JP2010188529A - Image forming device, image forming system, and image forming program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce worsening in an efficiency of image formation caused by copying a set value. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming device or the like includes an acquisition part 125 for acquiring the number of recording media image-processed within a predetermined period and an error frequency in every set value, and a copying part 126 for copying one part or the whole of the set value stored in a storage part 123 and for controlling an image forming operation, to an acquiring side of the acquisition part 125, based on an error generation rate in every set value found from the number of recording media and the error frequency in every set value acquired by the acquisition part 125. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

  In an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to communication means such as a LAN (Local Area Network), when setting values set in one image forming apparatus are set in other image forming apparatuses An administrator of the image forming apparatus or the like sets a setting value in another image forming apparatus one by one or transmits setting value information to another image forming apparatus via a communication unit, and the other image forming apparatus Reflect the received setting value information.

  In Patent Document 1, a part or all of set values such as control parameters of an image forming apparatus are copied and stored in another image forming apparatus on the same network system, and the original image forming apparatus is stored as necessary. It is reflected again.

JP-A-8-244317

  The present invention reduces the decrease in the efficiency of image formation due to copying of the set value.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, an acquisition unit that acquires the number of recording media on which image formation processing has been performed within a predetermined period and the number of errors for each set value, and the recording medium acquired by the acquisition unit Based on the error occurrence rate for each set value obtained from the quantity of the error and the number of errors for each set value, a part or all of the set value for controlling the image forming operation stored in the storage unit is stored in the acquisition unit. And a copying unit for copying to the acquisition source.

  The image forming system according to claim 2, a first storage unit that stores setting values for controlling an image forming operation, and the number and setting values of recording media on which image formation has been performed within a predetermined period. A first image forming apparatus having a holding unit that holds the number of errors for each time, a second storage unit that stores setting values for controlling an image forming operation, and the first image forming apparatus The acquisition unit that acquires the number of recording media on which image formation has been performed within a predetermined period and the number of errors for each set value, and the holding unit of the first image forming apparatus acquired by the acquisition unit Based on the error occurrence rate for each set value obtained from the number of recording media and the number of errors for each set value, a part or all of the set value stored in the second storage unit is stored in the first image. Stored in the first storage section of the forming apparatus It has a copy unit for copying the value, and the second image forming apparatus having, a.

  An image forming system according to a third aspect is the image forming system according to the second aspect, wherein the copying unit has the first set value among the set values of the second storage unit. When the error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus exceeds a predetermined value, all of the setting values stored in the second storage unit are stored in the first storage of the first image forming apparatus. Copying to the set value stored in the section is restricted.

  5. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein in the image forming system according to claim 2, the copying unit has an error occurrence rate of the first image forming apparatus in all set values of the second storage unit. Is equal to or less than a predetermined value, all of the setting values are copied to the setting values stored in the first storage unit of the first image forming apparatus.

  The image forming system according to claim 5 is the image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the copying unit has an error occurrence rate of the first image forming apparatus at a set value of the second storage unit. When the value is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the setting value of the second storage unit is copied to the setting value stored in the first storage unit of the first image forming apparatus.

  The image forming system according to claim 6 is the image forming system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the second image forming apparatus performs recording in which an image is formed within a predetermined period. A holding unit that holds the number of media and the number of errors for each set value, and the total number of errors obtained by summing up the number of errors for each set value held in the holding unit is obtained by dividing the number by the number of recording media. The total error rate and the total error rate obtained by dividing the total number of errors obtained by summing up the number of errors for each set value held in the holding unit of the first image forming apparatus by the number of recording media And a deciding unit for deciding whether or not to set the copy source of the set value as the first image forming apparatus.

  The image forming program according to claim 7, wherein the acquiring unit acquires the computer, an acquisition unit that acquires the number of recording media on which image forming processing has been performed within a predetermined period and the number of errors for each set value. Based on the error occurrence rate for each set value obtained from the number of recording media and the number of errors for each set value, part or all of the set values for controlling the image forming operation stored in the storage unit are stored in the storage unit. It is characterized by functioning as a copying unit for copying to the acquisition source of the acquisition unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce a decrease in the efficiency of image formation of another image forming apparatus due to copying of the set value.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the decrease in the efficiency of image formation caused by copying the set value.

  According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to reduce a decrease in the efficiency of image formation caused by copying the set value, and to limit the copy of the set value.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the set value is copied while reducing the decrease in the efficiency of image formation caused by copying the set value.

  The invention according to claim 6 increases the efficiency of image formation of the entire image forming system.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce a decrease in the efficiency of image formation of another image forming apparatus due to copying of the set value.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting values set in each image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the data which a holding | maintenance part hold | maintains. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a control part. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of the function which a control part has. It shows an example of a table used when determining whether or not to copy a set value. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting values of each image forming apparatus after copying setting values. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for determining a copy source apparatus. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process in which a copy source apparatus copies a set value. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting values of each image forming apparatus after copying setting values. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process in which a copy source apparatus copies a set value.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, an example of the configuration of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

The image forming system 100 includes a communication unit 20, an image forming apparatus 10-1, an image forming apparatus 10-2,..., An image forming apparatus 10-n connected to the communication unit 20. Unless otherwise specified, it is described as image forming apparatus 10).
The communication unit 20 enables communication between devices connected to the communication unit 20, and examples of the communication unit 20 include a LAN.
The image forming apparatus 10 is connected to the communication unit 20 and communicates with an information processing apparatus (not shown), an image data input apparatus, and the like and the image forming apparatus via the communication unit 20. Examples of the image forming apparatus 10 include a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile.

Next, an example of the system configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
The image forming apparatus 10 includes a communication unit 11, a control unit 12, a holding unit 13, an operation / display unit 14, an image processing unit 15, and an image output unit 16.

  The communication unit 11 is connected to the communication unit 20 and the control unit 12. The communication unit 11 receives image data output from an information processing device (not shown), an image data input device, or the like via the communication unit 20. In addition, the communication unit 11 and other image forming apparatuses and data such as the total number of prints (the number of recording media on which image formation has been performed) and the number of errors, based on instructions from the control unit 12 to be described later. Send and receive.

The control unit 12 is connected to the communication unit 11, the holding unit 13, the operation / display unit 14, the image processing unit 15, and the image output unit 16.
The control unit 12 inputs image data from the communication unit 11, data relating to the total number of prints transmitted by other image forming apparatuses, and data such as the number of errors. The control unit 12 also controls the image processing unit 15 and the image output unit 16 based on the operation input from the operation / display unit 14. In addition, when an error or the like occurs, the control unit 12 controls the operation / display unit 14 to display the error content.
When the image data is input, the control unit 12 controls the image processing unit 15 to process the image data so that the image output unit 16 can output an image on a sheet (recording medium) installed in the image forming apparatus 10. When the image processing in the image processing unit 15 is completed, the control unit 12 instructs the image output unit 16 to output an image.
Further, when an error occurs during image processing by the image processing unit 15 or during image output by the image output unit 16, the control unit 12 stores the error in the holding unit 13.

  The holding unit 13 is connected to the control unit 12 and holds the number of errors generated during image processing and image output, the number of printed sheets, and the like as described above. The holding unit 13 is a device that can hold the stored contents even when power is not supplied. Examples of the holding unit 13 include an EEPROM (Electrical Erasable and Programmable Read Only memory), a flash memory, a hard disk drive, and the like. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 includes the holding unit 13. However, the holding unit 13 may be externally attached to the image forming apparatus 10.

  The operation / display unit 14 receives an operation input from the user and outputs the operation input to the control unit 12. Further, in accordance with a command from the control unit 12, the operation / display unit 14 displays error information and items to be transmitted to the user.

  The image processing unit 15 is connected to the control unit 12 and the image output unit 16. The image processing unit 15 executes processing for changing the image data into a format that can be output by the image output unit 16 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 12. The processed image data is output to the image output unit 16.

  The image output unit 16 is connected to the control unit 12 and the image processing unit 15. The image output unit 16 receives the image data converted into a format that can be output by the image output unit 16 from the image processing unit 15, and outputs an image on a sheet in accordance with a command from the control unit 12.

  Next, a relationship between each image forming apparatus connected to the communication unit 20 and a setting value used when each image forming apparatus outputs an image will be described with reference to FIG. 3, table T10-1 to table T10-n shown in the lower part of image forming apparatus 10-1 to image forming apparatus 10-n are examples of the relationship between setting items and setting values of each image forming apparatus. Show. Each image forming apparatus has information such as color / monochrome printing, single-sided / double-sided printing, paper size, paper quality, and the like as setting items used when image formation is performed. The setting items used when performing image formation are not limited to the present embodiment, and may be items such as reverse printing and 180 degree rotation printing, for example.

  Here, setting values of the image forming apparatus 10-1 will be described using the table T10-1. The setting item “color / monochrome printing” is for setting whether to perform color printing or monochrome printing when the image forming apparatus 10-1 performs image output. The image forming apparatus 10-1 is set to perform color printing, and the setting value is “color printing”.

  The setting item “single-sided / double-sided printing” sets whether to perform single-sided printing or double-sided printing when the image forming apparatus 10-1 performs image output. The image forming apparatus 10-1 is set for double-sided printing for printing on both sides of a sheet, and the setting value is “double-sided printing”.

  The setting item “paper size” is used to set the paper size used when the image forming apparatus 10-1 outputs an image. The image forming apparatus 10-1 is set to output an image using A4 size paper, and the setting value is “A4”. In addition to “A4”, for example, the letter size “Letter” set in the image forming apparatus 10-2 and the A3 size “A3” can be set as the paper size, for example. It is.

  The setting item “paper quality” is used to set the paper quality used when the image forming apparatus 10-1 outputs an image. The image forming apparatus 10-1 is set to perform image output using general OA paper, and the setting value is “plain paper”. In addition to plain paper, the paper quality is not limited to this embodiment, such as “thick paper” set in the image forming apparatus 10-2 and “OHP” set in the image forming apparatus 10-n. The value can be set.

Next, an example of the total number of prints and the number of errors for each set value in a predetermined period held by the holding unit 13 of each image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4A illustrates an example of the total number of sheets on which image output has been performed and the number of errors for each set value held by the holding unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 10-1 in a predetermined period. It is a table. Here, the predetermined period is a period sufficient to determine whether or not the set value may be copied when the set value is copied between the image forming apparatuses. It can be 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, etc., and can be changed by the user.
4 (1) to 4 (3), the image forming apparatus 10-1 forms an image on 33 sheets, the image forming apparatus 10-2 has 65 sheets, and the image forming apparatus 10-n forms an image on 42 sheets. Yes.

Next, the number of times that an error has occurred with the set value set when each image forming apparatus performed image formation during a predetermined period will be described using the table shown in the lower part of FIG.
In FIG. 4A, the image forming apparatus 10-1 generates an error three times when printing is performed with the setting value “monochrome printing” set in the setting item “color / monochrome printing”. Holds the number of errors “3” in the setting value “monochrome printing”. Further, since the image forming apparatus 10-1 has an error once in the case of the setting value “color printing”, the holding unit 13 holds the number of errors “1” in the setting value “color printing”.

  Since no error has occurred in the setting values “single-sided / double-sided printing” of the setting item “single-sided / double-sided printing”, the holding unit 13 holds the number of errors “0”. In addition, in the setting value “A4” of the setting item “paper size”, since no error has occurred, the holding unit 13 holds the error count “0”. Further, since the error has occurred twice in the setting value “Letter”, the holding unit 13 holds the number of errors “2”.

In the setting item “paper quality”, the error occurs 0 times for the setting value “plain paper” and 8 times for the setting value “OHP”, so the holding unit 13 holds the error times “0” and “8”, respectively. To do.
Similarly to the image forming apparatus 10-1, the image forming apparatus 10-2 to the image forming apparatus 10-n also hold the number of errors for each set value by the respective holding units 13.

Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the control unit in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The control unit 12 is a so-called computer, that is, an input / output unit 124 that inputs and outputs signals, a program for realizing control processing by the control device 50, and a total number of prints and settings from a holding unit of another image forming apparatus A program for acquiring the number of errors for each value (details will be described later), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 123 (storage unit) in which setting values are stored, and a central processing unit that reads and executes the program stored in the ROM 123 (CPU: Central Processing Unit) 121 and RAM (Random Access Memory) 122 for storing temporary data used when executing the program.
Further, the functions of the acquisition unit 125, the copy unit 126, and the determination unit 127 shown in FIG. 6 are executed by calculation by the CPU 121 of the program stored in the ROM 123.

  Next, an example of processing realized by the cooperation of the hardware such as the CPU 121 described above and software stored in the ROM 123 in the control unit 12 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The control unit 12 includes a ROM 123, an acquisition unit 125, a copy unit 126, and a determination unit 127. The ROM 123 serves as a storage unit that stores setting values used by the image forming apparatus 10 for image formation. However, the setting value may be stored not using the ROM 123 but using a nonvolatile storage device such as an EEPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk drive, or the like. In this embodiment, the setting value is stored in a device different from the holding unit 13. However, the setting value may be stored by sharing the holding unit 13.

The acquisition unit 125 is connected to the communication unit 11, the copy unit 126, and the determination unit 127. The acquisition unit 125 inputs the total number of printed sheets and the number of errors for each set value, which are held in a holding unit of another image forming apparatus connected to the communication unit 20, via the communication unit 11. Then, the input data is output to the copying unit 126 and the determining unit 127.
The copying unit 126 obtains an error occurrence rate for each set value from the number of storage media of each image forming apparatus input from the acquisition unit 125 and the number of errors for each set value. Then, the copying unit 126 determines whether or not to copy its own set value to another image forming apparatus based on the obtained error occurrence rate. When the copying unit 126 determines to copy its own setting value to another image forming apparatus, the copying unit 126 acquires its own setting value from the ROM 123 and sets itself to another image forming apparatus via the communication unit 11. Duplicate the value.

  The determination unit 127 is connected to the communication unit 11, the holding unit 13, and the acquisition unit 125. The determination unit 127 inputs the total number of printed sheets of other image forming apparatuses and the number of errors for each set value from the acquisition unit 125. Then, the determination unit 127 calculates the total error occurrence rate by adding the number of errors for each input set value to obtain the total number of errors and dividing the obtained total number of errors by the total number of printed sheets.

In addition, the determination unit 127 inputs the total number of printed pages and the number of errors for each set value from the holding unit 13. Then, the determination unit 127 calculates the total error occurrence rate by adding the number of errors for each input value of the inputted self to obtain the total number of errors and dividing the obtained total number of errors by the total number of printed sheets. To do. Then, the total error occurrence rate of its own and the total error occurrence rate of other image forming apparatuses are respectively compared. For example, the image forming apparatus having the smallest error occurrence rate is set as the copy source apparatus via the communication unit 11. Notify other image forming apparatus.
In the image forming system 100, the process for determining the copy source apparatus is executed by any one of the image forming apparatuses 10-1 to 10-n. The image forming apparatus that executes the process for determining the copy source apparatus may be determined in advance, or may be configured to be designated by the user when the set value is copied.

Next, referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, setting values are set from any one of the image forming apparatuses 10-1 to 10-n connected to the communication unit 20 to the other image forming apparatuses. An example of the process of copying the image will be specifically described.
First, determination of the copy source apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the image forming apparatus 10-1 to the image forming apparatus 10-n will be described assuming that the image forming apparatus 10-1 is selected as the apparatus that performs processing for determining the copy source. The image forming apparatus 10-1 (second image forming apparatus) is shown in FIG. 4 from other image forming apparatuses 10-2 to 10-n (first image forming apparatus) connected to the communication unit 20. Acquire the total number of printed pages and the number of errors for each set value. Next, the image forming apparatus 10-1 calculates the error occurrence rate for each image forming apparatus and set value, including itself, and the total error occurrence rate obtained by summing the errors for each set value and dividing by the total number of printed sheets. . FIG. 7A shows the total number of printed sheets for each image forming apparatus acquired by the image forming apparatus 10-1. FIG. 7B shows the image forming apparatus acquired by the image forming apparatus 10-1. In addition, the number of errors for each set value and the error rate (numbers in parentheses) are shown.

The image forming apparatus 10-1 determines the image forming apparatus having the smallest total error occurrence rate as the copy source. In the case of FIG. 7, since the total error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus 10-1 is 57%, which is the smallest, the image forming apparatus 10-1 is the copy source apparatus.
Next, the image forming apparatus 10-1 that has become the copy source apparatus determines whether or not the error occurrence rate of the other image forming apparatus at its set value exceeds the error occurrence rate threshold. Here, the error occurrence rate threshold indicates a range that can be allowed by the user with respect to the ratio of errors generated due to the set value to the total number of printed sheets. The error occurrence rate threshold can be arbitrarily set by the user, and can be set to a different value for each set value.

  In this embodiment, as shown by the table T10-1 in FIG. 3, “color printing”, “double-sided printing”, “A4”, and “plain paper” are set as setting values in the image forming apparatus 10-1. Yes. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10-1 compares the error occurrence rate and the error occurrence rate threshold when the set values are “color printing”, “double-sided printing”, “A4”, and “plain paper” in the image forming apparatus 10-2. Then, in the image forming apparatus 10-2, the error occurrence rate for the setting value “color printing” is 23%, which exceeds the error occurrence rate threshold value of 10%. In the image forming apparatus 10-2, the error occurrence rate for the setting value “double-sided printing” is also 26% exceeding the error occurrence rate threshold value of 8%. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10-1 does not copy its own set value to the image forming apparatus 10-2.

  The image forming apparatus 10-1 performs the same process on the image forming apparatus connected to the communication unit 20. In the image forming apparatus 10-n, the error occurrence rate with the setting values “double-sided printing” and “Letter” exceeds the error occurrence rate threshold. However, with the setting values “color printing”, “double-sided printing”, “A4”, and “plain paper” of the image forming apparatus 10-1, the error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus 10-2 is the error occurrence rate at any setting value. The threshold has not been exceeded. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10-1 copies all the set values “color printing”, “double-sided printing”, “A4”, and “plain paper” to the image forming apparatus 10-n.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the setting values of each image forming apparatus after the image forming apparatus 10-1 has copied the setting values. Assuming that the setting value of the image forming apparatus 10-2 before the image forming apparatus 10-1 copies the setting value is T10-2 shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 10-2 includes the image forming apparatus 10-2. Since the set value 10-1 has not been copied, the set value shown in FIG. 3 remains unchanged. On the other hand, since the setting of the image forming apparatus 10-1 is copied in the image forming apparatus 10-n, the setting value is rewritten. For example, the setting item “paper quality” has the setting value “OHP”. Rewritten as “plain paper”. Further, the image forming apparatus 10-1 may display information as shown in FIG. 8B on the operation / display unit 14 in order to inform the user that the setting value has not been copied.

Next, an example of processing in which the image forming system 100 determines a copy source device will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing in which any one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the communication unit 20 determines a copy source apparatus.
The image forming apparatus selected by the user or the image forming apparatus selected in advance as the apparatus that determines the copy source apparatus among the plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the communication means 20 performs this processing. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10-1 will be described as an image forming apparatus selected as an apparatus that determines a copy source apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 10-1 receives an input of an error occurrence rate threshold value for each set value from the user (step S101). Then, the image forming apparatus 10-1 determines whether or not an operation for starting copying of setting values (setting value copying start operation) has been received from the user (step S102). If the setting value copy start operation has not been received from the user (step S102 / NO), the image forming apparatus 10-1 waits until the set value copy start operation is received. When the image forming apparatus 10-1 receives a setting value copy start operation from the user (step S102 / YES), the number of errors and the total number of printed sheets for each setting value from other image forming apparatuses connected to the communication unit 20 Is acquired (step S103). Next, the image forming apparatus 10-1 calculates the total error occurrence rate of each image forming apparatus (step S104).

  Next, the image forming apparatus 10-1 determines the copy source apparatus while referring to the total error rate of each image forming apparatus calculated in step S104. First, the image forming apparatus 10-1 determines whether or not the image forming apparatus referring to the total error occurrence rate is the first image forming apparatus (step S105). When the image forming apparatus referring to the total error occurrence rate is the first image forming apparatus (step S105 / YES), the image forming apparatus 10-1 sets the first image forming apparatus as the copy source apparatus (step S105). S107). When the image forming apparatus referring to the total error occurrence rate is not the first image forming apparatus (NO in step S105), the image forming apparatus 10-1 generates the total error occurrence of the image forming apparatus with reference to the previous total error occurrence rate. The rate is compared with the total error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus referring to the current total error occurrence rate (step S106).

  If the total error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus referring to the previous total error occurrence rate is larger than the total error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus referring to the current total error occurrence rate (step S106 / NO), the current total error The image forming apparatus that refers to the occurrence rate is set as the copy source apparatus (step S107). Then, the image forming apparatus 10-1 determines whether or not the reference of the total error occurrence rate has been completed up to the last image forming apparatus (step S108). When the total error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus referring to the previous total error occurrence rate is smaller than the total error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus referring to the current total error occurrence rate (step S106 / YES), the image forming apparatus In 10-1, it is determined whether or not the reference of the total error occurrence rate has been completed up to the last image forming apparatus (step S108).

  When the reference of the total error occurrence rate has been completed up to the last image forming device (step S108 / YES), the image forming apparatus 10-1 transmits the error occurrence rate threshold value for each set value received in step S104 to the copy source apparatus. (Step S110). Next, the image forming apparatus 10-1 notifies the copy source apparatus of a set value copy start operation (step S111). If the reference of the total error occurrence rate has not been completed up to the last image forming device (NO in step S108), the image forming apparatus 10-1 refers to the total error occurrence rate of the next image forming apparatus (step S109). ). Then, the image forming apparatus 10-1 repeats the processing from step S105 to step S107 until the reference of the total error occurrence rate of the last image forming apparatus is completed.

  The CPU that executes the process of step S103 corresponds to the acquisition unit 125. The CPU that executes the processes from step S104 to step S111 corresponds to the determination unit 127.

  Next, an example of a process in which the copy source apparatus copies the set value will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when the image forming apparatus set as the copy source apparatus copies the set value to another image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus connected to the communication means 20 determines whether or not a setting value copy start operation has been notified from the apparatus that determines the copy source apparatus (in the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10-1) (step). S200). When there is no notification of the set value copy start operation (step S200 / NO), the image forming apparatus connected to the communication unit 20 waits until the set value copy start operation is notified.
When the image forming apparatus connected to the communication unit 20 is notified of the setting value copy start operation (step S200 / YES), the image forming apparatus is set as the copy source apparatus. The number of errors and the total number of prints for each set value are acquired from other connected image forming apparatuses (step S201). In the present embodiment, the following flowchart will be described assuming that the image forming apparatus 10-n is set as the copy source apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 10-n acquires an error occurrence rate threshold value for each set value transmitted by the image forming apparatus 10-1 (step S202). Next, the image forming apparatus 10-n determines whether or not there is one or more setting values at which the error occurrence rate of other image forming apparatuses at the setting value of the image forming apparatus 10-n is larger than the error occurrence rate threshold value. Determination is made (step S203).

  The image forming apparatus 10-n has one or more set values at which the error occurrence rate of other image forming apparatuses in the set value of the image forming apparatus 10-n is larger than the error occurrence rate threshold (step S203 / YES). The self set value is not copied to another image forming apparatus (step S205). The image forming apparatus 10-n does not have one or more setting values at which the error occurrence rate of the other image forming apparatuses at the setting value of the image forming apparatus 10-n is larger than the error occurrence rate threshold (step S203 / NO). ), And copies the set value of itself to another image forming apparatus (step S204).

Next, the image forming apparatus 10-n determines whether or not the processing for copying the set values up to the last image forming apparatus (step S203 to step S205) has been completed (step S206).
If the process for copying the setting value up to the last image forming apparatus has not been completed (step S206 / YES), the image forming apparatus 10-n determines whether the setting value can be copied for the next image forming apparatus. A determination is made (step S207). When the process for copying the set value up to the last image forming apparatus has been completed (step S206 / YES), the image forming apparatus 10-n ends the process.

  The CPU that executes the process of step S201 corresponds to the acquisition unit 125. The CPU that executes the processing from step S203 to step S207 corresponds to the copying unit 126.

  In the first exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10-1 does not copy the setting value to another image forming apparatus if there is even one set value in which the error occurrence rate exceeds the error occurrence rate threshold. However, the image forming apparatus 10 may be configured to perform copying for setting values whose error occurrence rate does not exceed the error occurrence rate threshold.

  Therefore, referring to FIG. 7 again, a configuration in which the image forming apparatus 10 performs copying for a setting value at which the error occurrence rate does not exceed the error occurrence rate threshold will be described. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the image forming system 100 and the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 are not different from those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the user requests to copy the setting value from the operation / display unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 10-n in order to copy the setting value of the image forming apparatus 10-n to another image forming apparatus. Suppose the operation is executed.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 10-n (second image forming apparatus) receives the total number of printed sheets and the number of errors from the image forming apparatus 10-1 to image forming apparatus 10-n-1 (first image forming apparatus). And an error occurrence rate for each image forming apparatus and set value is obtained.
Next, the image forming apparatus 10-n determines whether or not the error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus 10-1 exceeds the error occurrence rate threshold for the set value “color printing”. The error occurrence rate in the setting value “color printing” of the image forming apparatus 10-1 is 3%, which is lower than the error occurrence rate threshold 10%. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 10-n copies the setting value “color printing” to the image forming apparatus 10-1. Next, the image forming apparatus 10-n determines whether or not the error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus 10-1 exceeds the error occurrence rate threshold for the setting value “double-sided printing”. Since the error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus 10-1 in the setting value “double-sided printing” is 0%, which is lower than the error occurrence rate threshold value 8%, the image forming apparatus 10-n sets the setting value “double-sided printing”. Copy to image forming apparatus 10-1.

  Next, the image forming apparatus 10-n determines whether or not the error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus 10-1 at the set value “A4” exceeds the error occurrence rate threshold. Since the error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus 10-1 at the set value “A4” is 0%, which is lower than the error occurrence rate threshold value 8%, the image forming apparatus 10-n sets the image forming apparatus at the set value “A4”. Copy to device 10-1.

Next, the image forming apparatus 10-n determines whether or not the error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus 10-1 at the set value “OHP” exceeds the error occurrence rate threshold. The error occurrence rate of the image forming apparatus 10-1 at the set value “OHP” is 24%, which exceeds the error occurrence rate threshold value of 10%. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10-n performs the image formation at the set value “OHP”. Do not copy to device 10-1.
Similarly, the image forming apparatus 10-n performs the above-described processing on the image forming apparatus 10-2 to the image forming apparatus 10-n-1.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the setting values of each image forming apparatus after the image forming apparatus 10-1 has copied the setting values. Assuming that the setting of the image forming apparatus 10-1 before the image forming apparatus 10-n copies the set value is T10-1 shown in FIG. For “/ monochrome printing” to “paper size”, the setting value of the image forming apparatus 10-n is copied, and the setting value of the setting item “paper quality” remains “plain paper” because it is not copied. On the other hand, for the setting values “A4” and “OHP”, the image forming apparatus 10-2 copied the setting value of the image forming apparatus 10-n because the error occurrence rate was lower than the error occurrence rate threshold. However, for “color printing” and “double-sided printing”, the setting values of the image forming apparatus 10-n are not copied and remain as shown in FIG.
Further, the image forming apparatus 10-n notifies the operation / display unit 14 of the image forming apparatus as shown in FIGS. 9B, 9B and 9B in order to inform the user that the setting value has not been copied. Setting items that were not copied for each name may be displayed.

  Next, an example of a process in which the copy source apparatus determines whether to copy the set value to another image forming apparatus for each set value and copies the set value will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when the image forming apparatus selected by the user as the copy source apparatus copies the setting value to another image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, the description will be given assuming that the image forming apparatus 10-2 is selected as the copy source apparatus.

The image forming apparatus 10-2 receives an input of an error occurrence rate threshold for each set value from the user (step S301).
Then, the image forming apparatus 10-2 determines whether or not an operation for starting copying of setting values (setting value copying start operation) has been received from the user (step S302). If the setting value copy start operation has not been received from the user (step S302 / NO), the image forming apparatus 10-2 waits until the set value copy start operation is received. When the image forming apparatus 10-2 receives a setting value copy start operation from the user (step S302 / YES), the image forming apparatus 10-2 acquires an error occurrence rate for each setting value from another image forming apparatus connected to the communication unit 20 ( Step S303).

Next, the image forming apparatus 10-2 determines whether or not the error occurrence rate of the other image forming apparatus at the set value of the image forming apparatus 10-2 is larger than the error occurrence rate threshold (step S304).
When the error occurrence rate of the other image forming apparatus at the set value of the image forming apparatus 10-2 is greater than the error occurrence rate threshold (step S304 / YES), the image forming apparatus 10-2 is the image forming apparatus 10-2. Does not copy the set value obtained by comparing the error occurrence rate and the error occurrence rate threshold to another image forming apparatus (step S306). When the error occurrence rate of the other image forming apparatus at the set value of the image forming apparatus 10-2 is smaller than the error occurrence rate threshold (step S304 / NO), the image forming apparatus 10-2 is the image forming apparatus 10-2. Copies the set value to another image forming apparatus. (Step S305).

Next, the image forming apparatus 10-2 determines whether or not all the set values have been determined as to whether or not copying to other image forming apparatuses is possible (step S307).
If the determination has not been completed for all setting values (step S307 / NO), the image forming apparatus 10-2 determines whether or not the next setting value can be copied to another image forming apparatus. Repeat the process of step S306. When all the set values have been determined (step S307 / YES), the image forming apparatus 10-2 has completed the process for copying the set values up to the last image forming apparatus (steps S304 to S207). It is determined whether or not (step S308).

  If the process for copying the set value up to the last image forming apparatus has not been completed (step S308 / YES), the image forming apparatus 10-2 determines whether the set value can be copied for the next image forming apparatus. A determination is made (steps S304 to S307). The image forming apparatus 10-2 ends the process when the process for copying the set value up to the last image forming apparatus is completed (step S308 / YES).

  The CPU that executes the process of step S303 corresponds to the acquisition unit 125. The CPU that executes the processing from step S304 to step S308 corresponds to the copying unit 126.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first and second embodiments, the copy source apparatus has a setting value 1 at which the error occurrence rate of the other image forming apparatus in its own setting value exceeds the error occurrence rate threshold. In such a case, since the set value is not copied to another image forming apparatus, it is possible to reduce a decrease in efficiency of image formation by another image forming apparatus due to copying of the set value. More specifically, the copy destination device of the set value may cause a paper jam (print jam), PDL error, paper quality (for example, plain paper, OHP, etc.), paper size mismatch, motor failure, etc., depending on the copied set value. The possibility of causing an error and interrupting printing is suppressed. Further, according to the first and second embodiments, the user changes the setting value again to the original setting value or changes to another setting value due to copying of the setting value that reduces the efficiency of image formation. The workload of performing is reduced.
Further, according to the second embodiment, the copy source apparatus copies the set value in which the error occurrence rate of the other image forming apparatus is equal to or less than the error occurrence rate threshold to the other image forming apparatus. The setting value is copied while reducing the decrease in efficiency of image formation by another image forming apparatus due to copying of the setting value. According to the second embodiment, the setting value that is equal to or lower than the error occurrence rate threshold is copied, so that the user's work of copying the setting value to the copy destination apparatus is reduced.
Furthermore, in the image forming systems according to the first and second embodiments, the image forming apparatus having the lowest total error rate is set as the duplication source apparatus, thereby improving the image forming efficiency of the entire image forming system.

The embodiments described above are part of the embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the embodiment, the copy source apparatus acquires the number of errors and the total number of prints for each set value from another image forming apparatus, and obtains the error occurrence rate and the total error occurrence rate for each set value. Each image forming apparatus holds the error occurrence rate for each set value and the total error occurrence rate, and the copy source device acquires the error occurrence rate for each set value and the total error occurrence rate from each image forming apparatus. May be.
Further, the program executed by the control unit 12 can be provided by being stored and distributed in a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or other recording medium, or distributed via a network.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10-1, 10-2, 10-n ... Image forming apparatus 11 ... Communication part 12 ... Control part 13 ... Holding part 14 ... Operation / display part 15 ... Image processing part 16 ... Image output part 20 ... Communication means 100 ... Image forming system 121 ... CPU
122 ... RAM
123 ... ROM (storage unit)
124: I / O unit 125 ... Acquisition unit 126 ... Copying unit 127 ... Determination unit

Claims (7)

An acquisition unit for acquiring the number of recording media on which image formation processing has been performed within a predetermined period and the number of errors for each set value;
One of the setting values for controlling the image forming operation stored in the storage unit based on the error occurrence rate for each setting value obtained from the number of recording media acquired by the acquisition unit and the number of errors for each setting value. A copy unit for copying the copy or the whole to the acquisition source of the acquisition unit;
An image forming apparatus. A first storage unit that stores setting values for controlling the image forming operation; a holding unit that holds the number of recording media on which image formation has been performed within a predetermined period and the number of errors for each setting value; A first image forming apparatus comprising:
A second storage unit that stores a set value for controlling the image forming operation; and an error for each quantity and set value of the recording medium on which the first image forming apparatus forms an image within a predetermined period. An error occurrence for each set value obtained from an acquisition unit for acquiring the number of times and the number of recording media held in the holding unit of the first image forming apparatus acquired by the acquisition unit and the number of errors for each set value A copy unit for copying a part or all of the set value stored in the second storage unit to the set value stored in the first storage unit of the first image forming apparatus based on a rate; A second image forming apparatus comprising:
An image forming system.   The copying unit determines that the first image forming apparatus has an error occurrence rate exceeding a predetermined value at any one of the setting values of the second storage unit. 3. The copying of all of the setting values stored in the second storage unit to the setting values stored in the first storage unit of the first image forming apparatus is restricted. The image forming system described.   When the error occurrence rate of the first image forming apparatus in all of the setting values of the second storage unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the copying unit converts all of the setting values to the first value. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is copied to a set value stored in the first storage unit of the image forming apparatus.   The copying unit determines the setting value of the second storage unit when the error occurrence rate of the first image forming apparatus in the setting value of the second storage unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the image forming system copies to a set value stored in the first storage unit of the first image forming apparatus. The second image forming apparatus includes: a holding unit that holds the number of recording media on which image formation has been performed within a predetermined period and the number of errors for each set value;
A total error rate obtained by dividing the total number of errors for each set value held in the holding unit by the number of recording media, and held in the holding unit of the first image forming apparatus Based on the total error rate obtained by dividing the total number of errors for each set value by the total number of recording media, the copy source of the set value is the first image forming apparatus. The image forming system according to claim 2, further comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not to perform the determination. Computer
An acquisition unit for acquiring the number of recording media on which image forming processing has been performed within a predetermined period and the number of errors for each set value;
Based on the error occurrence rate for each setting value obtained from the number of recording media acquired by the acquisition unit and the number of errors for each setting value, the setting value for controlling the image forming operation stored in the storage unit A copying unit for copying a part or all of the information to the acquisition source of the acquisition unit;
An image forming program that functions as a computer program.

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