of resolutions, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus which controls the timing of changing the resolution in accordance with various operation modes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-208522 is an example of a copying machine that changes the resolution at the time of printing according to the intended use. This electrophotographic printer can arbitrarily switch the resolution according to an instruction from a host computer.

However, the above-described conventional printer merely switches the resolution in accordance with an instruction from the host computer, and no consideration is given to the control of the resolution switching.

On the other hand, a plurality of applications (hereinafter referred to as “applications”) such as a copy application for printing an image read by an image reader and a printer application for printing an image received from a connected external device.
That. There is a digital copier that can be used for () Here, it is sufficient that the resolution is constant regardless of the application, but a different resolution may be used for each application. At this time, if the resolution is simply changed at the time of starting each application as in a conventional printer, the digital copier switches the resolution even though printing is not actually started.

Specifically, for example, after a digital copier executes printing with a printer application, the resolution of the printer application is 600 dpi (dot / in).
Consider a case in which the copy application is started and the operation of the copy application is started in a situation where (ch) is set. In a conventional digital copying machine, the resolution is immediately switched to 400 dpi of the copy application. However, in the operation of the copy application,
First, an original is read, and after image data is read, printing is executed based on the image data.
Therefore, at the beginning of the resolution switching, the resolution has been switched even though the reading of the document has not been completed and no image data has been obtained.

In a digital copying machine having a multi-job function, image data can be received by a printer application even while a document is being read by a copy application. Therefore, when the image data is received and printed by the printer application while the document is being read, the digital copier returns the resolution to 600 dpi of the printer application again, and then returns to the resolution of 400 dpi of the copy application again. There must be.

That is, since the resolution is switched to 400 dpi of the copy application before the printing by the copy application is started, the resolution switching operation is frequently performed. Since it takes time to switch the resolution, the total print productivity may be significantly reduced.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly image forming apparatus which reduces user's mistaken operations. .

[0009]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image according to a print mode at a different print resolution for each application. A resolution switching control unit for controlling the switching of the print resolution in accordance with the switching of the application, and a resolution switching timing setting unit for setting the switching timing of the printing resolution of the resolution switching control unit according to the print mode. Including.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the print resolution can be switched at an appropriate switching timing without the user setting the print resolution, and an image can be formed at the optimum print resolution. Therefore, it is possible to provide a user-friendly image forming apparatus that reduces user's mistaken operation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of forming image data obtained from an image data source at a different print resolution for each of the image data sources in accordance with a print mode. And a printer for reading image data from the memory and forming an image according to a print mode at a print resolution determined according to an image data source of the image data, and a print resolution of the printer. And a resolution switching timing setting section for setting the switching timing of the print resolution of the resolution switching control section according to the print mode.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the print resolution is switched in accordance with the image data source at the optimum switching timing without the user setting the print resolution, and the image is formed at the optimal print resolution. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to provide a user-friendly image forming apparatus that reduces user's mistaken operation.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of forming image data obtained from an image data source at a print resolution different for each image data source in accordance with a print mode. An image reader for reading image data, an external receiving unit for receiving image data from the outside, a memory for storing the image data, a print standby table, and the image data stored in the memory. A print job registration unit for registering the image data stored in the memory as a print job in the print standby table when the number of pages determined according to the mode is reached, and image data included in the print job from the print standby table Is read, and a print solution determined according to the image data source of the image data is read out. A printer for performing image formation, a resolution switching control unit for controlling switching of the printing resolution of the printer, and a timing for switching the printing resolution of the resolution switching control unit according to the print mode. A resolution switching timing setting unit.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the print resolution is switched in accordance with the image data source at the optimal switching timing without the user setting the print resolution, and the image is formed at the optimal print resolution. Can be. In addition, image formation is started when image data of the number of pages required for image formation has been prepared according to the print mode. Therefore, it is possible to provide a user-friendly image forming apparatus that reduces user's mistaken operation.

[0015]

Referring to FIG. 1, a digital copying machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an image reader IR and a printer PRT. The digital copying machine 1 can operate with a copy application that reads a document image with an image reader IR and prints the read document image with a printer PRT. In addition, the digital copying machine 1 is connected to the external extension unit 31. For this reason, the digital copying machine 1 can also operate with a printer application that inputs data via the external extension unit 31 and prints data from an external device such as a personal computer 32 with the printer PRT. In the copy application, the printer PRT has a resolution of 400 dpi.
And print in the printer application.
The printer PRT executes printing at a resolution of 600 dpi. This change in resolution is achieved by changing the rotation speed of a polygon mirror described later. The above numerical value of the resolution is an example, and is not limited to the above numerical value.

The image reader IR has a platen glass 18
A scanning system 10 for scanning and reading an original placed thereon, an image signal processing unit 20 for processing an image signal of the original image obtained by reading, and an image of the original image processed by the image signal processing unit 20 It includes a memory unit 30 for storing signals as image data, and a document feeder 500 mounted on the upper surface of the image reader IR so as to be openable and closable with a fulcrum on the back side.

The scanning system 10 is a line scanning type image reading mechanism. The scanning system 10 is mounted on an original table glass 18 by a scanning movement of a scanner 19 having an original irradiating lamp 11 and a mirror 12 in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. The image surface of the placed document is sequentially illuminated, and the reflected light is transmitted to the image sensor 16 via the fixed mirror 13a, the fixed mirror 13b, and the projection lens 14.
Projected onto The image sensor 16 is a line sensor in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a line, and each photoelectric conversion element (pixel) outputs an image signal according to the amount of received light.

The image signal processing section 20 converts image signals output from the respective photoelectric conversion elements into digital signals and performs various signal processing. The memory unit 30 stores the digital signal as image data. The image signal processing unit 20 and the memory unit 30 will be described later in detail.

The document feeder 500 includes a paper feed roller 501.
, Separation roller 502, separation pad 503, intermediate roller 504, registration roller 505, transport belt 5
06, a reversing roller 507, a switching claw 508, a paper feed roller 509, a document stacker 510, a document discharge tray 511, a document scale 512, a document sensor SE50 for detecting the presence or absence of a document, and a document. Size sensor SE
51 and a discharge sensor SE52.

The document feeder 500 includes a document stacker 51
The document set on the original 0 is conveyed onto the document table glass 18 by the feed roller 501, the separating roller 502, the separating pad 503, the intermediate roller 504, the registration roller 505, and the transfer belt 506. In addition, the original transport device 5
In step 00, the read document is discharged onto the document discharge tray 511 by the transport belt 506 and the discharge roller 509.

For example, when copying a plurality of originals,
The operator operates the document stacker 5 with the surface of the document facing upward.
Set it on top of 10. Each original on the original stacker 510 is pulled out one by one from the uppermost original (the original of the first page), and is accurately set at the reading position on the original platen glass 18 with its front surface facing downward. In the single-sided original mode in which only the front side of the original is read, the original is conveyed to the left in FIG. After that, the original is discharged onto the original discharge tray 511 such that the upper surface becomes the front surface. In the case of the double-sided original mode, the original conveyed to the left after the front side reading is completed by the image reader IR is reversed by the reversing roller 507 and returned to the reading position on the original platen glass 18. Then the manuscript
After the reading of the back side is completed, the sheet is again conveyed leftward and discharged onto the document discharge tray 511.

The printer PRT prints a copied image by an electrophotographic process based on the image data transferred from the image reader IR.

Hereinafter, the operation of the printer PRT will be described. The print processing unit 40 reads out image data from the memory unit 30 and supplies the read image data to the print head 60. In the print head 60, the semiconductor laser 62
Is driven according to the image data, and a laser beam modulated according to the image data is emitted. The laser beam is deflected by the polygon mirror 65 and guided to the exposure position of the photosensitive drum 71 via the lens 69 and various mirrors 67a, 68, 67c.

The photosensitive drum 71 is held so as to be rotatable in a counterclockwise direction in the figure.
An electrophotographic process is performed. Specifically, the surface of the photosensitive drum 71 is uniformly charged by the charging charger 72, and receives the above-described laser beam exposure at the exposure position. The photosensitive drum 71 is exposed by the laser beam exposure.
An electrostatic latent image corresponding to image data is formed on the upper portion, and this electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 73 to become a toner image, and is transferred from a photosensitive drum 71 by a transfer charger 74 to a printing paper at a transfer position. Is transferred to After the transfer of the toner image, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 71 is collected by the cleaning device 76.

On the other hand, print paper is stored in paper cassettes 80a and 80b for each size, and is sequentially fed out one by one by a paper feed roller provided above the print paper, and is transferred to a transfer position via a timing roller 82. Conveyed. The print paper on which the toner image has been transferred at the transfer position is separated from the photosensitive drum 71 by the separation charger 75, sent to the fixing roller pair 84 by the transport belt 83, and discharged after the toner image is fixed on the paper. Roller 85
Is discharged out of the machine. The paper cassette 80
The sizes of the print sheets stored in the sheets a and b are detected by sheet size detection sensors SE11 and SE12, respectively.

The print paper discharged outside the machine is conveyed to the reversing device 600. The reversing device 600 includes the switching claw 6
01, 604. The switching claws 601 and 604 operate according to the print mode, and guide the print paper to the discharge trays 621 and 631. Normally (in the face-up mode), the print sheet is guided by the upper surface of the switching claw 601 and is discharged onto the discharge tray 621 with the surface on which the image is formed facing up. When the face down mode is set, the print paper is guided by the side surface of the switching claw 601 and is transported to the transport roller 603 below. The transport roller 603 receives the print sheet, continues to transport the print sheet further downward, and is then driven in reverse rotation to transport the print sheet upward. The print paper conveyed upward is guided by the switching claw 604 and discharged to the discharge tray 631.
As a result, the print paper is discharged onto the discharge tray with the surface on which the image is formed facing downward.

As is apparent from the above description, in the face-up mode, print sheets are superposed on the discharge tray 621 with the image forming surface facing upward. For this reason, in the copy application, the image reader IR reads the document from the first page to the last page. The image reader IR temporarily stores the image data of all these documents in the memory unit 30. Thereafter, the image data is sequentially read out from the image data of the last page and printed by the printer PRT. In the printer application, all the image data from the first page to the last page is received via the external extension unit 31. These image data of all pages are temporarily stored in the memory unit 30 and thereafter read out in order from the image data of the last page and printed by the printer PRT. As a result, the print sheets are stacked on the discharge tray 621 in a state where the pages are aligned.

On the other hand, in the face down mode,
The print sheets are stacked on the discharge tray 631 with the image forming surface facing down. Therefore, when the reading of the first page by the image reader IR is completed or when the image data of the first page is received, the printing operation is started, and then, during the printing operation, the reading of the original of the next page, or Reception is performed, and reading or reception is performed concurrently with printing. As a result, the print sheets are stacked on the discharge tray 631 in a state where the pages are aligned.

When the two-sided print mode is set, the print paper is switched back by the transport roller 603 and is sent again into the apparatus. further,
The print paper is transported by a transport roller 86 for copying to the back side.
The sheet is conveyed to the transfer position by a, 86b and 86c.

In the digital copying machine 1, copying in a weekly magazine binding mode is possible. In the copy application, if the weekly magazine binding mode is set, the image reader I
R sequentially reads the original from the first page to the last page, and temporarily stores the image data of all the originals in the memory unit 30. The image data is read out with the page order changed, and printed by the printer PRT. In the printer application, via the external extension unit 31,
Image data from the first page to the last page is received in order,
The image data of all these pages is temporarily stored in the memory unit 30. The image data is read out with the page order changed, and printed by the printer PRT. Printer P
In the RT, two original images are copied on the front and back surfaces of one print sheet, respectively. As a result, the printed print papers are overlapped and folded in two at the center, and bound at the center fold, thereby completing a book-like printed matter in which pages are aligned like a weekly magazine. The details of the weekly magazine binding mode are described in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-306396 filed on November 1, 1995 by the same applicant as the present application (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-127747 published May 16, 1997). Gazette).

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, control unit 100 for performing various controls of copying machine 1 will be described. The control unit 100 includes eight CPUs (Central Processing Units).
) ROMs (Read Only Me) for storing programs of 101 to 108 and CPUs 101 to 108
mory) 111 to 118 and RAMs (Random Access Memory) 121 to 12 for storing parameters and the like.
8 is included. The CPU 106 is connected to the memory unit 30
It is provided within.

The CPU 101 controls input of signals from various setting keys on the operation panel and display on the operation panel. The CPU 102 controls each unit of the image signal processing unit 20. The CPU 103 controls the driving of the scanning system 10. The CPU 104 controls the page printer PRT including the print processing unit 40. CPU 105 performs processing for adjusting the overall timing of control unit 100 and setting the operation mode. Therefore, the CPU 105
Performs serial communication with another CPU to transmit and receive commands and reports required for control. Further, the CPU 105 performs external serial communication with the external extension unit 31 to transmit / receive a timing signal necessary for print control and a print mode in order to support externally received data printing in a printer application. CPU 106 controls storage and reading of image data. CPU 107 controls document conveyance by document conveyance device 500. CPU 108 controls post-processing device 600.

Referring to FIG. 4, memory unit 30
Are input page memory 301, compressor 302, code memory 303, decompressor 304, output page memory 3
05, rotator 306, CPU 106, ROM 11
6 and a RAM 126.

When a document is read by the copy application, the image data D2 read by the image reader IR
Is transferred to the input page memory 301. The image data D2 transferred to the input page memory 301 is
2 and is transferred to the code memory 303 in page units.

When image data is received by the printer application, print data is transmitted from the personal computer 32 to the external extension unit 31. External extension unit 31
Controls the compression of the print data, and then the compressed image data D4 is transferred to the code memory 303.

At the time of printing, compressed image data (image data read by the image reader IR or image data received from the external expansion unit 31) stored in the code memory 303 is expanded by the expander 304. If image rotation is required, rotation processing is performed in the rotator 306 on a page basis at the time of decompression.

The decompressed image data is transferred to the output page memory 305. The image data D3 is transferred from the output page memory 305 to the print processing unit 40. The image data transfer indicated by the arrow in the figure is configured to be independent of each other and to be able to operate in parallel in order to improve the copy speed.
The image data is DMA-transferred by a DMA controller (not shown).

The CPU 106 controls the memory unit 30 according to a program stored in the ROM 116. Parameters required for operating the program are stored in the RAM 126.

The code memory 303 for temporarily storing image data is managed by a management table provided in the RAM 126.

The management table will be described with reference to FIG. Image data compressed after reading a document or image data received from the outside is managed in print job units. Here, a print job is a set of one or more pages of image data printed by the printer PRT by a series of printing operations. The print job is image data of a group of originals continuously read by the image reader IR in the copy application, and is one or more pages of image data continuously received in the printer application. A plurality of pages are divided and stored in one print job. Therefore, the management table is a table for storing information on a divided page basis, and is referred to as page management information (T
-2) and print job unit information (T-1) which is a table for storing information on a print job basis.

The print job unit information (T-1) includes a job ID, a registration state of a print job, a storage address of page management information corresponding to the print job, a designated number of sheets, a designated number of copies, and a type of printing such as double-sided printing. And a print mode indicating the print mode. The page management information (T-2) stores the storage address of the compressed image data.

At the time of reading an original by a copy application in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 105, the CPU 106 creates information in the management table while reading image data from the input page memory 301. Further, the CPU 106 controls the compressor 302 to store the compressed image data in the code memory 303.

When printing image data, the CPU 10
6 reads compressed image data from the code memory 303 with reference to the information in the management table. The information in the management table is deleted when the information of the corresponding page is accurately read and the printing of the number and the number of copies specified by the operator is completed.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, CPU 101 to 10 show the operation sequence of digital copier 1 for reading an original in a copy application, receiving image data in a printer application, and printing.
6 will be mainly described with respect to a request command (Q), a report (A), or a data flow exchanged between each of them.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the original reading operation in the copy application, image data is transferred from image signal processing unit 20 to memory unit 30.

First, a CPU for managing the entire sequence
105 issues a memory preparation command to the CPU 106. In response to this, the CPU 106 sets the bus connection state for the internal hardware to transfer the image data D2 from the image signal processing unit 20 to the memory unit 30. When these settings are completed and the preparation is completed, the CPU 106 transmits a memory preparation completion report signal to the CPU 105.

The CPU 105 includes the CPU 106 and the CPU 1
When the CPU 102 issues a read command to the
Issues a scan command to the CPU 103.

In response, the CPU 103 starts reading scan. When the scanner 19 reaches the document area, the read data (image data D2) is transferred from the image signal processing unit 20 to the memory unit 30 according to the image processing mode set by the CPU 102.

When the scan is completed, the CPU 102 and the C
When the read completion report signal is transmitted from the PU 106,
The CPU 105 issues a compression command requesting data compression to the CPU 106. In response, CPU1
Reference numeral 06 activates each unit such as the input page memory 301, the compressor 302, and the code memory 303. Thereby, the compression process is performed, and the code data (compressed image data) is stored in the code memory 303. When the compression process is complete,
The completion of the compression is notified from the CPU 106 to the CPU 105 by a compression completion report signal. The above process is performed for all originals to be printed. In the above-described processing, at the time when the processing is executed for a predetermined number of documents satisfying a print start condition described later, the CPU 105
The job ID indicating the image data stored in the code memory 302 as a print job waiting to be printed is registered in the print standby table.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the image data receiving operation of the printer application, the compressed image data is transferred from external extension unit 31 to memory unit 30.

First, an image mode instruction command is issued from the external extension unit 31 to the CPU 105. This command is used to externally specify the paper size, paper feed port, print mode, and the like. Upon receiving this command, the CPU 105 issues a memory preparation command to the CPU 106. In response to this, the CPU 106 sets a bus connection state for the internal hardware to transfer the image data D4 from the external extension unit 31 to the memory unit 30. Once these settings are complete and ready,
The CPU 106 notifies the CPU 105 of a memory preparation completion report signal.

The external extension unit 31 issues an image transfer start command for instructing the CPU 105 to start transferring one page of image data. The CPU 105 transfers the compressed image data D4 directly to the code memory 303.
A code memory transfer start command is issued to the CPU 106. When the transfer of the compressed image data D4 for one page is completed from the external extension unit 31, an image transfer end command is issued to the CPU 105. In response, the CP
U105 sends a code memory transfer end command to the CPU 106.
Issue to As a result, the compressed image data D4 for one page received from the external extension unit 31 is stored in the code memory 303. The above operation is repeated for the pages to be printed. In the above-described processing, a job registration request command is transferred from the external extension unit 31 to the CPU 105 at a point in time when execution is performed for a predetermined number of pages that satisfy a print start condition described later. Further, the CPU 105
The job ID indicating the image data stored in the code memory 302 as a print job waiting for printing is registered in the print waiting table in the print job 25.

Referring to FIG. 8, in a printing operation, image data is read from code memory 303, and an image is printed on a sheet based on the image data.

First, when the CPU 105 selects one of the print waiting print jobs stored in the print waiting table in the RAM 125, the CPU 105
An expansion command for requesting data expansion is issued to U106. The CPU 106 activates the components such as the code memory 303, the decompressor 304, the rotator 306, and the output page memory 305, and decompresses the image data of the selected print job. As a result, the image data is written to the output page memory 305.

When the decompression process is completed, the completion of the decompression is notified from the CPU 106 to the CPU 105 by a decompression completion report signal.

CPU 105 issues a memory preparation command for reading image data from output page memory 305 to CPU 106. The CPU 106 sets, for the internal hardware, a bus connection state for outputting the image data D3 from the output page memory 305 to the print processing unit 40, a rotation process, and the like.

When the above setting is completed and the preparation is completed, C
PU 106 sends a memory ready report signal to CPU 10
Issue to 5. In response to this signal, the CPU 105
A print command is issued to the PU 106 and the CPU 104. The CPU 104 executes printing based on the print command. In this print processing, when it is determined that the resolution needs to be changed, C
The PU 106 controls the rotation speed of the polygon mirror 65 to rotate the polygon mirror at a speed according to the resolution. That is, the CPU 106 operates at a rotational speed equivalent to 400 dpi in the case of a print operation in a copy application, and 60 in the case of a printer application.
The polygon mirror 65 is rotated at a rotation speed corresponding to 0 dpi. The CPU 104 sends a paper feed report signal to the CPU 105 to notify the paper transport state. Thereafter, the image data D3 read from the input page memory 305 is output to the print processing unit 40, and printing is performed.

When printing is completed, the CPU 106
Sends a print completion report signal to PU 105,
The CPU 104 sends a print completion report signal and an ejection completion report signal to the CPU 105. C
After receiving these reports, the PU 105 gives a memory clear request to the CPU 106 as necessary.

With reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9 to 14, the operation of the digital copying machine 1 will be described in more detail focusing on the characteristic control of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the power is turned on, CPU 105, which controls the digital copying machine 1, performs an initial setting (# 51), and then starts an internal timer (# 52). Input data analysis processing (# 53) for checking input data from another CPU, mode setting processing (# 54) for determining an operation mode in accordance with the settings made on the operation panel, document reading by copy application Document reading processing for executing the operation (# 55);
External reception processing for receiving image data from the printer application from the external extension unit 31 (# 56), print processing for executing printing with the printer PRT (# 57), output data for communicating commands and reports Set (# 58), other processing (# 59), and determination of termination of the internal timer (# 60) are repeatedly executed.

Referring to FIG. 10, the original reading process (# 55) in the copy application shown in FIG. 9 will be described in further detail. In this routine, a document is read by a copy application, and when a print start condition is satisfied, a job ID is registered in the print standby table as a print job waiting to be printed.

First, the CPU 105 sets the document stacker 51
Check whether there is a document at 0 (# 10
1). If a document exists (YES in # 101), the current reading state is determined (# 103). If the document is not being read (NO in # 103), CPU 10 determines whether or not a new document reading start command has been received from the operation panel.
1 is inquired (# 105). If there is a reading start command (YES in # 105), the job ID is updated (# 1
07), a reading flag indicating that reading is being performed is set (# 108), and reading sequence control is performed (# 10).
9). In the reading sequence control, the CPU 105
By exchanging the above-mentioned commands and reports with U106, CPU102, and CPU103, the image data of a plurality of originals are compressed in page units, and are sequentially registered in the aforementioned management table and code memory 303.

If there is no original (NO in # 101) and the reading flag is set (YE in # 111)
S), it is determined that reading of all the originals has been completed, and the reading flag is cleared (# 113), and processing for determining whether print start conditions described later are satisfied (# 121, # 123, # 125).
Then, registration in the print standby table is performed as necessary.

If the current reading operation is reading (the reading flag is set) (YES in # 103), the CPU 105
Determines whether registration of the job ID for the image data currently being read in the print standby table has already been completed (# 121). If the job ID is not registered (YES in # 121), CPU 105 determines whether or not the print start condition is satisfied (# 12).
3). If the print start condition is satisfied (YES in # 123), CPU 105 registers the job ID in the print standby table (# 125). Thereafter, reading sequence control is performed (# 109).

If the job ID has already been registered in the print standby table (NO in # 121) or the print start condition is not satisfied (NO in # 123), the CPU 105
Performs the reading sequence control without performing the process of # 125 (# 109).

The determination as to whether or not the print start condition is satisfied (# 123) is based on the mode in which printing cannot be performed unless all originals have been completely read or the mode in which printing can be performed while reading in accordance with the print mode. Different standards. Specifically, the processing here is as shown in FIG. In the case of printing in the weekly magazine binding mode (YES at # 123a) or printing in the face-up mode (YES at # 123b), the page printer is activated only after all originals have been read as described above. Printing cannot be started. Therefore, in the weekly magazine binding mode or the face-up mode, if reading of all originals is completed (YE at # 123c)
S), it is determined that the print start condition is satisfied.
In addition, other face-down modes (# 123a
(NO in # 123b and NO in # 123b), if the reading of the original of the first page is completed (YES in # 123d), the page printer PRT can start printing, so the reading of the original of the first page is performed. Upon completion, it is determined that the print start condition is satisfied. By the above processing,
In the copy application, the reading of the original is executed,
The print job is not registered in the print standby table until a print operation is possible. Therefore,
Switching of the resolution is not executed until immediately before the printing operation of the printer PRT. That is, in the weekly magazine binding mode or the face-up mode, after reading of all originals is completed and printing is enabled, a print job is registered in the print standby table and printing is performed. In this print execution stage, the resolution is switched.
On the other hand, in another mode, after the first document has been read and printing is possible, the print job is registered in the print standby table and printing is performed.
The resolution is switched.

Therefore, if the printer application is executed and the resolution of 600 dpi is set before the copy application scans the original,
Even when the operation of the copy application is started, the resolution of 600 dpi is maintained until the print start condition for the started copy application is satisfied.
Therefore, if the print start condition of another printer application is satisfied before the print start condition for the copy application is satisfied, printing of the image data of the printer application can be started without changing the resolution. Thereafter, when the print start condition of the copy application is satisfied, the resolution is switched to 400 dpi and printing is executed. Therefore, the number of times of switching the resolution of the page printer PRT is reduced.

Referring to FIG. 12, the external reception process (# 56) of image data in the printer application of FIG. 9 will be described in further detail. In this routine, registration processing of a print job for externally received image data in the print standby table is performed. CPU 105 determines whether or not data is being received (# 201). If the image is not being received (NO in # 201), CPU 105 determines whether or not an image mode instruction command has been received from external extension unit 31 (# 203). If the above command has not been received, image data reception has not been started.
In step 05, the external receiving process (# 56) is completed, and the printing process (# 57) is subsequently executed. If the command has been received (YES in # 203), it is determined that reception of image data has started, and CPU 105 updates the job ID (# 2
05), a data receiving flag indicating that data is being received is set (# 207), and external reception sequence control is performed (# 209). In the external reception sequence control,
The CPU 105 sequentially registers the external reception data of a plurality of pages in the management table and the code memory 303 described above.

If data is being received (YE at $ 201)
S), the CPU 105 determines whether or not a job registration request command has been received from the external extension unit 31 (# 21).
1). If it has been received (YES in # 211), it is determined that all image data from the outside has been received, and CPU 105
Releases the data receiving flag (# 213). If not received (NO in # 211), the CPU 105
The data receiving flag is not cleared. Furthermore, CP
U105 determines whether the job ID is registered in the print standby table (# 215). Job ID
If is not registered (# 215: YES), it is determined whether the print start condition is satisfied (# 217). If the print start condition is satisfied (YE in # 217)
S), the CPU 105 registers the job ID in the print standby table (# 219). If the job ID is already registered in the print standby table (N in # 215
O), or when the print start condition is not satisfied (NO in # 217), the CPU 105 does nothing. Thereafter, the CPU 105 controls the external reception sequence (# 2
09).

The determination as to whether or not the print start condition is satisfied (# 217) means, as in the case of the copy application, that the print mode is a mode in which printing cannot be performed unless all image data has been received, or that printing can be performed while receiving data. It can be judged by the difference between the modes. That is, generally, image data is transmitted from the personal computer 32 in order from the first page. As a result, in the case of printing in the weekly magazine binding mode or the face-up mode, printing cannot be started unless image data of all pages is stored in the code memory 302 as described above. In other face-down modes, if the image data of the first page is stored in the code memory 303, it is determined that the print start condition is satisfied.

According to the above-described processing, the printer application receives image data in the same manner as the copy application until the print operation becomes possible.
The job ID is not registered in the print standby table. Therefore, the switching of the resolution is not executed until immediately before the printing operation of the printer PRT. That is, in the weekly magazine binding mode or the face-up mode, after receiving image data of all pages, the job ID is registered in the print standby table and printing is performed. By executing this print, the resolution is switched. On the other hand, in another mode, after the image data of the first page is received and printing is enabled, the job ID is registered in the print standby table, and the resolution is switched.

Therefore, even if the operation of the printer application is started in a situation where the copy application is being executed and the resolution of 400 dpi is set before the image data of the printer application is received, the printing for the started printer application is started. Until the start condition is satisfied, the resolution of 400 dpi is maintained. Therefore, if the print start condition of another copy application is satisfied before the print start condition for the printer application is satisfied, printing of the copy application is started without changing the resolution. Thereafter, when the print start condition of the printer application is satisfied, the resolution is set to 600 dp.
i, and printing is executed. Therefore, the number of times of switching the resolution of the page printer PRT is reduced.

Referring to FIG. 13, the print processing (# 57) shown in FIG. 9 will be described in further detail. In this routine, reading of a print job relating to printing and print sequence control are performed.

First, the CPU 105 determines whether or not printing is in progress (# 301). If printing is in progress ($ 301
YES), it is determined whether or not the print job currently being printed (hereinafter, referred to as “current print job”) has been printed on all sheets (# 303). If printing has been completed (YES in # 303), it is determined whether an unprocessed print job exists in the management table (# 303).
305). The unprocessed print job referred to here is a print job registered in the print standby table after the print start condition is satisfied, as described above. In # 305, the print job in the print standby table is searched. If there is an unprocessed print job (YES in # 305), CPU 105 updates the current print job to execute the unprocessed print job (# 307), and a printing flag indicating that printing is in progress. Is set (# 309). Further, as print sequence control, the CPU 105 controls the CPU 106 for the registered print job.
The command and report described above are exchanged with the server 104. By this exchange, the CPU 105 sequentially reads out image data corresponding to the current print job from the management table and the code memory 303 in page units, performs decompression processing, and performs printing processing (# 31).
1). If printing is not being performed (NO in # 301), since there is no current print job, the processing after # 305 is performed. If the printing of the current print job has not been completed (NO in # 303), the above-described print sequence control (# 311) is performed.

When there is no unprocessed job (♯
NO at 305), and cancels the printing flag (# 32
1), the set priority application mode is determined (# 323). If the print job of the copy application is prioritized (YES in # 323),
Current resolution is 400dp for copy application
It is determined whether it is i (# 325). If it is not 400 dpi (NO in # 325), resolution switching is performed (#
327). If it is 400 dpi (Y at $ 325)
ES), resolution switching is not performed. If the print job of the printer application has priority (# 32
3; NO), the same determination as described above is performed, and the resolution is switched to 600 dpi as necessary (# 329, # 3)
31).

The specific resolution switching process is performed by the CPU 10.
4 is performed by switching the rotation speed of the polygon mirror 65. As another method of the resolution switching process, C
It goes without saying that the PU 104 may change the diameter of the laser beam that irradiates the photosensitive drum 71 and the intensity of the laser beam.

Referring to FIG. 14, the print job update (# 307) shown in FIG. 13 will be described in more detail. This routine is a process for switching the resolution in accordance with a registered copy application print job or a printer application print job. As with the print processing described above, the CPU
105 determines the priority application mode (# 4
01). If the print of the copy application is prioritized (YES in # 401), CPU 105 determines whether there is any unprocessed print job in the copy application (# 403). If priority is given to the printer application (NO in # 401), the CPU 105 determines whether there is any unprocessed print job of the printer application (# 423).

If there is an unprocessed print job of the copy application, the resolution is switched as necessary (# 405, # 407). CPU 105 switches the current print job to the print job of the unprocessed copy application (# 409). Similar processing is performed on the print job of the printer application (# 415, # 417, # 419).

As is apparent from the above description, in the digital copying machine 1, the timing of registration in the print standby table is changed according to the print mode. That is, in the weekly magazine binding mode and the face-up mode, when the image data of all pages is stored in the code memory 303, the job ID is registered in the print standby table assuming that the print condition is satisfied. In the face down mode, the job ID is registered in the print standby table assuming that the print condition is satisfied when the image data of the first page is stored in the code memory 303. For this reason, the execution timing of the actual print processing is changed according to the print mode, and the resolution is changed in the print processing. Therefore, the resolution change timing is changed according to the print mode. Become.

More specifically, for example, when printing in the weekly magazine binding mode is performed by the copy application in a state where the resolution of the print mode is set to 600 dpi, the originals of all pages are read and the code memory is read. When the image data is stored in 303,
The job ID is registered in the print standby table.
The resolution is switched to 400 dpi at the timing of executing the registered print job. On the other hand, with the printer mode resolution set to 600 dpi,
When printing in the face-down mode is to be executed by the copy application, the job ID is registered in the print standby table when the original of the first page is read and the image data is stored in the code memory 303. Accordingly, the registration of the job ID is issued earlier in the print standby table than in the previous case, and the resolution switching timing is also earlier.

As can be understood from the above, even when a plurality of applications are being processed in parallel, it is possible to perform the optimal timing control for changing the resolution, thereby enabling quick printing.

In the above description, the switching timing of the resolution in the two-sided print mode is not described. However, in the two-sided print mode, at least two pages of image data to be printed on the front and back of the print sheet are omitted. If is aligned, printing can be started. Therefore, as described above, as in the case of the weekly magazine binding mode and the face-up mode, the job ID may be registered in the print standby table when the image data of all pages has been prepared, or two pages of image data may be registered. The job ID may be registered in the print standby table at the stage when all the image data are prepared.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view showing an overall configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a memory unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a management table showing a relationship between a job and a code memory.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a document reading operation in a copy application.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a schematic sequence of an image data receiving operation in the printer application.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a printing operation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a main routine of the CPU 105.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a reading process in the copy application.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a print start condition satisfaction determination process in the copy application.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of image data reception processing in a printer application.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a printing process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a print job update process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital copying machine 20 Image signal processing part 30 Memory unit 31 External expansion part 40 Print processing part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 C 1/113 1/04 104A

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in accordance with a print mode at a print resolution different for each application, wherein a resolution switching control for controlling the switching of the print resolution in accordance with the switching of the application. And a resolution switching timing setting unit for setting the switching timing of the print resolution of the resolution switching control unit according to the print mode. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application includes a copy application that reads image data of a document image to form an image, and a printer application that receives image data from outside and forms an image. apparatus. 3. The print mode further includes a memory for storing the image data, wherein the print mode stores the image data of all pages on which an image is to be formed in the memory, and then stores the image data in the memory. Are read out in a first predetermined order, and a first print mode in which image formation of the image data is started, and when the image data of the first predetermined page among the image data to be formed is stored in the memory, ,
Reading out the image data stored in the memory in a second predetermined order and starting image formation of the image data;
A print mode, wherein the resolution switching timing setting means includes means for setting the print resolution switching timing such that the print resolution switching is performed at the start of image formation of the image data. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1. 4. The first predetermined order is an order obtained by rearranging the storage order of the image data in the memory based on a predetermined rule. The second predetermined order is the memory of the image data in the memory. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus stores the image data in a storage order. 5. An image forming apparatus capable of forming image data obtained from an image data source at different print resolutions for each image data source according to a print mode, comprising: a memory for storing the image data; A printer for reading out the image data from the memory and forming an image in accordance with the print mode at a print resolution determined according to the image data source of the image data, and switching a print resolution of the printer. An image forming apparatus, comprising: resolution switching control means for controlling; and resolution switching timing setting means for setting a switching timing of the print resolution of the resolution switching control means according to the print mode. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image data source includes an image reader and a computer. 7. The print mode includes: after storing the image data of all pages on which an image is to be formed in the memory, reading out the image data stored in the memory in a first predetermined order; A first print mode in which image formation is started, and when the image data of the first predetermined page among the image data in which image formation is performed is stored in the memory,
A second print mode in which the image data stored in the memory is read in a second predetermined order, and image formation of the image data is started. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a unit configured to set a timing of switching the print resolution so that the print resolution is switched at the start. 8. The first predetermined order is an order obtained by rearranging the storage order of the image data in the memory based on a predetermined rule, and the second predetermined order is the memory of the image data in the memory. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the storage order is a storage order. 9. An image reader for reading image data of a document in an image forming apparatus capable of forming image data obtained from an image data source at different print resolutions for each of said image data sources according to a print mode. External receiving means for externally receiving image data; a memory for storing the image data; a print standby table; and the image data stored in the memory are determined according to the print mode. When the number of pages reached is reached,
A print job registration unit for registering the image data stored in the memory as a print job in the print standby table; reading the image data included in the print job from the print standby table; A printer for forming an image at a print resolution determined according to an image data source; resolution switching control means for controlling switching of the print resolution of the printer; and the resolution switching control according to the print mode. And a resolution switching timing setting means for setting the switching timing of the print resolution of the means. 10. The print mode includes: a first print mode for reading out the image data included in the print job registered in the print standby table in a predetermined order, and starting image formation of the image data; A second print mode in which the image data is read out in the order of registration in the print job registered in the print standby table and image formation of the image data is started, and the number of pages determined according to the print mode is The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first print mode and the second print mode are different.