JP2022018858A - Image forming apparatus, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce load of control at appropriate timing.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: a control unit for executing control processing; a load acquisition unit for acquiring data indicating a load of the control processing and a change amount of the load; and a control change determination unit for determining whether a control change condition for changing content of the control processing is satisfied on the basis of the load of the control processing and the change amount of the load. In the image forming apparatus, the control unit changes the content of the control processing so as to reduce the load of the control processing on the basis of a determination result of the control change determination unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method and a program.

An image forming apparatus that reduces the load of control processing has been developed.

For example, it is provided with a determination means for determining whether or not the control load exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and a load reduction means for reducing the productivity related to image formation when the determination means determines that the threshold value is exceeded. The image forming apparatus is disclosed.

In the above-mentioned conventional technique, since the judgment is made based only on the control load at the time of judgment, the productivity is lowered when the control processing load changes greatly depending on the peripheral device used, the type of print job data, and the like. There is a problem that the timing for reducing the load of the control process may not be appropriate, for example, the productivity may be lowered at the timing when it is not necessary to do so.

The disclosed technology aims to reduce the control load at the right time.

The disclosed technology includes a control unit that executes a control process, a load acquisition unit that acquires data indicating a load of the control process and a change amount of the load, a load of the control process, and a load of the load. A control change determination unit for determining whether or not a control change condition for changing the content of the control process is satisfied based on the change amount is provided, and the control unit is a control change determination unit. An image forming apparatus that changes the content of the control process so that the load of the control process is reduced based on the determination result.

The control load can be reduced at an appropriate timing.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration of an image formation system. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware composition of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the paper transport path of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the function of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of a load measurement process. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation method of the load change amount. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of suppression control processing. It is a figure for demonstrating the determination method of the suppression control process.

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of an image forming system.

The image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 10, a DFE (Digital Front End) 20, a user terminal 30, and a management server 40.

The image forming apparatus 10 is an apparatus for forming an image, for example, a color production printer. The image forming apparatus 10 receives the image data from the DFE 20 and prints the image on a medium such as paper based on the received image data.

The DFE 20 is a device that controls the image forming apparatus 10. The DFE 20 is communicably connected to the image forming apparatus 10, the user terminal 30, and the management server 40.

When the DFE 20 receives job data together with a signal instructing image printing from the management server 40, the built-in RIP (Raster Image Processor) engine converts the image data into image data in a format that can be processed by the image forming apparatus 10. The resulting image data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10.

The user terminal 30 is a terminal that receives an operation of the user and gives an instruction to print an image. Specifically, the user terminal 30 transmits job data including image data to the management server 40.

When the management server 40 receives the job data from the user terminal 30, the management server 40 adds it as a queue to the storage unit that stores the job data waiting to be printed. Then, the management server 40 extracts job data from the queue in the order in which it is added to the queue or according to a priority set as appropriate, and sends the job data to the DFE 20.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus 10 is partially composed of a computer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 302, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 303, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) / SDD ( It includes a Solid State Drive) 304, an I / F 305, an image forming unit 306, and a reading unit 307.

The CPU 201 reads the program stored in the ROM 202 or the HDD / SDD 204 and stores it in the RAM 203. Then, the CPU 201 executes various processes described later according to the program stored in the RAM 203.

ROM 202 is a non-volatile auxiliary storage device. The ROM 202 stores a program that defines the basic operation of the image forming apparatus 10 such as the BIOS.

The RAM 203 is a volatile main storage device. The RAM 203 is used as a work area of the CPU 201.

The HDD / SDD204 is a large-capacity non-volatile auxiliary storage device. The HDD / SDD204 stores received print job data, programs for various processes described later, threshold information, and the like.

The I / F 305 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) card or the like, and is a repeater for communicating with the DFE 20, the user terminal 30, or the management server 40.

The image forming unit 306 is a device that executes an image forming process. The details of the image forming unit 306 will be described later.

The reading unit 307 is a device that reads an image formed on the paper to be conveyed after printing. The details of the reading unit 307 will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a paper transport path of the image forming apparatus.

In the image forming unit 306 of the image forming apparatus 10, the photoconductor drums 403Y, 403M, 403C, and 403K (hereinafter, collectively referred to as the photoconductor drum 403) of each color are arranged along the intermediate transfer belt 402 which is an endless moving means. It is a so-called tandem type.

That is, the intermediate transfer belt 402 is formed along the intermediate transfer belt 402 on which an intermediate transfer image for being fed from the paper feed tray 400 and transferred by the transfer roller 401 (an example of a recording medium) is formed. Photoreceptor drums 403Y, 403M, 403C, and 403K are arranged in order from the upstream side in the transport direction.

An image of each color developed by toner on the surface of the photoconductor drum 403 of each color is superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 402 and transferred to form a full-color image.

The full-color image thus formed on the intermediate transfer belt 402 of the paper conveyed on the path by the function of the transfer roller 404 at the position closest to the transfer path of the paper shown by the broken line in the figure. Transferred on paper.

The paper on which the image is formed on the paper surface is further conveyed, and the image is fixed (image formation) by the fixing roller 405.

In the case of double-sided printing, after forming an image on the front surface, the paper is conveyed to the inversion path 407 in the transfer path, the front and back sides are inverted, and then the paper is conveyed to the position of the transfer roller 404 again.

Further, the reading unit 307 is composed of an in-line sensor 406a and an in-line sensor 406b (hereinafter, referred to as an in-line sensor 406 as a whole). The in-line sensor 406 reads both sides of the paper by the fixing roller 405 and obtains the read image data of the image fixed on the paper.

The number of in-line sensors 406 does not necessarily have to be two (406a, 406b), and for example, only the in-line sensor 406a may be used.

When the in-line sensor 406 is only the in-line sensor 406a, the in-line sensor 406 reads when it is printed on the surface of the paper. The image forming unit 306 then prints on the back surface of the paper and conveys it as it is.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the function of the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus 10 includes a storage unit 11, a load acquisition unit 12, a control change determination unit 13, and a control unit 14.

The storage unit 11 stores various information. Specifically, the storage unit 11 stores the load threshold value information 111 and the load change amount threshold value information 112.

The load threshold information 111 and the load change amount threshold information 112 are threshold information indicating the load of the control process set to a plurality of levels and the reference of the load change amount.

The load threshold information 111 is information indicating a load reference for control processing set at a plurality of levels. Further, the load change amount threshold information 112 is information indicating a reference of the load change amount of the control process set to a plurality of levels.

For example, the load of control processing is represented by the delay time of the software timer. The load threshold information 111 indicates, for example, that less than 50 (msec) is level A, 50 (msec) or more and less than 100 (msec) is level B, and 100 (msec) or more is level C.

Further, the change amount of the load of the control process is an amount indicating the change of the load generated by the difference of the peripheral machine used and the print job, and is represented by, for example, the change amount of the delay time of the software timer for each number of pages. Will be done. The load change amount threshold information 112 is, for example, level 1 for a decrease in load, no change, and an increase of less than 30 (msec / p), and a level 2 for an increase of 30 (msec / p) or more and less than 70 (msec / p). An increase of 70 (msec / p) or more indicates level 3.

The load acquisition unit 12 acquires data indicating the load of the control process of the control unit 14 and the amount of change in the load.

The control change determination unit 13 determines whether or not the control change condition for changing the content of the control process is satisfied based on the load of the control process and the change amount of the load.

The control change condition is a condition in which the level of the load of the control process and the level of the change in the load of the [KK1] [Iwase2] control process are defined in advance as a criterion for determining whether or not to change the control content. .. For example, the fact that the load of the control process is level B and the amount of change in the load is level 2 is a condition for changing to the control process that does not output the log.

The control unit 14 executes a control process for controlling the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 14 changes the content of the control process so that the load of the control process is reduced based on the determination result of the control change determination unit 13.

Next, the operation of the image forming system 1 will be described.

As a premise, the designer of the image forming system 1 prepares an environment for increasing the load of the control processing of the image forming apparatus 10, generates jam and the like, and experimentally loads the load threshold value information 111 and the load change amount threshold value information. The threshold value of 112 is determined and stored in the storage unit 11.

The load acquisition unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 10 repeatedly executes the load measurement process for measuring the load of the control process. For example, the load acquisition unit 12 may periodically execute the load measurement process, or may execute the load measurement process when starting drawing for each print job.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of load measurement processing.

When the load measurement process is started, the load acquisition unit 12 measures the load at the start of the process (step S101). For example, the load acquisition unit 12 uses a software timer every 10 msec to measure the delay time of the print interval (drawing start interval between pages) as the load of the control process.

Then, the load acquisition unit 12 stores the data indicating the measured load in the storage unit 11 (step S102). The load acquisition unit 12 stores the time in the storage unit 11 in association with the measured time. As a result, data indicating the load is accumulated in the storage unit 11 in chronological order.

Next, the load acquisition unit 12 calculates the load change amount based on the data indicating the load (step S103). Specifically, the load acquisition unit 12 calculates the load change amount by the least squares method based on the delay time for the processing time point and the reference number of times before the processing time point.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating a load change amount.

The load acquisition unit 12 calculates the load for each page, and for example, calculates the amount of change in the load for the last 5 pages by the method of least squares.

Next, the suppression control process that starts and ends the suppression control that reduces the load of the control process will be described. The image forming apparatus 10 executes the suppression control process at a predetermined cycle while the image forming unit 306 is executing printing.

The method for calculating the load change amount is not limited to this, and the load acquisition unit 12 may statistically calculate the load change amount based on the data indicating the load accumulated along the time series.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of suppression control processing.

The load acquisition unit 12 acquires the latest load (step S201). Specifically, the load acquisition unit 12 acquires the last stored data among the data indicating the load stored in the storage unit 11 in the load measurement process.

Next, the control change determination unit 13 determines the load level (step S202). Specifically, the control change determination unit 13 determines the load level by comparing the threshold value defined in the load threshold value information 111 with the latest load acquired in step S201.

Next, the control change determination unit 13 acquires the amount of change in the load (step S203). Specifically, the control change determination unit 13 acquires data indicating the load change amount calculated in the load measurement process.

Then, the control change determination unit 13 determines the level of the load change amount (step S204). Specifically, the control change determination unit 13 compares the threshold value defined in the load change amount threshold information 112 with the load change amount acquired in step S203, and determines the level of the load change amount.

Subsequently, the control change determination unit 13 determines whether or not the load status of the control process satisfies the control change condition (step S205).

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining the suppression control process.

According to the determination method shown in FIG. 8, for example, when the load level is level B and the load change amount level is level 2, the control change condition that the log is not output is satisfied. Further, when the load level is level A and the load change amount level is level 2, suppression control is not performed, that is, the control change condition is not satisfied.

Returning to FIG. 7, when the control change determination unit 13 determines that the control change condition is satisfied (step S205: Yes), the control unit 14 starts suppression control (step S206). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the control change determination unit 13 determines the content of the suppression control according to the load level and the load change amount level.

For example, when the load level is level B and the load change amount level is level 2, the control change determination unit 13 determines the suppression control content that the log is not output. Since the log output does not affect the image forming process, the productivity of the image forming process by the image forming unit 306 does not decrease even if the control content is changed.

Further, when the load level is level C and the load change amount level is level 2, the control change determination unit 13 does not output a log, and the image forming unit 306 displays the inter-paper distance (of two sheets at the time of transport). Determine the suppression control content to extend the distance).

In this case, as compared with the case where only the log is not output, the frequency of the printing process of the image forming unit 306 is reduced by extending the paper-to-paper distance, so that the load of the control processing of the control unit 14 can be further reduced. However, by extending the paper-to-paper distance, the productivity of the image forming process by the image forming unit 306 is lowered.

Further, when the load level is level C and the load change amount level is level 3, the control change determination unit 13 does not output a log and determines the suppression control content that reduces the drawing speed in the image forming unit 306.

In this case, the frequency of the printing process of the image forming unit 306 is further reduced as compared with the suppression control content of extending the paper-to-paper distance in the image forming unit 306 without outputting the log, so that the load of the control processing of the control unit 14 is increased. It can be lowered further. However, by extending the paper-to-paper distance, the productivity of the image forming process by the image forming unit 306 is further lowered.

As described above, the control change determination unit 13 controls the control unit 14 based on the load of the control process, the amount of change in the load, and the threshold information (load threshold information 111 and load change amount threshold information 112). Of these, it is determined whether or not to change the content of the image forming process.

Returning to FIG. 7, in step S205, when the control change determination unit 13 determines that the control change condition is not satisfied (step S205: No), it determines whether or not the control process satisfies the end condition (step S207).

The end condition is a predetermined condition for terminating the suppression control. For example, if the suppression control and the start and end are repeated during the execution of printing, the control process may become unstable. Therefore, the end condition may be the end of the print job being printed.

When the control change determination unit 13 determines that the end condition is satisfied (step S207: Yes), the control unit 14 ends the suppression control (step S208).

If the control change determination unit 13 determines that the end condition is not satisfied (step S207: No), the process of step S208 is skipped.

According to the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment, the control change determination unit 13 satisfies the control change condition for changing the content of the control process based on the load of the control process and the amount of change in the load. Judge whether or not. As a result, the control load can be reduced at a more appropriate timing than when the determination is made based only on the instantaneous control processing load.

Further, the control change determination unit 13 determines whether or not to change the content of the image forming process among the control processes of the control unit 14 based on the load of the control process, the amount of change in the load, and the threshold value information. judge. Thereby, the magnitude of the influence on the image forming process and the magnitude of the reduction of the load of the control process, which are in a trade-off relationship, can be appropriately determined according to the load situation of the control process.

Each function of the embodiment described above can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the "processing circuit" as used herein is a processor programmed to perform each function by software, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, or a processor designed to execute each function described above. It shall include devices such as ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and conventional circuit modules.

Although the present invention has been described above based on each embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the requirements shown in the above embodiments. With respect to these points, the gist of the present invention can be changed to the extent that the gist of the present invention is not impaired, and can be appropriately determined according to the application form thereof.

1 Image formation system 10 Image formation device 11 Storage unit 12 Load acquisition unit 13 Control change judgment unit 14 Control unit 20 DFE
30 User terminal 40 Management server

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-194688

Claims (6)

A control unit that executes control processing,
A load acquisition unit that acquires data indicating the load of the control process and the amount of change in the load.
A control change determination unit for determining whether or not a control change condition for changing the content of the control process is satisfied based on the load of the control process and the change amount of the load is provided.
Based on the determination result of the control change determination unit, the control unit changes the content of the control process so that the load of the control process becomes smaller.
Image forming device. A storage unit that stores threshold information indicating a load of the control process set to a plurality of levels and a reference of a change amount of the load, and a storage unit.
Further equipped with an image forming unit for executing image forming processing,
The control change determination unit changes the content of the image forming process among the control processes of the control unit based on the load of the control process, the change amount of the load, and the threshold information. Judge whether or not
The control unit changes the content of the control process that changes the content of the image forming process based on the determination result of the control change determination unit, or changes the content of the control process that does not change the content of the image forming process. Make changes to
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The threshold information includes load threshold information indicating the load threshold and load change amount threshold information indicating the load change threshold.
The control change determination unit determines the level of the load based on the load threshold information, determines the level of the change amount of the load based on the load change amount threshold information, and determines the level of the change amount of the load.
The control unit changes the content of the control process that changes the content of the image forming process based on the level of the load and the level of the change amount of the load determined by the control change determination unit. Alternatively, the content of the control process is changed without changing the content of the image forming process.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The control change determination unit determines whether or not the end condition for terminating the change of the control content is satisfied, and determines whether or not the end condition is satisfied.
The control unit ends the control process whose contents have been changed based on the determination result of whether or not the end condition is satisfied by the control change determination unit.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. It is a control method executed by a computer.
A step of acquiring data indicating the load of the control process executed by the control unit and the amount of change in the load, and
A step of determining whether or not a control change condition for changing the content of the control process is satisfied based on the load of the control process and the change amount of the load.
A step of changing the content of the control process so that the load of the control process is reduced based on the result of the determination is provided.
Control method. On the computer
A step of acquiring data indicating the load of the control process executed by the control unit and the amount of change in the load, and
A step of determining whether or not a control change condition for changing the content of the control process is satisfied based on the load of the control process and the change amount of the load.
Based on the result of the determination, the step of changing the content of the control process so that the load of the control process becomes smaller, and
A program to execute.

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