JP2006231632A - Printing device, mode switching control method and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an increase in printing speed compatible with power saving in a printing device which receives printing jobs from a plurality of computers and performs printing. <P>SOLUTION: A color laser printer 10 is connected in a manner that makes the printer receive printing jobs from computers 51, 52 and 53 and can be switched to an energization mode in which the printer can immediately perform printing for the printing jobs and to a power saving mode in which power is saved as compared with the energization mode. The printer sets a power saving prohibition period on the basis of the history of processing of printing jobs of operating computers, and prohibits switching from the energization mode to the power saving mode during the power saving prohibition period. That is, sets the power saving prohibition period on the basis of the history of processing of printing jobs of operating computers without referring to the history of processing of printing jobs of nonoperating computers. Consequently, the printer is rarely set in the power saving mode when the printer is required to perform printing and in the energization mode when the printer is not required to perform printing, and it is possible to strike a balance between fast printing and power saving. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a mode switching control method, and a program thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing apparatuses that can switch between an energization mode in which a print job can be printed immediately and a power saving mode that saves power compared to the energization mode are known. For example, in this type of printing apparatus, in this type of printing apparatus, after storing a print instruction time and an operation time zone during a certain period, a schedule corresponding to the operation status is created from the statistical result, and according to the created schedule A device that switches between a power-on mode and a power-saving mode by switching power on / off of each mechanism unit in the printing apparatus is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-155859

  However, Patent Document 1 does not consider the case where the printing apparatus receives print jobs from a plurality of computers and prints them. For this reason, for example, if a schedule according to the operating status of all computers among a plurality of computers is created, assuming that only a few computers are actually operating, the energization mode and the power saving mode are set according to the schedule. Even if it is switched, the switched mode is not always appropriate for the computer that is currently in operation, and when it is desired to print, it is in the power saving mode and cannot be printed immediately, or it has not been printed for a while and it is in the energized mode. It will become wasteful power consumption.

  The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and in a printing apparatus that receives print jobs from a plurality of computers and performs printing, can achieve both speeding up printing and power saving. The purpose is to provide.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

The printing apparatus of the present invention includes:
A printing apparatus connected so as to be able to receive print jobs from a plurality of computers and capable of switching between an energization mode in which a print job can be printed immediately and a power saving mode in which power is saved compared to the energization mode. ,
A history storage control means for storing a processing history of a print job during a reference period predetermined for the plurality of computers in a history storage means;
Creation of a power saving prohibition period that creates a power saving prohibition period corresponding to each of all possible combination patterns for the plurality of computers based on the processing history of the print job stored in the history storage means and stores it in the prohibition period storage means means,
The power saving prohibition period corresponding to the currently operating computer among the plurality of computers is read from the prohibition period storage means and set as the current power saving prohibition period, and switching from the energization mode to the power saving mode during the set power saving prohibition period Mode switching control means for prohibiting,
It is equipped with.

  In this printing apparatus, the processing history of a print job during a predetermined reference period for a plurality of computers is stored in the history storage means, and the plurality of computers are stored based on the processing history of the print job stored in the history storage means. A power saving prohibition period corresponding to each of all possible combination patterns is created and stored in the prohibition period storage means. Then, the power saving prohibition period corresponding to the computer currently in operation among the plurality of computers is read from the prohibition period storage means and set as the current power saving prohibition period, and switching from the energization mode to the power saving mode is performed during the set power saving prohibition period. Is prohibited. That is, the power saving prohibition period created based on the print job processing history of the currently operating computer is used without referring to the print job processing history of the plurality of computers not currently operating. For this reason, when it is desired to perform printing, the power saving mode is reduced or the energization mode is not performed even though printing is not performed, and both speeding up of printing and power saving can be achieved.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the power-saving prohibition period creating means generates a power-saving prohibition period corresponding to each combination pattern by selecting a time zone in which the use frequency is high from a processing history of a computer print job included in the combination pattern. The power saving prohibition period may be created so as to include the required time zone. Time zones that are frequently used as seen from the print job processing history are likely to be used even if the day changes, so switching from the power-on mode to the power-saving mode is prohibited to speed up printing. Is preferred.

  Here, the “time zone with the highest usage frequency” may be, for example, the time zone with the highest usage frequency, or the nth from the time zone with the highest usage frequency (n is an integer of 2 or more). It may be up to many times. “Usage frequency” includes, for example, the number of printed sheets, the number of print jobs, the number of connections with a computer, the amount of power consumption, and the like.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, when the power saving prohibition period creating means creates the power saving prohibition period corresponding to each combination pattern, the use frequency is predetermined from the processing history of the print job of the computer included in the combination pattern. The power saving prohibition period may be created so as to obtain a time zone exceeding a predetermined frequency and include the time zone. Switching from the power-on mode to the power-saving mode is relatively likely to be used even during days when the frequency of use exceeds the specified frequency (that is, relatively high) from the print job processing history. It is preferable to prevent printing and speed up printing.

  Here, the “predetermined frequency” may be set to a value that increases the possibility of being used even if, for example, experience changes.

  In the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the power saving prohibition period creating means generates a power saving prohibition period corresponding to each combination pattern, according to a date, a day of the week, or an event from a processing history of a print job of a computer included in the combination pattern. In another power saving prohibition period, the mode switching control means reads out the power saving prohibition period corresponding to the currently operating computer from the plurality of computers from the prohibition period storage means. The common power saving prohibition period may be read. If the day, day of the week, and the event are the same, the time period for using the printing device is often similar, so the processing history that is the basis for setting the power saving prohibition period should be at least one of the date, day of the week, and event. It is preferable to use processing histories that are common.

  Here, the “event” includes, for example, a regular debriefing session, a regular meeting, a founding anniversary, a general meeting of shareholders, a period for preparing financial statements, etc. for a company.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the power saving prohibition period creating means may create the power saving prohibition period so as not to include a time zone outside a specified working time. Since whether or not to print outside the specified working hours often varies depending on the day, it is preferable to save power without setting a power saving prohibition period outside the specified working hours.

The printing apparatus of the present invention includes:
A printing apparatus connected so as to be able to receive print jobs from a plurality of computers and capable of switching between an energization mode in which a print job can be printed immediately and a power saving mode in which power is saved compared to the energization mode. ,
A history storage control means for storing a processing history of a print job during a reference period predetermined for the plurality of computers in a history storage means;
A power saving prohibition period is set based on a processing history of a print job of a computer that is currently in operation among the processing histories of the print job stored in the history storage means, and from the energization mode to the power saving mode during the set power saving prohibition period. Mode switching control means for prohibiting switching,
It is good also as a thing provided.

  In this printing apparatus, the processing history of a print job during a predetermined reference period for a plurality of computers is stored in the history storage means, and the currently operating computer of the print job processing history stored in the history storage means A power saving prohibition period is set based on the processing history of the print job, and switching from the power supply mode to the power saving mode is prohibited during the set power saving prohibition period. That is, the power saving prohibition period created based on the print job processing history of the currently operating computer is used without referring to the print job processing history of the plurality of computers not currently operating. For this reason, when it is desired to perform printing, the power saving mode is reduced or the energization mode is not performed even though printing is not performed, and both speeding up of printing and power saving can be achieved.

  In the printing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the mode switching control unit may obtain a time zone having a high usage frequency from the processing history of the print job of the currently operating computer and set the power saving prohibition period to include the time zone. Good. Time zones that are frequently used as seen from the print job processing history are likely to be used even if the day changes, so switching from the power-on mode to the power-saving mode is prohibited to speed up printing. Is preferred.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the mode switching control means obtains a time zone in which the usage frequency exceeds a predetermined frequency from a processing history of a print job of a computer that is currently operating, and saves the power to include the time zone. A prohibition period may be set. Switching from the power-on mode to the power-saving mode is relatively likely to be used even during days when the frequency of use exceeds the specified frequency (that is, relatively high) from the print job processing history. It is preferable to prevent printing and speed up printing.

  In the printing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the mode switching control unit may be configured such that the power saving prohibition period is based on a processing history in which at least one of a current day and an event is common among the processing histories of a print job of a currently operating computer. May be set. If the day, day of the week, and the event are the same, the time period for using the printing device is often similar, so the processing history that is the basis for setting the power saving prohibition period should be at least one of the date, day of the week, and event. It is preferable to use processing histories that are common.

  In the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the mode switching control unit may set the power saving prohibition period so as not to include a time zone outside a specified working time. Since whether or not to print outside the specified working hours often varies depending on the day, it is preferable to save power without setting a power saving prohibition period outside the specified working hours.

The mode switching control method of the present invention includes:
A mode for controlling switching between an energization mode in which a print job can be printed immediately and a power saving mode in which power is saved compared to the energization mode, with respect to a printing apparatus connected so as to be able to receive a print job from a plurality of computers A switching control method,
(A) storing a history of processing of print jobs in a reference period predetermined for the plurality of computers in a history storage unit;
(B) creating a power saving prohibition period corresponding to each of all possible combination patterns for the plurality of computers based on the processing history of the print job stored in the history storage means, and storing the power saving prohibition period in the prohibition period storage means When,
(C) A power saving prohibition period corresponding to a computer currently operating among the plurality of computers is read from the prohibition period storage means and set as the current power saving prohibition period. During the set power saving prohibition period, the power saving mode is changed to the power saving mode. Prohibiting switching to
May be included, or
(A) storing a history of processing of print jobs in a reference period predetermined for the plurality of computers in a history storage unit;
(B) A power saving prohibition period is set based on a print job processing history of a computer that is currently operating in the print job processing history stored in the history storage unit, and the power saving mode is set during the set power saving prohibition period. A step of prohibiting switching to the power saving mode;
May be included.

  In this mode switching control method, the power saving prohibition period created based on the print job processing history of the currently operating computer without referring to the print job processing history of the plurality of computers not currently operating Is used. For this reason, when it is desired to perform printing, the power saving mode is reduced or the energization mode is not performed even though printing is not performed, and both speeding up of printing and power saving can be achieved. In addition, you may add the step which implement | achieves the function of the printing apparatus mentioned above to the mode switching control method of this invention.

  The mode switching control program of the present invention is a program for causing one or a plurality of computers to execute the steps of the mode switching control method described above. This program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (for example, hard disk, ROM, FD, CD, DVD, etc.), or from a computer via a transmission medium (communication network such as the Internet or LAN). It may be distributed to another computer, or may be exchanged in any other form. If this program is executed by one computer, or if each step is shared and executed by a plurality of computers, the same effect as the mode switching control method described above can be obtained.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a color laser printer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the color laser printer 10 of the present embodiment includes a controller 20 that controls the entire apparatus, and computers 51 to 53 connected to a network 44 (for example, a telecommunication network such as a local area network). In addition to the network board 28 that controls data input and output, the printer mechanism 31 that realizes the printer function, the printer ASIC 39 that controls the printer mechanism 31, a power supply adjustment unit that switches on / off the power supply from the power source (not shown) to the printer mechanism 31 And a printer unit 30 including 40. Note that “ASIC” is an abbreviation for Application Specific Integrated Circuit.

  The controller 20 is configured as a microprocessor centered on the CPU 22, and includes a ROM 24 that stores various processing programs, a RAM 26 that temporarily stores and saves data, and a timer 27 that measures time. It has. The controller 20 is electrically connected to the printer ASIC 39 and the power supply adjustment unit 40 via the bus 29, and outputs a print command signal to the printer ASIC 39 and an on / off command signal to the power supply adjustment unit 40. Input the printing operation signal. Further, the controller 20 exchanges signals with a plurality of computers 51 to 53 connected to the network 44 via the network board 28. In other words, the controller 20 inputs a print job from each of the computers 51 to 53 and outputs status information of the print job being processed to the computers 51 to 53 that are the transmission source of the print job.

  The printer unit 30 includes a printer mechanism 31 and a printer ASIC 39. The printer mechanism 31 is configured as a full-color electrophotographic printer mechanism that employs a single photoreceptor system and an intermediate transfer system, and includes cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). An electrostatic latent image of an image for each color separated into four colors is formed on a photoreceptor 33 formed thereon by a charging / exposure device (not shown), and the toner cartridges 34C, 34M, 34Y, and 34K for each color mounted. A developing device 34 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 33 as a toner image using toner of each color supplied, and a transfer belt as an intermediate transfer member that performs primary transfer so that the developed toner image is superimposed. 35, a secondary transfer unit 36 for secondary transfer of the four color toner images formed on the transfer belt 35 onto the paper P transported by a transport unit (not shown), and the paper P And a fixing unit 37 for melting and fixed to the sheet P toner images of four colors that are photographed. The developing device 34 is rotated so that the mounted toner cartridges 34C, 34M, 34Y, and 34K face the photoconductor 33, respectively. The printer ASIC 39 is an IC chip having a function of controlling the printer mechanism 31, and the expanded data obtained by expanding the print data in the print buffer provided in the RAM 26 into a bitmap image for each page is printed on the paper P. The printer mechanism 31 is controlled as described above. The printer mechanism 31 is connected to a power source (not shown) via the power supply adjustment unit 40. When power supply is stopped by the power supply adjustment unit 40, the printer mechanism 31 enters a power saving state (power saving mode) in which power consumption inside the mechanism is suppressed. When power supply is started by the power supply adjustment unit 40, warm-up inside the mechanism (for example, heating of the fixing unit 37 to a heat roller (not shown), etc.) is performed. )become. The RAM 26 is provided with a mode storage area. In this mode storage area, the power saving mode is set when the power saving state is set, and the power supply mode is set when the printing is immediately possible.

  Next, functions of the color laser printer 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, the print job reception routine will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 22 of the controller 20 repeatedly executes this print job reception routine at every predetermined timing (for example, several seconds). When this routine is started, the CPU 22 first determines whether or not a new print job has been received from any of the computers 51 to 53 (step S110). When this routine is finished and a new print job is received, the print job received this time is stored in the spool area of the RAM 26 (step S120), and then this routine is finished.

  Next, the print processing routine will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 22 of the controller 20 repeatedly executes this print processing routine every predetermined timing (for example, several seconds). When this routine is started, the CPU 22 first determines whether or not there is a print job waiting for processing (step S200). If there is no print job waiting for processing, the CPU 22 ends this routine as it is. On the other hand, when there is a print job waiting to be processed, it is determined whether the current mode is the power saving mode or the energization mode (step S210). When the current mode is the power saving mode, the power supply adjusting unit 40 starts supplying power to the printer mechanism 31. Thus, warm-up of the printer mechanism 31 is started (step 220). Thereafter, whether or not the warm-up has been completed is determined by, for example, determining whether or not the heat roller of the fixing unit 37 has reached a predetermined warm-up temperature (step S230). When the warm-up is completed, the mode is switched to the energization mode (step S240).

  Then, when the current mode is the energization mode in step S210 or after switching to the energization mode in step S240, a print job waiting for processing is read from the spool area of the RAM 26 (step S250). Here, when there are a plurality of print jobs waiting to be processed, the print job with the oldest time stored in the spool area is read. Subsequently, the printer ASIC 39 of the printer unit 30 is instructed to print the print job read this time (step S260). Then, the printer ASIC 39 controls the printer mechanism 31 to start printing the print job. Subsequently, the CPU 22 of the controller 20 determines whether or not printing by the printer unit 30 has been completed (step S270). If the printing has not been completed, the CPU 22 waits as it is. It is determined whether or not (step S280). Here, the reference period is a period for creating a histogram used for setting the power saving prohibition period, and may be a period previously input by an operator from an operation panel (not shown) of the color laser printer 10. However, it may be a predetermined fixed period. If it is not in the current reference period in step S280, this routine is terminated as it is, and if it is in the current reference period, the computer (one of the three computers 51, 52, 53) of the print job processed this time and the current process are processed. The history (the number of prints of the current print job and the start time / end time of printing) is associated and stored in the history storage area of the RAM 26 (step S290), and then this routine ends. The history storage area may be secured not in the RAM 26 but in an HDD (not shown).

  Next, the power saving prohibition period creation routine will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 22 of the controller 20 executes this power saving prohibition period creation routine when the aforementioned reference period ends. When this routine is started, the CPU 22 first collects data collected during the reference period for all the combination patterns that can be obtained for the plurality of computers 51, 52, 53, that is, the computers 51, 52, 53 and the print job. Based on the data representing the relationship with the processing history, a time zone with the highest printing frequency (first peak time zone) and a time zone with the second highest printing frequency (second peak time zone) are selected (steps). S310). Here, all combination patterns refer to patterns of a combination in which one unit is extracted from all computers, a combination in which two units are extracted, and a combination in which all units are extracted. In this embodiment, since three computers 51, 52, and 53 are connected to the color laser printer 10, there are three combinations of patterns, that is, a computer 51, a computer 52, and a computer 53. There are three combination patterns of computers 51 and 52, computers 51 and 53, and computers 52 and 53, and there are one combination pattern of computers 51, 52, and 53 for extracting three computers. Therefore, for the seven cases in total, the time zone of the first peak and the time zone of the second peak are selected.

  FIG. 5 is a histogram showing the relationship between the time period divided every hour for each computer and the number of sheets printed by each computer during a predetermined reference period. Here, when statistics are taken for a predetermined reference period, it is assumed that the relationship between the number of printed sheets and the time zone for each of the computers 51, 52, and 53 is as shown in the histogram of FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for selecting a peak time zone. FIG. 6A is created based on the histogram of FIG. 5, and is a histogram showing the relationship between the time zone divided every other hour and the total number of printed sheets of the three computers 51, 52, 53. is there. Here, for example, when the combination pattern is three computers 51, 52, and 53, the transition of the total number of printed sheets is a line graph shown by the solid line in FIG. Is from 11:00 to 12:00, and the second peak time is from 14:00 to 15:00 (see FIG. 6B). Further, when the combination pattern is two computers 51 and 52, the transition of the total number of printed sheets is a line graph indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 6A, so the first peak time zone is 14:00. -15: 00, the second peak time zone is 10: 00-11: 00 (see FIG. 6C). In the present embodiment, the prescribed working hours are 9:00 for the starting time and 17:00 for the ending time, and the peak is selected within the prescribed working hours.

  Next, returning to FIG. 4, a power saving prohibition period is created based on the first peak time zone and the second peak time zone for all possible combination patterns of the plurality of computers 51, 52, 53. Is stored in the prohibition period storage area of the RAM 26 (step S320), and this routine is terminated. Here, the power saving prohibition period is created by adding a predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes) before and after the peak time zone. Specifically, when the combination pattern is three computers 51, 52 and 53, as shown in FIG. 6B, power saving is prohibited between 10:45 to 12:15 and 13:45 to 15:15. When the combination pattern is two computers 51 and 52, as shown in FIG. 6C, 9:45 to 10:15 and 13:45 to 15:15 are power saving prohibition periods. From 12:00 to 13:00, since it is a lunch break, it may be considered that it is outside the specified time and not be a power saving prohibition period. In that case, the combination pattern is three computers 51, 52, 53 The power-saving prohibition periods are 10: 45-12: 00 and 13: 45-15: 15. The prohibition period storage area may be secured not in the RAM 26 but in an HDD (not shown).

  Next, the mode switching control routine will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 22 of the controller 20 executes this mode switching control routine every predetermined timing (for example, several seconds). When this routine is started, the CPU 22 of the controller 20 first recognizes which of the three computers 51, 52, and 53 connected via the network 44 is currently operating (step S410). Subsequently, a plurality of power saving prohibition periods stored in the RAM 26 that match the currently operating computer are read out and set as the current power saving prohibition period (step S420). For example, when three computers 51, 52, and 53 are in operation, the power saving prohibition period shown in FIG. 6B is adopted, and when two computers 51 and 52 are in operation, FIG. The power saving prohibition period shown in Fig. 1) is adopted. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the current mode is the power saving mode (step S430). When the current mode is the power saving mode, this routine is ended as it is. On the other hand, when the current mode is not the power saving mode, it is determined whether or not the waiting time (waiting time) without processing the print job exceeds a predetermined power saving transition time (step S440). Here, the power saving transition time is a time determined appropriately in consideration of power saving (for example, several minutes to several tens of minutes), and may be set by an operator, or may be a fixed time that cannot be changed. May be. In the present embodiment, the timer 27 is counted up from zero at the time of transition from the power saving mode to the energization mode (step S240 in FIG. 3), and the standby time is measured by the counter value of the timer 27. It has become. Further, the power saving transition time is longer than the time required for warming up the printer mechanism 31. For this reason, when the standby time exceeds the power saving transition time, at least the warm-up is completed, and the mode at that time is the energization mode. When the standby time does not exceed the power saving transition time in step S440, this routine is terminated as it is. When the standby time exceeds the power saving transition time, it is determined whether or not the current time is within the power saving prohibition period (step S450). ). This power saving prohibition period is set in step S420 already described. If it is determined in step S450 that the print job is likely to be received when the current time is within the power saving prohibition period, the routine is terminated without shifting to the power saving mode. If the current time is outside the power saving prohibition period, power saving can be achieved. The power saving mode is entered (step S460), and this routine is terminated.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The RAM 26 of this embodiment corresponds to a history storage unit and a prohibition period storage unit of the present invention, and the CPU 22 of the controller 20 corresponds to a history storage control unit, a power saving prohibition period creation unit, and a mode switching control unit. In the present embodiment, an example of the mode switching control method of the present invention is also clarified by describing the operation of the color laser printer 10.

  According to the color laser printer 10 of the present embodiment described in detail above, printing of a computer that is operating without referring to the processing history of a print job of the computer that is not operating among the plurality of computers 51, 52, 53 is not possible. Use the power saving prohibition period created based on the job history. Therefore, when the user wants to print, the power saving mode is reduced or the power supply mode is not printed even though printing is not performed, and both speeding up printing and power saving can be achieved. In addition, the time zone with the largest number of printed pages and the second most frequent zone when viewed from the processing history of the print job are likely to be used even if the day changes, so switch from the power-on mode to the power-saving mode. It is prohibited to speed up printing. Furthermore, since whether or not to print outside the specified working hours often varies depending on the day, the power saving prohibition period is not set outside the specified working hours, thereby saving power.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the CPU 22 of the controller 20 executes the power saving prohibition period creation routine (see FIG. 4). However, this power saving prohibition period creation routine is omitted, and the current operation is performed in step S420 of FIG. The processing history of the print job of the internal computer is read from the history storage area of the RAM 26, and a power saving prohibition period is created based on the read processing history by the same method as in the above-described embodiment. It may be set as a power saving prohibition period.

  In the above-described embodiment, the power saving prohibition period is set so as to include the time zone with the highest usage frequency and the time zone with the second highest usage frequency from the processing history of the print job, but the time with the highest usage frequency is set. You may set a power-saving prohibition period so that only a belt | band | zone may be included. Alternatively, a power saving prohibition period may be set such that a time zone in which the usage frequency exceeds a predetermined frequency (for example, 70%) determined in advance is obtained and the time zone is included. An example of this will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for selecting a time zone in which the usage frequency exceeds 70% of the peak. FIG. 8A is created based on the histogram of FIG. 5 as in the above-described embodiment. The time zone divided every hour and the total number of printed sheets of the three computers 51, 52, 53 are shown in FIG. It is a histogram showing the relationship. Here, for example, when the combination pattern is three computers 51, 52, and 53, the peak of the number of printed sheets is 2,700, so 70% of them is 1890, and the time zone exceeding 1890 is shown in FIG. As shown in b), it is 10: 00-12: 00, 14: 00-15: 00, and the power saving prohibition time is 9: 45-12: 15, 13: 45-15: 15. On the other hand, when the combination patterns are two computers 51 and 52, the peak of the number of printed sheets is 2200, so 70% of them is 1540. The time zone exceeding 1540 is shown in FIG. 10: 00-11: 00, 14: 00-15: 00, and the power-saving prohibition time is 9: 45-11: 15, 13: 45-15: 15.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the CPU 22 of the controller 20 stores the processing history of the print job for each computer 51, 52, 53 collected during the reference period in the history storage area of the RAM 26 together with the day of the week. Power saving prohibition periods corresponding to all combination patterns are created for each day of the week and stored in the prohibition period storage area of the RAM 26, and the current and day of the week are the same among the power saving prohibition periods of the same combination pattern as the computer in operation. May be set as the current power saving prohibition period. Alternatively, the CPU 22 of the controller 20 stores the processing histories of the daily print jobs of the computers 51, 52, and 53 collected during the reference period in the history storage area of the RAM 26 together with the day of the week, and the print jobs of the computers in operation A processing history having the same day of the week as the current day may be read out, a power saving prohibition period may be created based on the read processing history, and the created power saving prohibition period may be set as the current power saving prohibition period. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence between the day of the week and the processing history of the print job. FIGS. 9A to 9C show the first peak and the first peak obtained from the processing history of the print job on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, respectively. The time zone of the second peak is shown. Thus, since the time zone of the first peak and the second peak may be different for each day of the week, it is preferable to set the power saving prohibition time so as to include the peak time zone of the same day of the week as the present day. The same applies to dates and events.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, each computer 51, 52, 53 determines the frequency of use of the color laser printer 10 based on the number of printed sheets. However, instead of the number of printed sheets, It may be determined based on the number of connections and the amount of power consumption.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a color laser printer 10. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a print job reception routine. 6 is a flowchart of a print processing routine. The flowchart of a power saving prohibition period preparation routine. A histogram showing the relationship between the time of day and the frequency of use of each computer. Explanatory drawing which selects the time zone of a peak. The flowchart of a mode switching control routine. Explanatory drawing which selects the time slot | zone when usage frequency exceeds 70% of a peak. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between a day of the week and a print job processing history.

Explanation of symbols

  10 color laser printer, 20 controller, 22 CPU, 24 ROM, 26 RAM, 27 timer, 28 network board, 29 bus, 30 printer unit, 31 printer mechanism, 33 photoconductor, 34 developing unit, 34C, 34M, 34Y, 34K Toner cartridge, 35 transfer belt, 36 secondary transfer unit, 37 fixing unit, 39 printer ASIC, 40 power supply adjustment unit, 44 network, 51, 52, 53 computer.

Claims (13)

A printing apparatus connected so as to be able to receive print jobs from a plurality of computers and capable of switching between an energization mode in which a print job can be printed immediately and a power saving mode in which power is saved compared to the energization mode. ,
A history storage control means for storing a processing history of a print job during a reference period predetermined for the plurality of computers in a history storage means;
Creation of a power saving prohibition period that creates a power saving prohibition period corresponding to each of all possible combination patterns for the plurality of computers based on the processing history of the print job stored in the history storage means and stores it in the prohibition period storage means Means,
The power saving prohibition period corresponding to the currently operating computer among the plurality of computers is read from the prohibition period storage means and set as the current power saving prohibition period, and switching from the energization mode to the power saving mode during the set power saving prohibition period Mode switching control means for prohibiting,
Printing device with The power saving prohibition period creating means obtains a time zone having a high frequency of use from the processing history of the print job of the computer included in the combination pattern when creating the power saving prohibition period corresponding to each combination pattern. Create the power saving ban period in
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The power-saving prohibition period creating means creates a power-saving prohibition period corresponding to each combination pattern by selecting a time period in which the use frequency exceeds a predetermined frequency determined in advance from a processing history of a computer print job included in the combination pattern. The power saving prohibition period is created so as to include the requested time zone,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The power saving prohibition period creation means creates a power saving prohibition period for each day, day of the week, or event from the processing history of the computer print job included in the combination pattern when creating the power saving prohibition period corresponding to each combination pattern. And
The mode switching control means reads out a power saving prohibition period having a common current day, day of the week, or event when reading a power saving prohibition period corresponding to a currently operating computer among the plurality of computers from the prohibition period storage means.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The power saving prohibition period creating means creates a power saving prohibition period so as not to include a time zone outside the prescribed working hours.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. A printing apparatus connected so as to be able to receive print jobs from a plurality of computers and capable of switching between an energization mode in which a print job can be printed immediately and a power saving mode in which power is saved compared to the energization mode. ,
A history storage control means for storing a processing history of a print job during a reference period predetermined for the plurality of computers in a history storage means;
A power saving prohibition period is set based on a processing history of a print job of a computer that is currently in operation among the processing histories of the print job stored in the history storage means, and from the energization mode to the power saving mode during the set power saving prohibition period. Mode switching control means for prohibiting switching,
Printing device with The mode switching control means obtains a time zone with a high usage frequency from the processing history of a print job of a computer that is currently operating, and sets the power saving prohibition period so as to include the time zone.
The printing apparatus according to claim 6. The mode switching control means obtains a time zone in which the use frequency exceeds a predetermined frequency determined in advance from a print job processing history of a computer that is currently in operation, and sets the power saving prohibition period to include the time zone.
The printing apparatus according to claim 6. The mode switching control means sets the power saving prohibition period based on a processing history in which at least one of a day of the week and an event is common with the current day in the processing history of the print job of the computer currently operating.
The printing apparatus according to claim 6. The mode switching control means sets a power saving prohibition period so as not to include a time zone outside the prescribed working hours.
The printing apparatus according to claim 6. A mode for controlling switching between an energization mode in which a print job can be printed immediately and a power saving mode in which power is saved compared to the energization mode, with respect to a printing apparatus connected so as to be able to receive a print job from a plurality of computers A switching control method,
(A) storing a history of processing of print jobs in a reference period predetermined for the plurality of computers in a history storage unit;
(B) creating a power saving prohibition period corresponding to each of all possible combination patterns for the plurality of computers based on the processing history of the print job stored in the history storage means, and storing the power saving prohibition period in the prohibition period storage means When,
(C) A power saving prohibition period corresponding to a computer currently operating among the plurality of computers is read from the prohibition period storage means and set as the current power saving prohibition period. During the set power saving prohibition period, the power saving mode is changed to the power saving mode. Prohibiting switching to
A mode switching control method including: A mode for controlling switching between an energization mode in which a print job can be printed immediately and a power saving mode in which power is saved compared to the energization mode, with respect to a printing apparatus connected so as to be able to receive a print job from a plurality of computers A switching control method,
(A) storing a history of processing of print jobs in a reference period predetermined for the plurality of computers in a history storage unit;
(B) A power saving prohibition period is set based on a print job processing history of a computer that is currently operating in the print job processing history stored in the history storage unit, and the power saving mode is set during the set power saving prohibition period. A step of prohibiting switching to the power saving mode;
A mode switching control method including:   A mode switching control program for causing one or more computers to execute each step of the mode switching control method according to claim 11 or 12.

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