JP2004243581A - Image forming apparatus and network system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make easily classifiable documents after images are formed. <P>SOLUTION: This network system is constituted so as to judge a preferential degree showing whether new printing must be immediately carried out (step S2) when the practice of the new printing is indicated (step S1 : Y), and when the preferential degree is high, a new printing job and the printing job stored in a buffer memory in a state not carried out because the preferential degree is low are carried out (steps S7 and S14), and when the sizes of transfer papers used before and after both printing jobs are carried out are same (step S10 : Y), transfer paper trays having the same size and different in the directions of the papers are alternately selected (step S12) and the directions of the transfer papers outputted to paper delivery trays become alternate with respect to the respective printing jobs. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a network system including the image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, networking of offices has been advanced, and an image forming apparatus such as a printer is commonly used by a plurality of host computers. Usually, in such a printer, in order to suppress power consumption, the mode is automatically shifted to a mode in which power consumption is suppressed (hereinafter referred to as “energy saving mode”) when the printer is not used for a certain period of time. Then, when a printing instruction is received from the host computer after shifting to the energy saving mode, a warm-up operation is performed, and printing processing is executed after returning to the normal mode.
[0003]
As such a printer, a laser printer using a heat fixing method is predominant, but this type of printer consumes a large amount of power because the fixing device is heated when returning from the energy saving mode.
[0004]
Therefore, as a technique for reducing power consumption when returning from the energy saving mode, for example, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a low priority document that should be printed immediately should be printed immediately after a print instruction. The power consumption is reduced by performing the printing processing collectively without performing the processing.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-157184
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of print jobs having a low priority to be executed immediately are collectively processed. A document printed by the execution is stagnated, and a sorting operation for separating the document into separate print jobs is required. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation is complicated and inconvenient.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to facilitate sorting of documents after image formation.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer engine that forms an image on a medium based on image data, a buffer that can store the image data, and a print job that requires execution of the image formation. Priority determining means for determining, from the information attached to the print job, whether or not the image formation should be performed immediately, and when the priority is low, the print job is The execution of the image formation based on the print job is reserved in a buffer, and when the priority is high, the image formation based on the print job is executed. When executing the image forming, the image forming executing means for executing the image forming also for the print job stored in the buffer together with the image forming, and the medium having the same size. A plurality of storage units that can store the images in different directions from each other, and perform image formation by the printer engine, and discharge the medium after the image formation so that the directions of the medium are different from each other. Each of the print jobs executed due to the high priority is a direction change executed when the size of the medium used for the preceding and succeeding print jobs is the same and the storage unit receiving the supply of the medium is different. And an image forming apparatus.
[0009]
Accordingly, by processing low-priority print jobs collectively at the time of executing high-priority print jobs, power consumption can be reduced particularly when an energy-saving mode or the like is employed. Further, in this case, when the size of the medium is the same between print jobs that are continuously executed, an image is formed so that the direction of the medium is different between the print jobs. Even if it is ejected, it becomes easy to sort media for each print job.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image forming apparatus further includes an image processing unit that performs a process of changing an image direction with respect to the image data, wherein the direction conversion unit has a high priority. Each print job to be executed is executed by performing a process of changing the direction of the image in accordance with the direction of the medium to be supplied when the size of the medium to be used for the previous and next print jobs is the same. I do.
[0011]
Therefore, the image can be appropriately formed by changing the direction of the image according to the direction of the medium.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, each of the print jobs executed due to the high priority has a plurality of the print jobs having the same medium size. An execution order setting unit that sets an execution order of each print job so that when there is a print job of a different medium size, the print job of the different size is executed between the print jobs of the same size. Is further provided.
[0013]
Therefore, media having different sizes are alternately output as much as possible, so that it is possible to further easily sort media for each print job after image formation.
[0014]
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an image reading device that reads an image of a document, wherein the printer engine performs the image forming based on the read image data. It can be made possible (claim 4).
[0015]
Further, the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, and requests the image forming apparatus to execute the print job via the network. A network system including one or more possible information processing devices is also the present invention (claim 5).
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a network printer system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the network printer system 1 implements the network system of the present invention, and includes one or a plurality of host devices 2 each configured by an information processing device such as a personal computer, and an image forming apparatus of the present invention. At least one network printer 3 for implementing the apparatus is connected by a network 4 such as a wired or wireless local area network (LAN), and a plurality of host apparatuses 2 perform printing via the network 4. By making it possible to request the work printer 3 to execute a job, the network printer 3 is shared.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of the network printer 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the network printer 3 is mainly configured by a microcomputer having a CPU for performing various operations and control, a ROM for storing various control programs and the like, and a RAM serving as a work area of the CPU connected by a bus. Controller 11 is provided. The controller 11 controls the entire network printer 3. The network printer 3 includes a printer engine 12 for forming an image on paper in an electrophotographic manner, a predetermined communication interface 13 connected to the network 4, and a buffer memory 14 for buffering image data for forming an image with the printer engine 16. An operation panel 15 provided with various operation keys and a liquid crystal panel; trays 16a to 16c serving as a plurality of (three in this example) storage sections for storing transfer paper serving as a medium on which an image is formed by the printer engine 12; An image processing device 17 is provided as image processing means for performing various image processes such as a process of changing the direction of an image of data to image data.
[0019]
The transfer paper in the trays 16a to 16c is conveyed to the printer engine 12 by a predetermined conveyance roller (neither is shown) along a predetermined conveyance path, and after image formation, the same discharge tray 18 outside the machine serving as a discharge unit. Is discharged. The trays 16a to 16c store transfer papers of different sizes (such as A4 and B5), and also store transfer papers of the same size but different directions with respect to the transfer direction of the transfer paper (for example, the same A4). Transfer paper, the long side direction is the same as the transport direction, and the transfer paper is perpendicular to the transport direction).
[0020]
The process of changing the direction of the image performed by the image processing device 17 is, for example, a process of changing the direction of the image by 90 degrees so as to convert the image in the vertical direction of A4 into the image in the horizontal direction of the same size. Since the specific contents of the process are well known, detailed description will be omitted. As described above, by changing the direction of the image by 90 degrees, the direction of the image can be adjusted to the direction of the sheet with respect to the sheet conveyance direction. For example, in the case of A4 transfer paper, if the long side direction is the same as the transport direction, the image to be formed is A4 size, but if an image is to be formed on transfer paper, the long side direction of the image is the transport direction. Since the directions are orthogonal to each other, if the two do not match, if the direction of the image is rotated 90 degrees so that the long side direction of the image is the transport direction, the direction of the image matches the direction of the transfer paper. Image formation becomes possible.
[0021]
Note that the network printer 3 may further include an image reading device that reads an image of a document, and may be implemented as a copying machine in which the printer engine 12 can form an image based on the read image data.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by the network printer 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 15 waits for a print execution instruction from the host device 2 (step S1), and when there is a print execution instruction (Y in step S1), the priority of the print job instructed (step S1). A print order to be executed immediately) is determined from information included in the print job, and a priority determination unit is realized (step S2). That is, the host device 2 can attach such priority information to the print job.
[0023]
If the print job has a low priority (N in step S2) and does not require immediate printing, the current power mode of the printer 3 is checked (step S3). If the power mode of the printer 3 is the energy saving mode (low power mode or sleep mode) (N in step S3), the total data amount of the print job stored in the buffer memory 14 of the printer 3 is confirmed (step S4). If the total data amount is equal to or less than the preset value (Y in step S4), the print job received this time is stored in the buffer memory 14 to realize an image forming execution unit (step S5), and the buffer memory 14 is re-executed. The total data amount of the print job stored in the printer is confirmed (step S6). If the total data amount is equal to or smaller than the set value (Y in step S6), the process returns to step S1 and waits for the next print execution instruction from the host device 2. Move to the instruction waiting state.
Also, when the print instruction is a print request to be executed immediately (N in step S2), or when the network printer 3 is not in the energy saving mode and is ready to print immediately (N in step S3), If the total data amount of the print job stored in the buffer memory 14 is equal to or larger than the above-described set value (N in step S4, N in S6), the print job is executed to realize an image forming execution unit. (Step S7).
[0024]
After the execution of the print job (step S7), it is checked whether or not the print job is stored in the buffer memory 14 (step S8). If the print job still remains in the buffer memory 14 (Y in step S8) Then, the size of the transfer paper required for the next print instruction is confirmed from the print job data (step S9). If the size of the transfer paper is the same as the size of the transfer paper on which the print processing was executed last time (Y in step S10), the size of the transfer paper is the same as that of any of the other trays 16a to 16c, and Is checked whether there is a different transfer sheet (this is because the direction of the transfer sheet is uniquely determined in each of the trays 16a to 16c, so a table in which the information is registered is referred to. The presence or absence of the transfer paper on the trays 16a to 16c can be determined by detecting the presence or absence of the transfer paper with an optical sensor or the like (step S11). If such a transfer paper exists (Y in step S11), the trays 16a and 16b are used. Alternatively, the transfer paper from 16c is selected as the one to be used for image formation, and the direction conversion unit is realized (step S12). The image is rotated by 90 degrees by the image processing device 17 to realize a direction changing means (step S13). The image is oriented to the transfer paper supplied from the tray 16a, 16b or 16c selected in step S12, and the transfer paper is adjusted. To execute the printing process to realize the image forming execution means (step S14).
[0025]
When the priority of the print job for which printing has been instructed is low (N in step S2), the print job is stored in the buffer memory 14 (step S5), and image formation based on the print job is executed. When the priority is high (Y in step S2), image formation based on the print job is executed (step S7). In this case, the image is stored in the buffer memory 14 together with the image formation. Since image formation is also performed for a print job that is present (step S14), power consumption can be reduced.
[0026]
In at least two of the trays 13a to 13c, transfer papers of the same size are stored in different directions from each other, and image formation by the printer engine 12 and discharge of the transfer paper after image formation are performed in the transfer paper direction. Can be performed in directions different from each other, and each print job (steps S7 and S14) executed because of high priority (Y in step S2) is a transfer paper used for the preceding and succeeding print jobs. Is the same, the trays 13a, 13b or 13c for receiving the transfer paper are executed differently, so that the direction of the transfer paper of the same size alternates in the discharge tray 18 between successive print jobs. Therefore, sorting for each print job becomes easy.
[0027]
It should be noted that, for each print job (steps S7 and S14) executed because the priority is high (Y in step S2), there are a plurality of print jobs having the same transfer paper size and different transfer paper sizes. When print jobs also exist, the execution order of each print job may be set so that print jobs of different sizes are executed between print jobs of the same size (execution order setting means).
[0028]
As a result, transfer sheets of different sizes are alternately output to the discharge tray 18 as much as possible, so that it is possible to further easily sort the transfer sheets for each print job after image formation.
[0029]
As a printing method of the printer engine 16, various methods such as an ink jet method, a sublimation type thermal transfer method, a silver halide photographic method, a direct thermal recording method, and a fusion type thermal transfer method can be used in addition to the electrophotographic method. However, if the present invention is applied to the case where the electrophotographic method using the heat fixing method is used, this type of printing method consumes a large amount of power to heat the fixing device when returning from the energy saving mode. Great power saving effect.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, low-priority print jobs are collectively processed when a high-priority print job is executed, thereby reducing power consumption particularly when an energy saving mode or the like is employed. Can be. Further, in this case, when the size of the medium is the same between the print jobs that are continuously executed, the image is formed so that the orientation of the medium is different between the print jobs. Even if it is ejected, the sorting of the media for each print job becomes easy.
[0031]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, an image can be appropriately formed by changing the direction of an image in accordance with the direction of a medium.
[0032]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, media having different sizes are alternately output as much as possible, so that the media can be more easily sorted for each print job after image formation. can do.
[0033]
The invention according to claims 4 and 5 can provide the same operation and effect as the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a network printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a network printer constituting the network printer system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process executed by the network printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 network system 2 information processing device 3 image forming device 4 network 12 printer engine 14 buffers 16 a to 16 c storage unit 17 image processing means

Claims (5)

A printer engine for forming an image on a medium based on image data,
A buffer capable of storing the image data,
When there is a print job requested to execute this image formation, priority determining means for determining, from information attached to the print job, a priority as to whether or not the image formation should be performed immediately,
When the priority is low, the print job is stored in the buffer and the execution of the image formation based on the print job is reserved. When the priority is high, the image based on the print job is stored. An image forming execution means for executing the image formation and executing the image formation for the print job stored in the buffer together with the image formation when the image formation is executed because the priority is high. When,
A plurality of media that store the media of the same size in different directions, and perform image formation by the printer engine and discharge of the media after the image formation so that the directions of the media are different from each other. Storage section,
Each of the print jobs executed due to the high priority is a direction change executed when the size of the medium used for the preceding and succeeding print jobs is the same and the storage unit receiving the supply of the medium is different. Means,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus further includes an image processing unit configured to perform a process of changing an image direction with respect to the image data,
The direction conversion unit is configured such that, when the size of the medium used for the preceding and succeeding print jobs is the same, each of the print jobs executed due to the high priority is adjusted to the direction of the medium to be supplied. Performing and executing a process of changing the direction of the image,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Each of the print jobs executed because of the high priority has a plurality of the print jobs having the same medium size, and when there is a print job having a different medium size, the print job of the same size is Further comprising an execution order setting means for setting an execution order of each print job so that the print jobs of different sizes are executed.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Further comprising an image reading device for reading the image of the document,
The printer engine is capable of forming the image based on the read image data,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
One or more information processing apparatuses connected to the image forming apparatus via a network and capable of requesting the image forming apparatus to execute the print job via the network;
A network system comprising:

Images