JP2021000740A - Image processing device, image formation system, control method and control program of image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image processing device which can shorten the time for print processing regardless of the position of a page that takes time to RIP in print data, an image formation system, a control method and a control program of the image formation system.SOLUTION: An image processing device comprises a data acquisition unit, an image processing unit and a control unit. The data acquisition unit acquires print data corresponding to plural pages. The image processing unit rasterizes the print data to generate image data corresponding to the print data. The control unit rasterizes partial pages having the longer rasterization time per one page than the print time per one page out of the plural pages prior to other pages than the partial pages, rasterizes the other pages along the page order of the plural pages after completing the rasterization of the partial pages, and prints the image data on the continuous sheets along the page order.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image forming system, and a control method and a control program of the image forming system.

Conventionally, an image forming system capable of printing an image on continuous paper has been known. For example, paper that has been rolled into a roll as continuous paper (hereinafter, also referred to as "roll paper") is pulled out and conveyed, images corresponding to the printing job are sequentially printed on the paper, and then the paper is wound again into a roll. , So-called roll-to-roll image forming systems are widespread. By printing on long paper such as roll paper using such an image forming system, a large number of images can be printed continuously, or a long image in the paper transport direction can be divided into a plurality of papers. You can print without having to.

In recent years, from the viewpoint of high efficiency and resource saving, in the printing process by the roll-to-roll image forming system (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "image forming system"), the area where the roll paper is not printed, that is, the blank area Is required not to occur.

In the printing process, the image forming system receives a print job including print data, and based on the print data, expands all the pointillism of the image to be actually printed on the memory to generate bitmap data (hereinafter, rasterization). , "RIP"). Then, based on the generated bitmap data, an image is printed on roll paper by a well-known image forming process such as an electrophotographic process. Reception of print jobs, RIP, and printing based on bitmap data can be performed in parallel, but for each page of print data, bitmap data must be generated by RIP by the stage of printing. is there.

However, the time required for RIP varies from page to page depending on the object attributes (for example, text, graphic, image, etc.) included in each page of print data. For example, a page with many images takes longer to RIP than a page with many texts. Further, in general, the roll-to-roll image forming system cannot suddenly stop or suddenly start the transfer of the roll paper in the middle of the printing process.

Therefore, if there is a page in the print data whose RIP speed is lower than the print speed, the RIP may not be in time for that page, and a blank area may be generated on the roll paper.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 below discloses a print control device for the purpose of preventing the occurrence of blank areas in the printing process of roll paper. In this print control device, the time required for RIP is measured in a preset measurement range (measurement amount), and if the speed of RIP is larger than the print speed, printing is controlled to start immediately. On the other hand, when the speed of the RIP is smaller than the printing speed, the RIP is performed until the printing time exceeds the time required for the remaining RIP, and then printing is started.

JP-A-2010-629

However, in Patent Document 1, when the page that takes time for RIP is in the latter half of the print data, it is necessary to extend the measurement range of the time required for RIP to the latter half of the print data. Further, in order to reliably prevent the occurrence of a blank area, it is necessary to measure the entire page of the print data before starting printing, and there is a problem that the effect of shortening the time required for the print process is small.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an image processing apparatus, an image forming system, and an image forming system that can shorten the time required for printing processing regardless of where the page that takes time for RIP is located in the print data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control method and a control program of the above.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

(1) An image processing device that generates raster format image data for an image forming device capable of forming an image on a continuous sheet, and a data acquisition unit that acquires print data corresponding to a plurality of pages and the print data. The control unit includes an image processing unit that rasterizes and generates image data corresponding to the print data, and a control unit that controls the image processing unit and the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus. The image processing unit rasterizes some of the plurality of pages whose rasterization time per page is longer than the print time per page before other pages other than the partial page. After the rasterization of the part of the pages is completed, the other pages are controlled to be rasterized in the page order of the plurality of pages, and the image forming unit transmits the image data in the page order. An image processing device that controls printing on continuous sheets.

(2) The control unit further has a measuring unit that measures the rasterization time required for the rasterization processing of the print data for each page, and the control unit compares the rasterization time and the printing time for each page for the plurality of pages. The image processing apparatus according to (1) above, wherein a page having a rasterization time longer than the printing time is a part of the page.

(3) The image processing device according to (1) above, further comprising a reception unit that receives a page range for the part of the pages from the user.

(4) The image processing according to (3) above, wherein the reception unit can accept one or more sets of two or more consecutive pages or one page among the plurality of pages as a part of the pages. apparatus.

(5) The control unit further includes a remaining amount acquisition unit for acquiring the remaining amount of the continuous sheet.
One of the above (1) to (4), which rasterizes a page that can be printed using only the remaining amount of the continuous sheet among the partial pages before the other pages. The image processing apparatus according to.

(6) The reception unit can communicate with an information processing device that executes the printer driver, and the page range for the part of the pages is set via the setting screen of the printer driver. The image processing apparatus according to (4).

(7) The image processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (6) above, wherein the control unit measures and outputs the rasterization time required for rasterization for each page of the part of the pages. ..

(8) The image processing device according to any one of (1) to (7) above, wherein the control unit measures and outputs the rasterization time required for rasterization for each page of the plurality of pages.

(9) The image processing apparatus according to (7) or (8) above, wherein the control unit displays information on the rasterization time on the display unit or outputs the information in a predetermined file format.

(10) An image forming system capable of forming an image on a continuous sheet, wherein the image processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (9) above, and an image forming unit that forms an image on the continuous sheet. An image forming system having.

(11) A control method for an image forming system capable of forming an image on a continuous sheet, in which the step (a) of acquiring print data corresponding to a plurality of pages and the rasterization time per page of the plurality of pages are 1. After the step (b) of rasterizing the print data for some pages longer than the print time per page and generating image data for the part of the pages and the rasterization of the part of the pages are completed. Of the plurality of pages, pages other than the partial page are rasterized according to the page order of the plurality of pages to generate image data for the other pages, and the page order of the plurality of pages is followed. , A control method comprising the step (c) of printing image data of the part of the page and the other page on the continuous sheet.

(12) A control program for causing a computer to execute the control method described in (11) above.

According to the present invention, since the page included in the print data that takes a long time to RIP is RIPed before the page that does not take a long time to RIP, it does not take a long time to RIP after the RIP of the page that takes a long time to RIP is completed. RIP images can be printed in parallel with the page RIP. Therefore, the printing start can be accelerated as compared with the case where the printing of the RIP image is started after the RIP of all the pages of the print data is completed. Further, no matter where the page that takes a long time to RIP is located in the print data, the time required for the printing process can be shortened and the productivity can be improved. Further, since the RIP of the page that takes a long time to RIP is completed before the start of printing the RIP image, it is possible to prevent a blank area from being generated when printing the RIP image.

It is sectional drawing which illustrates the schematic structure of the image formation system of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which illustrates the schematic hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the outline of the image processing in 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the setting screen which accepts the setting of the preceding RIP in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the printing process in 1st Embodiment. It is a list of pages set through the setting screen shown in FIG. It is a subroutine flowchart which illustrates the details of the process of step S102 of FIG. It is a subroutine flowchart which illustrates the details of the process of step S202 of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the outline of the image processing in 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the setting screen which accepts the setting of the preceding RIP in the 2nd Embodiment. It is a list of pages set through the setting screen shown in FIG. It is a subroutine flowchart which illustrates the details of the execution process of the preceding RIP.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted. In addition, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

(First Embodiment)
<Image formation system 100>
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming system 100 of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 400 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 100 forms an image on a continuous sheet-shaped recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as "continuous sheet"), and is a paper feeding device 200, a paper ejection device 300, and an image. It has a forming device 400. The continuous sheet includes, for example, roll paper, continuous form paper, a long sheet made of cloth, a resin film, or the like. In the following, a case where the continuous sheet is roll paper 10 will be described as an example.

<Paper feeding device 200>
The paper feeding device 200 supplies the roll paper 10 to the image forming device 400. The paper feeding device 200 is arranged on the upstream side in the X direction with respect to the image forming device 400, and has a feeding unit 210. The feeding unit 210 has a roller 211 that rotatably supports the roll paper 10 wound around it, and the roller 211 rotates in response to an instruction to start execution of a print job, so that the roll paper 10 is attached to the image forming apparatus 400. Is pulled out in a sheet shape and sent out. The roll paper 10 does not necessarily have to be held in a roll shape, and may be folded. Further, the roller 211 is provided with a sensor that detects the rotation speed of the roller 211. The detection result of the sensor is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 400.

Further, between the paper feeding device 200 and the image forming apparatus 400, the difference in the conveying speed of the roll paper 10 between the feeding device 200 and the image forming apparatus 400 is absorbed, and the deviation of the roll paper 10 with respect to the conveying direction is corrected. A paper feed adjusting device may be provided for such a function.

<Paper ejection device 300>
The paper ejection device 300 is arranged on the downstream side in the X direction with respect to the image forming apparatus 400, and has a winding unit 310. The winding unit 310 has a roller 311 and winds the roll paper 10 discharged from the image forming apparatus 400 around the roller 311. Instead of winding the roll paper 10 in a roll shape, the roll paper 10 may be cut and stored for each page.

Further, between the image forming apparatus 400 and the paper ejection device 300, the difference in the conveying speed of the roll paper 10 between the image forming apparatus 400 and the paper ejection device 300 is absorbed, and the deviation of the roll paper 10 with respect to the conveying direction is corrected. A paper ejection adjusting device may be provided for such a function.

<Image forming device 400>
The image forming apparatus 400 is an image forming apparatus adopting an electrophotographic process, and prints an image on a roll paper 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 400 includes an image processing unit 410, a paper conveying unit 420, an image forming unit 430, a transfer unit 440, a fixing unit 450, an operation display unit 460, a communication unit 470, and a control unit 480. Have. The image processing unit 410, the communication unit 470, and the control unit 480 function as an image processing device.

The image processing unit 410 generates image data in a bitmap format (raster format). The image processing unit 410 rasterizes (RIP) the print data included in the print job to generate image data in a bitmap format (also referred to as “RIP image”). The print data may include various data such as image data, graphic data, and text data. The print data can be, for example, PDL (Page Description Language) data.

The paper transport unit 420 transports the roll paper 10. The paper transport unit 420 has a transport path, a plurality of transport roller pairs, and a drive motor that rotationally drives these transport roller pairs, and drives the drive motor to rotate the transport roller pair to rotate the paper feed device. The roll paper 10 sent out from the 200 is conveyed to the image forming unit 430.

The image forming unit 430 forms a toner image on the photoconductor drum based on the image data. The image forming unit 430 has an image forming unit for yellow (Y), an image forming unit for magenta (M), an image forming unit for cyan (C), and an image forming unit for black (K).

Each image forming section has a photoconductor drum, a charging section, an exposure section, and a developing section. The exposed unit scans the photoconductor drum charged by the charged unit with a laser beam in the main scanning direction, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum based on the image data. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the toner in the developing unit to form a toner image.

The transfer unit 440 transfers the toner image to the roll paper 10. The transfer unit 440 has an intermediate transfer belt 441 and a secondary transfer unit 442. The toner images of each color formed on the photoconductor drum by the image forming unit 430 are superimposed and transferred to the image forming position of the intermediate transfer belt 441. In the secondary transfer unit 442, the toner images of each color of the intermediate transfer belt 441 are collectively transferred onto the roll paper 10 conveyed by the paper transfer unit 420.

The fixing unit 450 fixes the toner image of the roll paper 10. The fixing unit 450 has, for example, a heating roller and a pressure roller, and the toner image is melted on the surface of the roll paper 10 by heating and pressurizing the roll paper 10 on which the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer unit 442. To fix. The paper transport section 420 transports the roll paper 10 fixed by the fixing section 450 to the subsequent paper ejection device 300.

As a reception unit, the operation display unit 460 receives an input operation by an operator (hereinafter, also referred to as “user”) of the image forming system 100, and displays various information. The operation display unit 460 has a touch panel 461 and operation keys 462 including start keys, decision keys, and the like provided around the touch panel 461.

The communication unit 470 communicates with the client terminal 500, the paper feeding device 200, or the paper discharging device 300. The client terminal 500 functions as an information processing device, and is, for example, a personal computer, a mobile terminal, or the like. The communication unit 470 and the client terminal 500 are connected by a network 501 such as Ethernet (registered trademark). The client terminal 500 executes an application and a printer driver for the user to create a document, and generates a print job corresponding to the created document. The print job contains print data and print settings. The communication unit 470 receives the print job from the client terminal 500 and transmits it to the control unit 480.

The control unit 480 includes an auxiliary storage unit 481, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 482, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 483, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 484. These are connected to each other by an internal bus.

The auxiliary storage unit 481 functions as a storage unit and stores a received print job, a RIP image generated by the image processing unit 410, a control program for controlling the image forming system 100, and the like. The auxiliary storage unit 481 has, for example, a hard disk drive (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), and the like.

The RAM 482 stores the calculation result, the determination result, and the like of the CPU 484. The ROM 483 stores various parameters and the like.

The control unit 480 controls each part of the image forming apparatus 400, the paper feeding device 200, and the paper ejection device 300 by executing the control program by the CPU 484.

Although the case where the image forming apparatus 400 forms a color image on the roll paper 10 has been described above, the image forming apparatus 400 may be a direct transfer type monochrome image forming apparatus.

<Overview of image processing>
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an outline of image processing in the present embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the print data includes a plurality of pages 1 to M. In the following, a page that takes a long time for RIP, that is, a page that takes a long RIP time is referred to as a "heavy" page, and a page that does not take a long time is referred to as a "light" page. The user determines that the page is "heavy" when it is determined that the RIP speed is slower than the printing speed, that is, the RIP time per page is longer than the printing time per page. The area indicated by "light" in FIG. 3 may include one or more "light" pages. Similarly, the areas represented by "heavy 1" and "heavy 2" may each include one or more "heavy" pages. In the example shown in FIG. 3, of the M pages, the "light" pages indicated by "light" occupy the majority, and the "heavy" pages indicated by "heavy 1" and "heavy 2" occupy the rest. .. The specific setting method of the "heavy" page and the "light" page will be described later.

In the present embodiment, when the print data includes "heavy" pages and "light" pages, RIP is performed on the "heavy" pages before the "light" pages regardless of the order of the pages in the print data. In the example shown in FIG. 3, some "heavy" pages "heavy 1" and "heavy 2" are RIPed in this order, and then other "light" pages "light" pages are printed data. RIP is performed in the order of the pages. The RIP image generated by RIPing "heavy 1" and "heavy 2" is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 481. If there are no "heavy" pages, RIP is performed in the order of the print data pages.

Further, after the RIP of "heavy 1" and "heavy 2" is completed, printing of the RIP image is started. Printing of RIP images is performed in the order of pages of print data in parallel with the "light" page RIP. It is preferable that the printing of the RIP image is started immediately after the completion of the "heavy 1" and "heavy 2" RIPs, but any timing may be used as long as it is before the completion of the "light" page RIPs.

The RIP image stored in the auxiliary storage unit 481 is used for printing the "heavy 1" and "heavy 2" pages. Since the "heavy" page is RIPed before printing starts, it is possible to prevent blank areas from being generated when printing the RIP image. Hereinafter, a specific procedure for realizing such image processing will be described in detail.

<Advance RIP setting>
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a setting screen that accepts the setting of the preceding RIP in the present embodiment. First, as a preliminary preparation for the printing process, the preceding RIP is set. In the leading RIP, the "heavy" page is RIPed before the "light" page. Users of roll-to-roll image formation systems may be familiar with printing on roll paper and generally have a general understanding of the "heavy" and "light" pages of print data that correspond to the documents created. There are many. For example, in general, a page containing many images and graphics has a low RIP speed, and a text-centered page has a high RIP speed. In this embodiment, the "heavy" page and the "light" page are set based on user input.

The user operates the client terminal 500 and causes the client terminal 500 to execute an application program and a printer driver for creating a document or the like. Prior to printing the created document, the user sets the print settings through the setting screen of the printer driver. The printer driver generates a print job including print data corresponding to the document and various print settings related to printing the document, and transmits the print job to the image forming system 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the user can set the preceding RIP as the print setting of the document through the setting screen 600 displayed on the display of the client terminal 500. On the setting screen 600, it is possible to set whether or not to RIP a page that takes a long time to RIP, that is, a "heavy" page in advance. If you want to RIP the "heavy" page first, check the check box 601. On the other hand, if the RIP is not performed in advance, the check box 601 is not checked. In this case, RIP is performed in the order of the print data pages.

Also, if checkbox 601 is checked, the range of "heavy" pages can be set. The page range is set by inputting the page range in the input field 602. In the example shown in FIG. 4, two sets of pages "101" to "105" and pages "201" to "201" are set. FIG. 4 illustrates the case where two sets of pages are set, but one set or three or more sets (up to four sets in the example shown in FIG. 4) can be set.

In the setting screen 600, only the "heavy" page can be set, and the "light" page corresponds to a page other than the "heavy" page.

<Printing process>
Next, the printing process of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the printing process of the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a list of pages set through the setting screen shown in FIG. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is realized by the CPU 484 of the control unit 480 executing the control program.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, the print job is received and analyzed (step S101). The communication unit 470 receives the print job transmitted from the client terminal 500. The control unit 480 functions as a data acquisition unit, and acquires a print job from the client terminal 500 through the communication unit 470. As mentioned above, the print job includes print data and print settings, and the print data includes a plurality of pages (see FIG. 3). The control unit 480 analyzes the print data and the print settings. In particular, the control unit 480 analyzes the settings related to the preceding RIP included in the print settings, and manages the "heavy" pages as a list when it is set to precede the "heavy" pages (Fig.). 6).

Next, RIP, measurement, and printing are performed (step S102). The control unit 480 RIPs the print data acquired in step S101 and controls so as to measure the RIP speed. Further, the control unit 480 controls the image forming unit 430 to print the RIP image. Specific processing procedures for RIP, measurement, and printing will be described later with reference to the subroutine flowchart of FIG.

Next, the RIP speed is displayed (step S103). The control unit 480 controls each page so that the RIP speed, which is the reciprocal of the RIP time measured in step S102, is displayed on the display of the operation display unit 460. The RIP time may be displayed instead of the RIP speed. Further, instead of displaying the RIP speed on the display, a log may be output or saved as a file in a predetermined file format, for example, a CSV (Comma Separated Value) format.

By outputting the RIP speed for each page and notifying the user, the user's perception of the "heavy" page and the "light" page is one with the RIP speed actually measured by RIPing each page. You can check if you are doing it. For example, if a page that the user perceives as "heavy" is RIPed and the RIP speed per page is faster than the printing speed per page, and the page is actually "light", the same will occur at the next opportunity. Or, if a similar page is included in the print data, the recognition can be changed.

<RIP, measurement, printing (step S102)>
FIG. 7 is a subroutine flowchart illustrating the details of the process of step S102 of FIG. The process shown in the subroutine flowchart of FIG. 7 is realized by the CPU 484 of the control unit 480 executing the control program.

As shown in FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not there is a preceding RIP designation (step S201). When the control unit 480 is set to RIP the "heavy" page in advance, that is, when there is a preceding RIP designation (step S201: YES), the control unit 480 executes the preceding RIP (step S202) and steps S203. Move to the process of. The implementation of the preceding RIP will be described later with reference to FIG.

On the other hand, when it is not set to RIP the "heavy" page in advance, that is, when the preceding RIP is not specified (step S201: NO), the process proceeds to step S203 without executing the preceding RIP. In step S203, the variable N is initialized to 0.

Next, 1 is added to the variable N (step S204), and it is determined whether or not the Nth page has been RIPed (step S205). When the Nth page has not been RIPed (step S205: NO), the image processing unit 410 RIPs the Nth page (step S206).

Next, the RIP time on the Nth page is measured (step S207). The control unit 480 calculates, for example, the RIP time on the Nth page by subtracting the start time from the end time of the RIP in step S206.

On the other hand, when the Nth page has been RIPed (step S205: YES), the control unit 480 acquires the RIP image of the Nth page from the auxiliary storage unit 481 (step S208). The auxiliary storage unit 481 stores the RIP image data in which the preceding RIP has been performed (step S305 described later).

Next, the Nth page is printed (step S209). The control unit 480 controls the image forming unit 430 to print the Nth page RIP image on the roll paper 10.

Next, it is determined whether or not it is the last page (step S210). When the control unit 480 is the final page (step S210: YES), the control unit 480 ends the process (return). On the other hand, if the control unit 480 is not the final page (step S210: NO), the control unit 480 returns to the process of step S204.

<Implementation of preceding RIP (step S202)>
FIG. 8 is a subroutine flowchart illustrating the details of the process of step S202 of FIG. The processing shown in the subroutine flowchart of FIG. 8 is realized by the CPU 484 of the control unit 480 executing the control program.

As shown in FIG. 8, first, the variable N is initialized to 0 (step S301).

Next, 1 is added to N (step S302).

Next, the page of the list number N is RIP (step S303). For example, when N = 1, the control unit 480 RIPs page 101 (see FIG. 6).

Next, the RIP time of the page of list number N is measured (step S304). The control unit 480 calculates, for example, the RIP time of the page of the list number N by subtracting the start time from the end time of the RIP in step S303.

Next, the RIP image is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 481 (step S305). The control unit 480 stores the RIP image generated in step S303 in the auxiliary storage unit 481.

Next, it is determined whether or not the list number is the last (step S306). When the list number is the last (step S306: YES), the control unit 480 ends the process (return). On the other hand, when the list number is not the last (step S306: NO), the control unit 480 returns to the process of step S302.

As described above, in the processing shown in the subroutine flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8, the page with the preceding RIP setting, that is, the "heavy" page is RIPed before the page without the setting, that is, the "light" page. Subsequently, the RIP images are printed in the order of the print data pages in parallel with the RIP of the "light" page.

The image processing apparatus and image forming system 100 of the present embodiment described above have the following effects.

Since the "heavy" page included in the print data is RIPed before the "light" page, the RIP image can be printed in parallel with the RIP of the "light" page after the RIP of the "heavy" page is completed. Therefore, the printing start can be accelerated as compared with the case where the printing of the RIP image is started after the RIP of all the pages of the print data is completed. In addition, no matter where the "heavy" page is in the print data, the time required for the printing process can be shortened and the productivity can be improved. Further, since the "heavy" page is RIPed before the printing of the RIP image is started, it is possible to prevent a blank area from being generated when the RIP image is printed.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, a case where the implementation of the preceding RIP is determined in consideration of the remaining amount of the roll paper 10 will be described. In order to avoid duplication of description, detailed description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

<Overview of image processing>
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an outline of image processing in the present embodiment. It is assumed that the print data includes "heavy" pages on the 350th to 354th and 500th pages, and there are 300 printable pages out of the remaining amount of the roll paper 10. The control unit 480 can calculate the printable pages based on the remaining amount of the roll paper 10 and the print settings (paper size, etc.). Further, the control unit 480 calculates the paper feed amount of the roll paper 10 based on, for example, the rotation speed of the roller 211 of the feeding unit 210, and the balance of the roll paper 10 based on the total length of the roll paper 10 and the paper feed amount. The amount can be calculated. The sensor that detects the rotation speed of the control unit 480 and the roller 211 functions as a remaining amount acquisition unit.

In this case, since it is necessary to replace the roll paper 10 with a new roll paper after printing 300 pages on the roll paper 10, the "heavy 1" on the 350th to 354th pages and the "heavy 2" on the 500th page are printed on the roll paper 10. Instead, these pages are printed on a new roll of paper.

In addition, printing cannot be performed while the paper is replaced with new roll paper. In the example shown in FIG. 9, by RIPing in the order of the print data pages and printing in parallel with this, "heavy 1" and "heavy 1" and "heavy" are performed while the roll paper 10 is replaced with a new roll paper. 2 ”RIP is completed.

<Advance RIP setting>
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a setting screen that accepts the setting of the preceding RIP in the second embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a list of pages set through the setting screen shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, similarly to the setting screen 600 of the first embodiment, the user can set the preceding RIP as the print setting of the document through the setting screen 610 displayed on the display of the client terminal 500. .. On the setting screen 610, the setting of whether or not to RIP a page that takes a long time to RIP, that is, the "heavy" page in advance, and the setting of the range of the "heavy" page are the same as those in the first embodiment. Since there is, a detailed description will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, it is necessary to replace the roll paper 10 with a new roll paper because the remaining amount of the roll paper 10 is low, and when the "heavy" page is not printed on the roll paper 10, the preceding RIP is performed. You can set whether or not. When the check box 613 is checked, it is set that the preceding RIP is not performed when the "heavy" page is not printed on the roll paper 10. On the other hand, if the check box 613 is not checked, it is set to perform advance RIP. Therefore, if check box 611 is checked and check box 613 is not checked, the leading RIP is performed even if the "heavy" page is not printed on the roll paper 10.

As shown in FIG. 11, the page range of the "heavy" page entered in the input field 612 is managed by a list.

<Implementation of preceding RIP (step S202)>
FIG. 12 is a subroutine flowchart illustrating the details of the processing of the implementation of the preceding RIP in the present embodiment. The process shown in the subroutine flowchart of FIG. 12 is realized by the CPU 484 of the control unit 480 executing the control program.

First, it is determined whether or not to consider the remaining amount of roll paper (step S401). The control unit 480 does not perform the preceding RIP when the “heavy” page is not printed on the roll paper 10, that is, when considering the remaining amount of the roll paper 10 (step S401: YES), the control unit 480 shifts to the process of step S402. On the other hand, the control unit 480 shifts to the process of step S405 when the "heavy" page is not printed on the roll paper 10 and the preceding RIP is performed, that is, when the remaining amount of the roll paper 10 is not considered (step S401: NO).

In step S402, the control unit 480 detects the remaining amount of roll paper.

Next, the number of pages X that can be printed on the roll paper 10 is calculated (step S403). The control unit 480 calculates the number of pages X that can be printed on the roll paper 10 based on the remaining amount of the roll paper 10 and the print settings (paper size, etc.). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 9, X is 300 (page).

Next, it is determined whether or not X is equal to or less than the minimum page of the list (step S404). The control unit 480 compares X with the minimum page of the list, and if X is equal to or less than the minimum page, does not perform the preceding RIP. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the minimum page of the list is 350. Therefore, since X (= 300) is smaller than the minimum page (= 350) of the list (step S404: YES), the control unit 480 ends the process without performing the preceding RIP (return).

On the other hand, when X is larger than the minimum page of the list (step S404: NO), the process proceeds to step S405 and the preceding RIP is performed. That is, the control unit 480 has a "heavy" page that cannot be printed using the remaining amount of the roll paper 10 and a page that can be printed using the remaining amount of the roll paper 10 among the "heavy" pages. Rasterize before other "light" pages. Since the processes of steps S405, S406, S408 to S411 correspond to the processes of steps S301 to S306 of FIG. 8, detailed description thereof will be omitted. The process of step S407 determines whether or not the page of the list number N can be printed on the roll paper 10 by determining whether or not the number of pages X that can be printed on the roll paper 10 is smaller than the page of the list number N. to decide. When X is smaller than the page of the list number N (step S407: YES), the control unit 480 ends the process (return). On the other hand, when X is the page or more of the list number N (step S407: NO), the control unit 480 shifts to the process of S408.

In this way, when the "heavy" pages are not printed on the roll paper 10 due to the replacement of the roll paper 10, the control unit 480 RIPs in the order of the print data pages, and during the replacement of the roll paper 10. Control to RIP "heavy" pages.

The image processing apparatus and image forming system 100 of the present embodiment described above have the following effects in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.

If the "heavy" pages are not printed on the roll paper 10 due to the replacement of the roll paper 10, the "heavy" pages can be RIPed in the order of the print data pages without performing the preceding RIP. As a result, it is possible to perform the preceding RIP of the "heavy" page during the replacement of the roll paper 10, and the printing can be started earlier than the case of the preceding RIP. Therefore, the total productivity of the printing process can be improved.

(Third Embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments, the case where the user inputs the range of the "heavy" page on the setting screens 600 and 610 of the printer driver has been described, but the page setting method is not limited to such a case. For example, when the image processing unit 410 has a simple RIP function for simply RIPing each page of print data, the image processing unit 410 functions as a measurement unit, and each page is subjected to a simple RIP before actually RIPing each page. The RIP time of the page can be measured.

More specifically, the image processing unit 410 analyzes the print data command described in the PDL and calculates the RIP time for each page. The control unit 480 compares the RIP time per page with the print time per page, and determines that the page is "heavy" when the RIP time per page is larger than the print time per page.

The image processing apparatus and image forming system 100 of the present embodiment described above have the following effects.

Since the "heavy" page and the "light" page are specified by the image processing unit 410, it is possible to save the user the trouble of setting the "heavy" page. In addition, when the user cannot set the "heavy" page or forgets to set the "heavy" page by combining the first or second embodiment and the present embodiment, the "heavy" page exists. Is definitely a "heavy" page. Therefore, it is prevented that a blank area is generated.

As described above, the image processing apparatus and the image forming system 100 have been described in the embodiment. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be appropriately added, modified, and omitted by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea.

For example, in the first to third embodiments, the case where the image processing device is built in the image forming device 400 has been illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to such a case. The image processing apparatus may be installed as a print controller outside the image forming apparatus 400 and may be configured to control the image processing and printing of the image forming apparatus 400.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the case where the user inputs the range of the "heavy" page on the setting screens 600 and 610 of the printer driver of the client terminal 500 has been described. However, the input of the range of the "heavy" page is not limited to the case where the input is performed through the setting screens 600 and 610 of the printer driver of the client terminal 500. Input of the range of the "heavy" page may be performed, for example, through the operation display unit 460 of the image forming apparatus 400.

Further, the control program of the image forming system 100 may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium such as a USB memory, a flexible disk, or a CD-ROM, or may be provided online via a network such as the Internet. .. In this case, the program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium is usually transferred to a memory, storage, or the like and stored. Further, this control program may be provided as independent application software, or may be incorporated into the software of each device as a function of the image forming device 400.

100 image formation system,
200 paper feed device,
210 Sending part,
211 roller,
300 paper ejection device,
310 Winding section,
311 roller,
400 image forming device,
410 Image processing unit,
420 Paper carrier,
430 Image forming part,
440 Transcription section,
441 Intermediate transfer belt,
442 Secondary transfer section,
450 fixing part,
460 operation display unit,
461 touch panel,
462 operation keys,
470 Communication Department,
480 control unit,
481 Auxiliary storage,
482 RAM,
483 ROM,
484 CPU,
500 client terminals.

Claims (12)

An image processing device that generates raster format image data for an image forming device capable of forming an image on a continuous sheet.
A data acquisition unit that acquires print data corresponding to multiple pages,
An image processing unit that rasterizes the print data and generates image data corresponding to the print data.
It has a control unit that controls the image processing unit and the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus.
The control unit
The image processing unit rasterizes some of the plurality of pages whose rasterization time per page is longer than the print time per page before other pages other than the partial page. ,
After the rasterization of the part of the pages is completed, the other pages are controlled to be rasterized in the page order of the plurality of pages, and the rasterization is performed.
An image processing device that controls the image forming unit to print the image data on the continuous sheet in the order of the pages. It also has a measuring unit that measures the rasterization time required for the rasterization process of the print data for each page.
The control unit
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rasterization time and the printing time are compared for each page of the plurality of pages, and a page having a rasterization time longer than the printing time is defined as a part of the pages. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reception unit that receives a page range for the part of the pages from the user. The reception department
The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein as a part of the pages, one or more sets of two or more consecutive pages or one page among the plurality of pages can be accepted. Further having a remaining amount acquisition unit for acquiring the remaining amount of the continuous sheet,
The control unit
The page according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a page that can be printed using only the remaining amount of the continuous sheet among the partial pages is rasterized before the other pages. Image processing device. The reception department
It can communicate with the information processing device that executes the printer driver,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the page range for the part of the pages is set via the setting screen of the printer driver. The control unit
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rasterization time required for rasterization is measured and output for each page of some of the pages. The control unit
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the rasterization time required for rasterization is measured and output for each page of the plurality of pages. The control unit
The image processing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the information regarding the rasterization time is displayed on the display unit or output in a predetermined file format. An image forming system that can form images on continuous sheets.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
An image forming system comprising an image forming portion for forming an image on the continuous sheet. It is a control method of an image forming system capable of forming an image on a continuous sheet.
Step (a) to acquire print data corresponding to multiple pages, and
A step (b) in which the print data is rasterized for a part of the plurality of pages whose rasterization time per page is longer than the print time per page, and image data for the part of the pages is generated. When,
After the rasterization of the partial page is completed, among the plurality of pages, the pages other than the partial page are rasterized according to the page order of the plurality of pages, and the image data of the other pages is obtained. A control method including a step (c) of generating and printing image data of the part of the pages and the other pages on the continuous sheet in the page order of the plurality of pages. A control program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 11.