JP3899962B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to a technique for saving paper.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the spread of environmental protection activities, various mechanisms for saving paper resources have been proposed for image forming apparatuses.
[0003]
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-511167 discloses an image forming apparatus having a function of counting the number of used sheets for each sheet size and displaying the counting result. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-255469 discloses an image forming apparatus having a function of accumulating contents of copy settings such as whether single-sided copying or double-sided copying is selected, and summing up for each use department. . In these apparatuses, the totaled result can be used for efforts to save paper.
[0004]
In order to save paper more actively, double-sided copy and copy using backing paper (paper that has been used on one side) can be set as the default mode. If there is no explicit instruction from the user, the default mode is used. There is also an image forming apparatus that performs image formation. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-338314 discloses an apparatus that promotes the use of a backing paper by imposing different charges on normal paper and backing paper.
[0005]
Further, recently, an image forming apparatus having a function (referred to as “N-UP” function, “N in 1” function, etc.) for arranging a plurality of (N) pages of original images on one page of paper has been widespread. . There is also known an image forming apparatus capable of setting the N-UP function and a copy mode for executing the N-UP function in combination with double-sided or backing paper as a default mode.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An image forming apparatus that can set a copy mode capable of saving paper such as duplex copying as a default is certainly highly effective in terms of paper saving. However, after the user selects single-sided copy and before returning to the default mode, the next user starts copying, or the user who regularly selects single-sided copy routinely selects single-sided copy. Can not save paper. In addition, there are cases where paper can be saved more than the default mode by combining double-sided copying and the N-UP function, but it is difficult to come to such a case unless the user's awareness of saving is high.
[0007]
Although the case of copying has been described above as an example, the same problem applies to image forming apparatuses (for example, printers) other than copying machines.
[0008]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that can raise a user's awareness of paper saving.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus provided with a plurality of paper use modes having different paper saving effects, and mode designation means for receiving designation of one of the plurality of paper use modes to be used from a user If there is a paper usage mode that has a paper saving effect higher than the paper usage mode designated by the mode designating unit in the plurality of paper usage modes provided in the image forming apparatus, a predetermined paper saving promotion process is performed. Saving promotion means to execute.
[0010]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the paper saving promotion process displays a user interface screen for selecting a mode to be used from the designated paper usage mode or a paper usage mode having a higher paper saving effect. Processing for displaying on the display device of the forming apparatus, accepting a user's selection for this, and controlling switching of the paper usage mode to be used.
[0011]
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus provided with a plurality of paper usage modes having different paper saving effects, and among the plurality of paper usage modes, a reference paper usage mode is set as a reference mode. A stored reference mode storage unit; a mode specifying means for accepting designation of one to be used from among the plurality of paper use modes; a paper saving effect of the paper use mode specified by the mode specifying means; and the reference The paper saving effect of the mode is compared, and when the former is lower than the latter, a saving promotion means for executing a predetermined paper saving promotion process is provided.
[0012]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the paper saving promotion process displays a user interface screen for selecting whether to change the paper usage mode to be used to the reference mode, and accepts a selection from the user for this. , And a process of performing switching control of the paper usage mode to be used according to the selection received as a result.
[0013]
In a further preferred aspect, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving from the user an instruction for setting and changing the reference mode stored in the reference mode storage unit.
[0014]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes an index value calculation unit that obtains a predetermined saving index value based on a sheet usage state of the image forming apparatus, and the saving promotion unit includes the sheet saving promotion process. Of the plurality of predetermined processes with different sheet saving effects, the process corresponding to the level of the saving index value is selectively executed.
[0015]
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the saving promotion means has a function of displaying a plurality of types of saving recommendation messages having different levels of appeal, and the size of the saving index value among the saving recommendation messages. It is characterized by selecting and displaying the one corresponding to the stage.
[0016]
Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the saving promotion means may be a process for displaying a saving recommendation message as a process in which the paper saving effect varies stepwise, and whether or not the paper use mode specified by the mode specifying means may be used. It is possible to execute processing for requesting confirmation from the user and processing for prohibiting acceptance of an image forming job.
[0017]
Further, in a preferred aspect of the present invention, the saving promotion means restricts a sheet use mode that can be selected at each stage of the magnitude of the saving index value, and the restricted sheet use mode for the user. Let them choose what to use within the range.
[0018]
Moreover, the suitable aspect of this invention is further provided with the threshold value setting means which receives the setting of the threshold value which prescribes | regulates the magnitude | size level of the said saving index value from a user.
[0019]
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a saving promotion mode in which the saving promotion unit functions and a general mode in which the saving promotion unit does not function, and the saving promotion mode is set as an operation mode of the image forming apparatus. And a means for accepting an instruction from the user as to which of the general modes to select.
[0020]
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a saving promotion mode in which the saving promotion means is functioned and a general mode in which the saving promotion means is not functioned, and a predetermined saving index based on the sheet usage status of the image forming apparatus. Index value calculation means for obtaining a value, and operation mode selection means for selecting one of the saving promotion mode and the general mode as an operation mode of the image forming apparatus according to the value of the saving index value.
[0021]
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for accepting an instruction from the user to execute the job in the clear mode, and when the designation of the clear mode is accepted by this means, the saving as the operation mode of the image forming apparatus. Means for temporarily stopping the saving promotion means during the job even when the promotion mode is selected.
[0022]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the saving index value is a cumulative value of paper usage of the image forming apparatus.
[0023]
Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, a target registration unit that receives and stores an input of a saving target value representing a sheet saving target, an actual number of sheets used for a job, and a preset reference sheet usage mode. Based on the estimated value of the number of sheets used on the assumption that the job has been executed, a saving record calculation means for calculating a saving record value indicating a record of sheet saving, and a target based on the saving target value and the saving record value An achievement degree calculating means for calculating an achievement degree, wherein the target achievement degree is used as the saving index value.
[0024]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes means for identifying a user who has input a job, and means for storing information on a user management unit to which each user belongs, wherein the index value calculation means A saving index value is calculated for each predetermined user management unit, and the saving promotion means executes a paper saving promotion process corresponding to the saving index value of the management unit for each user management unit.
[0025]
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes means for identifying a user who has input a job, and means for storing information on a user management unit to which each user belongs, wherein the index value calculation means is the saving unit. An index value is calculated for each predetermined user management unit, and the operation mode selection unit selects the operation mode for each user management unit according to the saving index value of the management unit.
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0027]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus to which a control process according to the present invention is applied. In this figure, a copying machine is illustrated as a kind of image forming apparatus. As will be apparent from the following description, the application range of the reset control of the present embodiment is not limited to the copying machine shown in FIG. 1, and can be applied to other image forming apparatuses in general.
[0028]
As shown in this figure, the copying machine includes an original reading unit 10 that optically reads an image shown on a paper original and converts it into an electronic image signal. The document feeding unit 12 includes a tray on which a bundle of documents to be copied is placed, and feeds the documents placed on the tray to the document reading unit 10 one by one. The printing unit 14 is a mechanism that prints an image of a read original on a sheet-like medium such as paper (hereinafter referred to as “paper”). The printing unit 14 includes a plurality of paper trays 16 and can hold a plurality of types of paper. The printed paper printed by the printing unit 14 is discharged to the paper discharge unit 20. The paper discharge unit 20 has a plurality of discharge trays 22.
[0029]
The machine operation unit (operation panel) 24 is a UI (user interface) mechanism that displays information for operating the copying machine and receives input of operation instructions from the user. The machine operation unit 24 includes a touch panel 26 and various operation buttons. The touch panel 26 has a function of displaying information on the screen and detecting a place where the user touches the screen with a finger. The machine operation unit 24 generates a GUI display on which various operation menus and operation instruction buttons are displayed and displays the GUI display on the touch panel 26. The machine operation unit 24 receives information on a location touched by the user on the GUI display from the touch panel 26, and The processing instruction corresponding to the input content is transmitted to the machine control unit 28. The operation buttons include a start key for instructing the start of a copy job and a numeric keypad for inputting a numerical value. When these operation buttons are pressed, the machine operation unit 24 sends a signal indicating that to the machine. This is transmitted to the control unit 28.
[0030]
The machine control unit 28 is a control mechanism for realizing the operation as a copying machine by controlling the units 10 to 26 described above. For example, the machine control unit 28 sends a control signal corresponding to a copy operation instruction (for example, the number of copies or whether double-sided printing is specified) input from the machine operation unit 24 to the document feeding unit 12, the document reading unit 10, the printing unit 14, and the paper. By supplying the paper to the discharge unit 20, a copy process corresponding to the operation instruction is realized. Further, the machine control unit 28 receives a signal indicating the state of the unit from each of the units 10 to 26, and when a malfunction such as a paper jam occurs, performs control according to the malfunction. The machine control unit 28 is realized by processing a control program and various parameter values stored in a ROM or a nonvolatile memory by a processor.
[0031]
Although not shown in FIG. 1, the copier can be connected to a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), receives a print instruction from a host computer via this network, and prints it out. You can also
[0032]
This image forming apparatus has a duplex printing function for printing on both front and back sides of a sheet and a 2UP function for printing two pages of a document image on one page of the sheet. In this image forming apparatus, the backing paper can be selected and printed by setting the backing paper in some of the plurality of paper trays 16. Therefore, in this image forming apparatus, it is possible to perform printing in various paper usage forms depending on the combination of the presence / absence of the double-sided function, the presence / absence of the 2UP function, and the presence / absence of the use of the backing paper. In this way, each paper usage mode determined by a combination of parameters such as the presence / absence of the duplex function is referred to as a paper usage mode. For example, the combination “use both sides function and use 2UP function and do not use backing paper” is one paper use mode, and the combination “use both side function not and use 2UP function and use back paper” is also one paper use mode. is there. In addition, a mode in which all of double-sided, 2UP, and backing paper are not used is also one paper use mode.
[0033]
Paper saving effects can be considered for each of these paper usage modes, and rankings can be made for these paper saving effects. This ranking may be theoretically determinable, or may be determined according to a saving policy at the site where the image forming apparatus is used. For example, it is theoretically determined that the paper saving effect is higher in the mode using both the double side and 2UP than the mode using only the double side. In addition, backing paper and double-sided printing are difficult to use in terms of paper usage, but whether to treat these paper saving effects as equivalent or superior or inferior depends on the saving policy in the field of use of the image forming apparatus. It is.
[0034]
In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, as a measure for promoting the saving of paper resources, the user is notified of a paper usage mode that has a paper saving effect higher than the paper usage mode selected by the user. In order to improve the user's awareness of saving. Further, in the present embodiment, not only simply informing, but also presenting a user interface screen that presents a paper usage mode with a higher paper saving effect, so that the user can change to a mode with a higher saving effect with a simple operation. Plan. The details of this saving promotion process will be described below.
[0035]
FIG. 2 shows a processing procedure of the image forming apparatus when a user sets a use function in a job before starting the job. Here, only the procedure related to the saving promotion process is shown, and illustration of other general processes is omitted.
[0036]
The machine control unit 28 waits for the user to input various instructions from the machine operation unit 24 (S10). When detecting an input from the user, the machine control unit 28 determines whether or not the input relates to the specification of the paper use mode (S12). If the input is irrelevant to the paper use mode (for example, specifying collation), the machine control unit 28 performs conventional processing according to the input and waits for the next input (S10). If the input is a paper usage mode designation, the machine control unit 28 determines whether there is a mode that can save paper further than the paper usage mode designated by the user (S14).
[0037]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the determination process in step S14. In this procedure, the machine control unit 28 first acquires information on the sheet use mode designated by the user from the machine operation unit 24 (S20). Then, with reference to the saving effect ranking table (S22), it is determined whether or not there is a paper usage mode that has a higher rank (that is, a higher paper saving effect) than the designated paper usage mode (referred to as a designated mode). (S24). In this determination, if a paper use mode having a higher saving effect than the designated mode is found in the saving effect order table, the machine control unit 28 determines that “more savings are possible” (S26). It is determined that saving is sufficient in the mode (S28).
[0038]
The saving effect ranking table is a table showing the ranking of the sheet saving effects of the plurality of sheet use modes provided by the image forming apparatus, and is stored in advance in a storage device in the image forming apparatus and is subjected to machine control. It can be referred from the part 28. The ranking of each paper usage mode in the saving effect ranking table may be determined by the apparatus vendor and / or the operation site in accordance with the above-described concept. It is also preferable to provide the image forming apparatus with an update mechanism for the contents of the stored saving effect order table and a user interface mechanism for the update.
[0039]
Returning to the description of the flow of FIG. 2 again, after execution of the saving possibility determination process (S14), the machine control unit 28 determines whether or not the determination result is “more savings” (S16). If the determination result is affirmative (Y), a saving recommendation message is displayed on the touch panel 26 (S18), and the process returns to the input waiting state (S10). If the determination result in step S16 is negative (N), the display returns to the input waiting state (S10) without displaying the saving recommendation message.
[0040]
In the processing procedure of FIG. 2 described above, the possibility of saving is determined for the paper usage mode specified by the user, and a saving recommendation message is displayed when it is determined that further saving is possible. It is also possible to execute the same procedure when no input is made regarding the paper usage mode. That is, when there is no user input regarding the paper charge mode, it is assumed that a default paper use mode registered in advance (generally, single-sided printing (2UP and back paper not used)) is designated, Just follow the steps.
[0041]
Here, the display process of the saving recommendation message will be described with reference to FIG. 4A, 4 </ b> B, and 4 </ b> C are examples of UI screens displayed on the touch panel 26. This UI screen has a message area 100 that displays a message to the user, and a main area 110 that displays GUI objects such as buttons and tabs for receiving operations from the user. The saving recommendation message is displayed in the message area 100.
[0042]
The example of FIG. 4A is an example of a screen when the user has not input anything yet, and the paper usage mode is the default single-sided mode, so that using the 2UP and / or double-sided functions can save more paper. A saving recommendation message indicating that the message is present is displayed in the message area 100. FIG. 4B is a screen example after the user specifies the duplex function (when the screen for 2UP instruction is opened, but 2UP is not selected). In this case, if 2UP is further selected, FIG. A saving recommendation message message indicating that paper can be saved more is displayed in the message area 100. FIG. 4C shows an example of a screen when the 2UP function is further specified after the duplex function is specified. In this case, the sheet use mode having the highest sheet saving effect is selected in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, only a message indicating that copying is possible is displayed in the message area 100, and no message text calling for saving paper is displayed.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, the user's awareness of saving can be enhanced by displaying the saving recommendation message that calls for paper saving in this way. Furthermore, since the message indicates what mode can be selected to save more, the user can easily understand how to save.
[0044]
In addition, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has a function of displaying a screen for confirming the sheet use mode when the user presses a start key for instructing job start. The processing content of this function will be described with reference to FIG.
[0045]
In this process, the machine control unit 28 first determines whether or not paper saving is possible in the current designated mode (S30). Since whether or not further saving is possible has already been determined in the job setting process shown in FIG. 2 (S16), the result of obtaining a designated mode or a mode that can save more is stored during the process. In step S30, a determination may be made based on the stored information. If it is determined in step S30 that it is not possible to save more than the designated mode (that is, it is sufficiently conservative in the designated mode) (determination result is N), the printing process (S36) is started as it is. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S30 that further saving is possible, the machine control unit 28 temporarily suspends the start of the printing process, displays a paper usage mode confirmation screen on the touch panel 26 (S32), and the user's instruction for that screen An input is accepted (S34).
[0046]
FIG. 6 shows the use of paper displayed when the start key is pressed in the screen state of FIG. 4A (that is, when single-sided printing (2UP and backing paper not used) is selected). It is an example of the mode confirmation screen. The above-mentioned saving recommendation message is displayed in the message area 100, but this paper use mode confirmation screen 120 is displayed in the main area 110. In addition to the explanation 121 that paper can be saved, GUI buttons 122 and 124 for designating such a mode for saving are displayed on the confirmation screen. In this example, if at least one of 2UP and double-sided is selected, paper can be saved compared to the current designated mode (simple one-sided), so a button 122 for selecting 2UP and a button 124 for selecting double-sided are displayed. These buttons 122 and 124 alternately change between a selected state and a non-selected state every time the user touches. If the user looks at this screen 120 and wants to change the paper use mode for saving, the user may touch a desired one of these buttons 122 and 124 to select it. Then, when the user touches the start button 126, the paper use mode indicated by the combination of the buttons 122 and / or 124 that are currently selected becomes the designated mode, and the printing process is executed in this designated mode (S36). If the user does not want to change the paper use mode when the confirmation screen 120 is displayed, the user may touch the start button 126 while keeping both the function selection buttons 122 and 124 in a non-selected state. Thereby, the printing process is started in the designated mode before the confirmation screen 120 is opened (S36). If the cancel button 128 is touched, the confirmation screen 120 is closed and the basic operation screen shown in FIG. 4A is displayed, so that settings such as job use functions can be performed from the beginning.
[0047]
Unlike the saving recommendation message displayed in the message area 100, the paper usage mode confirmation screen 120 does not close unless an explicit operation of pressing the start button 126 or the cancel button 128 is performed, and another operation is input. Since this is not possible, user confirmation can be obtained with high certainty. In addition, since the confirmation screen 120 includes buttons 122 and 124 for selecting a paper use mode having a higher saving effect than the current designated mode, the confirmation screen is displayed without returning to the original job setting screen. The usage mode can be changed directly from 120. Therefore, the user can switch to a mode with a high paper saving effect with a small operation burden.
[0048]
FIG. 6 shows the confirmation screen 120 displayed when the designated mode is simply the single-sided mode (FIG. 4A). Instead, for example, when the designated mode is the double-sided mode (2UP is not used) ( In FIG. 4B, only the GUI button 122 for selecting 2UP is displayed on the confirmation screen 120.
[0049]
The confirmation screen 120 shown in FIG. 6 is merely an example. For example, instead of this, as shown in FIG. 11 (A), a confirmation screen 120a in which GUI buttons 123 for selection are listed and displayed for the paper use mode having a higher saving effect than the designated mode can be used. Each button 123 indicates a corresponding sheet use mode by a combination of functions used in the mode (such as “2UP / both sides”).
[0050]
In the above, the paper use mode is defined by the combination of 2UP and the presence / absence of functions on both sides. However, if there are more functions, the paper use modes can be made by the number of possible combinations. For example, in addition to 2UP, there are many image forming apparatuses having functions of 4UP and 8UP.
[0051]
Thus, one preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.
[0052]
[Modification 1]
In the above-described embodiment, it is determined whether or not there is a paper saving mode higher than the paper usage mode designated by the user, and if there is such a mode, the user is notified of this and recommends saving. As a modification to this, a standard paper usage mode (referred to as a standard mode) is defined, and when the user's designated mode is inferior to this standard mode in terms of paper saving effect, this is notified to the user and a saving recommendation is made. It is also possible to perform. In this case, the outline of the processing procedure can use the procedure of the above embodiment, but the saving possibility determination process (S14) needs to be different from that of the above embodiment (see FIG. 3). is there. FIG. 7 shows the procedure of the saving possibility determination process (S14) of this modification.
[0053]
In this procedure, first, the machine control unit 28 acquires the number of pages of a document to be printed and information on a sheet use mode (designated mode) designated by the user from the document reading unit 10 or the machine operation unit 24 (S40). ). Then, for each of the designated mode and the reference mode, the number of sheets used is estimated when it is assumed that printing has been performed in that mode (S42). Since the number of manuscript pages is known, such an estimate is possible. Then, when the estimation is possible, the number of sheets used in both modes is compared (S44). If the reference mode is smaller, it is determined that “more savings are possible” (S46), otherwise (that is, in the designated mode). If the number of used sheets is equal to or smaller than the number of used sheets in the reference mode), it is determined that “the designated mode has saved enough” (S48). If it is determined that “more savings are possible”, a saving recommendation message is displayed (S18), and a paper usage mode confirmation screen 120 is displayed when the start key is pressed (S32). In this case, a button for designating whether or not to change the paper usage mode to the reference mode is displayed on the confirmation screen 120, and the user may be prompted to select it. If it is determined that “the specified mode is sufficiently saved”, the recommended saving mode is not displayed, and when the start key is pressed, the paper usage mode confirmation screen 120 is not displayed and the printing process is started.
[0054]
It is preferable that the reference mode can be set or changed as appropriate according to the needs of the operation site of the image forming apparatus. For this purpose, a GUI screen for setting the reference mode may be prepared in the image forming apparatus. When specifying the reference mode on the reference mode setting GUI screen, the user should sequentially select whether to use each function such as the double-sided function and the 2UP function in the same way as the normal job setting UI. do it.
[0055]
In the procedure shown in FIG. 7, information on the number of pages of the document is necessary for estimating the number of sheets used. Therefore, the document set on the document feeding unit 12 is once read by the document reading unit 10 and saved. The recommendation message and the paper usage mode confirmation screen 120 are displayed. Therefore, in this procedure, the possibility of saving is determined after estimating the number of sheets used, so that the accuracy of the determination is high, but the printing start is delayed. If this is disliked, the accuracy of the determination of the possibility of saving is slightly reduced if the determination is made according to the saving effect ranking table as in the above embodiment (for example, if there are two pages of the document, “2 UP and duplex”). And “2UP only” use the same number of sheets, but if the order table is used, the former is judged to have a higher saving effect), but the delay in starting printing can be reduced.
[0056]
[Modification 2]
It is also possible to count paper saving results in the image forming apparatus and control the saving recommendation function (displaying the saving recommendation message and the display of the paper fee mode confirmation screen) of the above-described embodiment and modification 1 according to the counting result. is there.
[0057]
The saving performance can be measured as an achievement rate of a predetermined saving target, for example. FIG. 8A shows an example of a setting screen used for saving target setting, in which the current saving target value is displayed. In this example, the saving target is the saving target number of sheets to be saved with respect to the number of sheets used in a certain standard sheet use mode. The reference mode at this time may be the same as the reference mode described in the first modification, or may be set completely independently. For example, when the standard mode for this saving target is 2UP, the paper saving results are calculated by adding up the number of saved papers, which is how much paper can be saved in actual use compared to printing with 2UP. It will be. Further, how much the number of copies per actual printing result can be saved with respect to the number of originals can be set as the actual number of savings.
[0058]
When the “Confirm / Change” button 132 is pressed from the screen (A), a target value input screen shown in (B) is displayed. By operating the numeric keypad 134 or the like on this screen, the target number of savings can be input. (C) is an example of a UI screen for confirming a saving target and saving results. On the UI screen of (C), a saving target value 136, a saving actual value 137, and a saving target achievement rate (= actual value / target value (%)) are displayed. An administrator or user of the image forming apparatus can call up the screens (A) to (C) from the operation menu screen displayed on the touch panel 26 to perform setting and confirmation.
[0059]
In the above example, the saving target is designated by the number of savings, but instead, a saving rate can be used as the saving target. The saving rate is, for example,
1−Σ {(total number of print results of job) ÷ (number of original sheets of job × number of copies)}
It can be defined by an expression such as Here, Σ means the total sum for all jobs from the start of counting to the present time. This saving ratio is defined as how much paper is actually used compared to the number of sheets printed using the same form of paper usage as the original (ie single-sided printing for single-sided originals and double-sided printing for double-sided originals). This shows the percentage of success. In this definition, the target achievement rate can be calculated by the actual value / target value. For example, if the saving target is 50% saving rate and the saving actual value is 30% saving rate, the target achievement rate is 60%. Of course, this definition is only an example, and the saving rate can be defined by another method.
[0060]
As the control of the saving recommendation function according to the target achievement rate, a method of controlling the content of the saving recommendation message (see FIGS. 2 and 4) according to the target achievement rate can be considered. For example, when the target achievement rate is sufficiently high, the saving recommendation message is not displayed, and the lower the target achievement rate is, the stronger the message saving recommendation message is displayed.
[0061]
FIG. 9A shows an example of a UI screen for setting the content of such control. In this example, if the target achievement rate is 70% or more, the display processing of the saving recommendation message shown in FIG. 2 is canceled, and if it is 50% or more and less than 70%, a message indicating a tone strength of “recommended” level (for example, FIG. 4). The message level is set to display a message of a “warning” level having a tone stronger than the “recommended” level if it is 30% or more and less than 50%. By adjusting the threshold for switching each level, the level can be set according to the circumstances of the operation site.
[0062]
As another example, the content of the saving process itself can be switched according to the target achievement rate. In other words, the lower the target achievement rate, the more the paper saving effect is executed. For example, if the target achievement rate is 50% or more, the restriction is not performed for the paper use mode specified by the user without performing restrictive processing such as the display of the paper use mode confirmation screen 120. It is possible to control that additional processing is added. Of course, it is also possible to switch the processing contents in more stages according to the target achievement rate.
[0063]
FIG. 9B shows an example of a UI screen for setting the contents of such control. In this example, if the target achievement rate is 50% or more, the confirmation screen 120 is not displayed. If the target achievement rate is 30% or more and less than 50%, the confirmation screen 120 is displayed to ask the user to confirm the paper usage mode. The saving process level is set such that the forced saving mode process is executed when the value is 30% or less. By adjusting the threshold for switching each level on this UI screen, the level can be set according to the circumstances of the operation site. In the forced saving mode process, for example, when it is determined that the paper usage mode specified by the user has a lower saving effect than the predetermined reference mode, image formation is not performed without the user's operation for changing the paper usage mode on the confirmation screen 120. This is a process in which the apparatus forcibly changes the paper use mode to the reference mode. The “copy prohibition” level shown in FIG. 9B is a mode for prohibiting the acceptance of a copy job from the user when the target achievement rate is equal to or less than the set value, and a further saving effect than the forced saving mode. And has a penalty implication for not saving. In the example of FIG. 9B, since no setting is made for “copy prohibition”, copying does not become impossible no matter how bad the target achievement rate is.
[0064]
The message control and the saving process content control based on the target achievement rate have been described above, but these can be used alone or in combination. For example, the combination of the controls in the settings of FIGS. 9A and 9B is as follows. That is, if the target achievement rate is 70% or more, neither the saving recommendation message nor the paper usage mode confirmation screen 120 is displayed regardless of the designated mode. If the target achievement rate is 50 to 70%, the saving recommendation message display process is performed, but the display process of the confirmation screen 120 is not performed. If the target achievement ratio is 30 to 50%, both processes are performed. When the saving achievement rate is 30% or less, printing is performed by forcibly switching to a predetermined reference mode instead of displaying the confirmation screen 120.
[0065]
As described above, when the content of the saving process is automatically switched in accordance with the value of the target achievement rate, it is also preferable to display a message 140 informing that effect in the message area 100 as shown in FIG. . Also, displaying the current saving target achievement rate 142 in the message area 100 leads to a user's awareness of saving.
[0066]
The example of the control for automatically switching the processing for paper saving promotion stepwise according to the target achievement rate has been described. In addition to this, for example, it is possible to control the user to select a paper use mode that can be selected in a stepwise manner in accordance with the target achievement rate. That is, as illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, in (B) the paper usage mode confirmation screen 120b when the target achievement rate is low, (A) displayed on the confirmation screen 120a when the target achievement rate is high. Of the selected paper use mode selection buttons 123, those having a relatively low paper saving effect are deleted. Thereby, as the target achievement rate is lower, the paper use mode with higher saving effect is selected, and the saving can be promoted. Here, unless the start button 129 cannot be pressed unless one paper use mode is selected from the options displayed on the confirmation screens 120a and 120b, a mode with a high paper saving effect is surely selected. be able to. It should be noted that the threshold value of the target achievement rate indicating the separation of the options of the paper use mode can be set and changed as appropriate on the operation side.
[0067]
In the above, the control has been described in which the target achievement rate is used as an index value indicating the paper saving state, and the content of the saving promotion process is changed in stages according to the target achievement rate. On the other hand, it is also possible to perform the same step-by-step switching control based on another index value related to the paper saving situation. As an example of such a saving index value, there is a paper usage amount (cumulative number of used paper sheets). In the case of the amount of paper used, the larger the numerical value, the higher the saving effect is selected. FIGS. 12A and 12B show examples of UI screens when threshold values similar to those shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B are set by paper usage.
[0068]
[Modification 3]
The saving promotion process shown in the above embodiment and the modification is useful from the viewpoint of saving paper, but may be troublesome for the user because the saving recommendation message and the paper use mode confirmation screen 120 are displayed. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 13, it is also preferable to prepare a UI screen for switching the validity / invalidity of the above-described saving promotion processing function itself so that the user or the system administrator can appropriately turn on / off the function. .
[0069]
Even when the saving promotion processing function is disabled in this UI, the target achievement rate and the paper usage are worse than a predetermined threshold (which can also be set and changed as appropriate) (in the direction of insufficient saving) It is also preferable to provide a mechanism for automatically enabling the saving promotion processing function.
[0070]
[Modification 4]
When preparing documents (such as documents submitted to government offices) that must comply with the prescribed format, the manuscript must be copied or printed correctly. In such a case, if the above-described saving promotion processing function is used, there is a possibility that the paper is erroneously output by 2UP or double-sided printing, and the paper is wasted. In particular, since the degree of saving is low, when the control is forcibly switched to the saving paper use mode, there is a high possibility that the printing result is in a form different from that desired by the user. In order to avoid this, it is preferable to provide means for temporarily invalidating the saving promotion processing function.
[0071]
As such a means, for example, a clean-up mode designation screen illustrated in FIG. 14A may be displayed on the touch panel 26. When the user wants to temporarily invalidate the saving promotion processing function, the user may call this clean mode specification screen from the basic operation screen, select the GUI button 150, and specify the clean mode. When the clean copy mode is designated, the machine control unit 28 temporarily disables the saving promotion processing function. While the saving promotion processing function is temporarily invalidated as described above, a message 152 indicating that effect is displayed in the message area 100 as shown in FIG. This temporary invalidation state is continued during the job started by the user with the start key or the like immediately after that. If the no-input state continues for a predetermined period after the job is completed, the saving promotion processing function is re-enabled.
[0072]
[Modification 5]
An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is provided with an authentication mechanism for authenticating a user to be used with an ID card or a personal identification number. Some have a function of counting the billing itself.
[0073]
By using a user authentication mechanism similar to this, it is also possible to perform the processing of the embodiment and the modification described above for each predetermined management unit such as a user unit or a department unit. For example, the above-described saving promotion process is performed for the management unit A, but the saving promotion process is not performed for the management unit B. In addition, the setting of the saving target and calculation of the target achievement rate shown in FIG. 8 or the accumulation of paper usage is performed for each management unit, and the saving promotion process corresponding to the target achievement rate and paper usage for each management unit. Can also be executed. Further, the stepwise switching method of the saving promotion process exemplified in FIG. 9 and FIG. 12 can be set for each management unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing related to paper saving when a user sets a use function in a job.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a saving possibility determination process.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen displaying a saving recommendation message and the like.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing related to paper saving when a user presses a start key for instructing start of a job.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper usage mode confirmation screen.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the procedure of the saving possibility determination process.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen related to a saving target.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen for setting a threshold value for gradual switching of the saving promotion process according to a target achievement rate.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen displaying a message indicating that the saving promotion processing content has been automatically switched.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of switching of a sheet use mode confirmation screen according to a target achievement rate.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen for setting a threshold value for gradual switching of the saving promotion process according to the amount of paper used.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen for setting to enable / disable saving promotion processing;
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen for designating a clear text mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Document reading part, 12 Document feeding part, 14 Printing part, 16 Paper tray, 20 Paper discharge part, 22 Discharge tray, 24 Machine operation part, 26 Touch panel, 28 Machine control part.

Claims (15)

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper use modes having different paper saving effects,
A reference mode storage unit that stores a reference sheet use mode as a reference mode among the plurality of sheet use modes;
Mode designation means for accepting designation of one of the plurality of paper use modes to be used from a user;
The paper saving effect of the paper use mode specified by the mode specifying means is compared with the paper saving effect of the reference mode, and when the former is lower than the latter, the saving promotion means for executing a predetermined paper saving promotion process When,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The paper saving promotion process displays a user interface screen for selecting whether or not to change the paper use mode to be used to the reference mode, accepts a selection from the user, and uses the result according to the accepted selection. An image forming apparatus comprising: a process for performing switching control of a sheet use mode to be performed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
An image forming apparatus, further comprising means for receiving from a user an instruction to set and change a reference mode stored in the reference mode storage unit. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 Symbol placement,
An index value calculating means for obtaining a predetermined saving index value based on the sheet usage status of the image forming apparatus;
The saving promotion means selectively executes, as the paper saving promotion process, processing corresponding to the level of the saving index value among a plurality of predetermined processes having different paper saving effects in stages. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 ,
The saving promotion means has a function of displaying a plurality of types of saving recommendation messages having different appeal strengths in stages, and selects one corresponding to the level of the saving index value among the saving recommendation messages. And an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 ,
The saving promotion means includes a process for displaying a saving recommendation message as a process in which the paper saving effect varies step by step, a process for requesting the user to confirm whether or not the paper use mode specified by the mode specifying means is acceptable, and An image forming apparatus capable of executing processing for prohibiting reception of an image forming job. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 ,
The saving promotion means restricts the sheet usage mode that can be selected at each stage of the size of the saving index value, and allows the user to select one to be used within the range of the restricted paper usage mode. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 ,
An image forming apparatus, further comprising: a threshold value setting unit that receives a threshold value setting that defines a level of the saving index value from a user. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 Symbol placement,
A saving promotion mode in which the saving promotion unit is made to function; and a general mode in which the saving promotion unit is not made to function, and an instruction to select either the saving promotion mode or the general mode as an operation mode of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising means for receiving from a user. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 Symbol placement,
A saving promotion mode for causing the saving promotion means to function; and a general mode for not allowing the saving promotion means to function; and
Index value calculating means for obtaining a predetermined saving index value based on the usage status of the sheet of the image forming apparatus;
An operation mode selection means for selecting one of the saving promotion mode and the general mode as an operation mode of the image forming apparatus according to the value of the saving index value;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein
Means for accepting an instruction from the user to execute the job in the clean copy mode;
Means for temporarily stopping the saving promotion means during the job even when the saving promotion mode is selected as the operation mode of the image forming apparatus when designation of the clean-up mode is accepted by this means;
An image forming apparatus further comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:
The image forming apparatus, wherein the saving index value is a cumulative value of paper usage of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:
Target registration means for receiving and storing an input of a saving target value representing a paper saving target;
Based on the actual number of sheets used in the job and the estimated number of sheets used assuming that the job was executed in the preset standard paper usage mode, a savings actual value indicating the actual paper savings is calculated. Saving savings calculation means,
Achievement level calculation means for calculating a target achievement level based on the saving target value and the actual saving value;
With
An image forming apparatus using the target achievement level as the saving index value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 ,
Means for identifying the user who entered the job;
Means for storing information of a user management unit to which each user belongs;
With
The index value calculation means calculates the saving index value for each predetermined user management unit, and the saving promotion means executes a paper saving promotion process according to the saving index value of the management unit for each user management unit. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
Means for identifying the user who entered the job;
Means for storing information of a user management unit to which each user belongs;
With
The index value calculation means calculates the saving index value for each predetermined user management unit, and the operation mode selection means selects the operation mode for each user management unit according to the saving index value of the management unit. An image forming apparatus.

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