JP6268495B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming program for executing printing on a recording medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming includes a printing unit that performs printing on a recording medium, a drawing data generation unit that generates drawing data for causing the printing unit to perform printing, and a medium supply unit that supplies the recording medium to the printing unit An apparatus is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). The medium supply means performs primary supply for supplying the recording medium to a specific position and secondary supply for supplying the recording medium from a specific position to the printing unit. Since the conventional image forming apparatus starts the primary supply before the completion of the generation of the drawing data, the printing speed can be improved as compared with the configuration in which the primary supply is started after the generation of the drawing data is completed. .

JP 2013-088773 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, since the use color in the printing executed by the printing unit based on the drawing data is determined after the generation of the drawing data is completed, whether or not printing by the printing unit is permitted is used. When the determination is made based on the color, the primary supply must be started after the generation of the drawing data is completed, which causes a problem that the printing speed is lowered.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming program capable of improving the printing speed.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing unit that performs printing on a recording medium, a drawing data generation unit that generates drawing data for causing the printing unit to perform printing, and a medium that supplies the recording medium to the printing unit Supply means, and print permission determination means for determining whether or not to permit printing by the printing unit, wherein the medium supply means includes a primary supply for supplying the recording medium to a specific position, and the recording medium as the recording medium. Secondary supply supplied to the printing unit from a specific position is executed, and the drawing data generation means is used in printing executed by the printing unit based on the drawing data when generating the drawing data The drawing data generation means can determine a color different from the designated color specified for printing as the use color, and the printing permission determination means can determine the drawing data generation Before the completion of generation of the drawing data by the stage, based on the specified color, and the medium supply unit is determined by the print permission determination unit based on the specified color to permit printing by the printing unit. The medium supply unit starts the secondary supply when the designated color and the used color match after the drawing data generation unit completes the generation of the drawing data. It is characterized by that.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention starts primary supply when it is determined that printing by the printing unit is permitted based on the specified color before completion of drawing data generation, and generation of drawing data is started. Since the secondary supply is started when the specified color and the used color match after completion, the primary supply is started when it is determined that printing by the printing unit is permitted based on the used color after the drawing data generation is completed. The printing speed can be improved as compared with the configuration to be performed.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the medium supply unit may make a determination based on the use color when the designated color and the use color do not match after the drawing data generation unit completes the generation of the drawing data. The medium supply unit may start the secondary supply when it is determined by the print permission determination unit based on the use color that printing by the printing unit is permitted.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention starts primary supply when it is determined that printing by the printing unit is permitted based on the specified color before completion of drawing data generation, and generation of drawing data is started. Even if the specified color and the used color do not match after completion, the secondary supply starts when it is determined based on the used color that printing by the printing unit is permitted. Can be improved as compared with the configuration in which the primary supply is started when it is determined based on the used color after the generation of the drawing data is completed.

  An image forming program according to the present invention includes: an image forming apparatus including a printing unit that executes printing on a recording medium; a drawing data generation unit that generates drawing data for causing the printing unit to perform printing; and a recording medium that includes the printing unit. And a medium supply means for supplying the recording medium, and a print permission determining means for determining whether or not to permit printing by the printing section. The medium supply means is a primary supply for supplying a recording medium to a specific position. The secondary supply for supplying the recording medium from the specific position to the printing unit is executed, and the drawing data generation unit is executed by the printing unit based on the drawing data when generating the drawing data. The drawing data generation means can determine a color different from the specified color specified for printing as the used color, and The permission determining means makes a determination based on the specified color before the drawing data generating means completes the generation of the drawing data, and the medium supplying means determines that the printing unit permits printing based on the specified color. The primary supply is started when the print permission determination unit determines, and the medium supply unit matches the designated color and the use color after the drawing data generation unit completes the generation of the drawing data. In this case, the secondary supply is started.

  With this configuration, the image forming program of the present invention starts primary supply when it is determined that printing by the printing unit is permitted based on the specified color before completion of generation of drawing data, and generation of drawing data is started. Since the secondary supply is started when the specified color and the used color match after completion, the primary supply is started when it is determined that printing by the printing unit is permitted based on the used color after the drawing data generation is completed. The printing speed can be improved as compared with the configuration to be performed.

  The image forming apparatus and the image forming program of the present invention can improve the printing speed.

1 is a block diagram of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal structure of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the time of the various processes by the drawing data production | generation means shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 at the time when execution of primary supply is completed. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 that is executing secondary supply. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when executing printing.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of MFP 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 includes an operation unit 11 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations, and a display unit 12 that is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. A scanner 13 that reads an image from a document, a printer 20 that performs printing on a recording medium such as paper, and an external facsimile apparatus (not shown) and a communication line such as a public telephone line Various types of information include a fax communication unit 14 that is a fax device that performs fax communication, a network communication unit 15 that is a network communication device that communicates with an external device via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet. Memory semiconductor memory Lee, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) storage unit 16 is a nonvolatile storage device such as, and a control unit 17 which controls the entire MFP 10.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the internal structure of the MFP 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 20 includes a cassette 21 that supplies a recording medium 90 and a medium discharge unit 22 that discharges the recording medium 90.

  In the printer 20, a conveyance path 23 for the recording medium 90 from the cassette 21 to the medium discharge unit 22 is formed. The printer 20 includes a large number of transport rollers (not shown) for transporting the recording medium 90 along the transport path 23 on the transport path 23.

  The printer 20 includes a printing unit 24 that executes printing on a recording medium 90. In the printing unit 24, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black photosensitive drums 24 a to 24 d that form toner images on the surface, and toner images formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 24 a to 24 d are transferred to the surface. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt 24e that transfers an image of toner transferred to the surface to the recording medium 90, and a fixing unit 24f that fixes the image of toner transferred from the transfer belt 24e onto the recording medium 90 to the recording medium 90. ing.

  The printer 20 includes a registration roller 25 for adjusting the conveyance timing of the recording medium 90 so that the image transferred from the toner transferred onto the surface of the transfer belt 24 e is appropriately transferred to the recording medium 90, and the medium discharge unit 22. And a discharge sensor 26 for detecting that the recording medium 90 has been discharged.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the storage unit 16 stores an image forming program 16 a for controlling the MFP 10. The image forming program 16a may be installed in the MFP 10 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 10, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 10 from an external storage medium such as an SD card or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or on the network. To the MFP 10 may be additionally installed.

  The storage unit 16 stores a counter 16b indicating the printing amount. As the counter 16b, color printing and monochrome printing are prepared for each user, each group to which the user belongs, and the entire MFP 10.

  The storage unit 16 can store a print permission setting 16c indicating a setting as to whether or not to execute a print permission determination. The print permission setting 16 c can be set according to an instruction via the operation unit 11 or the network communication unit 15.

  The storage unit 16 stores a print permission amount 16d. As the permitted amount 16d, color printing and monochrome printing are prepared for each user, for each group to which the user belongs, and for the entire MFP 10. The permitted amount 16 d can be set according to an instruction via the operation unit 11 or the network communication unit 15.

  The control unit 17 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a program and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. Yes. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 16.

  The control unit 17 executes the image forming program 16a stored in the storage unit 16, thereby generating drawing data generation means 17a for generating drawing data for causing the printing unit 24 to execute printing, and the recording medium 90 as the printing unit. 24 functions as medium supply means 17b to be supplied to 24 and print permission determination means 17c for determining whether or not to allow printing by the printing unit 24.

  The drawing data generation unit 17a is configured to draw data based on print data received from an external device via the network communication unit 15, an external storage medium such as an SD card or a USB memory, or print data read from the storage unit 16, for example. Is generated. In addition, the drawing data generation unit 17 a is configured to receive an image received from an external device via the network communication unit 15, an image read from an external storage medium such as an SD card or a USB memory, the storage unit 16, or a document by the scanner 13. Drawing data is generated based on the read image.

  The print data includes a designated color of either monochrome or color. In addition, when the drawing data generation unit 17a generates drawing data based on an image, either one of monochrome and color is designated. The designated color can be designated via a printer driver of the external device or the operation unit 11.

  When drawing data is generated, the drawing data generation unit 17a determines a color used in printing executed by the printing unit 24 based on the drawing data. That is, the drawing data generation unit 17a includes a color conversion module. For example, even when the designated color is a color, if the color actually included in the image to be printed is only an achromatic color, the color used in the drawing data generated by the drawing data generation unit 17a May become black and white. That is, the use color determined by the drawing data generation unit 17a may be different from the designated color. Therefore, the print permission determination unit 17c changes the print amount according to the use color determined by the drawing data generation unit 17a, not the designated color.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of various processing times by the drawing data generation unit 17a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the external device generates print data (S51), and starts transmitting the generated print data to the MFP 10 (S52). Therefore, the control unit 17 of the MFP 10 starts receiving print data transmitted from an external device (S53), and starts a print job based on the received print data (S54). Then, when executing the job activated in S54, the drawing data generation unit 17a of the control unit 17 generates intermediate image data based on the print data (S55), and rasterizes the intermediate image data generated in S55. (S56). The drawing data generation unit 17a generates drawing data by performing color conversion processing on the rasterized image data (S57).

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the drawing data generation unit 17 a starts to generate drawing data based on print data received from an external device via the network communication unit 15. The same applies to the case where the generation of drawing data is started based on other print data or images such as print data input from a medium.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the medium supply means 17b shown in FIG. 1 performs primary supply for supplying the recording medium 90 from the cassette 21 to a specific position, that is, the position of the registration roller 25, and as shown in FIG. A secondary supply is performed in which the recording medium 90 is supplied from the position of the registration roller 25 to the printing unit 24 and discharged to the medium discharge unit 22.

  The MFP 10 advances the recording medium 90 in advance by primary supply to the position of the registration roller 25, and prints immediately by secondary supply as soon as preparation for printing processing such as generation of drawing data by the drawing data generation unit 17a is completed. Printing on the recording medium 90 by the unit 24 can be executed. Therefore, the MFP 10 can improve the printing speed.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the secondary supply is started, for example, at time t61. The drawing data generated by the color conversion process in S57 is compressed at time t62 when the color conversion process in S57 is completed. Therefore, for example, the control unit 17 decompresses the drawing data generated by the color conversion processing in S57, adjusts the position of the drawing data in accordance with the margin set in the print data, or is set in the print data. It is necessary to perform a preparatory work such as rotating the drawing data in accordance with the rotating direction in which the printing unit 24 performs printing. The control unit 17 executes processing for each region (band) obtained by dividing the drawing data into a plurality of regions. The medium supply unit 17b starts the secondary supply when the above preparation work is completed for, for example, two bands. Therefore, the timing t61 at which the secondary supply is started is after the timing t62 at which the color conversion process in S57 is completed. The control unit 17 executes the remaining band preparation work in parallel with the secondary supply.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the primary supply is started, for example, at either time t62 when the color conversion process in S57 ends or time t63 before time t62. When the primary supply is started at a time t63 before the time t62, it may not be the time shown in FIG. For example, the time t63 may be the start time of the process of S56. However, when the MFP 10 can supply the recording medium 90 from a plurality of supply sources, the MFP 10 determines the size of the storage medium 90 in S55, and further performs primary supply based on the determined size. When the supply source is determined, the timing t63 at which the primary supply is started needs to be after the timing t64 when the process of S55 ends.

  The control unit 17 starts the preparation of the printing unit 24 such as starting to warm the fixing unit 24f, for example, at a time t65 near the start time of the process of S55. The time t65 may be before the start time of the process of S55, may be the start time of the process of S55, or may be after the start time of the process of S55.

  The print permission determination unit 17c shown in FIG. 1 uses the print data and the number of prints designated via the operation unit 11 after the printing by the printing unit 24 is completed and the used color determined by the drawing data generation unit 17a. Based on this, the printing amount indicated by the counter 16b is changed for the user, the group to which the user belongs, and the MFP 10 as a whole.

  The print permission determination unit 17c uses the current print amount indicated by the counter 16b and the print amount to be executed by the print unit 24 in order to allow the print unit 24 to execute printing based on the drawing data. It is determined whether or not the total amount of the change amount scheduled to occur is within the permitted amount 16d. Here, the print permission determination unit 17c determines the print unit based on the print data and the number of prints specified through the operation unit 11 and the specified color or the use color determined by the drawing data generation unit 17a. When printing is executed based on the drawing data, the change amount scheduled to occur is determined for the print amount. When the change amount is determined based on the designated color, when the specified color is a color, or when the change amount is determined based on the use color, the use color is indicated by the counter 16b for color printing. A change amount occurs in the print amount. When the change amount is determined based on the specified color, the specified color is monochrome, or when the change amount is determined based on the use color, and the use color is monochrome, the monochrome printing counter 16b. A change amount occurs in the print amount indicated by. The print permission determination unit 17c then prints the change amount for the user and the group to which the user belongs based on the current print amount indicated by the counter 16b and the allowance amount 16d. Even if it is added to the amount, it is determined whether or not it falls within the permitted amount 16d. Even if the change amount is added to the current print amount, the print permission determination unit 17c permits the printing unit 24 to execute printing based on the drawing data if it falls within the allowable amount 16d. The medium supply unit 17b starts primary supply for execution of printing by the printing unit 24 when execution of printing by the printing unit 24 is permitted by the printing permission determination unit 17c.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 10 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 10 when executing printing.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the medium supply unit 17b determines whether the print permission determination by the print permission determination unit 17c is executed based on the print permission setting 16c (S101).

  If the medium supply unit 17b determines in S101 that the print permission determination by the print permission determination unit 17c is not executed, the medium supply unit 17b executes the primary supply (S102).

  When the print permission determination unit 17c determines in S101 that the print permission determination by the print permission determination unit 17c is executed, whether or not to permit printing by the printing unit 24 is determined by a counter related to the logged-in user. A determination is made based on the current print amount indicated by 16b, the permitted amount 16d related to the logged-in user, the designated color, and the print data and the number of prints designated via the operation unit 11 (S103). ).

  Next, the medium supply unit 17b determines whether or not the determination result in S103 is permission (S104).

  When the medium supply unit 17b determines in S104 that the determination result is not permitted, the medium supply unit 17b ends the operation illustrated in FIG.

  When the medium supply unit 17b determines in S104 that the determination result is permission, the medium supply unit 17b executes primary supply (S105).

  Next, the print permission determination unit 17c determines whether or not the designated color matches the use color determined by the drawing data generation unit 17a (S106).

  If the print permission determination unit 17c determines in S106 that the designated color and the use color do not match, whether or not to permit printing by the printing unit 24 is determined by the counter 16b related to the logged-in user. The determination is made based on the amount, the permitted amount 16d related to the logged-in user, the used color determined by the drawing data generation unit 17a, and the number of prints specified via the print data or the operation unit 11. (S107).

  Next, the medium supply unit 17b determines whether or not the determination result in S107 is permission (S108).

  When the medium supply unit 17b determines in S108 that the determination result is not permitted, the recording medium 90 advanced to the position of the registration roller 25 by the primary supply in S105 is discharged from the position of the registration roller 25 to the medium discharge unit 22. In step S109, the operation shown in FIG. Note that the medium supply unit 17b prohibits printing on the recording medium 90 by the printing unit 24 in the discharge in S109. Further, the medium supply unit 17b causes the printing unit 24 to clean the toner on the photosensitive drums 24a to 24d and the transfer belt 24e when executing the discharge in S109.

  When the medium supply unit 17b determines in S106 that the process of S102 is completed, or whether the designated color and the used color match, or determines in S108 that the determination result is permitted, the medium supply unit 17b executes the secondary supply (S110). ), The operation shown in FIG.

  As described above, when the MFP 10 determines that printing by the printing unit 24 is permitted based on the designated color before the completion of drawing data generation (YES in S104), the MFP 10 starts primary supply (S105). ), When the specified color and the used color match after the completion of the generation of the drawing data (YES in S106), the secondary supply is started (S110), so that the printing by the printing unit 24 is permitted. The printing speed can be improved as compared with the configuration in which the primary supply is started when the determination is made based on the used color after completion.

  When the MFP 10 determines that printing by the printing unit 24 is permitted based on the specified color before the completion of the generation of drawing data (YES in S104), the MFP 10 starts primary supply (S105), and generates drawing data. Even if the designated color and the used color do not match after completion (NO in S106), secondary supply starts when it is determined based on the used color that printing by the printing unit 24 is permitted (YES in S108) Therefore, the printing speed is improved as compared with the configuration in which the primary supply is started when it is determined that the printing by the printing unit 24 is permitted based on the used color after the generation of the drawing data is completed. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, the print permission determination unit 17c determines whether to permit printing by the printing unit 24 based on the counter 16b and the permitted amount 16d stored in the storage unit 16. However, the print permission determination unit 17c may receive at least one of the counter and the permitted amount from an external device via the network communication unit 15. The print permission determination unit 17c is specified via the identification information of the logged-in user and the specified color or the color used by the drawing data generation unit 17a and the print data or the operation unit 11. The number of prints is transmitted to an external device via the network communication unit 15, and the external device determines whether to permit printing by the printing unit 24, thereby determining the print permission determination result of the external device. The determination result of the means 17c itself may be used.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine or a copy dedicated machine, as long as the image forming apparatus executes printing.

10 MFP (image forming apparatus)
16a Image formation program 17a Drawing data generation means 17b Medium supply means 17c Print permission determination means 24 Printing section 90 Recording medium

Claims (3)

A printing unit for printing on a recording medium;
Drawing data generating means for generating drawing data for causing the printing unit to execute printing;
Medium supply means for supplying a recording medium to the printing unit;
Printing permission determination means for determining whether to permit printing by the printing unit,
The medium supply means includes
A primary supply for supplying a recording medium to a specific position;
A secondary supply for supplying a recording medium from the specific position to the printing unit;
The drawing data generation means determines a color used in printing executed by the printing unit based on the drawing data when generating the drawing data;
The drawing data generation means can determine a color different from the designated color designated for printing as the use color,
The print permission determination unit determines based on the designated color before the generation of the drawing data by the drawing data generation unit;
The medium supply unit starts the primary supply when the printing permission determination unit determines that printing by the printing unit is permitted based on the specified color,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the medium supply unit starts the secondary supply when the designated color and the use color match after the drawing data generation unit completes the generation of the drawing data. The medium supply unit determines based on the use color when the designated color and the use color do not match after the drawing data generation unit completes the generation of the drawing data,
The medium supply unit starts the secondary supply when the printing permission determination unit determines that printing by the printing unit is permitted based on the use color. Image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus including a printing unit that performs printing on a recording medium,
Drawing data generating means for generating drawing data for causing the printing unit to execute printing;
Medium supply means for supplying a recording medium to the printing unit; and
Function as a print permission determination unit for determining whether or not to permit printing by the printing unit;
The medium supply means includes
A primary supply for supplying a recording medium to a specific position;
A secondary supply for supplying a recording medium from the specific position to the printing unit;
The drawing data generation means determines a color used in printing executed by the printing unit based on the drawing data when generating the drawing data;
The drawing data generation means can determine a color different from the designated color designated for printing as the use color,
The print permission determination unit determines based on the designated color before the generation of the drawing data by the drawing data generation unit;
The medium supply unit starts the primary supply when the printing permission determination unit determines that printing by the printing unit is permitted based on the specified color,
The image forming program, wherein the medium supply unit starts the secondary supply when the designated color and the used color match after the drawing data generation unit completes the generation of the drawing data.

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