Image forming method

Details Image forming method Image forming method

2000-02-18

2004-11-09

Coles, Edward (Department: 2622)

Facsimile and static presentation processing

Static presentation processing

Communication

C358S468000, C358S001160, C358S001900, C358S409000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06816273

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus, such as a digital copier, having not only a copying function but also a facsimile function or a printer function.
Conventionally, the digital copier has a scanner, printer, memory, image processing section, etc. The scanner optically reads out a document and converts its image to an electric signal. The image processing section applies a variety of image processing to an image data read out by the scanner. The memory accumulates the image data to which the image processing is applied by an image processing section. The printer subjects the image data which is stored in the memory to a laser electrophotographic process to form an image.
The digital copier thus configured can realize not only a copying function equal to that of an analog copier but also a facsimile transmitting function, facsimile receiving function and printer function.
The facsimile transmitting function and facsimile receiving function are realized by having a facsimile communication section connected to a public network. The facsimile transmitting function allows a document image to be read out by a scanner and the image to be transmitted by the facsimile communication section through the public network. The facsimile receiving function allows the image which is transmitted by the facsimile communication section through the public network to be received and the received image to be printed by a printer.
The printer function is realized by having an image communication means relative to a host computer as an external apparatus. The printer function allows the print data to be received by the image communication means and the received print data to be printed.
In this way, a variety of processing such as an image transmission, received data printing, etc., are realized by having a common use of the scanner or printer, etc.
Further, the digital copier has a memory for storing the image. It is therefore, not necessarily required that the scanner and printer be operated in a synchronized relation as in an analog copier. For example, the digital copier transmits the image which is read out by the scanner. In parallel with this processing, the digital copier can print, by a printer, the print data received by the print communication section from an external apparatus. In this way, the digital copier enables the scanner and printer to execute separate types of processing (jobs). That is, the digital copier can perform “multifunction operations” by which a plurality of processing are done simultaneously.
The above-mentioned parallel operations are performed as if there occurred a single job request for both the scanner and printer. In the variety of processing performed by the digital copier, however, there is sometimes the case where the scanner or printer, etc., is shared. If, therefore, the scanner or printer is shared, when a request for a job is generated, the scanner or printer cannot perform any other job unless a job being executed is terminated. In the case where, for example, copy processing is to be performed during printing processing by the printer function, copying cannot be implemented until the printing of print data during printing by the printer is completed. This occurs because the print processing under the printer function and copy function under the copying function share the printer.
Further, the digital copier, having a memory, does not require a complete synchronization operation as in the case of the analog copier. That is, even if the printing of the image is not executed at a time of inputting the image, printing can be executed after the image has been stored in the memory. In this way, the operation condition under which the image inputting processing and image printing processing are separately operated is called a “completed type”. In the copy processing of the “completed type”, all the document image is scanned by the scanner. The image thus scanned by the scanner is stored in the memory.
Then, after all the image has been stored in the memory, the printer prints images sequentially read out from the memory.
On the other hand, the digital copier can effect the inputting of the image and printing of the input image in a synchronized way. The operation condition under which the image inputting processing and image printing processing are done in a synchronized way is called a “sequential type”. This “sequential type” speeds up a time of starting the print of the image when being compared with the “completed type”. When, therefore, a time (first copying time) from the start of inputting the image to the end of printing the image is intentionally made somewhat shorter, the “sequential type” operation condition is used. For example, the “sequential type” copy processing performs, in parallel with the scan processing of the image by the scanner, print processing of the scanned image.
Some scanner used in the digital copier has an auto-document feeder (ADF) for feeding a plurality of documents sequentially to a scanning position. Some digital copier has a mode (usually, a single-sided/single-sided operation mode) in which it sequentially reads out the single side surface of the document with the use of the ADF and effects a printing on a single side surface of a copy sheet. In this case, the scan processing of the document by the scanner and print processing of the image by the printer are done in a synchronized relation. By doing so, a better productive operation is realized in a shorter time from the starting of scanning to the completion of printing.
In the above-mentioned “sequential type” copy processing, the scanner and printer are occupied under one copy processing while performing at least a scan operation. During the execution of the “sequential type” copy processing, therefore, the scanner- or printer-utilizing processing cannot be done in a parallel operation.
In the case where the digital copier effects a “sequential type” copy operation and performs a parallel operation against the variety of processing, there are the following conditions.
(1) A copy operation is effected during the printing of the received print data.
(2) A copy operation is effected during the printing of the received facsimile document.
(3) A facsimile transmitting operation is done during copying.
In the case of (1) to (3), in order to perform the copy operation in the “sequential type” mode, the scanner and printer are operated in a synchronized way while performing at least a scanning operation. For this reason, the scanner and printer of the digital copier are occupied by one copying job. During the copy processing, therefore, it is not possible to perform print processing on the print data or on received data under a facsimile communication, document scan processing under which a facsimile is transmitted, etc.
For this reason, there are two conventional methods as will be set out below. One control method is by giving a priority to the copy processing. In this method, the processing done by the printer is once stopped at a time of starting an operation of copy processing.
Then, when the start of the copy processing is designated, the copy processing is implemented in the “sequential type” mode. When the copy processing is terminated, a state is set in which the next processing can be done. Usually, here, in the case where, in a predetermined time, the user does nothing relating to the next processing, the interrupted printing of the received data is resumed.
In such control method, the scanner and printer are occupied by the copy processing during a predetermined time from the starting of the operation by the user to the termination of the copy processing. Thus, the printer takes more practical inoperative time and more loss time. Further, since the processing now performed for the copy processing is stopped and resumed, complex control is involved.
The second control method is by giving a sequential priority to a print request. Even if the copy processing is designated, this control meth

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Image forming method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Image forming method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image forming method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3319747