JPH11344914A - Picture forming device, picture forming method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten total time for picture forming processing in the case of forming plural pictures by delaying the execution of post-processing by a post- processing means for a prescribed delay period after picture forming processings are completed. SOLUTION: The CPU of a reader control part 2004 makes printing processings by an engine control part 2003 to be executed according to the program preset in a ROM. When the printing processings concerning one job are completed, the control part 2004 judges whether or not a post-processing delay mode is set. When the delay mode is set, the control part 2004 transmits a command to the engine control part 2003 so that an intermediate transferring body makes one rotation. The control part 2003 performes an operation only for idling the intermediate transferring body and does not perform a cleaning operation or the like. Then, when the number N of rotation of vacant rotations reaches the prescribed number of rotation, the control part 2004 makes the post-processings such as the cleaning processing of the intermediate transferring body to be executed by the control part 2003.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a color copying apparatus, and more particularly to a post-processing control technique such as cleaning of a transfer member after an image forming process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a color copying apparatus having a transfer member such as a transfer drum or an intermediate transfer member, when one copy of an image to be copied is copied one copy at a time, one copy of the image is printed. When a plurality of copies of one image to be copied are to be made, a plurality of copies of the image are printed, that is, when one copy job is completed, post-processing such as cleaning of the transfer body is performed to stabilize the image. Was controlled so that the resulting image could be output. In some cases, control is performed so that post-processing such as cleaning is performed when a predetermined number of sheets have been printed even if the copy job has not been completed.

The post-processing such as cleaning has been performed by rotating the transfer body a predetermined number of times and synchronizing with the rotation. Until the post-processing is completed, the next printing operation is prohibited. The rotation speed of the transfer body during post-processing is
It was determined by full-color print or mono-color print.

[0004]

However, the next printing operation cannot be performed until the post-processing is completed. Therefore, when another original image is to be copied after the printing is completed, the copying operation can be quickly performed. I couldn't proceed. For example, in a case where a document is placed on a platen and a document is replaced and copied each time one copy is made, a job unit is set for each document image, and post-processing is executed each time one copy is made. Since the accumulated value of the waiting time from the post-processing to the start of the next printing operation increases,
Copying work took a long time.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the total image forming processing time when a plurality of images are formed.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having post-processing means for performing post-processing such as cleaning of an image on a transfer member after completion of image forming processing. A first control unit for executing the post-processing by the post-processing unit immediately after the image forming process is completed, and a post-processing by the post-processing unit by delaying by a predetermined delay period after the image forming process is completed. And second control means for causing

Further, the present invention provides an image forming method having a post-processing step of performing post-processing such as cleaning of an image on a transfer body after the image forming processing is completed. A first control step of executing post-processing by the processing step; and a second control step of executing post-processing by the post-processing step with a delay of a predetermined delay period after completion of the image forming processing. .

Further, the present invention is a storage medium for storing a control program for image forming processing including a post-processing routine for performing post-processing such as cleaning of an image on a transfer body after completion of image forming processing. A control program for executing a post-processing by the post-processing routine immediately after the image forming processing is completed;
A second process in which the post-processing by the post-processing routine is executed after a predetermined delay period after the image forming process is completed.
Control routine.

Further, according to the present invention, the second control means
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process / routine controls an image input unit or the like so that a process of forming a next image can be started during the delay period.

In the present invention, the second control means
In the process / routine, when the next image forming process is instructed during the delay period, the image forming process according to the instruction is started without executing the post-processing by the post-processing unit / process / routine.

In the present invention, the second control means
The process / routine is performed by the post-processing means / step / routine without waiting for the delay period to elapse, when instructed during the delay period to form an image having a different size from the previously formed image. Post-processing is executed to start the image forming process according to the instruction.

In the present invention, the first control means
A designating means / process for selectively designating a process / routine or control by the second control means / process / routine;
Have a routine.

In the present invention, the first control means
There is a selecting means / step / routine for automatically selecting a step / routine or control by the second control means / step / routine according to an operation mode or the like.

Further, the present invention has setting means, steps and routines for arbitrarily setting the delay period.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Overall Configuration] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a color copying apparatus to which an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a reader unit. The reader unit 101 includes a document table 102, a light source 103, a photoelectric conversion element 104, an A / D converter 105,
It has a mirror group 106. The light source 103 irradiates a document placed on the document table 102 with light while controlling the movement thereof, and reflected light reflecting the document image is reflected by the mirror group 1.
At 06, the light enters a photoelectric conversion element 104 such as a CCD. The photoelectric conversion element 104 photoelectrically converts the incident light and outputs the converted light as analog image data. The A / D converter 105 converts the analog image data output from the photoelectric conversion element 104 into digital image data. Convert.

Reference numeral 2001 denotes a printer unit. The printer unit 2001 has a printer engine 2002, an engine control unit 2003, a reader control unit 2004, a printer control unit 2105, and an option control unit 2006. The printer unit 2001 can optionally include a paper cassette 2101 and a sorter 2102, and can also be connected to a host computer 2103 to print an image input from the host computer 2103. is there.

The printer engine 2002 performs an actual printing operation under the control of the engine control unit 2003.
A reader control unit 2004 controls an image signal processing unit 902 (see FIG. 9) that performs predetermined processing on digital image data output from the A / D converter 105, and a motor driver for controlling movement of the light source 103. (Not shown), and also controls communication with the engine control unit 2003 and the printer control unit 2005. That is, in the present embodiment, the reader control unit 2004 is connected to the printer unit 2001.
In this case, an external cable for controlling communication with the engine control unit 2003 and the printer control unit 2005 is not required.

[Basic System Configuration] In this embodiment, as described above, the reader control unit 2004 is connected between the printer control unit 2005 and the engine control unit 2003,
The reader control unit 2004 controls the printer control unit 20.
And communication control between the engine control unit 2003 and the engine control unit 2003. Here, first, a basic system configuration as a premise thereof will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic system configuration when a reader control unit 2004 is not interposed between the printer control unit 2005 and the engine control unit 2003. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the basic system of FIG. Applied printing device 3001
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the embodiment.

2104 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a video I / F.
And the engine control unit 2003 and the printer control unit 20
05 is performed. This video I / F
Details of signals transmitted and received via 2104 will be described later.

A printer control unit 2005 is connected to a directly connected host computer 2103 or network 2
The data to be printed sent from the host computer 2103 via the host computer 105 is received. This data includes bitmap data and PDL (Page Des
It is sent in various data formats, such as data described in the “Cription Language”. Therefore, the printer control unit 2005 develops the received data to be printed into a memory as raster image data in the memory, and transmits the received data to the engine control unit 20 via the video I / F 2104.
Transfer to 03.

The engine control unit 2003 forms a toner image based on the received image data, transfers the toner image to recording paper, fixes the toner image on the recording paper, and discharges the paper. The details of the image forming process in the engine control unit 2003 will be described later. In order to realize these image forming sequences, the engine control unit 2003
Various types of loads are controlled, and the printer engine 200 is controlled.
2 is detected and notified to the printer control unit 2005. Thus, the host computer 2103
Can be printed out.

Next, under the basic system configuration shown in FIG. 2, the printer control unit 2005 and the engine control unit 20
Signals transmitted to and received from H.03 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Although various signals as shown in FIG. 5 are exchanged between the printer control unit 2005 and the engine control unit 2003, only the typical signals shown in FIG. 4 will be described here.

First, a PPRDY (printer power ready) signal 203 indicates that communication with the printer control unit 2005 has become possible after power is supplied to the engine control unit 2003 and processing such as initialization is completed. Is a signal indicating the following. A CPRDY (controller power ready) signal 204 is supplied to the printer control unit 2005,
After the processing such as the initial setting is completed, the engine control unit 200
3 is a signal indicating that communication has become possible.

An RDY (ready) signal 205 is a signal indicating that the printing operation has been enabled, and in response to a print start instruction signal [PRNT (print) signal] 206 from the printer control unit 2005, an engine control unit 20
Reference numeral 03 denotes a signal output to the printer control unit 2005.
The RDY signal 205 indicates that the temperature inside the fixing unit in the printer engine 2002 has reached a predetermined temperature, the recording paper is not remaining in the printer, or the polygon mirror is rotating at a predetermined speed. It becomes “true” when each part of 2002 is operating normally. The PRNT signal 206 instructs the continuation of the printing operation in addition to the start of the printing operation.

TOP (top of page) signal 207
Is a synchronization signal serving as a reference for vertical scanning of an image, and is output from the engine control unit 2003 to the printer control unit 2005. This TOP signal 207 is the PRINT signal 20
6 is output from the printer control unit 2005 and is output after a predetermined time. LSYNC (line synchronization) signal 20
Reference numeral 8 denotes a synchronization signal used as a reference for horizontal scanning by the printer control unit 2005.
After the T signal 206 is output from the printer control unit 2005, it is output after a predetermined time.

VCLK (video clock) signal 209
Is a VDOEN (image enable) signal 21 described later.
0, a synchronous clock signal for the VDO (image) signal 211, which has a frequency corresponding to the image signal. V
The DOEN signal 210 is a signal for performing capture control when the image signal output from the printer control unit 2005 is captured by the ethidine control unit 2003. Engine control unit 2
003 is synchronized with the VCLK signal 209 and
Detecting whether the EN signal 210 is true or false;
In the case of "true", the image signal is captured, and in the case of "false", the capture is not performed. The VDO signal 211 is image data, and the printer control unit 2005 sends the TOP signal 207 in the vertical direction and the LS signal in the horizontal direction.
The VDO signal 211 is output in synchronization with the VCLK signal 209 based on the YNC signal 208.

CCLK (controller clock) signal 2
Reference numeral 12 denotes synchronization when the printer control unit 2005 transmits a serial command to the engine control unit 2003 and when the engine control unit 2003 transmits a serial status signal to the printer control unit 2005 in response to the serial command. A clock signal, and a printer control unit 2
005. A CBSY (command busy) signal 213 is a signal indicating to the engine control unit 2003 that the printer control unit 2005 is transmitting a serial command using a CMD (command) signal 214 described later. The CMD signal 214 is transmitted to the printer control unit 200.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a signal used when transmitting a serial command to the engine control unit 2003.

SBSY (status busy) signal 215
Is a signal indicating to the printer control unit 2005 that the engine control unit 2003 returns a serial status signal using an STS (status) signal 216 described later. The STS signal 216 is output from the engine control unit 200.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a signal used when a serial status signal is returned to the printer control unit 2005. CCRT
(Status change notification) signal 217
02 when the status of the printer controller 200 changes
5 is a signal to be reported. When receiving the CCRT signal 217, the printer control unit 2005 issues a command for inquiring what state of the printer engine 2002 has changed using the CMD signal 214, and in response, the engine control unit 2003 issues the STS signal 216.
Respond using.

Next, the overall mechanical configuration of the printer engine 2002 controlled by the engine control unit 2003 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6, a photosensitive member scanner 401 is
By generating a laser beam corresponding to an image signal (VDO signal 211) sent from the printer control unit 2005 via the engine control unit 2003, and irradiating the photoconductor drum 402 via a polygon mirror (not shown), Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 405. The photosensitive drum 402 sequentially counters the electrostatic latent image with the color developing device 403 and the black developing device 404 while rotating counterclockwise. The color developing device 403 and the black developing device 404 develop the electrostatic latent image by attaching toner to the photosensitive drum 402 according to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 402. In the case of a black and white image, only the black developing device 404 operates,
In the case of a color image, a color developing unit 403 and a black developing unit 404
Both work.

Next, the toner image generated on the photosensitive drum 402 is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 405 rotating clockwise.
Is transferred to This intermediate transfer member 405 completes one intermediate transfer by rotating once for a black-and-white image and four times for a color image. In parallel with such an operation, the recording paper conveyed from the upper cassette 408 or the lower cassette 409 by the pickup roller 411 or 412 is transported by the paper feed roller 413 or 414, and the registration roller is transported by the transport roller 415. It is transported to 416.

The registration roller 416 sends the recording paper between the intermediate transfer member 405 and the transfer belt 406 at the timing when the transfer on the intermediate transfer member 405 is completed.
Then, the transfer belt 406 rises so as to contact the intermediate transfer body 405 when the recording paper reaches, and the intermediate transfer body 40
5 is transferred to the recording paper. The image transferred to the recording paper is fixed on the recording paper by a heating process and a pressure process by the fixing roller 407. The recording paper on which the image has been fixed is discharged from either the face-up discharge port 717 or the face-down discharge port 418 designated by the printer control unit 2005 in advance.

When one print job, that is, the printing process for the same image is completed, the intermediate transfer member 4
05 while rotating the intermediate transfer body 40 during the rotation.
By bringing the cleaning blade 419 into contact with the intermediate transfer member 5, post-processing such as removal of toner attached to the intermediate transfer body 405 is performed. This post-processing will be described later in detail.

Next, the flow of transmission / reception of commands / status actually performed between the printer control unit 2005 and the engine control unit 2003 during the printing operation will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. Here, color output is assumed.

When a print start request is issued, the printer control unit 2005 inquires the engine control unit 2003 about the ready state of the printer engine 2002 while performing image data conversion processing and the like. Next, a command for designating the recording paper cassette is issued, and further a command for requesting the size information of the recording paper stored in the designated recording paper cassette is issued. In response to these series of commands, the engine control unit 2003 returns a corresponding status.

Next, the printer control unit 2005 sequentially issues a command for designating a paper discharge port and a page mode designation command for designating how many pages (how many copies) the same image is formed. Finally, by issuing a command specifying monochrome / color, the engine control unit 2003
End all the settings related to. After that, a print request signal (PRNT signal 206) is issued to the engine control unit 2003. In response to this, the TOP signal 207 and the LSYNC signal 20 are output from the engine control unit 2003.
8 is returned for a predetermined time.

Therefore, the printer control unit 2005 synchronizes the vertical scanning direction with the TOP signal 207, synchronizes the horizontal scanning direction with the LSYNC signal 208, and sets the VDO signal 21
1 in accordance with the VCLK signal 209, and
Transfer to 03. Here, since the color mode is set, the TOP signal 207 is generated four times, and toner images for four colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) are formed. Will be. Then, the printer control unit 2005 outputs the fourth TOP signal 2
07, the PRNT signal 206 is changed to High.
Return to (false). Thereby, the engine control unit 2003
Recognizes that the print processing related to the print request, that is, one print job has been completed,
The processing shifts to post-processing such as cleaning processing.

The transferred recording paper is applied to a fixing roller 4.
07, the paper is discharged from the specified paper discharge port.
Then, the printer control unit 2005 controls the engine control unit 2
A print status check signal is transmitted to 003 to confirm that the recording paper is not being conveyed, that is, that the discharge has been completed, and waits in a ready state until the next print request occurs.

If an illegal state such as a recording paper jam, no recording paper, or a door open by the user occurs during the above operation, the engine control unit 2003 sets the CCRT.
The abnormality of the printer is immediately transmitted to the printer control unit 2005 using the signal 217, and the printer control unit 2005 performs a predetermined corresponding process according to the abnormal state of the printer.

[Structure when Reader Control Unit is Attached] FIG. 8 not only prints data transferred from the host computer but also optically reads and prints an image on a document in the above-described printing apparatus. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall mechanical configuration of a digital copying machine to which a copying function is added.

Referring to FIG. 8, reference numeral 801 denotes a document
The document feeder 801 conveys the document to a document reading device (reader unit) 1
01 is performed in synchronization with the original reading operation. That is, when a document is transferred onto the document table 102 by the document feeder 801, the reader unit 101 scans the document image while moving the light source 103 and the like in the left and right directions in FIG. The applied reflected light is incident on the photoelectric conversion element 104. The analog image data photoelectrically converted and output by the photoelectric conversion element 104 is converted into digital image data by the A / D converter 105 and transferred to the photoconductor scanner 401. Then, the image forming process described with reference to FIG. 6 is performed.

When one print job, that is, the printing process for the same image is completed, the intermediate transfer member 4
05 while rotating the intermediate transfer body 40 during the rotation.
By bringing the cleaning blade 419 into contact with the intermediate transfer member 5, post-processing such as removal of toner attached to the intermediate transfer body 405 is performed. This post-processing will be described later in detail.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a control system when a reader control unit 2004 is added. As shown in FIG. 9, the reader control unit 2004 is disposed between the printer control unit 2005 and the engine control unit 2003 in FIG. The types of signals transmitted and received between the printer control unit 2005 and the reader control unit 2004 and between the engine control unit 2003 and the reader control unit 2004 are almost the same as the types of signals shown in FIGS. However, between the printer control unit 2005 and the reader control unit 2004, the engine control unit 2003 and the reader control unit 2004
Since the signals having the same function are physically different between, the signal names are distinguished by attaching C to the former and P to the latter.

Reference numeral 901 denotes an image input unit for inputting original image data output from the reader unit 101 to an image signal processing unit 902 in the reader control unit 2004. The image signal processing unit 902 is read by the reader unit. The converted image data is converted into raster format data so that it can be printed. 903
Reference numeral 904 denotes a document scanning optical system control unit that controls the reader unit 101, and reference numeral 904 denotes a document feeding control unit that controls the document feeding device 801. An operation unit 905 is used to set a post-processing delay mode, a monochrome / color print mode, the number of copies to be described, and the like.

Note that the engine control unit 2003, the reader control unit 2004, and the printer control unit 2005
ROMs 2213, 2210, 2215 storing a control program for executing the above-described processing, and CPUs 2212, 2209, 2 for executing the control program
215 and RAM used as a work area, etc.
2214, 2211 and 2217.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the reader control unit 2004. In FIG. 10, 220
Reference numeral 1 denotes a selector, which is image data from the image signal processing unit 902 (that is, the reader unit 101) or the printer control unit 2005 (that is, the host computer 210).
One of the image signals from 3) is selected and output to the engine control unit 2003. The signal system switched by the selector 2201 is a video clock signal (VCLK signal 2
09), an image enable signal (VDOEN signal 21)
0) and image data (VDO signal 211).

A serial communication control unit 2202 performs communication with the engine control unit 2003. Reference numeral 2203 denotes an input / output port for transmitting and receiving signals for supplementing communication in the serial communication control unit 2202. Reference numeral 2204 denotes an interrupt control unit. The interrupt control unit 2204 receives an image leading end request signal (PTOP signal 207) and a printer state change signal (PCCRT signal 217). 2205
Is a serial communication control unit that communicates with the printer control unit 2005. Reference numeral 2206 denotes an input / output port for transmitting and receiving signals for supplementing communication in the serial communication control unit 2205.

Gates 2207 and 2208 control whether or not a signal sent from the engine control unit 2003 is sent to the printer control unit 2005. Gate 22
07, the line synchronization signal (PLSYNC signal 20
8) At the gate 2207, the image leading end request signal (PTO)
The P signal 207) is gated. A control circuit 2218 having a gate function and a flag setting function controls a printer state change signal (PCCRT signal 217). That is, the control circuit 2209 controls the engine control unit 2
Whether the printer status change signal (PCCRT signal 217) issued by 003 is transmitted to the printer control unit 2005 is controlled by opening and closing the gate, and a flag is set to change the printer status change signal (PCCRT signal 217). From the reader control unit 2004 to the printer control unit 2
005. 2209 is a reader control unit 2
The CPU 004 controls the entire operation of the CPU 004, and includes a ROM 2210 storing various control programs such as a program corresponding to a flowchart of FIG. 10 described later, and a RAM 2211 used as a work area.

[Operation at Copying] Next, the operation at the time of reading and copying a full-color original image will be described. When a copy start key (not shown) on the operation unit 905 is pressed,
Since the reader control unit 2004 is in the copy mode, the gates 2207 and 2208 and the gate of the control circuit 2218 are closed, and the selector 2201 is switched to the image signal processing unit 902.
Set so that the output of is selected. Next, the ready state signal (PR) of the printer engine 2002 is sent to the engine control unit 2003 using the input / output port 2203.
(DY signal 203).

Various settings are performed using the serial communication control unit 2202. That is, a command for designating the paper feed stage (cassette 408 or 409) of the recording paper is issued. Further, a command for requesting the size of the recording paper stored in the designated cassette is issued. In response to these commands, the engine control unit 2003 returns a corresponding status. Next, a command for specifying a paper discharge port is issued to determine the paper discharge port, and a copy (page mode) specification command for specifying how many copies of one document image are to be copied is issued. Finally, by issuing a command specifying one of monochrome and color, all the settings for the engine control unit 2003 are completed.

After a document is fed onto the document table 102 by the document feeder 801, the reader control unit 2004 sends a print request signal (P) to the engine control unit 2003.
PRNT signal 206). In response to this, the PTOP signal 20 is sent from the engine control unit 2003 after a predetermined time.
7 is returned, the reader control unit 2004 sets the PT
The OP signal 207 is processed by the interrupt control unit 2204, and the PTO
The reader unit 101 is operated so as to synchronize with the P signal 207. That is, the vertical scanning direction is synchronized with the PTOP signal 207, and the horizontal scanning direction is synchronized with the PLSYNC signal 208. Then, the PVDO signal 211 is changed to PVCLK.
In synchronization with the signal 2098, the signal is input from the photoelectric conversion element 104 to the image signal processing unit 902, and the image signal processing unit 9
02 to the engine control unit 200
Transfer to 3.

Here, since the color mode is set, the PTO which operates the optical scanning system four times and generates four times
An image for four colors of CMYK is formed for the P signal 207. Then, after generating the final PTOP signal corresponding to the designated number of copies, the PPRNT signal 206 is changed to H level.
Returns to false (false). Thereby, the engine control unit 20
No. 03 recognizes that printing related to the print request has been completed, and shifts to post-processing such as a cleaning operation of the intermediate transfer body 405. Then, the transferred recording paper passes through the fixing roller 407, and is discharged to a specified discharge port. Lastly, the reader control unit 2004 instructs the engine control unit 2003 that the recording sheet is not in the transporting state (end of paper discharge).
Is confirmed, and the printer waits in the ready state until the next print request is issued.

[Post-Process Control After Print Process] Next, post-process control after print process specific to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the copy start key on the operation unit 905 is pressed in the copy mode, the CPU of the reader control unit 2004
The control unit 2209 causes the PRNT signal 206 to be low (true) according to the program preset in the ROM 2210, and causes the engine control unit 2003 to execute a print process (step S3001).

When the printing process for one job is completed, the reader control unit 2004 determines whether the post-processing delay mode is set (step S300).
2). Here, the print processing related to one print job means the print processing related to the same image. When the same image is printed one copy at a time, the same image is printed when one copy is printed. If the job is completed and the same image is to be printed by a plurality of copies, the print job is completed when the same image is printed by a plurality of copies.

If it is determined in step S3002 that the post-processing delay mode is not set, post-processing such as cleaning of the intermediate transfer body 405 is executed by the engine control unit 2003 (step S300).
7). On the other hand, if the post-processing delay mode is set, the esidine control unit 20 controls the intermediate transfer member 405 to make one rotation.
03 is sent (step S3003).

Upon receiving this command, the engine control unit 2003 performs only an operation of idling the intermediate transfer member 405, and does not perform a cleaning operation or the like. In this case, from the viewpoint of the reader control unit 2004, the status of the engine control unit 2003 is the same status as during the printing process. Therefore, the reader control unit 2004
Is the PRNT signal 20 during the idle rotation of the intermediate transfer member 405.
With 6 set to Low (true), reading control of the next document image is started.

Next, it is determined whether or not the number of idle rotations has reached a predetermined number N (step S300).
4). The specified number N of idle rotations can be arbitrarily set and changed by the operation unit 905 or the like. If the number of idle rotations N has reached the specified number, post-processing such as cleaning of the intermediate transfer body 405 is performed by the engine control unit 2003.
(Step S3007). Specified number of times N
If it has not reached, whether or not there is a next copy instruction,
That is, it is determined whether the copy start key has been pressed during idle rotation and the next copy instruction has been issued (step S30).
05).

As a result, if there is no copy instruction during idle rotation, the flow returns to step S3003, and idle rotation operation is continued.
If there is a copy instruction, it is determined whether or not the size of the recording paper in the currently designated cassette is the same as the size of the recording paper in the cassette designated in the previous copy processing (step S3006). . As a result, if the sizes of the recording paper are the same, the process returns to step S3001 so that copying can be performed after idling is completed. On the other hand, if the size of the recording paper is different, the image will not be stable unless the cleaning process is executed.
(Step S3007).

As can be inferred from the above description,
If the next copy instruction is issued with the same paper size during idle rotation, that is, during the post-processing delay period, the image forming process is started without performing post-processing. As a specific example of this case, for example, there is a case in which after instructing to copy 10 copies of a certain black and white image, 5 copies of the black and white image are additionally copied. In this case, since the image on the intermediate transfer member 405 is simply added and copied,
Even if post-processing such as cleaning is omitted, image quality can be maintained.

On the other hand, if the next copy instruction is made with a different paper size during the post-processing delay period, even if additional black and white images with the same contents are copied,
Since the image on the intermediate transfer body 405 becomes substantially different due to the reduction processing, the copy processing according to the instruction is performed after the delay processing is stopped and the post-processing is performed. In this case, an example in which an instruction to form an image completely different from the previous image content is also included.

As described above, in the post-processing delay mode, the post-processing such as the cleaning process of the intermediate transfer member 405 is delayed.
By rotating idle rotation of No. 5, reading control of the next document image is performed while maintaining the same status state as during the printing process. Therefore, for example, when a plurality of originals are copied one by one, the reading process of the next original image can be started promptly, and the total copy processing time can be reduced.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
In the case of the book mode in which an original is placed on the platen and copied without setting in step 5, the post-processing delay mode is automatically set at the time of an interrupt copy operation or when returning from the interrupt copy. May be performed. Further, the present invention can be applied to not only a color image forming apparatus but also an image forming apparatus dedicated to black and white.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an image forming apparatus having a post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as cleaning an image on a transfer body after the image forming process is completed, a post-processing by the post-processing unit is performed immediately after the image forming process is completed. A second control means for executing the post-processing by the post-processing means with a delay of a predetermined delay period after the image forming processing is completed.
Control means, the next image forming process can be started during the post-processing delay period, and the total image forming process time can be reduced when forming multiple images. Becomes

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a color copying apparatus to which an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a basic system configuration diagram of a control system when a reader control unit is not interposed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing apparatus to which the basic system of FIG. 2 is applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing signals transmitted and received between the printer control unit and the engine control unit in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing names of signals (abbreviations) in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an overall mechanical configuration of a printer engine.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of signals transmitted and received between a printer control unit and an engine control unit during a printing operation.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an overall mechanical configuration of a digital copying machine.

FIG. 9 is a basic system configuration diagram of a control system when a reader control unit is added.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a reader control unit.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating post-processing control after print processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

101: Leader unit, 405: Intermediate transfer member, 419: Cleaning blade, 903: Document scanning optical system control unit, 9
04: Original feed control unit, 905: Operation unit, 2003: Engine control unit, 2004: Reader control unit, 2005: Printer control unit, 2209: CPU, 2210: ROM,
2211: RAM.

Claims (21)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus having a post-processing means for performing post-processing such as cleaning of an image on a transfer body after the image forming processing is completed, wherein the post-processing means immediately after the image forming processing is completed. First control means for executing processing, and second control means for executing post-processing by the post-processing means with a delay of a predetermined delay period after completion of the image forming processing. Image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit controls the image input unit and the like so that the next image forming process can be started during the delay period. 3. When the next image forming process is instructed during the delay period, the second control unit starts the image forming process according to the instruction without executing the post-processing by the post-processing unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. When the second control means is instructed during the delay period to form an image having a size different from a previously formed image, the second control means does not wait for the delay period to elapse. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein post-processing by the post-processing unit is performed to start the image forming process according to the instruction. 5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a designating means for selectively designating control by said first control means or said second control means. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that automatically selects control by the first control unit or the second control unit in accordance with an operation mode or the like. . 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit that arbitrarily sets the delay period. 8. An image forming method having a post-processing step of performing a post-processing such as cleaning an image on a transfer body after the image forming processing is completed, wherein the post-processing step is performed immediately after the image forming processing is completed. A first control step of executing the processing, and a second control step of executing the post-processing by the post-processing step with a delay of a predetermined delay period after the completion of the image forming processing. Image forming method. 9. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the second control step controls an image input unit or the like so that the next image forming process can be started during the delay period. 10. The second control step, when a next image forming process is instructed during the delay period, starts the image forming process according to the instruction without executing the post-processing in the post-processing step. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein: 11. The second control step, when an instruction is made during the delay period to form an image having a different size from the image formed last time, without waiting for the delay period to elapse. 9. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the image forming process according to the instruction is started by executing post-processing in the post-processing step. 12. The first control step or the second control step.
9. The image forming method according to claim 8, further comprising a designation step of selectively designating control by said control step. 13. The first control step or the second control step.
9. The image forming method according to claim 8, further comprising a selection step of automatically selecting the control by the control step according to an operation mode or the like. 14. The image forming method according to claim 8, further comprising a setting step of arbitrarily setting the delay period. 15. A storage medium for storing a control program for image forming processing including a post-processing routine for performing post-processing such as cleaning of an image on a transfer body after completion of image forming processing, wherein the control program Includes a first control routine for immediately executing the post-processing by the post-processing routine immediately after the image forming processing is completed, and a post-processing by the post-processing routine by delaying by a predetermined delay period after the image forming processing is completed. Second to run
A storage medium, comprising: a control routine according to claim 1. 16. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the second control routine controls an image input unit or the like so that a next image forming process can be started during the delay period. 17. The second control routine, when a next image forming process is instructed during the delay period, starts the image forming process according to the instruction without executing the post-processing by the post-processing routine. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein
The storage medium according to the above. 18. The second control routine, when an instruction is made during the delay period to form an image having a size different from a previously formed image, without waiting for the delay period to elapse. 16. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein post-processing is performed by a post-processing routine to start an image forming process according to the instruction. 19. The storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising a designation routine for selectively designating control by said first control routine or said second control routine. 20. The storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising a selection routine for automatically selecting control by said first control routine or said second control routine according to an operation mode or the like. 21. The storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising a setting routine for arbitrarily setting said delay period.