JPH11261810A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the delay time of image forming by forming beforehand the image to be formed next at the time of satisfying a necessary value to the image to be formed next without satisfying the necessary value to the image to be formed by preceding a parameter value to be detected. SOLUTION: If the current development capability of an image forming means that is represented in the density of a developing member that is detected by a detection means exceeds the development capability required for an image to be formed precedently, the image to be formed next is formed previously when this image can be formed by the current development capability. Then, a developing member is replenished while or right before the image to be formed next is formed so that the development capacity becomes the development capability required for the postponed image to be formed, next. Thus, there is high possibility that the development capability becomes next the development capability required for the postponed image. As a result, the delay time of the image forming is shortened and the decrease in the number of image forming frequency is reduced per unit time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for automatically adjusting or automatically controlling parameters affecting image forming quality, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical image forming apparatus of this type forms an electrostatic latent image by uniformly charging a photosensitive member and projecting light so as to represent an image on a charged surface. The latent image is developed with a developing material (toner), and the toner image generated on the photoreceptor is transferred to a transfer sheet directly or indirectly via an intermediate transfer member, and the toner image on the transfer sheet is transferred. Is fixed to transfer paper by heating and pressurizing with a fixing device, in which an electrostatic latent image is formed by projecting reflected light of a document onto a photosensitive member via an optical system. Is called an analog system, and a mode of scanning and projecting a laser modulated by an image signal onto a photosensitive member is called a digital system or a laser scanning type.

In the case of such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus as an example, when the toner concentration of the developer decreases, it is necessary to replenish the developer with toner. Conventionally, the toner density of the developer is detected, and if the toner density is less than a set value, the toner is replenished, or a test pattern for image formation density detection is projected on the photoconductor to form a photoreceptor on the photoconductor. A toner image corresponding to a test pattern is formed on the toner image, and the density of the toner image is detected by using an optical sensor called a P sensor.
Replenish. By the way, there may be a delay time from the start of toner supply until the formed image density increases.
Toner replenishment is preferably performed during one image formation and after the end of image formation, in order to avoid image blurring due to vibration caused by the replenishment operation and a change in image density on a one-page image. In the case of continuous image formation in which several images of (image data) are continuously formed, the toner image is formed after a series of image formation is completed so that the image density change during the formation of the set number of images is inconspicuous. Preferably, replenishment is performed.
In this case, not only does a considerable time delay occur from the detection of the density insufficiency until the image density actually increases, but also the toner insufficiency further progresses due to toner consumption during a series of image formation. For example, in monochromatic black recording, when an image is formed with a large number of black recording pixels, toner consumption in the developer is large, and toner shortage rapidly progresses.

On the other hand, since the temperature of the fixing unit is low immediately after the power of the image forming apparatus is turned on, a warm-up time is usually provided, and an image forming instruction during the warm-up time is ignored. However, if image formation consuming a large amount of toner is repeated continuously, the amount of heat carried away from the fixing device by the toner on the transfer paper is large, and the fixing temperature may drop rapidly. There is also a delay time from when the temperature drop is detected to when the fixing current is restored to the predetermined value by increasing the heater current.

[0005]

Conventionally, when the toner density decreases or the fixing temperature departs from a set temperature,
A control different from the normal image forming sequence of the replenishment mode is inserted, and control of disabling image formation is performed until the fixing temperature of the standby mode becomes high. Alternatively, the image is output as it is without such control. However, if the replenishment mode or the standby mode is adopted, it takes much time to obtain the required number of copies, and the user's convenience is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a high quality of formed image and to reduce a delay time of image formation.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems (1) Parameter operating means (31, 32) for operating parameters (developing density, fixing temperature) which affect the image forming quality, the parameter values (Vp, Detecting means (14, 26, 16) for detecting the temperature) and the value of the detected parameter (V
parameter control means (2) for controlling the parameter operation means in order to set the parameters within a set range according to (p, temperature).
2), means (21) for storing image data of a plurality of images, and means (1 to 10) for forming an image represented by the image data of each image in the image data storage means. In the image forming apparatus, when each image is sequentially formed based on the image data of the plurality of images, parameter values (Vp: M1 to M3, Vp: M1 to M3, detected by the detecting means (14, 26, 16)). Temperature) does not satisfy the values (D1 to D4, F1 to F3) necessary for forming the image to be formed in advance and the value (N: D) necessary for forming the image to be formed next
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming order control means (22) for forming the next image to be formed first when satisfying 1 to D4 and F1 to F3).

For easy understanding, reference numerals or corresponding items of the corresponding elements of the embodiment shown in the drawings and described later are added in parentheses for reference.

According to this, the current image forming capability of the image forming means (1 to 10) represented by the parameters detected by the detecting means (14, 26, 16) (current developing density Vp: M1 to M3, (Current fixing temperature)
Becomes an image formation (Kt = NG, Kh = NG) exceeding the image formation ability represented by the value (N: D1 to D4, F1 to F3) required for image formation of the image to be formed in advance. In this case, when an image to be formed next can be formed with the current image forming capability, the image to be formed next is formed first. During this image formation, the parameters (Vp, temperature) increase and the image forming ability increases, and then the parameter values required for the image to be formed earlier may be attained. High in nature.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention to be described later, the parameter control means (22) positively adjusts the image forming capacity required for the delayed image formation during or immediately before the previous image formation. Process to manipulate the parameters so that
Without delay time, without reducing the number of image formation per unit time, and without lowering image quality,
The user can work efficiently.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (2) Latent image forming means (1-3) for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image data, developing means (4) for developing the electrostatic latent image, developing means Replenishing means (4) for replenishing the developer with toner (toner), and density detecting means (14,2) for detecting the density of the developer.
6) When the density is insufficient according to the detected density, density control means (22, 31) for replenishing the developing material with the replenishing means (4), and means for storing image data of a plurality of images (21). Means for controlling the operations of the latent image forming means (1 to 3) and the developing means (4) to form an image represented by the image data of each image in the image data storing means, When sequentially forming each image based on the image data of the plurality of images, the density (Vp: M1 to M3) detected by the density detecting means (14, 26) precedes. Image forming order control means (22) for first forming the next image to be formed when the density of the image to be formed becomes insufficient and the density of the next image to be formed is satisfied. An image forming apparatus comprising:

According to this, the current developing capacity (Vp: M1 to M3) of the image forming means (1 to 10) represented by the visual material density (Vp) detected by the detecting means (14, 26) is: If the image formation (Kt = NG) exceeds the development capacity (N: D1 to D4) required for image formation of the image to be formed in advance, the next image to be formed is When the image can be formed with the capability (Vp: M1 to M3), the image to be formed next is formed first. During or immediately before this image formation, the developing material (toner) is replenished so that the developing capacity required for the delayed image formation can be obtained, so that the next delayed image is required. There is a high possibility that the developing capacity is high. Therefore, the delay time is shortened, the number of image formations per unit time is less reduced, and the image quality is less reduced, so that the user can work efficiently.

(3) latent image forming means (1 to 3) for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image data, developing means (4) for developing the electrostatic latent image, and a visible image developed by development Means for transferring material image to transfer paper (5-8), means for fixing visible material image to transfer paper
(10) means for energizing the heater of the fixing means (10), means for detecting the temperature of the fixing means (16), and when the temperature is insufficient according to the detected temperature, Temperature control means (32) for increasing the heater current, means (21) for storing image data of a plurality of images, and transfer of the image represented by the image data of each image in the image data storage means. Means for controlling the operation of the latent image forming means and the developing means for forming on the paper
In the image forming apparatus having (22), when each image is sequentially formed based on the image data of the plurality of images, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means (16) attempts to form in advance. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming order control unit that first forms an image to be formed next when the fixing of an image to be formed next is insufficient due to insufficient fixing of the image. .

According to this, the current fixing ability of the fixing means (10) represented by the fixing temperature detected by the detecting means (16) is:
If the fixing capacity (Kh = NG) exceeds the fixing capacity (F1 to F3) required for fixing the image to be formed earlier, the next image to be formed can be formed with the current fixing capacity , The image to be formed next is formed first. During or immediately before this image formation, the heating temperature is adjusted so that the fixing temperature (F1 to F3) required for the delayed image formation is reached.
By manipulating the current, there is a high possibility that the fixing temperature required for an image which is subsequently delayed is attained. Therefore, the delay time is shortened, the number of image formations per unit time is less reduced, and the image fixing quality is less reduced, so that the user can work efficiently.

(4) In the above (1), (2) or (3), when an image to be output first is formed, an image required for an image to be output first for the later image formation. The parameter control means (22) controls the parameter operation means (31, 32) so that the parameters are set to be equal to or greater than the forming ability.

According to this, while the image is being formed first, the parameters are shifted in a direction necessary for the image formation which is postponed, and when the image formation is completed, the parameter is postponed. There is a high possibility that the image forming capacity for forming a formed image has been reached or is close to it. Therefore, the delay time is shortened, and the decrease in the number of image formations per unit time is small,
In addition, the image quality is less deteriorated, and the user can work efficiently.

(5) In the above (1), (2), (3) or (4), the image forming apparatus has two or more output trays, and transfers the transfer paper on which an image is formed first. An image forming apparatus that discharges a sheet to a tray different from a tray that has been output before.

There is a problem that if the transfer paper that has been advanced is discharged as it is, a discrepancy occurs in the page order. However, as described above, the image that has been advanced is output to another tray so that the page order can be changed. Without going crazy
The user can obtain the output of the transfer paper.

(6) In the above (5), the output tray for the advanced image is a tray capable of re-feeding, and after discharging the delayed image, the transfer paper of the previously formed image is transferred. The tray can be discharged.

If the output is contained in a plurality of trays,
There is a problem that it is inconvenient to use and the user has to adjust the output bundle by himself later. The user can obtain an output bundle without disordering the page order without having to adjust the output bundle of transfer paper later by enabling the paper to be re-fed and discharged as it is onto the transfer paper that has been postponed. Becomes possible.

(7) A function of detecting the required capacity (D1 to D4, F1 to F3) of an output image when forming an image, a function of storing a plurality of output image data, and a function of a current capacity (M
1 to M3, F-ΔT) function, device capability (M1 to M3, F-ΔT)
T) function to increase the image forming apparatus with the above functions,
Under the condition of continuously forming a plurality of output images, the required capacity of the output image to be formed (D1-D4, F1-F
3) exceeds the capacity of the device (M1-M3, F-ΔT) (Kt = NG, K
h = NG), and if it is determined that the next image to be output is possible with the current capability, the next image to be output can be output first. Image forming apparatus.

When the image data output is requested by requesting the current capacity (M1 to M3, F-ΔT) or more of the apparatus, the next image data is compared with the required capacity of the next image data. If it is determined that output is possible with the current capacity, the next scheduled image is output first, and during that time processing is performed to increase the required capacity of the image data postponed, so there is no extra waiting time, The user can proceed with the operation without reducing the number of output sheets per unit time and without lowering the output image.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0024]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a laser scanning type color printer of an electrophotographic system, and comprises a printer mechanism, a paper feeding device (bank), a double-sided paper feeding device, and a post-processing device (sorter). The laser scanner 3 of the printer mechanism has Bk (black),
Image data decomposed into Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (shear) color components is provided for each color. Each color unit is one image forming unit.

At the time of monochrome recording, image data of one of the above four colors is supplied to the laser scanner 3. Photoconductor 1
Is driven to rotate at a constant speed, charged by the main charger 2 and the charged potential is adjusted to an appropriate potential by the quenching lamp QL. Then, the laser scanner 3 scans and projects the laser modulated by the image data on the charged surface. Thus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the photoconductor 1. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device (Bk) having a developing toner of a color corresponding to a designated color for image formation (for example, Bk) of a developing device 4 of a rotary positioning system, and a visible image, that is, a toner
It becomes an image. The toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 6 by the transfer charger 5, and is transferred by the transfer separation charger 8.
The transfer paper, which is transferred to the transfer paper fed by the registration roller 7 and carries the toner image, is fixed by the transport belt 9 to the fixing device 10.
Sent to. The fixing device 10 fixes the toner image on the transfer paper to the transfer paper by heating and pressing. After the fixing, the transfer paper is discharged to a sorter 11. The photoreceptor surface on which the transfer of the toner image has been completed is cleaned by the cleaning device 12. The surface of the transfer belt 6 where the transfer has been completed is wiped with a cleaning blade 13. Reference numeral 14 denotes a reflection type optical sensor called a P sensor for detecting the toner density on the photoreceptor surface.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a reflection type optical sensor for detecting a mark indicating the reference position of the transfer belt 6, and reference numeral 16 denotes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the fixing roller.

In the case of color overprinting of two or more colors (the most typical one is full color printing), the above-described photosensitive member 1 is used.
The formation of the toner image thereon and the transfer to the transfer belt 6 are repeated for each color, and the toner images of each color are transferred on the transfer belt 6 in a superimposed manner. Transferred to transfer paper.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of an electric system configuration of the printer shown in FIG. The main control board 22 has C
There are a PU, a ROM, and a RAM, and a serial communication port and an input / output port are prepared according to what is connected to the port. Management of image forming modes such as monochromatic recording, full color recording, and image forming sequences is controlled by the CPU of the main control board 22. Further, an operation unit control unit 27, a duplex control unit 28, a bank control unit 30, and a sorter control unit 29 are connected to the main control board 22 by serial communication.

The motor control board 31 includes a motor for the main body paper transport section, a motor for driving the revolver, a motor for driving the photosensitive member and the intermediate transfer belt, a developing motor, and a replenishing motor for replenishing toner of each color developing unit of the developing device 4. Is driven.

The fixing control board 32 includes the main control board 22
Of the fixing unit 10 and an A / D terminal for reading the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 16 for measuring the fixing temperature. The fixing control board 32
Heater energization control is performed to keep the temperature of the fixing roller within the set range.

The P-sensor control circuit 26 outputs an LED lighting signal output of the reflection type optical sensor 14 of the main control board 22 and
It is connected to an A / D terminal for reading the light reflection level of the photoconductor.

Since the illustrated embodiment is a digital laser printer, the image data from the controller 20 is fetched into the image memory 21 by serial communication, and the LD for exposing the photosensitive member from the image memory 21 to the writing control unit 23 is written. (Laser diode) light emission modulation information is output in response to an instruction from the CPU on the main control board 22. The image memory 21 has an image data read / write control circuit. This image memory 21
Can store each image data of a plurality of images. When writing image data into the memory, the image data read / write control circuit 21 in the memory 21 determines, for each image, the number N of recorded pixels in the image (the number of pixels to which toner is added). Count and store the image. The CPU of the main control board 22 sends the image data read / write control circuit to the memory 2
The number N of recorded pixels can be read for each image (image data).

The color electrophotographic process and the paper feeding mechanism from the bank, the double-sided paper feeding / discharging mechanism, the sorting mechanism of the sorter, or the respective sequences associated therewith are not related to the implementation of the present invention. Further, since the prior art may be used, the description is omitted.

The CPU of the main control board 22 has a memory 2
For each image (image data), the number N of pixels required for recording is read, and the required developing capacity (toner consumption amount rank D) of the image is determined as shown in Table 1 below. (Estimated)
I do.

[0034]

[Table 1]

D1 in Table 1 means that the required developing capacity is low, and D4 means that it is high. The required developing capacity D increases as the number N of pixels required for recording increases (N
1 <N2 <N3).

At a predetermined timing, the CPU of the main control board 22 projects a test pattern for image formation density detection on the photosensitive member to form a toner image corresponding to the test pattern on the photosensitive member. The density of the toner image is detected by the P sensor 14, and the latest detected value Vp is always held.
Based on p, the current developing capacity (toner supply amount rank from the developing device to the photoconductor) M is determined as shown in Table 2 below.

[0037]

[Table 2]

M1 in Table 2 means that the current developing capacity is low (detection density is low), and M3 means that the current developing capacity is high. The higher the A / D converted voltage value Vp, which indicates the light receiving level of the photoconductor reflected light of the P sensor 14,
This means that the amount of light reflected from the photoreceptor is large, that is, the pattern image density (toner density on the photoreceptor) is low, and the developing ability M is low (P1 <P2).

The CPU of the main control board 22 determines the required developing capacity D (any of D1 to D4) and the apparatus developing capacity M (M
1 to M3) from the replenishment coefficient K shown in Table 3 below.
Calculate t. The replenishment coefficient Kt indicates a coefficient per unit time for PWM driving the toner replenishment motor for increasing the developing capacity M, and the duty ratio of the PWM drive pulse (on time / one cycle of on / off) increases as Kt increases. , Ie, to increase the energizing current value (time-series average value) of the toner replenishing motor. In the example,
One cycle of the on-off is 100 msec, and the on-time Ta therein is Ta = 100 × (Kt / 3) [msec]. When the developing capacity M is M1, the required developing capacity D is D
In this case, NG (impossible to form an image) is set because the developing ability is insufficient even if the output of 4 is attempted, and the density of the image to be formed becomes low. In calculation, a numerical value 4 is given to Kt even in the case of NG.

[0040]

[Table 3]

The CPU of the main control board 22 specifies the fixing temperature to the fixing control board 32 corresponding to the color mode. The contents are shown in the following Table 4 (F1 ≦ F2 ≦ F3).
For example, F1: 140 ° C., F2: 145 ° C., F
3: 150 ° C.

[0042]

[Table 4]

The CPU of the main control board 22 determines the heater-on coefficient Kh corresponding to the difference ΔT between the designated temperature F (F1 to F3) and the current fixing temperature (the value detected by the temperature sensor 16). Table 5 below shows the relationship between ΔT and Kh. The heater-on coefficient Kh specifies, for example, the on-time Th in a half cycle (zero-cross cycle) Zx of the AC voltage as follows. Th = Zx (Kh / 3) [msec] Regardless of whether the difference ΔT from the designated temperature F is plus or minus, if the difference ΔT exceeds a predetermined value (T3, T0), there is a possibility of defective fixing, so it is NG (fixing is impossible). (T0 <0 <T1 <T
2 <T3). In calculation, Kh is given a numerical value of 4 and −1 even in the case of NG.

[0044]

[Table 5]

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show a first embodiment of the processing of the part of the CPU of the main control board 22 related to the implementation of the present invention in the image forming control. When forming an image, the CPU of the main control board 22 first executes an image output order determination 1SDD with reference to FIG. That is, the number of pixels N of the image data to be output at present is obtained from the image memory 21 (step 1), the replenishment coefficient Kt based on Tables 1, 2 and 3 is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the data is NG. (Step 2). If you are not NG,
Determination of next image output order 2 Proceed to SDS.

In the case of NG, the number of pixels Nnext of the image data of the next image is obtained (step 3), and the replenishment coefficient Ktne is obtained.
Calculate xt. Further, 1 is added to Ktnext so as to catch up with the required development capability of the image data of the previous image (step 5). If the added Ktnext is 3 or less, it is determined that the image data of the next image can be output first, and the image data of the previous image is connected to the next wait queue (step 7), the image data of the next image is replaced with the image data of the previous image, and the image data of the next image is designated for output (step 8), and Kt is updated to Ktnext (step 9). Based on this, toner supply of the corresponding developing device of the developing device 4 is performed. Since the replenishment coefficient Kt at that time is a value obtained by adding 1, when forming the advanced (previous) image, the developing capacity is higher than usual, so that the image of the postponed (previous) image is formed. When data re-output is determined, an image can be formed. However, when the replenishment coefficient of each image data of the previous image and the next image is NG,
Since there is a possibility of outputting an abnormal image having a low density, in this embodiment, an image formation disable process is performed (step 10).
If there is a supply sequence in addition to the normal sequence, the supply sequence can be performed, and the determination based on the image data can be performed again. If the user does not care about the density reduction, it is possible to perform the output processing of the image data to be output now instead of the image formation disable processing.

Next, the CPU executes the image output order determination 2 SDS shown in FIG. In this case, first, the fixing designated temperature F of the image data to be currently output is obtained from the color mode data (step 10), the heater-on coefficient Kh based on Tables 4 and 5 is calculated, and it is determined whether the image is NG. (Step 11). If you are not NG,
Thereafter, the process proceeds to the image data output process (step 20). NG
In the case of, the specified fixing temperature Fne of the image data of the next image
xt is obtained (step 12), and the heater ON coefficient Khnext is obtained.
Is calculated (step 13). Further, it is determined whether the difference ΔT between the designated temperature F and the current fixing temperature is positive or negative (Step 14).
If ΔT is greater than 0, 1 is added to Khnext so as to catch up with the required fixing capacity of the image data that is currently being output (step 15). And the added K
If h next is 3 or less, it is determined that the next image data can be output first (step 16), and the image data currently being output is connected to the next standby queue (step 17). A process for replacing the next image data with the current image data is performed (step 18), and Kh is changed to Khne.
xt is updated (step 19), and image data is output (step 20). Since the heater-on coefficient Kh at that time is a value obtained by adding 1 in step 15, the fixing temperature raising ability is increased more than usual at the time of advanced image formation. , And an image can be formed. If ΔT is negative, it is checked whether the heater-on coefficient Khnext of the next image data is less than 0 (step 21), and if not, processing for outputting the next image data (steps 17 to 19). I do.

However, if the heater-on coefficients of the current and the next image data are both NG, there is a possibility that an image having a defective fixation may be output. Therefore, in this embodiment, an image formation disable process is performed (step 22). . If a fixing temperature adjustment sequence is provided in addition to the normal sequence, the fixing temperature adjustment sequence may be performed, and the determination based on the pixel data may be performed again. If the user does not care about the fixing failure, an output process of the image data to be output now can be performed instead of the image formation disable process.

After outputting image data (forming a one-color toner image) and completing the formation of the toner image of the designated color, the CPU of the main control board 22 outputs the output tray selection TS shown in FIG.
Execute E. Here, first, at the time of discharging the transfer paper on which the image is formed, it is determined whether or not this time is the output image of the advanced image (step 22), and if it is the output image of the advanced image, a search for an empty sort bin is performed (step 22). 2
3) If empty, discharge to that bin (step 25). If there is no free space, a warning is displayed to inform that the page order is out of order (step 26).
The paper is discharged to the specified discharge tray (bin) (step 27). If the image has not been advanced, the image is directly discharged to the specified discharge tray.

If image data is output after the image data output in advance, the image data is continuously discharged onto the bin discharged in advance so that the page order is maintained without disordering the page order. It is possible to do.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the processing of the part of the image forming control of the CPU of the main control board 22 which is related to the implementation of the present invention. When forming an image, the CPU of the main control board 22 first executes determination of image output order 1 SDD and determination of image output order 2 SDS. These contents are the same as those shown in FIGS. Next, the CPU executes a paper feed stage selection process PSE. Here, it is determined whether or not the advance image data is set to the both-side refeeding (step 31). If the refeeding is set, the sheet is fed again from the duplex tray (step 34). Then, when the double-sided tray has run out of paper, it is determined that the refeeding process has been completed, and the refeeding setting is released (steps 35 and 36). In the case of the feed processing of the advanced image data output, the feed processing of the designated paper feed stage is performed as it is (steps 32 and 33). In the case of the image data output postponed, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for the set number of repeats (steps 37 and 38).
If the set number has been completed, the setting of the double-sided refeeding of the advanced image data is performed (step 39). If the set number of sheets has not been completed, a sheet feeding process from a specified sheet feeding tray is performed (step 33). Since it is not the later image data output, it is the same as normal image data output,
Output processing to the specified paper feed tray is performed (step 37,
33).

After outputting image data (forming a one-color toner image) and completing the formation of the toner image for the designated color, the CPU of the main control board 22 outputs the output tray selection TS shown in FIG.
Execute E. Here, first, if the image data is advanced, it is determined whether or not refeeding is to be performed (steps 40 and 41).
If not, it is determined whether or not the double-sided tray is empty (step 43). If it is, discharge is performed without reversing the double-sided tray (step 4).
4, 45). If the duplex tray is not empty,
The selection for the sorter bin output is made in the same manner as in (1) (steps 46 to 48). When re-feeding advanced image data,
The paper is discharged to the specified discharge tray (bin) (step 50).

By performing the above-described paper feed stage selection processing PSE and output tray selection TSE, the output of the advanced image data is once discharged to the double-sided tray, and after the postponed image data has been discharged, the double-sided tray is output. By re-feeding the paper from the designated output tray and discharging the image data on the post-output of the designated output tray, the page order is not disturbed, and the user does not need to combine the output bundle later to obtain a desired output. An image data output bundle can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, an example of a full-color image forming apparatus in which the fixing temperature differs in the color mode has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a single-color image forming apparatus as it is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a mechanism outline of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a system configuration of an electric control system of the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a CPU on a main control board 22 shown in FIG. 2;
5 is a flowchart showing a part of the contents of the image forming process of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a CPU on a main control board 22 shown in FIG. 2;
7 is a flowchart showing another part of the content of the image forming process of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a CPU on a main control board 22 shown in FIG. 2;
7 is a flowchart showing the rest of the contents of the image forming process of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a CPU on a main control board 22 shown in FIG. 2;
9 is a flowchart showing a part of the contents of the image forming process of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a CPU on a main control board 22 shown in FIG.
7 is a flowchart showing the rest of the contents of the image forming process of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: photoreceptor 2: main charger 3: laser scanner 4: developing device 5: transfer charger 6: transfer belt 7: registration roller 8: transfer separation charger 9: transport belt 10: fixing device 11: Sorter 12: Cleaning device 13: Cleaning blade 14: P sensor 15: Optical sensor 16: Temperature sensor QL: Quenching lamp

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Parameter operating means for operating parameters affecting image forming quality, detecting means for detecting parameter values, and parameter setting range according to detected parameter values. Parameter control means for controlling the parameter operation means, means for storing image data of a plurality of images, and image data of each image in the image data storage means. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for forming an image; when sequentially forming each image based on the image data of the plurality of images, the values of the parameters detected by the detecting means may be formed in advance. Image formation order control means for forming the next image to be formed first when the value required to form the next image to be formed is not satisfied without satisfying the value required to form the next image. Image form characterized by comprising Apparatus. 2. A latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image data, a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image, a replenishing means for replenishing the developing means with a developing material, and a developing material. Density detecting means for detecting the density, density controlling means for replenishing the developing material with the replenishing means when the density is insufficient according to the detected density, means for storing image data of a plurality of images, and the image Means for controlling the operations of the latent image forming means and the developing means to form an image represented by the image data of each image in the data storage means. When each image is sequentially formed based on the data, when the density detected by the density detection means causes a shortage in the density of the image to be formed earlier and satisfies the density of the image to be formed next, The next image to be formed first Means for controlling the order of forming images;
An image forming apparatus comprising: 3. A latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image data, a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image, and a means for transferring a developing material image developed by the development onto a transfer paper. Means for fixing the developing material image to the transfer paper, means for energizing the heater of the fixing means, means for detecting the temperature of the fixing means, and means for detecting the temperature of the fixing means. Temperature control means for increasing the heater current, means for storing image data of a plurality of images, and means for forming an image represented by the image data of each image in the image data storage means on transfer paper. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for controlling the operation of the latent image forming means and the developing means; wherein when each image is sequentially formed based on image data of the plurality of images, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means. For fixing images to be formed earlier An image forming order control means for forming the next image to be formed first when the shortage is caused and the fixing of the next image to be formed is satisfied;
An image forming apparatus comprising: