JP2010076349A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which eliminates user's inconvenience by controlling the print output destination in accordance with the user's intention when the operation mode is shifted to a power-saving mode. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is equipped with a control part configured so that, in the state where the power-saving mode is selected as the operation mode of the image forming apparatus, a communication I/F part receives a printing instruction, and when receiving a recovery instruction together with the printing instruction, an image data storage part and an image forming part are returned from the power-saving state to the operatable state, and the control part controls the image forming part to form the image based on printing image data stored in the image data storage part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system.

  As is well known, image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals, copiers, and printers have an operation mode in which operating power is reduced, that is, power saving if image forming processing is not executed for a certain period of time in consideration of the global environment. Some automatically transition to mode. However, in such an image forming apparatus, there is a problem that, when the mode is shifted to the power saving mode, it is necessary to wait for a considerable time before returning to an operation state in which an image can be formed by a new image forming instruction. did. This is because in the image forming apparatus, it takes time to warm the fixing roller for fixing the toner onto the image forming paper that is a part of the image forming unit to an appropriate temperature.

Based on such problems, as an invention that can immediately perform image formation even when the image forming apparatus shifts to the power saving mode, Patent Document 1 below discloses a plurality of color printers in a network. Among these, a color printing system is disclosed in which a job is transmitted to a color printer in an active state, that is, a state in which printing can be performed immediately, and the time required for print output is reduced. This color print system is a color print system in which a plurality of color printers are connected on a network, and receives status information from each color printer for determining the status of each color printer. Determine the status of the color printer, avoid printing to a color printer that needs density correction processing due to sleep (corresponding to the power saving mode) or other factors, and print data to a printer that can print immediately Send.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-103884

  By the way, in the above prior art, when the color printer instructed to print is in the power saving mode, the network server provided separately from the color printer transfers the print data to another color printer connected to the network. In addition, the other color printer is caused to execute printing based on the printer data. However, in general, since the user instructs printing to the image forming apparatus that is closest to the user, the image forming apparatus instructed to print is always in the power saving mode as in the related art. When output is performed from an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus, the user must go to the image forming apparatus located at a remote position to obtain the print result.

  That is, the above conventional technique is convenient for a user who is in a hurry to print because it is output from another image forming apparatus without waiting for the image forming apparatus that has instructed printing to return from the power saving mode. When the image forming apparatus that has instructed printing is in the power saving mode, if the output is always performed from another image forming apparatus, the user who is not in a hurry to print feels bothered to get the print result. It will be.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. When the printer has shifted to the power saving mode, the user feels bothered by controlling the print output destination according to the user's intention. The purpose is to provide what is not allowed.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first solving means related to an image forming apparatus, when a communication I / F unit receives a print instruction from the outside by communication, print image data received together with the print instruction is received. An image forming apparatus that stores the image data in the image data storage unit, and the image forming unit forms an output image based on the print image data stored in the image data storage unit, and the operation mode is a power saving mode. When the communication instruction is received by the communication I / F unit and the return instruction is received together with the print instruction, the image data storage unit and the image forming unit are returned from the power saving state to the operable state, and the image When the image forming unit forms an image based on the print image data stored in the data storage unit and the return instruction is not received together with the print instruction, the image forming unit is The image data storage unit is restored from the power saving state to the operable state in the state, the print image data is stored in the restored image data storage unit, and the image forming apparatus other than itself whose operation mode is the operation mode And a control unit that transmits the print image data and a request for image formation based on the print image data to the communication I / F unit.

  In the present invention, as a second solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, the first solving means includes a display unit, and the control unit issues the print instruction when the operation mode is a power saving mode. When the communication I / F unit receives and does not receive the return instruction together with the print instruction, the print image data and the print image data are sent to an image forming apparatus other than itself whose operation mode is the operation mode. The communication I / F unit is caused to transmit an image formation request based on the above, and an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus is displayed on the display unit as an output destination.

  In the present invention, the first image forming apparatus which is the image forming apparatus adopting the first or second solving means as the first solving means relating to the image forming system, and the first image forming apparatus. A second image forming apparatus that communicates with the electronic apparatus, and an electronic device that transmits a print instruction to the first image forming apparatus through communication, and the control unit of the first image forming apparatus has an operation mode saved. In the power mode, when the communication I / F unit receives a print instruction and receives the return instruction together with the print instruction, the image data storage unit and the image forming unit can be operated from a power saving state. If the image forming unit forms an image on the basis of the print image data stored in the image data storage unit and the return instruction is not received together with the print instruction, the image forming unit is Power saving The image data storage unit is restored from the power saving state to the operable state in the state, the print image data is stored in the restored image data storage unit, and the image forming apparatus other than itself whose operation mode is the operation mode When the second image forming apparatus receives the request, the second image forming apparatus receives the print image data and an image formation request based on the print image data. Then, a means for executing image formation is employed.

  According to the present invention, as a second solving means relating to the image forming system, in the first solving means, the control unit of the first image forming apparatus is configured to perform the electronic operation when an operation mode is a power saving mode. When the communication I / F unit receives a print instruction from the device and receives the return instruction together with the print instruction, the image forming unit starts to return from a power saving state to an operable state, and the electronic The apparatus stores print image data until the image forming unit is restored, and when the image forming unit is restored, transmits the print image data to the first image forming apparatus, and the first image forming unit is restored. The control unit of the image forming apparatus employs means for causing the image forming unit to form an image based on the print image data when the communication I / F unit receives the print image data from the electronic device.

  According to the present invention, when the image forming apparatus receives the print instruction when the operation mode is the power saving mode and receives the return instruction together with the print instruction, the image data The storage unit and the image forming unit are returned from a power saving state to an operable state, the image forming unit is caused to form an image based on the print image data stored in the image data storage unit, and the return instruction together with the print instruction Is not received, the image forming unit remains in a power saving state, the image data storage unit is returned from a power saving state to an operable state, and print image data is stored in the restored image data storage unit. And storing the print image data and a request for image formation based on the print image data to the communication I / F unit to an image forming apparatus other than the own image forming apparatus whose operation mode is the operation mode. And a control unit, comprising.

  That is, in this image forming apparatus, even if the control unit shifts to the power saving mode when the communication I / F unit receives the print instruction, the control unit executes the image formation by returning the image forming unit according to the return instruction. As a result, the user who has not rushed to print does not have to go to another image forming apparatus to obtain the print result, and thus the user does not feel bothered to get the print result.

  Even if the image forming apparatus has shifted to the power saving mode when receiving the print instruction, if the image forming apparatus does not receive the return instruction, the image forming apparatus forms an image on another image forming apparatus instead of the image forming apparatus. By being able to execute, it is possible for a user rushing to print to execute and complete copying in a short time because there is no need to wait until the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus becomes executable. .

  Further, in this image forming apparatus, even if the control unit shifts to the power saving mode when the communication I / F unit receives the print instruction, the control unit does not necessarily move the image forming unit from the power saving state to an operable state. Instead of returning the image data storage unit from the power saving state, the image forming unit is returned from the power saving state to the operating state by causing the image forming apparatus other than itself to execute image formation. Necessary power consumption can be suppressed.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention relates to a multifunction peripheral having both a copying function, a printing function, and a FAX transmission / reception function, which is one of the image forming apparatuses of the present invention, and an image forming system including the multifunction peripheral.
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming system A according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system A includes a multi-function device B, a printer C, a local area network D, and client computers E-1 to En.

  The multi-function device B is connected to the printer C and the client computers E-1 to En through the local area network D. The multi-function device B executes a copy process based on the copy instruction, executes a print process based on the print instruction received from the client computers E-1 to En via the local area network D, and further executes the local area network. When a facsimile is received from a public network (not shown) via D, a reception result output process is executed based on the facsimile image data. The multifunction device B also has a function as a printer server in the image forming system A. That is, when a print instruction is transmitted from the client computers E-1 to En to the printer C, the print instruction and print image data are transmitted to the printer C via the multi-function device B.

  The printer C is connected to the MFP B, client computers E-1 to En and a public network (not shown) via the local area network D, and is connected to the client computers E-1 to E- via the local area network D. When a facsimile is received from the public network via the local area network D, a reception result output process is executed based on the facsimile data.

  The local area network D is configured by a LAN (Local Area Network) cable, a LAN hub, and the like, and connects the multifunction peripheral B, the printer C, client computers E-1 to En, and a public network (not shown). The local area network D is a signal transmission path in communication among the multifunction machine B, the printer C, the client computers E-1 to En and the public network.

  Each of the client computers E-1 to En is a desktop or notebook personal computer, and sends a print instruction to the MFP B or the printer C based on a user instruction received by an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. Transmit via area network D. Note that the client computers E-1 to En in FIG. 1 indicate that a plurality of client computers are connected to the multifunction peripheral B via the local area network D.

A functional configuration of the multifunction peripheral B in the image forming system A having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the multifunction peripheral B in the image forming system A according to the present embodiment.
The multifunction machine B includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 3, various sensor groups 4, a paper transport unit 5, an image reading unit 6, an image data storage unit 7, An image forming unit 8, a communication I / F unit 9, an operation display unit 10, and an image forming apparatus IP (Internet Protocol) address storage unit 11 are provided. And the operation display part 10 has the touchscreen 10a.

The CPU 1 controls the client computers E-1 to E through the control program stored in the ROM 2, the document image data, the print image data or the facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 7, and the communication I / F unit 9. -The overall operation of the multifunction device B is controlled based on various instructions input from the n or public network (not shown) and operation instructions input from the operation display unit 10. The details of the control process of the CPU 1 will be described as the operation of the multifunction device B below.
The ROM 2 is a non-volatile memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 1 and other data.

The RAM 3 is a volatile memory used as a working area as a temporary storage destination of data when the CPU 1 executes a control program and performs various operations.
The various sensor groups 4 are various sensors necessary for image forming operations such as a paper out detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor, a paper position detection sensor, a temperature sensor, and the like. To the CPU 1.

  The paper transport unit 5 includes a transport roller for transporting the print paper stored in the paper tray to the image forming unit 8, a motor for driving the transport roller, and a print paper after the image forming process to a discharge tray (not shown). It is composed of a conveying roller for conveying, a motor for driving the conveying roller, and the like.

 The image reading unit 6 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder), a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and the like, and causes the CCD sensor to read images of documents sequentially fed by the ADF so that document image data based on the document image is obtained. Output. The image reading unit 6 outputs the document image data to the CPU 1, while the CPU 1 stores the document image data in the image data storage unit 7.

  The image data storage unit 7 is, for example, a flash memory. Under the instruction of the CPU 1, document image data, print image data received by the communication I / F unit 9 from the client computer via the local area network D, and communication I / F. The unit 9 stores facsimile image data received from the public network E via the local area network D.

The image forming unit 8 controls the printing paper conveyed from the paper conveying unit 5 with toner based on the original image data, the print image data, or the facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 7 under the control of the CPU 1. An image forming image to be formed is transferred, and fixing processing of the image forming image is performed by a fixing roller.
The communication I / F unit 9 is connected to the printer C and client computers E-1 to En and a public network (not shown) via the local area network D, and the printer C and client computers E-1 to E-. Various signals are transmitted / received between n and the public network.

 The operation display unit 10 includes a start key, a stop key, a power key, a numeric keypad (numerical value input key), a touch panel 10a, a clear key, and other various operation keys, and outputs an operation instruction for each key to the CPU 1. At the same time, under the control of the CPU 1, various screens are displayed on the touch panel 10a.

 The image forming apparatus IP address storage unit 11 is, for example, a flash memory, and stores the IP address of the image forming apparatus connected to the local area network D, that is, the printer C. The image forming apparatus IP address storage unit 11 receives the client computer E-1 through the IP address registration instruction received by the operation display unit 10 by the user's operation under the control of the CPU 1 or the user's operation via the local area network D. Based on the IP address registration instruction received from En, the IP address of the printer C is stored. When the communication I / F unit 9 receives a print instruction and the operation mode of the multifunction device B is the power saving mode, the CPU 1 stores the IP address stored in the image forming apparatus IP address storage unit 11. Instructs C to form an image instead of the multifunction device B.

Further, a functional configuration of the printer C in the image forming system A having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the printer C in the image forming system A according to the present embodiment.
The printer C includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, various sensor groups 24, a paper transport unit 25, an image data storage unit 26, an image forming unit 27, a communication I / F unit 28, an operation unit 29, and a display unit 30.

The CPU 21 controls the client computer E-1 to En or the public via the control program stored in the ROM 22, the print image data or facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 26, and the communication I / F unit 28. The entire operation of the printer C is controlled based on various instructions input from a network (not shown) and operation instructions input from the operation unit 29. The details of the control process of the CPU 21 will be described as the operation of the printer C below.
The ROM 22 is a non-volatile memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 21 and other data.

The RAM 23 is a volatile memory used as a working area as a temporary storage destination of data when the CPU 21 executes various operations by executing a control program.
The various sensor groups 24 are various sensors necessary for image forming operations such as a paper out detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor, a paper position detection sensor, a temperature sensor, and the like, and various kinds of information detected by each sensor are detected signals. To the CPU 21.

The paper transport unit 25 transports the print paper stored in the paper tray to the image forming unit 27, a motor for driving the transport roller, and the print paper after the image forming process to a paper discharge tray (not shown). It is composed of a conveying roller for conveying, a motor for driving the conveying roller, and the like.
The image data storage unit 26 is, for example, a flash memory, and print image data and communication that the communication I / F unit 28 receives from the client computers E-1 to En through the local area network D under the instruction of the CPU 21. The I / F unit 28 stores facsimile image data received from the public network E via the local area network D.

The image forming unit 27 is an image formed with toner on the printing paper conveyed from the paper conveying unit 5 based on the print image data or facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 26 under the control of the CPU 1. The formed image is transferred, and the image formed image is fixed.
The communication I / F unit 28 is connected to the MFP B, client computers E-1 to En and a public network (not shown) via the local area network D, and the MFP B and client computers E-1 to E-1. Various signals are transmitted to and received from En.

The operation unit 29 includes a menu key, an online key, a power key, a reset key, up / down / left / right keys, and other various operation keys, and outputs an operation instruction of each key to the CPU 21.
The display unit 30 is, for example, a liquid crystal monitor, and displays various screens including images and characters based on signals input from the CPU 21.

  Next, operations of the multifunction peripheral B and the printer C in the image forming system A having the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the multifunction peripheral B and the printer C of the image forming system A according to the present embodiment.

  In the multi-function device B, when the operation display unit 10 has not received an operation instruction from the user for a predetermined time, or when a copy instruction or print instruction is not input, the CPU 1 has the minimum required CPU 1, EOM 2, RAM 3, communication I / F. The supply of power to each unit other than the unit 9 and the operation display unit 10 is reduced or stopped, that is, the mode is shifted to the power saving mode.

  Even in the printer C, when no operation instruction or print instruction is input from the user for a predetermined time, the printer C shifts to the power saving mode based on the instruction from the CPU 21. In other words, the multifunction device B and the printer C are provided with a power saving transition timer that measures the time during which various instructions are not input. Reduce or stop the supply of power to functions that operate during image reading and image formation other than necessary functions.

  First, a user who intends to print using the multi-function peripheral B transmits a print instruction to the multi-function peripheral B by operating a keyboard or a mouse in the client computers E-1 to En. At that time, the client computers E-1 to En are provided with a return instruction check box for instructing the driver of the installed multifunction device B to return from the power saving mode of the multifunction device B. When an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse accepts a print instruction from the user while the instruction check box is checked, an instruction to return the MFP B from the power saving mode is transmitted to the MFP B together with the print instruction.

  The CPU 1 of the multi-function peripheral B determines whether or not the communication I / F unit 9 has received a print instruction from the client computers E-1 to En (step S1), and if “NO” is determined in step S1. That is, if the communication I / F unit 9 has not received a print instruction from the client computers E-1 to En, the communication I / F unit 9 receives a print instruction from the client computers E-1 to En. If it is determined “YES” in step S1, that is, if the communication I / F unit 9 receives a print instruction from the client computers E-1 to En, the operation mode is It is determined whether or not the power saving mode is set (step S2).

  If the CPU 1 determines “NO” in step S 2, that is, if the operation mode is an operation mode other than the power saving mode, the CPU 1 stores the print image data received together with the print instruction in the image data storage unit 7. Then, the image forming unit 8 forms an image on the printing paper based on the print image data (step S3). If the CPU 1 determines “YES” in step S2, that is, if the operation mode is the power saving mode, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the communication I / F unit 9 has received the return instruction together with the print instruction. (Step S4).

  If the CPU 1 determines “YES” in step S4, that is, if the communication I / F unit 9 receives a return instruction, the image data storage unit 7 related to the print image data storage operation and the image forming operation. Then, the supply of power to the various sensor groups 4, the paper transport unit 5 and the image forming unit 8 is restarted (step S5), and the print image data received together with the print instruction in step S3 is stored in the image data storage unit 7, Based on the print image data, the image forming unit 8 forms an image on a print sheet.

  If the CPU 1 determines “NO” in step S4, that is, if the communication I / F unit 9 has not received a return instruction, the CPU 1 stores the print image data in the image data storage unit 7 related to the storage operation. The power supply is resumed (step S6), the facsimile image data is stored in the image data storage unit 7 (step S7), and the image forming apparatus IP address storage unit 11 is connected to the printer C which stores the IP address. An operation mode notification request is transmitted to the communication I / F unit 9 via D (step S8).

  When the communication I / F unit 28 receives the operation mode notification request, the CPU 21 of the printer C causes the communication I / F unit 28 to transmit an operation mode notification response indicating the current operation mode of the printer C to the multifunction device B. (Step S9).

  When the communication I / F unit 9 receives the operation mode notification response from the printer C, the CPU 1 of the multifunction peripheral B determines whether the printer C is in the power saving mode based on the operation mode notification response from the printer C ( If “YES” is determined in step S10), that is, if the printer C is in the power saving mode, to the various sensor groups 4, the paper transport unit 5, and the image forming unit 8 related to the image forming operation. Is resumed (step S11), and the image forming unit 8 forms an image on the printing paper based on the print image data stored in the image data storage unit 7 in step S3.

  If the CPU 1 determines “NO” in step S10, that is, if the operation mode of the printer C is an operation mode other than the power saving mode, the CPU 1 stores the print image data stored in the image data storage unit 7 together with the output request. The communication I / F unit 9 is transmitted to the printer C (step S12), and the output from the printer C is displayed on the touch panel 10a (step S13).

  The CPU 21 of the printer C determines whether or not the communication I / F unit 28 has received an output request from the multifunction device B (step S14). If it is determined “YES” in step S14, that is, the output request is communicated. When the I / F unit 28 receives the print image data, the print image data received together with the output request is stored in the image data storage unit 26, and the image forming unit 27 forms an image on a print sheet based on the print image data (step S1). S15) If “NO” is determined in step S14, that is, if the output request is not received by the communication I / F unit 28, the process waits until the communication I / F unit 28 receives the output request. .

  As described above, in the image forming system A according to the present embodiment, when the MFP B is in the power saving mode, when the print instruction is received from the client computers E-1 to En, the return instruction is issued together with the print instruction. When received, the power supply to the image data storage unit 7, various sensor groups 4, the paper transport unit 5 and the image forming unit 8 related to the storage operation of the print image data and the image formation operation is resumed, and the image data storage unit When the image forming unit 8 forms an image based on the print image data stored in the print image data 7 and the return instruction is not received together with the print command, the power to the image data storage unit 7 related to the print image data storage operation is The supply is resumed, the print image data is stored in the image data storage unit 7, and the print image data and output are output to the printer C whose operation mode is not the power saving mode but the operation mode. It sends the request to the image formed based on the print image data to the printer C in place of the MFP B.

That is, in this image forming system A, even when the multifunction device B receives the print instruction, it can return to the power saving mode and perform image formation by returning the multifunction device B by the return instruction. Thus, since the user who has not rushed to print does not need to get the print result to the printer C, the user does not feel bothered to get the print result.
Further, even if the multifunction device B has shifted to the power saving mode when receiving the print instruction, the user who is rushing to print can execute the image formation on the printer C instead of the multifunction device B. Since there is no need to wait for the execution of printing until the fixing roller of the image forming unit 8 of the multifunction machine B is heated to an appropriate temperature, copying can be executed and completed in a short time.

  Further, in this image forming system A, even if the multifunction device B shifts to the power saving mode when receiving the print instruction, the power supply to the functions related to image formation is not necessarily resumed. Only the functions related to storage of image data are restored from the power saving state, and by causing the printer C, which is the operation mode, to execute image formation, the power consumption necessary for returning the functions relating to image formation from the power saving state is suppressed. be able to.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.

(1) In the above embodiment, when the MFP B is in the power saving mode, if a print instruction is received from the client computers E-1 to En, the printer whose operation mode is the operation mode instead of the MFP B Although the image formation is performed by C, and the touch panel 10a of the multi-function peripheral B displays the output from the printer C under the instruction of the CPU 1, the present invention is not limited to this.

  When the image forming apparatus other than the printer C is connected to the local area network D, the CPU 1 of the multifunction peripheral B operates the operation mode of each image forming apparatus connected to the local area network D on the touch panel 10a, that is, the operation mode. And an output destination selection menu for causing the user to select one of the image forming apparatuses in the operation mode as an output destination on the touch panel 10a, and displaying the selected output. The previous image forming apparatus may execute image formation instead of the multifunction machine B. In addition, the multifunction device B does not display the output destination selection menu and the output from the printer C on the touch panel 10a, but the multifunction device B transmits the screen information to the client computers E-1 to En, so that the client You may make it display on the display of computer E-1 to En.

(2) In the above embodiment, the CPU 1 of the multi-function device B causes the communication I / F unit 9 to transmit an operation mode notification request to the printer C in step S8, and the printer I receives the communication I / F unit 9 from the printer C. Although the operation modes of the multifunction peripheral B and the printer C are determined based on the operation mode notification response, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the CPU 1 of the multifunction device B sends an operation mode notification request to the communication I / F unit 9 to the printer C every predetermined time, so that the communication I / F unit 9 notifies the operation mode from the multifunction device B and the printer C. You may make it grasp | ascertain the operation mode of the printer C for every predetermined time by receiving a response.

(3) In the above embodiment, even if the multifunction device B has a function as a printer server in the image forming system A and the multifunction device B has shifted to the power saving mode when receiving the print instruction, the multifunction device B Although the printer C can be made to execute image formation instead of B, the present invention is not limited to this.

  As in the image forming system A, the relationship between the multifunction device B and the printer C is not the upper and lower relationship between the server and the client, but the multifunction device B and the printer C store each other's IP address as a parallel relationship and When the multifunction apparatus B is in the power saving mode and receives a print instruction, the printer C executes image formation instead of the multifunction apparatus B, and the printer C When a print instruction is received while shifting to the power saving mode, the multifunction peripheral B may execute image formation instead of the printer C.

(4) In the above embodiment, when the multifunction device B receives a print instruction when the MFP B is in the power saving mode and receives a return instruction together with the print instruction at that time, the storage operation and image formation of the print image data are received. The supply of power to the image data storage unit 7 related to the operation, the various sensor groups 4, the paper transport unit 5, and the image forming unit 8 is resumed, and the image forming unit is based on the print image data stored in the image data storage unit 7. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  From the time when the multifunction device B receives the print instruction, the user needs to wait for a time for the fixing roller of the image forming unit 8 to warm up to an appropriate temperature until the image formation is performed. Although the print image data is stored in the image data storage unit 7, the client computers E-1 to En store the print image data in their own storage unit instead of the image data storage unit 7, and the multifunction machine B When the image forming unit 8 becomes ready to perform image formation, the print image data may be transmitted to the multifunction device B.

1 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming system A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral B in an image forming system A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a printer C in the image forming system A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of the multifunction peripheral B and the printer C of the image forming system A according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  A ... Image forming system, B ... Multifunction machine, C ... Printer, D ... Local area network, E-1 to En ... Client computer, 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... Various sensor groups, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Paper conveyance part, 6 ... Image reading part, 7 ... Image data memory | storage part, 8 ... Image forming part, 9 ... Communication I / F part, 10 ... Operation display part, 10a ... Touch panel, 11 ... Image forming apparatus IP address Storage unit, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... RAM, 24 ... various sensor groups, 25 ... paper conveyance unit, 26 ... image data storage unit, 27 ... image forming unit, 28 ... communication I / F unit, 29 ... Operation unit, 30 ... display unit

Claims (4)

When the communication I / F unit receives a print instruction from the outside by communication, the print image data received together with the print instruction is stored in an image data storage unit, and an image based on the print image data stored in the image data storage unit is stored. An image forming apparatus in which a forming unit forms an output image,
When the operation mode is the power saving mode, when the communication I / F unit receives the print instruction and receives the return instruction together with the print instruction, the image data storage unit and the image forming unit are set in the power saving state. The image forming unit is caused to form an image based on the print image data stored in the image data storage unit and the return instruction is not received together with the print instruction. The image data storage unit is restored from the power saving state to the operable state while the forming unit is in the power saving state, the print image data is stored in the restored image data storage unit, and the operation mode is the operation mode itself A control unit that causes the communication I / F unit to transmit the print image data and a request for image formation based on the print image data to an image forming apparatus other than
An image forming apparatus comprising: Comprising a display unit;
When the operation mode is the power saving mode, the control unit receives the print instruction and the communication I / F unit receives the print instruction and the return instruction together with the print instruction. The image forming apparatus other than itself is caused to transmit the print image data and an image formation request based on the print image data to the communication I / F unit, and the image forming apparatus other than itself is displayed as the output destination. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus displays the image on a screen. A first image forming apparatus which is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1;
A second image forming apparatus in communication with the first image forming apparatus;
An electronic device that transmits a print instruction to the first image forming apparatus by communication,
When the operation mode is the power saving mode, the control unit of the first image forming apparatus receives a print instruction from the communication I / F unit, and receives the return instruction together with the print instruction. The image data storage unit and the image forming unit are returned from a power saving state to an operable state, and an image is formed on the image forming unit based on the print image data stored in the image data storage unit, together with the print instruction When the return instruction has not been received, the image data storage unit is returned from the power saving state to an operable state while the image forming unit is in a power saving state, and printing is performed on the restored image data storage unit. The image data is stored, and a request for image formation based on the print image data and the print image data is sent to the communication I / F unit to an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus whose operation mode is the operation mode. To trust,
When the second image forming apparatus receives the request, the image forming system executes image formation based on the print image data. When the operation mode is the power saving mode, the control unit of the first image forming apparatus receives a print instruction from the electronic device, and receives the return instruction together with the print instruction. In this case, the image forming unit starts to return from a power saving state to an operable state,
The electronic device stores print image data until the image forming unit is restored, and transmits the print image data to the first image forming apparatus when the image forming unit is restored,
Then, when the communication I / F unit receives the print image data from the electronic device, the control unit of the first image forming apparatus causes the image forming unit to form an image based on the print image data. The image forming system according to claim 3.

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