Image formation control apparatus, image formation apparatus, image formation system, computer readable medium, and tandem printing system

An image formation apparatus comprising:

• an image formation control apparatus that includes:
• an image formation processing management unit that manages first image formation processing on a first face of a planar recording medium, the first image formation processing is performed by a first image formation apparatus;
• a communication unit that communicates with a second image forming apparatus configured to perform image formation on a second face of the planar recording medium, the second face being an opposing face with respect to the first face, a type of the first image formation apparatus being different from a type of the second image formation apparatus;
• and
• a control unit that performs control of transportation of the planar recording medium from the first image formation apparatus to the second image formation apparatus or from the second image formation apparatus, a first amount of time to start image formation from receiving an image formation instruction in the first image formation apparatus being smaller that a second amount of time to start image formation from receiving an image formation instruction in the second image formation apparatus;
• and
• the first image formation apparatus,
• wherein, when an instruction to start image formation on the planar recording medium is issued, the control unit controls the transportation of the planar recording medium to transport the recording medium for a given time longer than the second amount of time without image forming on the planar recording medium.

An image formation system comprising:

• an image formation processing management unit that manages first image formation processing on a first face of a planar recording medium, the first image formation processing being performed by a first image formation apparatus;
• a communication unit that communicates with a second image forming apparatus configured to perform image formation on a second face of the planar recording medium, the second face being an opposing face with respect to the first face, a type of the first image formation apparatus being different from a type of the second image formation apparatus;
• and
• a control unit that performs control of transportation of the planar recording medium from the first image formation apparatus to the second image formation apparatus or from the second image formation apparatus, a first amount of time to start image formation from receiving an image formation instruction in the first image formation apparatus being smaller that a second amount of time to start image formation from receiving an image formation instruction in the second image formation apparatus,
• wherein, when an instruction to start image formation on the planar recording medium is issued, the control unit controls the transportation of the planar recording medium to transport the recording medium for a given time longer than the second amount of time without image forming on the planar recording medium.

A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to perform a process for controlling image formation, the process comprising:

• managing first image formation processing on a first face of a planar recording medium, the first image formation processing being performed by a first image formation apparatus;
• communicating with a second image forming apparatus configured to perform image formation on a second face of the planar recording medium, the second face being an opposing face with respect to the first face, a type of the first image formation apparatus being different from a type of the second image formation apparatus;
• and
• performing control of transportation of the planar recording medium from the first image formation apparatus to the second image formation apparatus or from the second image formation apparatus, a first amount of time to start image formation from receiving an image formation instruction in the first image formation apparatus being smaller that a second amount of time to start image formation from receiving an image formation instruction in the second image formation apparatus,
• wherein, when an instruction to start image formation on the planar recording medium is issued,
• in the performing step, the transportation of the planar recording medium is controlled to transport the recording medium for a given time longer than the second amount of time without image forming on the planar recording medium.

A tandem printing system comprising:

• a color printer that is configured to start printing on one face of a continuous form after transporting the continuous form a given amount;
• and
• a black and white printer that is configured to start printing on the other face of the continuous form without transporting the continuous form before starting the printing,
• wherein the black and white printer is connected to the color printer so that both side printing is performed on the continuous form, and
• when the both side printing is stared, the black an white printer performs image formation on the one face of the continuous form after the black an white printer transports the continuous form the given amount.