JP2010194769A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer having a power saving mode, automatically making power saving control by counting and analyzing especially a printing throughput and estimating a non-work time zone from past data. <P>SOLUTION: The printer connected to a network includes: a first storage means which stores the printing throughput of the past printer; a second storage means which stores a reference printing throughput; a comparison means which reads the printing throughput of the printer of a specific period from the first storage means and compares the read printing throughput with the reference printing throughput stored in the second storage means; and a control means which shifts the printer into a workable state, when the printing throughput of the printer of the specific period as the comparison result, is larger than the reference throughput, and shifts the printer into a power saving state, when the printing throughput of the printer of the specific period is smaller than the reference printing throughput. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of setting a power saving mode.

  Today, the preservation of the global environment is screamed globally, and greenhouse gas emission regulations are being realized, centering on the Global Warming Prevention Conference. Under such circumstances, a reduction in power consumption is also demanded in printing apparatuses such as printers and copiers.

  For this reason, in the printing apparatus, for example, in order to reduce power consumption, the temperature of the fixing device during non-operation is lowered and the sleep mode is set. In this case, for example, the sleep time and the sleep schedule are set by operating the operation panel of the printing apparatus.

  Further, Patent Document 1 discloses an invention in which a power saving prohibition period is set based on a processing history of a print job of an operating computer, and switching from the power supply mode to the power saving mode is prohibited during the power saving prohibition period.

JP 2006-231632 A

  However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, the power saving process is performed according to a preset sleep time or sleep schedule, and is not a power saving process in consideration of past operation information of the apparatus. Further, the apparatus of Patent Document 1 does not refer to the processing history of a print job that is not operating, and cannot perform efficient power saving processing.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem. A printing apparatus that aggregates and analyzes the print processing amount of a printing apparatus, estimates a reference print processing amount from past data, and automatically performs power saving control. Is to provide.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, according to the first invention, the first storage means for storing the print processing amount of the past apparatus, the second storage means for storing the reference print processing amount, and the print processing amount of the apparatus for a specific period Is compared with the reference print processing amount stored in the second storage unit, and the comparison result is the print processing of the device in the specific period from the reference print processing amount. A printing apparatus is provided that includes a control unit that shifts the apparatus to an operable state when the amount is large and shifts the apparatus to a power saving state when the print processing amount of the apparatus for the specific period is smaller than the reference print processing amount. Can be achieved.
According to the second invention, the above-described problem can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus in which the specific period is a fixed period on a specific day of the week.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the reference print processing amount can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus set by a user.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus in which a comparison process with the latest print processing amount is also performed as a print processing amount of a past device compared with the reference print processing amount. Can be achieved.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first storage process for storing a print processing amount for a specific period, a second storage process for storing a reference print processing amount, and the first storage process. The stored print processing amount for the specific period is compared with the reference print processing amount stored by the second storage processing, and the comparison result is obtained from the reference print processing amount by the apparatus for the specific period. Print control for performing a control process for shifting the device to an operable state when the amount of print processing is large, and for shifting the device to a power saving state when the amount of print processing of the device for the specific period is smaller than the reference print processing amount This can be achieved by providing a method.

  According to the present invention, data can be automatically collected based on past printing results, the printing apparatus can be shifted to power saving, and it is not necessary to schedule a power saving time zone, and power saving control can be performed. It can be carried out.

1 is a system configuration diagram to which a printing apparatus is connected. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of a printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of flash memory. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation of this embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram in which the printing apparatus of this embodiment is connected to a host device via a network. This system has a configuration in which three personal computers (PC1 to PC3), three printer devices 1 to 3, and a server computer 4 are connected via a LAN (local area network). The personal computer (PC1 to PC3) includes an input unit such as a keyboard, a display unit, a printer driver, and the like, and outputs print data created according to an application program to the printer devices 1 to 3.

On the other hand, FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the printer apparatuses 1 to 3. The printer apparatus 1 will be described below as a representative of the printer apparatuses 1 to 3.
The printer apparatus 1 includes an operation panel 5, ROM 6, RAM 7, clock circuit 8, flash memory 9, internal connection bus 10, printer control LSI 11, USB host LSI 12, engine unit 13, USB / LAN interface 14, hard disk (HDD) 15, and The CPU 16 is configured.

  The CPU 16 controls the printer apparatus 1 in accordance with the program and data stored in the ROM 6 and performs processing described later using the RAM 7 as a work area.

  The print data supplied from the personal computers (PC1 to PC3) is input to the printer device 1 via the USB / LAN interface 14, temporarily stored in the reception buffer (RAM 7) under the control of the CPU 16, and then included in the print data. When the command analysis is performed and the drawing data is developed in the RAM 7, for example, when drawing data for one page is developed, the drawing data is transferred to the engine unit 13. The printer control LSI 11 controls each unit of the printer apparatus 1 including the engine unit 13.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the data structure of the flash memory 9 and stores the print processing status of the printer apparatus 1. For this reason, the flash memory 9 has an area 9a for storing a print processing amount (number of printed sheets) for each hour, an area 9b for storing a print processing amount (number of printed sheets) for each day, and a maximum print processing amount for one week (number of printed sheets). ) A storage area 9c for storing the date, a storage area 9d for storing the maximum print processing amount (number of printed sheets) for one month, and a storage area 9e for storing the reference print processing amount (threshold).
Here, in the print processing amount area 9a for every hour, the print processing amount of the printer apparatus 1 is stored every hour, and the print processing amount of the printer apparatus 1 for 24 hours is stored.

In the daily print processing amount area 9b, the print processing amount of the printer device 1 is stored every day, and the print processing amount of the printer device 1 for 365 days per year is stored. The weekly maximum print processing amount date storage area 9c stores the day of the week on which the printer device 1 has performed the largest number of print processes in one week. Further, in the storage area 9d for the maximum print processing amount date of one month, the date on which the printer device 1 has performed the largest number of print processing in one month is stored. The flash memory 9 of this example can store the above data for several decades.
In addition, a reference value for a preset print processing amount is stored in the reference print processing amount storage area 9e.

The processing operation of this embodiment will be described below.
4 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining the processing operation of this example.

  First, in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, after the printing apparatus 1 is turned on and the initial setting process is performed, it is determined whether or not there is a print processing amount storage area (step (hereinafter, indicated by S) 1). This determination is a process for determining whether the above-described areas are set in the flash memory 9. If the above-described area setting is not yet performed in the flash memory 9 (S1 is NO), the determination is made in the flash memory 9. The aforementioned management area is created (S2).

  On the other hand, if the area setting has already been performed (YES in S1), it is determined whether the current time has been acquired (S3). In this determination, the CPU 16 acquires information on the current time from the clock circuit 8, and if information on the current time cannot be acquired at this time (S3 is NO), for example, the sleep operation is performed according to the contents set on the operation panel 5. (S4). In this case, the power saving process of this example described later is not performed.

  On the other hand, if the information on the current time can be acquired (S3 is YES), it is determined whether there is past data for the same day of the week (S5). That is, the CPU 16 refers to the information in the hourly print processing amount area 9a and the daily print processing amount area 9b of the flash memory 9, and determines whether past data for the same day of the week exists. If past data for the same day of the week does not exist (S5 is NO), the sleep operation is performed according to the contents set in the operation panel 5 (S6). Also in this case, the power saving process of this example described later is not performed.

  On the other hand, if past data for the same day of the week exists (YES in S5), it is determined whether the printer apparatus 1 is currently operating (S7). If the printer device 1 is currently operating (S7 is YES), the process is returned. If the printer device 1 is not currently operating (S7 is NO), the print processing amount of the printer device 1 is determined from past data. Calculate the percentage (%) (S8).

  The print processing amount of the printer 1 is calculated according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the CPU 16 accesses the flash memory 9 and searches for past data (S8-1). If past data exists (YES in S8-2), SUM = SUM + same day data is calculated (S8-3). This process is performed for all past data, and the print processing amount of the printing apparatus 1 for the same day of the week is totaled (S8-1 to 8-4). For example, past data between 9:00 am and 10:00 am on Tuesday is aggregated, and an average value (average value of print processing amount) is calculated (NO in S8-2, S8-5).

  Next, it is determined whether the reference print processing amount is set (S8-6). Here, the reference print processing amount is a value set by the user operating the operation panel 5, and a reference value for the print processing amount (threshold) desired by the user is set. If the reference print processing amount is already set (YES in S8-6), A% is obtained from the average value of the print processing amount and the reference print processing amount (S8-7).

For example, when the reference print processing amount is 30 sheets (when the print processing amount of 30 sheets is set as the reference print processing amount in one hour), if the average value of the print processing amount from the past data is 33 sheets,
A% = 110% (33/30 × 100).
On the other hand, if the reference print processing amount is set to 30 sheets and the average value of the print processing amount is 20 sheets,
A% = 67% (20/30 × 100).

  Further, in this example, B% is also calculated from the average value of the printing processing amount for the previous week and the reference printing processing amount (S8-8), and the above A% and B% are compared (S8-9). When ≧ B%, A% is used for the subsequent processing (YES in S8-9, S8-10). On the other hand, if A% <B%, B% is used for the subsequent processing (NO in S8-9, S8-11). That is, in this example, the past data and the data for the previous week are compared, and the larger value is used for the subsequent comparison processing.

  Next, based on the calculation result, the CPU 16 executes the determination (S9) shown in FIG. That is, if the comparison value is 100% or more from the above calculation result (S9 is YES), it is determined whether the printer apparatus 1 is operating (S10), and if the printer apparatus 1 is not operating (S10 is YES). The printer 1 is immediately released from the sleep state (S11). That is, if the comparison value is 100% or more, there is a high possibility that the printing apparatus 1 will be used from past data, and the sleep state is immediately canceled and the printer apparatus 1 is set to a usable state (S11).

  On the other hand, if the comparison value is less than 100% (NO in S9), the printer apparatus 1 is immediately set to the sleep mode (S12). In this case, the printer device 1 is unlikely to be used from past data, and the sleep state is set.

  In other words, in this example, instead of simply shifting the printer device to power saving by simply setting the time as in the past, the time during which the print processing is concentrated based on past data (print processing amount (number of printed sheets)). The band is configured to automatically cancel the power saving and automatically shift to the power saving during a time period when the printing process is relatively small. With this configuration, it is not necessary to schedule a power saving time zone, and the printer apparatus 1 can automatically collect and analyze data to perform efficient power saving control.

  Note that the processes and determinations (S8-12 to S8-16) shown in FIG. 5 are processes when the reference print processing amount is not set by the user (S8-6 is NO). The same processing as in S8-7 to S8-11) is performed. In this case, the initial reference value preset in the printer apparatus 1 is used, C% is calculated from the past data (S8-12), and the average value of the print processing amount for the immediately preceding week and the initial reference are calculated. D% is also calculated from the value (S8-13), C% and D% are compared (S8-14), and if C% ≧ D%, C% is used as the reference value (S8-14 is YES, S8-15), if C% <D%, D% is used as the reference value (NO in S8-14, S8-16). That is, also in this case, the past data is compared with the data for the previous week, and the larger value is adopted to set and cancel the sleep mode.

  As described above, according to this example, it is possible to collect and analyze the print processing amount (number of printed sheets) in the printer apparatus, perform highly accurate power saving control, and reduce the total cost of the print processing. Become.

In the description of the above embodiment, the reference print processing amount has been described as 30 sheets. However, the number is not limited to the above number. Further, the present embodiment can be applied not only to a printer apparatus but also to a printing apparatus such as a copying machine.
In the description of the above embodiment, the flash memory 9 is provided with the area 9a for storing the print processing amount (number of printed sheets) every hour. However, the print processing amount (every 10 minutes or 20 minutes) (in order to improve accuracy) An area for storing the (number of printed sheets) may be provided.

1-3..Printer 4 ... Server computer 5 ... Operation panel 6 ... ROM
7 ... RAM
8... Clock circuit 9... Flash memory 9 a... Print processing amount area 9 b per hour... Print processing amount area 9 c per day... Storage area 9e for the maximum print processing amount for one month..Standard print processing amount 10..Internal connection bus 11..Printer control LSI
12. USB host LSI
13. Engine unit 14. USB / LAN interface 15. Hard disk (HDD)
16. CPU

Claims (5)

First storage means for storing a print processing amount of a past apparatus;
Second storage means for storing a reference print processing amount;
A comparison unit that reads the print processing amount of the apparatus for a specific period from the first storage unit and compares the read processing amount with the reference print processing amount stored in the second storage unit;
If the comparison result shows that the print processing amount of the device in the specific period is larger than the reference print processing amount, the device is shifted to an operable state, and the print processing amount of the device in the specific period is less than the reference print processing amount. Control means for transitioning the device to a power saving state, and
A printing apparatus comprising:   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific period is a predetermined period on a specific day of the week.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the preset print processing amount is set by a user.   4. The printing according to claim 1, wherein comparison processing with the latest printing processing amount is also performed as the printing processing amount of the past apparatus compared with the preset printing processing amount. apparatus. A first storage process for storing a print processing amount for a specific period;
A second storage process for storing the reference print processing amount;
A comparison process for comparing the print processing amount of the specific period stored by the first storage process with the reference print processing amount stored by the second storage process;
If the comparison result shows that the print processing amount of the device in the specific period is larger than the reference print processing amount, the device is shifted to an operable state, and the print processing amount of the device in the specific period is less than the reference print processing amount. Control processing to shift the device to the power saving state,
And a printing control method.

Images