JP2006163052A - Image output controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce users frequency of waiting for their requests for printing, by scheduling so that calibration timings of a plurality of image output devices on a network do not overlap. <P>SOLUTION: The image output controller is connected to the plurality of image output devices performing calibration on the network and controls image output. The image output controller has: a means for monitoring the calibration carrying out state of each of the plurality of image output devices; and a means for controlling so that the image output devices do not calibrate at the same time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output control apparatus that connects and controls an image output apparatus that performs calibration by bidirectional communication.

  In a conventional image output device, in order to respond to changes in the environment and changes and deterioration of the visible image formed by parts consumption, correction processing of the engine unit that forms the visible image, that is, a process called calibration Was running.

Even when each of a plurality of image output devices connected to the network performs calibration, the calibration execution timing has no correlation between the image output devices (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 07-261479 A

  However, in the above conventional example, when there are a plurality of image output devices on the network and the plurality of image output devices execute calibration at the same time, the user performs document output processing. There was a situation where it was not possible to wait until the end of calibration.

  Therefore, the image output control apparatus according to the present invention provides an image output control apparatus that manages the execution timing of calibration so that a plurality of image output apparatuses on the network do not execute calibration at the same time. Objective.

In order to achieve the above object, an image output control apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
An image output control device connected to a plurality of image output devices having a calibration function on a network,
Monitoring means for monitoring calibration execution states of the plurality of image output devices;
Instruction means for instructing each of the plurality of image output devices to execute calibration;
Management means for managing execution of calibration so that a plurality of image output apparatuses do not perform calibration simultaneously for a predetermined number or more.

  According to the image output control apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to control the calibration operation timings of a plurality of printers connected on the network, so that it is possible to reduce the frequency of waiting for a user's print request.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a network form in which this embodiment is used.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a network using a known technology for connecting devices. In this embodiment, it is assumed that Ethernet (registered trademark) using the TCP / IP protocol is used.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a management server that manages calibration of the network printers 103, 104, and 105. The management server 102 is usually realized by installing software in a personal computer or workstation. The management server 102 has a network interface and is connected to each device via the network 101.

  Reference numerals 103, 104, and 105 each have a network interface, receive print data and image data sent via the network interface, and actually print on a medium such as paper using a known printing technique such as an electrophotographic technique. It is a network printer. Network printers 103, 104, and 105 are also connected to each device via the network 101. Here, reference numeral 103 denotes a color digital multifunction peripheral, and 104 and 105 denote color laser printers.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management server 102.

  In FIG. 2, the CPU 201 performs control via the CPU bus 203 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 202 or the like. The RAM 204 is used as a work area for the CPU 201. Further, it is an area for storing printer calibration information.

  A network I / F 205 manages communication processing with other devices and printers on the network. In addition, a CRT display device 206, an input device 207 such as a keyboard, and an external storage device 208 such as a hard disk are included as components.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network printer 104. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU 301 for controlling the printer, 302 denotes a ROM for storing a program for controlling the operation of the printer, 303 denotes a RAM for storing work storage information and image data, and 304 denotes a network for connecting to the network 101. I / F. Further, it is connected to the printer unit 306 via the printer I / F 305. The printer unit 306 includes an image processing unit 308, a density measurement unit 307 that measures the optical density of the patch pattern, and a color printer engine 309 that performs actual image formation based on the image signal sent from the image processing unit 308. It is divided roughly into.

  Note that an optical sensor (FIG. 4, 401) is connected to the concentration measuring unit 307. The density measurement unit 307 measures the density value of the patch pattern read by the optical sensor 401, and the image processing unit 308 performs density correction based on the measured value.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the concentration measurement process in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example for the density measurement processing. In the printer unit 306, a patch pattern including a plurality of patterns is formed on a line 403 on the photosensitive drum 402 as an intermediate transfer member. The patch pattern includes a plurality of patch patterns of density levels (0 to 255), and is arranged in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 402 for each color (Y, M, C, K). The patch pattern is read by the optical sensor 401, and the optical density is measured by the density measuring unit 307. Based on the measured density value, the image processing unit 308 corrects the density of the output data.

  The printer to which the present invention is applied includes a charging device that uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 402, an exposure device that removes charges on the photosensitive drum 402 in accordance with an image signal, and the photosensitive drum 402, in addition to the illustrated elements. Developing device for developing electrostatic latent image formed thereon using toner, transfer device for transferring developed visual image to sheet-like recording medium, conveying device for conveying sheet-like recording medium, sheet-like recording medium A fixing device for fixing the upper toner image, a conveying device, a driving device for driving an exposure system, and the like are provided.

  Next, a calibration processing procedure using the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  The concentration measurement process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is performed at various predetermined timings or according to environmental fluctuations such as in-machine temperature and humidity. The predetermined timing is when the power is turned on, when a specified number of sheets are printed (for example, after printing a predetermined number of sheets after printing 50 sheets or every 200 sheets after the power is turned on), when a specified time elapses (for example, every 30 minutes) A predetermined elapsed time).

  First, in step S501, it is determined whether there is a calibration permission from the management server 102. If there is no permission, the process returns to the normal printing operation. If permission is given, the printers 103, 104, and 105 can perform density measurement processing in steps S502 and S503 described below.

  In other words, when calibration is permitted from the management server in step S501, the density measurement unit 307 receives the density level measurement value based on the detection signal from the optical sensor 401 and performs density measurement (step S502). ), The density correction table is updated according to the measured value (step S503). Finally, a calibration completion notification is sent to the management server 102 (S504).

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the operation of the management server 102 that has received a calibration request from the printers 103, 104, and 105 will be described.

  For example, when there is a calibration request from the printer 104 (S601), the device management table (FIG. 7) stored in the RAM 204 is referred to and the calibration status of the devices connected to the network is confirmed (S602). . The number of devices being calibrated is counted (S603). If the number of devices being calibrated is equal to or less than a predetermined number at that time, the printer 104 is given permission for calibration (S604).

  Then, the device management table is updated (S605). If there is no calibration request in S601 and if there are more than a predetermined number of devices being calibrated in S603, the calibration end notification from the printers 103, 104, and 105 is checked (S606). If there is a calibration end notification, the device management table is updated (S605).

  FIG. 7 is an example of a device management table.

  For convenience, printers 103, 104, and 105 are referred to as printer A, printer B, and printer C, respectively. This table holds a status indicating whether or not calibration is being executed, and the management server 102 refers to the device management table and issues a calibration permission. In addition, device attributes and the like are stored. In the network of FIG. 1, when there is a print request from a client computer (not shown), referring to this device management table, if the printer that is the target of the print request is being calibrated, it has the same function. The printer may be selected as an alternative printer by the user (FIG. 8).

  As described above, the network printer according to this embodiment has a configuration of three color printers. However, by controlling so as not to perform the calibration operation at the same time, the frequency of waiting for a print request from the user is reduced. can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration includes three color printers. However, even with the configuration of three or more color printers, more optimal control can be performed by changing the calibration conditions. When a color printer / engine color printer and a black and white printer are mixed, for example, even if the configuration is two color printers and two black and white printers, the calibration operation is limited for each color printer and black and white printer. By doing so, at least one color printer and one monochrome printer can operate in a printable state.

  Further, the function of the management server of this embodiment may be provided in one of the CPU-equipped printer devices connected on the network to manage other printer devices.

The figure which shows the example of a network configuration using this embodiment Block diagram of the management server of this embodiment Block diagram of printer of this embodiment Configuration diagram for concentration measurement processing in the present embodiment Operation flow diagram of printer in this embodiment Operation flow diagram of management server in this embodiment Device management table of the management server in this embodiment Display screen of client computer in this embodiment

Explanation of symbols

101 Network 102 Management Server 103 Network Printer 104 Network Printer 105 Network Printer

Claims (1)

An image output control device connected to a plurality of image output devices having a calibration function on a network,
Monitoring means for monitoring calibration execution states of the plurality of image output devices;
Instruction means for instructing each of the plurality of image output devices to execute calibration;
An image output control apparatus comprising: a management unit that manages execution of calibration so that a plurality of image output apparatuses do not perform calibration simultaneously for a predetermined number or more.

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