JP2021178417A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus which reduces such a possibility that a print job is not completed by the designated job completion period.SOLUTION: A job management unit 41 (a) specifies an expected required time of a print job, (b) divides the print job into a plurality of divided jobs when the expected required time exceeds a prescribed threshold, (c) arranges the print job or divided job in a job queue in an order of the time allowance of the print job derived on the basis of the job completion period of the print job, the expected required time and the current time, and (d) executes the top print job or divided job in the job queue as the target job by using a print device 22 to make the print device output a print product.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

When a print job of another user is executed in free time, one image processing device divides a job whose required time exceeds the value specified by the user into divided jobs within the upper limit time specified by the user. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-24246

When an image forming apparatus is used for commercial purposes such as a commercial printing machine, the delivery date of the printed matter is fixed, so it is necessary to print in time for the delivery date.

Since the above-mentioned image processing device uses the free time to divide and execute the jobs of other users, the image processing device can be used efficiently, but the job may not be completed by the desired deadline. be.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an image forming apparatus that reduces the possibility that a print job will not be completed by a designated job completion deadline.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing apparatus and a job management unit that manages an execution order of print jobs specified by a job request. Then, the job management unit specifies (a) the expected required time of the print job, and (b) divides the print job into a plurality of divided jobs when the estimated required time exceeds a predetermined threshold. c) The print job or the divided job is arranged in the job queue in the order of the job completion deadline of the print job, the estimated required time, and the spare time of the print job derived based on the current time (d). ) The print device is used to execute the print job or the split job at the head of the job queue as a job of interest, and cause the print device to output a print product.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an image forming apparatus that reduces the possibility that a print job is not completed by a designated job completion deadline.

The above or other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further demonstrated from the following detailed description, along with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the order of jobs registered in the job queue in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

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

Embodiment 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a commercial printing machine, a multifunction device, a printer, or the like. A host device 2 is connected to the image forming device 1 via a network or the like. The host device 2 is, for example, a personal computer, and transmits a print job request for printing a manuscript image desired by the user to the image forming device 1.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation panel 11, a communication apparatus 21, a printing apparatus 22, a storage apparatus 23, and an arithmetic processing apparatus 24.

The operation panel 11 includes a display device 11a such as a liquid crystal display and an input device 11b such as a touch panel, and displays an operation screen for the user and detects a user operation. Further, the communication device 21 is a device that can be connected to the host device 2 via a network or the like and performs data communication using a predetermined communication protocol.

Further, the printing device 22 is an internal device that prints a document image specified by a print job request using consumables (toner, printing paper, etc.). The printing device 22 includes a plurality of storage units 31-1 to 31-N that serve as discharge destinations for print products generated by printing the original image.

Further, the storage device 23 is a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory or a hard disk drive, and stores data and programs.

Further, the arithmetic processing device 24 is a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., which are not shown, and is a program stored in the storage device 23, the ROM, or the like. Is loaded into the RAM, and the program is executed by the CPU to operate as various processing units.

In this embodiment, the arithmetic processing unit 24 operates as a job management unit 41.

The job management unit 41 receives the print job request received from the host device 2, executes the print job while managing the execution order of the print jobs specified by the job request, and performs the print process specified by the print job request. Are sequentially executed by the printing device 22.

Specifically, when the job management unit 41 receives a job request for a print job, (a) the estimated required time for the print job is based on settings such as the number of print pages and the number of copies specified in the job request. If (b) the estimated required time exceeds the predetermined threshold TH, the print job is divided into a plurality of divided jobs, and (c) the job completion deadline, the estimated required time, and the current time of the print job are set. The print job or the split job is arranged in the job queue in the order of the spare time of the print job derived based on the above.

Here, the print job is divided so that the expected required time of each divided job does not exceed the predetermined threshold value TH and the expected required time of the plurality of divided jobs is substantially the same. Further, the job queue has a predetermined data structure such as a linked list, and is data indicating the arrangement order of jobs waiting to be executed. The job completion deadline is specified in the job request.

Therefore, when the split job of a part of the plurality of split jobs is executed, the job management unit 41 newly prints a new print having a margin time shorter than the margin time of the remaining split jobs of the plurality of split jobs. If the job is specified in the job request, add the new print job to the job queue so that the new print job precedes the remaining split jobs.

In the first embodiment, the spare time of the plurality of divided jobs described above is the same as each other, and the spare time of the print job (time obtained by subtracting the expected required time from the remaining time from the current time to the job completion deadline). ) Is the same.

Then, the job management unit 41 selects the first print job or the split job in the job queue as the job of interest, executes the job using the print device 22, and causes the print device 22 to output the print product. Then, the job management unit 41 deletes the job whose execution has started or completed from the job queue.

Further, in this embodiment, the job management unit 41 specifies (a) the remaining amount of consumables (toner, printing paper, etc.) used in the printing device 22 by an existing method, and (b) a predetermined unmanned operation. If the expected amount of consumables used in a job of interest is greater than the remaining amount during operating hours (time when the operator is absent and cannot replenish consumables, such as at night or on holidays), the job of interest Is not executed, and among the print jobs or split jobs other than the noteworthy job in the job queue, the print job or split job whose expected usage of consumables is less than the remaining amount is executed first. If there is no print job or split job in the job queue whose expected usage amount of consumables is less than the remaining amount, the job management unit 41 does not execute any print job, for example, a message that the consumables have run out. Is displayed on the display device 11a and is in a standby state until consumables are replenished.

If the expected amount of consumables used in the attention job is less than or equal to the remaining amount in the predetermined unmanned operation time zone, the job management unit 41 executes the attention job. Further, in a time zone other than the predetermined unmanned operation time zone, the job management unit 41 does not determine whether or not the expected usage amount of the consumables used in the attention job is less than or equal to the remaining amount. The attention job may be executed, or the same processing as in the unmanned operation time zone may be performed.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the order of jobs registered in the job queue in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

The job management unit 41 periodically (for example, every minute) updates the spare time of a job (print job or split job) in the job queue according to the current time. Further, the job management unit 41 monitors whether or not the job request has been accepted (step S1), and when the job request is accepted, the following processing is executed.

First, the job management unit 41 specifies the job completion deadline specified by the received job request, and the print job settings (number of print pages, number of copies, etc.) specified by the received job request are known per page. The estimated required time is specified based on the unit required time or the like (step S2).

Next, the job management unit 41 specifies the current spare time of the print job specified by the job request (step S3).

Then, the job management unit 41 determines whether or not the estimated required time of the print job specified by the job request exceeds the predetermined threshold TH (step S4), and the estimated required time of the print job is the predetermined threshold TH. If the above is exceeded, a plurality of split jobs are generated by splitting the print job into a plurality of split jobs (step S5), and the original print job is not registered in the job queue, but a plurality of split jobs are created. Register the job in the job queue (step S6). On the other hand, when the expected required time of the print job does not exceed the predetermined threshold value TH, the job management unit 41 registers the print job in the job queue without dividing the print job into a plurality of divided jobs. (Step S6).

The jobs in the job queue are arranged so that the shorter the spare time, the closer to the beginning of the job queue, and the jobs registered here are added to the positions in the job queue according to the spare time of the job. ..

Then, the job management unit 41 monitors the printing device 22 and the job queue, and if the printing device 22 is not printing, determines whether or not there is at least one job in the job queue, and determines whether or not there is at least one job in the job queue. If there is at least one job in the job, the first job is selected and the printing device 22 executes the printing process of that job.

When the job management unit 41 causes the printing device 22 to execute the printing process of the divided job, the storage unit 31-i corresponding to the plurality of divided jobs obtained by dividing the original print job is made the same as each other. , The storage unit 31-i of the divided job is designated to the printing device 22, and until all of the plurality of divided jobs are completed, the storage unit of jobs other than the plurality of divided jobs is used as the storage unit of the plurality of divided jobs. The corresponding storage unit 31-i is not specified. As a result, the print products for the original print job (that is, the plurality of division jobs) are continuously discharged to one storage unit 31-i.

The job completion deadline and the estimated required time of each job are stored in the RAM or the storage device 23 until the job is deleted from the job queue, and are read out and used when the spare time is updated. In addition, the data indicating each job in the job queue includes, for example, the identifier of the job (such as the serial number of the job) and the latest spare time of the job.

Here, a specific example will be described with reference to FIG.

First, at time ta, when the job queue is empty, the job request of job A is accepted, and it is determined that the expected required time of job A exceeds the threshold TH, job A is divided into jobs A1 and A2. Then, jobs A1 and A2 are added to the head of the job queue.

Then, if there is no currently executed job, the job A1 is first executed and deleted from the job queue.

Next, at time tb, the job request of job B is accepted, it is not determined that the expected required time of job B exceeds the threshold TH, and the margin time Tm_B (tb) of job B at this time tb is the job. When the margin time of A is longer than Tm_A (tb), job B is registered after job A2 in the job queue.

After that, job A2 is executed and deleted from the job queue.

Then, at the time ct, the job request of the job C is accepted, it is determined that the expected required time of the job C exceeds the threshold value TH, and the margin time Tm_C (ct) of the job C at this time ct is the job B. When the spare time is longer than Tm_B (tc), the job C is divided into jobs C1, C2, and C3, and jobs C1, C2, and C3 are registered after the job B in the job queue.

Further, at the time td, the job request of the job D is accepted, it is not determined that the expected required time of the job D exceeds the threshold value TH, and the margin time Tm_D (td) of the job D at the time td at this time is the job B. If it is longer than the margin time Tm_B (td) and shorter than the margin time Tm_C (td) of jobs C1, C2, and C3, job D is registered between job B and job C1 in the job queue.

After that, jobs B, D, and C1 are executed and deleted from the job queue.

Further, at time te, the job request of job E is accepted, it is not determined that the expected required time of job E exceeds the threshold TH, and the margin time Tm_E (te) of job E at this time te is job C. If it is shorter than the spare time Tm_C (td) of (remaining jobs C2 and C3), job E is registered at the beginning (that is, before the remaining jobs C2 and C3) in the job queue. As a result, the job E is executed before the remaining jobs C2 and C3 of the job C.

In this way, jobs are executed in sequence until the job queue is empty.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the job management unit 41 specifies (a) the expected required time of the print job, and (b) when the estimated required time exceeds a predetermined threshold, the said person concerned. A print job is divided into multiple divided jobs, and (c) the print job or the divided job is divided in the order of the job completion deadline of the print job, the estimated required time, and the spare time of the print job derived based on the current time. Arranged in the job queue, (d) the print device 22 is used to execute the first print job or the split job in the job queue as the job of interest, and cause the print device to output the print product.

As a result, by dividing a long job, the length of all jobs is limited to below the threshold value and the jobs are executed in the order based on the spare time, so the job execution order is flexibly determined according to the job completion deadline. , It is less likely that the print job will not be completed by the specified job completion deadline.

Embodiment 2.

In the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, the margin times of the plurality of divided jobs described above are set so as to be different from each other. Specifically, the spare time of each split job among the above-mentioned plurality of split jobs is the estimated required time, job completion deadline, and current time of the split job following the split job among the plurality of split jobs. Derived based on.

For example, when job C is divided into jobs C1, C2, and C3 in FIG. 3, the spare time of jobs C1, C2, and C3 is individually derived in the following world.

The job completion deadline of the last job C3 is set to be the same as the job completion deadline of job C, and the estimated required time of job C3 (for example, when job C is evenly divided, the estimated required time of job C is set. The spare time of job C3 is individually derived based on the number of jobs C1, C2, and C3 (time obtained by dividing by 3 in this case), the job completion deadline of job C3, and the current time.

The job completion deadline of job C2 is set to be earlier than the job completion deadline of job C by the estimated required time of the subsequent job C3 (or the time obtained by adding a predetermined margin time to the estimated required time), and the job C2 has a job completion deadline. The spare time of job C2 is individually derived based on the estimated required time, the job completion deadline of job C2, and the current time.

The job completion deadline of job C1 is set to be earlier than the job completion deadline of job C by the estimated required time of subsequent jobs C2 and C3 (or the time obtained by adding a predetermined margin time to the estimated required time), and the job. The spare time of job C1 is individually derived based on the expected required time of C1, the job completion deadline of job C1, and the current time.

Since other configurations and operations of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the intent and scope of the subject and without diminishing the intended benefits. That is, it is intended that such changes and amendments are included in the claims.

For example, in the above embodiment, the spare time of the job in the job queue may not be updated periodically, but the spare time may be updated when a new job request is received.

The present invention is applicable to, for example, an image forming apparatus.

1 Image forming device 22 Printing device 41 Job management unit

Claims (5)

With a printing device,
It has a job management unit that manages the execution order of print jobs specified by the job request.
The job management unit specifies (a) the expected required time of the print job, (b) divides the print job into a plurality of divided jobs when the estimated required time exceeds a predetermined threshold, and (c). The print job or the divided job is arranged in the job queue in the order of the job completion deadline of the print job, the estimated required time, and the spare time of the print job derived based on the current time, and (d) the above. Using the print device to execute the print job or the split job at the head of the job queue as a job of interest, and causing the print device to output a print product.
An image forming apparatus characterized by. The job management unit (a) identifies the remaining amount of consumables used in the printing device, and (b) predicts the amount of consumables used in the attention job during a predetermined unmanned operation time zone. If is greater than the remaining amount, the expected usage amount of the consumables among the print jobs or the divided jobs other than the attention job in the job queue is less than the remaining amount without executing the attention job. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a small number of print jobs or division jobs are executed. The job management unit is a new print job having a spare time shorter than the spare time of the remaining split jobs of the plurality of split jobs when a partial split job of the plurality of split jobs is being executed. 1 or 2 is characterized in that the new print job is added to the job queue so that the new print job precedes the remaining split jobs when is specified in the job request. Image forming device. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spare time of the plurality of divided jobs is the same as each other and is the same as the spare time of the print job. .. The spare time of the plurality of split jobs is different from each other.
The spare time of each split job among the plurality of split jobs is derived from the expected required time of the split job succeeding from the split job among the plurality of split jobs, the job completion deadline, and the current time. That,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is characterized.

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