JP3272191B2 - Image forming system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming system in which a host device is connected to an image forming apparatus via a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been known an image forming apparatus provided with an energy saving state switching function of switching to an energy saving mode in which a part of supplied power is cut off or reduced when the apparatus is not used for a certain period of time, for the purpose of reducing power consumption. ing.

In such an image forming apparatus, for example, a laser printer, a host computer as a host device is connected via a communication line, and when data is not received from the host computer for a certain period of time, an electrophotographic process is performed. The power supply to the heat fixing unit for fixing the image transferred to the transfer paper based on the transfer is cut off or reduced.

In this host computer, FIG.
As shown in (1), data input from an input device such as a keyboard is displayed as display data on a display device such as a display by executing application software for image creation, image data creation software, image data transfer, and printer monitoring software. .

When printing with a printer based on the display data, the host computer converts the display data into data suitable for the printer based on a program of image data creation software, and creates image data including code data and the like. .

When the creation of the image data is completed,
This image data is transferred to the printer. When the printer starts receiving the image data as shown in FIG.
A warm-up process that causes the printer controller to start developing image data into bit data (dot data), release the energy saving mode, and return the power supplied to the heat fixing unit to a state in which normal printing processing is performed. Let it start.

After that, when the warm-up process is completed, the bit data is transferred from the printer controller to the printer engine to start the printing operation. Thus, the printer performs printing based on the image data from the host computer.

[0008]

However, in such an image forming system, when image data is created in a host computer and the image data is transferred to a printer, the image data is saved upon the start of reception of the image data. Since the energy mode is released and the warm-up process is started, even if the development of the image data into the bit data is completed, the warm-up process has not yet been completed, and it may be necessary to wait for the printing process. Had occurred.

For example, when an energy saving mode in which energization of a heater is stopped, such as a heater of a heat fixing unit in a laser printer, is reduced, the heater temperature becomes low. In this case, it was necessary to wait up to about one minute until the temperature reached a temperature at which printing processing was possible.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, there is a problem that the time T from the end of the expansion of the image data into the bit data to the end of the warm-up processing is wasted.

[0011] Therefore, the present invention can prevent the waste of the image forming processing to the start time when image forming processing is performed after being set to the power-saving mode, the image forming system and can shorten the overall imaging time It is intended to provide an image forming apparatus .

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having an energy saving state switching function for setting an energy saving mode in which a part of supplied power is cut off or reduced when the apparatus is not used for a predetermined time. In an image forming system in which a host device is connected via a communication line, image data created by the host device is received by the image forming device, and an image is formed based on the image data, the host device starts image data creation. An energy saving mode release command transmitting unit for transmitting an energy saving mode release command to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the energy saving mode release command has been received from the host apparatus. The command presence determining means and the energy saving mode release command presence determining means receive the energy saving mode release command. When it is determined that the energy saving mode has been set, the energy saving mode determining means determines whether or not the energy saving mode has been set. And an energy-saving mode canceling means for returning to a normal power supply state. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an energy saving state switching function for switching to an energy saving mode in which a part of the supplied power is cut off or reduced when the apparatus is not used for a certain period of time, and performs image formation based on image data from the host device. An energy-saving mode release command presence / absence determination means for determining whether or not an energy-saving mode release command transmitted from the host device at the start of image data creation, and an energy-saving mode release command presence / absence determination means in the image forming apparatus. When it is determined that the energy saving mode release command has been received, it is determined that the energy saving mode is determined to be in the energy saving mode, and the energy saving mode determination means is determined to be in the energy saving mode. At this time, the energy saving mode is canceled by returning the energy saving mode and returning to the normal power supply state. Preparative an image forming apparatus provided with.

[0013]

In the present invention having such a configuration, when an image is formed by the image forming apparatus based on the image data created by the host device, the host device starts the image data creation.
An energy saving mode release command is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.

When the image forming apparatus receives the energy saving mode release command from the host device, it determines whether or not the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode, and when the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode, cancels the energy saving mode. do it,
Return to normal power supply state.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A case where the present invention is applied to a printer in which a host computer is connected to a printer as an image forming apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment. The image forming system includes a host computer 1 and a printer 2 connected to the host computer 1 via a communication line. You.

The host computer 1 includes a host CPU (central processing unit) 3 constituting a control unit main body, and a ROM (read only memory) 4 storing program data for the host CPU 3 to control each unit. ,
The host CPU 3 includes a RAM (random access memory) 5 provided with a memory and the like used for various data processing, an I / O port 6, and an interface 7.

The host-side CPU 3, ROM 4, RA
The M5, the I / O port 6, and the interface 7 are electrically connected by a bus line 8 such as a data bus, a system bus, and a control bus.

The I / O port 6 has an input device 9 composed of a keyboard for inputting data and a display device 1 composed of a display for displaying display data.
0, a hard disk device 11 in which application software for image creation, image data creation software, image data transfer and printer monitoring software, etc. are installed.
The interface 7 is connected to an interface 17 on the printer side via a communication line.

On the other hand, the printer 2 has a printer CPU (central processing unit) 12 constituting a control section main body, and a ROM (read only memory) 1 storing program data for the printer CPU 12 to control each section.
3. A RAM (random access memory) provided with a memory and the like used by the printer CPU 12 for various data processing.
Memory) 14 and a printer controller 16 for controlling a printer engine 15.

The printer engine 15 differs depending on the printer to which the printer is applied. For example, when the printer engine 15 is applied to a laser printer, the printer engine 15 includes an electrophotographic process mechanism, a paper transport unit, a heat fixing unit, and the like.

The printer CPU 12 and the ROM 1
3, the RAM 14, the interface 17, and the printer controller 16 are electrically connected by bus lines 18 such as a data bus, a system bus, and a control bus.

Further, the printer CPU 12 switches to an energy saving mode in which a part of the power supply (for example, in the case of a laser printer, the power supply to a heater of a heat fixing unit) is cut off or reduced when the printer is not used for a certain period of time. (Energy saving state switching function).

When creating images such as pictures, tables, and characters, the host CPU 3 starts up necessary programs in accordance with instructions from the operator. That is, the application software for image creation, image data creation software, image data transfer and printer monitoring software, and the like are read from the hard disk device 11 and temporarily stored in the RAM 5. The software programs are executed by accessing the RAM 5.

First, display data such as pictures, tables, characters, etc. are created by an operator's operation on the input device 9 based on a program of an image creation application software.
The information is displayed on the display device 10.

When printing the display data, the display data is converted into image data based on a program of the image data creation software. Then, a command for securing the image data storage area is given to the RAM 5.

The host CPU 3 determines whether or not an instruction to secure the image data storage area as described above has been issued in ST step 1 through the image data creation processing as shown in FIG.

If it is determined that there is a command to secure the memory area, an image data storage area is secured in the RAM 5 in ST2, and an energy saving mode release command is transferred to the printer 2 in ST3 (energy saving mode). Mode release command transmission means).

Subsequently, the display data created based on the image data creation software in ST4 is converted into code data or the like suitable for the printer 2 based on the program of the image data creation software to create image data. Is temporarily stored in the image data storage area.

Then, the printer status is confirmed in ST5, and when the printer is in a data receivable state, the image data is transferred from the image data storage area to the printer 2, and the image data creation processing is terminated.

On the other hand, the printer performs a printing process as shown in FIG. That is, the printer CPU 12 first determines whether or not an energy saving mode release command has been received from the host computer 1 in ST11 (energy saving mode release command presence / absence determining means).

At this time, if it is determined that the energy saving mode release command has been received from the host computer 1, the state of the printer engine 15 is confirmed in ST12. That is, it is determined whether or not the apparatus is in the energy saving mode (energy saving mode determining means).

If it is determined that the apparatus is in the energy saving mode, the energy saving mode is canceled in ST13, and the printer engine 15 is driven to perform a warm-up process (energy saving mode canceling means).

That is, of the printer engine 15,
The power is cut off or the reduced power is supplied. For example, in the case of a laser printer, the energization to the heater of the heat fixing unit whose energization is interrupted in the energy saving mode is started. Then, in ST14, it is determined whether or not this warm-up processing has been completed.

At this time, if it is determined that the warm-up process has been completed, status information indicating that the host computer 1 is in a data receivable state is transferred to the host computer 1 as a response to the status confirmation of the host computer 1. It is determined whether or not data has been received from the host computer 1.

When it is determined that the image data has been received, the image data is transferred to the printer controller 16 and developed into bit data. Thereafter, the bit data is transferred to the printer engine 15, and a printing operation is performed based on the bit data. When the printing operation is completed, the printing process is completed.

If it is determined in ST12 that the energy saving mode has not been set, the process proceeds to ST15. In this case, when the image data is received from the host computer 1, the warm-up process is not performed, and
The printing operation starts immediately.

In this embodiment having such a configuration,
When an image such as a picture, a table, or a character is created, each of the above programs is started by an instruction from the operator. And
The operator operates the input device 9 to draw a picture,
Tables, characters, and the like are created on the display device 10.

When printing the display data such as pictures, tables and characters, image data is created based on the display data by a program of image data creation software as shown in FIG. When starting the creation of the image data, the image data transfer and printer monitoring software
A command for securing an image data storage area in RAM 5 is provided.

Then, the image data storage area is changed to the RAM 5
In addition, the energy saving mode release command is transferred to the printer 2. Thereafter, a process of creating image data is performed.

On the other hand, when receiving the energy saving mode release command, the printer checks the status of the printer engine 15. When the printer is in the energy saving mode, the printer controller 16 is controlled to release the energy saving mode of the printer engine 15 as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, and a warm-up process is performed.

During the warm-up process, when the printer status is confirmed from the host computer 1, status information indicating that the printer is in a receivable state is sent to the host computer 1.
Transfer to As a result, the host computer 1 starts transferring the image data to the printer.

Upon receiving the image data, the printer 2 controls the printer controller 16 to develop the image data into bit data. When the warm-up process is completed, the bit data is transmitted to the printer engine 15 by the printer controller 16. Then, the printer engine 15 performs a printing operation based on the received bit data.

As described above, when the printer receives the energy saving mode release command transmitted at the start of the image data creation in the host computer 1, if the printer is in the energy saving mode at that time, this energy saving mode is released. Therefore, the warm-up process of the printer can be performed simultaneously with the image data creation process by the host device.

Therefore, there is a high possibility that the warm-up process is completed while the image data is transferred from the host computer 1 to the printer 2 and the printer performs the expansion process into the bit data. Then, the printing operation can be started immediately after the completion of the bit data expansion processing.

Accordingly, the printing process can be started without waiting for the warm-up process after the completion of the process of expanding the image data from the host computer 1 into bit data as in the conventional case. In addition, even when the amount of image data is small and it does not take much time to create image data or develop it into bit data, the time to wait for the warm-up process is shorter than before.

As a result, it is possible to prevent a waste of time (time T shown in FIG. 5) until the start of the printing process when the printing process is performed after the energy saving mode is set, and the overall printing time can be reduced. When the printer 1 is not in the energy saving mode, printing can be started immediately after the image data is developed into bit data.

[0048]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a waste of time until the start of the image forming process when performing the image forming process after the energy saving mode is set, and the entire image forming process can be prevented. An image forming system capable of reducing time; and
An image forming apparatus can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing image data creation processing performed by a host CPU shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a printing process performed by a printer-side CPU shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the image forming system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a conventional image forming system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer (host apparatus) 2 ... Printer (image forming apparatus) 3 ... Host side CPU 12 ... Printer side CPU

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-7-117316 (JP, A) JP-A-8-278859 (JP, A) JP-A-7-104951 (JP, A) JP-A-7-107 89195 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/12

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A host device is connected via a communication line to an image forming apparatus having an energy saving state switching function for setting an energy saving mode for cutting off or reducing a part of supplied power when not used for a predetermined time. In an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus receives image data created by an apparatus and forms an image based on the image data, the host apparatus releases the energy saving mode to the image forming apparatus at the start of image data creation. An energy saving mode release command transmitting means for transmitting a command, wherein the image forming apparatus determines whether or not an energy saving mode release command has been received from the host device; When the energy mode release command presence / absence determination means determines that the energy saving mode release command has been received, Energy saving mode determining means for determining whether or not the apparatus is in the energy mode; and when the energy saving mode determining means determines that the apparatus is in the energy saving mode, the energy saving mode is released to allow normal power supply. An image forming system comprising an energy saving mode canceling unit for returning to a state. 2. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an energy saving state switching function of setting an energy saving mode for cutting off or reducing a part of supplied power when the apparatus is not used for a predetermined time, and performing image formation based on image data from a host device. In the apparatus, an energy-saving mode release command presence / absence determining means for determining whether or not an energy-saving mode release command transmitted from the host device at the time of starting image data creation has been received. When it is determined that the energy mode release command has been received, an energy saving mode determining means for determining whether or not the apparatus is in the energy saving mode, and when the energy saving mode determining means determines that the apparatus is in the energy saving mode, Energy saving mode canceling means for canceling the energy saving mode and returning to the normal power supply state Image forming apparatus, wherein a is provided.