Image processing apparatus which predicts when to prepare for image forming operations
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorShunya Mitsuhashi
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Abstract
An image processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting coded data from an external apparatus. A developing unit develops the coded data into bit map data, an output unit outputs the bit map data to a printing unit, and a unit predicts a time needed for developing coded data for one page into bit map data. The predicting unit transmits a timing signal for starting preparatory operations by the printing unit with a timing based on the predicted time.
Claims17
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- input means for inputting coded data from an external apparatus;
- developing means for developing the coded data into bit map data;
- output means for outputting the bit map data to a printing unit, wherein the printing unit performs a printing operation including an electrophotographic method and comprises fixing means for fixing an image formed on a recording medium;
- and
- predicting means for predicting a time needed for developing the coded data for one page into a bit map data,
- wherein said predicting means transmits a timing signal for starting preparatory operations including an operation for setting said fixing means at a predetermined temperature, based on the predicted time.
A method for controlling plural warm-up operations of a printing unit, said method comprising the steps of:
- inputting printing information for one page;
- starting the plural warm-up operations in response to inputting of the printing information;
- calculating a time needed for converting the printing information for one page into bit map data;
- outputting a signal for stopping at least one of the warm-up operations in a case where the time needed for conversion is longer than a predetermined time;
- and
- outputting a signal for restarting said at least one of the warm-up operations based on the time calculated in said calculation step in a case where the stopping signal was outputted in the stopping signal output step.
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- input means for inputting coded data from an external apparatus;
- developing means for developing the coded data into bit map data;
- output means for outputting the bit map data to a printing unit, wherein the printing unit performs a printing operation including an electrophotographic method and comprises generating means for generating a laser beam and deflecting means for deflecting the laser beam;
- and
- predicting means for predicting a time needed for developing the coded data for one page into bit map data,
- wherein said predicting means transmits a timing signal for starting the preparatory operations including an operation for driving said deflecting means in a predetermined state, based on the predicted time.
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- input means for inputting coded data from an external apparatus;
- developing means for developing the coded data into bit map data;
- output means for outputting the bit map data to a printing unit, wherein the printing unit performs a printing operation including an electrophotographic method and comprises a rotatable photosensitive drum;
- and
- predicting means for predicting a time needed for developing the coded data for one page into bit map data,
- wherein said apparatus starts the preparatory operations including a rotation driving operation of the photosensitive drum in response to input of the coded data, and
- wherein said predicting means interrupts the rotation driving operation of the photosensitive drum in a case where the predicted time exceeds a predetermined time, and transmits a timing signal for resuming the rotation driving operation of the photosensitive drum based on the predicted time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.