JP2003316213A - Controlling printing on image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print job sequence for preventing rise in temperature at an edge of a fixing unit. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming device which communicates with an external device comprises: an image forming means to form an image according to a signal from the external device; a paper size detecting means to detect a paper size from the signal of the external device; a communication means to communicate with another image forming device on a network; a job monitoring means to monitor job status of another image forming device; and a fixing unit recognizing means to recognize the kind of the fixing unit of another image forming device. The system is characterized by the fact that it detects status of operation of another image forming device by the job monitoring means based on information of the paper size detecting means, detects the kind of the fixing unit of another image forming device, and transmits an image signal by the communication means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to print control of an image forming apparatus having a printer function on a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system is
Generally, the image transferred on the paper is fixed on the paper by a fixing device. The fixing device includes those using a halogen heater as a heat source, those using a ceramic heater as a heat source, and the like.
By letting the paper pass through, it escapes to the paper and controls the heat source so that the temperature becomes constant. For this reason, the distribution of heat that escapes to the paper differs depending on the size of the paper that passes, and when a large amount of narrow paper is passed, the heat of the non-paper passing part of the roller or ceramic heater does not escape. The phenomenon that the temperature of the non-sheet passing portion becomes much higher than that of the sheet passing portion, or the temperature of the non-sheet passing portion sharply rises due to the difference in heat capacity of the roller and the ceramic heater occurs.

In order to avoid this phenomenon, the temperature of the roller or the ceramic heater is monitored, and when the temperature of the non-sheet-passing portion becomes higher than a certain value, the speed is reduced from the original number of sheets to be fixed. We are trying to suppress the temperature rise of the non-sheet-passing part by reducing the temperature of the container and passing the paper, and by having multiple heat sources.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, in order to suppress the temperature rise of the non-sheet passing portion, when a certain number of narrow papers are fed and the temperature rise of the non-sheet passing portion occurs. Switches to a considerably smaller number than the original number of sheets to be passed, and then performs control thereafter. As a result, the productivity of the image forming apparatus is considerably reduced. Further, by having a plurality of heat sources and controlling the sheet passing portion and the sheet non-passing portion separately, the control for suppressing the temperature rise of the sheet non-passing portion is performed. In this case, the cost of the product and the size of the product are adversely affected.

The present invention aims to eliminate the adverse effects of reduced productivity, increased product cost, and increased product size, thereby achieving high productivity and cost reduction, downsizing, energy saving, and high image quality. It is intended to extend the service life of parts.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the printer control of the image forming apparatus of the present invention first detects the print size (paper size) of image data when a print job arrives. , If the paper size is narrow, check if there is another printer set on the network, and if there is another printer on the network, fix the printer on the network. Check whether it is advantageous for narrow paper, check the current operation status, and if the operation status is not tight, transfer this print job to another printer on the network and send it to the client. Returns an announcement that it will be output on another printer, or if another printer on the network is operating tightly, another printer on the network Check for, it performs the same control.

Alternatively, when a print job arrives, first, the print size (paper size) of the image data is detected, and if the paper size is narrow paper, the printer size of another printer set on the network is detected. Check the existence,
If there are other printers on the network, check if the printer's fuser on the network is advantageous for narrow paper, and also check the printer's durability status to see if the printer has become too durable. If not, check the current operating status of the printer. If the operating status is not tight, transfer this print job to another printer on the network and output to the client on another printer. If an announcement is returned or the endurance status of other printers on the network is advanced, the presence / absence of another printer on the network is further confirmed to perform the same control.

Alternatively, when a print job arrives, first, the print size (paper size) of the image data is detected, and when the paper size is narrow, the non-sheet passing portion (the end thermistor TH2 of the printer is detected. ) When the temperature is detected and the temperature of the end thermistor TH2 is higher than a certain value, it is confirmed whether or not there is another printer set on the network, and if there is another printer on the network, Confirms whether the fixing device of the printer on the network is advantageous for narrow paper, and also confirms the current operating status. If the operating status is not tight, print this print job on the network. To another printer and return an announcement to the client to output on another printer, or when the operating status of another printer on the network is tight. The further to confirm the presence or absence of another printer on the network, performs the same control.

Alternatively, when a print job arrives, first, the print size (paper size) of the image data is detected, and when the paper size is narrow, the non-sheet passing portion (end thermistor TH2 of the printer is detected. ) When the temperature is detected and the temperature of the end thermistor TH2 is higher than a certain value, it is confirmed whether or not there is another printer set on the network, and if there is another printer on the network, Checks whether the printer's fuser on the network is advantageous for narrow paper, and also confirms the durability status of the printer. If the durability is not so advanced, the current printer operation Check the status, and if the operating status is not tight, transfer this print job to another printer on the network and output to the client the output on another printer. Return Soo, or, if the durability condition of other printers on the network is progressing further checks for another printer on the network, to as performing the same control.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the productivity of the printer from decreasing, the life of the parts from decreasing due to the temperature rise in the non-sheet passing portion and the image deterioration, and the cost increase, size increase and power consumption increase of the product. It realizes high productivity of the printer, long life of parts and high image quality, and further, low cost, small size and low power consumption of the product.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example of connection of an image forming apparatus (multifunction peripheral) according to the present invention on a network. The image data created by each client is once sent to the file server and stored in the print queue. The multifunction machine
Go to the print queue of the file server at a certain interval, and if there is image data destined for you, take out the data from the print queue, save it in your hard disk, and print the image data in the order that you took it out from the print queue. At the same time as it goes out, data is exchanged between the image forming apparatuses on the network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the distribution of functions of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Controller unit 110
Is an external device (file server, etc.) 14 at fixed intervals.
If there is data addressed to itself, the data is taken out from the external device 140, the controller unit 110 performs image processing, and the image data is sent to the printer unit 120. The printer unit 120 transfers the image data from the controller unit 110 onto a transfer sheet, and ends a series of operations. The controller unit 110 also communicates with other image forming apparatuses 170 on the network. FIG. 3 shows a data flow according to the present invention. The data received from the external device (file server etc.) 140 is
The paper size detection circuit 111 of the controller unit 110 detects the paper size. If the paper size is wide paper, the paper size is stored in the print queue, the data is processed in the order received, and the data is printed out by the printer unit. If the paper size is narrow, the state determination circuit 11 of the controller unit 110
In step 2, communication is performed with another image forming apparatus 170 on the network, and if it is suitable for narrow paper, the image data is transferred to another image forming apparatus 170 on the network, printed out, and sent to the client. An announcement to print out is made by another image forming apparatus 170 on the network.

FIG. 4 is a follow chart of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Description will be made with reference to FIG. The print job received from the external device (file server or the like) 140 is sent to the paper size detection circuit 111 of the controller unit 110. The paper detection circuit 111 first determines the paper size of the sent image data.
Since the image forming apparatus has a fixing device which is disadvantageous to narrow paper, when the paper size detection circuit 111 determines that the paper is narrow, the print job is processed by the controller unit 11.
It is sent to the state determination circuit 112 in 0. State discrimination circuit 112
First, it is confirmed whether or not there is another printer 170 connected to the network. If there is no other printer as a result of the confirmation, the printer unit 120
Send the image data to and print it out. However, if another printer exists on the network, the process proceeds to the next step, and this time, it is confirmed whether another printer having an advantageous fixing device for narrow paper is provided with another image forming apparatus on the network. The state determination circuit 112 performs the communication through the communication of 1. and the state determination circuit 112 confirms the operation state this time when the fixing device having an advantage for narrow paper is provided, and when it is not tight, the state determination circuit 112 The print job is transferred to the other printer 170 on the network, the print job is notified to the other printer on the network, and the operation is ended. However, when the operating status is tight, the printer again searches for another printer on the network and performs the same control as above.

As a result, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise at the end of the fixing device, resulting in high productivity of the printer, longer life of parts and higher image quality, and further lower cost, smaller size, and lower power consumption. Can be realized.

FIG. 5 is a follow chart of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Description will be made with reference to FIG. The print job received from the external device (file server or the like) 140 is sent to the paper size detection circuit 111 of the controller unit 110. The paper detection circuit 111 first determines the paper size of the sent image data.
Since the image forming apparatus has a fixing device which is disadvantageous to narrow paper, when the paper size detection circuit 111 determines that the paper is narrow, the print job is processed by the controller unit 11.
It is sent to the state determination circuit 112 in 0. State discrimination circuit 112
First, it is confirmed whether or not there is another printer 170 connected to the network. If there is no other printer as a result of the confirmation, the printer unit 120
Send the image data to and print it out. However, when another printer is present on the network, the process proceeds to the next step, and this time, it is confirmed whether another printer has an advantageous fixing device for the narrow paper with another image forming apparatus on the network. When the state determination circuit 112 has a fixing device which is advantageous for narrow paper through this communication, it confirms how much the durable number of the printer of the communication destination is advanced. If the durability is quite advanced,
Go find another printer on the network again. If the durability is good (the number of durable sheets is small),
The operation status is confirmed, and if it is not tight, the status determination circuit 112 transfers the print job to another printer 170 on the network, and announces to the client that the print job has been transferred to another printer on the network. , Ends the operation. However, when the operating condition is tight, the printer again searches for another printer on the network and performs the same control as above.

As a result, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise at the end of the fixing device, resulting in high productivity of the printer, longer life of parts and higher image quality, and further lower cost, smaller size, and lower power consumption. Can be realized.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a method of controlling the fixing device of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Fixing upper roller 1
Two halogen heaters are provided inside the cylinder of 80, and the AC voltage 185 from the commercial power source is turned on / off based on the temperatures detected by the thermistor 1 and the thermistor 2 arranged on the upper fixing roller 180. Off and in control. The commercial power supply 185 is controlled by controlling the printer controller 121 and the AC driver circuit board 190 based on the information of the thermistor 1 and the thermistor 2. Further, when the temperature of the upper fixing roller rises abnormally due to some trouble, the contact of the thermo switch 183 is opened to cut off the supply of commercial power to ensure safety.

FIG. 7 shows a data flow according to the present invention. The data received from the external device (file server or the like) 140 is detected by the paper size detection circuit 111 of the controller unit 110, and if the paper size is wide paper, it is stored in the print queue and the data is received in the order received. Is processed and printed out by the printer section.
If the paper size is narrow, the controller unit 11
The 0 state determination circuit 112 detects the temperature of the end portion of the fixing device of the printer unit 120. If communication is performed and it is suitable for narrow paper, the image data is transferred to another image forming apparatus 170 on the network and printed out, and at the same time, the image data is printed out to the client by another image forming apparatus 170 on the network. Make an announcement to the effect.

FIG. 8 is a follow chart of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Description will be made based on FIG. 7. The print job received from the external device (file server or the like) 140 is sent to the paper size detection circuit 111 of the controller unit 110. The paper detection circuit 111 first determines the paper size of the sent image data.
Since the image forming apparatus has a fixing device which is disadvantageous to narrow paper, when the paper size detection circuit 111 determines that the paper is narrow, the print job is processed by the controller unit 11.
It is sent to the state determination circuit 112 in 0. State discrimination circuit 112
First, communication with the printer controller 121 in FIG. 6 in the printer 120 is performed to check the temperature state of the temperature (thermistor TH2) at the end of the fixing device.

As a result of the confirmation, if TH2 ≧ T, it is determined that the temperature of the end portion of the fixing device is high, and it is confirmed whether or not there is another printer 170 connected to the network. If there is no other printer as a result of the confirmation, the image data is sent to the printer unit 120 and printed out.

However, if another printer is present on the network, the process proceeds to the next step, and this time, it is confirmed whether or not the printer has an advantageous fixing device for the narrow paper. The state determination circuit 112 performs through communication with the forming apparatus. If the fixing device is advantageous for narrow paper, the operation state is checked this time. If the fixing device is not tight, the state determination circuit 112 determines the state. The circuit 112 transfers the print job to another printer 170 on the network, announces to the client that the print job has been transferred to another printer on the network, and ends the operation. However, when the operating status is tight, the printer again searches for another printer on the network and performs the same control as above.

As a result, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise at the end of the fixing device, resulting in high productivity of the printer, longer life of parts and higher image quality, and further lower cost, smaller size, and lower power consumption. Can be realized.

FIG. 9 is a follow chart of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Description will be made based on FIG. 7. The print job received from the external device (file server or the like) 140 is sent to the paper size detection circuit 111 of the controller unit 110. The paper detection circuit 111 first determines the paper size of the sent image data.
Since the image forming apparatus has a fixing device which is disadvantageous to narrow paper, when the paper size detection circuit 111 determines that the paper is narrow, the print job is processed by the controller unit 11.
It is sent to the state determination circuit 112 in 0. State discrimination circuit 112
First, communication with the printer controller 121 in FIG. 6 in the printer 120 is performed to check the temperature state of the temperature (thermistor TH2) at the end of the fixing device.

As a result of the confirmation, if TH2 ≧ T, it is determined that the temperature at the end of the fixing device is high, and it is confirmed whether or not another printer 170 connected to the network exists. If there is no other printer as a result of the confirmation, the image data is sent to the printer unit 120 and printed out.

However, if another printer exists on the network, the process proceeds to the next step, and this time, it is confirmed whether another printer has an advantageous fixing device for the narrow paper or not. The state determination circuit 112 performs through communication with the forming apparatus, and if the printer has a fixing device that is advantageous for narrow paper, this time, it is confirmed how much the durable number of the printer of the communication destination is advanced. Do. If the endurance status is quite advanced, go again looking for another printer on the network. If the endurance status is good (the number of endurance sheets is small), the operation status is checked this time. If the endurance status is not tight, the status determination circuit 112 transfers the print job to another printer 170 on the network. Announcing to the client that the print job has been transferred to another printer on the network, the operation ends.
However, when the operating status is tight, the printer again searches for another printer on the network and performs the same control as above.

As a result, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise at the end of the fixing device, resulting in high productivity of the printer, long life of parts and high image quality, and further, low cost, downsizing, and low power consumption. Can be realized.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When a print job arrives, first the print size (paper size) of the image data is detected, and if the paper size is narrow paper, check if there is another printer set on the network. However, if there are other printers on the network, check whether the fixing device of the printer on the network is advantageous for narrow paper, and also check the current operating status to confirm that the operating status is If it is not tight, transfer this print job to another printer on the network and return an announcement to the client to output on another printer, or if the operating status of another printer on the network is tight. In this case, the presence / absence of another printer on the network is further confirmed, and the same control is performed.

Alternatively, when a print job arrives, first, the print size (paper size) of the image data is detected, and if the paper size is narrow paper, the printer size of another printer set on the network is detected. Check the existence,
If there are other printers on the network, check if the printer's fuser on the network is advantageous for narrow paper, and also check the printer's durability status to see if the printer has become too durable. If not, check the current operating status of the printer. If the operating status is not tight, transfer this print job to another printer on the network and output to the client on another printer. If an announcement is returned or the endurance status of other printers on the network is advanced, the presence / absence of another printer on the network is further confirmed to perform the same control.

Alternatively, when a print job arrives, first, the print size (paper size) of the image data is detected, and when the paper size is narrow paper, the non-sheet passing portion (end thermistor TH2 of the printer is detected. ) When the temperature is detected and the temperature of the end thermistor TH2 is higher than a certain value, it is confirmed whether or not there is another printer set on the network, and if there is another printer on the network, Confirms whether the fixing device of the printer on the network is advantageous for narrow paper, and also confirms the current operating status. If the operating status is not tight, print this print job on the network. To another printer and return an announcement to the client to output on another printer, or when the operating status of another printer on the network is tight. The further to confirm the presence or absence of another printer on the network, performs the same control.

Alternatively, when a print job arrives, first, the print size (paper size) of the image data is detected, and when the paper size is narrow paper, the non-sheet passing portion (end thermistor TH2 of the printer is detected. ) When the temperature is detected and the temperature of the end thermistor TH2 is higher than a certain value, it is confirmed whether or not there is another printer set on the network, and if there is another printer on the network, Checks whether the printer's fuser on the network is advantageous for narrow paper, and also confirms the durability status of the printer. If the durability is not so advanced, the current printer operation Check the status, and if the operating status is not tight, transfer this print job to another printer on the network and output to the client the output on another printer. Return Soo, or, if the durability condition of other printers on the network is progressing further checks for another printer on the network, to as performing the same control.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the productivity of the printer from decreasing, the life of the parts from decreasing due to the temperature rise in the non-sheet passing portion and the image deterioration, and the cost increase, size increase and power consumption increase of the product. We were able to realize high productivity of printers, longer life of parts and higher image quality, and also lower cost, smaller size, and lower power consumption of products.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a connection example of an image forming apparatus (multifunction peripheral) according to the present invention on a network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the distribution of functions of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a data flow according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a follow chart of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a follow chart of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a control method of a fixing device of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a data flow according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a follow chart of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a follow chart of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a flow of a series of operations of the printer unit according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

110 Controller section 111 Paper size detection circuit 112 State discrimination circuit 120 printer section 121 Printer controller 140 External device 170 Other image forming apparatus on network 180 fixing roller 185 AC voltage 190 AC driver circuit board 183 thermo switch

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH03 HK07 HK11 HN02                       HN15 HQ14                 2H027 DA12 DA32 DA44 DA45 DC19                       EC02 EC20 ED17 ED25 EE07                       EE08 EF06 EJ08 EJ13 EJ15                       ZA08                 2H033 AA03 BA30 BB01 CA07 CA17                       CA26

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for communicating with an external device, comprising: an image forming unit for forming an image based on a signal from the external device; and a paper size detecting unit for detecting a paper size from the signal of the external device. A communication unit that communicates with another image forming apparatus on the network, a job monitoring unit that monitors the job status of the other image forming apparatus, and a fixing device that recognizes the type of the fixing device of the other image forming apparatus. The job monitoring means detects the operating state of the other image forming apparatus based on the information of the paper size detecting means, and the fixing device recognizing means detects the other image forming apparatus. It is characterized in that the type of the fixing device is detected and the image signal is transmitted by the communication means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job monitoring unit monitors not only the operating status but also the durability status of other image forming apparatuses. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job monitoring unit has a function of comparing durability states of other image forming apparatuses. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device recognizing unit makes a determination based on an eigenvalue set for each type of fixing device. 5. An image forming apparatus for communicating with an external device, comprising: an image forming means for forming an image based on a signal from the external device; and a paper size detecting means for detecting a paper size from the signal of the external device. A fixing temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the fixing device, a communication means for communicating with another image forming apparatus on the network, a job monitoring means for monitoring the job status of the other image forming apparatus, and A fixing device recognizing means for recognizing the type of the fixing device of the image forming apparatus, and based on the information of the paper size detecting means, the fixing temperature detecting means detects the temperature of the fixing device, and the job monitoring means. By detecting the operating state of the other image forming apparatus, the fixing unit recognizing unit detects the type of the fixing unit of the other image forming apparatus, and the communication unit transmits the image signal. Characterize. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the job monitoring unit monitors not only the operating state but also the durability status of other image forming apparatuses. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the job monitoring unit has a function of comparing durability states of other image forming apparatuses. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fixing device recognizing unit makes a determination based on an eigenvalue set for each type of fixing device. 9. The fixing temperature detecting means measures a temperature difference between a sheet passing portion and a non-sheet passing portion.
The image forming apparatus described in 6, 7, and 8. 10. The fixing temperature detecting means compares the reference value with the temperature of the non-sheet passing portion.
The image forming apparatus described in 6, 7, and 8. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the reference value is plural.