JPH11331451A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user with various printing forms by calculating copying required time required for copying the number of copies inputted by an input means from development time and printing time obtained by a prediction means. SOLUTION: Whether or not an original is left in an ADF is confirmed, and in the case that the original is not present in the ADF, the image size of the respective pages of the original is read from a RAM 103 and printing required time composed of the development time and the printing time of the respective pages is calculated. Then, for the respective pages, by calculating required sheet number printing required time for the respective pages and adding the required sheet number printing required time of all the pages together, the entire printing required time is obtained. It is displayed at an LCD 54 as 1-scanning multi-copy required time. Then, the printing required time of the respective pages composed of the development time of the respective pages and one-sheet printing time is obtained, it is all added together and one copy total printing required time is obtained. By multiplying it by a printing copy number, electronic sorting required time is obtained and it is displayed at the LCD 54.

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 capable of performing, for example, electronic sort and one-scan multi-copy printing operations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine includes:
After the original is read by optical means (scanner), the image is converted to an electric signal and subjected to image processing such as shading correction and gamma correction, and then the image is printed on paper using a laser electrophotographic process (printer). Form. In this digital technology, the data after the image processing described above can be reused any number of times. Therefore, by temporarily storing this data, it is not necessary to read an original every time copying is performed as in an analog copier (hereinafter, referred to as an analog copying machine). This function is called one-scan multi-copy). To take advantage of this advantage, digital copiers and the like are equipped with a DRAM or the like as a page memory for storing the temporary data.

However, in general, when a high-definition image such as a photograph is read, the data size of the monochrome image is about 36M.
For B and color images, very large data of about 108 MB (the above data conditions are when an A4 size original is read at 600 dpi and 8 bits). The page memory mentioned above has a cost problem,
It is impossible to mount a capacity enough to accommodate a plurality of these data. Therefore, a technique of compressing the read document data to about 18 MB with the color image by fixed-length compression is used. As a result, the page memory having the same capacity can accommodate about 6 times (converted to A4 color original) data. In order to accommodate more images, a method of supplementarily mounting a hard disk (hereinafter, also referred to as an HDD), which is lower in cost per capacity than the page memory, has been considered. However, since the HDD has a lower access speed than the page memory, data transfer takes time. Therefore, the data compressed by the fixed-length compression described above is further compressed by the variable-length compression, thereby reducing the time required for data transfer.

[0004] With the above technology, a digital copying machine or the like can provide a new sorting method called electronic sorting. Sorting refers to stacking of a plurality of sheets of an original at the end of printing, like an original, partly in a bundle. In an analog copying machine or the like, for example, when three copies of a plurality of originals are copied, three copies are made for the last original, and three paper stacking areas (hereinafter, referred to as bins) of a mechanical sorter. To each.
Next, three copies of the second original from the rear are copied and stacked on the copied paper by the above-mentioned mechanical sorter. This operation is performed until there is no original, and at the time when the original has run out, three copies have been completed. However, the electronic sort described above does not require a mechanical sorter. For example, after reading originals stacked in the order of A, B, and C, the originals are stored as data in the above-described page memory or HDD. And A, B, C, A,
If the image data is sent to the laser electrophotographic process in the order of B, C, A, B, C, and so on, and copying is performed, the necessary number of copies are completed in the same order as the original.

[0005]

However, in this electronic sorting, an HDD is used in addition to the page memory depending on the size and number of image data to be read as described above. This HDD has a much higher data transfer speed than page memory,
The access speed is slow, and even if the compression by the variable length compression is performed, it is impossible to significantly improve the data transfer speed and the access speed. Due to this delay in data transfer and access, when making multiple copies by electronic sorting, there is a problem that much longer time is required than in a normal copy, and the user has to wait for a long time. . However, once an electronic sort is instructed, no matter how long it takes, no change can be made in the middle, and if another print mode is to be taken, printing must be stopped and restarted from the beginning. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a user with various printing modes in order to solve the above-described problems unique to a digital copying machine.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: reading means for digitizing image information of a document; and converting the image information read by the reading means into a first information form. A first conversion unit that expands the first information form into the image information and restores the original information form; a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information form; The second information form is compressed and converted into the second information form, and the second information form is expanded into the first information form and restored to the original form; and A second storage unit for temporarily storing and holding an information form, an image forming unit for forming an image based on the image information, and a size of the second information form stored in the second storage unit. Acquiring means for acquiring, and the second information obtained by the acquiring means From the size of the state, until the second information form is taken out from the second storage means, converted into the first information form by the second conversion means, and stored in the first storage means The development time and the printing time required until the first information form is taken out of the first storage means and converted into the image information by the first conversion means and sent to the image forming means are estimated. The apparatus comprises prediction means, and calculation means for calculating, based on the development time and the printing time obtained by the prediction means, a copying time required for copying the number of copies input by the input means.

According to the present invention, there is provided a reading means for digitizing image information of a document and reading the image information, and converting the image information read by the reading means into a first information form;
A first conversion unit that restores the first information form to the image information and restores the original information form; a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information form; A second converting means for compressing the form and converting it into a second information form, and further expanding the second information form into the first information form and restoring the second information form; A second storage means for temporarily storing and holding, an image forming means for forming an image based on the image information, and when reading a plurality of the image information in order as image information of the same document group, Input means for inputting the number of copies of the same original group by the image forming means, obtaining means for obtaining the size of the second information form stored in the second storage means, and obtaining by the obtaining means From the size of the second information format, The second is taken out from the storage means the second converting means converts the first information form,
A development time required to store the image data in the first storage means, the first information form is taken out from the first storage means and converted into the image information by the first conversion means, Prediction means for estimating the printing time required to finish feeding the document, and referring to the development time and printing time obtained by the prediction means and the number of copies input by the input means, the same as the same original group. One copy of a copy group is copied, and this is repeated several times. The required copy time by the first copy method and the required number of copies for one piece of image information of the same original group are copied to all image information. Calculating means for calculating the required copying time by the second copying method to be performed for the copying method; display means for displaying the required copying time for each copying method obtained by the calculating means; Selecting means for selecting one of the copying methods, and control means for controlling the image forming means so as to perform copying by the first or second copying method selected by the selecting means. I have.

A reading means for digitizing the image information of the original and reading the image information read by the reading means to convert the image information into a first information form; A first conversion unit that restores the original information format, a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information format, and converts the first information format into a second information format by compressing the first information format. In addition, a second conversion unit that expands the second information form to the first information form and restores the original information form, a second storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the second information form, Image forming means for forming an image based on the image information, input means for inputting the number of copies of the same original group, and taking out the second information form from the second storage means and providing the second The information is converted into the first information format by the conversion means, A first measuring unit for measuring a time required for storing the data in the storage unit as a development time, and extracting the first information form from the first storage unit and converting the first information form into the image information by the first conversion unit A second measuring unit that measures a time until the image forming unit is completely sent to the image forming unit as a printing time; and, based on the development time and the printing time obtained by the predicting unit, the number of copies input by the input unit. And a calculating means for calculating a required copying time for the copying.

A reading means for digitizing the image information of the document and reading the image information read by the reading means to convert the image information into a first information form; A first conversion unit that restores the original information format, a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information format, and converts the first information format into a second information format by compressing the first information format. In addition, a second conversion unit that expands the second information form to the first information form and restores the original information form, a second storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the second information form, An image forming unit for forming an image based on the image information; and, when a plurality of pieces of the image information are sequentially read as image information of the same document group, the number of copies of the same document group by the image forming unit is determined. Input means for inputting, and the second information form A first measuring unit that takes out from the second storage unit, converts the data into the first information form by the second conversion unit, and measures a time required for storing the information in the first storage unit as an expansion time; And extracting the first information form from the first storage means, converting the first information form into the image information by the first conversion means, and measuring a time until sending to the image forming means is completed as a printing time. The first copy method repeats one copy of the same copy group as that of the same document group by referring to the measurement means of the same document group and the number of copies of the same document group input by the input means, and repeats this several times. Time and the required number of copies for one piece of image information of the same original group, and the time required for copying by the second copying method for performing this for all image information are the development time and the printing time. Calculating means for calculating; displaying means for displaying the required copying time for each copying method obtained by the calculating means; selecting means for selecting one of the copying methods to the copying control means; And control means for controlling the image forming means so as to perform copying by the first or second copying method selected by the above.

A reading means for digitizing the image information of the document and reading the image information read by the reading means to convert the image information into a first information form; A first conversion unit that restores the original information format, a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information format, and converts the first information format into a second information format by compressing the first information format. In addition, a second conversion unit that expands the second information form to the first information form and restores the original information form, a second storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the second information form, An image forming unit for forming an image based on the image information; and, when a plurality of pieces of the image information are sequentially read as image information of the same document group, the number of copies of the same document group by the image forming unit is determined. Input means for inputting, and the second storage means Acquiring means for acquiring the size of the stored second information form; and obtaining the second information form from the second storage means based on the size of the second information form obtained by the acquiring means. Is converted from the first information form by the second conversion means, and the development time required until it is stored in the first storage means, and the first information form is converted from the first storage means. It is taken out and converted into the image information by the first converting means, a predicting means for predicting a printing time required to finish sending to the image forming means, and the developing time, the printing time, and the developing time obtained by the predicting means. With reference to the number of copies input by the input means, one copy of the same copy group as that of the same original group is copied, and the copying time required by the first copying method for repeating this process several times is the same as that of the same original. Calculating means for copying the required number of sheets for one group of image information and calculating the required copying time by a second copying method for performing this for all image information; and Determining means for determining which one of the required copying times in the first and second copying methods is the copying method, and the first or second copying method determined by the determining means And control means for controlling the image forming means.

A reading means for digitizing the image information of the original and reading the image information read by the reading means to convert the image information into a first information form; A first conversion unit that restores the original information format, a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information format, and converts the first information format into a second information format by compressing the first information format. In addition, a second conversion unit that expands the second information form to the first information form and restores the original information form, a second storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the second information form, An image forming unit for forming an image based on the image information; and, when a plurality of pieces of the image information are sequentially read as image information of the same document group, the number of copies of the same document group by the image forming unit is determined. Input means for inputting, and the second information form A first measuring unit that takes out from the second storage unit, converts the data into the first information form by the second conversion unit, and measures a time required for storing the information in the first storage unit as an expansion time; And extracting the first information form from the first storage means, converting the first information form into the image information by the first conversion means, and measuring a time until sending to the image forming means is completed as a printing time. The first copy method repeats one copy of the same copy group as that of the same document group by referring to the measurement means of the same document group and the number of copies of the same document group input by the input means, and repeats this several times. Time and the required number of copies for one piece of image information of the same original group, and the time required for copying by the second copying method for performing this for all image information are the development time and the printing time. Calculating means for calculating; determining means for determining which of the copying methods required for the first and second copying methods obtained by the calculating means is the shortest time; and And control means for controlling the image forming means so as to perform the first or second copying method determined by the determining means.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the entire configuration of a digital copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The digital copying machine 1 includes an automatic document feeder 2 (hereinafter, referred to as an ADF), a scanner 3, and a printer unit 4. Paper feed trays 18 and 19 for feeding paper are provided on the right front of the printer unit 4.
Further, a paper discharge tray 26 is provided on the front left side.

The ADF 2 includes a document table 27 on which a plurality of documents are placed, a guide plate 28 for regulating both ends of the document on the document table 27, a paper feed roller 29 for feeding the document from the document table 27, and a document. Separation roller 30 for separating the sheet one by one,
A transport roller 31 for returning the separated document, a transport belt 33 for transporting the document sent out by the transport roller 31 to a predetermined position on a contact glass 32 described later, and a loading place for discharging the read document. Output tray 3
4.

The scanner 3 includes a contact glass 32 on which a document is placed, an exposure lamp 35 for irradiating the document with light, mirrors 36, 37, and 38 for guiding reflected light from the document, a lens 39, and reflected light by photoelectric conversion. The CCD sensor 40 reads the data, and converts the obtained data into digital data (details will be described later).

The printer unit 4 includes a laser output unit 14 having a laser diode as a laser light source and a polygon mirror (both not shown), imaging lenses 15, 16,
The optical unit including the mirror 17 is configured to irradiate a laser to an image forming unit described later. The image forming section includes a photosensitive drum 5 as an image carrier rotatably supported at the center thereof. The photosensitive drum 5 is uniformly charged by a charging charger 6 and then an unnecessary charged portion is charged. The image is removed by the eraser 7 and the above-mentioned optical unit irradiates a laser to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing unit 8 applies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed here, and is developed. At approximately the same time as this operation, the paper in the paper feed unit 18 or 19 is sent out to the printer unit 4 by the pickup rollers 20 or 21 and registered by the registration rollers 22, and then the previously developed image on the photoconductor is transferred to the transfer unit. The image is transferred onto the sheet conveyed in step 9. The sheet on which the image has been transferred by the transfer unit 9 is separated from the photosensitive drum 5 by the separation charger 10 and the separation claw 11, is conveyed to the fixing unit 24 by the conveyor belt 23, is thermally fixed, and is then discharged. The paper is sent to a paper discharge tray 26 by the reference numeral 25. After the image is transferred to the sheet on the photosensitive drum 5, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 5 is collected by the cleaning unit 12, the residual charge is removed by the charge removing charger 13, and the next printing is performed. .

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the digital copying machine of the present invention as viewed from above. The original sent from the original table 27 is
It is sent to the contact glass 32 by the conveyor belt 33. The size of the sent document is provided with a document size detection unit 42 incorporating a required number of reflection sensors. Also, on the upper front side of the digital copying machine 1,
A control panel 50 is attached, and a user can instruct various settings, printing start, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the control panel. The control panel 50 includes a copy start key 51 for instructing the start of printing and the like, a numeric keypad 52 for inputting the number of prints and various sizes, a display panel 53 for displaying the input number, and various information and messages. LCD 54 to be displayed, electronic sort key 55 for setting or canceling the electronic sort mode, one-scan multi-copy key 56 for setting or canceling one-scan multi-copy
And

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a control circuit of the digital copying machine according to the present invention. The CPU 100 that synchronizes and controls the entire apparatus includes a general-purpose bus 105, a RAM 103 that temporarily holds data, and an R that stores a control program and the like.
A CUP-general-purpose bus bridge 101 for controlling data between the OMs 104 is connected. A RAM 103 and a ROM 104 are connected to the CUP-general-purpose bus bridge 101, and a timer 102 for measuring an elapsed time is built therein. A general-purpose bus 105 that transmits data and the like from each control mechanism includes an image transfer control unit 106 that controls compression, decompression, and data transfer of image data;
Hard disk controller 113 for controlling HDD, LC
An I / O control unit 115 for controlling an input / output unit such as D is connected. The image transfer control unit 106 includes a page memory 107 for storing image data, a variable-length compression / decompression unit 108 for performing variable-length compression and decompression, and a fixed-length compression / decompression for performing fixed-length compression and decompression. A fixed length compression / decompression unit 109, an image control unit 110
Is connected. A scanner control unit 111 for controlling the scanner 3 and a printer control unit 112 for controlling the printer unit 4 are connected to the image control unit 110. Also,
The hard disk control unit 113 is connected to a hard disk 114 which is a mass storage device. Furthermore, I /
An LCD controller 116 is connected to the O control unit 115, and the control panel 50 and the LCD 54 are controlled.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the page memory. For example, in the case of a color copier having a resolution of 600 dpi,
If 8 bits per dot (that is, 256 gradations), the data size is about 108 MB for an A4 size document and about 216 MB for an A3 size document. When this is fixed-length compressed, A4 size is about 18MB,
It is compressed to about 36 MB in A3 size. FIG. 5 (a)
This shows the state of securing the memory area for an A4 size document.
18 MB from the address 00000000H is an area for securing one image data. In the case of this figure, 12
It has a capacity of 8 MB and can store data for seven A4 size documents. 2 for A3 size documents
There is an area for storing data for the number of sheets.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the flow of image processing of the digital copying machine. The signal read by the CCD sensor 40 in the scanner 3 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 120, and is subjected to predetermined image processing through a shading correction circuit 121 and a γ correction circuit 122. In the case of printing only one sheet, the image data subjected to these processes is sent to the laser output unit 14 as it is, and the image is formed. In the case of the one-scan multi-copy or the electronic sort described above, the data is sent to the fixed-length compression / decompression unit 109 by the selector 123, fixed-length compressed, and then stored in the page memory 107.
Further, in the case of printing by the above-described electronic sort, the data is subjected to variable-length compression from the page memory 107 by the variable-length compression / decompression unit 108 and stored in the hard disk 114.

When printing data on the hard disk 114, the data is sent to the variable length compression / decompression unit 108, subjected to variable length expansion processing, and temporarily stored in the page memory 108. Next, the data is sent to the fixed-length compression / decompression unit 109, sent to the laser output unit 14 via the selector 109, and the above-described printing operation is started.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, with reference to FIG. 7, a flow of notifying a user of a required time when electronic sorting and one-scan multi-copy are performed based on read image data at the time of image formation will be described using a flowchart.
When the CPU 100 determines that the electronic sort key 55 on the control panel 50 has been pressed by the user (S
T1) An instruction to set a document on the ADF 2 and an instruction to input the number of copies are displayed on the LCD 54 for the user (ST2). If the electronic sort key 55 is not pressed, the process ends. When this input is completed and the user presses the copy start key 51 (ST3), the data in the page memory 107 is erased (ST4), the document is conveyed to the contact glass 32 by the ADF 2, and the above-described document reading is performed. Start by scanner 3 (ST
5) The fixed length compression process is started (ST6). The image data that has been subjected to the fixed length compression processing is temporarily stored in the page memory 107 (ST7), subsequently subjected to variable length compression (ST8), and stored on the hard disk 114 (ST7).
9). At this time, the CPU 100 acquires the image data size of one document stored in the hard disk 114 and stores it in the RAM 103 (ST10). The image data size is displayed on the LCD 54 (ST1).
1). Next, it is confirmed whether or not the document remains in the ADF 2 (ST12). If the document remains, the process is repeated in order from ST5. If there is no original in the ADF 2, the RAM 103
Read the image size of each page of the original from (ST1
3) The required printing time including the development time of each page and the printing time is calculated (ST14). Next, for each page, the required number of printing times for each page is calculated from “expansion time + printing time × required number”, and the total required printing time is calculated by adding the required number of printing times for all pages. (ST15). This is displayed on the LCD 54 as one scan multi-copy required time (ST16). Subsequently, the time required for printing each page, which is composed of the development time of each page and the printing time for one page, is obtained (“expansion time + printing time for one sheet = time required for printing each page”), and all of them are added (S
T17), and obtain a total required printing time. This is multiplied by the number of prints (ST18) to determine the required time for electronic sorting. This is displayed on the LCD 54 (ST19). As described above, the required time for one scan multi-copy and the required time for electronic sorting are presented to the user. At this stage, a selection as to whether or not to perform the electronic sort is displayed on the LCD 54 (ST20). If the user selects "YES", an electronic sort process described later is performed (ST22), and the printing is terminated. If “NO” is selected in ST20, L
The display of "Do you want to perform one-scan multi-copy?" Is displayed on the CD (ST21). Here, the user selects “YES”.
Is selected, a one-scan multi-copy process described later is performed (ST23), and the printing ends. If “NO” is selected in ST21, the printing operation ends without performing printing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the flow of the above-described electronic sorting process. When the electronic sort processing is performed, the designated image data is read out of the image data stored in the HDD (ST24),
Variable length expansion / decompression by the variable length compression / decompression unit 108 (ST
25-1), and are stored in the page memory 107. The image data stored in the page memory 107 is subjected to fixed length expansion processing by the fixed length compression / decompression unit 109 (ST26), sent to the laser output unit 14 by the selector 123, and formed on a recording sheet (ST27). If one copy of the original has not been printed, the above operation is repeated from ST24,
It repeats until all the printing is completed (ST28).
When the partial printing is completed, it is determined whether or not the number of copies printed by sorting is completed. If not completed, the process is repeated from ST24. If completed, the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of one-scan multi-copy processing. When one-scan multi-copy processing is performed, designated image data is read out of the image data stored in the HDD (ST3).
0), decompressed by the variable length compression / decompression unit 108 and stored in the page memory 107 (ST31). The image data recorded in the page memory 107 is taken out of the page memory 107 (ST33), expanded by the fixed-length compression / decompression unit 109 at a fixed length (ST34), and sent to the laser output unit 14 by the selector 123. Then, an image is formed on the recording paper (ST35). At this stage, it is determined whether the required number of image data has been printed (ST3).
6) If the printing is not completed, return to ST33 and repeat a series of operations. If the required number of copies have been printed, it is determined whether there is image data to be printed next. If there is image data that has not been printed yet, a series of operations is repeated from ST30. If there is no image data for which printing has not been completed, the one-scan multi-copy operation ends, and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 10 shows a display example of the LCD when the printing operation shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is performed. The data size of the image data compressed in variable length in the order of reading is displayed, and the required time for electronic sorting and the required time for one scan multi-copy are displayed at the right end. Thereby, the user can obtain the material for determining the selection between the electronic sort and the one-scan multi-copy.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a printing method for calculating a predicted printing end time by actually performing partial printing. When CPU 100 determines that electronic sort key 55 on control panel 50 has been pressed by the user (ST38), it causes LCD 54 to display an instruction for the user to set a document on ADF 2 and an instruction to input the number of copies (ST39). If the electronic sort key 55 is not pressed, the process ends.
When this input is completed and the user presses the copy start key 51 (ST40), the data in the page memory 107 is erased (ST41), the document is conveyed to the contact glass 32 by the ADF 2, and the above-described document reading is performed. The process is started by the scanner 3 (ST42), and fixed-length compression processing is started (ST43). The image data that has been subjected to the fixed length compression processing is temporarily stored in the page memory 107 (S
T44) Subsequently, variable length compression is performed (ST45), and stored in the hard disk 114 (ST46). The CPU 100 acquires the data size of the image data stored in the hard disk 114 and stores it in the RAM 103 (ST47). At the same time, a measurement print mode described later is activated for the image data stored in the hard disk 114 (ST58). After ST47, it is determined whether or not there is a document in the ADF 2 (ST48). If there is a document, the process returns to ST42, and the accumulation of the image data of the document and the measurement printing are continued. If not, the process stands by until the measurement printing is completed (ST49). Here, since the printing of one copy has been completed in the measurement printing mode, the required number of copies is partially reduced, and the required number of copies is multiplied by the required time of partial printing measured in the measurement printing mode (ST50). Thereby, the time required for electronic sorting is obtained, and the calculation result is displayed on the LCD 5.
4 (ST51). Next, the data size at the time of variable length compression of each page stored in the RAM is read out, and L
It is displayed on the CD 54 (ST52). Next, from the development time measured in ST58 and the one-sheet printing time, the development time + one-sheet printing time × the required number of sheets are calculated, and further added for each page (ST53−
1). This total time is displayed on LCD 54 as the required time for one scan multi-copy (ST53-2). At the stage where these pieces of information are presented to the user, a selection as to whether or not to perform electronic sorting is displayed on the LCD 54 (ST54), and if the user selects "YES", the above-described electronic sorting processing is performed (ST55), and printing is completed I do. If "NO" is selected in ST54, a message "Perform single scan multi-copy?" Is displayed on the LCD (ST5).
6). Here, if the user selects "YES", the above-described one-scan multi-copy processing is performed (ST57), and printing is terminated. If "NO" is selected in ST56, the printing operation ends without performing printing.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a subroutine showing the flow of the above-described measurement print mode. When the measurement print mode is instructed by the CPU 100, the CPU-
The timer 102 in the general-purpose bus bridge 101 starts measurement (ST59), the image data stored in the hard disk 114 is read (ST60), and the variable length compression / decompression unit 108 performs variable length expansion. (ST6
1), is stored in the page memory 107 (ST62), at which point the timer 102 stops (ST63), and the RA
The required time is stored in M103 as the required development time (ST64). Subsequently, the timer 102 starts re-measurement (ST65), and after the image data in the page memory 107 is subjected to fixed-length expansion processing by the fixed-length compression / decompression unit 109 (ST66-1), the printer control unit 112 The data is transmitted to the connected laser output unit and an image is formed on a recording sheet (ST66-2). When the next image data can be transmitted to the hard disk 114, the timer 102
Is stopped (ST68), and the required printing time is stored in the RAM10.
3 (ST69), and returns to the main routine.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, when a document is read, only a part of the document is printed first, and the rest of the document can be selected by the user based on judgment from the copying machine.

The CPU 100 controls the control panel 50
If it is determined that the upper electronic sort key 55 has been pressed by the user (ST70), the user sends the document to the ADF2.
The LCD 54 sends an instruction to set the
(ST71). Also, the electronic sort key 55
If is not pressed, the process ends. When this input is completed and the user presses the copy start key 51 (ST7)
2), the data in the page memory 107 is erased (ST
73), the document is conveyed to the contact glass 32 by the ADF 2, and the above-described document reading is started by the scanner 3 (ST74), and fixed length compression processing is started (ST75). Image data after fixed-length compression
The data is temporarily stored in the page memory 107 (ST76) and sent to the printer control unit 112 and the variable length compression / decompression unit 108. If it is determined that the image data sent to the printer control unit 112 can be sent to the laser output unit 14 (ST
77) The fixed-length compression / decompression section 109 performs fixed-length expansion processing (ST78), and forms an image on recording paper (ST7).
9).

The image data sent to the variable length compression / decompression section 108 is subjected to variable length compression processing (ST80) and stored in the hard disk 114 (ST81). Here, the data size of the variable-length compressed image data is
After being stored in the memory 103 (ST82), the size is
Displayed at D54 (ST83), the user can confirm. Next, the CPU 100 checks whether or not there is a document in the ADF 2 (ST84). If a document remains, the process returns to ST74. If there is no manuscript, RA
The data size of the image data of each page stored in M is read (ST85), and the data size of the image data is stored in the LCD 54 for each page (ST86).
Further, the data size of the image data is read out again (ST87), and the required time for printing each page including the data development time and the printing time is calculated from the data size of each page (ST88). The total printing time of each page is calculated (ST89), and the required number of electronic sorts is calculated by multiplying the total number of prints by the number of prints excluding one previously printed (ST90), and displayed on the LCD 54. (ST9
1). Next, for each page, the developing time + one-sheet printing time × (the number of printed sheets−1) is performed, the printing time required for each page is calculated, and all the pages are added (ST92). This total time is 1
The time required for the scan multi-copy is displayed on the LCD 54 (ST93). As described above, it is possible to provide the user with reference materials for performing the electronic sort or the one-scan multi-copy.

After presenting the judgment data, a selection as to whether to perform the electronic sorting is displayed on the LCD 54 (ST94), and if the user selects NO, the display as to whether to select one-scan multi-copy next is displayed. (S
T98) If YES is selected, the above-described one-scan multi-copy processing is performed (ST99), and the processing ends. However, the number of prints on each page at this time is obtained by subtracting one copy from the number of prints. If NO is selected in ST98, the process ends.

In ST94, when the user instructs to perform electronic sorting, a selection as to whether to perform electronic sorting is displayed on LCD 54 (ST95). User is YE
If S is selected, the number of copies is set to (N-1) (ST96), the above-described electronic sort processing (ST97) is performed, and printing is completed. If NO is selected, the number m of copies to be newly electronically sorted is input using the numeric keypad 52 (ST100), the remaining number of copies is set to (nm-1) (ST101), and printing of the m copies is performed by electronic sorting. In order to perform this, the electronic sort processing described above is performed (ST102). When the electronic sorting process is completed, the time required for one scan multi-copy and the time required for electronic sorting are calculated again,
(ST103). Then, return to ST94,
The above processing is performed.

Next, a printing method when a mechanical sorter is mounted will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
It is a block diagram of a mechanical sorter. This mechanical sorter is shown in FIG.
The paper ejection tray 26 on the left side of the digital copying machine 1 shown in FIG. The sheet on which the image is formed by the printer unit 4 is discharged to the outside of the printer unit 4 by the discharge roller 25 and sent to the transport roller 131 of the mechanical sorter 130, from which the bins 133 to 133 move up and down in the direction of arrow b in the drawing. 139. The bins 133 to 139 are areas where sheets can be independently loaded. For example, if a sheet is conveyed from the conveyance roller 131 to the bin 135 as shown in the figure, the entire bin moves downward before the next sheet is conveyed, and the bin 134 is set in a state where the paper can be stacked. In the case of this figure, printing of seven bundles is possible.

Next, a printing operation using the mechanical sorter will be described with reference to FIGS. CPU 100
Determines that the electronic sort key 55 on the control panel 50 has been pressed by the user (ST110).
An instruction for the user to set the original on the ADF 2,
An instruction to input the number of copies is displayed on LCD 54 (ST11).
1). If the electronic sort key 55 is not pressed, the process ends. When this input is completed and the user presses the copy start key 51 (ST112), the data in the page memory 107 is deleted (ST113), and the ADF2 is deleted.
The document is conveyed to the contact glass 32 by
The above-described document reading is started by the scanner 3 (ST
114), fixed-length compression processing is started (ST11).
5). The image data that has been subjected to the fixed length compression processing is temporarily stored in the page memory 107 (ST116), and sent to the printer control unit 112 and the variable length compression / decompression unit 108. If it is determined that the image data sent to the printer control unit 112 can be sent to the laser output unit 14 (ST2)
6) The fixed-length compression / decompression unit 109 performs fixed-length expansion processing (ST127), and forms an image on recording paper (ST12).
8).

The image data sent to the variable length compression / decompression section 108 is subjected to variable length compression processing (ST117).
It is stored on hard disk 114 (ST118). Here, the data size of the variable length compressed image data is R
After being stored in the AM 103 (ST119), the CPU 100 checks whether or not there is a document in the ADF 2 (ST120). If a document remains, the process returns to ST114. If there is no original, the data size of the image data of each page stored in the RAM is read (ST12).
1) Calculate the required time for printing each page including the data development time and the printing time from the data size of each page (ST)
122). The total time of each page printing process is calculated,
The required time for electronic sorting α is calculated by multiplying the total number of prints by the number of prints excluding one previously printed (S
T123). Next, for each page, the development time + one sheet printing time × (the number of printed sheets−1) is performed, and the printing time required for each page is calculated (ST12).
4), all pages are added, and the total time is set as the required time for one scan multi-copy β (ST12).
5).

Here, the number of copies is reset to a value obtained by partially subtracting from the initial value (ST129), and it is determined whether "α>β" (ST130). If YES, one-scan multicopy processing is performed. (ST131), the process ends. This one-scan multi-copy processing is shown in FIG. If NO is determined in ST130, electronic sort processing is performed (ST132), and the process ends. This electronic sort processing is shown in FIG.

[0037]

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when electronic sorting and one-scan multi-copy are selected, the size of the document data and the print end time are displayed to give the user the right to select. Was able to propose a mechanism to provide the service flexibly. This makes it possible to provide an optimal printing method in various situations. In addition, a mechanism for performing a faster printing method without relying on the user's judgment can be provided by combining mechanical sorters.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a digital copying machine according to an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the digital copying machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control panel.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a digital copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an area of a page memory 107;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of image processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an electronic sort process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a one-scan multi-copy process.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a display example of the LCD 54.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a print measurement mode.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a mechanical sorter.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 digital copier 2 automatic document feeder 3 scanner 4 printer unit 5 photosensitive drum 6 charging charger 8 developing unit 9 transfer unit 14 laser output unit 24 fixing unit 50 control panel 51 copy start key 54 LCD 55 electronic sort key 56 1 scan multi Copy key 100 CPU 102 Timer 103 RAM 104 ROM 106 Image transfer control unit 107 Page memory 108 Variable length compression / expansion unit 109 Fixed length compression / expansion unit 110 Image control unit 111 Scanner control unit 112 Printer control unit 113 Hard disk control unit 114 Hard disk 121 shading correction circuit 122 gamma correction circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/387 G06F 15/62 325P

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for digitizing image information of an original and reading the image information, converting the image information read by the reading means into a first information form, and converting the first information form into the first information form. A first conversion unit that expands the image information to the original state, a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information type, and a second information type that compresses the first information type. A second converting means for converting the second information form into the first information form and restoring the second information form, and a second storing means for temporarily storing and holding the second information form Image forming means for forming an image based on the image information; obtaining means for obtaining the size of the second information form stored in the second storage means; From the size of the second information form, The extraction time taken out from the second storage means and converted into the first information form by the second conversion means, and the development time required until the first information form is stored in the first storage means, Prediction means for taking out from the first storage means, converting the image information into the image information by the first conversion means, and estimating a printing time required to finish sending the image information to the image forming means; An image forming apparatus, comprising: a calculating unit configured to calculate a copying time required for copying the number of copies input by the input unit from a time and the printing time. 2. A reading means for digitizing image information of a document and reading the image information, converting the image information read by the reading means into a first information form, and converting the first information form into the first information form. A first conversion unit that expands the image information to the original state, a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information type, and a second information type that compresses the first information type. A second converting means for converting the second information form into the first information form and restoring the second information form, and a second storing means for temporarily storing and holding the second information form Image forming means for forming an image based on the image information; and when the plurality of pieces of image information are sequentially read as image information of the same document group, copying of the same document group by the image forming means. Input means for inputting the number of copies, the second storage Acquiring means for acquiring the size of the second information form stored in a row, from the size of the second information form obtained by the acquiring means, the second information form to the second Extraction time from the storage means, converted by the second conversion means to the first information form, the development time required until it is stored in the first storage means, and the first information form in the first storage Predicting means for taking out from the means, converting the image information into the image information by the first converting means, and estimating a printing time required to finish sending the image information to the image forming means; and the developing time and the printing obtained by the estimating means. With reference to time and the number of copies input by the input means, one copy of the same copy group as the same original group is copied,
A second copying method in which the required copying time by the first copying method in which this is repeated several times, and the required number of copies for one image information of the same original group and copying for all the image information Calculating means for calculating the required copying time by means of the following; display means for displaying the required copying time for each copying method obtained by the calculating means; and selecting means for selecting one of the copying methods for the copying control means And a control means for controlling the image forming means so as to perform copying by the first or second copying method selected by the selecting means. 3. An obtaining means for obtaining the size of the second information form stored in the second storage means, and displaying the size of the second information form obtained by the obtaining means. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image is displayed on a unit. 4. When the image information is read by the reading means, the image information is sent to the image forming means irrespective of the selection of the two copying methods by the selection means, and the image information is read only once. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image is formed first. 5. A reading means for digitizing image information of a document and reading the image information, converting the image information read by the reading means into a first information form, and converting the first information form into the first information form. A first conversion unit that expands the image information to the original state, a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information type, and a second information type that compresses the first information type. A second converting means for converting the second information form into the first information form and restoring the second information form, and a second storing means for temporarily storing and holding the second information form Image forming means for forming an image based on the image information; input means for inputting the number of copies of the same document group; and extracting the second information form from the second storage means and The information is converted to the first information form by the second conversion means, First measuring means for measuring a time required for storing the first information in the first storage means as an expansion time, and taking out the first information form from the first storage means and obtaining the image by the first conversion means. Convert to information,
A second measuring unit for measuring a time until the sending to the image forming unit is completed as a printing time; and copying the number of copies input by the input unit from the developing time and the printing time obtained by the predicting unit. And a calculating means for calculating the required copying time. 6. A reading means for digitizing image information of a document and reading the image information, converting the image information read by the reading means into a first information form, and converting the first information form into the first information form. A first conversion unit that expands the image information to the original state, a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information type, and a second information type that compresses the first information type. A second converting means for converting the second information form into the first information form and restoring the second information form, and a second storing means for temporarily storing and holding the second information form Image forming means for forming an image based on the image information; and when the plurality of pieces of image information are sequentially read as image information of the same document group, copying of the same document group by the image forming means. Input means for inputting the number of copies, and the second information A state in which the state is taken out from the second storage means, converted into the first information form by the second conversion means, and the time taken to store the first information form in the first storage means is measured as a development time. Measuring means, the first information form is taken out from the first storage means and converted into the image information by the first converting means,
A second measuring means for measuring a time until the end of sending to the image forming means as a printing time; and referring to the number of copies of the same original group inputted by the input means to determine the same copy group as the same original group as 1 Copy, and the required number of copies for one piece of image information of the same original group, and the necessary number of copies for one piece of image information of the same original group, and repeats this for all pieces of image information. Calculating means for calculating the required copying time by the second copying method from the development time and the printing time; display means for displaying the required copying time for each copying method obtained by the calculating means; and the copying control means Selecting means for selecting one of the copying methods; and controlling means for controlling the image forming means to perform copying by the first or second copying method selected by the selecting means. An image forming apparatus comprising: 7. An acquiring means for acquiring a size of the second information form stored in the second storage means, and displaying the size of the second information form acquired by the acquiring means. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image is displayed on a unit. 8. When the image information is read by the reading means, the image information is sent to the image forming means irrespective of the selection of the two copying methods by the selecting means, and the image information is read only once. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an image is formed first. 9. A reading means for digitizing image information of a document and reading the image information, converting the image information read by the reading means into a first information form, and converting the first information form into the first information form. A first conversion unit that expands the image information to the original state, a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information type, and a second information type that compresses the first information type. A second converting means for converting the second information form into the first information form and restoring the second information form, and a second storing means for temporarily storing and holding the second information form Image forming means for forming an image based on the image information; and when the plurality of pieces of image information are sequentially read as image information of the same document group, copying of the same document group by the image forming means. Input means for inputting the number of copies, the second storage Acquiring means for acquiring the size of the second information form stored in a row, from the size of the second information form obtained by the acquiring means, the second information form to the second Extraction time from the storage means, converted by the second conversion means to the first information form, the development time required until it is stored in the first storage means, and the first information form in the first storage Predicting means for taking out from the means, converting the image information into the image information by the first converting means, and estimating a printing time required to finish sending the image information to the image forming means; and the developing time and the printing obtained by the estimating means. With reference to time and the number of copies input by the input means, one copy of the same copy group as the same original group is copied,
A second copying method in which the required copying time by the first copying method in which this is repeated several times, and the required number of copies for one image information of the same original group and copying for all the image information Calculating means for calculating the required copying time, and determining which copying method is the shortest time among the required copying times in the first and second copying methods obtained by the calculating means. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a determination unit; and a control unit that controls the image forming unit to perform the first or second copying method determined by the determination unit. 10. A reading means for digitizing image information of a document and reading the image information, converting the image information read by the reading means into a first information form, and converting the first information form into the first information form. A first conversion unit that expands the image information to the original state, a first storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the first information type, and a second information type that compresses the first information type. A second converting means for converting the second information form into the first information form and restoring the second information form, and a second storing means for temporarily storing and holding the second information form Image forming means for forming an image based on the image information; and when the plurality of pieces of image information are sequentially read as image information of the same document group, copying of the same document group by the image forming means. Input means for inputting the number of copies; A first method of extracting a form from the second storage means, converting the form into the first information form by the second conversion means, and measuring a time required to store the form in the first storage means as a development time Measuring means, the first information form is taken out from the first storage means and converted into the image information by the first converting means,
A second measuring means for measuring a time until the end of sending to the image forming means as a printing time; and referring to the number of copies of the same original group inputted by the input means to determine the same copy group as the same original group as 1 Copy, and the required number of copies for one piece of image information of the same original group, and the necessary number of copies for one piece of image information of the same original group, and repeats this for all pieces of image information. Calculating means for calculating the required copying time by the second copying method from the development time and the printing time; and the shortest time of the required copying time in the first and second copying methods obtained by the calculating means. Determining means for determining which copying method is used; and controlling means for controlling the image forming means to perform the first or second copying method determined by the determining means. Image forming apparatus, wherein Rukoto.