Electrophotography – Control of electrophotography process – Of plural processes
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-25
2001-02-06
Beatty, Robert (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Control of electrophotography process
Of plural processes
C399S051000, C358S300000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185384
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a lighting control technique of a light source for reading an original in an image forming apparatus having both a copying function and a printing function.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, an image forming apparatus with a system construction as shown in
FIG. 2
has been known. In the system of
FIG. 2
, it has a host computer
2103
, a printer control unit
2005
, and an engine control unit
2003
. The host computer
2103
and printer control unit
2005
are directly connected or connected via a network
2105
.
The printer control unit
2005
performs a control such that image data of various describing formats such as a PDL (Page Description Language) and the like transmitted from the host computer
2103
is converted into image data of a raster format. The engine control unit
2003
controls a printer engine (not shown) on the basis of the image data transmitted from the printer control unit
2005
via a video interface (I/F)
2104
, thereby forming an image onto a recording paper.
As shown in
FIG. 27
, there has also been realized an image forming system such that by adding an image readout apparatus
101
to the system of FIG.
2
and connecting the image readout apparatus
101
to the host computer
2103
via the network
2105
or directly, image data read out by the image readout apparatus
101
can be printed out by the image forming apparatus.
Further, as shown in
FIG. 28
, a system such that an image readout apparatus (reader unit)
2601
is directly added to the image forming apparatus and the printing function and the copying function are realized is also known. That is, in the system of
FIG. 28
, data as a target of printing transmitted from the host computer
2103
is converted into a raster format by a controller unit
2602
and transferred to the engine control unit
2003
via a selector unit
2603
, so that it is printed out. Original image data read out by the reader unit
2601
is transferred to the engine control unit
2003
through the selector unit
2603
and is subjected to a copying process. In this instance, the selector unit
2603
controls so as to transfer the data from either the controller unit
2602
or the reader unit
2601
to the engine control unit
2003
in accordance with the printing mode or copying mode.
However, in case of the apparatus having the construction such as to realize both the printing function and the copying function as shown in
FIG. 28
, a time that is required from the generation of an output request to timing when the image signal is actually outputted in the copying mode is much longer than that in the printing mode. There is also a problem such that if the customer tries to shorten such a delay, the costs rise.
That is, in printing, image data to be transmitted has already been held in a memory of the host computer
2103
or controller unit
2602
. Therefore, when an output request is issued, the output operation can be started with only a waiting time until a ready status of the printer engine is guaranteed or, if the printer engine is in an output possible status at a point when the output request is issued, the output operation can be started without a waiting time. On the other hand, in copying such that the reader unit
2601
to read an original synchronously with the printer engine has to be made operative, a waiting time until the ready statuses of both the reader unit
2601
and printer engine
2002
are guaranteed is necessary. That is, in copying, the reader unit
2601
certainly needs a waiting time until an original reading operation is started after the output request was issued. For example, a necessary lighting time of a light source is considered as a factor of the waiting time.
If the necessary lighting time of the light source of the reader unit
2601
is shorter than the waiting time until the printer engine enters the ready status, the waiting time in copying can be made identical to that in printing. However, the necessary lighting time of the light source is generally prolonged in proportion to an accumulated lighting time. Therefore, in copying, a time that is required from the generation of the output request to timing when the image signal is actually outputted is slower than that in printing. To eliminate such a delay, the light source has to be exchanged to a new one before the necessary lighting time of the light source is longer than the necessary time until the printer engine enters a ready status in spite of a fact that there is enough time for the life of the light source. However, such a method results in a remarkable increase in costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is made under such an environment and one of the objects of the invention is that in an image forming apparatus having a copying function, the copying operation can be performed as fast as possible without increasing the costs.
According to the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which an original image is read out by an image reader unit and a copy image is outputted from an image forming unit, comprising: measuring means for previously counting a necessary time from the start of activation of a light source of the image reader unit to timing when the light source enters a usable state; and
control means for controlling in a manner such that in the case where the necessary time counted by the measuring means is shorter than a predetermined time, the image forming unit is activated when the light source is activated or after the elapse of a specified time, and in the case where the necessary time counted by the measuring means is longer than the predetermined time, the image forming unit is activated after it was detected that the light source of the image reader unit entered the usable state.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5153745 (1992-10-01), Brandkamp et al.
patent: 5610480 (1997-03-01), Takayanagi
patent: 5907742 (1999-05-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 60-238866 (1985-11-01), None
patent: 64-002072 (1989-01-01), None
Beatty Robert
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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