JP2011131413A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which enables a user to positively take an action considering an environment. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 11 sequentially receives jobs, and executes the received jobs according to one or a plurality of setting contents set for each job. The CPU 11 calculates environment consideration points of the received jobs by the setting contents of the jobs and a table of the environment consideration points corresponding to each setting content stored in a RAM 12, and executes with priority a calculated job which has a large number of environment consideration points. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that sequentially receives jobs and executes the received jobs according to one or more set contents set for each job.

  In recent years, due to the impact of global warming, various environmentally conscious efforts have been made. For example, for consumers who use environment-friendly products and services, such as giving environmental consideration points to purchase energy-saving products with low power consumption, and giving environmental consideration points to eco-bag users, Efforts to promote environmentally conscious actions have been spreading by providing services such as giving environmental consideration points and using those points for discounts when purchasing the next product.

On the other hand, in the field of conventional image forming apparatuses, there are image forming apparatuses that sequentially accept jobs and execute the accepted jobs in accordance with one or more set contents set for each job. As such an image forming apparatus, when a job is executed in an eco mode in consideration of the environment, there is an image forming apparatus that is controlled to use a backing paper or recycled paper with priority (Patent Document 1). ). In addition, there is a technique for calculating and displaying the CO ₂ emission amount from the amount of electric power consumed when executing a job, and making the user aware of the environment (Patent Document 2).

JP 2005-024881 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-6696

  By the way, when a job is executed in a conventional image forming apparatus, the number of sheets used is limited, low-priced recycled paper is used, or printing in a reduced layout is set for energy saving and cost reduction. There is a case. However, since there is no direct merit for the user in consideration of the number of printed sheets and the sheet to be used, the user does not actively take action for energy saving or cost reduction.

In addition, when the numerical values such as the CO ₂ emission amount are shown to the user, although there is an effect of improving the environmental awareness of the user, there is no direct merit for the user. The impression of the numbers fades. Therefore, even when the numerical value is shown to the user in this way, the user rarely takes an action in consideration of the environment.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that enables a user to actively take action in consideration of the environment. To do.

  The present invention stores a table of environmental consideration points corresponding to each setting content in an image forming apparatus that sequentially accepts jobs and executes the accepted jobs according to one or a plurality of setting contents set for each job. And a control unit that calculates the environmental consideration points of the received job based on the setting contents of the job and the table, and preferentially executes a job having a large number of the calculated environmental consideration points. It is characterized by.

  In the image forming apparatus that sequentially accepts jobs and executes the accepted jobs in accordance with one or a plurality of setting contents set for each job, an environment consideration point table corresponding to each setting contents is provided. A storage unit for storing, and a control unit that calculates an environmental consideration point of the received job based on the setting contents of the job and the table, and controls execution of the job according to the calculated environmental consideration point, The control unit adds the calculated environmental consideration point, restricts execution of the accepted job until the added environmental consideration point reaches a predetermined value, and when the predetermined environmental value is reached, It is characterized in that the restriction on the execution of the accepted job is relaxed or canceled according to the number of consideration points.

  As in the present invention, by calculating the environmental consideration point of the received job and preferentially executing the job with the large number of calculated environmental consideration points, the user can actively take action in consideration of the environment. Can be.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an environmental consideration point table stored in a RAM provided in the image forming apparatus. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of rearranging and preferentially printing print jobs in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of print jobs. 10 is a flowchart illustrating printing operation control according to a user's acquisition points in an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a table showing acquisition points for each user stored in a RAM provided in the image forming apparatus, a limit on the number of printable sheets (number of sheets), and a table showing the number of prints to date.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an image forming apparatus, A is a paper feeding device, and B is a printing unit which is an image forming unit. An image forming apparatus main body provided, C is a sheet processing apparatus, D is an original reading apparatus, and F is an original conveying apparatus. The image forming apparatus 1 sequentially accepts jobs and executes the accepted jobs according to one or more set contents set for each job. Here, in the present embodiment, the setting contents are printing color, number of faces, magnification, paper type (sheet type), number of printed sheets (number of formed images), and paper size (sheet size).

  Here, the document conveying device F conveys the document set on the document tray F1 one by one onto a platen (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the document reading device D, and carries it out onto the discharge tray F2. is there. The image reading device D reads a document passing over the platen by the document conveying device F, for example, in the case of flow reading, by a reading unit including a lamp (not shown), a plurality of mirrors, a lens, and an image sensor. . The image forming apparatus main body B includes an exposure unit (not shown) that outputs a laser beam in accordance with an image signal read by the image reading device D, and a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by being irradiated with the laser beam. It has a drum. The image forming apparatus main body B includes a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum to a sheet, A fixing unit for fixing the toner image transferred to the sheet is provided. The exposure unit, the photosensitive drum, the developing unit, the fixing unit, and the like constitute a printing unit that prints an image on a sheet.

  The sheet feeding device A includes a plurality of cassettes (not shown) and conveys sheets stored in any of the cassettes to a transfer unit. The sheet processing apparatus C is disposed between the image forming apparatus main body B and the document reading apparatus D, and includes a processing unit 9 having a binding device 9a, a storage unit 10 for storing processed sheets, and the like. The storage unit 10 is located in a space between the image forming apparatus main body B and the document reading apparatus D. That is, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has a so-called in-cylinder carry-out function for discharging and storing processed sheets in a space between the image forming apparatus main body B and the document reading apparatus D.

  In the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, when a job is sequentially received and the job is received, when the original image is read by the original reading device D and the read image is formed on a sheet, the original is first transferred by the original conveying device F. Is passed over the platen. At this time, the image reading device D irradiates light from the lamp, reflects the irradiated light on the document surface, and guides the image to the image sensor through a plurality of mirrors and lenses, thereby reading the image. Thereafter, the image data of the original read by the image sensor is subjected to predetermined image processing and transferred to the exposure unit of the image forming apparatus main body B.

  Next, in the image forming apparatus main body B, the exposure unit outputs a laser beam corresponding to the image signal, and this laser beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum. As a result, the scanned laser beam is applied onto the photosensitive drum. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the above is formed. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is developed by a developing device and visualized as a toner image.

  On the other hand, the sheet on which the image is formed is conveyed from any cassette of the sheet feeding apparatus A having a plurality of cassettes to the transfer unit, and the visualized toner image on the photosensitive drum is transferred to the sheet in the transfer unit. The Thereafter, the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is subjected to a fixing process in a fixing unit to fix the toner image. Next, the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit is conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus C, and after that, processing such as binding and folding is performed by the processing unit 9 and is discharged to the storage unit 10.

  FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU 11 that is a control unit that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The CPU 11 is connected to a RAM 12, a ROM 13, an I / F 14, a panel operation unit 15, a nonvolatile memory 16, and a printing unit 17 via a system bus 18. The RAM 12 is a work area for the CPU 11 and a temporary storage area for data. The ROM 13 is written with a firmware program for driving the image forming apparatus 1 and a boot program for controlling the firmware program, and is used by the CPU 11.

  The I / F 14 is connected to an external computer terminal device or the like (not shown), and a print job is transferred to the CPU 11 from the external computer terminal device or the like via the I / F 14. The panel operation unit 15 is for the user to make various settings of the image forming apparatus 1 and confirm the settings, and the nonvolatile memory 16 is for storing the various settings. The printing unit 17 is for forming an image on a sheet, and is for connecting the CPU 11 and other elements.

  Here, in the present embodiment, an environmental consideration point table as shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the RAM 12 which is a storage unit. This environmental consideration point table corresponds to the setting contents set for each job, which are print color (color and monochrome), number of sides (single side and double side), and magnification (same size, 2 in 1, 4 in 1, 6 in 1). Environmental consideration points are set. In addition, this environmental consideration point table includes environmental consideration points (points) corresponding to other settings such as paper type (backing paper, recycled paper, plain paper, etc.) and paper size (ISO B5, ISO A4, etc.). ) And the number of printed sheets (1, 2, 3, 4).

  Here, when receiving a print job from an external computer terminal device or the like, the CPU 11 first analyzes the print conditions of the received print job, that is, one or more set contents set for each job, before starting printing. To do. Then, the environmental consideration point is calculated with reference to the job setting contents and the environmental consideration point table. Next, the CPU 11 stores the calculated environmental consideration points in the non-volatile memory 16 and compares the print job received this time with the environmental consideration points of the print jobs received so far.

  Thereafter, the printing order is changed in the order of the highest environmental consideration point, and the printing unit 17 is controlled to start (execute) printing with priority given to the print job with the higher environmental consideration point. In this way, the more environmental consideration points calculated according to the printing conditions of the print job, the more preferentially the printing is performed, so that the user positively performs an action in consideration of energy saving or the environment. Motivation is born.

Next, the rearrangement / priority printing method of the print jobs in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the CPU 11 receives a print job from an external computer terminal device or the like (S21), the CPU 11 analyzes the print condition of the print job and calculates an environmental consideration point with reference to the environmental consideration point table shown in FIG. 3 (S22). For example, when the user sends a print job A having a setting of “monochrome, double-sided printing, 4 in 1 reduced layout, recycled paper, ISO A3 size, 8 pages (2 sheets)”, the environmental consideration points of the print job A are as follows: become that way.
3 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 1 ÷ (2 sheets) = 27 (points)

  Next, the CPU 11 compares the environmental consideration points of the print job A already received in the job queue and the newly received print job A, and rearranges the printing order in the order of higher environmental consideration points (S23). Printing is started according to the order (S24). FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining rearrangement of print jobs. When the print queue A is received when the job queue is in the state of FIG. 5A, the CPU 11 adds the print job A to the end of the job queue as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the CPU 11 analyzes the printing conditions and calculates an environmental consideration point for the print job A. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5B, it is displayed that the print job A is being analyzed.

  As a result of the analysis, when the environmental consideration point of the print job A becomes 27 points, the calculated environmental consideration point and the environments of the print waiting jobs C, D, and E other than the job B being printed are next. Compare with consideration points. Since the environmental consideration point of the print job A is higher than the environmental consideration points of the print waiting jobs C, D, and E, the print job A is moved to the head of the print waiting job as shown in FIG. . Thus, after this, when the printing operation of job B is completed, the printing operation of print job A having a high environmental consideration point is started first.

  If there is a print job with the same environmental consideration point, the print job received first is given priority. Further, when a new print job is received in a state where there are a plurality of jobs waiting to be printed, the processing of S21 to S23 is repeated, so that the print order with higher environmental consideration points is always given priority. Put it in a state.

  By the way, if the print job A is preferentially performed in relation to the remaining sheets, it may be impossible to print the lowered print job even though it has been transmitted first. In other words, if print job A is given priority, the previously sent print job may not be executed. For this reason, even when priority is given to the print job A, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the lowered print job cannot be printed based on a signal from a sheet remaining amount detection unit (not shown) and the number of print jobs A. To do. If it is determined that the postponed print job cannot be printed, the print job A is not given priority, and the print jobs are performed in the accepted order.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the environmental consideration point is calculated according to the printing conditions of the print job, and printing is performed with priority on the print job having a high calculated environmental consideration point. As a result, a motivation for the user to actively take action in consideration of energy saving and the environment is born, and the user can actively take action in consideration of energy saving and environment.

  In this way, by calculating the total environmental consideration points of received jobs and controlling the order of job execution according to the calculated environmental consideration points, the user actively takes environmentally friendly actions. Can be able to.

  By the way, conventionally, there is one in which a limit on the number of printable sheets of the image forming apparatus 1 is provided for each user or each department for energy saving and cost reduction. Therefore, in order to motivate the user to actively perform energy-saving or environment-friendly actions, for example, the restriction on the number of printable sheets may be relaxed or canceled according to the environmental consideration points. Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the present invention in which the restriction on the number of printable sheets is relaxed or canceled according to such an environmental consideration point.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating printing operation control according to the user's acquisition points in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, when the CPU 11 receives a print job from an external computer terminal device or the like (S51), it analyzes the print conditions of the print job and refers to the environmental consideration point table shown in FIG. Points are calculated (S52). For example, when a user sends a print job with a setting of “monochrome, double-sided printing, 4 in 1 reduced layout, recycled paper, ISO A3 size, 8 pages (2 sheets)”, the environmental consideration points of the print job are as follows: become.
3 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 1 ÷ (2 sheets) = 27 (points)

  Next, the CPU 11 adds the environmental consideration points to the acquired points for each user or each department (S53). Here, FIG. 7 is a table showing the acquired points for each user stored in the RAM 12, the limit on the number of printable sheets (number of sheets), and the number of printed sheets up to now.

  In the present embodiment, the limit value (initial value) of the first printable sheet number is 50 sheets, and the execution of jobs is restricted until the acquired points reach 100 points, which is a predetermined value. In other words, the number of printable sheets is limited (restricted) to 50 until the acquired points reach 100 points.

  On the other hand, when the acquired points reach 100 points, the restriction on the execution of the accepted job is relaxed or released according to the number of added environmental consideration points. Specifically, when the acquisition point reaches 100 points, the number of printable sheets is 60. When the acquisition point reaches 200 points, the number of printable sheets is 70.

  In the example of FIG. 7, the user C has already acquired only 10 points, so the limit value (50 sheets) of the first printable number remains, but the user A has acquired 200 points, so printing is performed. The limit on the number of possible sheets has been relaxed from 50 to 70. The current number of prints is 30. Therefore, from the data in this table, user A can print 40 sheets thereafter. That is, the CPU 11 determines that the number of sheets that can be printed by the user A is 40 from the data in this table. Since user B has acquired 100 points, the limit on the number of printable sheets is relaxed from 50 sheets to 60 sheets. The current number of prints is 40. Therefore, from the data of this table, user B can print 20 sheets thereafter.

  Next, after adding the environmental consideration points to the acquired points, the CPU 11 obtains a limit on the number of printable sheets from the added acquisition points of the user A, and whether the number of printable sheets by the print job is within the calculated limit on the number of printable sheets. Is determined (S54). Here, if the number of sheets printed by the print job is within the limit of the number of printable sheets, that is, within 40 sheets (Yes in S54), printing is started (S55). If it is determined that the limit on the number of printable sheets has been reached (No in S54), printing is stopped (S56).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the environmental consideration points are calculated according to the printing conditions of the print job, and the calculated environmental consideration points are added to the acquired points for at least one of the user or the department. Then, by relaxing or releasing the restriction on the number of printable sheets in accordance with the acquired points, there is an advantage that a motivation for the user to actively take action in consideration of energy saving and environment is born.

  In the explanation so far, the case has been described where the restriction on the number of printable sheets is relaxed or released according to the earned points. However, the restriction on other settings is also relaxed or removed according to the earned points. You may make it do. In addition, if the points given to individuals or departments can be exchanged for points given to other individuals or other departments, users will be more proactive in energy-saving and environmentally conscious actions. Become.

1 Image forming apparatus 11 CPU
12 RAM
15 Panel operation unit 16 Non-volatile memory 17 Printing unit B Image forming apparatus main body

Claims (3)

In an image forming apparatus that sequentially accepts jobs and executes the accepted jobs according to one or more setting contents set for each job,
A storage unit for storing a table of environmental consideration points corresponding to each setting content;
An image comprising: a control unit that calculates the environmental consideration point of the received job based on the setting contents of the job and the table, and that preferentially executes a job having a large number of the calculated environmental consideration point. Forming equipment. In an image forming apparatus that sequentially accepts jobs and executes the accepted jobs according to one or more setting contents set for each job,
A storage unit for storing a table of environmental consideration points corresponding to each setting content;
A control unit that calculates an environmental consideration point of the received job based on the setting contents of the job and the table, and controls execution of the job according to the calculated environmental consideration point;
The control unit adds the calculated environmental consideration point, adds restriction to the execution of the accepted job until the added environmental consideration point reaches a predetermined value, and when the predetermined value is reached, the added An image forming apparatus that relaxes or cancels restrictions on the execution of a job received according to the number of environmental consideration points.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting content of the job is at least one of a print color, the number of pages, a magnification, a sheet type, the number of formed images, and a sheet size.

Images