JP2016224216A - Image forming system and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system and an image forming method with which printing can be quickly executed while suppressing power consumption.SOLUTION: A fixing temperature acquisition part 203 acquires a current fixing temperature of a fixing part in each of image forming apparatuses 11 connected to a network in a received print job. An apparatus selection part 204 selects, from the image forming apparatuses 11, a target image forming apparatus 11 having a current fixing temperature equal to or lower than a printing temperature determined in a setting condition of the print job and closest to the printing temperature. A job transmission part 206 transmits the print job to the target image forming apparatus 11 to cause the apparatus to execute the print job.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image forming system that connects an image forming apparatus and a terminal device via a network. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-178846 (Patent Document 1), when performing large format printing with a plurality of large format printers connected to a network, a large format printer suitable for print data size and media information is searched. A printer system for notifying a user of a search result is disclosed.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-36564 (Patent Document 2) uses a preheating power by selecting a printing apparatus that has already been activated and preventing a printing apparatus that has not been activated from being newly activated. A facsimile receiver is disclosed that avoids this.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-272011 (Patent Document 3) integrates the amount of fixing power required from the power saving mode to the completion of warm-up and the amount of fixing power required from the completion of warm-up to the printing operation. A printer system for selecting a printer capable of printing with electric power is disclosed.

JP 2006-178846 A JP 2007-36564 A JP 2004-272011 A

  However, although the conventional technology can reduce the fixing temperature with a large amount of power consumption, it has not been confirmed whether the paper set in the paper feed stage is appropriately set as the paper type of the print job. For this reason, it is unclear whether the selected printer can perform printing under the optimum print setting conditions including the fixing temperature setting conditions, and there is a possibility that the print image printed on the paper will be affected.

  Here, when selecting a printer to print only from the viewpoint of power consumption, the influence of the overshoot of the fixing temperature of the printer is not considered, so even if a print job is sent to the selected printer, in reality, The printer waits for the fixing temperature to drop due to overshoot, and then prints. Therefore, when a printer is selected only from the viewpoint of power consumption, there is a problem that printing is not easily started.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming system and an image forming method capable of quickly performing printing while suppressing power consumption. .

  An image forming system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a fixing temperature acquisition unit, an apparatus selection unit, and a job transmission unit. The fixing temperature acquisition unit acquires the current fixing temperature in the fixing portion of the image forming apparatus connected to the network in the received print job. The apparatus selection unit selects, from among the image forming apparatuses, a target image forming apparatus whose current fixing temperature is equal to or lower than the printing temperature determined by the setting condition of the print job and closest to the printing temperature. The job transmission unit transmits the print job to the target image forming apparatus and causes the print job to be executed.

  An image forming method according to an aspect of the present invention includes a fixing temperature acquisition step, an apparatus selection step, and a job transmission step. The fixing temperature acquisition step acquires the current fixing temperature in the fixing portion of the image forming apparatus connected to the network in the received print job. In the apparatus selection step, a target image forming apparatus having a current fixing temperature equal to or lower than a printing temperature determined by the setting condition of the print job and the closest to the printing temperature is selected from the image forming apparatuses. In the job transmission step, the print job is transmitted to the target image forming apparatus to execute the print job.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to execute printing quickly while suppressing power consumption.

1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for showing the execution procedure of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of selection of the object image forming apparatus of the image forming system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: The thing of the character which limits the technical scope of this invention is not. Moreover, the alphabet S added before the number in a flowchart means a step.

  Hereinafter, as an example of an embodiment of the present invention, an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses and terminal devices are communicably connected via a network will be described. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention corresponds to, for example, a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having functions such as a copy, a scanner, and a printer. The terminal device corresponds to, for example, a personal computer, a tablet terminal device, a notebook computer, or a mobile terminal device.

  In the image forming system 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the user creates a print job including an image such as a document using the terminal device 10 and transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 11 designated in advance. When the image forming apparatus 11 receives the print job, the image forming apparatus 11 executes the print job based on setting conditions of the print job.

  The image forming apparatus 11 includes a paper type detection unit (media sensor) and can detect the type of paper stored in the paper feed cassette. The image forming apparatus 11 collates the paper type specified in the print job with the paper type in the paper feed cassette, and forms an image on the paper according to the paper type of the print job. Here, since the optimum fixing temperature for forming an image on the paper differs depending on the type of paper, the image forming apparatus 11 changes the fixing temperature of the fixing unit in accordance with the paper type of the print job. .

  Control circuits of the terminal device 10 and the image forming apparatus 11 are not shown, but a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and an SSD (Solid State Drive). ), Drivers corresponding to the drive units are connected by an internal bus. The CPUs of the terminal device 10 and the image forming apparatus 11 use, for example, a RAM as a work area, execute a program stored in a ROM, HDD, SSD, or the like, and based on the execution result, data and instructions from the driver Signals, commands, etc. are exchanged to control the operation of each drive unit. Further, for each unit (shown in FIG. 2) to be described later other than the drive unit, the CPU implements each unit by executing each program. The ROM, RAM, HDD, SSD, and the like store programs and data that implement each unit described below.

  Next, the configuration and execution procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the user inputs setting conditions related to the print job (for example, paper size “A4”, paper type “bond paper”, etc.) using the terminal device 10, creates a print job, and starts key Is selected, the job accepting unit 201 of the terminal device 10 accepts the input of the print job (FIG. 3: S101) and notifies the print temperature determining unit 202 to that effect. Upon receiving the notification, the printing temperature determination unit 202 determines the printing temperature in the fixing portion of printing based on the setting condition of the print job (FIG. 3: S102).

  For example, the print temperature determination unit 202 includes, among the setting conditions of the print job, parameters that are considered to affect the fixing temperature of the fixing portion and the print image, specifically, the paper size (“A4”), With reference to the paper type (“bond paper”), a print temperature table stored in advance in a specific memory is referred to. The print temperature table stores the paper size, the paper type, and the print temperature in association with each other. For example, the paper size “A4” and the paper type “bond paper” are specified. Is stored in association with the printing temperature “165 degrees”. As a result, the specific printing temperature is uniquely determined by the combination of the paper size and the paper type. The printing temperature determination unit 202 determines the printing temperature corresponding to the combination of the paper size and the paper type based on the printing temperature table.

  When the printing temperature determination unit 202 completes the determination of the printing temperature, it notifies the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 to that effect, and the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 that has received the notification notifies the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 of the image forming apparatus 11 connected on the network. The current fixing temperature in the fixing portion is acquired (FIG. 3: S103).

  For example, the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 accesses each image forming apparatus 11 via the network, and acquires the current fixing temperature held by the image forming apparatus 11 for each image forming apparatus 11.

  Here, the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 first searches for a candidate image forming apparatus 11 having a sheet size that matches the sheet size in the print job setting conditions, and currently searches the current candidate image forming apparatus 11 for the searched candidate image forming apparatus 11. The fixing temperature may be acquired. As a result, the current fixing temperature can be efficiently obtained only for the candidate image forming apparatus 11 that can execute the print job.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 obtains the current fixing temperature “171 degrees” from the image forming apparatus 11 with the machine number “A” and the current fixing temperature from the image forming apparatus 11 with the machine number “B”. The current fixing temperature “180 degrees” from the image forming apparatus 11 with the machine number “C”, and the current fixing temperature “150 degrees” from the image forming apparatus 11 with the machine number “D”. Get each.

  When the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 completes the acquisition of the current fixing temperature, it notifies the device selection unit 204 to that effect, and the device selection unit 204 that has received the notification, among the image forming apparatuses 11, The target image forming apparatus 11 whose fixing temperature is equal to or lower than the printing temperature and closest to the printing temperature is selected (FIG. 3: S104).

  For example, the apparatus selection unit 204 first searches for the image forming apparatus 11 whose current fixing temperature is equal to or lower than the printing temperature “165 degrees”. Here, the apparatus selection unit 204 includes an image forming apparatus 11 having a machine number “B” having a current fixing temperature “164 degrees” and an image forming apparatus 11 having a machine number “D” having a current fixing temperature “150 degrees”. Search for. Next, the apparatus selection unit 204 selects the image forming apparatus 11 with the current fixing temperature closest to the printing temperature, here, the image forming apparatus 11 with the machine number “B” having the current fixing temperature “164 degrees” as the target image. The forming apparatus 11 is selected. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently search for the target image forming apparatus 11 that can execute the print job quickly without the fixing temperature being in the overshoot state. In particular, in a fixing portion having a fixing temperature exceeding the printing temperature, it takes a long time to decrease the fixing temperature, so that it is not necessary to select such an image forming apparatus. Further, since it is not necessary to raise the current fixing temperature almost, a preferable target image forming apparatus 11 can be selected from the viewpoint of power consumption.

  When the apparatus selection unit 204 selects the target image forming apparatus 11, the type determination unit 205 is notified to that effect, and the type determination unit 205 that has received the notification notifies the paper stored in the selected target image forming apparatus 11. Is determined to match the paper type in the print job setting conditions (FIG. 3: S105).

  For example, the type determination unit 205 activates the media sensor of the target image forming apparatus 11 and detects the type of paper stored in the target image forming apparatus 11. The type determination unit 205 determines whether the detected paper type matches the paper type in the setting condition.

  As a result of the determination, if the paper type stored in the target image forming apparatus 11 matches the paper type in the setting condition (FIG. 3: S105 YES), the type determination unit 205 notifies the job transmission unit to that effect. 206 is notified. Upon receiving the notification, the job transmission unit 206 transmits the print job to the target image forming apparatus 11 (FIG. 3: S106). The target image forming apparatus 11 that has received the print job operates each drive unit to execute the print job (FIG. 3: S107). As a result, it is possible to realize execution of a print job with high printing speed and low power consumption. In addition, since the paper types by the media sensor are the same, the printed matter desired by the user can be output.

  On the other hand, in S105, if the type of paper stored in the target image forming apparatus 11 does not match the paper type in the setting condition (FIG. 3: S105 NO), the type determination unit 205 notifies the device selection unit. 204 is notified. Upon receiving the notification, the apparatus selection unit 204 selects the target image forming apparatus 11 again other than the target image forming apparatus 11 that has determined the paper type (FIG. 3: S104).

  For example, if the paper type stored in the image forming apparatus 11 with the machine number “B” is “plain paper” and is different from the paper type in the setting condition, the device selection unit 204 next selects the printing temperature. Is the closest target image forming apparatus, specifically, the image forming apparatus 11 with the machine number “D” having the current fixing temperature “150 degrees”. Thus, by searching for the target image forming apparatus 11 that matches the paper type, it is possible to reliably output the printed matter desired by the user.

  Here, when the apparatus selection unit 204 selects the target image forming apparatus 11 again, if the corresponding target image forming apparatus 11 does not exist, for example, the remaining image forming apparatus 11 has the current fixing temperature set to the current fixing temperature. When the printing temperature is exceeded, the apparatus selection unit 204 next selects the target image forming apparatus 11 whose current fixing temperature exceeds the printing temperature and is closest to the printing temperature. For example, the apparatus selection unit 204 selects the image forming apparatus 11 having the machine number “A” having the current fixing temperature “171 degrees” (FIG. 3: S104).

  Further, when the paper type of the image forming apparatus 11 with the machine number “A” does not match the paper type in the setting condition (FIG. 3: S105 NO), the apparatus selection unit 204 finally ends with the current fixing temperature “180”. The image forming apparatus 11 having the machine number “D” of “degree” is selected (FIG. 3: S104).

  Here, if the paper type of the image forming apparatus 11 with the machine number “D” does not match the paper type in the setting condition (FIG. 3: S105 NO), the apparatus selection unit 204 notifies that to the display reception unit 207. Notify Upon receiving the notification, the display receiving unit 207 displays, for example, an error screen indicating that the optimum image forming apparatus 11 cannot be found on the liquid crystal display of the terminal device 10. Accordingly, it is possible to inform the user that there is no image forming apparatus that can output a desired printed matter.

  In addition, the display receiving unit 207 displays, on the liquid crystal display of the terminal device 10, for example, a paper type change screen that prompts the user to change the paper type among the print job setting conditions. For example, when the user changes the paper type in the print job setting condition to the paper type of the target image forming apparatus 11 that has been selected once, the display accepting unit 207 displays the change in the paper type change screen. The type determination unit 205 receives the notification, and based on the change in the type of the sheet, the sheet type of the target image forming apparatus 11 selected first is the sheet in the setting condition. It is determined whether or not it matches the type (FIG. 3: S105). Accordingly, the user can execute the print job by appropriately changing the paper type in the setting condition.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 accesses the image forming apparatuses 11 to acquire the current fixing temperature. However, other configurations may be used. For example, the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 is configured to transmit a reply command for returning the current fixing temperature to each image forming apparatus 11, and the image forming apparatus 11 that has received the reply command returns the current fixing temperature. May be.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 is configured to acquire all the current fixing temperatures of the image forming apparatus 11 connected on the network, but other configurations may be used. For example, if the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 can acquire the type of paper stored in each image forming apparatus 11, the fixing temperature acquisition unit 203 first of the image forming apparatus 11 connected on the network. Of these, the image forming apparatus 11 that stores a paper type that matches the paper type in the setting condition may be selected, and the current fixing temperature of the selected image forming apparatus 11 may be acquired. Accordingly, it is possible to limit the image forming apparatus 11 that acquires the current fixing temperature, and it is possible to omit activation of the media sensor.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the type determination unit 205 is provided. However, when the device selection unit 204 selects the target image forming apparatus 11 without providing the type determination unit 205, the job transmission unit 206 displays the target image forming apparatus. 11 may be configured to transmit the print job.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the terminal device 10 is configured to include each unit, but other configurations may be used. For example, the image forming system 1 includes a terminal device 11 that transmits a print job, and a print job server that receives the print job and transfers it to the image forming device 11 on the network. You may comprise so that it may be provided.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, a part of each part of the terminal device 10 may be configured as an image forming system provided in another image forming apparatus 11. In the embodiment of the present invention, the terminal device 10 is configured to include each unit. However, a program that realizes each unit may be stored in a storage medium, and the storage medium may be provided. In this configuration, the program is read by the apparatus of the image forming system, and the apparatus implements the respective units. In that case, the program itself read from the recording medium exhibits the effects of the present invention. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a method for storing the steps executed by each unit in a hard disk.

  As described above, the image forming system and the image forming method according to the present invention are useful for an image forming system in which image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers are connected via a network as well as multifunction peripherals, and reduce power consumption. However, the present invention is effective as an image forming system and an image forming method capable of quickly executing printing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 10 Terminal apparatus 11 Image forming apparatus 201 Job reception part 202 Printing temperature determination part 203 Fixing temperature acquisition part 204 Device selection part 205 Type determination part 206 Job transmission part 207 Display reception part

Claims (5)

In the received print job, a fixing temperature acquisition unit that acquires a current fixing temperature in a fixing part of the image forming apparatus connected on the network;
A device selection unit that selects a target image forming device that is closest to the print temperature, and the current fixing temperature is equal to or lower than the print temperature determined by the setting condition of the print job, among the image forming devices;
A job transmission unit for transmitting the print job to the target image forming apparatus and executing the print job;
An image forming system comprising: The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: a printing temperature determination unit that determines a printing temperature in a fixing portion of printing based on setting conditions of the print job. A type determination unit that determines whether the type of paper stored in the selected target image forming apparatus matches the type of paper in the setting conditions of the print job;
The job transmission unit transmits the print job to the target image forming apparatus when the paper type stored in the selected target image forming apparatus matches the paper type in the setting conditions of the print job. The image forming system according to claim 1 or 2. If the paper type stored in the target image forming apparatus does not match the paper type in the setting condition, the apparatus selection unit again forms the target image other than the target image forming apparatus that has determined the paper type. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein an apparatus is selected. A fixing temperature acquisition step of acquiring a current fixing temperature in a fixing portion of the image forming apparatus connected to the network in the received print job;
A device selection step of selecting a target image forming device that is closest to the print temperature, the current fixing temperature being equal to or lower than the print temperature determined by the setting condition of the print job, among the image forming devices;
A job transmission step of transmitting the print job to the target image forming apparatus and executing the print job;
An image forming method comprising:

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