Image forming apparatus

• US 20060055957A1
• Filed: 09/13/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Daiki
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.140
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/181 Receiving print data characterized by its formatting, e.g. particular page description languages
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1822 Analysing the received data before processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1823 for evaluating the resources needed, e.g. rasterizing time, ink, paper stock

Abstract

When an image forming apparatus receives print data to which page quantity information has been added from an external apparatus, it decides by which emulation among a plurality of types of emulations to interpret the print data, and outputs the print data emulation-processed depending on the decision to an engine which forms an image for each page. Further, when it is determined that the page quantity of the print data outputted to the engine is larger than the page quantity indicated by the page quantity information, the apparatus instructs the engine to suspend image formation.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a receiving portion configured to receive print data to which page quantity information has been added from an external apparatus;

a deciding portion configured to decide by which emulation among a plurality of types of emulations to interpret the received print data;

an engine which forms an image of print data for each page;

an output portion configured to output the print data emulation-processed depending on the decision of the deciding portion to the engine for each page;

a determining portion configured to determine whether or not the page quantity of the print data outputted by the output portion is larger than the page quantity indicated by the page quantity information; and

a suspension instructing portion configured to instruct the engine to suspend image formation when the determining portion determines that the page quantity of the outputted print data is larger than the page quantity indicated by the page quantity information.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the page quantity information is added to the end of the print data.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a counter configured to count the page quantity of the outputted print data.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the counter counts when interpreting data of each page by the emulation processing.

5. An image forming apparatus comprising:

means for receiving print data to which page quantity information has been added from an external apparatus;

means for deciding by which emulation among a plurality of types of emulations to interpret the received print data;

an engine which forms an image of print data for each page;

means for outputting the print data emulation-processed depending on the decision of the deciding means to the engine for each page;

means for determining whether or not the page quantity of the outputted print data is larger than the page quantity indicated by the page quantity information; and

means for instructing the engine to suspend image formation when the determining means determines that the page quantity of the outputted print data is larger than the page quantity indicated by the page quantity information.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the page quantity information is added to the end of the print data.

7. A method for controlling image formation by an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

deciding by which emulation among a plurality of types of emulations to interpret print data to which page quantity information has been added;

emulation-processing print data depending on the decision for each page;

outputting the processed print data to an engine which forms an image of print data for each page;

determining whether or not the page quantity of the print data outputted to the engine is larger than the page quantity indicated by the page quantity information; and

instructing the engine to suspend image formation when the page quantity of the outputted print data is determined to be larger than the page quantity indicated by the page quantity information.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the page quantity information is added to the end of the print data.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising counting the page quantity of the outputted print data.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the counting is performed when interpreting data of each page by the emulation processing.