JP4706348B2 - Image formation control apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming control apparatus that manages jobs for an image forming apparatus such as a printer.

In an image forming apparatus such as a printer, toner dispense control is known as control for stabilizing the image formation density. In toner dispensing control, the supply amount of toner consumed by image formation is controlled. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example in which a toner usage amount for each page included in a print job (image formation instruction) is predicted and toner dispensing control is performed based on the toner usage amount.
JP 2004-198838 A

  However, in the toner dispensing control as disclosed in the above-mentioned conventional patent document 1, there is a case where a control that should supply a large amount of toner in a short time may be performed, which impairs the long-term stability of the formed image. There was a possibility.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming control apparatus capable of maintaining long-term stability of an image.

  The present invention for solving the problems of the above conventional example is an image formation control apparatus, which is connected to an image formation apparatus that forms an image on a medium using a plurality of color materials, and a plurality of image formation instructions. Based on the estimated consumption for each of the image formation instructions, means for calculating the estimated consumption of each of the plurality of color materials in each of the held image formation instructions, Order determining means for determining an image forming order based on a forming instruction, and performing image forming processing in accordance with the determined image forming order.

  Here, the image forming apparatus performs a predetermined adjustment process for each color material, and the order determination unit acquires information on an adjustment amount in the adjustment process for each color material from the image forming apparatus, and A color material for which the adjustment amount represented by the acquired information exceeds a predetermined adjustment amount threshold value is identified as a target color material, and the estimated consumption amount related to the specified target color material is set to a consumption threshold value. The image forming order is determined so that an image forming instruction that does not exceed the image forming instruction in which the estimated consumption related to the specified color material of interest exceeds the consumption threshold is prioritized. Also good.

  In addition, the order determination unit includes a plurality of image formation instructions, and the sum of the estimated consumption amounts of the respective image formation instructions for any one of the color materials exceeds the supplyable amount of the color material in the image forming apparatus. In this case, the image forming order may be determined so that the plurality of image forming instructions are not processed continuously.

  Furthermore, the sum of the estimated consumption amounts in the respective image formation instructions related to any of the color materials by the plurality of image formation instructions executed in succession in the determined image formation order is the color material in the image forming apparatus. In the case where the supplyable amount exceeds the above-described supply amount, a means for executing a predetermined process for adjusting the amount of color material used in at least one of the plurality of image formation instructions may be further provided.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for an image forming control apparatus including a plurality of color materials that are connected to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium and holds a plurality of image forming instructions. And calculating an estimated consumption amount of each of the plurality of color materials in each of the held image formation instructions, and based on the estimated consumption amount for each of the image formation instructions and based on the image formation instruction The image forming order is determined.

  Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention is a program that is connected to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium using a plurality of color materials, and that includes means for holding a plurality of image forming instructions. Based on the procedure for calculating the estimated consumption of each of the plurality of color materials in each of the held image formation instructions, and the estimated consumption for each of the image formation instructions. And an order determination procedure for determining an image formation order based on an instruction, and image formation processing is performed according to the determined image formation order.

  According to the present invention, the estimated consumption of each of the plurality of color materials in each of the held image formation instructions is calculated, and the image formation order based on the image formation instruction is determined based on the estimated consumption. By executing the image forming process according to the determined image forming order, the forming order can be controlled according to the color material consumption, and the long-term stability of the image can be maintained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can be realized as a printer server 1 and connected to a printer 2 as an image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer server 1 as an image formation control apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, and a time measuring unit 14.

  The control unit 11 can be realized using a CPU or the like. The control unit 11 operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 12. In the present embodiment, processing for receiving an image forming instruction as a print job from the client side via the network and storing it in the storage unit 12, and the order of transmitting and holding each of the held image forming instructions to the printer 2 ( Processing for determining the image forming order is executed. Specific contents of the processing of these control units 11 will be described in detail later.

  The storage unit 12 includes a storage element such as a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM), and a disk device such as a hard disk. The storage unit 12 stores a program executed by the control unit 11. The storage unit 12 also operates as a work memory for the control unit 11. In this embodiment, a print job is stored in the storage unit 12.

  The communication unit 13 is a network interface, and sends data to a designated destination such as the printer 2 in accordance with an instruction input from the control unit 11. The communication unit 13 receives data coming from a client or the like and outputs the data to the control unit 11.

  The timekeeping unit 14 is a clock and keeps time. The timer unit 14 receives an input of a signal for inquiring the current time from the control unit 11, and outputs information on the time at that time to the control unit 11.

  The printer 2 forms an image on a predetermined medium such as paper in accordance with an image formation instruction (print job) received from the printer server 1 via the network. The printer 2 according to the present embodiment forms a color image using a plurality of color materials (such as toner).

  Generally, in a color printer such as the printer 2, toner dispense control is performed to stabilize the density of image formation, and toner consumed in image formation based on a print job is sequentially supplied.

  Further, in the printer 2, toner adjustment processing for adjusting the discharge amount (consumption amount) of toner for reproducing the instructed color is performed at every predetermined timing. The printer 2 of the present embodiment uses the information (color material identification information) for specifying the toner and the information (adjustment value) related to the change in the discharge amount, which are adjusted in the toner adjustment process, as adjustment amount information. You may make it transmit to the server 1 and output.

  Here, the content of the process which the control part 11 of the printer server 1 performs is demonstrated. When receiving an image formation instruction via the network, the control unit 11 according to the present embodiment requests the time measurement unit 14 for information on the current time. The control unit 11 issues a unique identifier. The control unit 11 stores an image formation instruction in the storage unit 12 in association with the time information input from the time measuring unit 14 and the issued identifier (FIG. 2). Further, an estimated consumption amount of each of the plurality of color materials in the printer 2 is calculated for the stored image formation instruction.

  Here, for example, the estimated consumption is calculated as follows. The control unit 11 first performs a rasterization process based on an image formation instruction that is a target of calculation of the estimated consumption. Then, a bitmap image for each color material in the printer 2 is generated (separation process). For example, if the color material in the printer 2 is four colors of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), bitmap data for each color is generated.

Further, a toner consumption amount (unit consumption amount) per pixel at a predetermined density de (hereinafter referred to as unit density) is stored in advance in the storage unit 12 as te, and the bit of the target color among the above colors is stored. For the i-th pixel on the map data, the estimated toner consumption tp for each pixel is calculated using the pixel density di.
tpi = di * te / de
As a result, the total Tc = Σtpi = te / de × Σdi per bit map data of the target color of the toner consumption amount estimation value tp for each pixel.
Is calculated.

  This Tc is the estimated consumption amount of the toner of the target color. For example, when the toner consumption amount per pixel at the unit density differs for each color material, the unit consumption amount for each color material is set in the storage unit 12 and the unit consumption amount corresponding to the target color is used. Thus, the above calculation may be performed. Further, when the control unit 11 receives the adjustment amount information related to the change in the toner ejection amount from the printer 2 via the communication unit 13, the control unit 11 sets the unit consumption amount setting value to the adjustment value included in the adjustment amount information. You may change based on.

  In this way, the control unit 11 generates an estimated consumption amount table in which the estimated consumption amount value for each color material is associated for each image formation instruction, and stores it in the storage unit 12 (FIG. 3). In FIG. 3, the estimated consumption is stored in association with the identifier of the image formation instruction.

  Further, when receiving the adjustment amount information from the printer 2, the control unit 11 checks whether or not the adjustment value included in the adjustment amount information exceeds a predetermined adjustment amount threshold value. When the adjustment value exceeds the adjustment amount threshold value, time information is acquired from the time measuring unit 14, and the adjustment amount information and the acquired time information are associated with each other in the storage unit 12 as an adjustment amount reception record. Store it. The control unit 11 repeats every predetermined timing (for example, periodically), and there is adjustment amount information in which the time information included in the adjustment amount reception record is a past of a predetermined time from the current time. If there is such adjustment amount information, the adjustment amount information is removed from the adjustment amount reception record. That is, in the adjustment amount reception record, a record when an adjustment exceeding a predetermined adjustment amount threshold value is made recently is stored.

  Next, the control unit 11 determines the image forming order while referring to the estimated consumption table. Hereinafter, an example of processing relating to determination of the image forming order will be described with reference to FIG. First, the control unit 11 rearranges the image formation instructions stored in the storage unit 12 in the order of the associated times (reception order).

  Then, the control unit 11 resets the counter indicating the order (order counter) to “1” and resets the selection counter (selection counter) to “1” (initialization process: S1). The control unit 11 selects the i-th image formation instruction corresponding to the value (i) indicated by the selection counter among the image formation instructions rearranged in the order of reception as the attention instruction (S2).

  The control unit 11 first checks whether or not the order counter is less than a predetermined threshold (S3), and if it is less than the predetermined threshold, it checks whether or not there is an adjustment amount reception record (S4). . If there is an adjustment amount reception record, the color material related to the adjustment performed recently is identified as an unstable color material, and the estimated consumption amount of the unstable color material of the attention instruction is a predetermined consumption threshold value. Is checked (S5).

  Here, when the estimated consumption amount of the unstable color material of the attention instruction does not exceed a predetermined consumption threshold value, a predetermined number k is used with reference to the value of the order counter j, and j The sum of the estimated consumption of each color material for the image formation instruction processed from the -kth (first if jk <1) to j-1th is calculated, and the sum for each color material is further calculated. The estimated consumption amount of each color material of the attention instruction is added (S6). Note that in steps S3 and S4, if the order counter exceeds the threshold value, or if there is no adjustment amount reception recording, the processing proceeds to step S6 and the processing is continued.

  Then, it is checked whether or not the result of adding the estimated consumption amount for any one of the color materials exceeds a predetermined threshold value (S7). Here, if there is no color material exceeding the limit threshold value, the attention instruction is set as an image forming instruction to be processed in the jth corresponding to the value j indicated by the order counter (S8). For example, the control unit 11 associates the value indicated by the order counter with the identifier of the image formation instruction related to the attention instruction and stores it in the storage unit 12 as a processing order table (FIG. 5).

  The control unit 11 increments the order counter by “1”, resets the selection counter to “1” (S9), performs processing for setting the selection counter (selection counter setting processing) (S10), and proceeds to processing S2. Return and continue processing (B).

  Here, the selection counter setting process executed in process S10 will be described. The control unit 11 performs the process shown in FIG. 6 as the selection counter setting process. First, the control unit 11 stores the value of the current selection counter in the storage unit 12 as search start position information (S21). Further, the number of image formation instructions stored in the storage unit 12 is held as search end position information (S22).

  The control unit 11 checks whether or not the value of the selection counter matches the value indicated by the search end position information (S23). Here, if the value of the selection counter matches the value indicated by the search end position information, the search start position information is referred to and it is checked whether or not it is “1” (S24). If the search start position information is not “1”, the search end position information is set to a value indicated by the search start position information (S25). Further, the search start position information is set to “1”, the selection counter is reset to “1” (S26), and the process returns to the process S23 to continue the process.

  On the other hand, if the search start position information is “1” in process S24, the number of image formation instructions recorded in the process order table is counted, and the result of the count and the image formation stored in the storage unit 12 are counted. The total number of instructions is compared (S27). When the total number is larger than the count result (when there is an image formation instruction in which the processing order cannot be set due to conditions), predetermined exception processing is executed (S28). On the other hand, when the total number matches the count result (when the processing order has been set for all image forming instructions), the processing is terminated. The exception processing performed in step S28 will be described later.

  On the other hand, when the value of the selection counter does not match the value indicated by the search end position information, that is, when the i-th image formation instruction indicated by the selection counter is stored in the storage unit 12 in step S23. The control unit 11 further checks whether or not the i-th image formation instruction is recorded in the processing order table (whether the processing order has already been determined) (S30), and if it is recorded in the processing order table. The selection counter is incremented by “1” (S31), and the process returns to the process S23 to continue the process (C). If the i-th image formation instruction is not recorded in the processing order table in step S30, the selection counter value i at that time is set as a new selection counter value, and the process returns. In other words, this selection counter setting process is a process for setting the selection counter so as to indicate the image formation instruction received earliest among the image formation instructions whose processing order has not yet been determined.

  Also, in the process S5 of FIG. 4, when the estimated consumption of the unstable color material of the attention instruction exceeds the predetermined consumption threshold, the process proceeds to the process S10 and the selection counter setting process is performed (A). . Here, since the selection counter has not been reset, the image forming instruction received earliest among the image forming instructions whose processing order has not yet been determined after the image forming instruction indicated by the current selection counter is instructed. The selection counter is set as follows.

  Further, in the case where there is a color material exceeding the limit threshold value in the process S7 of FIG. 4, similarly, the process proceeds to the process S10 and the selection counter setting process is performed (A).

  The consumption of the color material (unstable color material, the noted color material according to the present invention) that has been adjusted to exceed the adjustment amount threshold value in the printer 2 by the processing of the control unit 11 is a predetermined consumption threshold value. An image formation instruction that does not exceed the threshold is processed in preference to an image formation instruction that exceeds a predetermined consumption threshold.

  In addition, in the order determined by this process, except for the case where an exception process described later is performed, when k consecutive image formation instructions are executed from the order, any color material usage amount is limited. The threshold is not exceeded. That is, for example, if the threshold value is set to be less than a toner dispense amount (color material supplyable amount) that does not deteriorate image quality per time required to execute the k image forming instructions, Long-term image stability can be maintained.

  The control unit 11 sequentially outputs image formation instructions to the printer 2 in accordance with the order of the processing order thus determined.

  Here, the exception process in process S28 of FIG. 6 will be described. This exception process may be a process that terminates the process without doing anything, for example. In this case, the image forming instruction with the determined order is processed first, and the processing order is adjusted again later.

  The control unit 11 determines whether or not the number of image forming instructions held in the storage unit 12 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. You may make it perform to. Moreover, you may make it perform at the timing which the user instruct | indicated.

  When the above processing is not executed, such as when the number of held image forming instructions is less than the threshold value, the control unit 11 processes the image forming instructions in the order received, as usual.

  Further, in the exceptional process, for example, by performing UCR (Under Color Removal) process, the usage amount of the color material in at least one of the image forming instructions stored in the storage unit 12 may be adjusted. Here, the UCR process is a process in which, for example, a gray component represented by C, M, and Y color materials is replaced with a K color material to reduce the use amount of C, M, and Y. As a specific example, the control unit 11 applies a UCR process to an image formation instruction that is not recorded in the processing order table among image formation instructions stored in the storage unit 12, and uses a predetermined color material. Reduce the amount, calculate the estimated consumption of the color material after the reduction, and reset the estimated consumption table. Then, the process for determining the processing order may be performed again.

  Furthermore, in the exception process, not the UCR process, the user is informed that there is an image formation instruction whose process order could not be set due to conditions (for example, displayed on a display device not shown, or the client side May be notified via a network), or the printer 2 may be mechanically adjusted. Here, the mechanical adjustment is a so-called process control process that stabilizes the image formation of the printer 2. For example, the process of stirring the color material and the updating of the look-up table for adjusting the tone of each color material. Then, processing such as temperature stabilization of a heater or the like is performed.

  Of course, this process control processing is performed in response to an instruction from the printer server 1 in the exception processing, but every time, for example, an image is formed on a certain number of media on the printer 2 side, or a certain time elapses. It may be performed every predetermined timing such as every time.

  Further, as an exception process, when there is an image formation instruction for which the processing order could not be set due to the conditions after the UCR process is executed, the user is notified of this and the printer 2 is mechanically adjusted. It is also possible to make it. In this case, when the user inputs that the printer 2 has been mechanically adjusted, the control unit 11 ends the process so far, and repeats the process from process S1.

According to the present embodiment, for example, for each color material of C, M, Y, K,
(1) a first job estimated to consume 5 C, 2 M, 2 Y, and 1 K;
(2) a second job estimated to consume 5 for C, 5 for M, 5 for Y, and 1 for K;
(3) a third job estimated to consume 2 for C, 1 for M, 2 for Y, and 1 for K;
Are received in the order of the numbers (1) to (3), the operation is as follows. Note that the limit threshold is set to “8”, and the value of k in step S6 of FIG. 4 is set to “1”.

  In the printer server 1, the selection counter i = 1 and the order counter j = 1, and the first job of (1) (i = 1) is set as the attention instruction in the order of acceptance. Here, it is assumed that there is no adjustment amount reception record for simplicity. The threshold value of the order counter is “2”.

  Since there is no adjustment amount reception record, the printer server 1 refers to the processing order table and checks the sum of the estimated consumption of jobs from the previous k = 1. Since j = 1 here, there is no estimated consumption to examine. Therefore, the sum of the estimated consumption of color materials is the estimated consumption itself in the first job, and is estimated to consume 5 for C, 2 for M, 2 for Y, and 1 for K.

  Here, since the amount of consumption of any color material does not exceed the threshold value “8”, the first job corresponding to the order counter j = 1 is set as the first job to be processed, The first job is recorded in the processing order table. The order counter j is incremented by “1” to become “2”.

  And the process which sets a selection counter is started. At this stage, when the selection counter i is incremented by “1” to become “2”, the second job corresponding to the selection counter i = 2 becomes the next attention instruction. The printer server 1 checks the sum of estimated consumption of jobs from the previous k = 2.

  Here, as the sum, the sum of the estimated consumptions of the corresponding color materials in the first job and the second job is calculated, and C is calculated during this process by continuously processing the first and second jobs. 10. It is estimated that 7 is consumed for M, 7 for Y, and 2 for K.

  Since the consumption amount of the color material C exceeds the limit threshold value “8”, the printer server 1 starts the process of setting the selection counter without recording the second job in the processing order table. Then, the third job is selected as a notice instruction.

  In this case, the sum of the estimated consumptions of the color materials is the sum of the estimated consumptions of the first job and the third job, so it is estimated that C is consumed by 7, M by 3, Y by 4, and K by 2 consumed. The That is, since the color material consumption does not exceed the threshold value “8”, the third job corresponding to the order counter j = 2 is set as the second job to be processed, and the processing order is set. A third job is recorded in the table. Further, the order counter j is incremented by “1” to become “3”.

  Next, the printer server 1 executes a selection counter setting process. By this processing, the second job that has not yet been recorded in the processing order table is selected as the attention instruction. In this case, the sum of the estimated consumption of the color material is the sum of the estimated consumption of the jobs from j−k = 2, and the sum of the consumption of the corresponding color material in the third job and the second job. Therefore, it is estimated that C is consumed 7, M is consumed 6, Y is consumed 7, and K is consumed 2. That is, since the color material consumption does not exceed the threshold value “8”, the second job is set as the third job to be processed corresponding to the order counter j = 3, and the processing order is set. A second job is recorded in the table.

  Since the processing order has been determined for all received jobs, the printer server 1 transmits the job to the printer 2 according to the order recorded in the processing order table. That is, here, the job is processed in the order of the first job, the third job, and the second job, and the printing process in the printer 2 is performed.

  Further, for example, when an adjustment is performed on the color material C from the printer 2 in advance, and the adjustment amount exceeds a predetermined adjustment amount threshold value, the usage amount of the color material C is a predetermined consumption amount. A job exceeding a threshold value (for example, “4”) is set to be postponed. For example, if the threshold value of the order counter in the process S3 of FIG. 4 is set to “2”, such a job is not set below the “2” th.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration and an example of a connection state of an image formation control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of holding an image formation instruction. FIG. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of holding | maintaining the estimated consumption of the coloring material for every image formation instruction | indication. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing order determination processing of the image forming control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the content of a process order table. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of selection counter setting processing of the image forming control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer server, 2 Printer, 11 Control part, 12 Storage part, 13 Communication part, 14 Timekeeping part.

Claims (4)

Connected to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium using a plurality of color materials,
Means for holding a plurality of image formation instructions;
Means for calculating an estimated consumption amount of each of the plurality of color materials in each of the held image formation instructions;
In order to determine the image forming instruction to be processed j-th (j = 1, 2,...)
Selecting an image formation instruction for which the image formation order is not determined from among the held image formation instructions as a notice instruction;
Using a predetermined number k, the attention instruction is added to the sum of the estimated consumption amounts of the respective color materials for the image formation instruction in which the processing order is determined as performing image formation from the kth to the first before the attention instruction. Add the estimated consumption of each colorant for
If the result of adding the estimated consumption amount for any one of the color materials does not exceed a predetermined limit threshold value, the attention instruction is determined as an image formation instruction to be processed j-th,
An order determining means for controlling the attention instruction not to be an image formation instruction to be processed j-th if the result of addition of the estimated consumption amount for any of the color materials exceeds a predetermined limit threshold ;
Including
An image forming control apparatus that executes an image forming process in accordance with the determined image forming order. The image formation control device according to claim 1,
According to a plurality of image forming instructions executed in succession in the determined image forming order, the sum of estimated consumption amounts in the respective image forming instructions relating to any of the color materials is supplied to the color material in the image forming apparatus. Image forming control, further comprising means for executing a predetermined process for adjusting the amount of color material used in at least one of the plurality of image forming instructions when the possible amount is exceeded apparatus. A control method for an image forming control apparatus comprising means for holding a plurality of image forming instructions connected to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a medium using a plurality of color materials,
Calculating an estimated consumption amount of each of the plurality of color materials in each of the held image formation instructions ;
In order to determine the image forming instruction to be processed j-th (j = 1, 2,...)
Selecting an image formation instruction for which the image formation order is not determined from among the held image formation instructions as a notice instruction;
Using a predetermined number k, the attention instruction is added to the sum of the estimated consumption amounts of the respective color materials for the image formation instruction in which the processing order is determined as performing image formation from the kth to the first before the attention instruction. Add the estimated consumption of each colorant for
If the result of adding the estimated consumption amount for any one of the color materials does not exceed a predetermined limit threshold value, the attention instruction is determined as an image formation instruction to be processed j-th,
An order determination step for controlling the attention instruction not to be an image forming instruction to be processed j-th if the result of adding the estimated consumption amount for any of the color materials exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
Including
An image forming control apparatus control method, wherein image forming processing is executed in accordance with the determined image forming order . Using a plurality of coloring materials, is connected to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a medium, an image formation control apparatus comprising means for holding a plurality of image forming instruction,
Means for calculating an estimated consumption amount of each of the plurality of color materials in each of the held image formation instructions;
In order to determine the image forming instruction to be processed j-th (j = 1, 2,...)
Selecting an image formation instruction for which the image formation order is not determined from among the held image formation instructions as a notice instruction;
Using a predetermined number k, the attention instruction is added to the sum of the estimated consumption amounts of the respective color materials for the image formation instruction in which the processing order is determined as performing image formation from the kth to the first before the attention instruction. Add the estimated consumption of each colorant for
If the result of adding the estimated consumption amount for any one of the color materials does not exceed a predetermined limit threshold value, the attention instruction is determined as an image formation instruction to be processed j-th,
An order determining means for controlling the attention instruction not to be an image formation instruction to be processed j-th if the result of addition of the estimated consumption amount for any of the color materials exceeds a predetermined limit threshold;
Function as
A program for executing an image forming process according to the determined image forming order.

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