JP2011051144A - Image forming apparatus and network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption required for printing of an image forming apparatus connected to a network as a whole network.
A first image forming apparatus 1 capable of performing a printing operation based on a print job received from any one of an external first PC 4 to a fourth PC 7 via a network 8 is in a power saving state. Is received (S1, 2), the second image forming apparatus 2 and the third image forming apparatus 3 in the network 8 are inquired (S3), and the print job is printed from the network 8 based on the inquiry result. An image forming apparatus that requires less power consumption than the self apparatus is searched (S4, 5), and a print job is transferred to the searched image forming apparatus for printing (S6).
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a facsimile machine, a printer, a copier, and a multifunction machine, and a network system using the image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, in a network system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected and a print job transmitted from a computer is executed by the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the received print job is data transmitted to the unique address of the image forming apparatus itself. And an image forming apparatus that improves the processing efficiency of the entire network system (for example, Patent Document 1). See).
Also, in a network system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected and a print job transmitted from a computer is executed by the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the complicated processing that occurs when a variety of network devices are connected is efficiently performed. There is an image forming apparatus that executes automatically (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Thus, an invention for improving the processing efficiency of an image forming apparatus connected to a network has been proposed.
By the way, in order to reduce power consumption in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, in addition to a state in which immediate printing is possible (referred to as a “standby mode”), the printing is performed for a portion that is not necessary for an immediate printing operation, for example, including a fixing heater. It is common and already known to prepare an energy saving state (referred to as an “energy saving mode” (abbreviated as “energy saving mode”)) in which power supply to each part is stopped to reduce power consumption.

  In the energy saving state of the image forming apparatus as described above, when a print job is received from a network or the like, the printer shifts to a standby state to perform a printing operation, and thereafter, power supply to each unit is started to perform the printing operation. In particular, when the power of the fixing heater is turned on and the fixing unit is raised to a specified temperature, a large amount of power consumption is required and the energy saving effect is reduced.

However, when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to the network, the energy saving effect of the image forming apparatus in the energy saving state can be enhanced by preferentially using the image forming apparatus in operation. Such a conventional image forming apparatus has a problem that although the use efficiency of the image forming apparatus on the network can be increased, the energy saving effect of the entire network cannot be improved.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the power consumption required for printing of an image forming apparatus connected to a network as a whole network.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of performing a printing operation based on a print job received from the outside via a network, and when the print job is received in an energy saving state Search means for inquiring another image forming apparatus of the network and searching for an image forming apparatus that requires less power consumption than the own apparatus to print the print job from the network based on the inquiry result And an image forming apparatus provided with transfer means for transferring and printing the print job to the image forming apparatus found by the search means.
Further, the search means inquires other image forming apparatuses of the network about the status information indicating the current operation state, and the image forming apparatus showing the status in which the status information can be immediately printed from the network It is preferable to use a means for searching for an image forming apparatus that requires less power consumption to print a job than the apparatus itself.

Further, the search means sends information for calculating a predicted amount of power consumption required for printing the print job to another image forming apparatus of the network, and the predicted amount calculated based on the information is calculated. The minimum predicted amount is obtained from the predicted amounts obtained by the inquiry, and the determined minimum predicted amount is smaller than the predicted amount of power consumption required for printing the print job on the own device. The image forming apparatus may be a means for searching for an image forming apparatus that requires less power consumption than the self apparatus to print the print job.
In addition, when the print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus, a means for displaying information indicating that the print job has been transferred to another image forming apparatus may be provided.

Further, when the print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus, it is preferable to provide means for transmitting information indicating that the print job has been transferred to another image forming apparatus to the transmission source apparatus.
In addition, when transferring the print job to another image forming apparatus, the registration means for registering the detailed information of the other image forming apparatus connected to the network in advance, and the transfer destination of the print job from the registration means. Means for reading and displaying detailed information of the image forming apparatus may be provided.
In addition, detailed information of other image forming apparatuses connected to the network is registered in advance, and browsing means that allows the detailed information to be accessed and accessed from outside via the network; When transferring to the image forming apparatus, it is preferable to provide means for transmitting access information for accessing detailed information of the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transferred by the browsing means to the apparatus that is the transmission source of the print job.
A network system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses as described above is also provided.

  The image forming apparatus and the network system according to the present invention can reduce the power consumption required for printing by the image forming apparatus connected to the network as a whole network.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing about the control processing in the network system of Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control process when a print job is received in the image forming apparatus of the network system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of average power consumption in each state such as an energy saving state in the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing speed and an energy saving transition time after completion of a printing operation in the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of power consumption in the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus when printing is performed by the first image forming apparatus that has received a print job. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of power consumption when a print job received by a first image forming apparatus is transferred to a second image forming apparatus and printed. It is a flowchart figure which shows the control processing at the time of the print job reception in the image forming apparatus of the network system of Example 2 of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of power consumption in the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 when printing is executed by the first image forming apparatus 1 that has received the print job. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of power consumption when the print job received by the first image forming apparatus 1 is transferred to the second image forming apparatus 2 and printed. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control process when a print job transfer message display process is added to the process shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of a message indicating that a print job has been transferred in the first image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another display example of a message notifying that a print job has been transferred in the first image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of detailed information of an image forming apparatus that is a transfer destination of a print job in the first image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control process when a print job transfer message display process is added to the process shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of a message notifying that a print job has been transferred in the first PC illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another display example of a message notifying that a print job has been transferred in the first PC illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control process when a process of transmitting a transfer destination information posting address together with a print job transfer message to a PC is added to the process shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of a message indicating that a print job has been transferred to another image forming apparatus in the first PC illustrated in FIG. 1 and a transfer destination information posting address. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another display example of detailed information of the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transferred in the first image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This network system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses including a first image forming apparatus 1, a second image forming apparatus 2 and a third image forming apparatus 3, a first personal computer (PC) 4, a second PC 5, a third PC 6, A plurality of PCs including the fourth PC 7 are connected so as to be able to exchange data via a network 8 including the Internet, a local area network, and a communication network. Other image forming apparatuses and PCs are not shown.
The first image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, an input unit 11, a display unit 12, a communication unit 13, and a printing unit 14, and the second image forming apparatus 2 includes a control unit 20, an input unit 21, and a display unit. 22, a communication unit 23, and a printing unit 24. The third image forming apparatus 3 includes a control unit 30, an input unit 31, a display unit 32, a communication unit 33, and a printing unit 34.

The control units 10, 20, and 30 are realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and control the entire image forming apparatus. The control process according to various modes including an energy saving mode and a standby mode, and the present invention. Various processes including control at the time of printing are executed.
The input units 11, 21, and 31 are operation units that allow a user to input various types of information to the image forming apparatus.
The display units 12, 22, and 32 are display devices on which the image forming apparatus displays various work screens and messages to the user.
In addition, if a touch panel is employ | adopted for the said input part, it can be set as the operation display part which can input and display by match | combining with the said display part.
The communication units 13, 23, and 33 control communication with each PC including the first PC 4 to the fourth PC 7 and communication with other image forming apparatuses via the network 8.
The printing units 14, 24, and 34 print images based on print job data on paper.

On the other hand, although not shown, each PC including the first PC 4 to the fourth PC 7 is provided with a control unit realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, an input unit for a user to input various information, and a user. A display unit for displaying various work screens and messages is provided, and various processes including a print request to each image forming apparatus and display based on data sent from each image forming apparatus under the control of the control unit. Execute.
In the network system of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of PCs including the first PC 4 to the fourth PC 7 and a plurality of images including the first image forming apparatus 1 to the third image forming apparatus 3 in the same network 8. In the network system to which the forming apparatuses are connected, each PC including the first PC 4 to the fourth PC 7 can freely execute a print job to each image forming apparatus including the first image forming apparatus 1 to the third image forming apparatus 3. An environment is assumed in which each image forming apparatus including the first image forming apparatus 1 to the third image forming apparatus 3 can perform a printing operation based on the received print job. .

In each image forming apparatus including the first image forming apparatus 1, the second image forming apparatus 2, and the third image forming apparatus 3, a print request is issued from each PC including the first PC 4, the second PC 5, the third PC 6, and the fourth PC 7 for a predetermined time. If not, the mode shifts to an energy saving (abbreviated as “energy saving”) mode, and power supply to each part relating to printing (for example, each part including a fixing heater of the fixing device) is stopped.
When each image forming apparatus receives a print job in the energy saving state, each image forming apparatus makes an inquiry to another image forming apparatus in the network 8 and is necessary for printing the print job from the network 8 based on the inquiry result. A control process for searching for an image forming apparatus that consumes less power than the self apparatus and transferring the print job to the searched image forming apparatus for printing is executed.

[Example 1]
In the network system according to the first embodiment, each of the image forming apparatuses of the first image forming apparatus 1 to the third image forming apparatus 3 receives a print request from any PC including the first PC 4 to the fourth PC 7 during the energy saving mode. Inquiries about status information indicating the current operation status to other image forming apparatuses in the network 8, and the image forming apparatus indicating that the status information can be immediately printed from the network 8 is necessary for printing a print job. An image forming apparatus that consumes less power than the self apparatus is searched for, and a control process is executed to transfer the print job to the image forming apparatus and perform printing.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of control processing in the network system according to the first embodiment.
For example, the first image forming apparatus 1 and the third image forming apparatus 3 on the network 8 are both in the energy saving mode (energy saving state), and the second image forming apparatus 2 is ready for immediate printing (standby state). ).
The second image forming apparatus 2 is in the standby mode because the first PC 4 transmits a print job from the third PC 6 immediately before transmission of the print job (indicated by arrow a1 in the figure), processes the print job, Assume that it is waiting for the timer to enter the energy saving state after the printing operation is completed.

In this situation, the control process of the first image forming apparatus 1 when the first PC 4 makes a print request to the first image forming apparatus 1 in the energy saving mode will be described.
When a print job is transmitted from the first PC 4 (indicated by arrow a2 in the figure), the first image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the same network 8 without returning from the energy saving state and performing a printing operation. The other image forming apparatuses including the second image forming apparatus 2 and the third image forming apparatus 3 are inquired to find an image forming apparatus that is ready for immediate printing.
For example, when the second image forming apparatus 2 in the standby mode, which is ready for immediate printing, is found, the print job of the first PC 4 is transferred to the second image forming apparatus 2 (indicated by arrow a3 in the figure), and the second 2 Requests the image forming apparatus 2 to print the print job of the first PC 4.
Then, the second image forming apparatus 2 executes the printing of the print job of the first PC 4 in response to the print request from the first image forming apparatus 1.

In this way, it is not necessary to consume a large amount of power (for example, the power of the fixing heater for heating the fixing device) for returning the first image forming apparatus 1 from the energy saving state to the printable state, and the entire network system. It is possible to reduce the power consumption.
That is, each time an image forming apparatus receives a print job from a PC, the image forming apparatus does not always return from the energy-saving mode and execute printing, but changes the status to other image forming apparatuses connected to the same network. Inquiry, if there is an image forming apparatus in standby mode that can be printed immediately, the image forming apparatus that receives the print request during the energy saving mode by transferring the print job from the PC to the image forming apparatus and printing it, It is not necessary to consume power to raise the cold fixing unit to the specified temperature, and printing can be performed by another image forming apparatus that can print without using unnecessary power. Total power consumption can be reduced.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating control processing when a print job is received in the image forming apparatus of the network system according to the first embodiment.
When the control unit 10, 20, or 30 receives a print job from any PC on the network in step (indicated by "S" in the figure) 1, in step 2, whether the own device is in an energy saving state (energy saving mode). Judge whether or not.
If it is determined in step 2 that the self apparatus is not in the energy saving state and is ready for immediate printing including the standby mode, the process proceeds to step 7, the self apparatus performs a print processing operation, and the process ends.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 2 that the self apparatus is in the energy saving state, in step 3, the state is inquired to another image processing apparatus connected to the same network.

In step 4, based on the result of the inquiry, it is determined whether the inquired image forming apparatus is ready for immediate printing including the standby mode.
If it is determined in step 4 that the inquired image forming apparatus is ready for immediate printing including the standby mode, printing in the own apparatus is not executed, and the process proceeds to step 6 where immediate printing including the standby mode is possible. The print job is transferred to execute printing in the image forming apparatus in the state, printing is performed, and the process is terminated.
If it is determined in step 4 that the inquired image forming apparatus is not ready for immediate printing including the standby mode (including during the energy saving mode), the process proceeds to step 5 and is connected to the same network. It is determined whether there is an image forming apparatus.

If it is determined in step 5 that there is another image forming apparatus connected to the same network, the process returns to step 3 and the next image forming apparatus is inquired of the state in the same manner as described above, and the image forming apparatus is in the standby mode. If it is in a state where immediate printing is possible, the print job is transferred. If it is not in a state where immediate printing is possible including the standby mode, it is further determined whether there is another image forming apparatus.
As described above, when it is determined in step 5 that there is no other image forming apparatus connected to the same network, the process proceeds to step 7 to execute the print processing operation in the own apparatus. The mode is shifted from the energy saving mode to the standby mode, the printing processing operation is executed, and this processing is terminated.

Next, a specific power saving effect obtained by the above-described control process in the network system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
Here, a case will be described where the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 connected to the network 8 have the same power consumption amount and setting of the energy saving mode transition time after completion of the printing operation. This is for the sake of simplicity, and does not limit the settings of the power consumption and the energy saving mode transition time in each image forming apparatus, but may take other values.
FIG. 4 shows average power consumption in each state during the energy saving state (in the energy saving mode), the warm-up state, the standby state (in the standby mode), and the printing operation in the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2. 5 shows an example of the amount, and FIG. 5 shows an example of the printing speed and the energy saving transition time after completion of the printing operation in the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2, and based on these values. Thus, the power consumption during printing in the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 can be calculated.

For example, since the average power consumption in the warm-up state is 1400 W, the power consumption consumed when a warm-up time of 1 minute is required for fixing overheating is 1400 × (1 ÷ 60). Calculated as 23.33 Wh.
For example, when the time required for printing two pages is 2 seconds, the power consumption consumed during the two-page printing operation is 600 × (2 ÷ 3600), which is calculated as 0.33 Wh.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of power consumption in the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 when printing is executed by the first image forming apparatus 1 that has received the print job.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of power consumption when the print job received by the first image forming apparatus 1 is transferred to the second image forming apparatus 2 and printed.
The state of the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 at time S in the figure is that the first image forming apparatus 1 is in an energy saving state and the second image forming apparatus 2 is in a standby state. Further, the second image forming apparatus 2 completes the printing operation immediately before and shifts to the energy saving state after one minute. Further, at time S in the figure, the first image forming apparatus 1 receives a two-page print job, and E in the figure is a time point 10 minutes after S.
The total power consumption from S to E in the diagrams shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is compared, and the power consumption when printing is performed by the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2, respectively. Explain the difference.

  First, when printing is performed by the first image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the first image forming apparatus 1 first returns 1400 × (1/60) = 23.33 Wh is consumed, warm-up is completed, 600 × (2/3600) = 0.33 Wh is consumed from the print start T1 to the print end T2, and the transition from the print end T2 to the start of energy saving state T3 In the standby state, 200 × (1/60) = 3.33 Wh is consumed, and since the transition from the standby state to the energy saving state T3 to E is consumed, 10 × (478/3600) = 1.33 Wh is consumed. When the print job is received in the state, the total power consumption from E in the figure to E in the figure 10 minutes after S in the figure is 28.32 Wh.

The second image forming apparatus 2 is in a standby state from S in the drawing to the printing start T1 of the first image forming apparatus 1, and consumes 200 × (1/60) = 3.33 Wh, and the first image forming is performed. From the printing start T1 of the apparatus 1 to E in the figure, the state shifts to the energy saving state, and 10 × (9/60) = 1.50 Wh is consumed, and the total power consumption up to E in the figure 10 minutes after S in the figure The amount is 4.83 Wh.
Therefore, when printing is performed by the first image forming apparatus 1, the total power consumption of the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 is summed, and the power consumption related to printing on the network 8 is 28.32 Wh + 4. .83 Wh = 33.15 Wh.

On the other hand, when the print job is received when the first image forming apparatus 1 is in the energy saving state and the print job is transferred to the second image forming apparatus 2 at the time S in the figure, as shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 remains in the energy-saving state until E in the drawing 10 minutes after S in the drawing, and the total power consumption is 10 × (10/60) = 1.67 Wh.
Further, when the second image forming apparatus 2 receives a print job from the first image forming apparatus 1 at the time S in the figure, the second image forming apparatus 2 executes printing, and 600 × (2/3600) from S to the printing end T4 in the figure. = 0.33 Wh is consumed, and 200 × (1/60) = 3.33 Wh is consumed in the standby state from the printing end T4 to T5, and the transition from the standby state to the energy saving state is started. (9/60) = 1.50 Wh is consumed, and the total power consumption up to E in the figure 10 minutes after S in the figure is 5.16 Wh.

Therefore, when printing is performed by the second image forming apparatus 2, the power consumption amount for printing on the network 8 obtained by adding the total power consumption amounts of the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 is 1.67 Wh + 5. .16 Wh = 6.83 Wh.
The difference in power consumption for printing on the network 8 in both cases is 33.15 Wh−6.83 Wh = 26.32 Wh, and the print job received by the first image forming apparatus 1 is changed to the second image forming apparatus. It can be seen that the case of transferring to 2 and printing has an effect of reducing the power consumption amount of about 26 Wh as the whole network.
Note that when a print job is received in the energy saving state, the state of the control board that performs job reception processing, determination of whether to transfer the job, or the like changes, and the power increases slightly.
However, the period during which power is increasing is very short, and the power increase is very small compared to the power level during warm-up and printing operations. did.

[Example 2]
In the network system of the first embodiment described above, each image forming apparatus of the first image forming apparatus 1 to the third image forming apparatus 3 is on the network 8 when there is a print request from any PC during the energy saving mode. An image forming apparatus that is ready for immediate printing is searched for, and control processing for causing the image forming apparatus to perform printing from the PC is executed. In order to further reduce power consumption by printing on the network 8. It is more effective to cause the image forming apparatus that consumes the least amount of power in each image forming apparatus including the self apparatus on the network 8 to perform printing.

  Therefore, in the network system of the second embodiment, each of the image forming apparatuses 1 to 3 of the first image forming apparatus 1 to the third image forming apparatus 3 is on the network 8 when there is a print request from any PC during the energy saving mode. Search for an image forming apparatus that consumes the least amount of power in each image forming apparatus including the self apparatus, and if the self apparatus is an image forming apparatus with the minimum power consumption, return from the energy saving mode and perform printing by itself, and other image apparatuses Is the minimum power consumption, a control process for causing the image forming apparatus to perform printing from the PC is executed.

A control process during printing in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described.
This process can be performed both in the energy saving mode and in the standby mode.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating control processing when a print job is received in the image forming apparatus of the network system according to the second embodiment.
When the control unit 10, 20, or 30 receives a print job from any PC on the network at step 11 (indicated by "S" in the figure), it prints the received print job at its own device at step 12. In this case, the power consumption W is calculated.
The calculation of the power consumption amount W is not limited to the power amount in a specific period, but may be “power amount from reception of print job to completion of print operation” or “print job reception to print operation— Although it may be set to “amount of power from the standby state to the energy saving transition” or “amount of power from a print job reception to a specific period”, it is desirable to unify them in each image forming apparatus.

The power consumption amount W can be calculated from the duration time of each state, such as the temperature information of the fixing unit and the average power consumption of each state of the own device. You may obtain | require based on the value obtained with reference to the parameter table.
In step 13, information for calculating a predicted amount of power consumption necessary for printing a print job is sent to another image forming apparatus in the network, and the predicted amount calculated based on the information is inquired. The minimum prediction amount W1 is obtained from the prediction amounts obtained in the above, and the address Ad of the image forming apparatus of the minimum prediction amount W1 is obtained.
The information necessary for calculating the estimated amount of power consumption includes, for example, the document size, number of printed sheets, and document type of a print job (text document, Word document, PDF document, etc, and the document type affects the printing time). This information is sent to other image forming apparatuses together with a request for calculation of the predicted amount of power consumption, and the predicted amount of power consumption is calculated.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus that has received the calculation request for the predicted power consumption calculates the predicted power consumption when the print job is printed by the own apparatus based on the information sent from the request source. , Has the function to return the calculation result. The function is performed by the control unit.
In step 14, the predicted power consumption amount W and the predicted power consumption amount W1 are compared, and it is determined whether or not the predicted power consumption amount W> the predicted power consumption amount W1.
If it is determined in step 14 that the predicted power consumption amount W> the predicted power consumption amount W1, the process proceeds to step 15, the print job is transferred to the image forming apparatus at the address Ad, and printing is performed. The process ends.
On the other hand, if the predicted amount of power consumption W is not greater than the predicted amount of power consumption W1, the process proceeds to step 16, and if the apparatus itself is in the standby mode, the print processing operation is executed as it is. Then, the print processing operation by the own apparatus is executed, and this processing is terminated.

Next, a specific power saving effect obtained by the above-described control process in the network system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
Here again, a case will be described where the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 connected to the network 8 have the same power consumption amount and setting of the energy saving mode transition time after completion of the printing operation. This is for the sake of simplicity, and does not limit the settings of the power consumption and the energy saving mode transition time in each image forming apparatus, but may take other values.
In addition, the values shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are used for calculating the predicted power consumption of the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of power consumption in the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 when printing is executed by the first image forming apparatus 1 that has received the print job.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of power consumption when the print job received by the first image forming apparatus 1 is transferred to the second image forming apparatus 2 and printed.
The states of the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 at the time S in the figure are both energy saving states.
However, since the first image forming apparatus 1 has not performed a printing operation for a long period of time, the fixing unit has cooled down, whereas the second image forming apparatus 2 has performed printing a little while ago, so the temperature of the fixing unit Is not cooled and is in a certain high temperature state (for example, the fixing unit temperature of the first image forming apparatus 1 is 26 ° C. at normal temperature and the fixing unit temperature of the second image forming apparatus 2 is 90 ° C.). .

For this reason, the warm-up time required to raise each of the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 to a fixing temperature at which printing can be performed is the same for the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2. A difference occurs (for example, the warm-up time of the first image forming apparatus 1 is 1 minute and the warm-up time of the second image forming apparatus 2 is 20 seconds).
Further, at the time of S in the figure, the first image forming apparatus 1 receives a two-page print job, and E in the figure is a time point 10 minutes after S.
Under the above conditions, when the first image forming apparatus 1 receives a two-page print job at time S in the figure, the total power consumption consumed from S to E in the drawings shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 And the difference in power consumption when the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 perform printing will be described.

First, when printing is performed by the first image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 9, the first image forming apparatus 1 first takes 1400 × (1/60) = 23.33 Wh is consumed, warm-up is completed, 600 × (2/3600) = 0.33 Wh is consumed from the print start T1 to the print end T2, and the transition from the print end T2 to the start of energy saving state T3 In the standby state, 200 × (1/60) = 3.33 Wh is consumed, and since the transition from the standby state to the energy saving state T3 to E is consumed, 10 × (478/3600) = 1.33 Wh is consumed. When the print job is received in the state, the total power consumption from E in the figure to E in the figure 10 minutes after S in the figure is 28.32 Wh.
The second image forming apparatus 2 is in an energy saving state from S in the figure to E in the figure, and consumes 10 × (10/60) = 1.67 Wh, and until E in the figure after 10 minutes from S in the figure. The total power consumption is 1.67 Wh.

Therefore, when printing is performed by the first image forming apparatus 1, the total power consumption of the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 is summed, and the power consumption related to printing on the network 8 is 28.32 Wh + 1. .67 Wh = 29.99 Wh.
On the other hand, when the print job is received when the first image forming apparatus 1 is in the energy saving state and the print job is transferred to the second image forming apparatus 2 at the time S in the figure, as shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 remains in the energy-saving state until E in the drawing 10 minutes after S in the drawing, and the total power consumption is 10 × (10/60) = 1.67 Wh.

  Further, when the second image forming apparatus 2 receives a print job from the first image forming apparatus 1 at the time of S in the figure, 1400 × (20/3600) = 7 to recover from the energy saving state and warm up. .78 Wh is consumed, warm-up is completed, 600 × (2/3600) = 0.33 Wh is consumed from printing start T1 to printing end T2, and standby from printing end T2 to start of energy saving state T3 In the state, 200 × (1/60) = 3.33 Wh is consumed, and 10 × (518/3600) = 1.44 Wh is consumed from the transition start T3 to E from the standby state to the energy saving state. The total power consumption from E to E in the figure 10 minutes after S is 12.88 Wh.

Accordingly, when printing is performed by the second image forming apparatus 2, the power consumption amount for printing on the network 8 obtained by adding up the total power consumption amounts of the first image forming apparatus 1 and the second image forming apparatus 2 is 1.67 Wh + 12. .88 Wh = 14.55 Wh.
The difference in power consumption for printing on the network 8 in both cases is 29.99 Wh-14.55 Wh = 15.44 Wh, and the print job received by the first image forming apparatus 1 is transferred to the second image forming apparatus. It can be seen that when the data is transferred to 2 and printed, the entire network has an effect of reducing power consumption by about 15 Wh.

Example 3
In the third embodiment, when a print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus in the network systems of the first and second embodiments, the fact is displayed on the image forming apparatus that first receives a print request from the PC. This is convenient because the user who has come to obtain the print result can know the fact.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a control process when a print job transfer message display process is added to the process shown in FIG.
Steps 21 to 27 in FIG. 11 are the same as steps 1 to 7 in FIG.

In this control process, the control units 10, 20, and 30 transfer the print job to the image forming apparatus ready for immediate printing in step 27 to perform printing, and then in step 28, display the screen on the display unit. A message indicating that the print job has been transferred is displayed, and the process ends.
For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 10 of the first image forming apparatus 1 displays a message 40 on the print setting screen displayed on the display unit 12 as information indicating that the print job has been transferred. To do.
Further, when a print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus, a process for displaying the fact on the image forming apparatus that first receives a print request from the PC is performed after the process of step 15 shown in FIG. You can also.

Example 4
In the fourth embodiment, when a print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus in the network system of the above-described third embodiment, the fact that the print job is transferred to the image forming apparatus that first receives a print request from the PC and If the detailed information of the transfer destination is displayed, the trouble of searching for the transfer destination image forming apparatus can be saved, and the work efficiency of acquiring the printed matter can be improved.
In the case of this control processing, the control units 10, 20, and 30 are connected to the network 8 in, for example, a storage unit (RAM in the control unit not shown, HDD in the image forming apparatus, NAND flash ROM, or the like). When the detailed information of the other image forming apparatus is registered in advance and the print job is transferred to the other image forming apparatus, the detailed information of the image forming apparatus that is the transfer destination of the print job is read from the storage unit and displayed. Execute the process displayed on the screen.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the control unit 10 of the first image forming apparatus 1 includes a message 41 as information indicating that the print job has been transferred in the print setting screen displayed on the display unit 12. A button 42 for displaying detailed information of the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transferred is displayed.
When the user presses the button 42, the control unit 10 of the first image forming apparatus 1 transfers the print job from the detailed information of each image forming apparatus on the network registered in the own apparatus. Detailed information of the previous image forming apparatus is read, and detailed information 43 of the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transferred is displayed on the print setting screen displayed on the display unit 12 as shown in FIG.

This detailed information needs to be stored in advance in a storage device in each image forming apparatus. For example, a handwritten drawing may be scanned by the image reading unit of the apparatus and stored in the storage device in the apparatus. A drawing (graphic information file) created by a PC or the like may be saved in a storage device inside the apparatus via a network, and the saving method is not limited.
The detailed information is information such as a map indicating the installation location of the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transferred.

Example 5
In the fifth embodiment, when a print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus in the network systems of the first and second embodiments described above, the user of the PC can be notified by notifying the print requesting PC to that effect. It is convenient to know that.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a control process when a print job transfer message display process is added to the process shown in FIG.
Steps 31 to 37 in FIG. 15 are the same as steps 1 to 7 in FIG.
In this control process, the control units 10, 20, 30 transfer the print job to the image forming apparatus ready for immediate printing in step 37 and perform printing. Information indicating that the print job has been transferred to the other image forming apparatus is transmitted to this PC, and this processing is terminated.

For example, the first PC 4 uses a balloon on the task bar of the print setting screen based on the information indicating that the print job has been transferred to the other image forming apparatus transmitted from the first image forming apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. A message 44 indicating that the print job has been transferred to another image forming apparatus is displayed.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 17, a message 45 indicating that a print job has been transferred to another image forming apparatus may be displayed in the print queue, and the display method is not limited.
Further, when a print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus, a process for displaying the fact on the image forming apparatus that first receives a print request from the PC is performed after the process of step 15 shown in FIG. You can also.

Example 6
In the sixth embodiment, when a print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus in the network system of the above-described fifth embodiment, the fact that the print job has been transferred is notified to the print request source PC, and the transfer destination If detailed information can be referred to via a network, the convenience of the user on the PC side can be improved.
In the case of the control process of the sixth embodiment, the control units 10, 20, and 30 are, for example, in the storage unit (RAM in the control unit not shown, HDD in the image forming apparatus, NAND flash ROM, or the like). Image data of detailed information of other image forming apparatuses connected to the network 8 is registered in advance, and the image data is released as a web page accessible from the outside via the network 8 via a web browser. It can be accessed from a transmission source PC by a Web browser.

When the control unit 10, 20, or 30 transfers the print job to another image forming apparatus, the control unit 10, 20, or 30 sends a message notifying the PC that has transmitted the print job to the other apparatus, A process of sending the address of the image data of the detailed information including the installation location of the transfer destination image forming apparatus is executed.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a control process when a process of transmitting a transfer destination information posting address together with a print job transfer message to the PC is added to the process shown in FIG.
Steps 51 to 57 in FIG. 18 are the same as steps 1 to 7 in FIG.

In this control process, the control units 10, 20, and 30 transfer the print job to the image forming apparatus ready for immediate printing in step 57 and perform printing. The information indicating that the print job has been transferred to the other image forming apparatus and the transfer destination information posting address are transmitted to this PC, and this processing is terminated.
The transfer destination information posting address is information for accessing detailed information of the image forming apparatus that is the transfer destination of the print job published by the image forming apparatus, and the PC that is the transmission source of the print job is transferred by the Web browser By accessing the destination information posting address, detailed information of the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transferred can be browsed.

This detailed information needs to be stored in advance in a storage device inside each image forming apparatus as a Web page that can be accessed from a Web browser. For example, a handwritten drawing is scanned by an image reading unit of the apparatus and an image is scanned. It may be saved in a storage device inside the forming apparatus, or a drawing (graphic information file) created by a PC or the like may be saved in a storage device inside the apparatus via a network, and the saving method is not limited.
For example, the first PC 4 performs printing as shown in FIG. 19 based on the information indicating that the print job has been transferred to the other image forming apparatus transmitted from the first image forming apparatus 1 and the transfer destination information posting address. A message indicating that the print job has been transferred to another image forming apparatus and a transfer destination information posting address 47 are displayed in the queue.
Then, the web page of the first image forming apparatus 1 is accessed based on the transfer destination information posting address displayed in the print queue, and detailed information 48 including the installation location of the transfer destination image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. Is displayed.

According to this embodiment, in a network system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected, when the image forming apparatus in the energy saving mode receives a print job from the network or the like, By transferring the print job to the image forming apparatus, it is possible to reduce the power consumption required until the end of printing for the entire network system.
For example, when the image forming apparatus in the energy saving mode receives a print job from the network or the like, if the conventional operation is performed, the cooled fixing unit must be raised to a specified temperature in order to enable the printing operation. Don't be.

For this reason, it is necessary to energize the fixing heater for increasing the fixing temperature and to overheat the fixing portion due to heat generated by the fixing heater, which requires a large amount of power consumption.
Therefore, an image forming apparatus that has received a print job while saving energy queries another image forming apparatus connected to the network, searches for an image forming apparatus that is in a standby state that can perform an immediate printing operation, and the standby state image. By transferring the printing process to the forming apparatus, the energy-saving image forming apparatus that is energy-saving eliminates the need for a large amount of power consumption for heating the cold fixing unit, and the energy-saving effect can be maintained.

  The image forming apparatus and network system according to the present invention can be applied to all image forming apparatuses including facsimile machines, printers, copiers, and multifunction machines.

1: First image forming device 2: Second image forming device 3: Third image forming device 4: First PC 5: Second PC 6: Third PC 7: Fourth PC 8: Network 10, 20, 30: Control unit 11, 21, 31: Input unit 12, 22, 32: Display unit 13, 23, 33: Communication unit 14, 24, 34: Printing unit

JP 2005-18170 A JP 2005-11117 A

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus capable of performing a printing operation based on a print job received from the outside via a network,
When a print job is received in the energy saving state, an inquiry is made to another image forming apparatus in the network, and the power consumption required to print the print job from the network is determined by the own apparatus based on the inquiry result. Search means for finding an image forming apparatus that requires less,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a transfer unit configured to transfer the print job to the image forming apparatus found by the search unit and print the image.   The search means inquires of other image forming apparatuses of the network about status information indicating a current operation state, and the image forming apparatus showing the status in which the status information can be immediately printed from the network is changed to the print job. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus searches for an image forming apparatus that consumes less power than the apparatus itself.   The search means sends information for calculating a predicted amount of power consumption necessary for printing the print job to another image forming apparatus of the network, and inquires a predicted amount calculated based on the information. , Obtaining a minimum prediction amount from the prediction amounts obtained by the inquiry, and forming the image with the minimum prediction amount obtained being smaller than the power consumption prediction amount necessary for printing the print job by the own apparatus The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a unit that searches for an apparatus as an image forming apparatus that requires less power consumption than the apparatus itself to print the print job.   4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying information indicating that the print job has been transferred to another image forming apparatus when the print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to Item.   When the print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus, there is provided means for transmitting information indicating that the print job has been transferred to another image forming apparatus to the apparatus that has transmitted the print job. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Registration means for pre-registering detailed information of other image forming apparatuses connected to the network;
5. A means for reading out and displaying detailed information of the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transferred from the registration means when the print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus. Image forming apparatus. Browsing means for preregistering detailed information of other image forming apparatuses connected to the network and allowing the detailed information to be accessed and browsed from outside via the network;
When the print job is transferred to another image forming apparatus, access information for accessing detailed information of the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transferred by the browsing unit is transmitted to the apparatus that is the transmission source of the print job. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: A network system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses capable of performing a printing operation based on a print job received from the outside via a network,
When the image forming apparatus receives a print job in an energy saving state, the image forming apparatus inquires to another image forming apparatus of the network, and based on the inquiry result, consumption necessary for printing the print job from the network Search means for searching for an image forming apparatus that requires less power than its own device;
A network system comprising transfer means for transferring the print job to an image forming apparatus found by the search means for printing.

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