Image formation apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10078302-B2
Application number	US-201715679452-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2017
Priority date	Sep 8, 2016
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

An image formation apparatus includes a printer configured to perform a printing process including transporting a recording medium and printing an image on the transported recording medium, and a hardware processor which determines whether the recording medium is only one sheet to be printed, and, depending on a result thereof, changes a time at which the printing process is started. Changing the time includes causing the printer to start the printing process when a first start print time is reached in a case in which the hardware processor determines that there is only one sheet to be printed, and causing the printer to start the printing process when a second start print time later than the first start print time is reached in a case in which the hardware processor determines that there is not only one sheet to be printed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image formation apparatus comprising:
a printer configured to perform a printing process including transporting a recording medium and printing an image on the transported recording medium; and
a hardware processor which determines whether the recording medium is only one sheet to be printed, and, depending on a result thereof, changes a time at which the printing process is started,
wherein changing the time includes:
causing the printer to start the printing process when a first start print time is reached in a case in which the hardware processor determines that there is only one sheet to be printed; and
causing the printer to start the printing process when a second start print time later than the first start print time is reached in a case in which the hardware processor determines that there is not only one sheet to be printed.

2. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an image scanner for reading an original document;
an original document detector for detecting whether there is an original document to be read by the image scanner; and
an input interface for receiving a set value of a number of copies to be printed,
wherein:
the printer is configured to print on a recording medium an image of an original document read by the image scanner, and
the hardware processor determines whether there is only one sheet to be printed based on a result of detection by the original document detector and the number of copies to be printed.

3. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a timing of determining that there is only one sheet to be printed is when the original document detector detects that there is no original document.

4. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a timing of determining that there is only one sheet to be printed varies depending on an original-document size, an original-document reading speed, and a printing mode.

5. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a data receiver for receiving image data and a number of copies to be printed,
wherein:
the printer is configured to print the received image data on a recording medium, and
the hardware processor determines whether there is only one sheet to be printed, based on the number of copies to be printed.

6. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
an amount of fixing heat required varies between a case in which there is only one sheet to be printed and a case in which there are a plurality of sheets to be printed; and
changing the time includes causing the printer to start feeding a sheet as the recording medium at a point in time varying depending on whether there is only one sheet to be printed or there are a plurality of sheets to be printed so as to ensure the amount of fixing heat required.

7. The image formation apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein an amount of fixing heat in a case in which there is only one sheet to be printed is smaller than an amount of fixing heat in a case in which there are a plurality of sheets to be printed.

8. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in a case in which the hardware processor determines before the first start print time that there is only one sheet to be printed, the printing process is started at the first start print time.

9. The image formation apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein in a case in which the hardware processor determines on or after the first start print time before the second start print time that there is only one sheet to be printed, the printing process is started at a time when the hardware processor determines that there is only one sheet to be printed.

10. The image formation apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein in a case in which when the second start print time has been reached it cannot be determined that there is only one sheet to be printed, the printing process is started at the second start print time.

11. The image formation apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the second start print time is set based on a period of time required for ensuring an amount of fixing heat required in a case in which there are a plurality of sheets to be printed.

12. The image formation apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the first start print time is set based on a period of time required for ensuring an amount of fixing heat required in a case in which there is only one sheet to be printed.

13. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a time at which the printing process is started is an earlier one of a time at which a start up of an image forming unit including a photoreceptor is initiated and a time at which transporting a recording medium is started.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program causing a computer to perform:
determining whether a recording medium is only one sheet to be printed; and
depending on a result of the determination, changing a time at which a printer starts to perform a printing process,
wherein the printing process includes transporting a recording medium and printing an image on the transported recording medium, and
wherein changing the time includes:
causing the printer to start the printing process when a first start print time is reached in a case in which it is determined that there is only one sheet to be printed; and
causing the printer to start the printing process when a second start print time later than the first start print time is reached in a case in which it is determined that there is not only one sheet to be printed.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14 , wherein the program further causes the computer to:
cause an image scanner to read an original document;
receive from an original document detector provided at the image scanner a result of detecting whether an original document to be read is present or absent;
print on a recording medium by the printer an image of an original document read by the image scanner; and
receive a set value of a number of copies to be printed,
wherein determining whether there is only one sheet to be printed is based on the result of detection by the original document detector and the number of copies to be printed.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15 , wherein a timing of determining that there is only one sheet to be printed is when the original document detector detects that there is no original document.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15 , wherein a timing of determining that there is only one sheet to be printed varies depending on an original-document size, an original-document reading speed, and a printing mode.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14 , wherein the program further causes the computer to:
receive image data and a number of copies to be printed; and
cause the printer to print the received image data on a recording medium,
wherein determining whether there is only one sheet to be printed is based on the number of copies to be printed.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14 , wherein:
an amount of fixing heat required varies between a case in which there is only one sheet to be printed and a case in which there are a plurality of sheets to be printed; and
changing the time includes causing the printer to start feeding a sheet as the recordi

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Iwai Katsutoshi

Classifications

• G03G2215/00042

  Optical detection · CPC title

• G03G15/047

  for discharging non-image areas · CPC title

• G03G15/505 Primary

  Detecting the speed, e.g. for continuous control of recording starting time · CPC title

• B41J2/41

  for electrostatic printing (B41J2/39 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/0189

  primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt (G03G15/0184 takes precedence) · CPC title