JP2011189601A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform image formation using environmental information, even in such a state that the environmental information cannot be obtained because an environmental information detecting means is not installed or the environmental information detecting means is in an abnormal state. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is connected via network, to another apparatus having a response means configured to respond the environmental information. In this case, the image forming apparatus is configured to request to obtain the environmental information from another apparatus, and then, control image forming processing using the obtained environmental information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming technique using environmental information.

Image forming devices including printers, multifunction devices, copiers, facsimiles and other printing devices include
There is an apparatus that detects environmental information such as temperature and humidity by a detection means such as a sensor provided in itself and controls image formation based on the detected environmental information (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-10-161469

Incidentally, some image forming apparatuses do not have an environmental information detection unit. For example, relatively inexpensive devices such as monochrome printers often do not have detection means. Such an image forming apparatus cannot control image formation based on environmental information. For this reason, it is impossible to improve the stability of print image quality or reduce the occurrence of errors such as paper jams (paper jams).

Even in an image forming apparatus having an environmental information detection unit, an abnormality may occur in the detection unit (for example, the sensor may be broken). In this case, the image forming apparatus cannot acquire environment information and cannot perform image formation control based on the environment information. Although a method of using environment information recorded before the abnormality of the detecting means occurs, it is not appropriate because the environment information is old information.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to perform image formation using environmental information even when there is no environmental information detection means, or even when environmental information cannot be acquired due to an abnormality of the environmental information detection means.

A first aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is an image forming apparatus connected via a network to another apparatus having response means for responding to environment information, and requesting the environment information from the other apparatus And obtaining means for obtaining the image forming process, and control means for controlling the image forming process using the environment information obtained by the obtaining means.

Here, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the acquisition unit may request and acquire the environmental information from the other apparatus when the environmental information cannot be acquired from the own apparatus.

Further, in the image forming apparatus described above, a storage unit that stores acquisition destination information for identifying the apparatus for each other apparatus from which the environment information is acquired, and at least a part of the acquisition destination information are periodically updated. Updating means for storing in the storage means, the acquisition means selects the acquisition source information according to a predetermined priority order, and requests environmental information from another device specified by the acquisition destination information, If acquisition of environment information fails, the next acquisition source information may be selected.

Further, in the above image forming apparatus, the storage unit can store difference information indicating a difference between the environment information of the apparatus and the environment information of the own apparatus for each other apparatus from which the environment information is acquired, The update unit calculates a difference between the environment information of the device and the environment information of the own device for each other device from which the environment information is acquired, and stores the difference in the storage unit. The acquisition unit is based on the difference information. Then, the environmental information acquired from the other device may be corrected.

In the image forming apparatus described above, the predetermined priority order may be the order of other apparatuses having a quick response when the acquisition unit updates the acquisition destination information. Alternatively, the predetermined priority order may be the order of other devices having a small difference when the difference information is updated by the updating unit.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to any one of the above, further comprising: a receiving unit that receives a setting of acquisition destination information from a user and stores it in the storage unit, wherein the acquisition unit is an acquisition stored by the update unit The acquisition destination information set by the user may be preferentially selected over the destination information.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to any one of the above, further comprising an error storage unit that stores error information of the image forming process, and the control unit detects an error of the image forming process by the acquiring unit when the error is detected. Information may be acquired, and the acquired environment information may be associated with error information for specifying the detected error and stored in the error storage unit.

A second aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is an image forming apparatus connected to another image forming apparatus having an acquisition unit that requests acquisition of environment information via a network, An acquisition unit that acquires environment information; and a response unit that transmits the environment information acquired by the acquisition unit to the other image forming apparatus when a request from the other image forming apparatus is received. It may be characterized by that.

1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a hardware configuration of a printing system 3 according to an example of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the printing apparatus. The figure which shows an example of a structure of the environment information management table. The flowchart which shows an example of the update process of the environmental information management table 230. The flowchart which shows an example of the printing process using environmental information. The flowchart which shows an example of the acquisition process of environmental information. The flowchart which shows an example of the recording process of error information based on the modification of 1st embodiment.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a hardware configuration of a printing system 3 according to an example of the first embodiment of the present invention.

A printing system 3 as an image forming system includes a plurality of printing apparatuses 2 as image forming apparatuses.
And a plurality of PCs 1 which are host computers for controlling the printing apparatus 2. PC1
And the printing apparatus 2 can communicate via a network such as a LAN, for example. P
For example, a printer driver program is installed in C1, and the printing apparatus 2 is controlled by the program.

In the present embodiment, each printing device 2 uses the environmental information of its own device or the environmental information of another device,
Execute print processing based on environmental information. Each printing apparatus 2 may or may not include a sensor 50 for detecting environmental information such as temperature and humidity. Note that at least one printing apparatus 2 of the printing system 3 includes a sensor and detects environmental information of the own apparatus.

The PC 1 includes, for example, a CPU that performs various calculations and an HD that stores various programs and data.
An auxiliary storage device such as D (Hard Disk Drive), a network interface (I / F) that communicates with external devices via a network such as a LAN, and USB (Universal Serial)
USB) (I / F) that communicates with external devices via a bus), a ROM that stores programs and data necessary for startup in advance, a RAM that stores programs and data executed by the CPU, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like It is a general computer including an input device and a display such as an LCD for displaying a user interface screen.

The printing apparatus 2 includes, for example, a controller 20, a print engine 30, and an operation panel 40.
With. As described above, the printing apparatus 2 may or may not include the sensor 50.

The controller 20 includes, for example, a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a memory control ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 24, and a print control ASI.
C25, input / output (I / O) control ASIC 26, network interface (I / O)
F) 27 and a USB interface (I / F) 28.

The CPU 21 is an arithmetic device that executes a predetermined program and controls the printing apparatus 2 in an integrated manner. The ROM 22 is a nonvolatile memory that stores data, programs, and the like, and is, for example, a flash memory. ROM 22 is not a memory control ASIC 24 but an I
/ O control ASIC 26 may be connected. The RAM 23 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores data, programs, and the like, and is, for example, a DDR-SDRAM.

The memory control ASIC 24 is a unit that controls access to the ROM 22 and the RAM 23. The memory control ASIC 24 is, for example, a network I / F 27 and an I
The image data to be printed sent from the external device is stored in the RAM 23 via the / O control ASIC 26 or the USB I / F 28 and the I / O control ASIC 26. Further, for example, the image data stored in the RAM 23 is output to the print control ASIC 25. Further, for example, the signal output from the sensor 50 is A / D converted and stored in the RAM 23 or C
Or send it to PU21.

The print control ASIC 25 generates print data that can be processed by the print engine 30,
This is a unit that controls printing by the print engine 30. For example, the print control ASIC 25 reads image data from the RAM 23 and performs predetermined image processing (for example, color conversion, compression, expansion, binarization) to generate print data. Then, the generated print data is output to the print engine 30 to execute printing.

The I / O control ASIC 26 is a unit that controls the input / output device and the interface device. In this embodiment, the I / O control ASIC 26 is an operation panel 40 as an I / O device.
Are connected to a network I / F 27 and a USB I / F 28 as I / F devices. Of course, a hard disk drive, a parallel I / F, etc. may be connected. I
The / O control ASIC 26 is, for example, a network I / F 27 or a USB I / F 28.
The data transmitted from the external device is transferred to the RAM 23 or the CPU 21 via the
Data transmitted from M23 or CPU 21 is transferred to an external device. For example,
A signal output from the operation panel 40 is transferred to the RAM 23 or the CPU 21, or the RAM 23
Or the drawing data sent from the CPU 21 is transferred to the operation panel 40.

The network I / F 27 is a unit that communicates with an external device on the network such as the PC 1 or the printing device 2. The network I / F 27 includes, for example, a network controller, a network connector, and the like.

The USB I / F 28 is a unit that performs USB communication with an external device such as the PC 1. The USB I / F 28 includes, for example, a USB controller, a USB connector, and the like.

The print engine 30 is a unit that prints print data supplied from the print control ASIC 25 on a print medium. The print engine 30 is, for example, a laser engine having a toner cartridge, a photosensitive drum, a laser light irradiation mechanism, a transfer mechanism, a paper feed mechanism, a paper feed mechanism, a paper discharge mechanism, and the like. Of course, the print engine 30 is not limited to the laser method, and may be another method such as an ink jet method.

The operation panel 40 is a unit provided in the casing of the printing apparatus 2 as an input / output interface between the user and the printing apparatus 2. The operation panel 40 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display (Electro-Luminescence D).
isplay), a touch panel, a hard switch, and the like.

The sensor 50 is a unit that detects environmental information. In this embodiment, the sensor 50
These are a plurality of sensor groups for detecting the temperature and humidity of the environment in the printing apparatus 2. When the sensor 50 detects these environmental information, the RAM 50 via the memory control ASIC 24
23 and CPU 21. Of course, the configuration of the sensor 50 is not limited to the above, and the type and number of environmental information to be detected may be various. In the following description, the environmental information is assumed to be temperature and humidity.

The configurations of the printing system 3, the PC 1, and the printing apparatus 2 described above are the main configurations in describing the features of the present invention, and are not limited to the above. In addition, other configurations included in a general printing system, a PC, and a printing apparatus are not excluded.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the printing apparatus 2.

The printing apparatus 2 includes a print control unit 200, a setting reception unit 210, an environment information storage unit 220,
An environment information update unit 240, an environment information acquisition unit 250, and an environment information response unit 260 are included.

These functional units are realized, for example, by the CPU 21 executing a predetermined program (for example, referred to as “firmware”) loaded from the ROM 22 to the RAM 23. Of course, part of the processing of each functional unit may be realized by an ASIC or the like.

The predetermined program is written in the ROM 22 at the time of manufacture, for example, and is downloaded from a server on the network and updated after the manufacture. Of course, it may be recorded in advance on a portable recording medium, read from the recording medium, and installed in the printing apparatus 2 or updated.

The print control unit 200 controls print processing using environment information. For example, when the print control unit 200 receives a print instruction from the PC 1 via the network I / F 27, the print control unit 200 acquires environment information via the environment information acquisition unit 250. Further, based on the acquired environment information, print data is generated, the print engine 30 is controlled, and the like according to a predetermined procedure. For example, the print control unit 200 adjusts the usage amount of the image forming medium and the operation amounts of various mechanisms (such as a motor and a head) according to temperature and humidity. In the present embodiment, the printing control method based on the environment information is not main and will not be described in detail. If environment information cannot be acquired, the print control unit 200 executes normal print control without using environment information.

The setting reception unit 210 receives and manages various settings of the printing apparatus 2. Setting reception unit 210
For example, various settings relating to printing, networking, and the like are received from the user via the operation panel 40. In addition, via the network I / F 27 and USB I / F 28, the PC
1 to accept various settings.

In addition, the setting reception unit 210 receives a setting regarding the acquisition destination of the environment information. For example, the setting reception unit 210 receives a setting of an environment information acquisition destination and a priority for acquiring environment information from a user. Then, a record is created for each acquisition destination and is stored in the environment information storage unit 220.

The environment information storage unit 220 stores information related to the acquisition destination of the environment information, and adds, changes, deletes information, and the like according to requests from other function units. Therefore, the environment information storage unit 220 has an environment information management table 230 as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

The environment information management table 230 includes, for each device from which the environment information is acquired, acquisition destination information 231 (for example, an IP address or a product code) for identifying the acquisition source device, and a priority indicating the priority order for acquiring the environment information. Information 232 (for example, an integer value of 1 or more (a smaller value has a higher priority)), error temperature information 233 indicating the difference between the temperature of the own device and the temperature of the acquisition destination device, and the humidity of the own device And a record in which the error humidity information 234 indicating the difference between the humidity of the acquisition destination device and the humidity of the acquisition destination device is associated.

Note that the environment information storage unit 220 arranges and holds records in order of priority.

In the present embodiment, when the sensor 50 is provided in the printing apparatus 2 in the initialization state, the environment information management table 230 stores the record of the own device (own device 1, 0, 0). When the sensor 50 is not provided in the printing apparatus 2, the record of the own device is not stored. The priority of the own device is set at the highest level in principle, but may be changeable by the user.

In addition, when the device from which the environment information is acquired is set by the user via the setting reception unit 210, the environment information storage unit 220 adds a record corresponding to the device (record “user setting” in the figure). ). When the priority of the device is also set by the user, the priority is stored as priority information 232, and when the priority is not set, for example, the priority according to the order of adding records is given priority. The degree information 232 is stored. The error value information 233 and the error humidity information 234 in the user setting record are set to an initial value 0 until set by the environment information update unit 240.

When the environment information update unit 240 finds a device from which the environment information is acquired and receives a request to add a corresponding record, the environment information storage unit 220 adds a record corresponding to the device ( "Automatic setting" record in the figure). The priority information 232, the environment information update unit 240, and the error humidity information 234 of the automatic setting record are included in the environment information update unit 24.
Set by zero.

The configuration of the environment information management table 230 is not limited to the above. Further, information regarding the acquisition destination of the environment information may be managed by a method other than the table.

Returning to FIG. 2, the environment information update unit 240 performs a process of updating the environment information management table 230. The update process can be performed at a predetermined cycle, for example, once every 15 minutes. In the update process, user setting records and automatic setting records are targeted. It is assumed that the automatic setting record is deleted and newly added every time update processing is performed.

When the update process is started, the environment information update unit 240, for example, the environment information management table 23
The user setting record registered in 0 is referred to, and environmental information is requested from the device indicated by the acquisition destination information 231 of each record. Also, the environment information of the own device is acquired, the difference between the environment information of the own device and the environment information of the other device of each acquisition destination is calculated, and set as error temperature information 233 and error humidity information 234 of each record. Note that when the sensor 50 does not exist in the own device or when acquisition of environmental information from the acquisition destination device fails, invalid values are set in the error temperature information 233 and error humidity information 234 of each record.

Further, the environment information update unit 240 searches the network via the network I / F 27 and finds another printing apparatus 2 that can acquire the environment information. In addition, a corresponding record (automatic setting record) is added to the environment information management table 230 using the discovered printing apparatus 2 as a device from which the environment information is acquired. Then, the environment information of the own device is acquired, the difference between the environment information of the own device and the environment information of the acquisition destination is calculated, and the error temperature information 233 and the error humidity information 23 of each record.
Set as 4. If the device 50 does not have the sensor 50, invalid values are set in the error temperature information 233 and error humidity information 234 of each record.

Here, the environment information update unit 240 sets the priority in the priority information 232 of the automatic setting record by a predetermined procedure. For example, the environment information update unit 240 sets priorities in the order of devices that responded quickly in the search process. In principle, the priority of the automatic setting record is set lower than the priority of the user setting record, but may be set higher. Note that the priority is not limited to the order of responses. For example, the priorities may be set in the order of small absolute values of the error temperature information 233 and the error humidity information 234.

The environment information acquisition unit 250 acquires environment information in response to a request from another functional unit at a timing other than the update process. For example, the environment information acquisition unit 250 starts acquiring environment information in response to a request from the print control unit 200. When the acquisition process is started, the environment information acquisition unit 250 refers to the environment information management table 230, and in order of high priority, from the sensor 50 of the own device or from another device of the acquisition source via the network I / F 27. To obtain environmental information.

When the environment information can be acquired from one device, the environment information acquisition unit 250 uses the error information when the error temperature information 233 and the error humidity information 234 are set in the record of the device. Correct (subtract) information. Then, the corrected environment information is passed in response to a request from the print control unit 200 that is a request source.

The environment information response unit 260 responds with the environment information of its own device in response to a request from another device. For example, the environment information response unit 260 receives a request for environment information via the network I / F 27. Then, the environmental information of the device itself is acquired from the sensor 50, and the environmental information is transmitted to the requesting printing apparatus 2 via the network I / F 27. When there is no sensor 50, a response indicating that environmental information cannot be responded may be made.

The above constituent elements are classified according to main processing contents in order to facilitate understanding of the configuration of the printing apparatus 2. The present invention is not limited by the way of classification and names of the constituent elements. The configuration of the printing apparatus 2 can be classified into more components depending on the processing content. Moreover, it can also classify | categorize so that one component may perform more processes. Further, the processing of each component may be executed by one hardware or may be executed by a plurality of hardware.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the update process of the environment information management table 230. This flow is started, for example, at a predetermined cycle after the environment information management table 230 is initialized.

Note that S1 to S6 are processes for the device itself and the user setting record. S1
1 to S13 are processes for automatic setting records. In addition, it is assumed that at least one record of the own device or the user setting has been registered in the environment information management table 230. If none is registered, the environment information update unit 240 starts the process from S11. In addition, the old automatic setting record registered in the previous update process is, for example,
What is necessary is just to make it the environment information update part 240 delete at the timing of the start of this flow, the timing of S11, etc.

In S1, the environment information update unit 240 sets the record number counter i to 0. Then, the process proceeds to S2. In this flow, the record number is an integer number assigned to the records stored in the environment information management table 230 (own device and user setting record) in order from 0 in descending order of priority.

In S <b> 2, the environment information update unit 240 determines whether the record to be updated is a record of the own device. Specifically, the environment information update unit 240 refers to a record in the environment information management table 230 corresponding to the set record number counter value. When the acquisition destination information 231 of the referenced record indicates the own device (S2: YES), the process proceeds to S5. If the acquisition destination information 231 of the referenced record does not indicate the own device, that is, if it is a user setting record (S2: NO), the process proceeds to S3.

In S3, the environment information update unit 240 acquires environment information from another device. Specifically, the environment information update unit 240 requests and acquires environmental information (temperature information and humidity information) from the device indicated by the acquisition destination information 231 of the record referred to in S2 via the network I / F 27. Then, the process proceeds to S4.

In S4, the environment information update unit 240 updates the error information of the record to be updated. Specifically, the environment information update unit 240 acquires temperature information and humidity information from the sensor 50 of its own device. Also, the difference between the temperature information and humidity information of the own device and the temperature information and humidity information of the other device acquired in S3 is calculated, and environmental information management is performed as error temperature information 233 and error humidity information 234 of the record referenced in S2. Record in table 230. In addition, sensor 50 of own device
When there is no error, invalid values are set as the error temperature information 233 and the error humidity information 234. Then, the process proceeds to S5.

In S5, the environment information update unit 240 determines whether or not the record to be updated is the last record. Specifically, the environment information update unit 240 determines whether or not the record number counter indicates the last record number among the own device record and the user setting record stored in the environment information management table 230. In the example of FIG. 3, the record of the acquisition destination C is the last. If the record to be updated is the last record (S5: YES), the environment information update unit 240 advances the process to S11. If the record to be updated is not the last record (S5: NO), the process proceeds to S6.

In S6, the environment information update unit 240 increments the record number counter i by one. Then, the process returns to S1.

In S11, the environment information update unit 240 searches for devices and requests environment information. Specifically, the environment information update unit 240 transmits data indicating a request for environment information, for example, as a broadcast packet via the network I / F 27 and waits for a response. Then, the process proceeds to S12.

In S <b> 12, the environment information update unit 240 determines whether acquisition of environment information has succeeded.
Specifically, when there is at least one device that responds to the request transmitted in S11 (S12: YES), the environment information update unit 240 determines that the acquisition is successful and advances the process to S13. On the other hand, when there is no response (S12: NO), it is determined that acquisition has failed, and this flow ends.

In S13, the environment information update unit 240 registers a record (automatic setting record). Specifically, the environment information update unit 240 adds a record to the environment information management table 230 for each device that has successfully acquired the environment information in S12. If the user setting record and the acquisition destination are the same, it is not necessary to add a record. In the acquisition source information 231, device identification information is set. The priority information 232 includes the order in which the response of the environment information is received in S12.
Set the priority. Also, temperature information and humidity information are acquired from the sensor 50 of the own device, and S
12 is calculated and set as error temperature information 233 and error humidity information 234 for each record. When there is no sensor 50 of the own device, invalid values are stored as the error temperature information 233 and the error humidity information 234. When all the records of the device that acquired the environment information are registered, this flow is finished.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing process using environment information. This flow is started when the print control unit 200 receives a print instruction.

In S <b> 20, the print control unit 200 requests the environment information acquisition unit 250 to acquire environment information. Then, the process proceeds to S21. S20 will be described later with reference to FIG.

In S <b> 21, the print control unit 200 determines whether acquisition of environment information has succeeded. Specifically, an environmental information acquisition result is received from the environmental information acquisition unit 250, and it is determined whether or not it is successful. If acquisition of environmental information is successful (S21: YES), the process proceeds to S22. If acquisition of environmental information has failed (S21: NO), the process proceeds to S23.

In S22, the print control unit 200 executes a print process based on the environment information. Specifically, the print control unit 200 acquires environment information that has been successfully acquired from the environment information acquisition unit 250.
Further, based on the acquired environment information, print data is generated, the print engine 30 is controlled, and the like according to a predetermined procedure. Then, this flow ends.

In S23, the print control unit 200 executes normal print processing. Specifically, print data is generated, the print engine 30 is controlled, and the like, without using environment information. Then, this flow ends.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an environment information acquisition process. In this flow, it is assumed that at least one of the own device, user setting, and automatic setting has been registered. If none is registered, the process starts from S206.

In S201, the environment information acquisition unit 250 sets the record number counter i to 0.
Then, the process proceeds to S202. In this flow, the record number is an integer number assigned to all records stored in the environment information management table 230 in order from 0 in descending order of priority.

In S202, the environment information acquisition unit 250 acquires environment information. Specifically, it tries to acquire environment information from the device (including its own device) indicated by the record acquisition destination information 231 of the environment information management table 230 corresponding to the set record number counter value. In the case of the own device, the environment information acquisition unit 250 requests the sensor 50 to acquire environment information. In the case of another device, the environment information acquisition unit 250 transmits a request for environment information via the network I / F 27. Then, the process proceeds to S203.

In S203, the environment information acquisition unit 250 determines whether acquisition of environment information has been successful. Specifically, the environment information acquisition unit 250 determines whether there is a response from the sensor 50 of the own device or another device that has transmitted the request. If there is a response (S203: YES), it is determined that the acquisition is successful, and the process proceeds to S207. On the other hand, when there is no response (S203: NO)
The process proceeds to S204.

In S204, the environment information acquisition unit 250 determines whether or not the record of the device whose environment information is to be acquired is the last record. Specifically, the environment information acquisition unit 250 determines whether the record number counter indicates the number of the last record among all the records stored in the environment information management table 230. In the example of FIG. 3, the record of the acquisition destination F is the last record. When the record of the device whose environment information is to be acquired is the last record (S204: YES), the environment information acquisition unit 250 advances the process to S206. If the record of the device whose environment information is to be acquired is not the last record (S204: NO), the process is S2.
Proceed to 05.

In S205, the environment information acquisition unit 250 increments the record number counter i by one. Then, the process returns to S202.

In S206, the environment information acquisition unit 250 returns an acquisition failure. Specifically, the environment information acquisition unit 250 notifies the print control unit 200 of an acquisition result indicating acquisition failure. Then, this flow ends.

In S207, the environment information acquisition unit 250 determines whether or not the record of the device whose environment information is to be acquired is the record of the own device. Specifically, the environment information acquisition unit 250 refers to the record of the environment information management table 230 corresponding to the set record number counter value. When the acquisition destination information 231 of the referenced record indicates the own device (S207:
YES), the process proceeds to S210. When the acquisition destination information 231 of the referenced record does not indicate the own device, that is, when it is a user setting or automatic setting record (S207:
NO), the process proceeds to S208.

In S208, the environment information acquisition unit 250 determines whether error information is set in the record of the device for which environment information is acquired. Specifically, the environment information acquisition unit 250 refers to the record of the environment information management table 230 corresponding to the set record number counter value. If the error temperature information 233 and the error humidity information 234 are set in the referenced record (S208: YES), the process proceeds to S209. When the error temperature information 233 and the error humidity information 234 are not set (invalid values) in the referenced record (S2)
08: NO), the process proceeds to S210.

In S209, the environment information acquisition unit 250 corrects the acquired environment information. In particular,
The environment information acquisition unit 250 acquires the error temperature information 233 and the error humidity information 234 of the record of the environment information management table 230 corresponding to the set record number counter value. Then, the environmental information (temperature information and humidity information) acquired in S203 and error temperature information 2
33 and the error humidity information 234, the environmental information is corrected (error information is subtracted from the environmental information). Then, the process proceeds to S210.

In S210, the environment information acquisition unit 250 returns acquisition success. Specifically, the environment information acquisition unit 250 stores the environment information (no correction) acquired in S203 or the environment information corrected in S209, and notifies the print control unit 200 of an acquisition result indicating acquisition success. Then, this flow ends.

Each of the processing units in FIGS. 4 to 6 is divided according to main processing contents in order to facilitate understanding of the processing of the printing apparatus 2. The present invention is not limited by the way of dividing the processing unit or the name. The processing of the printing apparatus 2 can be divided into more processing units according to the processing contents. Moreover, it can also divide | segment so that one process unit may contain many processes.

The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to the present embodiment, even when there is no environment information detection unit or when the environment information cannot be acquired due to an abnormality in the environment information detection unit, image formation using the environment information can be performed.

That is, in this embodiment, when the environmental information of the own device cannot be acquired, the environmental information of the other device is acquired. Then, image formation control is executed using this environmental information. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize control of image formation using environmental information even when there is no environmental information detection means or when there is an abnormality in the environmental information detection means. .

In the present embodiment, the environment information of the other device is corrected based on error information set in advance. Then, image formation control is executed using the corrected environment information. With such a configuration, the environment information of the other device is corrected to the environment information close to the environment of the own device, so that it is possible to more appropriately control image formation.

The above embodiments of the present invention are intended to illustrate the gist and scope of the present invention, and are not intended to be limiting. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For example, when an error (for example, paper jam) occurs in the printing process, environment information related to the error may be recorded.

Specifically, the print control unit 200 detects an error of the print engine 30 in the printing process. When an error is detected, environment information is acquired, error information (for example, date and time, error content, etc.) specifying the error is associated with the environment information, and the ROM 22 or RAM 2
Record in 3.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of error information recording processing according to a modification of the first embodiment. This flow is started when the print control unit 200 receives a print instruction. S20
Steps S23 to S23 are the same as those in FIG.

In S24, the print control unit 200 determines whether an error has occurred in the printing process. For example, the print control unit 200 detects error information output from the print engine 30. If an error has occurred (S24: YES), the process proceeds to S25. If no error has occurred (S24: NO), this flow ends.

Since S25 is the same process as S20 and S26 is the same process as S21, the description is omitted. Print control unit 2
When 00 ends S25, the process proceeds to S26. In addition, when the print control unit 200 succeeds in obtaining the environment information (S26: YES), the print control unit 200 advances the process to S27. If acquisition of environmental information has failed (S26: NO), the process proceeds to S28.

In S27, the print control unit 200 records environment information and error information. Specifically, the print control unit 200 acquires environment information that has been successfully acquired from the environment information acquisition unit 250.
Further, error information corresponding to the error detected in S24 is acquired according to a predetermined procedure. The print control unit 200 records error information and environment information in association with each other. Then, this flow ends.

In S28, the print control unit 200 records error information. Specifically, the print control unit 2
In 00, error information corresponding to the error detected in S24 is acquired according to a predetermined procedure.
The print control unit 200 records error information. Then, this flow ends.

According to the above modification, even when there is no environmental information detection means or when the environmental information cannot be acquired due to an abnormality in the environmental information detection means, the error content at the time of printing is recorded in association with the environmental information. The Since the user can analyze the error while referring to the environment information, the user can perform more detailed analysis.

As another modification, for example, the environment information acquisition unit 250 acquires environment information from a predetermined plurality of other devices, corrects errors in each environment information, and calculates an average value of each environment information after correction. Then, it may be passed to the print control unit 200. In this way, more accurate environmental information can be obtained depending on the situation.

Note that the present invention can be applied to various image forming apparatuses such as a printer, a copier, and a multifunction peripheral.

1: PC, 2: printing device, 3: printing system, 20: controller, 21: CPU, 2
2: ROM, 23: RAM, 24: Memory control ASIC, 25: Print control ASIC, 2
6: I / O control ASIC, 27: Network I / F, 28: USB I / F, 30: Print engine, 40: Operation panel, 50: Sensor,
200: Print control unit, 210: Setting reception unit, 220: Environmental information storage unit, 230: Environmental information management table, 231: Acquisition destination information, 232: Priority information, 233: Error temperature information, 23
4: Error humidity information, 240: Environmental information update unit, 250: Environmental information acquisition unit, 260: Environmental information response unit

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus connected via a network to another apparatus having response means for responding environmental information,
Obtaining means for requesting and obtaining environmental information from the other device;
Control means for controlling image forming processing using environmental information acquired by the acquisition means;
Having
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The acquisition means requests and acquires environmental information from the other device when environmental information cannot be acquired from the own device.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
Storage means for storing acquisition destination information for identifying the device for each other device from which environmental information is acquired;
Updating means for periodically updating at least a part of the acquisition source information and storing the updated information in the storage means,
The acquisition unit selects the acquisition source information according to a predetermined priority order, requests environmental information from another device specified by the acquisition destination information, and if acquisition of environmental information fails, the acquisition source information is Select
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
The storage means can store difference information indicating a difference between the environment information of the device and the environment information of the own device for each other device from which the environment information is acquired,
The update unit calculates a difference between the environment information of the device and the environment information of the own device for each other device from which the environment information is acquired, and stores the difference in the storage unit.
The acquisition unit corrects environment information acquired from the other device based on the difference information.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4,
The predetermined priority order is an order of other devices having a quick response when the acquisition unit information is updated by the update unit.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4,
The predetermined priority order is an order of other devices having a small difference when the difference information is updated by the updating unit.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6,
Receiving means for receiving the setting of the acquisition source information from the user and storing it in the storage means;
The acquisition unit preferentially selects the acquisition destination information set by the user over the acquisition destination information stored by the updating unit.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Having error storage means for storing error information of the image forming process;
When the control unit detects an error in the image forming process, the control unit acquires the environment information by the acquisition unit, associates the acquired environment information with the error information for specifying the detected error, and stores it in the error storage unit.
An image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus connected to another image forming apparatus having an acquisition unit that requests acquisition of environmental information via a network,
An acquisition means for acquiring environmental information of the device;
Responding means for transmitting environment information acquired by the acquiring means to the other image forming apparatus when a request from the other image forming apparatus is received;
An image forming apparatus.

Images