JP6807055B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, image forming system and image forming program - Google Patents

Description

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

In recent years, a technique has been proposed in which an image forming apparatus is selected and a printing process is executed in an image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatus connected to a network. As such a technique, for example, in Patent Document 1, an image forming apparatus having the least unevenness is automatically selected from a plurality of image forming apparatus, and printing with stable image quality is performed in consideration of in-plane unevenness color difference. We are proposing an image formation system to be performed. Patent Document 2 proposes a technique for selecting an image forming apparatus according to desired printing conditions including the time after the image stabilization process. The time after the image stabilization process is the elapsed time from the completion of the process for correcting various image deteriorations such as changes in image quality and image shifts that occur over time to obtain an image of predetermined quality.

JP-A-2007-86847 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-221997

However, the inventor of the present application states that the image forming apparatus includes a device having low stability in which the image quality tends to fluctuate with respect to changes in the environment and the number of prints, and a device having high stability in which the image quality does not easily fluctuate. We found individual differences in stability.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and selects an image forming apparatus having stable image quality based on the stability of image quality against fluctuation factors such as temporal factors and environmental changes of a plurality of image forming apparatus. The purpose is to provide technology.

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can be used for image forming agency processing. When the image forming apparatus is used as the first image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is a search processing unit that searches for an image forming apparatus other than the first image forming apparatus that can be used for the image forming agency processing. And, when the fluctuation history amount of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the first image forming apparatus is acquired and the searched image forming apparatus is used as the second image forming apparatus, among the second image forming apparatus. A proxy requesting unit that selects at least one and requests the image forming proxy processing is provided, and the proxy requesting unit further acquires the fluctuation history amount of the second image forming apparatus and obtains the fluctuation history amount of the first image forming apparatus. The second image forming apparatus having the variation history amount smaller than the variation history amount of the image forming apparatus is selected, and the selected second image forming apparatus is requested to perform the image forming agency processing.

The present invention provides an image forming system having a plurality of image forming devices that can be used for image forming agency processing. The image forming system includes a search processing unit in which one of the plurality of image forming devices searches for an image forming device other than the one image forming device among the plurality of image forming devices. When the one image forming apparatus is used as the first image forming apparatus, the fluctuation history amount of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the first image forming apparatus is acquired, and the searched image forming apparatus is used as the second image. When the forming apparatus is used, at least one of the second image forming apparatus is selected, and the agent requesting unit for requesting the image forming agent processing is provided, and the agent requesting unit further comprises the second image forming apparatus. The variation history amount of the image forming apparatus is acquired, the second image forming apparatus having the fluctuation history amount smaller than the fluctuation history amount of the first image forming apparatus is selected, and the selected first image forming apparatus is selected. The image forming apparatus of No. 2 is requested to perform the image forming agency processing.

The present invention provides an image forming method using a plurality of image forming devices that can be used for image forming agency processing. The image forming method includes a search processing step in which one of the plurality of image forming devices searches for another image forming device other than the one image forming device among the plurality of image forming devices. When the one image forming apparatus is used as the first image forming apparatus, the fluctuation history amount of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the first image forming apparatus is acquired, and the searched image forming apparatus is used as the second image. When the forming device is used, at least one of the second image forming devices is selected, and the proxy requesting step of requesting the image forming proxy processing is provided, and the proxy requesting step further includes the second image forming device. The variation history amount of the image forming apparatus is acquired, the second image forming apparatus having the fluctuation history amount smaller than the fluctuation history amount of the first image forming apparatus is selected, and the selected first image forming apparatus is selected. The image forming apparatus of No. 2 is requested to perform the image forming agency processing.

The present invention provides an image forming program that controls an image forming apparatus that can be used for image forming agency processing. When the image forming apparatus is used as the first image forming apparatus, the image forming program is a search processing unit that searches for an image forming apparatus other than the first image forming apparatus that can be used for the image forming agency processing. And, when the fluctuation history amount of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the first image forming apparatus is acquired and the searched image forming apparatus is used as the second image forming apparatus, among the second image forming apparatus. At least one is selected and the image forming apparatus functions as an agent requesting unit for requesting the image forming agent processing, and the agent requesting unit further acquires the fluctuation history amount of the second image forming apparatus. The second image forming apparatus having the fluctuation history amount smaller than the fluctuation history amount of the first image forming apparatus is selected, and the image forming agency processing is performed on the selected second image forming apparatus. To ask.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, there is provided a technique for selecting an image forming apparatus having stable image quality based on the stability of image quality against fluctuation factors such as temporal factors and environmental changes of a plurality of image forming apparatus.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the whole structure of the image formation system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the image formation agency processing procedure which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the apparatus selection processing procedure which concerns on one Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content of the apparatus selection process which concerns on one Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content of the variation history amount management processing procedure which concerns on one Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as “embodiments”) will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the image forming system 10 includes four image forming devices 100 (100a to 100d) and a local area network (also simply referred to as a LAN) 300 connecting them. That is, the image forming system 10 is configured by connecting a plurality of image forming devices 100 to each other via a LAN 300. The four image forming devices 100a to 100c have the same configuration as the image forming device 100. A plurality of personal computers 200 are also connected to the LAN 300.

The image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 110, an image reading unit 120, an image forming unit 130, a storage unit 140, a communication interface unit 150 (also referred to as a communication I / F), and an operation display unit 160. ing. The image reading unit 120 reads an image from the document, generates an image data ID which is RGB digital data, and transmits the image data ID to the image forming unit 130. The image forming unit 130 can form an image on a print medium using toners of each color of cyan (C), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and black (K). The operation display unit 160 receives user operation input from a display (not shown) that functions as a touch panel and various buttons and switches (not shown).

The control unit 110 includes main storage means such as RAM and ROM, and control means such as MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and CPU (Central Processing Unit). In addition, the control unit 110 has controller functions related to interfaces such as various I / O, USB (universal serial bus), bus, and other hardware, and controls the entire image forming apparatus 100. The control unit 110 includes an image analysis unit 111, a search processing unit 112, and a proxy request unit 113.

The image analysis unit 111 has an OCR processing function (character recognition function) and an ACS (Auto Color Selection) function. The ACS function is an automatic discrimination function for automatically identifying the color or monochrome of each page of the image data ID, printing the color document in full color, and printing the black and white document in grayscale (or black and white).

The image analysis unit 111 can also analyze the print data described in the page description language and extract objects such as text (characters), images, and vector graphics included in the print data. The functions of the search processing unit 112 and the proxy request unit 113 will be described later.

The storage unit 140 is a storage device including a hard disk drive, a flash memory, or the like which is a non-temporary recording medium, and stores an image forming program and data executed by the control unit 110. The storage unit 140 stores the image forming apparatus database 141. In the image forming apparatus database 141, three other image forming apparatus 100 capable of performing the image forming processing on behalf of the image forming apparatus 100 are registered.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of the printing agency processing procedure according to the embodiment. The printing agency processing is also called an image forming agency processing, and when a printing job occurs in any of the four image forming devices 100a to 100d constituting the image forming system 10, various print target images and print settings are used. This is a process of executing printing on behalf of the four image forming devices 100a to 100d by using the other image forming device 100 depending on the situation. In this example, it is assumed that the image is read by the image forming apparatus 100a.

In step S110, the user executes the print setting process for the image forming apparatus 100a. In the print setting process, the user sets the image quality priority mode via the operation display unit 160. The image quality priority mode is set, for example, by checking the check box (not shown) for image quality priority printing on the print setting screen (not shown).

In this example, the image forming apparatus 100 is configured so that when the image quality priority mode is set, the printing agency processing procedure for improving the image quality is activated. The image forming apparatus 100 may have, for example, a dedicated setting mode for designating the activation of the printing agency processing procedure for improving the image quality.

In step S120, the image reading unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 100a reads an image from the document, generates an image data ID which is digital data having RGB pixel values, and transmits the image data ID to the image forming unit 130. As a result, the copying process of the original is executed. The image reading unit 120 can function as an image data acquisition unit.

In step S130, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 100a is set to the image quality priority mode. The control unit 110 advances the process to step S140 when the image quality priority mode is set, and proceeds to step S195 when the image quality priority mode is not set. In step S195, the image forming apparatus 100a executes the image forming process using the image data ID.

In step S140, the image analysis unit 111 executes the image analysis process. In the image analysis process, the image analysis unit 111 requests the image data ID from the image reading unit 120, and acquires the image data ID from the image reading unit 120. The image analysis unit 111 analyzes the image data ID by using the OCR processing function and the ACS function.

The image analysis unit 111 uses the ACS function to determine whether or not the image data ID represents a color image. When the image data ID does not represent a color image, the image analysis unit 111 determines that the image is a monochrome image.

When the image data ID represents a color image, the image analysis unit 111 uses the ACS function to calculate the area of the color image area (also referred to as the color area), and uses the OCR processing function to obtain black color. Calculate the area of the character area composed of the characters of. If the OCR processing function is used, it is possible to determine that a black character that is erroneously recognized as a color pixel by the image reading unit 120 due to the color shift of RGB at the time of reading is a monochrome image.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of the device selection processing procedure (step S150) according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the device selection process according to the embodiment. In the image forming system 10, the four image forming devices 100a to 100d are image forming devices that can be used for image forming agency processing. The image forming agency processing is a function of performing image forming on behalf of the other image forming apparatus 100 from the viewpoint of realizing stable image quality when an image forming job occurs.

In step S151, the proxy requesting unit 113 proceeds to the process in step S152 when the image data ID represents a color image, and when the image data ID does not represent a color image, that is, represents a monochrome image. If so, the process proceeds to step S155.

In step S155, the proxy requesting unit 113 selects the K-bias fluctuation history amount as a reference used for selecting the image forming apparatus 100. The K bias fluctuation history amount is also called the black bias fluctuation history amount, and is an integrated value of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the development bias voltage used for developing the black toner.

In step S156, the search processing unit 112 searches for an image forming apparatus 100 capable of performing image forming agency processing. The search processing unit 112 searches the image forming apparatus 100b to the image forming apparatus 100d using the image forming apparatus database 141 (see FIG. 1). In this example, the image forming apparatus 100a is also referred to as a first image forming apparatus, and the other searched image forming apparatus 100b to the image forming apparatus 100d are also referred to as a second image forming apparatus.

In step S157, the proxy requesting unit 113 searches the image forming apparatus 100 having the K bias fluctuation history amount and the light amount fluctuation history amount smaller than the image forming apparatus 100a from the image forming apparatus 100b to the image forming apparatus 100d. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the light amount fluctuation history amount is always set as a reference used for selection of the image forming apparatus 100. The light amount fluctuation history amount is an integrated value of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the exposure light amount. In this example, the proxy requesting unit 113 can select the image forming apparatus 100b and the image forming apparatus 100d.

On the other hand, in step S152, the proxy requesting unit 113 selects the CMYK bias fluctuation history amount as a reference used for selecting the image forming apparatus 100. The CMYK bias fluctuation history amount (also called a bias fluctuation history amount) is an integrated value of adjustment amounts in calibration of each development bias voltage used for developing black toner (K) and color toner (CMY).

In step S153, if the ratio of the area of the color area to the entire area of the image is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value, the proxy requesting unit 113 proceeds to step S154 to move the color area to the entire area of the image. If the area ratio is less than a preset threshold, the process proceeds to step S156.

When the ratio of the color region is less than the preset threshold value, the proxy requesting unit 113 sets the image forming apparatus 100 in which the CMYK bias fluctuation history amount and the light amount fluctuation history amount are smaller than the image forming apparatus 100a. The search is performed from 100b to the image forming apparatus 100d (step S156). In this example, the proxy requesting unit 113 can select the image forming apparatus 100b and the image forming apparatus 100d.

In step S154, the proxy requesting unit 113 further selects color shift variation history amount selection as a reference used for selecting the image forming apparatus 100. The color shift variation history amount is an integrated value of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the position of the image formed by the CMY toner with respect to the image formed by the black toner.

The proxy requesting unit 113 searches the image forming apparatus 100 whose color shift variation history amount, CMYK bias variation history amount, and light amount variation history amount are smaller than those of the image forming apparatus 100a from the image forming apparatus 100b to the image forming apparatus 100d ( Step S156).

In this example, the proxy requesting unit 113 detects the image forming apparatus 100d as an image forming apparatus 100 in which the color shift variation history amount, the CMYK bias variation history amount, and the light amount variation history amount are smaller than the image forming apparatus 100a.

In step S160, the proxy request unit 113 executes the changeability confirmation process. In the changeability confirmation process, the proxy requesting unit 113 indicates that the image quality may be improved by changing from the image forming device 100a that executed the image reading and forming an image with another image forming device 100. It is displayed on the operation display unit 160 of the device 100a.

Specifically, the operation display unit 160 includes the image forming apparatus 100b and the image forming apparatus when the object of the copying process represents a monochrome image or when the ratio of the color region is less than a preset threshold value. It is displayed that there is a possibility that the image quality can be improved from the viewpoint of reproducing the density and color by using 100d. On the other hand, when the ratio of the area of the color region is equal to or higher than a preset threshold value, the operation display unit 160 can improve the image quality from the viewpoint of reducing color shift and reproducing density and tint by using the image forming apparatus 100d. Show that it may be improved.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 capable of stably improving the image quality can be selected from the plurality of image forming apparatus 100 based on the image analysis result. Thereby, the present embodiment can alleviate the concentration of the image forming process on behalf of the specific image forming apparatus 100.

When the target of the copying process represents a monochrome image or the ratio of the color region is less than a preset threshold value, it is recommended to use an image forming apparatus 100b having necessary and sufficient stability. In, or by non-selection of the image forming apparatus 100d, it is possible to further relax the concentration of the image forming processing on behalf of the specific image forming apparatus 100 (in this example, the image forming apparatus 100d).

In step S170, the proxy request unit 113 receives the user input from the operation display unit 160. Specifically, when the agency requesting unit 113 receives, for example, a user input indicating the use of the image forming apparatus 100d, the process proceeds to step S180, and the agency process of the other image forming apparatus 100 is not used. When the user input indicating the above is received, the process proceeds to step S195.

In step S195, the proxy requesting unit 113 selects itself (image forming apparatus 100a), and the image forming unit 130 of the image forming apparatus 100a executes the image forming process.

In step S180, the proxy request unit 113 executes the image formation proxy request process. In the image formation agency request process, the agency request unit 113 transmits the image data ID and the print setting data (for example, the number of prints) to the image forming apparatus 100d, and requests (commands) the image formation process on behalf of the image forming agent 100d.

In step S190, the image forming apparatus 100d executes the transfer destination image forming process. In the transfer destination image forming process, the image forming apparatus 100d executes the image forming process using the transferred image data ID and the print setting data. As a result, in the image forming system 10, for example, when the ratio of the area of the color region is equal to or more than a preset threshold value, the color shift fluctuation history amount, the CMYK bias fluctuation history amount, and the light amount fluctuation history amount are the image forming apparatus. It is possible to realize the image forming process with stable and high image quality by changing to the proxy processing by the image forming apparatus 100d smaller than 100a.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the fluctuation history amount management processing procedure according to the embodiment. FIG. 5A shows a flowchart of the fluctuation history amount management processing procedure according to the embodiment. The variation history amount management processing procedure is a process for generating an image forming apparatus database 141 used for selecting an image forming apparatus 100 capable of stably realizing an image forming process with high image quality.

In step S210, the proxy request unit 113 executes the management database registration process. In the management database registration process, the proxy request unit 113 of the image forming apparatus 100a generates the image forming apparatus database 141, and the search processing unit 112 searches and registers the other three image forming apparatus 100b to the image forming apparatus 100d. To do. On the other hand, the proxy requesting unit 113 of the image forming apparatus 100a permits the registration of the image forming apparatus 100a in the image forming apparatus database 141 of the other three image forming apparatus 100b to the image forming apparatus 100d.

In step S220, the control unit 110 of the image forming apparatus 100a executes the calibration process (step S230) in response to the calibration request. In this example, the calibration process includes color shift calibration, CMYK bias calibration and light intensity calibration. The proofreading process is requested to be executed according to a user's instruction via the operation display unit 160, detection of changes in the environment such as temperature and humidity inside and outside the image forming apparatus 100, and the number of printed sheets.

FIG. 5B shows an example of the contents of the image forming apparatus database 141 according to the embodiment. FIG. 5B shows the C value and the δ value of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the CMY color shift for the past 5 times (1 time before to 5 times before) in pixel units. The C value is an adjustment amount with respect to the nominal value. The δ value is a difference value indicating the fluctuation of the C value each time (the difference between the adjustment amount N times before and the adjustment amount (N + 1) times before, N is a natural number). The adjustment amount in the calibration of the development bias voltage is in units of voltage (volt A), and the adjustment amount in the calibration of the exposure light amount can be expressed as a percentage with respect to the reference value.

Specifically, for example, the C value and the δ value of yellow one time before are "+1" and "1". The C value of "+1" indicates that the image position of K can be matched by shifting the image formation position of yellow to the "+1" side with respect to the nominal value. The δ value is the absolute value of the difference from the C value “± 0” two times before to the C value of yellow one time before. The total δ value is the total of the δ values for the past 5 times (1 to 5 times before).

In step S240, the proxy request unit 113 executes the adjustment amount registration process. In the adjustment amount registration process, the proxy requesting unit 113 of the image forming apparatus 100a registers the adjusting amount in the image forming apparatus database 141 and transmits the adjustment amount to the other three image forming apparatus 100. The other three image forming apparatus 100b to the image forming apparatus 100d register the adjustment amount of the image forming apparatus 100a in each image forming apparatus database 141.

The proxy request unit 113 registers the C value as the value one time before in response to the acquisition of the adjustment amount (C value), and the existing C value and δ value of the first to fourth times before to 5 times, respectively. Let it be the C value and δ value of the second time. In this example, the fluctuation history amount is calculated using the adjustment amount for the past 5 times, but the fluctuation history amount is not limited to 5 times, and may be 5 times or more, as long as the fluctuation history is used at least once. Good. The fluctuation history amount can generally be calculated by integrating the absolute value of the difference between the adjustment amount N (N is a natural number from 1 to a predetermined number) times before and the adjustment amount before (N + 1) times. In such a method of calculating the fluctuation history amount, the fluctuation history amount can be calculated as an amount that directly represents the fluctuation of the characteristics of the image forming apparatus 100 after the calibration process.

In step S250, the proxy request unit 113 executes the fluctuation history amount calculation process. In the fluctuation history amount calculation process, the proxy request unit 113 subtracts the C value one time ago (registered this time) from the C value two times ago, registers the absolute value as the δ value one time ago, and δ value. Recalculate and update the total.

As described above, the image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment includes the image forming apparatus 100 that executes the image forming process based on the stability of the plurality of image forming apparatus 100 against fluctuation factors such as the time-dependent factors of image quality and environmental changes. You can choose. As a result, the image forming system 10 can stably realize the image forming process with high image quality.

The present invention can be implemented not only in the above embodiment but also in the following modifications.

Modification 1: In the above embodiment, the image analysis unit analyzes the image data ID generated by reading the image from the original using the OCR processing function and the ACS function, but the image analysis unit is, for example, personal. It is also possible to analyze the print data described in the page description language included in the print job received from the computer 200. That is, the image analysis unit can also extract objects such as text (characters), images, and vector graphics included in the print data, and analyze them using the attributes and contents of the objects.

Modification 2: In the above embodiment, the fluctuation history amount is calculated as the added value of the fluctuation history for the past five times, but is not necessarily limited to the added value of the fluctuation history. Statistics that represent variability, such as variance or standard deviation, may be used.

Modification 3: In the above embodiment, the fluctuation history amount is stored in the image forming apparatus database of each image forming apparatus, but the image forming apparatus database does not necessarily have to be provided in each image forming apparatus. The image forming system may include a server that stores an image forming device database and may be centrally managed by the server, or may be centrally managed by one of a plurality of image forming devices. ..

Modification 4: In the above embodiment, after one of the plurality of image forming apparatus accepts a print job, the image data is transferred to another image forming apparatus to request the image forming agency processing, but the print job The image formation agency process may be requested by switching the destination of the print job before accepting. Further, the server may accept the print job, perform image analysis, and send the print job to at least one of the plurality of image forming devices based on the image forming device database. In this way, distributed printing is also possible by transmitting print jobs to a plurality of image forming devices.

10 Image forming system 100 Image forming device 110 Control unit 111 Image analysis unit 112 Search processing unit 113 Proxy request unit 120 Image reading unit 130 Image forming unit 140 Storage unit 141 Image forming device Database 150 Communication interface unit 160 Operation display unit

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus that can be used for image forming agency processing.
When the image forming apparatus is used as the first image forming apparatus, a search processing unit for searching for an image forming apparatus other than the first image forming apparatus that can be used for the image forming agency processing, and a search processing unit.
When the fluctuation history amount of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the first image forming apparatus is acquired and the searched image forming apparatus is used as the second image forming apparatus, at least one of the second image forming apparatus is used. The agency requesting unit that selects one and requests the image forming agency processing, and
With
The proxy requesting unit further acquires the fluctuation history amount of the second image forming apparatus, and the second image having the fluctuation history amount smaller than the fluctuation history amount of the first image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus that selects a forming apparatus and requests the selected second image forming apparatus to perform the image forming agency processing. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The proxy requesting unit calculates the fluctuation history amount by integrating the absolute value of the difference between the adjustment amount N (N is a natural number from 1 to a predetermined number) times before and the adjustment amount before (N + 1) times. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further
It is equipped with an image data acquisition unit that acquires image data representing an image.
The proxy requesting unit is an image forming apparatus that transfers the image data from the first image forming apparatus to the selected second image forming apparatus and requests the image forming agency processing. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further
It is equipped with an image analysis unit that analyzes the image.
The fluctuation history amount includes a color shift fluctuation history amount which is a fluctuation history amount of the color shift adjustment amount.
When the image includes a color image, the proxy requesting unit forms the second image having the color shift history amount smaller than the color shift change history amount of the first image forming apparatus. An image forming device for selecting a device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.
The fluctuation history amount includes the black bias fluctuation history amount, which is the fluctuation history amount of the adjustment amount of the development bias voltage used for developing the black toner.
When the image is a monochrome image, the proxy requesting unit uses the second image forming apparatus having the black bias fluctuation history amount smaller than the black bias fluctuation history amount of the first image forming apparatus. Image forming device to select. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5.
The fluctuation history amount includes a bias fluctuation history amount which is a fluctuation history amount of an adjustment amount of a development bias voltage used for developing toner.
When the ratio of the region of the color image included in the image to the entire region of the image is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value, the proxy requesting unit performs the color shift variation history amount of the first image forming apparatus. And the second image forming apparatus having the color shift history amount and the bias fluctuation history amount smaller than the bias fluctuation history amount are selected, and when the ratio is less than the threshold value, the first image An image forming apparatus that selects the second image forming apparatus having the bias fluctuation history amount smaller than the bias fluctuation history amount of the forming apparatus. An image forming system having a plurality of image forming devices that can be used for image forming agency processing.
A search processing unit in which one of the plurality of image forming devices searches for an image forming device other than the one image forming device among the plurality of image forming devices.
When the one image forming apparatus is used as the first image forming apparatus, the fluctuation history amount of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the first image forming apparatus is acquired, and the searched image forming apparatus is used as the second image forming apparatus. When it is used as an apparatus, an agent requesting unit that selects at least one of the second image forming apparatus and requests the image forming agency processing, and
With
The proxy requesting unit further acquires the fluctuation history amount of the second image forming apparatus, and the second image having the fluctuation history amount smaller than the fluctuation history amount of the first image forming apparatus. An image forming system that selects a forming device and requests the selected second image forming device to perform the image forming agency process. An image forming method that uses a plurality of image forming devices that can be used for image forming agency processing.
A search processing step in which one of the plurality of image forming devices searches for another image forming device other than the one of the plurality of image forming devices.
When the one image forming apparatus is used as the first image forming apparatus, the fluctuation history amount of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the first image forming apparatus is acquired, and the searched image forming apparatus is used as the second image forming apparatus. When the device is used, at least one of the second image forming devices is selected, and the image forming agency process is requested.
With
The proxy requesting step further acquires the fluctuation history amount of the second image forming apparatus, and has the fluctuation history amount smaller than the fluctuation history amount of the first image forming apparatus. An image forming method in which a forming device is selected and the selected second image forming device is requested to perform the image forming agency process. An image forming program that controls an image forming apparatus that can be used for image forming agency processing.
When the image forming apparatus is used as the first image forming apparatus, a search processing unit for searching for an image forming apparatus other than the first image forming apparatus that can be used for the image forming agency processing, and the first image forming apparatus. When the fluctuation history amount of the adjustment amount in the calibration of the image forming apparatus is acquired and the searched image forming apparatus is used as the second image forming apparatus, at least one of the second image forming apparatus is selected. , The image forming apparatus is made to function as a proxy requesting unit for requesting the image forming agency processing.
The proxy requesting unit further acquires the fluctuation history amount of the second image forming apparatus, and the second image having the fluctuation history amount smaller than the fluctuation history amount of the first image forming apparatus. An image forming program that selects a forming device and requests the selected second image forming device to perform the image forming agency process.