Image processing apparatus and image forming system

• US 20050265066A1
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oki Data Corporation (OKI Electric Industry Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Oki Data Corporation (OKI Electric Industry Company Limited)
• Inventors: Machiyama, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,701,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/145
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0013 Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0072 Detecting the status of a connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

Personal computers and a printer are linked via an image processing apparatus. A first memory stores data received from computers. A second memory stores data received from an original. An output interface receives the data from the transfer data buffer and the image buffer and outputs the data to the printer. A printer status detector obtains the status of the printer to determine whether the printer is unable to print. A cancel commanding section commands the printer to clear the data received from the output interface when the printer is unable to print. A data identifier identifies whether the data output through the output interface is the data from the image buffer. When the data identifier identifies that the data outputted from the output interface is data from the image buffer, the cancel commanding section commands the printer to clear the data received from the output interface.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a first memory that stores data received from a host apparatus;

a second memory that stores data read from an original;

an outputting section that receives the data from said first memory and said second memory and outputs the data to a printing apparatus;

a detecting section that obtains a status of the printing apparatus and determines whether the printing apparatus is unable to print; and

a cancel commanding section that commands the printing apparatus to clear the data received from said outputting section when said detecting section determines that the printing apparatus is unable to print.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a data identifying section that identifies whether the data outputted from said outputting section is data from said second memory;

wherein when said data identifying section identifies that the data outputted from said outputting section is data from said second memory and said detecting section determines whether the printing apparatus is unable to print, said cancel commanding section commands the printing apparatus to clear the data received from said outputting section.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a monitor that monitors a time length elapsed after said outputting section interrupts transfer of data to the printing apparatus;

wherein when the time length elapsed exceeds a reference time length, said monitor determines that the printing apparatus is unable to print.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising:

a display section that displays a screen that prompts the operator to select either continuation of outputting of data to the printing apparatus or interruption of outputting of data to the printing apparatus when said data identifying section identifies that the data outputted from said outputting section is the data from said second memory and said detecting section determines that the printing apparatus is unable to print; and

an operating section through which the operator selects either continuation of outputting of data to the printing apparatus or interruption of outputting of data to the printing apparatus.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising an interface section that notifies the host apparatus that the printing apparatus has terminated a printing operation due to an error, said interface section notifying the host apparatus when said data identifying section identifies that the data outputted from said outputting section is not from said second memory and said monitor determines that the printing apparatus is unable to print.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a display section, wherein when said detecting section determines that the printing apparatus is unable to print, said display section displays a display indicative that the printing apparatus is unable to print;

and

wherein after said detecting section determines that the printing apparatus is unable to print, said detecting section continues to obtain a status of the printing apparatus to determine whether the printing apparatus has become able to print;

wherein when said detecting section determines that the printing apparatus has become able to print, said display section clears a display indicative that the printing apparatus is unable to print.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when said outputting section is outputting the data from said second memory to the printing apparatus, the data is not received from the host apparatus.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising:

a transmitter identifying section that obtains identification information on the data stored in said first memory;

a memory that stores the identification information;

a display section that displays the identification information and a display screen that prompts the operator to select either continuation of outputting of data to the printing apparatus or interruption of outputting of data to printing section, the identification information and a display screen being displayed when said data identifying section identifies that the data outputted from said outputting section is data from said second memory and said detecting section determines that the printing apparatus is unable to print; and

an operating section through the operator selects either continuation of outputting of data to the printing apparatus or interruption of outputting of data to the printing apparatus.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising an operating section through which an operator either inputs a desired value of the reference time length or selects a desired value from a plurality of values of the reference time length;

and

a recording section that holds the desired value.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a monitor that monitors a time length elapsed after said outputting section interrupts transfer of data to the printing apparatus;

wherein when the time length elapsed exceeds a reference time length, said monitor determines that the printing apparatus is unable to print.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a display section, wherein when said detecting section determines that the printing apparatus is unable to print, said display section displays a display indicative that the printing apparatus is unable to print;

and

wherein after said detecting section determines that the printing apparatus is unable to print, said detecting section continues to obtain a status of the printing apparatus to determine whether the printing apparatus has become able to print;

wherein when said detecting section determines that the printing apparatus has become able to print, said display section clears a display indicative that the printing apparatus is unable to print.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a display section that displays a screen that prompts the operator to select either continuation of outputting of data to the printing apparatus or interruption of outputting of data to the printing section when said detecting section determines that the printing apparatus is unable to print; and

an operating section through which the operator selects either continuation of outputting of data to the printing apparatus or interruption of outputting of data the printing apparatus.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said outputting section is outputting the data from said second memory to the printing apparatus, the data is not received from the host apparatus.

14. An image forming system comprising:

a host apparatus that outputs print data;

a printing apparatus that prints the print data on a medium; and

an image processing apparatus via which the host apparatus and the printing apparatus are linked;

wherein the image processing apparatus includes;

a first memory that stores data received from a host apparatus;

a second memory that stores data received from an original;

an outputting section that receives the data from said first memory and said second memory and outputs the data to a printing apparatus;

a data identifying section that identifies whether the data outputted from said outputting section is data from said second memory;

a detecting section that obtains a status of the printing apparatus and determines whether the printing apparatus is unable to print; and

a cancel commanding section that outputs a command the printing apparatus to clear the data received from said outputting section when the printing apparatus is unable to print;

wherein when the printing apparatus receives a command for clearing the data in the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus clears the data received from said cancel commanding section.