JP2009063818A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten job execution time in the case a plurality of pages of different image forming conditions is present in a job. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a control part 110 for setting the image forming order either of the order from the top paper sheet to the end paper sheet (1 to N) or the order from the end paper sheet to the top paper sheet (N to 1) based on the result of comparing an image forming condition set before execution of a job and an image forming condition for a top paper sheet or an image forming condition for an end paper sheet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus having a facsimile, a printer, and a copy function has image data consisting of a plurality of pages and image forming conditions for each page, and executes image forming execution in the order in which it is acquired, and forms an image on a sheet. Had gone. However, depending on the image formation conditions included in the job, if some characteristic processing must be performed before the start of image formation, output is performed in the order in which the jobs are received. It may take a lot of time to output everything.
Therefore, as a technique for improving the productivity by reducing the time required for outputting a plurality of jobs, there is a technique for changing the execution order for each job.

  For example, when executing a plurality of jobs, the number of times the image forming conditions are changed or changed based on the current image forming conditions (fixing temperature, image forming speed, etc.) and the image forming conditions corresponding to the type of job recording medium Discloses an image forming apparatus that controls the job execution order so that the time required for the process is reduced (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a color image forming apparatus that performs a single color print that forms a black toner image and a multicolor print that forms a toner image of each color has different image forming speeds between the single color print and the multicolor print. As described above, there is a technique for improving the productivity by reducing the time required for changing the image forming speed when continuously forming images on sheets having different image forming speeds.

For example, when switching from multi-color printing to single-color printing, the conveyance of the single-color printed paper is started during the image formation of the multi-color printed paper, and the conveyance speed is changed before the single-color printing on the paper. A technique for performing printing is disclosed (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2005-225039 A JP 2002-323805 A

  However, the technique as described in Patent Document 1 changes the execution order in units of jobs. When focusing on a single job, if the image forming conditions are different in units of pages in the job, they are in units of paper. Since the execution order is not changed, the time for executing one job is not shortened.

  Further, the technique as described in Patent Document 2 merely shortens the switching time of the image forming speed and does not change the image forming order of the paper, so the number of switching of the image forming speed within one job is not changed. . Therefore, when the monochromatic print and the multicolor print are frequently switched, the operation is executed every number of times of switching, and the switching operation load is still not reduced.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to shorten a job execution time when a plurality of pages having different image forming conditions are mixed in one job.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image forming unit that forms an image by executing a job having page data of different image forming conditions, the image forming condition of the first sheet or the image forming condition of the last sheet, and the job Are compared with the image forming conditions set before the execution of, and based on the comparison result, either the order from the first paper to the last paper or the order from the last paper to the first paper An image forming apparatus including a control unit that sets an image forming order is provided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the job is composed of a plurality of units, and the control unit controls the image forming condition of the first sheet of each unit or the final sheet. Are compared with the image forming conditions set before the execution of each section, and based on the comparison result, the order from the first sheet to the last sheet or the last sheet to the first sheet is determined for each copy. The image formation order is set in any one of the orders toward the image.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, when the comparison result matches the image forming condition of the final sheet, the control unit changes from the final sheet to the leading sheet. The image forming order is set in the order of heading.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the control unit, when the comparison result matches an image forming condition of the leading sheet, The image formation order is set in the order from the paper to the final paper.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the image forming condition is a fixing condition, an image forming speed, or a combination thereof.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image formation order is based on the comparison result between the image formation conditions set before the execution of the job and the image formation conditions of either the first sheet or the last sheet. Since the number of times the image forming conditions are changed can be reduced, and the total time required for changing the image forming conditions can be reduced, the execution time of a single job can be reduced. be able to.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the same effect as in the first aspect can be obtained, and when the job is composed of a plurality of parts, the number of times of changing the image forming condition in each part is reduced. In addition, since the total time required for changing the image forming conditions can be shortened, the execution time for each copy can be shortened, and the job execution time can be shortened.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the same effect as in the first or second aspect can be obtained, and if the image forming conditions of the final paper are matched, the images are printed in the order from the final paper to the leading paper. By setting the forming order, the number of times of changing the image forming conditions can be reduced.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as in any one of the first to third aspects can be obtained, and if the image forming condition of the leading sheet coincides, the image forming condition is changed. The image forming order can be set in the order from the first sheet to the last sheet, and the number of times of changing the image forming conditions can be reduced.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as in any one of the first to fourth aspects can be obtained, and more time is required when changing to different image forming conditions depending on the type of paper. Since the image forming order can be set according to the required fixing conditions, the image forming speed, or the comparison result of these combinations, the job execution time can be shortened.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 reads an image from a document, forms an image of the read image on a sheet P, page data including image data from an external device or the like, image forming conditions of each image data, and the like. A digital multi-function peripheral including a print unit 40 that forms an image on paper P based on the received job, a post-processing unit 50 that temporarily stores the paper on which the image is formed, and the like. is there. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 20, an operation display unit 30, a printing unit 40, a post-processing unit 50, and the like.

  The image reading unit 20 includes an automatic document feeder 21 called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) and a reading unit 22. The document d placed on the document tray T1 of the automatic document feeder 21 is conveyed to a contact glass as a reading location, and an image on one or both sides of the document d is read by an optical system, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 22a. As a result, the image of the document d is read. Here, the image means not only image data such as graphics and photographs but also text data such as characters and symbols.

  An image (analog image signal) read by the image reading unit 20 is output to a reading processing unit 140 of an image control board, which will be described later, A / D converted by the reading processing unit 140 and subjected to various image processing, and then printed. Is output to the unit 40.

  The operation display unit 30 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a touch panel 31 provided so as to cover the LCD, and other operation key groups (not shown). The operation display unit 30 receives user input and outputs input information to the control unit 110. Further, various setting screens for inputting various setting conditions, various processing results, and the like are displayed in accordance with a display signal input from the control unit 110.

  On the touch panel 31 of the operation display unit 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, a screen for setting paper stored in each paper feed tray in the image forming apparatus 1, or as shown in FIGS. Various setting screens such as a screen for setting the back cover are displayed.

  2 shows an example of a machine state setting screen G10, FIG. 3 shows an example of a paper setting screen G11, FIG. 4 shows an example of a tray setting screen G12, FIG. 5 shows an example of a tray setting change screen G13, and FIG. 6 shows a tray paper type setting screen. An example of G14 will be shown, and a setting operation of paper stored in each paper feed tray in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  The machine state setting screen G10 shown in FIG. 2 includes a state display area E11, a tray display area E12, a history display area E13, a paper setting button B10a for displaying a paper setting screen G11, an adjustment setting button B10b, and a controller setting button B10c. The image forming apparatus 1 is a screen for accepting display of operation states and inspection points of each part in the image forming apparatus 1 and setting change of each part.

  The paper setting screen G11 shown in FIG. 3 is a screen displayed when the paper setting button B10a of the machine state setting screen G10 shown in FIG. 2 is selected. The tray setting button B11a for displaying the tray setting screen G12 is displayed. A paper condition registration button B11b for displaying a screen for registering paper conditions and a paper condition deleting button B11c for displaying a screen for deleting registered paper conditions are provided.

  A tray setting screen G12 shown in FIG. 4 is a screen displayed when the tray setting button B11a shown in FIG. 3 is selected. The tray setting screen G12 has a plurality of tray buttons B12a corresponding to the respective paper feed trays and performs settings. A tray selection unit B12 that accepts an instruction to select a paper feed tray, a plurality of tray buttons B12a corresponding to each paper feed tray, and a setting status of a paper feed tray corresponding to the tray button B12a selected from the plurality of tray buttons B12a are displayed. A tray setting status display area E14 to be set, a setting change button B12b for displaying a tray setting change screen G13, a setting registration button B12c for receiving a registration instruction with the contents displayed in the tray setting status display area E14, a size setting button B12d, A sheet condition selection button B12e, an air blow setting button B12f, and the like are provided.

  A tray setting change screen G13 shown in FIG. 5 is a screen that is displayed when the setting change button B12b shown in FIG. 4 is selected. A paper type button B13a and a basis weight button for displaying the tray paper type setting screen G14. B13b, colored paper button B13c, punch hole button B13d, front / back adjustment button B13e, OK button B13f, and the like, and the contents set by each button are displayed at positions corresponding to the buttons B13a to B13e.

  A tray paper type setting screen G14 shown in FIG. 6 is a screen that is displayed when the paper type button B13a shown in FIG. 5 is selected. A paper type selection unit B14 that accepts a paper type selection instruction, and an OK button. B14b etc. are provided. The paper type selection unit B14 has a plurality of selectable paper type buttons B14a indicating the type of each paper. Examples of paper types include plain paper, thick paper, colored paper, high-quality paper, book paper, rough paper, user paper set by the user, insertion paper on which no image is formed (unprinted insertion paper), OHP paper, and the like. is there.

For example, when setting the paper stored in a certain paper feed tray in the image forming apparatus 1, first, the paper setting button B10a is selected on the machine state setting screen G10 shown in FIG. Is displayed. Then, the tray setting button B11a is selected on the paper setting screen G11, and the tray setting screen G12 is displayed. When the tray change button B12b is selected after the tray button B12a corresponding to “Tray 2” is selected as the paper supply tray for setting paper on the tray setting screen G12, the paper supply tray corresponding to “Tray 2” is selected. The tray setting change screen G13 is displayed. When the paper type button B13a is selected and the OK button B13f is selected on the tray setting change screen G13, a tray paper type setting screen G14 is displayed. When the paper type button B14a corresponding to “thick paper” is selected and the OK button B14b is selected on the tray paper type setting screen G14, thick paper is selected as the type of paper stored in the paper feed tray corresponding to “tray 2”. Will be set.
Thus, the user can arbitrarily set the paper stored in the paper feed tray in the image forming apparatus 1.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a copy setting screen G20, FIG. 8 shows an example of an application setting screen G21, FIG. 9 shows an example of an intersheet setting screen G22, FIG. 10 shows an example of a back cover setting screen G23, and an operation for setting a back cover Will be explained.

  The copy setting screen G20 shown in FIG. 7 has a document setting area E21, an image quality setting area E22, a magnification setting area E23, an application setting area E24, an output setting area E25, a duplex setting area E26, and a paper reservation setting area E27. This is a screen for performing various settings for an image to be formed and various settings for a sheet on which an image is formed. The application setting area E24 includes an application setting button B20 for displaying an application setting screen G21.

  The application setting screen G21 shown in FIG. 8 is a screen that is displayed when the application setting button B20 of the copy setting screen G20 shown in FIG. 7 is selected. A page editing area E28 for setting various application functions that can be selected, and an image application area E29 for setting application functions for an image formed on a sheet based on each page data. The page editing area E28 includes an intersheet setting button B21 for displaying an intersheet setting screen G22.

  The intersheet setting screen G22 shown in FIG. 9 is a screen that is displayed when the intersheet setting button B21 on the application setting screen G21 shown in FIG. 8 is selected, and a front cover button B22a for setting a front cover, A back cover button B22b for displaying a back cover setting screen G23 for setting a cover, and an insert paper button B22c for setting a paper to be inserted when an image based on each page data is formed on the paper are provided. This is a screen for setting to attach a front cover, back cover, or insertion sheet to a booklet made of paper.

The back cover setting screen G23 shown in FIG. 10 is a screen that is displayed when the back cover button B22b shown in FIG. 9 is selected. The no cover button B23a, the print cover button B23b, the blank cover button B23c, A single-sided button B23d, a double-sided button B23e, a tray paper selection unit B23, an OK button B23g, and the like are provided.
Etc.

  The no cover button B23a accepts a setting instruction not to attach a back cover. A print cover button B23b accepts a (print) setting instruction to form an image on the back cover. The blank cover button B23c accepts a setting instruction to form a blank image on the back cover (blank sheet). When the blank cover button B23c is set, page data including blank sheet image data and various data such as image forming conditions is generated as the image data for the blank cover. The single-sided button B23d and the double-sided button B23e can accept a setting instruction when the print cover button B23b is instructed to set. The single-sided button B23d accepts a setting instruction to form an image on one side of the paper, and the double-sided button B23e. Accepts a setting instruction to form an image on both sides of the paper.

  The tray paper selection unit B23 displays a paper type set for each paper feed tray, and a plurality of tray paper buttons for receiving a setting instruction for a paper feed tray containing paper that can be set as a back cover B23f.

For example, when setting the back cover, first, the application setting button B20 is selected on the copy setting screen G20 shown in FIG. 7, and the application setting screen G21 is displayed. Then, the intersheet setting button B21 is selected on the application setting screen G21, and the intersheet setting screen G22 is displayed. When the back cover button B22b is selected on the inter sheet setting screen G22, the back cover setting screen G23 is displayed. On the back cover setting screen G23, after the print cover button B23b is selected, the single-sided button B23d is selected, and the tray paper button B23f of the tray 2 corresponding to the paper feed tray storing cardboard is selected. When the OK button B23g is selected, the thick paper stored in the paper feed tray corresponding to the tray 2 on which an image is formed on one side is set as the back cover.
As described above, the user can arbitrarily set the back cover for the acquired job.

  The print unit 40 performs electrophotographic image forming processing based on input print data, and includes a paper feed unit 41, a paper feed conveyance unit 42, an image formation unit 43, and a carry-out unit 44. Is done.

  The paper feed unit 41 includes a plurality of paper feed trays 41a, paper feed means 41b, a manual feed tray T2, and the like. The paper feed tray 41a stores paper P identified in advance for each paper type for each paper feed tray 41a. The paper feed means 41b directs the paper P from the top to the paper feed / conveyance section 42 one by one. Transport. The manual feed tray T2 can stack various types of paper P according to the user's needs, and transports the paper P stacked by the paper feed rollers one by one from the top to the paper feed transport unit 42. To do.

The sheet feeding / conveying section 42 conveys the sheet P conveyed from the sheet feeding tray 41a or the manual feed tray T2 to the transfer device 43a via a plurality of intermediate rollers, registration rollers 42a, and the like.
Further, the sheet feeding / conveying section 42 conveys the sheet P on which the single-sided image formation processing has been performed to the duplex conveying path by the conveyance path switching plate, and again conveys it to the transfer device 43a via the intermediate roller and the registration roller 42a.

  The image forming unit 43 includes an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device 43a, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser output unit that outputs laser light based on image data, and a polygon mirror that scans the laser light in the main scanning direction. A cleaning unit and a fixing device 43b are provided. Specifically, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating a photosensitive drum charged by a charging device with laser light using an exposure device. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image by attaching charged toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum by the developing device is transferred to the paper P by the transfer device 43a. Further, after the toner image is transferred to the paper P, residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum is removed by the cleaning unit.

  The fixing device 43 b thermally fixes the toner image transferred to the paper P conveyed by the paper feed conveyance unit 42. The fixed sheet P is sandwiched between the discharge rollers of the carry-out unit 44 and conveyed from the carry-out port to the post-processing unit 50.

  The post-processing unit 50 includes a sorting unit that performs sorting of sheets on which images are formed, a punch unit that performs punching processing, a stapling unit that performs stapling processing to bind a bundle of sheets at a set binding position, and a folding unit that performs folding processing. And a post-processing unit such as a cutting unit that performs a cutting process. Sheets that have been or have not been subjected to various processes are discharged to a discharge tray T3.

FIG. 11 shows a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1.
As shown in FIG. 11, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body 1a, a printer controller 1b, and a post-processing unit 50 connected to the main body 1a. The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to an external apparatus 2 on the network 3 through a LANIF (Local Area Network InterFace) 14 of the printer controller 1b so as to be able to send and receive information to and from each other.

  The main body unit 1a includes an image reading unit 20, an operation display unit 30, a printing unit 40, and an image control board 100. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure same as each part demonstrated in FIG. 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The image control board 100 includes a control unit 110, a nonvolatile memory 120, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 130, a reading processing unit 140, a compression IC 150, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) control IC 160, an image memory 170, a decompression IC 180, and a writing process. Part 190.

The control unit 110 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, reads a system program stored in the non-volatile memory 120 and a specified program from various application programs, expands the RAM 130, and expands the RAM 130. Various processes are executed in cooperation with the program, and each part of the image forming apparatus 1 is centrally controlled.
For example, in accordance with an instruction signal input from the operation display unit 30 or the external device 2, the copy mode, printer mode, and scanner mode are switched, and control such as copying, printing, and reading of image data is performed.

  The control unit 110 stores the job execution program according to the present embodiment from the nonvolatile memory 120, job data having page data including various data such as image forming conditions from the RAM 130, and each page data constituting the job data from the image memory 170. When various types of data such as image data (including blank image data) are read out and in cooperation with the program and various data, the print unit 40 executes a job having page data with different image formation conditions to form an image. The image forming conditions for the paper (first paper) set in the first page data or the image forming conditions for the paper (final paper) set in the last page data, and the image forming conditions set before the execution of the job, And based on the comparison result, the order from the first paper to the last paper (hereinafter 1 to N), The order toward the first sheet from the last sheet (hereinafter, NTO1) sets the image forming order in either order of controls processing for performing image formation.

  In particular, when a job is composed of a plurality of copies, the control unit 110 determines the image formation conditions for the first or last sheet of each copy and the image formation conditions set before the execution of each copy. And, based on the comparison result, the image formation order is set for each copy in the order of either 1 to N or N to 1 to control the image forming process.

  That is, the control unit sets the image forming condition for the first sheet or the last sheet, the image forming condition that is currently set (the image forming condition that is set before the execution of the job, or before the execution of each unit). Based on the comparison result with the set image forming conditions), the image forming order is set in either one of 1toN or Nto1, and the process of image formation is controlled.

  The image forming conditions are specific conditions set for each type of paper classified according to the material and manufacturing process of paper such as thick paper, coated paper, glossy paper, etc., excluding the paper size. Conditions associated with execution of image formation based on page data, for example, fixing temperature, image formation speed, or a combination thereof.

  In addition to various processing programs and data related to image formation, the nonvolatile memory 120 stores a job execution program according to the present embodiment, image forming conditions for each paper type, data processed by various programs, and the like. In addition, various types of information such as the name of the type of paper stored in each paper feed tray, paper size (for example, A4, A3, B5, etc.), paper weight, and the like are stored.

  The RAM 130 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the control unit 110, data related to these programs, job data, page data corresponding to the sheet conveyed to the post-processing unit 51, and the like.

  The reading processing unit 140 performs various processing such as analog processing, A / D conversion processing, and shading processing on the analog image signal input from the image reading control unit 200 of the image reading unit 20, and then generates digital image data. To do. The generated image data is output to the compression IC 150.

  The compression IC 150 performs compression processing on the input digital image data and outputs it to the DRAM control IC 160.

  The DRAM control IC 160 controls the image data compression processing by the compression IC 150 and the decompression processing of the compressed image data by the decompression IC 180 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 110, and performs input / output control of image data to the image memory 170. For example, when an instruction to store the image signal read by the image reading unit 20 is given, the compression processing of the image data input from the reading processing unit 140 is executed by the compression IC 150, and the compressed image data is compressed in the image memory 170. It is stored in the memory 171. When the print output of the compressed image data stored in the compression memory 171 is instructed, the compressed image data is read from the compression memory 171, decompressed by the decompression IC 180, and stored in the page memory 172. Further, when an instruction to print out the image data stored in the page memory 172 is issued, the image data is read from the page memory 172 and output to the writing processing unit 190.

  The image memory 170 includes a compression memory 171 and a page memory 172 configured from DRAM (Dynamic RAM). The compression memory 171 is a memory for storing compressed image data, and the page memory 172 is a memory for temporarily storing image data (print data) for print output.

  The decompression IC 180 performs decompression processing on the compressed image data.

  The write processing unit 190 generates print data for image formation based on the image data input from the DRAM control IC 160 and outputs the print data to the print unit 40.

  The image reading unit 20 includes a CCD 22a, an image reading control unit 200, and other automatic document feeding unit 21 and reading unit 22 shown in FIG. The image reading control unit 200 controls the automatic document feeding unit 21, the reading unit 22, and the like to execute exposure scanning of the document surface, and performs photoelectric conversion on the reflected light of the light by the CCD 22a to read the image. The read analog image signal is output to the reading processing unit 140.

  The operation display unit 30 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a touch panel 31 provided to cover the LCD, an operation display control unit 300, and other operation key groups such as a numeric keypad (not shown). The operation display control unit 300 displays various setting screens for inputting various setting conditions, various screens as shown in FIGS. 2 to 10, various processing results, and the like on the LCD in accordance with display signals input from the control unit 110. . Further, the operation display control unit 300 outputs an operation signal input from the operation key group or the touch panel 31 to the control unit 110.

  The print unit 40 includes various units related to print output, such as the image forming unit 43 shown in FIG. The print control unit 400 controls the operation of each unit of the print unit 40 such as the image forming unit 43 according to an instruction from the control unit 110, and forms an image on the paper P based on the print data input from the writing processing unit 190. In addition, an instruction signal for operating each part of the post-processing unit 50 according to an instruction from the control unit 110 is output to the post-processing control unit 500.

  The post-processing unit 50 is provided with various post-processing units 51 and the like, and transporting means such as transport rollers for transporting paper to the various post-processing units 51. The various post-processing units 51 are integrated by the post-processing control unit 500. Is controlled. The post-processing control unit 500 transports the paper P to a predetermined post-processing unit along the transport path in response to a post-processing instruction signal input from the control unit 110 via the print control unit 400, and drives each unit. Control is performed so that the paper P is subjected to predetermined post-processing, and discharged to the paper discharge tray T3.

  Next, each part of the printer controller 1b will be described. The printer controller 1b manages and controls jobs input to the image forming apparatus 1 from the external apparatus 2 connected to the network 3 when the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a network printer. The data to be printed is received, and the data is transmitted as a job to the main body 1a.

  The printer controller 1b includes a controller control unit 11, a DRAM control IC 12, an image memory 13, and a LANIF 14.

  The controller control unit 11 comprehensively controls the operation of each unit of the printer controller 1b, and transmits data input from the external device 2 to the main body unit 1a via the LANIF 14 as a job.

  The DRAM control IC 12 controls storage of data received by the LANIF 14 in the image memory 13 and reading of data from the image memory 13. The DRAM control IC 12 is connected to the DRAM control IC 160 of the image control board 100 via a PCI (Peripheral Components Interconnect) bus, and reads data to be printed from the image memory 13 in accordance with instructions from the controller control unit 11. Output to the control IC 160.

  The image memory 13 is composed of a DRAM and temporarily stores input output data.

  The LANIF 14 is a communication interface for connecting to a network 3 such as a NIC (Network Interface Card) or a LAN such as a modem, and receives data from the external device 2. The received data is output to the DRAM control IC 12.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of job execution processing in the present embodiment. The flowchart shown in FIG. 12 is a process executed by the control unit 110.

  When the acquisition of the job data of the job is completed, the control unit 110 starts job execution processing for the job (step S1). The control unit 110 sets the fixing temperature as the image forming condition corresponding to the paper type of the paper (first paper) set in the first page data of the job, and the fixing temperature as the currently set image forming condition. Are compared to determine whether or not the fixing temperature as the image forming condition corresponding to the paper type of the leading sheet coincides with the fixing temperature as the currently set image forming condition (step S2).

  If the fixing temperature as the image forming condition corresponding to the type of the leading sheet does not match the fixing temperature as the currently set image forming condition (step S2; No), the control unit 110 ends the job. The fixing temperature as the image forming condition corresponding to the paper type of the paper (final paper) set in the page data is compared with the fixing temperature as the currently set image forming condition, and the final paper is It is determined whether or not the fixing temperature as the image forming condition corresponding to the type matches the fixing temperature as the currently set image forming condition (step S3).

  When the fixing temperature as the image forming condition corresponding to the paper type of the final paper matches the fixing temperature as the currently set image forming condition (step S3; Yes), the control unit 110 changes the image forming order. Nto1 is set (step S4).

  When the fixing temperature as the image forming condition corresponding to the type of the first paper matches the fixing temperature as the currently set image forming condition (step S2; Yes), or the final paper If the fixing temperature as the image forming condition corresponding to the type of paper does not match the fixing temperature as the currently set image forming condition (step S3; No), the image forming order is set to 1 to N (step S5). ).

  The control unit 110 sequentially generates a part of print data based on the set image formation order, and executes a print process based on the print data (step S6).

  The control unit 110 determines whether or not the sheet on which the image is formed by discharging the final part of the job after the printing process of one part is discharged to the discharge tray (step S7). ) When the last sheet is not discharged to the discharge tray (step S7; No), the process returns to step S1.

  When the last sheet is discharged to the discharge tray (step S7; Yes), the control unit 110 ends the process.

FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B show examples of job execution operations. FIG. 13A shows a conventional example, and FIG. 13B shows an example of this embodiment.
The jobs shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B are jobs for forming images of two pages of page data for six pages on one side of a sheet, and the page data for pages 1 to 5 are stored in the tray 1. It is assumed that image formation is performed on the printed sheet, and the page data of the sixth page is formed on the sheet stored in the tray 2 as a back cover. Further, the paper stored in the paper feed tray corresponding to the tray 1 is plain paper, and the paper stored in the paper feed tray corresponding to the tray 2 is thick paper.

  Based on the page data, the time required for the printing process to feed the paper from the set paper feed tray, form an image, and discharge the paper to the paper discharge tray is 1 second per sheet.

  As an example of different fixing temperatures for each paper type, the fixing temperature of plain paper is 180 ° C., and the fixing temperature of thick paper that is thicker than plain paper is 200 ° C. Further, the time required to increase the fixing temperature from 180 ° C. to 200 ° C. is 30 seconds, and the time required to decrease the fixing temperature from 200 ° C. to 180 ° C. is 60 seconds. The time for changing the fixing temperature is not limited to this because it varies depending on the installation environment of the image forming apparatus 1 and the structure and heat capacity of a fixing member (for example, a fixing roller) used in the fixing apparatus 43b. It is assumed that the fixing temperature before executing this job is 200 ° C.

  In FIGS. 13A and 13B, each page data of pages 1 to 5 is abbreviated as “P1 to 5”, and page data of the sixth page serving as the back cover is abbreviated as “back”. The time required for changing the fixing temperature is shown in parentheses.

First, the operation of the conventional job execution process shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 13A, conventionally, the job is sequentially executed from the top page data of the job.

  First, since the page data of the first to fifth pages perform image formation on plain paper, the fixing temperature is normal from the fixing temperature as the current image forming condition, that is, the fixing temperature 200 ° C. set before the execution of the job. After the paper fixing temperature is changed to 180 ° C., print processing is executed, and five plain papers on which images are formed based on the page data of the first to fifth pages are discharged to the discharge tray. Accordingly, while the leading paper is plain paper, the fixing temperature set before execution of the job is the fixing temperature of thick paper (200 ° C.). Therefore, before starting this job, the fixing temperature is set to 200 ° C. It takes 60 seconds to lower the temperature to 180 ° C.

  Next, since the image data is formed on the thick paper for the page data of the sixth page serving as the back cover, the printing process is executed after the fixing temperature is changed from the fixing temperature 180 ° C. to the fixing temperature 200 ° C. One thick sheet on which an image is formed based on the page data of the page is discharged to the discharge tray, and the first copy printing process is completed. Therefore, it takes 30 seconds to raise the fixing temperature from 180 ° C. to 200 ° C. before forming an image based on the page data of the sixth page.

After the first copy processing is completed, execution of the second copy print processing is started.
The fixing temperature at the start of execution of the print processing for the second copy is 200 ° C., which is the fixing temperature based on the final paper of the first copy. Accordingly, the fixing temperature is the same as the current image forming condition, that is, the fixing temperature of 200 ° C. set before execution of the second copy, as in the start of execution of the first copy printing process. After the fixing temperature is changed to 180 ° C., page data print processing for the first to fifth pages is executed.

  Similarly to the start of execution of the first set of print processing, after the fixing temperature has been raised from 180 ° C. to 200 ° C., the print processing of page data for the sixth page serving as the back cover is executed. This print processing is completed, and the print processing for this job is completed.

  As described above, in the conventional job execution operation, since the first page data is sequentially executed, the operation for changing the fixing temperature from 180 ° C. to 200 ° C. is performed twice, and the operation for changing from 200 ° C. to 180 ° C. is performed twice. It takes twice a time to change the fixing temperature for 180 seconds, and the fixing temperature must be changed many times during the execution of one job, which makes it difficult to shorten the job execution time. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 13B, the job execution operation in the present embodiment is performed for each copy by fixing the leading or final sheet fixing temperature and the fixing temperature as the current image forming condition, that is, before executing the job. The set fixing temperature or the fixing temperature set before the execution of each unit is compared, and the image forming order is switched to 1 to N or N to 1 in accordance with the comparison result to perform image formation.

  First, with reference to the job, the fixing temperature as the current image forming condition, that is, the fixing temperature of 200 ° C. set before the execution of the job, and the page data (page 6) of the sixth page that forms a back cover by forming an image on thick paper Since the fixing temperature (thick paper fixing temperature 200 ° C.) of the paper (final paper) of the (last page data) matches, the image forming order of the first copy is set to Nto1. Based on the setting, the first print process is executed.

  Since the print processing for the first copy is set to Nto1, the print processing is first executed based on the page data of the sixth page that is the back cover. Since the page data of the sixth page, which is the back cover, is formed on thick paper, the fixing temperature matches the fixing temperature of 200 ° C. set before execution of the job, and the printing process can be performed without changing the fixing temperature. Executed.

  In other words, if the image forming conditions for the final sheet match the image forming conditions set before the job is executed, the image forming condition is changed by setting the image forming order in the order from the final sheet to the leading sheet. The number of times can be reduced.

  When the print processing based on the page data of the sixth page is completed, the page data of the fifth to first pages forms an image on plain paper. Therefore, after the fixing temperature is changed from 200 ° C. to the fixing temperature of plain paper 180 ° C., In the order from the 5th page to the 1st page, 5 sheets of plain paper on which images are formed based on the page data of the 5th to 1st pages are discharged to the discharge tray, and the printing process for the first copy is completed.

After the printing process for the first copy is completed, execution of the printing process for the second copy is started.
The fixing temperature at the start of execution of the printing process for the second copy is 180 ° C., which is the fixing temperature based on the page data of the first page on which the image is formed at the end of the first copy.
Therefore, the fixing temperature as the current image forming condition, that is, the fixing temperature of 180 ° C. set before execution of the second copy and the page data (first page data) of the first page for image formation on plain paper. Since the fixing temperature of the paper (leading paper) (fixing temperature of plain paper 180 ° C.) matches, the image forming order of the second copy is set to 1 toN. Based on the setting, the second copy print process is executed.

  Since the second copy print process is set to 1 to N, the print process is first executed based on the page data of the first page. Since the page data of the first page is formed on plain paper, the fixing temperature matches the fixing temperature of 180 ° C. set before execution of the second copy, and the first page is not changed. Print processing is executed based on the page data, and five plain sheets on which images are formed based on the page data of the first to fifth pages are sequentially discharged to the discharge tray in order from page 1 to page 5. The

  In other words, when the image forming conditions for the first sheet and the image forming conditions set before the execution of each part match, the image forming order is set in the order from the first sheet to the last sheet without changing the image forming conditions. And the number of changes in image forming conditions can be reduced.

  When the printing process based on the page data of the fifth page is completed, the page data of the sixth page forms an image on the thick paper. Therefore, after the fixing temperature is changed from 180 ° C. to the fixing temperature of the thick paper 200 ° C., One thick sheet on which an image is formed based on the page data of the sixth page is discharged to the discharge tray, and the printing process for the second copy is completed.

  As described above, in the job execution operation of the present embodiment, the operation for changing the fixing temperature from 180 ° C. to 200 ° C. can be performed only once, and the operation for changing from 200 ° C. to 180 ° C. can be performed only once. The total time for changing the fixing time is 90 seconds, and the total time for changing the fixing temperature can be shortened by 90 seconds compared to the conventional case.

  In this embodiment, the fixing temperature is described as the image forming condition. However, the same effect can be obtained even at the image forming speed, the fixing temperature, and the image forming speed. As long as the device state of the image forming apparatus 1 at the time of image formation is sufficient, it is not limited thereto.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, image formation is performed based on the comparison result between the image formation conditions set before execution of the job and the image formation conditions of either the first sheet or the last sheet. Since the order can be set, the number of times the image forming conditions are changed can be reduced, and the total time required for changing the image forming conditions can be reduced, so the execution time of a single job can be reduced. can do.

  In particular, when the job is composed of a plurality of copies, the image is based on the comparison result between the image formation conditions set before the execution of each copy and the image formation conditions of either the first paper or the last paper. Since the order of formation can be set, the number of times image forming conditions can be changed in each part can be reduced, and the total time required for changing image forming conditions can be shortened. The execution time can be shortened, and the job execution time can be shortened.

  In addition, since the image forming order can be set according to the comparison result of the fixing conditions, the image forming speed, or a combination of these that require a lot of time when changing to different image forming conditions depending on the type of paper, Execution time can be shortened.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a machine state setting screen. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper setting screen. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a tray setting screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a tray setting change screen. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tray paper type setting screen. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a copy setting screen. It is a figure which shows the example of an application setting screen. It is a figure which shows the example of an inter sheet setting screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a back cover setting screen. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart of a job execution process. FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating a conventional job execution operation example, and FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating a job execution operation example according to the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 1a Main part 1b Printer controller 2 External apparatus 3 Network 11 Controller control part 12 DRAM control IC
13 Image memory 14 LANIF
20 Image Reading Unit 21 Automatic Document Feeding Unit 22 Reading Unit 22a CCD
30 operation display unit 31 touch panel 40 print unit 41 paper feed unit 41a paper feed tray 41b paper feed means 42 paper feed transport unit 42a registration roller 43 image forming unit 43a transfer device 43b fixing device 44 carry-out unit 50 post-processing unit 51 post-processing unit 100 Image control board 110 Control unit 120 Non-volatile memory 130 RAM
140 Reading processing unit 150 Compression IC
160 DRAM control IC
170 Image memory 171 Compression memory 172 Page memory 180 Decompression IC
190 Writing processing unit 200 Image reading control unit 300 Operation display control unit 400 Print control unit 500 Post-processing control unit B10a Paper setting button B10b Adjustment setting button B10c Controller setting button B11a Tray setting button B11b Paper condition registration button B11c Paper condition deletion button B12 Tray selection section B12a Tray button B12b Setting change button B12c Setting registration button B12d Size setting button B12e Paper condition selection button B12f Air blow setting button B13a Paper type button B13b Basis weight button B13c Color paper button B13d Punch hole button B13e Front / back adjustment button B13f OK Button B14 Paper type selection section B14a Paper type button B14b OK button B20 Application setting button B21 Inter sheet setting button B22a Back cover button B22b Back cover button B22c Insert paper button B23 Tray paper selection section B23a No cover button B23b Print cover button B23c Blank cover button B23d Single side button B23e Double side button B23f Tray paper button B23g OK button d Document E11 Status display area E12 Tray display area E13 History display area E14 Tray setting status display area E21 Document setting area E22 Image quality setting area E23 Magnification setting area E24 Application setting area E25 Output setting area E26 Duplex setting area E27 Paper reservation setting area E28 Page editing area E29 Image application area G10 Machine status setting screen G11 Paper setting screen G12 Tray setting screen G13 Tray setting change screen G14 Tray paper type setting screen G20 Copy setting screen G21 Application setting screen G22 Printer sheet setting screen G23 Back cover setting screen P Paper T1 Document tray T2 Manual feed tray T3 Paper discharge tray

Claims (5)

An image forming unit that forms an image by executing a job having page data of different image forming conditions;
Compare the image forming conditions for the first paper or the last paper with the image forming conditions set before the execution of the job, and based on the comparison result, the order from the first paper to the last paper, or A control unit that sets the image forming order in any one of the orders from the last sheet to the first sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The job is composed of a plurality of parts,
The control unit compares the image forming conditions of the first sheet or the final sheet of each unit with the image forming conditions set before the execution of each unit, and based on the comparison result, for each unit, The image forming order is set in one of the order from the first sheet to the last sheet or the order from the last sheet to the first sheet.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The controller is
When the comparison result matches the image forming conditions of the final paper, the image forming order is set in the order from the final paper to the leading paper.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The controller is
When the comparison result matches the image forming condition of the leading paper, the image forming order is set in the order from the leading paper to the final paper.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming condition is a fixing condition, an image forming speed, or a combination thereof.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

Images