Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a control unit that performs control such that performs control such that a second job for which no deadline is set is executed in a case where the second job is received while a first job for which a deadline is set is being executed and the deadline of the first job is not missed even in a case where the second job is executed.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a first device and a second device that are connected in series. The first device can continuously discharge a paper. The second device is blocked from information on a paper conveyance in the first device. The second device, based on printing setting information and a time at which the first paper passes the predetermined position, sets a printing cycle, and based on a time at which the second paper passes the predetermined position, calculates a delay time from a printing cycle of the second paper. The second device stops a conveyance of the second paper that is conveyed to the paper processor, and in accordance with the delay time, controls resuming of the stopped conveyance of the second paper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a driving roller that drives a transfer member; a facing roller facing the driving roller; a driver that drives one of the photosensitive drum, the driving roller, and the facing roller; and a hardware processor that: acquires carry-in fluctuation information of speed fluctuation of any one of the photosensitive drum, the driving roller, and the facing roller when a sheet member is carried into the transfer member; detects carry-in fluctuation timing of the speed fluctuation of any one of the photosensitive drum, the driving roller, and the facing roller that occurs when the sheet member is carried into the transfer member; predicts carry-out fluctuation timing of speed fluctuation of any one of the photosensitive drum, the driving roller, and the facing roller that occurs when the sheet member is carried from the transfer member; and performs feedforward control on the driver.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a driven object, a motor configured to function as a driving source of the driven object, a scanning unit configured to cause the driven object to move, and include a first pulley to which the motor is connected, a second pulley disposed opposing to the first pulley, and a member stretched around the first pulley and the second pulley, an acquisition unit configured to acquire position information of the driven object, and a signal generation unit configured to generate a periodic signal for controlling driving of the motor based on the position information acquired by the acquisition unit, wherein the signal generation unit increases a period of the signal to be generated, as a length of the member to which a pulling force is applied becomes shorter.

Abstract: When a pre-rotation sequence is started at a time at which a print-start notification command is transmitted, in the case where a predicted time period is longer than a time period taken to perform the pre-rotation sequence, an appropriate FPOT is not realized. To determine whether the pre-rotation sequence can be started at a time at which a print reservation command that is to be transmitted before transmission of the print-start notification command is transmitted to the engine, a drum-rotation permission command is provided, whereby, in the case of immediately starting the pre-rotation sequence, the pre-rotation sequence can be started earlier than the pre-rotation sequence is started, reducing the FPOT. In the case of not immediately starting the pre-rotation sequence, a time period taken to perform image expansion and the time period taken to perform the pre-rotation sequence can be made to coincide with each other, reducing consumable items deterioration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sheet conveying unit, a TOD (Top of Data) control module for instructing the image forming unit to start generation of a toner image, a timing roller driving module for instructing the sheet conveying unit to start driving of the timing roller, an image synchronization module designed depending on the sheet conveying unit and the image forming unit, and a sheet information module for generating an image synchronization identifier for designating a pattern of image synchronization control related to printing of the toner image on the sheet, depending on a type of the sheet designated. The image synchronization module is activated when the formation of the toner image on the sheet has become possible, and activate each of the TOD control module and the timing roller driving module, with a relative time lag based on the image synchronization identifier.

Abstract: In a serial tandem image forming system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a double-side printing job can be performed in a way according to the needs of users by taking into consideration an adjustment operation. The serial tandem image forming system includes an upstream apparatus 200 and a downstream apparatus 300, as the image forming apparatuses, each of which is capable of forming images on both sides of a sheet. When receiving a double-side printing job while one of the image forming apparatuses is performing the adjustment operation, a control unit 260 displays information on a manipulation display 500 which prompts a user to select whether to immediately start the job by performing a single machine double-side printing process with the other image forming apparatus, or start the job by shifting to a tandem mode and performing a serial double-side printing process after the adjustment operation has finished.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt, an index provided at part of an end edge of the belt, a detecting member, a processing unit, and a storage unit. The detecting member changes an output value thereof based on the passing states of the index and the end edge of the belt in a detection area of the detecting member. The processing unit processes the output value and determines whether the index is present in the detection area by comparing the present output value with a threshold value. The storage unit stores the processed output value. The processing unit acquires a reference value based on the stored output value. The processing unit, when determining whether the index is present in the detection area, sets as the threshold value a value obtained by changing the most recently acquired reference value by a predetermined value.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling the initiation of an image forming apparatus are provided using a NAND flash memory. The device for controlling initiation of an image forming apparatus includes: a NAND flash memory for storing a boot program and system control programs for initiating the image forming apparatus; a random-access-memory (RAM) for temporarily storing an execution program and data; and a driving unit arranged to first read the boot program and an engine control program among the system control programs from the NAND flash memory, execute the boot program and the engine control program, then read remaining system control programs from the NAND flash memory and store the remaining system control programs in the RAM when the boot program and the engine control program are being executed.

Abstract: A method for performing a reservation job of an image forming apparatus includes: selecting the kinds of jobs to be reserved as job data; setting a time for starting and a period for performing the job reserved as the job data; and performing the selected job reserved as the job data at the set time and period.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can reduce the number of signal lines that can respond to interrupt processing by conducting I/O control that can acquire irregularly generated sensor detection signals. Identification control means of the image forming apparatus uses the data line in the period other than when conducting identification control of the detection means or the drive means to acquire the data of the specified detection means as valid data. Delay of the detection response time to irregularly generated signals can be minimized by using the data line other than when conducting identification control of the detection means or the drive means to acquire irregularly generated detection signals.

Abstract: A method of controlling a printing job of an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit. The method of controlling a printing job includes transforming scanned data into printable data, and determining a time to start driving the image forming unit according to the type of data scanned, starting driving the image forming unit at the determined start time, and printing the scanned data transformed into printable data. The time required to perform a printing job is thereby reduced, and scanned data can be output normally.

Abstract: An image forming system including first and second image forming apparatuses that includes a first image forming unit configured to form an image on a first surface of recording paper, a discharging unit configured to discharge the recording paper on which the image is formed by the first image forming unit to the second image forming apparatus, a second image forming unit configured to form an image on a second surface of the recording paper discharged by the discharging unit from the first image forming apparatus, and a correction unit configured to correct adjustment timing of the image forming system as a whole so that first adjustment timing for performing an adjustment operation of an output image formed by the first image forming unit and second adjustment timing for performing an adjustment operation of an output image formed by the second image forming unit accord with each other.

Abstract: A seasoning apparatus includes: a table on which a stack of paper sheets is loaded; a ceiling plate which is arranged above the table to cover an upper side of the paper stack on the table; a front side plate and a rear side plate which are arranged to oppose to each other at front and rear sides of the paper stack on the table, at least one of the front and rear side plates being advanceable and retractable relatively to each other; a right-hand side plate and a left-hand side plate which are arranged to oppose to each other at a right-hand side and a left-hand side of the paper stack on the table, at least one of the right-hand and left-hand side plates being advanceable and retractable relatively to each other; and an air blowing device which blows air horizontally toward the paper stack on the table.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a computing unit computes phase shift amounts A(i) for every correction relative phase angle ?(j) based on an amplitude B of a reference compressional wave ?a, an amplitude C(i) of a detection compressional wave ?(i), and a relative phase angle ?(i). A setting unit specifies the phase shift amounts A(i), and sets a correction relative phase angle ?(j) corresponding to the specified phase shift amounts A(i). A correction unit corrects, based on the correction relative phase angle ?(j) set by the setting unit, a relative phase shift between a periodic variation in the circumferential speed of a first image bearing member and a periodic variation in the circumferential speed of a second group image bearing member by operationally controlling at least one of first and second drive units.

Abstract: In full-color printing, one of first and second rotary members is activated with a time lag after the other of the first and second rotary members is activated such that the phase difference between the first and second rotary members is an adjusted phase difference. In addition, every time monochrome printing is performed, the time lag is changed.

Abstract: An image forming system, and a user authenticating method and a control method thereof, the image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses communicably connected and performing a first authentication of a user in a first image forming apparatus of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; requesting a second authentication of the user from at least one second image forming apparatus of the plurality of image forming apparatuses in response to the first authentication failing in the first image forming apparatus; and finally authenticating the user based on a result of the second authentication.

Abstract: An image forming system capable of shortening the time required to process configuration information on an image forming system and shortening communication time. When any of sheet processing apparatuses is activated before activation of an image forming apparatus, a controller of a sheet processing apparatus acting as a sub-manager configures a sub-system consisting of sheet processing apparatuses connected to a communication network and creates configuration data on the sub-system. When recognizing that the image forming apparatus is newly connected to the network, the sub-manager apparatus notifies the image forming apparatus of the already created configuration data based on which a controller of the image forming apparatus creates configuration data on the system and stores it into a RAM.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an apparatus main unit control software storage unit configured to store new apparatus main unit control software used to control a main unit of the image processing apparatus on a non-volatile storage device, a combination appropriateness determination unit configured to determine whether a combination of the new apparatus main unit control software and post-processing apparatus control software that currently operates on a post-processing apparatus is appropriate based on version information about the post-processing apparatus control software used to control the post-processing apparatus, which is operable in combination with the new apparatus main unit control software, and version information about the post-processing apparatus control software that currently operates on the post-processing apparatus, a determination result storage unit configured to store a result of the determination by the combination appropriateness determination unit, and an activation unit con

Abstract: There is provided an information processing device that has a display control unit that causes, when one or more of setting items for specifying a processing are sequentially specified by a manipulation made by an operator, a display unit to display processing information sets each including setting items in a predetermined order on the basis of the sequentially specified setting items, and has a processing execution unit that executes a processing specified by setting items included in a processing information set specified by a manipulation made by the operator among the displayed processing information sets.

Abstract: A main body control part of an image forming device switches select signals to a unicast mode by a communication mode switching part at least when stopping a recording paper that is being transported on a paper feeding path or when transporting a recording paper stopped on the paper feeding path, and switches the select signals to the broadcast mode after transmitting control data. Each of the paper feeding control parts executes a paper feeding control based on the control data received with the unicast mode, upon detecting the broadcast mode.

Abstract: An optical beam scanning apparatus is disclosed, including: a laser source that emits an optical beam, a deflection part that deflects the optical beam, a light receiving part that receives a returning light of the optical beam which is deflected toward the laser source by the deflection part, a signal generation part that generates a synchronization detection signal, and an optical source drive part that conducts a lighting control of the laser source. The light receiving part is arranged in vicinity to the laser source. The signal generation part detects a timing at which the light receiving part receives the returning light, by an output signal from the light receiving part to generate the synchronization detection signal. The optical source drive part conducts the lighting control of the laser source in response to the synchronization detection signal as a reference.

Abstract: A method for determining a location on an image bearing surface of an image printing system where a toner image is to be printed is provided. The method comprises generating a first signal from a detector that is configured to detect a reference mark on the image bearing surface, and a second signal from a clock system that counts incremental movements of the image bearing surface, determining a first value that correlates the first signal and the second signal, where the first value corresponds to a value of the second signal at a start of characterization of the image bearing surface, and determining a second value using the first value, where the second value provides the location on the image bearing surface where the toner image is to be printed.

Abstract: A printer control apparatus can be applied to an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of types of readers and a plurality of types of printers can be connected to a single controller, and which enables efficient transfer of image data from the reader to the printer via an image memory of the controller. The controller receives image data from a reader and temporarily stores the same in an image memory, and transmits the stored image data to a printer. The controller acquires a reader processing speed from the reader and a printer processing speed from the printer, and determines, while the image data is being written to the image memory, timing for transmitting the image data written in the memory to the printer according to a difference between the reader processing speed and the printer processing speed and a sub-scan size of the image data.

Abstract: A calibration procedure for the synchronization of photoreceptor belt seams of tandem marking devices at system cycle-up. The procedure allows for images projected upon equivalent image panels relative to the belt seams of the tandem engines to be printed on the same sheet. The successive image panels on each belt are of relatively equal distance from the respective belt seams. Thus there is less frequency of the need to skip pitches in the printing operation to avoid either imaging on a belt seam or having the sheet arrive outside the input timing window for second engine sheet registration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for selectively removing magnetically attractable toner particles from an image-forming device, the image-forming device comprising a cleaning magnet system, configured to provide an activatable second magnetic field, the method comprising a step of switching the image-forming device into a cleaning mode, the cleaning mode comprising the steps of stopping the toner supply to the image-recording medium, rotating the rotatable sleeve in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, such that the magnetically attractable toner particles are transported out of the developing zone towards the cleaning magnet system, and activating the second magnetic field so as to remove the transported magnetically attractable toner particles from the rotating sleeve of the developing element. The invention also relates to an image-forming device for performing the method.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet-feeder for feeding a recording sheet from a sheet cassette. Image forming devices are provided for forming a toner image. An image bearer bears a toner image formed by the image forming devices; and a transferring device transfers the toner image on the image bearer to a recording sheet. A sheet amount detector detects the amount of recording sheets in the cassette. A mode controller allows the image forming devices to start their operations before the sheet feeding section conveys a recording sheet when the amount of recording sheets detected by the sheet amount detector exceeds a predetermined reference amount, and allows the image forming devices to start their operations after the sheet-feeding section conveys the recording sheet when the amount of recording sheets detected by the sheet amount detector is smaller than the reference amount.

Abstract: In the printing and finishing of sheet-like objects, printing instructions are outputted to a printer. In accordance therewith, sheet-like objects are printed by the printer and are subsequently delivered by the printer directly to the finishing apparatus and then finished by the finishing apparatus. Output data concerning the printing instructions sent to the printer which are at least indicative of the printer capacity required for the printer to process the printing instructions outputted to the printer are registered. Sheet-like objects displaced by the printer are detected and signaled by the detector. At least periodically, production data in accordance with the signals received from the detector are generated. These data are at least indicative of a production quantity realized by the printer in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer. Depending on the production data, the output of next ones of the printing instructions to the printer is dosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a process correction mode wherein when a temperature of a fixing device in an image formation system in a power-on state is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the image forming apparatus increases the fixing temperature to the predetermined value. The apparatus sets the process correction mode based on power-on information output from a first detector which detects presence of the power-on state for the fixing device and fixing temperature information output from a second detector which detects a fixing temperature in the fixing device, and sets a priority level for performing a correction processing of the color misregistration to be lower than a correction processing comprising an image density adjustment.

Abstract: An image forming system including first and second image forming apparatuses that includes a first image forming unit configured to form an image on a first surface of recording paper, a discharging unit configured to discharge the recording paper on which the image is formed by the first image forming unit to the second image forming apparatus, a second image forming unit configured to form an image on a second surface of the recording paper discharged by the discharging unit from the first image forming apparatus, and a correction unit configured to correct adjustment timing of the image forming system as a whole so that first adjustment timing for performing an adjustment operation of an output image formed by the first image forming unit and second adjustment timing for performing an adjustment operation of an output image formed by the second image forming unit accord with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; plural developing devices that store respective developers of different colors and visualize the electrostatic latent image with the developers; a developing device switching mechanism that switches among the developing devices; a transfer unit that transfers a developer image visualized by the one of the developing devices to a recording medium; a fixing device that fixes the developer image transferred by the transfer unit onto the recording medium; a first transporter that transports in a first direction the recording medium with the developer image fixed thereon; a second transporter that transports in a second direction the recording medium with the developer image fixed thereon; and a transporter switching mechanism that switches between the first transporter and the second transporter in conjunction with an operation of the developing device switching mechanism for switching among the developing devices.

Abstract: In the image-forming device, the second driving force is transmitted from each input coupling to the corresponding output coupling to rotate the corresponding photosensitive drum when each input coupling is positioned at a predetermined position for the corresponding output coupling. The first detecting unit and the second detecting units detect a position of each input coupling and a position of each output coupling respectively before the first driving unit begins to provide the first driving force and the second driving unit begins to provide the first driving force. The calculating unit calculates, based on the position of each input coupling and the position of each output coupling, a first start timing when a first photosensitive drum starts to rotate and a second start timing when a second photosensitive drum starts to rotate. The controlling unit controls the first driving unit to begin to provide the first driving force after the first start timing and before the second start timing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding portion, an image forming portion, a discharge portion, a paper transport path, a plurality of detection members, and a control portion. The image forming portion forms images on sheets of paper fed from the feeding portion. The path transports paper from the feeding portion to the discharge portion via the image forming portion. The detection members detect transport state of paper at respective locations on the path including the feeding portion, between the feeding and image forming portions, within the image forming portion, between the image forming and discharge portions, and the discharge portion. Upon detection of paper jam at any of the locations, the control portion displays, on an indicator, information identifying a location where the jam has occurred, and the image forming portion where paper is detected by the detection members, as locations of paper to be eliminated from the path.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus that controls a DC motor includes a detection unit configured to detect angular speed of the DC motor, a driven member configured to be driven by the DC motor, and a control unit configured to increase, when starting to drive the DC motor, a control value for controlling driving of the DC motor from a first control value to a second control value at a predetermined increase rate, wherein the control unit detects a start-up characteristic of the DC motor based on a detection result of the detection unit, and corrects the first control value or the increase rate according to a result of comparing a detected start-up characteristic and a predetermined start-up characteristic such that the start-up characteristic of the DC motor becomes closer to the predetermined start-up characteristic.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a rotation body which is used for transferring an image, a drive section which rotates the rotation body, and a control section which sends a control signal to the drive section to control a speed of the rotation body, the image forming apparatus including: a test signal generating section which generates a test signal and adds it to the control signal; an angular velocity detecting section which detects an angular velocity of the rotation body; and a transfer function calculating section which obtains a latest transfer function of a rotation system including the rotation body and drive section, based on the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity detecting section and the test signal generated by the test signal generating section, wherein the control section controls the drive section, based on the latest transfer function obtained by the transfer function calculating section.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the timing of a plurality of physically coupled print engines using a small delta time increment. According to the first mode of practice, the second electrophotographic module, designated as E2, is started at a slower operating speed than its normal run speed. The PI control algorithm that controls the motor speed will then allow the speed of E2 to reach its nominal speed.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods of operating a multi-color image forming device in a mono-color mode. The methods may include performing three basic loops during the printing in the mono-color mode. A first loop may include printing mono-color pages up to an initial preset maximum. The preset maximum may prevent a wear mark from forming on the non-operational PC members due to rubbing against the moving ITM. A second loop may occur when the mono-color pages exceeds the initial preset maximum. The second loop may include rotating the non-operational imaging stations to prevent wear. A third loop may occur when the number of mono-color images exceeds an overall maximum number. The third loop may include resetting the non-operational image forming stations to allow for continuing printing in the mono-color mode.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming unit which forms an image as a toner image on a printing medium, a first fixing unit which fixes, on the printing medium, the toner image formed by the image forming unit, a second fixing unit arranged at a position different from the first fixing unit and used when a larger amount of heat is necessary for fixing the toner image on the printing medium, and a changing unit which changes the sequence of image formation by the image forming unit when the second fixing unit is used during image formation.

Abstract: An image forming system which makes clear the point in time at which initial information transmission for all peripheral devices connected to an image forming apparatus serving as the main device is complete, even when the peripheral devices are attached in various combinations, to thereby reduce the time until it is possible for a user to start operation to the lowest level possible, and to reduce waiting time for powering on. The image forming system such as a copying machine includes at least one peripheral device which can be serially connected to a main body of the copying machine, and communication means for performing communication with the most upstream peripheral device of the peripheral devices. When turned on or reset, the image forming system displays functions of the peripheral devices on an operating unit based on initial information delivered from the peripheral devices.

Abstract: There is provided a printer control apparatus which can be applied to an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of types of readers and a plurality of types of printers can be connected to a single controller, and which enable efficient transfer of image data from the reader to the printer via an image memory of the controller. The controller receives image data from a reader and temporarily stores the same in an image memory, and transmits the stored image data to a printer. The controller acquires a reader processing speed from the reader and a printer processing speed from the printer, and determines, while the image data is being written to the image memory, timing for transmitting the image data written in the memory to the printer according to a difference between the reader processing speed and the printer processing speed and a sub-scan size of the image data.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus, an image formation method, an image formation program, and a recording medium are disclosed. The image formation apparatus includes a first driving source for driving a feed roller and a fixing unit, a second driving source for driving at least one of plural photo conductors and a middle transfer belt, and a third driving source for driving the photo conductors other than the photo conductor driven by the second driving source. The image formation apparatus further includes a temperature detecting unit for determining whether temperature of the fixing unit is greater than a predetermined threshold value, and a control unit for driving the driving sources in different sequences according to a result of the determination.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that plural sheets of paper are conveyed to a main conveying path and a sub-conveying path at the time of double-side image formation. In performing double-side image formation jobs on plural sets of sheets of paper, a sequence control section makes a change of sequences for image formation so that a post-process for the previous job can be performed during image formation of the next set. With this, in performing double-side image formation jobs on plural sets of sheets of paper in an image forming system constituted by an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus, images can be formed in succession without suspending image formation of the next set to allow post-processing time for the previous set. This makes it possible to achieve a system with high job efficiency.

Abstract: A sheet separating mechanism and a method of separating sheets is provided to prevent the multifeeding of sheets into printers or copiers. The sheet separating mechanism provides a first nip and a second nip for feeding a series of sheets therebetween. The first nip can include a first motor and the second nip can include a second motor for feeding a leading sheet from the first nip to the second nip. The mechanism further provides a first sensor for sensing a trailing edge of the leading sheet and a second sensor for sensing a leading edge of the leading sheet. The first sensor is upstream of the first motor and the second sensor is downstream of the second motor. A trailing sheet can be prevented from feeding with the leading sheet by stopping the first motor when the leading edge of the leading sheet is sensed by the second sensor while simultaneously the first sensor remains occluded.

Abstract: An image recording system is provided which includes two image recording apparatuses that can independently record images and can sequentially start up the two image recording apparatuses one by one rather than starting up at the same time. A bypass transporting path apparatus is disposed on a color image recording apparatus and a transporting path connecting apparatus is disposed between a front portion of a monochrome image recording apparatus and a rear portion of the color image recording apparatus. This system includes a start-up controlling portion that performs control such that after any one image recording apparatus is started up and put into a recordable state, the other image recording apparatus is started up and put into a recordable state.

Abstract: A moving unit is made to perform a contacting operation at least two times. The contacting operation includes relatively moving an endless belt and an image carrier so that the endless belt and the image carrier to come in contact with each other.

Abstract: A color image scanning and printing device includes a scanning unit which scans an image of a plural number of pages, a conversion unit performing a conversion process by converting a scanned result scanned by the scanning unit into image data of each of a plurality of color components for printing one page as a unit, a printing unit which prints an image based on the converted image data of each of the color components, and a control unit which executes the conversion process by the conversion unit for a part of the color components of the scanned result of the image of the plural number of pages, prior to the conversion process by the conversion unit for remaining color components.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, to which a paper-output device for processing a sheet after image formation is attached, includes a paper-feed unit for feeding a sheet for image formation; a detection unit for detecting a type of the sheet fed from the paper-feed unit; an image forming section for forming an image on the sheet fed from the paper-feed unit; and a control unit for determining a sheet-feed timing based on a sheet-processing time used by the paper-output device corresponding to a preset sheet type. If the preset sheet type matches the sheet type detected by the detection unit, the control unit determines the sheet-feed timing based on the sheet-processing time corresponding to the preset sheet type. If not, the control unit determines the sheet-feed timing based on the sheet-processing time corresponding to the sheet type detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: In the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for laminating images by using an intermediate transferring body, it is sensed that all toner images corresponding to image data for the same sheet material are formed on the intermediate transferring body in an arbitrary order, and the toner images are transferred onto the sheet material, regardless of the colors of the toner images held by the toner image holding section. Therefore, number of sheets output per unit time can be increased.

Abstract: An apparatus manages a usage amount associated with each of a plurality of functions included in a work flow. The work flow is executed after it is determined whether an operation of each step included in the work flow can be executed or not.

Abstract: There is provided a printer control apparatus which can be applied to an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of types of readers and a plurality of types of printers can be connected to a single controller, and which enable efficient transfer of image data from the reader to the printer via an image memory of the controller. The controller receives image data from a reader and temporarily stores the same in an image memory, and transmits the stored image data to a printer. The controller acquires a reader processing speed from the reader and a printer processing speed from the printer, and determines, while the image data is being written to the image memory, timing for transmitting the image data written in the memory to the printer according to a difference between the reader processing speed and the printer processing speed and a sub-scan size of the image data.