JP2001205869A - Printing apparatus, method for controlling printing apparatus, memory medium, printing system, and method for processing image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To satisfy both an effect of preventing a color shift and a printing quality and a speed by obtaining a maximum printing throughput for a plurality of pages in a color electrophotographic printer of an intermediate transfer system. SOLUTION: An analyzing and developing task executed by a CPU 409 analyzes inputted printing information, processes to develop image data of every page to an image memory 405, and stores printing process modes designated by every page or by every plurality of pages to the printing information into a RAM 407 for a plurality of pages. A page operation task executed by the CPU 409 changes a printing order for every page of the stored image data of the plurality of pages on the basis of the printing process modes to make the same printing process modes continue.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of switching a plurality of printing process modes when executing image forming processing from image data to a recording medium, a control method of the printing apparatus, a storage medium, a printing system, and an image. It relates to a processing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, page printers, mainly laser beam printers, have been rapidly developed. More recently, many page printers capable of outputting a color image have been proposed and commercialized.

For example, a color laser beam printer is
A full-color image is formed by superimposing four color toners (yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K)) by a known electrophotographic process, and various processes have been proposed. ing.

Among them, an intermediate transfer method as shown in FIG. 26, more specifically, a latent image on a photosensitive drum is formed by a toner image, and the toner image is temporarily transferred to an intermediate transfer member. Repeat with YM
After superimposing toner images of four colors CK, YMC
In a system in which a toner image for K4 colors is transferred and fixed at a time to form a full-color image, the intermediate transfer member is physically fixed, so that the four-color toner image is compared with a system in which one color is transferred to paper one by one. It has the advantage of easily preventing color misregistration.

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram for explaining a full-color image forming process by an intermediate transfer system of a conventional color laser beam printer.

[0006]

FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining a problem of a full-color image forming process by an intermediate transfer system of a conventional color laser beam printer.

However, as shown in FIG. 27, an intermediate transfer type image forming method requires an intermediate transfer member having a corresponding maximum paper size, and when an image is formed in one page unit, However, there is a problem that the maximum number of prints per minute cannot be made larger than the maximum number of prints per minute of the maximum paper size, even if the printing is of a different size.

Further, there is provided a color laser beam printer capable of forming an image in units of a plurality of pages (forming a toner image of a plurality of pages on an intermediate transfer member when the sheet length is 1/2 or less of the maximum sheet size). However, even if image formation is performed in units of a plurality of pages when printing data in which color pages and monochrome pages are mixed, the image forming process of four colors of YMCK is also performed for monochrome pages.
There is a problem that the effect cannot be expected so much in terms of improving the throughput.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the first to nineteenth aspects of the present invention to analyze input print information and to convert the print information in page units. Developing the image data, storing the expanded page-based image data in the memory for a plurality of pages, and storing the print process mode specified in the print information in the unit of a page or a plurality of pages in the memory for a plurality of pages. By changing the printing order of the accumulated plural pages of image data on a page basis so that the same printing process mode is continued based on the printing process mode, a plurality of image data of the intermediate transfer type color electrophotographic printer can be used. It is possible to maximize the printing throughput of the page, and to achieve the same effect as the printing device with the color misregistration prevention effect and the print quality and speed at the same time. It is to provide a control method and a storage medium as well as a printing system and image processing method of the printing apparatus.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of print process modes are switched according to a print process mode when an image forming process is performed from image data to a recording medium. A first forming mode in which a single page toner image is held on a charging medium according to a print size and transferred to a recording medium to form an image in accordance with a print size; And a second switching unit for switching between a toner image on a page and a second forming mode for forming an image by transferring the toner image to a recording medium. Analysis / expansion means (analysis / expansion task executed by CPU 409 shown in FIG. 6)
And a first storage unit (FIG. 6) for storing a plurality of pages of image data in page units expanded by the analysis and expansion unit.
Image memory 405, hard disk 413) shown in FIG.
A second process for accumulating a plurality of pages of a print process mode specified in a page unit or a plurality of pages in the print information;
The storage means (RAM 407, hard disk 413 shown in FIG. 6) and the image data of a plurality of pages stored in the first storage means are stored in the same storage area based on the print process mode stored in the second storage means. And a first control unit (a page operation task executed by the CPU 409 shown in FIG. 6) for changing the print order in page units so that the print process mode is continuous.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a plurality of printing process modes, full-color printing is performed by superimposing and holding a toner image formed for each color on the charging medium and transferring it to a recording medium. It includes a full-color print mode and a mono-color print mode in which a single toner image is held on the charging medium and transferred to a recording medium to perform mono-color printing.

A third invention according to the present invention is directed to a third invention for analyzing input print information and accumulating a plurality of print jobs.
Storage means (RAM 407 and hard disk 413 shown in FIG. 6) and fourth storage means (RAM 407 and hard disk 413 shown in FIG. 6) for storing a print process mode designated for each job in the print information for a plurality of jobs.
And a plurality of jobs stored in the third storage unit,
A second control unit configured to change and control a development processing order of the print job by the analysis and development unit in a job unit based on the print process mode stored in the fourth storage unit so that the same print process mode is continued. (C shown in FIG. 6
(A job control task executed by the PU 409).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first switching means for switching between a plurality of print process modes in accordance with a print process mode when performing image forming processing from image data to a recording medium, The first forming mode in which a single page of toner image is held on a charging medium and transferred to a recording medium to form an image in accordance with the above, and the toner images of a plurality of pages are held on the charging medium and the toner images of each page are respectively In a control method of a printing apparatus having a second switching unit for switching between a second formation mode for transferring an image to a recording medium and forming an image, analyzing input print information and expanding the image into page-based image data Analysis development process (Fig. 2
0, step S407), a first storage step (step S407 in FIG. 20) of storing the expanded page-based image data in the memory for a plurality of pages, and specifying the print information in a page unit or a plurality of page units. A second storage step (Step S409 in FIG. 20) of storing the selected print process mode in the memory for a plurality of pages, and a plurality of pages of image data stored in the first storage step in the second storage step. And a page order change step (steps S501 to S507 in FIG. 21) of changing the print order on a page basis so that the same print process mode is continued based on the print process modes accumulated by the process.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a third storing step of analyzing input print information and storing print jobs for a plurality of jobs in the memory (step S308 in FIG. 19).
A fourth accumulation step (step S310 in FIG. 19) for accumulating the print process mode specified for each job in the print information for a plurality of jobs in the memory, and a plurality of jobs accumulated in the third accumulation step. A job order changing step of changing the print job development processing order in job units based on the print process mode accumulated in the fourth accumulation step so that the same print process mode is continued (step S613 in FIG. 23). Step S70 of FIG.
1 to S707).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first switching means for switching between a plurality of print process modes in accordance with a print process mode when executing image forming processing from image data to a recording medium, The first forming mode in which a single page of toner image is held on a charging medium and transferred to a recording medium to form an image in accordance with the above, and the toner images of a plurality of pages are held on the charging medium and the toner images of each page are respectively Analysis and development for analyzing input print information and developing it into image data for each page in a printing apparatus having second switching means for switching between a second formation mode for transferring an image to a recording medium and forming an image. Step (Step S in FIG. 20)
407), a first storage step (Step S407 in FIG. 20) of storing the expanded page-based image data in the memory for a plurality of pages, and printing specified in the print information in a page unit or a plurality of page units. A second accumulation step of accumulating the process mode in the memory for a plurality of pages (step S409 in FIG. 20), and the image data of a plurality of pages accumulated in the first accumulation step are accumulated in the second accumulation step. A program for executing a page order changing step (steps S501 to S507 in FIG. 21) of changing the printing order on a page basis so that the same printing process mode is continued based on the printing process mode obtained, is stored in the storage medium. It is stored readable by a computer.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a third storage step (step S308 in FIG. 19) of analyzing input print information and storing print jobs in a memory for a plurality of jobs.
A fourth accumulation step (step S310 in FIG. 19) for accumulating the print process mode specified for each job in the print information for a plurality of jobs in the memory, and a plurality of jobs accumulated in the third accumulation step. A job order changing step of changing the print job development processing order in job units based on the print process mode accumulated in the fourth accumulation step so that the same print process mode is continued (step S613 in FIG. 23). Step S70 of FIG.
1 to S707).

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming engine having a plurality of print process modes and means for switching between the plurality of print process modes when forming an image from image data on a recording medium (FIG. 2). Receiving means for receiving print data from an external device (the host interface unit 402 shown in FIG. 6)
Conversion means for analyzing the print data and converting the print data into page-based image data (the image data generation unit 40 shown in FIG. 6).
3), storage means (image memory 405, hard disk 413 shown in FIG. 6) for storing the converted image data for a plurality of pages, and order control means for selecting a page from the storage means and instructing execution of image formation. (CPU shown in FIG. 6
409), a mode receiving unit (the host interface unit 402 shown in FIG. 6) for receiving the print process mode instruction from an external device, and a print process mode instruction received by the mode receive unit in units of pages, a plurality of pages, or a job. A mode storage unit (RAM 407 shown in FIG. 6) for storing the print process mode in units of pages or jobs so that the same print process mode is continued from a plurality of pages stored in the storage unit. Controls the printing order.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming engine, the image forming engine includes a charging medium (intermediate transfer drum 205 shown in FIG. 2) for holding a toner image. A full-color printing mode in which a full-color image is formed by superimposing and holding a charged paper on a physical paper to form a full-color image; An image forming engine based on an electrophotographic process having a color print mode, wherein the plurality of print process modes are the full color print mode and the mono color print mode.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming engine, a first forming mode in which a single page of toner image is held on the charging medium and transferred to physical paper to form an image, Holding the toner image on the charging medium,
A second forming mode for transferring the toner image of each page to physical paper to form an image is provided, and a forming mode switching unit for switching between the first forming mode and the second forming mode is provided.

An eleventh invention according to the present invention relates to a control software (ROM 40 shown in FIG. 6) operating on an external device.
4) and a printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus performs a plurality of printing process modes when forming an image from image data on a recording medium. An image forming engine having switching means for switching between a plurality of print process modes (FIG. 2)
, A receiving unit for receiving print data from an external device (the host interface unit 402 shown in FIG. 6), and a converting unit for analyzing the print data and converting the print data into image data in page units (the image shown in FIG. 6). Data generation unit 403)
And a storage unit (image memory 405, hard disk 413 shown in FIG. 6) for storing the converted image data for a plurality of pages, and the control software operates in units of pages or so that the same print process mode is continued. The printing order is controlled on a job-by-job basis.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the image forming engine has a charging medium (intermediate transfer drum 205 shown in FIG. 2) for holding a toner image, and transfers the toner image formed for each color to the image forming engine. A full-color printing mode in which a full-color image is formed by superimposing and holding a charged paper on a physical paper to form a full-color image; An image forming engine based on an electrophotographic process having a color print mode, wherein the plurality of print process modes are the full color print mode and the mono color print mode.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the image forming engine comprises: a first forming mode in which a toner image of a single page is held on the charging medium and transferred to physical paper to form an image; Holding the toner image on the charging medium,
A second forming mode for transferring the toner image of each page to physical paper to form an image is provided, and a forming mode switching unit for switching between the first forming mode and the second forming mode is provided.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method having a one-page formation mode and a two-page formation mode,
The color data and the monochrome data are received (step S302 in FIG. 23), and the received color data and monochrome data are stored in a storage medium (step S30 in FIG. 23).
8) At the time of forming an image, the reading and forming order of the color data and the monochrome data is changed from the storage to adopt the two-page forming mode (step S613 in FIG. 23).
Things.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the storage medium is a hard disk (the hard disk 41 shown in FIG. 6).
3), a flash ROM (not shown), and a RAM (RAM 407 shown in FIG. 6).

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method, the external device connected to the printing device (the laser beam printer 102 shown in FIG. 1) or the external device (the external device 101 shown in FIG. 1). ).

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the change in the forming order reduces the printing time as compared with a case where the forming order is not changed.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method, the external device (the external device 101 shown in FIG. 1)
This is performed by a printer driver (not shown).

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the color mode and the monochrome mode are set for each job, and the printing order is changed by identifying the job.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of a printing system including a color laser beam printer to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

In the following description and drawings, an example in which two optional units are connected will be described. However, more optional units can be connected, and the functions of the optional units may be shared by the main body. Absent.

In the figure, reference numeral 102 denotes a color laser beam printer (printer) to which various optional devices can be connected, and a general-purpose interface (for example, Centronics, RS232) with an external device 101 such as a host computer.
C, USB, etc.), network (for example, Ethernet
t) and print information (control information such as code data based on a predetermined printer language, etc.) transferred from the external device 101 via a general-purpose interface, a network, or the like.
For example, Post Script, LIPSIII, LI
(Including PSIV, image data, etc.).

Reference numeral 103 denotes a video controller which is connected to the external device 101 via the general-purpose interface, and which is transferred from the external device 101 via the general-purpose interface to code data (ESC code, various PDL data, etc.)
It receives image data (RGB, YMCK), generates page information including dot data of each color of YMCK based on the code data, and sends the image data (binary or binary) to an engine controller 105 described later via the video interface 80. (Multi-value), and also transmits a command for specifying sheet feeding and sheet discharging to an option controller 106 to be described later via the overall interface 90.

The engine controller 105 actually forms a latent image on the photosensitive drum for each dot data of each color of YMCK based on the image data transferred from the video controller 103, and superimposes the four colors of YMCK on a sheet. Printing is performed by heat fixing. At this time, an instruction is given to the option controller 106 regarding the timing of paper supply and discharge.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a panel unit which is an interface with a user including various switches (buttons) for operation, an LED display, an LCD display, and the like. Can be instructed to perform a predetermined operation. Various data and the like set by the user are stored and managed in a non-illustrated non-volatile memory, for example, NVRAM, EEPROM, or the like.

As described above, the video controller 10
3 and the engine controller 105 are connected by a video interface 80, and information is exchanged by serial communication of command / status in 8-bit units.

The option controller 106 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM (not shown), and the like. The option controller 106 receives a sheet supply / discharge instruction from the video controller 103 and a sheet supply / discharge instruction from the engine controller 105.
This is a general controller that controls one or more optional devices (units), and communicates with the optional controller units included in the various optional devices via the optional unit interface 70 to control the various optional devices as a whole. I do.

The R of the option controller 106
In the AM, there is a shared memory (shown in FIG. 7 described later) which can be accessed by the video controller 103. The shared memory includes a transport status management area, a basic status area, a command status management area, and a startup status for about 40 pages. The video controller 103 includes a processing area and the like.
Designates each option device via each area of the shared memory.

The transport status management area is set by the video controller 103 in the printing method (paper feed port, paper discharge port, color,
An area for notifying each optional device of stapling, shifting, and the like, and an area for notifying the video controller 103 of each option state (how far the printing has been performed, the discharge has been completed, and the like).

In the basic status area, the abnormality of each optional device (JAM, no paper, no staple, etc.)
Is notified to the video controller 103, and the command & status management area is
The start-up processing area is an area in which the command status is exchanged with the device 3 and the video controller 103 specifies the start-up processing of each optional device.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a sheet feeding optional device (unit)
For example, a paper deck option unit has a paper deck controller (large-capacity paper feed cassette controller) 107 a therein, and performs paper feed control based on control information transmitted from the option controller 106. The paper deck controller 107a
Has a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown), and the CPU controls the sheet feeding option device 107 based on a program stored in the ROM. Further, the ROM stores extended information of the paper feed option device 107, for example, information on paper sizes that can be stored in the paper deck.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a paper discharge option device (unit)
For example, a sorter option unit having a sort function, which internally has a sorter controller (large-capacity discharge stacker controller) 108a, and performs a sort operation and a discharge operation based on control information transmitted from the option controller 106. . The sorter controller 108a includes a CPU, ROM, and RAM (not shown). The CPU is stored in the ROM and controls the paper discharge option device 108 based on a program. Further, the ROM has extended information of the paper discharge option device 108, for example, the number of paper discharge bins, the presence or absence of a sort function, the presence or absence of a staple function, the presence or absence of a shift function for shifting the discharge paper in a predetermined direction, the face of the discharge paper. And information on the presence / absence of a reversing function for reversing the direction of the image.

The paper feed option device 107 and the paper discharge option device 108 are provided with operation units 107b and 108b having a display unit and various keys, respectively, for displaying a message for the user when each option is used, an operation method, and the like. Operation is possible.

Reference numeral 109 denotes a control unit, which is an engine controller 105 for controlling a printing process of the printer 102, a video controller 103 for controlling the entire printer 102 and analyzing data from an external device 101 such as a host computer and converting the data into image data. , And an option controller 106 that controls the various optional units.

The option controller 106
Each option unit is managed by the common option unit interface 70, and the general interface 9
0 and communicates with the video controller 103. In this embodiment, each paper supply / discharge option unit is connected to the video controller 10 via the option controller 106.
3 is controlled.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view for explaining the configuration of the printer 102 shown in FIG. 1. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the drawing, reference numeral 202 denotes a paper cassette which holds the recording paper S and has a mechanism for electrically detecting the size of the recording paper S by a partition plate (not shown). Reference numeral 203 denotes a cassette paper feed clutch, which separates only the top sheet of the recording paper S placed on the paper cassette 202 and connects the leading end of the paper separated by a driving unit (not shown) to a paper feed roller 204. A cam that conveys to a position, rotates intermittently each time paper is fed, and feeds one sheet of recording paper S corresponding to one rotation.

When the recording paper S is conveyed by the cassette paper supply clutch 203, the paper supply roller 204 rotates while slightly pressing the recording paper S, and conveys the recording paper S. 2
Reference numeral 92 denotes a paper tray, 221 denotes a manual paper feed clutch, which enables the printer 102 to manually feed paper one by one from the paper tray 292 as well as feed paper from the paper cassette 202.

An optional paper feed roller 230 conveys the recording paper S sent from the paper deck option unit 107 to the paper feed roller 204.

The engine controller 105 can select the paper cassette 202, the paper table 292, and the paper deck option unit 107 as paper feeding means, and switch between them according to an instruction from the video controller 103.

Reference numeral 208 denotes a drum cartridge which includes a photosensitive drum 209. 210 is a plaque '(K) toner developing device, 211 is a yellow (Y) toner developing device, 212 is a magenta (M) toner developing device, and 213 is a cyan (C) toner developing device, which is formed on the photosensitive drum 209. Each of the electrostatic latent images is developed with a color toner. Reference numeral 214 denotes a YMC developing device support portion. The developing device support portion 214 rotates to convey a developing device for a desired color toner to a position where the developing device can be developed on the photosensitive drum 209.

Reference numeral 296 denotes a scanner unit including a laser driver (not shown). The laser driver forms a laser beam on the photosensitive drum 209 while turning on / off a semiconductor laser (not shown) in accordance with dot data sent from the video controller 103, and scans in the main scanning direction to form a main scanning line. An electrostatic latent image is formed thereon.

Reference numeral 205 denotes an intermediate transfer drum. The intermediate transfer drum 205 rotates at a predetermined speed during printing, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 209 is transferred.

The latent images on the photosensitive drum 209 are formed in parallel with the formation by the YMCK color developing units 211, 212, 213, and 21.
The intermediate transfer drum 2 is visualized as a toner image by a developing device of a predetermined color toner of 0, and further rotates in parallel.
The toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer drum 205, and a toner image of one page size is formed on the intermediate transfer drum 205. In the case of the mono-color (single-color) mode, a one-page toner image of one color (hereinafter, referred to as a plane) is formed on the intermediate transfer drum. In the full-color mode, four planes of YMCK color developing units 211, 212, 213, and 210 are formed on the intermediate transfer drum 205 so as to overlap each other.

Reference numeral 294 denotes a secondary transfer roller, which is charged while the recording paper S is inserted between the intermediate transfer drum 205 and the secondary transfer roller 294, and records the toner image on the intermediate transfer drum 205 therebetween. Transfer (secondary transfer) on paper S.

Reference numerals 215 and 216 ′ denote fixing rollers, which heat the toner image on the recording paper S with a fixing heater 215 to fix the toner image.

The recording paper S is further conveyed when it is subjected to secondary transfer by the secondary transfer roller 294, and is further conveyed by the fixing rollers 215,2.
16 'heat-fixes the toner image,
The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 220 via 17, 218, and 219.

In the printer 102 of this embodiment, the processes of forming and transferring a latent image are performed in the order of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

A yellow (Y) toner developing device 211, a magenta (M) toner developing device 212, a cyan (C) toner developing device 213, and a plaque (K) toner developing device 210
Are cassette-type housings, and can be attached to and detached from the main body. Therefore, hereinafter, 211 is called a Y cartridge, 212 is called an M cartridge, 213 is called a C cartridge, and 210 is called a K cartridge.

Reference numeral 221 denotes a reversing re-feeding unit, which conveys the recording paper S after fixing by conveying rollers 222 and
The sheet can be re-supplied at 3,224. The engine controller 105 can select the discharge tray 220 and the reverse re-feed unit 221 as the conveyance destination of the recording sheet S on which fixing has been completed. A double-sided switching flapper 225 separates the destination of the recording paper. This designation is designated by the video controller 103 by the serial communication.

When the recording paper S enters the reverse re-feeding unit 221, it is once conveyed in the direction of the conveyance roller 222. When a sensor (not shown) detects the trailing edge of the sheet, the engine controller 105 reverses the rotation of the transport roller 222,
The sheet is transported to the transport rollers 223 and 224. If the double-sided re-feed unit 221 is specified as the paper feed port, the paper is re-fed to the paper feed roller 204 in a state where the paper surface is inverted, so that the duplex printing can be performed through the above-described printing process.

A discharge switching flapper 231 switches the discharge destination of the recording paper to one of the discharge tray 220 and the sorter option unit 108. The engine controller 105 can select the discharge tray 220 and the sorter option unit 108 as the destination of the recording paper S on which the fixing has been completed. This designation is designated by the video controller 103 by the serial communication.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 109 is mounted inside the printer 102.

Next, various optional units detachably connected to the main body of the printer 102 will be described.

The option controller 10 shown in FIG.
Although not shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 6 is provided inside the printer 102 so that various optional units can communicate with each other by the same protocol via an optional unit interface 70 serving as a common bus.

The option controller 106
The video controller 1 via the general interface 90
03 is connected.

In a paper feeding option 107 such as a vapor deck option unit, reference numeral 241 denotes a vapor deck.
A large amount of recording paper S is stacked on a deck that moves up and down. 24
A paper deck paper feed roller 2 feeds the recording paper S stacked on the paper deck 241. A conveyance roller 244 conveys the recording paper S fed from the paper deck paper feed roller 242 toward the optional paper feed roller 230.

Reference numeral 243 denotes a paper feed relay conveyance roller, which feeds paper from another paper feed system optional unit which can be detachably connected to the lower portion of the vapor deck option (recording paper of different size or the same size can be fed). Relayed recording paper. A recording paper storage amount detection sensor 241S detects the amount of the recording paper S placed on the paper deck 241.

The vapor deck option unit 1
07 is controlled by the paper deck controller 107a.

Next, in a paper discharge option 108 such as a sorter option unit, reference numerals 251 to 257 denote first to seventh discharge bins for performing face-down paper discharge. It is to be loaded. Reference numeral 258 denotes an eighth discharge bin for directly passing the paper conveyed to the sorter option as it is and performing face-up discharge. Reference numeral 280 denotes a flapper, and the printer 10
The transport of the recording paper S sorted by the two flappers 231 and sent to the sorter option unit 108 is performed such that the face of the paper is switched based on an instruction from the video controller 103.

Reference numerals 261S to 268S denote empty discharge detection sensors, which are the first discharge bin 251 to the eighth discharge bin 2
The presence / absence of loaded paper of the recording paper discharged to 58 is detected. Further, the discharged paper stacking amount detection sensors 271S to 278S
Denotes a full load detection sensor, and the first discharge bin 251 to the eighth discharge bin
The height of the recording paper stacked in the discharge bin 258 is, for example, 1
Upon reaching (detecting) 8 mm (corresponding to about 120 sheets), the sorter controller 108a fills the full load with the video controller 103 via the option controller 106.
Notify.

The first discharge bin 251 to the eighth discharge bin 258 can load about 120 sheets in each bin, that is, about 960 sheets in eight bins.
The seventh to seventh discharge bins 257 can perform sorted discharge.

When the face-up is designated by the video controller 103 through the general interface 90, the face-up flapper 280 is turned on and sorting is performed. When face down is designated by the video controller 103 through the general interface 90, the face-up flapper 280 is turned off and sorting is performed. The sheet is conveyed until it exceeds the face-up flapper 280, and then the roller 291 is reversed and fed into the vertical path from the rear end of the recording sheet S, and the bin flapper 281 is moved by the designated discharge bin.
286 are driven at a predetermined timing to sort the sheets into the respective face-down discharge ports, and the discharge is completed in the face-down state.

When the discharge bin is the seventh discharge bin 257, the face-down discharge is completed by directly discharging the paper without driving the bin flapper.

Further, when a stapler (not shown) specifies stapling by the video controller 103 through the general interface 90, the recording paper S is stored in a staple tray (not shown), and the recording paper S is aligned.
The stapler executes the stapling and executes the first output bins 251 to 251.
The sheet is discharged to one of the eighth discharge bins 258. When the shift is designated by the video controller 103 through the general interface 90, the sheets are stored in a staple tray (not shown), the recording paper S is aligned, and the recording The recording paper S to be discharged is shifted, that is, the placement area (tray) of the discharged recording paper S is shifted, and then the recording paper S is discharged to any of the first to eighth discharge bins 251 to 258. The staple also has a staple remaining amount detection sensor (not shown), and detects a staple remaining amount stored in the staple.

The sorter option unit 108
Is controlled by the sorter controller 108a.
The option controller 106, the paper deck controller 107, and the sorter controller 108 are connected by connectors, respectively, and perform serial communication by the option unit interface 70. The paper deck controller 107 and the sorter controller 108 are connected in series by the same connector. Therefore, the paper deck option unit 107 and the sorter option unit 108 can be connected in a different order. FIG. 3 shows the printer 102 shown in FIG.
2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 91 denotes a serial communication interface. Commands such as designation of paper feeding to the paper deck option unit 107 and designation of a paper discharge bin to the sorter option unit 108 are transmitted from the video controller 103 to the option controller 106. The status such as the paper presence / absence state of the paper deck option unit 107, the stacking state of each paper discharge bin of the sorter option unit 108, and the staple presence / absence state can be directly connected to the option controller 106 and the video controller 103 by a CPU bus. .

Reference numeral 92 denotes an OPTRDY signal, which functions as a signal indicating whether an option designated by the video controller 103, for example, whether or not staples can be used, is transmitted from the option controller 106 to the video controller 103. Reference numeral 93 denotes a POUTT signal, which functions as a timing signal for the printer 102 to discharge recording paper. A PFEDT signal 94 functions as a signal indicating the timing at which the printer 102 receives recording paper from the optional unit. 95 is PC
The NG signal functions as a signal for lowering the speed of the recording paper S conveyed in the option unit at a high speed and matching it with the conveyance speed of the printer 102 main body.

Reference numeral 81 denotes a communication interface,
02 and the printer 102
Commands such as designation of paper ejection to the paper ejection tray 220 of the main body and printing are transmitted from the video controller 103 to the engine controller 105. Video controller 103
Sent to. A VDO signal 82 indicates bit data transmitted from the video controller 103.

Although not shown, control of each process by the engine controller 105 is executed based on signals exchanged with the video controller 103, and the signals include / CPRDY and / PPR.
DY, / RDY, / PRNT, / VSREQ, / VSY
NC, / BD, / SCLK, / CMD, / CBSY, /
STS, / SBSY, / CCRT (Condition
Change Report), and details thereof are as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a video controller (VC) 10
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining signals exchanged between an engine controller 3 and an engine controller (EC) 105.

When the method of using the / CCRT signal among the above signals is shown, the processing is performed in the following procedure 1 and procedure 2.

(Procedure 1) The video controller 103 checks the normal / RDY signal and the / CCRT signal, and if there is a change in these signals, reads the status information. At this time, the / CCRT signal becomes "FALSE"
When the / RDY signal becomes "FALSE", the status of the contents such as misprint, wait, sleep, operator call, etc. is checked. According to the result, the lower status according to each bit is checked. See for details.

(Procedure 2)-When the / CCRT signal is "TR
In the case of "UE", the status of contents such as paper size change, paper presence / absence change, paper feed function change, and warning content change is read, and the type of the changed status is recognized. The engine controller 105 sequentially reads the statuses of the group and recognizes the details of the reset procedure of the / CCRT signal. The state of the warning state is constantly checked, and if there is a change, the state change status corresponding to the higher level is set to "1", and the / CCRT signal which is a hard signal is set to "TRUE". When the status change command is received from the controller 103 and the status change status is
3, the / CCRT signal is set to "F
ALSE ". The general interface 90
Serial communication interface 91, OPTRDY signal 9
2, POUTT signal 93, PFEDT signal 94, PCN
G signal 95 and five hard signals.

The three signals of the POUTT signal 93, the PFEDT signal 94, and the PCNG signal 95 are output from the engine controller 105 and output from the video interface 80.
Through the video controller 103 and input to the option controller 106. Details of each of the above signals are as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a video controller (VC) 10
3 is a diagram illustrating signals exchanged between an engine controller (EC) 105 and an option controller (OC) 106.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the video controller 103 shown in FIG. 1. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 401 denotes a panel interface (I / F), which receives various settings and instructions from the operator from the panel 104 by data communication with the panel 104. 402 is a host interface (I / F)
And an input / output unit for signals with the external device 101 such as a host computer. Reference numeral 406 denotes an engine interface (I / F), which is an input / output unit for signals with the engine controller 105, which sends out data signals from an output buffer register (not shown) and controls communication with the engine controller 105.

Reference numeral 403 denotes an image data generation unit which is an external device 1
The bitmap data for actual printing is generated based on the control code data sent from 01. An image memory 405 stores image data.

A CPU 409 is a video controller 1
03 controls the entire system. Reference numeral 404 denotes a ROM, and the CPU 40
9 is stored. 407 is a RAM, a CPU
409 functions as temporary storage means. 410
Denotes an EEPROM, which is composed of a nonvolatile memory medium.

Reference numeral 408 denotes a DMA control unit which transfers bitmap data in the image memory 405 to the engine interface unit 406 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 409. 4
Reference numeral 12 denotes an option interface (I / F) unit,
Communication with the option controller 106 is performed according to an instruction from the CPU 409. Also, the POUTT signal 9
3. The PFEDT signal 94 and the SPCNG signal 95 are sent from the engine interface unit 406 to the overall interface 90 through.

Reference numeral 413 denotes a hard disk, which is an external device 10.
1 to store intermediate data, image data, and the like generated by the video controller unit 103. In the present embodiment, a hard disk device is used, but it goes without saying that the present invention is effective even with other memory means, such as a flash ROM (not shown) or a RAM.

A system bus 411 has an address bus and a data bus. Panel interface unit 401,
Host interface unit 402, image data generation unit 40
3, ROM 404, image memory 405, engine interface unit 406, RAM 407, DMA control unit 40
8, a CPU 409, an EEPROM 410, and an option interface unit 412 are connected to a system bus 411, and can access all functional units on the system bus 411.

The control code for controlling the CPU 409 is constituted by an OS for performing time-division control in units of load modules called tasks by a system clock (not shown) and a plurality of load modules (tasks) operating in units of functions. Shall be.

With the above configuration, the video controller 1
Reference numeral 03 denotes a printer having a plurality of paper supply / discharge ports, and controls handling of a recording medium to be fed or discharged to a printer 102 capable of recording an image on the recording medium based on print information input from the external device 101.

A control method in which the video controller 103 controls the optional devices through the option controller 106 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a shared memory with the video controller 103 secured in the RAM provided in the option controller 106 shown in FIG.

The shared memory shown in FIG. 7 is used to specify a page and to manage a transport status for knowing the transport status of a sheet, a basic status section for knowing the abnormal status of each option, and a command status for exchanging command status. And a start-up processing unit that specifies start-up processing of the optional device.

The start-up processing section is the video controller 10
3 is a start-up designation part for designating from 3, and a completion notification part for notifying that each option has completed processing as a result of the designation.

The video controller 103 performs start-up processing of each option by designating the start-up processing section. When the power is turned on, the video controller 103 notifies the start-designated portion of initialization of the shared memory, designation of acquisition of configuration information of each option required by the option controller 106, completion of information acquisition, and the like. The completion notification portion is monitored to determine whether or not the process has been completed. When all the processes have been completed, the startup process ends.

The transport status management area includes a paper feed port, a paper discharge port,
A part that specifies the printing method such as color / monochrome, staple position and execution, and a part that tells you the status of options such as how much paper has been fed, whether a print signal can be output, and whether the paper has been ejected. Consists of The video controller 103 executes the printing while specifying the printing method and grasping the status of each option.

The above specification can be performed for a maximum of 40 pages. The specification is performed for each page in order, the area where the discharge is completed is regarded as an empty area, and the area is initialized so that the specification can be performed again. Use as

The basic status section is an area for notifying an abnormal state of each apparatus, and obtains from this area information such as no paper, paper size mismatch, door open, paper jam, failure, full load, and no staples. More detailed information is acquired from the contents of the basic status by the command status.

The command status section is an area for obtaining detailed information of each option and controlling the operation of the option. In this area, a command is specified as necessary and information is obtained. For example, the information that can be obtained includes the device name, paper feed mounting paper size, paper feed remaining amount, paper jam position, type, access point, stacking amount of discharged paper, failure details, and the like, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 8, commands corresponding to the respective situations are issued and status is received. The command status section also controls options such as shifting to a power saving mode, emergency stop at the time of a paper jam, movement of a discharge bin, and execution of reset.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a first processing procedure of a printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied. The video controller 103 shown in FIG. 1 issues a command status based on a basic status. The CPU 409 in the video controller 103 shown in FIG.
It is executed based on the program stored in the OM404. (A) corresponds to a case where an abnormality of the input device is found, and (b) corresponds to a case where an abnormality of the output device is found. Also, S101 to S108, S111 to S11
7 shows each step.

First, as shown in (a), when the video controller 103 discovers an abnormality in the input device from the basic status section of the shared memory shown in FIG. 7 (S10)
1) A command is specified in the command status section, and an abnormal device (if a plurality of input optional devices are connected, which input device is specified) is specified (S102).

Further, a command is specified in the command status section, and the content of the abnormality (paper missing, paper size mismatch, door open, paper jam, failure, etc.) is specified (S103).

Next, a command corresponding to the specified abnormality content is specified. For example, in the case of no paper, a paper-less deck is specified (S104) and a paper-free factor is specified (S104).
105) Also, in the case of a paper jam, the location of the paper jam is specified (S106), and in the case of a failure, the failure location is specified (S107).

Then, a message indicating the content of the abnormality acquired by the above command is sent to the panel unit 104 and the operation unit 107.
b, Displayed on the display unit or the like of the external device 101.

As shown in (b), when the video controller 103 detects an abnormality in the output device from the basic status section of the shared memory shown in FIG. 7 (S11).
1) A command is specified in the command status section, and an abnormal device (when a plurality of output optional devices are connected, which output device is specified) is specified (S112).

Further, a command is specified in the command status section, and the content of the abnormality (full load, no staples, door open, paper jam, failure, etc.) is specified (S113).

Next, a command corresponding to the identified abnormality content is designated. For example, when the sheet is full, the full deck is specified (S114). When the sheet is jammed, the position of the jam is specified. (S115) In the case of a failure, a failure location is specified (S116).

Then, a message indicating the content of the abnormality acquired by the above command is sent to the panel unit 104 and the operation unit 107.
b, Displayed on the display unit or the like of the external device 101.

As described above, the video controller 103 obtains the above information, executes printing in a state where there is no abnormality, and when the occurrence of abnormality is detected from the basic status, issues a command status for specifying an abnormal part. The content of the abnormality is specified for the device, and detailed information collection and control according to the abnormality are performed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a second processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied. The video computer 103 shown in FIG. 1 accesses the shared memory of the option controller 106. The CPU 409 in the video controller 103 shown in FIG. 6 executes based on a program stored in the ROM 404 in correspondence with a procedure for exchanging options and command status and exchanging information. Note that S20
1 to S211 indicate each step.

To acquire the option information, the command is specified in the command status management area in the memory of the option controller 106, and the information is received. In the command specification area, an ID for identifying the type of necessary information is specified at a predetermined address (S201), the number of data specified to the option controller 106 by an execution command is specified at a predetermined address (S202), and the specified content is specified. The data to be represented is specified at a predetermined address (S203).

Then, the fact that the command has been transmitted is notified, and the option controller 106 exchanges information with each of the optional devices to generate a trigger for acquiring information (S204).

On the basis of the trigger and the specified contents in step S204, the option controller 106 performs serial communication with a necessary optional device to obtain the specified information. On the other hand, the timer is started until the option controller 106 completely obtains information, and the video controller 10
3 is monitored to determine whether or not status information can be acquired (S205, S206).

If the status does not shift to the status information obtainable state in step S206 even after a certain period of time in step S205, status information cannot be obtained, and a retry notification is issued to execute the command again (S21).
1), end the process.

On the other hand, before shifting to the status information obtainable state in step S206 before the predetermined time elapses in step S205, the status ID is obtained and it is confirmed whether or not the status information is for the specified command (S20).
207).

Next, the number of status data is obtained (S20).
8) Acquire status data for the number of status data (S209), notify the option controller 106 of completion of status acquisition (S210), and end the process.

As described above, the printer 10 of the present embodiment
Reference numeral 2 realizes full-color printing and mono-color printing by forming a one-page toner image on the intermediate transfer drum 205.

Therefore, the outer peripheral length of the intermediate transfer drum 205 is longer than the long side of the maximum printable paper size. For this reason, in order to shorten the conveyance interval of the paper and improve the printing throughput, a toner image of two pages is formed on the intermediate transfer drum 205 on a paper having a paper length equal to or less than a half of the maximum paper length. 2 by feeding paper continuously
It has a mode to print pages continuously.

Hereinafter, the continuous printing for the two pages is referred to as a two-page forming mode, and the normal printing is referred to as a one-page forming mode (or a normal printing mode).

In the present embodiment, the maximum paper size is twice or more as large as the A4 size horizontal feed, and in the A4 horizontal feed, continuous printing of the above two pages is possible.

Note that the printing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the two-page forming mode, and may be configured to perform continuous printing of three pages at a time.

As described above, the printing apparatus of the present invention forms a toner image of N pages on the intermediate transfer member when the sheet length is 1 / N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) of the maximum sheet size. (A single page forming mode) and a mode in which normal printing is performed when the sheet length is larger than 1 / N of the maximum sheet size (single page forming mode).

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, when an image is formed on a recording medium from image data, a plurality of printing process modes (a toner image formed for each color of YMCK is superimposed on an intermediate transfer body to be described later). A full-color printing mode in which full color printing is performed by holding and transferring to a recording medium such as physical paper, and a single color image is held by transferring any single YMCK toner image to an intermediate transfer body 205 to a recording medium. It is possible to perform print processing by switching between a print mode and a monochrome print mode.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams showing the print protocol between the engine controller 105 and the video controller 103 of the printer 102 shown in FIG. 1 in the form of timing charts of interface signals. FIG. Figure 1 corresponding to the chart
Reference numeral 1 corresponds to the timing chart of the full color mode.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, PRNT is a signal for requesting the video controller 103 to start printing.
P is a timing signal at which the engine controller 105 requests image data (video signal) from the video controller 103, and VDO is image data. The video controller 103 sends one page to the engine controller 105 in synchronization with a clock signal (not shown). Minutes.

The engine controller 105 controls the PRNT
When the signal TRUE is detected, the printing operation is started, and the TOP signal is sent to the video controller 103 for a predetermined period TR.
Make it UE. Upon detecting TRUE of the TOP signal, the video controller 103 transmits a VDO signal to the engine controller 105 for one page in synchronization with the detection. The engine controller 105 forms an image according to the VDO signal.

Hereinafter, the timing of each signal in the mono-color mode will be described with reference to FIG.

In the one page forming mode, the engine controller 105 controls the PRNT
One TOP signal is issued for the signal.

In the two-page forming mode, two TOP signals are issued in response to the PRNT signal of the video controller 103. After preparation for printing two pages, the video controller 103 sets the PRNT signal to TRUE, and sends the first page of image data to the engine controller 105 in synchronization with the first TOP signal from the engine controller 105. 2 in synchronization with the next TOP signal
The image data of the page is sent to the engine controller 105.

Hereinafter, the timing of each signal in the full color mode will be described with reference to FIG.

In the one page formation mode, the engine controller 105 controls the PRNT
For signals, TOs for four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) (total of four times)
Issues a P signal.

In the two-page forming mode, the PRNT signal from the video controller 103 is applied to Y1 (first yellow page), Y2 (second yellow page), M1
(1st page of magenta), M2 (2nd page of magenta), C1 (1st page of cyan), C2 (2nd page of cyan)
A total of eight TOP signals are issued: page 1), K1 (first page of black), and K2 (second page of black).

After the preparation for printing two pages is completed, the video controller 103 sets the PRNT signal to TRUE, and synchronizes the first page of yellow image data with the next page in synchronization with the first TOP signal from the engine controller 105. In synchronization with the TOP signal, yellow image data of the second page, similarly, magenta of the first page, magenta of the second page, cyan of the first page, cyan of the second page, cyan of the first page,
The black of the page and the plaque of the second page are transmitted.

To change between the one-page formation mode and the two-page formation mode, the video controller 103 sends the serial communication instruction (/ CMD shown in FIG. 4) to the engine controller 105.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing that the two-page forming mode in the printing apparatus of the present invention is effective for throughput, and the same components as those in FIGS. 10 and 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals. is there.

In the figure, T1 is the image forming interval in the two-page mode, and T2 is the image forming interval in the one-page mode.

In the one-page forming mode, the issue timing of the TOP signal is the same T2 in both the A4 horizontal feed and the maximum sheet size. Therefore, if the maximum throughput is expressed by the number of prints per minute, the throughput is the same at the maximum size and the minimum size.

On the other hand, when the two-page formation mode is used, the TOP issuance timing is T1 as shown in the figure, and the number of prints per minute is twice that in the one-page mode.

As in the case of the well-known engine, the engine controller 105 of the present embodiment detects the TRUE of the PRNT signal from the TOP signal of the previous page within a predetermined time, and determines the laser scanning and the heating voltage of the fixing unit. Move to the lower idling state. Since the printing of the first page from the idling state cannot be started until the rotation of the scanner motor for laser scanning (not shown) and the temperature rise of the fixing unit are completed, the video controller 103 starts printing.
Is to set the PRNT signal to TR
Control is performed to maintain the throughput by setting the UE.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the features of the control structure of the print protocol according to the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG.
Page (P1) is full color mode (full), 2
The page (P2) is in mono color mode (mono), 3
Page (P3) is full color mode (full), 4
An example is shown in which the page (P4) transmits data in the order of the mono color mode (mono).

FIG. 14 is a timing chart for explaining the timing of each signal in the print protocol of the present invention. The same reference numerals as in FIGS. 10 to 12 denote the same parts.

In the figure, Y1 is Y plane image data of P1, Y2 is Y plane image data of P2, and Y3 is P plane image data.
3, Y4 image data of P4, M1 image data of M1 image of P1, M2 image data of M image of P2, M3 image data of M3 image of P3, M4 image of M image of P4 Data, C1
Is C1 plane image data of P1, C2 is C plane image data of P2, C3 is C plane image data of P3, C
4 is P plane C plane image data, K1 is P1 K plane image data, K2 is P2 K plane image data,
K3 is P3 K plane image data, and K4 is P4 K plane image data.

When printing is performed in the same printing order of P1 to P4, there are pattern 1 and pattern 2 in FIG.

In pattern 1, P2 is printed in the full-color mode, and Y2, M2, and C2 are set to blank data, thereby setting P1 and P2 to the two-page formation mode. Similarly, P4 is printed in the full color mode, and Y4, M4, and C4 are set to blank data, so that P3 and P4 are set to the two-page formation mode.

Pattern 2 is printed by printing P1 to P4 in the one-page formation mode.

On the other hand, the printing order of P1 to P4 is changed to P1, P
3, P2 and P4 can be printed in full color mode and P page formation mode, and P2 and P4 can be printed in mono color mode and two page formation mode as in pattern 3. Becomes

FIG. 14 shows that the processing time of pattern 3 is shorter than that of other patterns because the timing of issuing the PRNT signal is set at the same time as the scale of T1 and T2 in the figure. is there. In the total printing time of P1 to P4, “pattern 3: pattern 2 = 10: 16” and “pattern 3: pattern 1 = 10: 19” are obtained.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the video controller 103 has a memory (such as the hard disk 413 and RAM 407 shown in FIG. 6) capable of storing a plurality of pages of data inside the printer. Is transmitted to the engine controller 105 by changing the printing order so that the printing is continuously performed, thereby reducing the total printing time of a plurality of pages.

As a storage means, for example, a hard disk,
The effect of the present invention does not change regardless of whether it is a nonvolatile memory means such as a flash ROM or a volatile memory means such as a RAM.

The order of the printing order can be changed by the external device 10.
In the case of transmitting the data whose order has been changed to the printer 102 after performing the processing in step 1, the gist of the present invention is not changed.

Referring to FIGS. 15 to 18, the external device 101 shown in FIG.
6 and the data flow up to the engine controller 105 will be described.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a data flow from the external device 101 shown in FIG. 1 to the option controller 106 and the engine controller 105.

The video controller 1 shown in FIG.
The control code for controlling the CPU 409 is an OS that performs time-division control for each load module called a task by a system clock (not shown) and a plurality of load modules (tasks) that operate for each function. I do.

In FIG. 15, the job control system (job control task 1000), translator processing system (analysis development task 1001), scheduling system (page operation task 1002), engine I / F system (engine I / F task 1003), Option I /
The F system (option I / F task 1004) is a task having the CPU 409 as an entity as described above, and operates logically in parallel.

In FIG. 15, job table 1100
Is a table for storing control information for each job, and the page table is a table for storing control information for each page.

FIG. 16 shows a page table (page table 11 in FIG. 15) stored in the RAM 407 shown in FIG.
00) is a memory map showing the structure of FIG.

In the figure, a page table 1100 stores page information. This page table 110
0 is a table for logically recognizing each page in the CPU 409, and the page table 1100
Are “page number” 1101 and “raster pointer” 11
02, "Status flag" 1103, "Page formation mode"
1104,..., “Job table pointer” 110
5, “color mode” 1106, “paper feed mode” 110
7, a "discharge mode" 1108, etc., and the entity exists as a continuous area in a control information storage area (not shown) of the RAM 407 shown in FIG. 6, and is obtained and released by a page management function unit or the CPU 409 (not shown). Be managed.

A “page number” 1101 in the page table 1100 is an ID for uniquely identifying a page. A “raster pointer” 1102 is a head pointer of an area for one page in the image memory 405 shown in FIG. 6, and the CPU 409 sets a corresponding area (not shown) in the image memory 405 to a page when the power is initialized. Divide each and link here.

A "status flag" 1103 is an area for storing a flag indicating the status of the page. As shown in FIG. 16, an "expansion end flag" 1103a indicating the end / incomplete development of the page and the printing of the page. A “print start flag” 1103b indicating start / non-disclosure, a “discharge end flag” 1103c indicating end / non-end of discharge of a page, and a “release flag” 11 indicating release / non-release of a page information development area.
03d, etc., and it is possible to determine the state of the created page information by using this state flag.

The "page forming mode" 1104 includes "two page forming mode" and "one page forming mode", and stores a forming mode for each page determined by a page operation task as described later. The “job table pointer” 1105 stores the pointer of the job table to which the page belongs.

In the “color mode” 1106, “full color mode” and “mono color mode” are set. A “paper feed mode” 1107 indicates a method of determining a paper feed unit, and includes “automatic paper feed” (not shown), “cassette 1 (cassette 202) paper feed”, and “paper deck (paper deck optional unit 107). ) Paper feed "," MP tray (paper base 292) paper feed ", etc., and" automatic paper feed "is determined by searching from the paper feeder on which the paper size is matched and the paper is placed in accordance with a predetermined priority order. Mode.

The “discharge mode” 1107 is for designating the discharge destination for each page, and is “not specified” (not shown), “bin 1 (first discharge bin 251) discharge mode”,
~ "Bin 7 (seventh discharge bin 257) discharge mode", "body FD (stacking tray 220) lit paper mode", and the like. When "No designation", "Job table" described later
Is determined according to the “discharge mode”. In cases other than “no designation”, this setting has priority over the “discharge mode” in the “job table”.

FIG. 17 is a memory map showing the structure of the engine status table stored in RAM 407 shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 1200 denotes an engine status table, which includes the engine controller 105 and the option (1
06, 107, and 108).
"/ RDY state" 1201, "/ CCRT state" 120
2,..., “Number of paper feed stages” 1203, “presence or absence of paper in cassette 1” 1204, “presence of paper in cassette 1” 1205, “presence or absence of paper deck paper” 1206, “paper deck paper size” 1207, “presence or absence of MP tray paper” 1208, “MP
Tray paper size "1209 and the like, and the actual engine controller 105 and options (106,
107, 108) are not the same, and the engine controller 10
5 and the options (106, 107, 108).

For example, the “/ RDY state” 1201 is a flag reflecting the state of the / RDY signal shown in FIG. 4, and the engine I / F task determines whether the / RDY signal is “FALSE” of the / RDY signal.
Set to "TRUE" while "is detected".

The "/ CCRT state" 1202 is a flag reflecting the state of the / CCRT signal shown in FIG. 4, and the actual state of the / CCRT signal is reflected by the engine I / F task. Engine I / F task is / CC
By detecting the "TRUE" of the RT signal and acquiring the state of the engine controller 105 by a predetermined serial communication, the / CCRT signal becomes "FALS" as described above.
E ".

[0173] Further, the "number of paper feed stages" 1203 is the number of paper feed stages that can be selected by reflecting the attachment of the optional cassette unit and the like.

The “presence / absence of one sheet of cassette” 1204 is
This is the presence or absence of paper in the cassette 202. Further, the “cassette 1 paper size” 1205 is a paper size set by a dial (not shown) of the cassette 202, and it is assumed that the operator has loaded the same paper as the dial value. Recognized as size.

Also, "presence or absence of paper deck paper" 1206
Indicates the presence or absence of paper in the paper deck option unit 107. “Paper deck paper size” 1207 is a paper size set by a partition plate (not shown) of the paper deck option unit 107, and it is assumed that the operator has placed the same paper as the value of the partition plate. It is recognized as the paper size of the paper supply option cassette 107.

The “presence / absence of MP tray paper” 1208 is the presence / absence of paper in the manual feed tray (paper table 292). “MP tray paper size” 1209 indicates a manual feed tray (paper tray 29).
This is the paper size detected by the sensor (not shown) in 2).

The engine state table shown in FIG. 17 is not shown in FIG.
01, page operation task 1002, engine I / F task 1003, and option I / F task 1004.

FIG. 18 is a memory map showing the structure of the job table stored in RAM 407 shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 1300 denotes a job table, which is a table for controlling a job in the CPU 409.
D ”1301,“ job status ”1302,“ interrupt designation ”1303,...,“ Discharge mode ”1304,.
.., “The number of already-discharged sheets” 1306, etc., and the entity is RA shown in FIG.
It exists as a continuous area in a control information storage area (not shown) of M407, and acquisition and release are managed by the CPU 409.

“Job I” in the job table 1300
"D" 1301 is an ID for uniquely identifying a job. The “job status” 1302 is an area for storing a flag indicating a job status, and values of “job start”, “job processing”, and “job end” are stored according to the job status.

The "interruption designation" 1303 stores information as to whether or not the job is an interruption designation. The “discharge mode” 1304 is for instructing a method of determining a discharge means, and is not shown in “bin 1 (first discharge bin 251)”.
Discharge mode "to" bin 7 (seventh discharge bin 257) lit paper mode "," body FD (stacking tray 220) discharge mode "," sort discharge mode "," stack discharge mode "
and so on. The “sort discharge mode” is a mode in which sorting is performed using the first discharge bin 251 to the seventh discharge bin 257 of the sorter option unit 108. The “stack discharge mode” is a mode in which simple stacking is performed using the first discharge bin 251 to the seventh discharge bin 257 of the sorter option unit 108 as one bin.

The "number of copies to be sorted" 1305 stores the number of copies in the above-described sort discharge mode.
The “existed number of sheets” 1306 is an area for storing the number of sheets for which printing and discharging of the job have been completed.

Hereinafter, the data flow of FIG. 15 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 15, print data (control code, PDL, etc.) input from the external device 101 is stored in the host interface unit 402 in a predetermined block unit.

When the job control task 1000 detects data in the host interface unit 402, it acquires the job table 1100. The data is analyzed in units of one block, and job control information (discharge mode and the like) for the printer in units of jobs is stored in the job table 110.
The page-based control data (designation of the number of copies of PDL, etc.) and the image formation information (graphic drawing command of PDL, character code, etc.) are stored in the hard disk 413 in block units while being stored in 0.

When the generation of a job to be printed is started, the job control task 1000 notifies the analysis and development task 1001 of the job to be printed and activates it.

Upon receiving an instruction from the job control task 1000, the analysis development task 1001 receives the page table 1
Obtain 100. The data is analyzed in units of one block, and image formation information (PDL graphic drawing command, character code, etc.) is developed using the image data generation unit 403 (not shown in FIG. 6) or by the CPU 409 itself. And stores it in the area indicated by the “raster pointer” 1102 in the page table 1100. Also,
The page unit control information (the number of copies, paper feed selection, etc.) for the printer is stored in the page table 1100.

After analyzing and developing one page of data, the “development end flag” 1103a is set to TRUE, and
Enqueue to a page queue with FIFO structure.

The page operation task 1002 simultaneously monitors the “status flags” 1103 of all pages in the page queue and changes the transport procedure according to the status to realize printing. At the time of printing, if the “discharge mode” 1108 is different from that immediately before, a display requesting the user to remove the paper stacked on all bins (first discharge bin 251 to seventh discharge bin 257) ( Paper removal call)
4 is performed.

At the time of printing, based on the information in the job table 1300 and the page table 1100, the option I / F 412 designates printing such as paper feeding means, paper discharging means, print mode, and the like. The setting of the sheet feeding means and the like is actually performed on the engine controller 105 by the F unit 406. The page table for which the “discharge end flag” 1103c is TRUE is dequeued from the page queue and returned to the page management function unit.

Further, the “discharged number” 1306 of the job table 1300 to which the page belongs is updated.

The engine I / F task 1003 and the option I / F task 1004 are respectively
The engine controller 105 and the option controller 10 via the F unit 406 and the option I / F unit 412
6 is communicated in a predetermined synchronization, and when a factor that changes the state of the page occurs, the “status flag” 1103 is updated. Also, monitor the change of the / RDY signal and
In response to a change in FALSE, the status of the printer is set to an error, and the release of the error is monitored.

Also, a change in the status, such as the / RDY signal and the / CCRT signal, is monitored, and the "procedure 1" and "procedure 2" are executed, and the "engine status table" is updated.

The operation mode designation (the number of copies, paper feed selection, etc.) from the panel unit 104 is transmitted to the panel I / F unit 401.
Is stored. A printer control task (not shown) patrols the panel I / F unit 401 at appropriate intervals, stores the data in the EEPROM 410 when data exists, and simultaneously stores the data in a control information storage area (not shown) of the RAM 407 as control information. By storing the data in the EEPROM 410, the printer can be operated in a mode desired by the user even after the power of the printer is once turned off.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a third processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied. The third processing procedure corresponds to an example of the control processing procedure of the job control task 1000, and the video processing shown in FIG. The CPU 409 in the controller 103 executes based on a program stored in the ROM 404. In addition, S301 to S312 indicate each step.

When the job control task 1000 is started when the power is turned on (S301), the host interface unit 402 is inquired about the presence or absence of data reception at a predetermined cycle (S302). If it is determined that the received data is present, the host interface unit 402 transfers the data of a predetermined block from the RAM 40 to the RAM 40.
7 is read into the CPU 409 work area (S30).
3).

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a job table being generated (S304). If it is determined that there is a job table being generated, the flow advances to step S307.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S304 that there is no job table being created, a new job table is acquired (S305), and the analysis and development task 1 is executed.
001 is started (S306).

Next, in step S307, it is determined whether or not the processing data is job control information. If it is determined that the processing data is job control information, it is determined whether the information is a job end control code. It is determined whether or not (S3
09) If it is determined that the code is a job end control code, the job table is completed (S311), and the process proceeds to step S312.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S309 that the processing data is not the job end control code, information of the job table is set (S310), and step S3 is executed.
Proceed to 12.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S307 that the processing data is not the job control information, the value is stored in the hard disk 413 (or the image memory 405) (S308), and the flow advances to step S312.

Next, in step S312, it is determined whether or not the processing of one block has been completed. If it is determined that the processing has been completed, the process returns to step S302.
If it is determined that the processing has not been completed, step S307 is performed.
Return to the processing of.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a fourth processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied. The fourth processing procedure corresponds to an example of the control processing procedure of the analysis / expansion task 1001, and the video processing shown in FIG. C in the controller 103
The PU 409 executes based on the program stored in the ROM 404. S401 to S412 indicate each step.

When activated by the job control task (S401), the analysis and development task 1001 inquires of the hard disk 413 at predetermined intervals whether or not there is data (the specified job from the job control task 1000) (S402).

At step S402, the hard disk 413
If it is determined that there is no data (the specified job from the job control task 1000) in step S40
If the data is present in the hard disk 413 and it is determined that the job is the designated job from the job control task 1000, the data of a predetermined block from the hard disk 413 is transferred to the CPU 4 in the RAM 407.
09 is read into the work area (S403).

Next, it is determined whether or not the page table being generated exists (S404). If it is determined that the page table being generated exists, the process proceeds to step S406, and the page table being generated is determined. If it is determined that there is no new page table, a new page table 1100 is acquired (S405). At this time, the same items as those in the job table 1300 are initialized by the values in the job table 1300. When the “interruption designation” 1303 of the job table 1300 is “ON”, the “discharge mode” 1108 is forcibly set to the “main body FD discharge mode”.

Next, at step S406, the 1
The control code and data in the block are sequentially determined to determine whether the processing data is page control information.

If it is determined in step S406 that the processing data is page control information, it is determined whether or not the information is a page discharge control code (ie, page end) (S408). If it is determined that the code is a code (end of page), a page table completion (end) process is performed (S410), and the page operation task 1 is executed.
002, the page table 1100 is enqueued in the page queue (S411), and step S412 is performed.
Proceed to processing.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S408 that the processing data is not the page discharge control code (ie, the page end), the information in the page table 1100 is set (“full color mode” in “color mode” 1106).
Or, the storage of “monochrome mode” is included) (S40)
9), the process proceeds to step S412.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 406 that the processing data is not page control information, the processing request is sent to the image data generating unit 403 or the CPU 409 develops the image and the image data 405 (or the hard disk 413) It is stored in the area (S407), and the process proceeds to step S412.

Next, in step S412, it is determined whether or not the processing of one block has been completed. If it is determined that the processing has been completed, the process returns to step S402.
If it is determined that the processing has not been completed, step S406
Return to the processing of.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a fifth processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied. The fifth processing procedure corresponds to an example of the control processing procedure of the page operation task 1002, and the video processing shown in FIG. The CPU 409 in the controller 103 executes based on a program stored in the ROM 404. In addition, S501 to S508 indicate each step.

When activated by the analysis / expansion task 1001 (S501), the page operation task 1002 inquires the status of all pages in the page queue.
Is determined whether or not printing is possible (S502). If it is determined that printing is not possible, the process of step S502 is repeated. If it is determined that printing is possible, the search counter X of the page queue is set to 1 (S50)
3).

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a page X (page N + X) newer than page N (S50).
4) If it is determined that the page exists, it is determined whether or not printing is possible (page N + X is in the same color mode as page N, and page N + X and page N are printable in the two-page forming mode) ( S505).

In step S505, printing is possible (page N
+ X is the same color mode as page N, and page N
+ X and page N can be printed in the two-page formation mode), the printing is performed in the two-page formation mode of page N and page N + X, that is, the “page formation mode” 1104 indicates “two page formation”. Mode ”is stored (S5
08), the process returns to the step S502.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S505 that printing is not possible (page N + X is in the same color mode as page N and pages N + X and page N can be printed in the two-page forming mode), X is incremented. (S506), and the process returns to step S504.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 504 that there is no page X pages newer than page N (page N + X), printing is performed in the one-page formation mode of page N, that is, in “page formation mode” 1104. "One page formation mode" is stored (S507), and step S5 is performed.
It returns to the process of 02.

By controlling as described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the printing order is changed so that mono-color and full-color are continuously printed, whereby the total printing of a plurality of pages is performed. Time can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the order of printing is changed to C
This is performed in the PU 409 (page operation task 1002). However, if the pages are replaced for the purpose of promoting printing in the two-page formation mode, the replacement method may be different (for example, the printer driver in the external device 101 may be used). Is executed), it is not different from the gist of the present invention.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
Analysis development task 1 printed by page operation task 1002
Although the configuration in which the pages developed by 001 are rearranged so that the same color mode is continued has been described,
The job control task 1000 may be configured to sort the jobs so that the same color mode is continuous before the processing by the analysis and development task 1001. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described.

The configuration of the device in this embodiment is the first
The operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the operation will be described using the same figure numbers.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram for explaining the features of the control configuration according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the same numbers are assigned to the names already described in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG.
1st page (P1), 2nd page (P2),
The third page (P3) is full color mode (full),
The first page (P4) and the second page (P
5) The third page (P6) is in the mono color mode (mon
o) The first page (P7), the second page (P8), and the third page (P9) of the third job are in the full color mode (f).
(Ul)).

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, the video controller 103 has a hard disk 413 capable of storing a plurality of pages of data inside the printer.
The video controller 103 changes the printing order so as to continuously print a mono-color job and a full-color job, and sends the data to the engine controller 105.

Also in this embodiment, the total printing time of a plurality of pages is reduced by changing the printing order according to the same principle as that described in FIG. 14 in the first embodiment.

As storage means, for example, a flash ROM
The effect of the present invention does not change regardless of the non-volatile memory means such as the above and the spontaneous memory means such as the RAM.

Also, the case where the print order of the job is changed in the external device 101 does not change the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a sixth processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied. The sixth processing procedure corresponds to an example of the control processing procedure of the job control task 1000, and the video processing shown in FIG. The CPU 409 in the controller 103 executes based on a program stored in the ROM 404. Note that S301 to S312, S61
3 indicates each step, and the same steps as those in FIG. 19 are denoted by the same step numbers.

After the job table completion processing (S311), the job control task 1000 proceeds to step S613.
In FIG. 24, a job table rearrangement process (see FIG. 24 for details)
Is performed, and the process proceeds to step S312. The job table 1300 in step S310
Is set, the color mode ("full color mode", "mono color mode") designated for the job is stored in an area (not shown) in the job table 1300.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a seventh processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied, and is an example of a flowchart showing details of the rearranging processing procedure shown in step S613 of FIG. Corresponding, FIG.
Is executed based on the program stored in the ROM 404. S701 to S707 indicate each step. Note that the job N shown in FIG. 24 corresponds to step S31 in FIG.
1 indicates a job that has completed completion processing (job end processing).

The job control task 1000 first initializes the job queue search counter Z with 1 (S70).
1) It is determined whether there is a job (job NZ) created before the job N and Z jobs (S702),
If it is recognized that the job exists, it is determined whether or not the job NZ is before the processing by the analysis and development task 1001 is started (S703). If it is determined that the job NZ is not started, the color of the job NZ is determined. It is determined whether or not the mode is the same as the color mode of the job N (S704). If it is determined that the mode is the same, the job NZ is set in the job queue.
Is placed immediately after (S705), and the process returns.

On the other hand, in step S704, the job NZ
If the color mode is not the same as the color mode of job N, Z is incremented (S707).
Then, the process returns to S702.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S702 that there is no job (job NZ) created Z jobs before job N, job N is placed at the end of the job queue (S706). To return.

On the other hand, in step S703, the job NZ
Is not before the start of the processing by the analysis development task 1001, the job N is placed at the end of the job queue (S706), and the process returns.

By performing control as described above, the present embodiment provides, as shown in FIG.
The total print time of a plurality of pages can be reduced by changing the print order of the jobs so that the full-color (full) print is continuously performed.

In this embodiment, the printing order is changed in the CPU 409 (page operation task). However, if the pages are changed for the purpose of promoting printing in the two-page forming mode, the method of realizing the change is different. However (for example, even if the replacement is executed by the printer driver in the external device 101), it does not change the gist of the present invention.

According to the above arrangement, when the paper length is equal to or less than 1/2 of the maximum paper size, a mode for forming toner images for a plurality of pages on the intermediate transfer member (a plurality of page formation mode), By providing a mode (single-page forming mode) for performing normal printing when is equal to or more than 最大 of the maximum paper size, the maximum number of prints per minute can be improved.

Also, by changing the printing order of data received from an external device in units of pages or in units of a plurality of pages (job units) so that printing can be performed in the multiple page forming mode as much as possible, the printing of the intermediate transfer system is performed. Throughput can be maximized, and a color laser beam printer can be provided that achieves both color shift prevention and print quality and speed.

Furthermore, the total printing time of a multi-page job can be reduced by changing the printing order.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program readable by a printing system to which the printing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the printing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data subordinate to various programs is also managed in the directory. Also, if the programs and data to be installed are compressed,
A program for decompressing may also be stored.

In this embodiment, FIGS.
The functions shown in FIG. 20, FIG. 21, FIG. 23, and FIG. 24 may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, silicon disk and the like can be used.

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

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or to an apparatus constituted by a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a database on a network by a communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0252]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, the input print information is analyzed, and the analyzing and developing means develops the image data in page units, and the image data in page units developed by the analyzing and developing means is stored in the first storage means in a plurality of ways. The print process mode specified for each page or a plurality of pages in the print information is stored in the second storage unit for a plurality of pages, and the image data of the plurality of pages stored in the first storage unit is stored. The first control means controls the change of the printing order in page units based on the print process mode stored in the second storage means so that the same print process mode is continued. A multi-page printing throughput of a color electrophotographic printer can be maximized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the plurality of printing process modes include full-color printing in which full-color printing is performed by superimposing and holding a toner image formed for each color on the charging medium and transferring it to a recording medium. And a mono-color printing mode for performing mono-color printing by holding a single toner image on the charging medium and transferring the toner image to a recording medium, so that a color page in an intermediate transfer type color electrophotographic printer is included. And the print throughput of a plurality of pages in which both monochrome pages and monochrome pages are mixed can be remarkably improved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the input print information is analyzed, the print jobs are stored in the third storage means for a plurality of jobs, and the print process mode specified by the job unit in the print information is changed to the fourth print mode. The same print process mode is successively stored on the basis of the print process mode stored in the fourth storage unit, and the plurality of jobs stored in the third storage unit are stored in the third storage unit. As described above, the second control means controls the change of the expansion processing order of the print job by the analysis and expansion means on a job-by-job basis, thereby maximizing the printing throughput of a plurality of pages in an intermediate transfer type color electrophotographic printer. Can be.

According to the fourth and sixth aspects, the input print information is analyzed and expanded into image data for each page.
The developed page-based image data is stored in the memory for a plurality of pages, the print information is stored in the memory for the print process mode specified in the page unit or the page unit, and the stored print process mode is stored in the memory for the plurality of pages. Since the printing order is changed for each page so that the same printing process mode is continued based on the printing process mode for image data, the printing throughput of multiple pages with an intermediate transfer type color electrophotographic printer is maximized. Can be withdrawn.

According to the fifth and seventh aspects of the invention, the input print information is analyzed, the print jobs are stored in the memory for a plurality of jobs, and the print process mode specified by the job in the print information is stored in the memory for the plurality of jobs. The print job development process order is changed for each job so that the same print process mode is continued based on the print process mode. It is possible to maximize the printing throughput of a plurality of pages in the printer.

According to the eighth aspect, the print data is received from the external device by the receiving means, the print data is analyzed by the conversion means and converted into image data in page units, and the converted image data is converted into a plurality of image data. The print process mode instruction is stored in a mode storage unit by the mode reception unit, and the print process mode instruction received by the mode reception unit is stored in the mode storage unit in page units, multiple page units, or job units. An order control unit for storing and selecting a page from the storage unit and instructing execution of image formation is read from a plurality of pages stored in the storage unit in page units or job units so that the same print process mode is continued. Since the printing order is controlled, the printing throughput of print data in which multiple print process modes are mixed is maximized. It can be drawn.

[0258] According to the ninth aspect, the image forming engine has a charging medium for holding a toner image, holds the toner image formed for each color on the charging medium, and stores the toner image on a physical sheet. An image forming engine by an electrophotographic process having a full-color printing mode for forming a full-color image by transferring, and a mono-color printing mode for holding a single toner image on the charging medium in an overlapping manner and transferring the image to physical paper to form an image. Since the plurality of print process modes are the full-color print mode and the mono-color print mode, it is possible to maximize the print throughput of print data in which color pages and monochrome pages are mixed.

According to the tenth aspect, the image forming engine comprises: a first forming mode in which a single page toner image is held on the charging medium and transferred to physical paper to form an image; A forming mode for holding an image on the charging medium, transferring a toner image of each page to physical paper to form an image, and switching between the first forming mode and the second forming mode; Since the switching means is provided, it is possible to maximize the print throughput of print data in which a plurality of print process modes are mixed in an intermediate transfer type electrophotographic printer.

[0260] According to the eleventh aspect, there is provided a printing system comprising control software operating on an external device and a printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus performs image formation from image data on a recording medium. A plurality of print process modes, an image forming engine having a switching unit for switching between the plurality of print process modes, a receiving unit for receiving print data from an external device, and analyzing the print data into image data in page units A conversion unit for converting the image data, and a storage unit for storing the converted image data for a plurality of pages, wherein the control software controls a printing order in page units or job units so that the same print process mode is continued. Therefore, it is possible to maximize the print throughput of print data in which a plurality of print process modes are mixed.

According to the twelfth aspect, the image forming engine has a charging medium for holding a toner image, and holds the toner image formed for each color so as to overlap the charging medium. An image forming engine by an electrophotographic process having a full-color printing mode for forming a full-color image by transferring, and a mono-color printing mode for holding a single toner image on the charging medium in an overlapping manner and transferring the image to physical paper to form an image. Since the plurality of print process modes are the full-color print mode and the mono-color print mode, it is possible to maximize the print throughput of print data in which color pages and monochrome pages are mixed.

[0262] According to the thirteenth aspect, the image forming engine comprises: a first forming mode in which a single page toner image is held on the charging medium and transferred to physical paper to form an image; A forming mode for holding an image on the charging medium, transferring a toner image of each page to physical paper to form an image, and switching between the first forming mode and the second forming mode; Since the switching means is provided, it is possible to maximize the print throughput of print data in which a plurality of print process modes are mixed in an intermediate transfer type electrophotographic printer.

According to the fourteenth to nineteenth aspects, there is provided an image processing method having a one-page formation mode and a two-page formation mode,
Receiving color data and monochrome data, storing the received color data and monochrome data in a storage medium,
When forming an image, the read order of the color data and the monochrome data is changed from the storage to adopt the two-page formation mode, so that the print throughput of the print data in which the color pages and the monochrome pages are mixed is maximized. be able to.

Therefore, it is possible to maximize the printing throughput of a plurality of pages in a color electrophotographic printer of the intermediate transfer system, and to achieve the effects of preventing color misregistration and achieving both print quality and speed. Play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system including a color laser beam printer to which a printing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of the printer illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the printer illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating signals exchanged between a video controller (VC) and an engine controller (EC).

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating signals exchanged between a video controller (VC), an engine controller (EC), and an option controller (OC).

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a video controller shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a shared memory with a video controller secured in a RAM provided in the option controller shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a first processing procedure of a printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a second processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

10 is a diagram showing a print protocol between an engine controller and a video controller of the printer shown in FIG. 1 by a timing chart of an interface signal.

11 is a diagram showing a print protocol between an engine controller and a video controller of the printer shown in FIG. 1 using a timing chart of an interface signal.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing that a two-page forming mode in the printing apparatus of the present invention is effective for throughput.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining features of a control configuration of a print protocol according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart illustrating the timing of each signal in the print protocol of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a data flow from the external device shown in FIG. 1 to the option controller and the engine controller.

FIG. 16 is a memory map showing a structure of a page table (page table in FIG. 15) stored in the RAM shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 17 is a memory map showing a structure of an engine state table stored in a RAM shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 18 is a memory map showing a structure of a job table stored in a RAM shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a third processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram for explaining features of a control configuration according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a sixth processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a seventh processing procedure of the printing system to which the printing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the printing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram illustrating a full-color image forming process by an intermediate transfer system of a conventional color laser beam printer.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a problem of a full-color image forming process by an intermediate transfer system of a conventional color laser beam printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 external device 102 color laser beam printer (printer) 404 ROM 405 image memory 407 RAM 409 CPU 410 EEPROM 413 hard disk

Claims (19)

[Claims] A first switching unit that switches between a plurality of print process modes in accordance with a print process mode when performing an image forming process from image data to a recording medium;
A first forming mode in which a single page toner image is held on a charging medium according to a print size and transferred to a recording medium to form an image, and a plurality of pages of toner images are held on a charging medium and toner images of respective pages are held And a second switching means for switching between a second formation mode for transferring an image to a recording medium and forming an image, respectively, and analyzes input print information and develops the image data into page-based image data. Analysis / expansion means; first accumulation means for accumulating a plurality of pages of image data in page units expanded by the analysis / expansion means; and a plurality of print process modes designated in the print information in page units or plural page units. The second to accumulate for the page
Storing the image data of a plurality of pages stored in the first storage unit based on the print process mode stored in the second storage unit so that the same print process mode is continued. A first control unit for changing and controlling the printing order in units of printing. 2. A plurality of printing process modes: a full-color printing mode for performing full-color printing by superimposing and holding a toner image formed for each color on the charging medium and transferring the toner image to a recording medium; 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a mono-color printing mode for performing mono-color printing by holding and transferring a single toner image to a recording medium. 3. A third storage unit for analyzing input print information and storing print jobs for a plurality of jobs, and a fourth storage unit for storing print process modes specified in job units in the print information for a plurality of jobs. A plurality of jobs stored in the third storage unit, based on the print process modes stored in the fourth storage unit, and printed in job units so that the same print process mode is continued. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second control unit configured to change and control a development processing order of the job by the analysis and development unit. 4. A first switching unit that switches between a plurality of print process modes in accordance with a print process mode when performing image forming processing from image data to a recording medium.
A first forming mode in which a single page toner image is held on a charging medium according to a print size and transferred to a recording medium to form an image, and a plurality of pages of toner images are held on a charging medium and toner images of respective pages are held And a second switching means for switching between a second formation mode for transferring an image to a recording medium and forming an image, respectively. An analysis and development step for performing a development process; a first accumulation step for storing the developed page-based image data in a memory for a plurality of pages; and a print process mode designated in the print information in a page unit or a plurality of page units. A second accumulation step of accumulating in the memory for a plurality of pages, and the image data of a plurality of pages accumulated in the first accumulation step are accumulated in the second accumulation step. A page order changing step of changing the printing order in page units based on the stacked print process modes so that the same print process mode is continued. 5. A third storage step of analyzing input print information and storing print jobs in a memory for a plurality of jobs, and storing a print process mode specified for each job in the print information in a memory for a plurality of jobs. And a plurality of jobs accumulated in the third accumulation step.
A job order changing step of changing a print job development processing order on a job basis based on the print process mode accumulated in the fourth accumulation step so that the same print process mode is continued. The control method for a printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: 6. A first switching unit that switches between a plurality of print process modes in accordance with a print process mode when performing image forming processing on image data on a recording medium.
A first forming mode in which a single page toner image is held on a charging medium according to a print size and transferred to a recording medium to form an image, and a plurality of pages of toner images are held on a charging medium and toner images of respective pages are held. To a printing apparatus having a second switching unit that switches between a second forming mode for transferring an image to a recording medium and forming an image, and analyzes input print information and develops the image data into page-based image data. An analyzing and developing step; a first storing step of storing the expanded image data of a plurality of pages in a memory for a plurality of pages; and a printing process mode designated by a page or a plurality of pages in the print information for a plurality of pages. A second storage step of storing the image data of a plurality of pages stored in the first storage step in a memory, and a printing process stored in the second storage step. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a page order changing step of changing a printing order in page units based on the access mode so that the same print process mode is continued. 7. A third accumulation step of analyzing input print information and accumulating print jobs in a memory for a plurality of jobs, and accumulating a print process mode designated for each job in the print information in a memory for a plurality of jobs. And a plurality of jobs accumulated in the third accumulation step.
A job order changing step of changing a print job development processing order on a job basis based on the print process mode accumulated in the fourth accumulation step so that the same print process mode is continued. 7. The storage medium according to claim 6, wherein: 8. A printing apparatus comprising: a plurality of print process modes; and an image forming engine having means for switching between the plurality of print process modes when forming an image from image data on a recording medium. Receiving means for receiving data, converting means for analyzing the print data and converting the image data into page-based image data, storing means for storing the converted image data for a plurality of pages, and selecting a page from the storing means. Order control means for instructing execution of image formation by the user, a mode receiving means for receiving the print process mode instruction from an external device, and a print process mode instruction received by the mode receiving means in page units, plural page units, or job units. And a mode storage means for storing the data in a plurality of pages stored in the storage means. Et printing apparatus characterized by controlling the printing order by page or job unit so that the same printing process mode is continuous. 9. The image forming engine has a charging medium for holding a toner image, holds a toner image formed for each color on the charging medium, and transfers the full-color image to physical paper. An image forming engine by an electrophotographic process comprising: a full-color print mode for forming a single toner image on the charged medium, and a mono-color print mode for transferring and forming an image on physical paper. 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the print process modes are the full color print mode and the mono color print mode. 10. The image forming engine includes: a first forming mode in which a toner image of a single page is held on the charging medium and transferred to physical paper to form an image; and a toner image of a plurality of pages is formed on the charging medium. A second forming mode for holding and transferring the toner image of each page to physical paper to form an image, and a forming mode switching means for switching between the first forming mode and the second forming mode. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the printing apparatus is a printing apparatus. 11. A printing system comprising control software operating on an external device and a printing device, wherein the printing device performs a plurality of print process modes when forming an image from image data on a recording medium. An image forming engine having switching means for switching between the plurality of print process modes, a receiving means for receiving print data from an external device, and a converting means for analyzing the print data and converting the print data into page-based image data; Printing means for storing the converted image data for a plurality of pages, wherein the control software controls a printing order in page units or job units so that the same printing process mode is continued. system. 12. The image forming engine has a charging medium for holding a toner image, holds a toner image formed for each color on the charging medium, and transfers the full-color image to a physical sheet. An image forming engine by an electrophotographic process comprising: a full-color print mode for forming a single toner image on the charged medium, and a mono-color print mode for transferring and forming an image on physical paper. 12. The printing system according to claim 11, wherein the printing process modes are the full-color printing mode and the mono-color printing mode. 13. The image forming engine according to claim 1, further comprising: a first forming mode in which a single page of the toner image is held on the charging medium and transferred to physical paper to form an image; A second forming mode for holding and transferring the toner image of each page to physical paper to form an image, and a forming mode switching means for switching between the first forming mode and the second forming mode. 13. The printing system according to claim 11, wherein: 14. An image processing method having a one-page forming mode and a two-page forming mode, comprising: receiving color data and monochrome data; storing the received color data and monochrome data in a storage medium; An image processing method for changing the reading and forming order of the color data and the monochrome data from the storage to adopt a two-page forming mode. 15. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the storage medium includes one of a hard disk, a flash ROM, and a RAM. 16. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the image processing method is performed in a printing apparatus or an external device connected to the printing apparatus. 17. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein printing time is reduced by changing the formation order as compared with a case where the formation order is not changed. 18. The image processing method according to claim 16, wherein the image processing method is performed by a printer driver in the external device. 19. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the color mode and the monochrome mode are set for each job, and the printing order is changed by identifying the job.