Patent Publication Number: US-2007115489-A1

Title: Printing apparatus and control method therefor, and printing system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention pertains to a printing apparatus and a control method therefor, and a printing system, and particularly relates to a printing apparatus and a control method therefor, and a printing system which are adapted to start printing operation without spooling for the printing from an image reading apparatus.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      In recent years, for pieces of OA (Office Automation) equipment, such as copying machines and multifunction machines, price reduction has been promoted, and the hardware manufacturers which offer these pieces of OA equipment to the customers have been demanded to cope with such trend.  
      Therefore, the scanner printer system (the printing system) which operates a scanner and a printer in connection with each other for implementing printing processing, such as copying processing, has been proposed.  
      Such a printing system offers advantages that printing processing, such as copying processing, can be implemented with a simple and convenient configuration, and further the introduction cost for the system can be substantially suppressed, compared to that for copying machines and multifunction machines.  
      The flow of the printing processing in this type of printing system will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 . Herein, an application where the printer is a laser printer will be described.  
      First, in the scanner, a document as a scanning object is set, and the start pushbutton is depressed to start the scanning processing of the document. With this scanning processing being started, the image data is read line by line from the document to be sequentially accumulated in the buffer. And, when the scanning processing is terminated with one sheet of image data having been accumulated, sending it to the printer is started.  
      In the printer, the printer controller receives the image data sent from the scanner to accumulate that data in the buffer, sending an activation request to the engine section.  
      The engine section, which has received the activation request, starts the printing setup, using that request as a trigger. For example, it starts energizing the heater to raise the temperature of the fixing section to above a certain value to get into the printable state.  
      When the printer controller has accumulated one sheet of image data in the buffer, it sends a printing start signal to the engine section, starting the transfer of the image data. The engine section, which has received this image data, forms an image on a paper on the basis of the image data, starting the printing processing. Then, when the printing is completed, this processing is terminated.  
      By the way, as the related art for shortening the period of time for printing processing on the printer side, that as given in Japanese Patent Appllication Laid-Open No. 2001-260429 is known. This patent literature refers to an art which, if a printer having both direct and spooling modes is used, and the printing is performed in the direct mode, allows printing processing to be performed without spooling, starting the transfer of the printing data to the engine section as soon as one sheet of image data is accumulated.  
      As described above, with the related art printing system, when the entire one sheet of image data which is sent from the scanner has been accumulated, the printer starts the transfer of the image data to the engine section, starting the printing processing. This is because, with a laser printer, once the printing operation is started, it cannot be stopped on the way.  
      Generally, printing data from a personal computer, such as a host terminal, contains one sheet of image data, and on the printer side, the image data is once developed into bit map images for giving a printing output.  
      On the other hand, the printing data from a scanner contains image data composed of bit map images by a band unit, and on the printer side, the bit map images in the printing data are extracted as they are, for giving a printing output.  
      In other words, the printing data (by a band unit) sent from the scanner and the printing data (by a page unit) sent from the host terminal, or the like, are quite different from each other in structure and the rule for data transmission.  
      Therefore, even if, in printing from the host terminal, the printing cannot be started until one sheet of image data is completely accumulated, it would be reasonable that, in printing from the scanner, the printing is started before one sheet of image data being completely accumulated. Starting the printing from the scanner with the same timing as that for the printing from the host terminal produces a wasteful delay of the printing operation, which results in a reduction in throughput.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Then, the present invention has been made in view of this situation and provides a printing apparatus and a control method therefor, and a printing system which are adapted to start the printing operation without spooling in printing from the image reading apparatus.  
      An aspect of the invention provides a printing apparatus including an engine section that forms an image on a sheet of paper utilizing laser light on the basis of image data described in a page description language in printing data, which includes: a decomposition processing section that acquires the image data from the printing data, a printing buffer section that accumulates the image data acquired by the decomposition processing section, and an engine controller that, in a case where it is identified that a sender terminal of the printing data is an image reading apparatus, causes the engine section to start to print the image data at a time when a prescribed number of a band of the image data is accumulated in the printing buffer section. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one example of the overall configuration of the printing system pertaining to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating one example of the internal configuration of the scanner  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a part of the functional configuration of the scanner controller  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating one example of the structure of printing data;  
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating one example of the internal configuration of the printer  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a part of the functional configuration of the printer controller  24  as shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a sequence chart diagram illustrating one example of the flow of processing in the printing system as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating one example of the operation of the scanner  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating one example of the operation of the printer  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the scanner controller  14  giving a modification pertaining to the present invention; and  
       FIG. 11  is a sequence chart diagram illustrating one example of the flow of processing in the related art scanner and printer. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Hereinbelow, an embodiment of the printing apparatus and the control method therefor, and the printing system pertaining to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one example of the overall configuration of the printing system pertaining to the present invention.  
      In this printing system, a scanner  10 , a printer  20 , and one or plural host terminals  30  are connected to one another through a network, such as a LAN (Local Area Network)  40 .  
      In the present embodiment, an application where the scanner  10  and the printer  20  are connected to each other through the LAN  40  will be described, however, only the mutual communication between the scanner  10  and the printer  20  is needed, and for example, the scanner  10  and the printer  20  may be directly connected to each other with the use of a USB (Universal Serial Bus), a Centronix interface, or the like,  41 , as shown in the dotted line frame in the same figure.  
      The scanner  10  is an image reading apparatus which reads a figure, a photo, or characters from a document placed on a platen glass, or fed thereon, by scanning operation, and converts it into digital data (image data).  
      The scanner  10  reads the image data line by line from the document (the data obtained is hereafter to be called line data), and accumulates it in a buffer (a scanner buffer  13  later described). And, when one band (a prescribed number of a line) of image data is accumulated in the buffer, the scanner  10  uses the data to generate printing data described in a prescribed page description language, sending it to the printer  20 .  
      Thereafter, every time one band of image data is accumulated in the buffer, the scanner  10  generates printing data for sending it to the printer  20 .  
      The printer  20  is a laser printer (a laser type printing apparatus) which utilizes laser light. When printing data is sent from the scanner  10  or the host terminal  30 , the printer  20  interprets the page description language in the printing data for implementing the printing processing. By operating the printer  20  in connection with the scanner  10  for outputting the image data read by the scanner  10  with the printer  20 , the copying function can be realized.  
      When the printer  20  has received the printing data from the scanner  10 , it extracts (in some cases develops) the image data contained as a band in the received data, and accumulates it in a buffer (a printer buffer  22  later described). And, with one band of image data being accumulated in the buffer, the printer  20  starts to transfer the image data to an engine section (an engine section  21  later described), starting the printing processing. Therefore, when the printing data sent from the scanner  10  is printed in the printer  20 , the buffer in the printer  20  (the printer buffer  22  later described) functions as a band buffer, which means that the printing operation is started without spooling.  
      The host terminal  30  is a personal computer, or the like, which is handled by the user, and to the LAN  40 , one or plural host terminals  30  are connected. The user can select a desired file (printing object data) from this host terminal  30  for requesting printing it of the printer  20 .  
      In the present embodiment, an application where, with one band of image data being accumulated in the buffer in the printer  20 , transferring the image data to the engine section is started, the printing processing being started, is described, however, this provides only one example, and at the time when two bands or a few bands of image data is accumulated, the printing may be started, and thus the timing for starting the printing may be altered to suit to the performance of the engine section of the printer to which the present invention is applied, the communication environment between the scanner and the printer, and the like.  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating one example of the internal configuration of the scanner  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      The scanner  10  is configured to comprise a pick-up tray  11  on which documents as scanning objects are loaded; an image reading section (IIT, i.e., Image Input Terminal)  12  which is composed of an illumination lamp, a lens, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and the like, and performs scanning processing of a document loaded on the pick-up tray  11  to read the image data line by line; a scanner buffer  13  which is composed of an RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and temporarily accumulates the read image data; a scanner controller  14  which is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), various ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), and the like, and comprehensively controls the scanner  10 ; a scanner display  15  which is a display device, such as a liquid crystal display; a scanner operation section  16  which is an input device, such as an operation pushbutton; and a scanner communication section  17  which is composed of a network card, a USB port, and the like, being a communication interface apparatus connecting the scanner  10  with the other apparatuses (the printer  20 , the host terminal  30 , and the like).  
      In the pick-up tray  11 , an automatic paper feeder  11   a  is provided, and even when plural documents are loaded, this automatic paper feeder  11   a  feeds out the documents one by one in sequence to carry them to a delivery tray (not shown) through the path on a platen glass (not shown).  
      The image reading section  12  performs scanning processing of the document fed on the platen glass by the automatic paper feeder  11   a  for reading the image data. By repeating this, the documents loaded on the pick-up tray  11  can be continuously read.  
      In the scanner buffer  13 , the image data read in the image reading section  12  is sequentially accumulated line by line. As described above, with one band of image data being accumulated, the data is sent to the printer  20 , thus the accumulation capacity which is required of the scanner buffer  13  is only one band of image data.  
      Herein, using  FIG. 3 , a part of the functional configuration of the scanner controller  14  will be described.  
      The scanner controller  14  is configured to comprise a PreIPS processing section  51 , an IPS processing section  52 , a sending data generation section  53 , and a sending controller  54  as various processing function sections.  
      The PreIPS processing section  51  provides functions of making shading compensation, color completion, and the like, for the line data inputted from the image reading section  12 , and the IPS processing section  52  performs image editing processing of the image data subjected to a prescribed processing in the PreIPS processing section  51  in accordance with the printing parameters set by the user, and stores the data after the editing in the scanner buffer  13 .  
      The line data subjected to a prescribed processing in the IPS processing section  52  and outputted is composed of bit map images edited in accordance with the printing parameters, thus the printer  20  which has received this data can perform the printing processing using the images as they are.  
      With one band of image data being accumulated in the scanner buffer  13 , the sending data generation section  53  acquires the data, and generates printing data described in a prescribed page description language. The printing data generated in this sending data generation section  53  provides a structure in which data (the header and the terminator) described in a page description language is added to the image data at the beginning and the last thereof as shown in  FIG. 4 , for example.  
      The sending controller  54  sends the printing data generated in the sending data generation section  53  to the printer  20  through the scanner communication section  17 . This is a description of the respective functional blocks forming a part of the functional configuration of the scanner controller  14 .  
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating one example of the internal configuration of the printer  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      The printer  20  is configured to comprise an engine section (an IOT, i.e., Image Output Terminal)  21  which is composed of a photosensitive drum, a transfer belt, and the like, and performs printing processing by forming an image on the paper on the basis of the printing data received; a printer buffer  22  which is composed of an RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and temporarily accumulates the image data received; a printer communication section  23  which is composed of a network card, a USB port, and the like, being a communication interface apparatus connecting the printer  20  with the other apparatuses (the scanner  10 , the host terminal  30 , and the like); a printer controller  24  which is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), various ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), and the like, and comprehensively controls the printer  20 ; a printer display  25  which is a display device, such as a liquid crystal display; and a printer operation section  26  which is an input device, such as an operation pushbutton.  
      The engine section  21  is configured to operate using laser light, and thus once the printing operation is started, it will not be stopped on the way. Therefore, if the speed at which the image data is supplied to this engine section  21  is lower than the printing speed for the engine section  21 , an overrun error (a white strip) is caused.  
      In the printer buffer  22 , the image data sent from the scanner  10  is accumulated. As described above, with one band of image data being accumulated, the data is transferred to the engine section  21 , the printing processing being started, thus, when the printing data sent from the scanner  10  is printed, the printer buffer  22  functions as a band buffer, which means that the printing operation is started without spooling.  
      Herein, using  FIG. 6 , a part of the functional configuration of the printer controller  24  will be described.  
      The printer controller  24  is configured to comprise a decomposition processing section  61  and an engine controller  62  as various processing function sections.  
      The decomposition processing section  61  provides a function of interpreting the page description language in the printing data received through the printer communication section  23  to develop the data into bit map images, being configured to comprise a printing data identification section  61   a  and a developing/editing section  61   b.    
      The printing data identification section  61   a  analyzes the printing data received, and identifies whether it is printing data sent from the scanner  10  or that sent from the host terminal  30 . This identification is carried out by referring to the header in the printing data that is written in a page description language to specify the sender terminal.  
      The developing/editing section  61   b  interprets the page description language in the printing data to develop the data into bit map images, carrying out image editing processing of the images, such as enlargement, reduction, or turning. In the printing data sent from the scanner  10 , image data composed of bit map images is contained, thus, the bit map images are basically extracted directly from the image data. However, in some cases, the bit map images are subjected to image editing processing, such as reconversion.  
      The engine controller  62  provides functions of transferring image data to the engine section  21 , and sending a control signal for controlling the printing processing performed in the engine section  21 , being configured to comprise an activation request sending section  62   a  and a transfer section  62   b.    
      The activation request sending section  62   a  provides a function of sending an activation request to the engine section  21  for causing it to start the printing setup. The engine section  21 , which has received this activation request, starts energizing the heater to raise the temperature of the fixing section to above a certain value, for example, to get into the printable state.  
      The transfer section  62   b  provides a function of transferring image data to the engine section  21 . More specifically, with one band of image data being accumulated in the printer buffer  22 , the transfer section  62   b  sends a printing start signal to the engine section  21 , starting the transfer of image data.  
      This transfer section  62   b  acquires the identification result for the printing data from the decomposition processing section  61 , and on the basis of the identification result, determines the timing of starting the transfer of image data to the engine section  21 . More specifically, if the printing data is that from the scanner  10 , the transfer of the image data to the engine section  21  is started with one band of image data being accumulated in the printer buffer  22 , while, if the printing data is that from the host terminal  30 , the transfer of the image data is started with a timing at which one sheet of image data is accumulated in the printer buffer  22 , as conventional.  
      As described above, with the engine section  21 , once the printing operation is started, it will not be stopped on the way. Therefore, if the speed at which the data is transferred from the printer controller  24  is lower than the printing speed for the engine section  21 , an overrun error (a white strip) is caused.  
      Therefore, it is necessary that the transfer start timing for the image data from the transfer section  62   b  be previously set in consideration of at least the reaching speed for the printing data, and the printing speed for the engine section  21 . For example, if one sheet is divided into four bands, and it is required that one band of printing data be received every 2.5 sec from the scanner  10 , and one band of data be transferred to the engine section  21  every 1.5 sec, the transfer start for the image data must occur at a timing after 2 or more bands of image data having been received. This is a description of the respective functional blocks forming a part of the functional configuration of the printer controller  24 .  
       FIG. 7  is a sequence chart diagram illustrating one example of processing in the printing system as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      First, when, in the scanner  10 , a document as a scanning object is set, the start pushbutton is depressed, the scanning processing of the document is started. With the scanning processing being started, the line data is read from the document, being sequentially accumulated in the scanner buffer  13 . With one band of image data being accumulated in the scanner buffer  13 , the scanner  10  starts sending the printing data to the printer  20 . Such sending processing is performed every time one band of image data is accumulated in the scanner buffer  13 , and in the printing data sent, one band of image data is contained.  
      In the printer  20 , when the printing data is received through the printer communication section  23 , the printer controller  24  extracts the image data (the bit map images) from the received data to accumulate it in the printer buffer  22 , sending an activation request to the engine section  21 .  
      The engine section  21 , which has received this activation request, starts the printing setup, using the request as a trigger. For example, it starts energizing the heater to raise the temperature of the fixing section to above a certain value to get into the printable state.  
      With one band of image data being accumulated in the printer buffer  22 , the printer controller  24  sends a printing start signal to the engine section  21 , starting the transfer of the image data. The engine section  21  starts the printing processing by forming an image on the paper on the basis of the image data. Then, when the printing is completed, this processing is terminated.  
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating one example of the operation of the scanner  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      When a document as the scanning object is set on the platen glass, or in the automatic paper feeder  11   a , by the user (step S 101 ); setting the printing parameters and the like are performed (step S 102 ); and the start pushbutton is depressed (step S 103 ), the scanning processing of the document is started (step S 104 ).  
      With the scanning processing being started, the line data read from the document in the image reading section  12  is sequentially inputted to the PreIPS processing section  51 , and after, in the PreIPS processing section  51 , a prescribed correction processing, or the like, being provided, the line data is further inputted to the IPS processing section  52 .  
      The line data which has passed through the IPS processing section  52 , and the like, to be subjected to a prescribed image editing processing, or the like, is accumulated in the scanner buffer  13  (step S 105 ). Then, with one band of image data being accumulated in the scanner buffer  13  (YES at step S 106 ); the sending data generation section  53  acquires the one band of image data accumulated in the scanner buffer  13  to generate printing data described in a prescribed page description language; and the generated printing data is sent to the printer  20  by the sending controller  54  through the scanner communication section  23  (step S 107 ).  
      The processing operations from the above-mentioned step S 105  to the step S 107  are repetitively performed if sending of all the bands is not completed (NO at step S 108 ), and when sending all the bands has been completed (YES at step S 108 ), this processing is terminated.  
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating one example of the operation of the printer  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      When the printer  20  has received the printing data through the printer communication section  23 , the printing data identification section  61   a  analyzes the received data, and identifies whether it is printing data sent from the scanner  10  or that sent from the host terminal  30  (step S 201 ). As described above, this identification is carried out by referring to the header in the printing data that is written in a page description language, to specify the sender terminal.  
      As a result of this identification, when it is found that the printing data is that from the host terminal  30  (NO at step S 201 ), the processing as conventional, which description is omitted because it is well-known processing, is performed (step S 202 ), this processing being terminated; on the other hand, when the printing data is that from the scanner  10  (YES at step S 201 ), the printing data in which the image data is contained as a band is sequentially received (step S 203 ); and the image data composed of bit map images is extracted from the received data to be accumulated in the printer buffer  22  (step S 204 ). This processing is continued to be performed so long as the printing data is sent.  
      With the accumulation in the buffer being started, the printer controller  24  sends an activation request from the activation request sending section  62   a  (step S 205 ) to activate the engine section  21 . The engine section  21 , which has received this activation request, uses the request as a trigger to start the printing setup (step S 209 ), getting into the printable state (step S 210 ).  
      With one band of image data being accumulated in the printer buffer  22  (YES at step S 206 ), the printer controller  24  sends a printing start signal to the engine section  21  from the transfer section  62   b , starting the transfer of the image data (step S 207 ). With the transfer of the image data being started, the engine section  21  starts the printing processing by forming an image on the recording medium, such as a paper, on the basis of the image data (step S 211 ).  
      And, with the transfer of the image data from the printer controller  24  being terminated (YES at step S 208 ), the printing processing in the engine section  21  is also terminated (YES at step S 212 ), this processing being terminated.  
      As described above, the system according to the present invention is configured such that the image data is extracted from the printing data to be accumulated in the printer buffer  22 , and in the case where it is identified that the sender terminal for such printing data is the scanner  10 , the engine section  21  is caused to start the printing for the image data at the time when one band of image data is accumulated in the printer buffer  22 , thus for printing from the scanner  10 , the printing operation is started without spooling, which allows shortening of the first printout time (FPOT) from the copying start instruction (from the start pushbutton being depressed) to the completion of output of the first sheet.  
      In the above-mentioned embodiment, an application where, with a prescribed number of bands of image data being accumulated in the printer buffer  22 , the transfer of the image data to the engine section  21  is started, the printing processing being started, has been described, however, the system may be configured such that the start of printing processing is instructed from the scanner  10  side. In other words, the start timing for the printing processing may be determined on the scanner  10  side, and the printer  20  may be instructed by the scanner  10  to start the printing processing.  
      In this application, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the system is configured such that a printing start instruction section  55  is provided in the scanner controller  14  of the scanner  10 , and by this printing start instruction section  55 , a printing start command is sent to the printer  20 , with the number of bands of image data that has been sent to the printer  20 , the reaching speed for the printing data to the printer  20 , the printing speed for the engine section  21  of the printer  20 , and the like, being taken into account. On the printer  20  side, with this printing start command being received, the transfer of the image data to the engine section  21  is started by the engine controller  62  for starting the printing processing.  
      In the above-mentioned embodiment, an application where the present invention is embodied by combining a scanner  10  which sends printing data in parallel with the scanning processing, with a printer  20  to which the present invention is applied has been described, however, the present invention may be embodied by combining the above-mentioned printer  20  with a scanner  10  which, after accumulating one sheet of image data, starts sending the printing data to the printer  20 . Also in this application, the purpose of the present invention of shortening the first printout time (FPOT) can be achieved, although the effect is slightly reduced.  
      Besides to these, the present invention may be embodied with any alteration being given within the scope of the spirit thereof, being not limited to the embodiment as described above with reference to the attached drawings.  
      As described above, a first aspect of the invention provides a printing apparatus including an engine section that forms an image on a sheet of paper utilizing laser light on the basis of image data described in a page description language in printing data, which includes: a decomposition processing section that acquires the image data from the printing data, a printing buffer section that accumulates the image data acquired by the decomposition processing section, and an engine controller that, in a case where it is identified that a sender terminal of the printing data is an image reading apparatus, causes the engine section to start to print the image data at a time when a prescribed number of a band of the image data is accumulated in the printing buffer section.  
      A second aspect of the invention provides the printing apparatus of the first aspect of the invention, in which the engine controller may cause the engine section to start to print the image data on the basis of an instruction from an external.  
      A third aspect of the invention provides the printing apparatus of the first or the second aspect of the invention, in which the engine controller may cause the engine section to start to print the image data at a timing for which at least a reaching speed of the printing data and a printing speed of the engine section are taken into account.  
      A fourth aspect of the invention provides a control method of a printing apparatus including an engine section that forms an image on a sheet of paper utilizing laser light on the basis of image data described in a page description language in printing data, which includes: acquiring, by a decomposition processing section, the image data from the printing data, accumulating the image data acquired by the decomposition processing section in a printing buffer section, and in a case where it is identified that a sender terminal of the printing data is an image reading apparatus, causing the engine section to start to print the image data from an engine controller at a time when a prescribed number of a band of the image data is accumulated in the printing buffer section.  
      A fifth aspect of the invention provides a printing system having an printing apparatus and an image reading apparatus that reads image data from a document and sends printing data, in which the read image data is described in a prescribed page description language, to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus including an engine section that forms an image on a sheet of paper utilizing laser light on the basis of the image data described in the page description language in the printing data, in which the image reading apparatus includes: an image reading section that reads the image data line by line from the document, a buffer section that sequentially accumulates the image data read line by line by the image reading section, and a sending controller that starts to send the image data to the printing apparatus at a time when a prescribed number of a line of the image data is accumulated in the buffer section, and the printing apparatus includes: a decomposition processing section that acquires the image data from the printing data sent from the sending controller, a printing buffer section that accumulates the image data acquired by the decomposition processing section, and an engine controller that causes the engine section to start to print the image data at a time when a prescribed number of a band of the image data is accumulated in the printing buffer.  
      A sixth aspect of the invention provides the printing system of the fifth aspect of the invention, in which the image reading apparatus may further include a printing start instruction section that instructs the engine controller to start to print, and the engine controller may cause the engine section to start to print the image data on the basis of a printing start instruction from the printing start instruction section.  
      An aspect of the present invention provides a configuration such that the image data is acquired from the printing data to be accumulated in the buffer, and in the case where it is identified that the sender terminal for the printing data is an image reading apparatus, the engine section is caused to start the printing for the image data at the time when a prescribed number of bands of image data is accumulated in the buffer, thus for printing from the image reading apparatus, the printing operation is started without spooling, which allows shortening the first printout time (FPOT) from the copying start instruction (from the start pushbutton being depressed) to the completion of output of the first sheet.  
      The printing apparatus and the control method therefor, and the printing system of the present invention are applicable to any printing systems in which an image reading apparatus and a printing apparatus are disposed, and especially, they allow printing (copying) processing using an image reading apparatus in connection with a printing apparatus to be implemented with a convenient and inexpensive configuration, thus they can be effectively utilized in any offices and places where copying work is frequently performed.  
      The foregoing description of the embodiment of the present invention has been provided for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling other skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.  
      The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-338793 filed on Nov. 24, 2005 including specification, claims, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.