Faster monochrome printing for in-line electrophotographic color printers

A print controller for an electrophotographic color printer, the print controller comprising:

• a plurality of means for conveying print data to a respective one of a plurality of image transfer assemblies supported by the electrophotographic printer;
• and
• means for directing print data associated with each color of a color print job over a respective one of the plurality of means for conveying in response to receipt of print data for a color print job, and for dividing and directing print data associated with a single color over at least two of the plurality of means for conveying in response to receipt of print data for a monochrome print job.

A method for increasing a speed of monochrome printing in an electrophotographic color printer having a plurality of image transfer assemblies, each image transfer assembly associated with a corresponding color and configured for communication with a print controller via at least one print data channel, the method comprising:

• in response to receiving print data for a color print job, directing print data associated with each of the corresponding colors to a respective one of the plurality of image transfer assemblies, wherein a first number of print data channels are used for each of the plurality of image transfer assemblies;
• and
• in response to receiving print data for a monochrome print job, directing print data associated with the monochrome print job to only one image transfer assembly over a second number of print data channels, wherein the second number of print data channels is greater than the first number of print data channels.