JP2013220610A - Image forming system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To uniformize consumption among a plurality of image forming devices performing color printing.SOLUTION: An image forming system 100 includes a plurality of image forming devices connected in series along a paper sheet carrying direction, and forms an image on the basis of image data of an input job on paper sheet by using tones of a plurality of colors prepared in the plurality of image forming devices. A CPU 13a of a control section 13 detects a remaining amount of a toner of each color with respect to each of the plurality of image forming devices, makes a comparison of the detected remaining amounts of the toners of the same color among the plurality of image forming devices, discriminates a color having the largest difference among the toner remaining amounts, identifies a first image forming device having the largest toner remaining amount of the discriminated color, calculates a prediction value of toner consumption amount required for image formation in the input job with respect to each color of the plurality of colors, and makes the identified first image forming device form an image on the basis of the image data.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and a program.

  Conventionally, an image forming system configured by connecting two image forming apparatuses in series along a sheet conveying direction is known. According to this image forming system, in the case of duplex printing, for example, the first image forming apparatus located on the upstream side in the paper transport direction prints the surface of the paper and the second image located on the downstream side in the paper transport direction. The image forming apparatus can print the back side of the paper. On the other hand, the images to be printed on the front and back of the paper are different in one job, and are also different between multiple jobs, so the toner consumption in the two image forming devices is biased and consumables Are often not exchangeable at the same time.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, toner consumption is calculated based on the number of dots of image data in two linked printer systems, and toner is determined according to the remaining amount of toner of the two image forming apparatuses. Reduces the number of toner replenishment operations by distributing image data with a large amount of toner to image forming devices with a large remaining amount, and distributing image data with a small amount of toner to image forming devices with a small amount of remaining toner, thereby improving the work efficiency of the operator A technique for improving the above is disclosed.

JP 2009-58623 A

  However, Patent Document 1 does not consider color printing using a plurality of color toners. In the case of an image forming system including a plurality of color toners, if image data is distributed with attention to the toner with the least remaining amount of toner, the toner consumption of other colors included in the image data is not considered. There is a case where the remaining amount of toner of other colors is more uneven between the two image forming apparatuses, and there is a problem that it is not possible to achieve uniform toner consumption between the two image forming apparatuses. It was.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system and a program that can achieve uniform consumption of color materials such as toner among a plurality of image forming apparatuses that perform color printing.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1
A plurality of image forming apparatuses connected in series along the sheet conveying direction are formed, and an image based on the image data of the input job is formed on a sheet by using a plurality of color materials included in the plurality of image forming apparatuses. An image forming system that
Detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of color material for each color for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
A first color determination unit that compares the same color among the plurality of image forming apparatuses with respect to the remaining amount of color material detected by the detection unit, and determines a color having the largest difference in the remaining amount of color material;
First specifying means for specifying the first image forming apparatus having the largest amount of color material remaining determined by the first color determining means;
Control means for causing the first image forming apparatus specified by the first specifying means to form an image based on the image data;
It is characterized by providing.

The invention according to claim 2 is the image forming system according to claim 1,
When the input job is double-sided printing, a calculating unit that calculates a predicted value of color material consumption necessary for image formation for each of the plurality of colors for each of odd-numbered pages and even-numbered pages in the job;
Based on the predicted value of the color material consumption calculated by the calculation means, either the odd page or the even page as a page having a large predicted value of the color material consumption of the color determined by the first color determination means. First selection means for selecting
With
The control means performs a first control process for causing the first image forming apparatus specified by the first specifying means to form an image based on the image data of the page selected by the first selecting means. To do.

Invention of Claim 3 is an image forming system of Claim 2, Comprising:
A remaining amount determining means for determining whether or not there is a color whose remaining amount of color material detected by the detecting means is a predetermined amount or less;
A second color discriminating unit that discriminates a color having the least amount of color material remaining when the remaining color discriminating unit determines that there is a color with a color material remaining amount of a predetermined amount or less;
Second specifying means for specifying a second image forming apparatus having the least amount of color material remaining determined by the second color determining means;
Based on the predicted value of the color material consumption calculated by the calculation means, either the odd page or the even page as the page with the low predicted color material consumption value of the color material determined by the second color determination means. A second selection means for selecting
With
The control means performs a second control process for causing the second image forming apparatus specified by the second specifying means to form an image based on the image data of the page selected by the second selecting means. It is characterized in that it is performed prior to processing.

The invention according to claim 4 is the image forming system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
When image data of a plurality of jobs is input to the image forming system,
The calculating unit calculates a predicted color material consumption value necessary for image formation for all odd-numbered pages and even-numbered pages included in image data of a plurality of jobs for each of a plurality of colors.

Invention of Claim 5 is an image forming system as described in any one of Claims 2-4, Comprising:
Storage means for storing the number of replacements of each color material for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
Whether or not the color material of the color determined by the first color determination unit of the first image forming apparatus specified by the first specifying unit is most frequently replaced based on the number of replacements stored in the storage unit. Means for determining the number of times,
When it is determined by the number determination means that the number of replacements of the color material determined by the first color determination means is the largest, the color material consumption amount determined by the first color determination means is predicted. A third selection means for selecting either an odd page or an even page as a page having a small value;
With
The control means includes
A third control process for causing the first image forming apparatus specified by the first specifying means to form an image based on the image data of the page selected by the third selecting means is performed.

An invention according to claim 6 is the image forming system according to claim 5,
The control means includes
If the number determining means does not determine that the color material of the color determined by the first color determining means is most frequently replaced, if the number of copies set for the job is an even number, two image formation Make the device print the same number of odd page images and even page images,
If the number of copies set for the job is an odd number, the first image forming apparatus causes the odd number of pages to be printed partially more than the even number of pages.

The program according to claim 7 is:
A plurality of image forming apparatuses connected in series along the sheet conveying direction are formed, and an image based on the image data of the input job is formed on a sheet by using a plurality of color materials included in the plurality of image forming apparatuses. To the computer of the image forming system
A detection function for detecting the remaining amount of color material for each color for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
A first color discrimination function for comparing the same color between the plurality of image forming apparatuses with respect to the color material remaining amount detected by the detection means, and discriminating a color having the largest difference in the color material remaining amount;
A first specifying function for specifying a first image forming apparatus having the largest amount of color material remaining determined by the first color determining means;
A control function for causing the first image forming apparatus specified by the first specifying means to form an image based on the image data;
It is characterized by realizing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to make uniform the consumption of color materials such as toner among a plurality of image forming apparatuses that perform color printing.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating toner remaining amounts of a parent device and a child device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the predicted value of the toner consumption of image data. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of image forming processing by the image forming system of FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the image forming system of Embodiment 2 to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic diagram which shows the predicted value of the toner consumption of image data. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of image forming processing by the image forming system of FIG. 5. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the image forming system of Embodiment 3 to which this invention is applied. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating toner remaining amounts of a parent device and a child device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the predicted value of the toner consumption of image data. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating toner remaining amounts of a parent device and a child device. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the image formation process by the image formation system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the image formation process by the image formation system of FIG.

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

[Embodiment 1]
As Embodiment 1 of the present invention, an example of an image forming system 100 using two image forming apparatuses connected in series is shown.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the image forming system 100. FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the image forming system 100.
The image forming system 100 includes a printer controller 10, a paper feeding device 20, a master device 30, an intermediate device 40, a slave device 50, and a post-processing device 60.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 100 includes a sheet feeding device 20, a parent device 30, an intermediate device 40, a child device 50, a post-processing device 60, and the like from the upstream side of the sheet conveyance path. It is a series tandem system connected in series. In the present embodiment, the image forming system 100 is described as a tandem type image forming apparatus in which two image forming apparatuses (the master unit 30 and the slave unit 50) are connected in series. However, this embodiment is an example. Three or more image forming apparatuses may be connected in series. Moreover, the main | base station 30 and the subunit | mobile_unit 50 may be integrated as an apparatus.

  The printer controller 10 includes a network I / F unit 11, a recording unit 12, a control unit 13, a RIP unit 14, and a communication unit 15, and each unit is connected to be communicable with each other by a bus 16. The printer controller 10 is connected to a client PC 70 on the network via the network I / F unit 11 and to the parent device 30 and the child device 50 via the communication unit 15 so that data can be transmitted and received between them.

  The network I / F unit 11 includes a communication interface, and receives a job including image data and print setting data from an external device such as the client PC 70 via a network such as an intranet.

The recording unit 12 records various data related to image formation and data processed by various programs related to image formation. Specifically, the recording unit 12 records image data and print setting data received by the network I / F unit 11, print setting data analyzed by the control unit 13, image data subjected to RIP processing, and the like.
In addition, the recording unit 12 records the number of toner replacements for each color for each of the parent device 30 and the child device 50. As a method for recording the number of toner replacements, for example, a method in which the user inputs the number of replacements from the operation display unit 33 and the input number of replacements is recorded in the recording unit 12, or a recognition unit (not shown) is a toner individual identification number. Etc., and when it is recognized that the toner has been replaced with a new toner, there is a method of adding the number of replacements and recording it in the recording unit 12, and an appropriate method can be set.

  The control unit 13 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 13a that performs overall control of the operation of the parent device 30, and a RAM (Random Access) that functions as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 13a executes a program. Memory) 13b, a program read and executed by the CPU 13a, a program memory 13c storing fixed data, and the like. The program memory 13c is constituted by a ROM or the like, and includes a detection program c1, a first color discrimination program c21, a first specific program c31, a first calculation program c41, and a print control program c5.

The detection program c1 is a program for causing the CPU 13a to execute processing for detecting the remaining amount of toner of each color for each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses.
Specifically, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the CPU 13 a detects the remaining toner amount of the parent device 30 and the remaining toner amount of the child device 50. As a method for detecting the remaining amount of toner, for example, the toner amount itself may be detected, or the CPU 13a calculates the toner usage rate based on the image data, and the toner usage rate is assumed to be 100%. The ratio of the remaining amount of toner may be detected by subtracting.
The CPU 13a functions as a detection unit by executing the detection program c1.

The first color determination program c21 causes the CPU 13a to perform processing for comparing the same color among a plurality of image forming apparatuses with respect to the detected toner remaining amount and determining a color having the largest difference in toner remaining amount. It is a program.
Specifically, the CPU 13a executes the first color determination program c21 to compare the detected toner remaining amount of the parent device 30 and the remaining toner amount of the child device 50 for the same color. For example, FIG. As shown, the color having the largest difference in the remaining amount of toner is determined to be C (cyan) among C, M, Y, and K.
The CPU 13a functions as a first color determination unit by executing the first color determination program c21.

The first specifying program c31 is a program for causing the CPU 13a to execute processing for specifying the first image forming apparatus having the largest remaining amount of toner of the determined color.
Specifically, by executing the first specific program c31, the CPU 13a, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first image forming apparatus with a large amount of toner of the determined toner color, for example, C (cyan). The parent device 30 is specified as follows.
The CPU 13a functions as a first specifying unit by executing the first specifying program c31.

The first calculation program c41 is a program for causing the CPU 13a to execute a process of calculating a predicted value of toner consumption necessary for image formation in an input job for each of a plurality of colors.
Specifically, by executing the first calculation program c41, the CPU 13a first acquires a job received from the client PC 70 by the network I / F unit 11 and recorded in the recording unit 12, and is included in the job. Analyze print setting data. Then, the CPU 13a calculates, for each toner color, a predicted value of toner consumption necessary for image formation for the image data included in the job.
The method for calculating the predicted value of toner consumption is not particularly limited, and any method may be used. As an example, there is a method in which the number of pixels for each color is counted for the image objects included in each page, and a value obtained by integrating the number of pixels for each color is used as a predicted value of toner consumption.

The print control program c5 causes the CPU 13a to determine whether or not an image can be printed based on the calculated predicted value of toner consumption and the remaining amount of toner, and causes the identified first image forming apparatus to based on the image data. It is a program for executing processing for forming an image.
Specifically, the CPU 13a executes the print control program c5 to determine whether the image can be printed based on the predicted toner consumption amount of each color and the remaining toner amount calculated from the image data. .
If it is determined that the image is not printable, the CPU 13a displays predetermined warning information on the operation display unit 33 or the display unit of the client PC 70, and ends the process. On the other hand, when it is determined that the image can be printed, the CPU 13a determines whether or not the remaining amount of toner of the specified image forming apparatus exceeds the predicted value of the toner consumption amount of each color.
If it is determined that the toner remaining amount of the identified image forming apparatus does not exceed the predicted value of the toner consumption amount of each color, the CPU 13a changes the identified image forming apparatus to another image forming apparatus. On the other hand, when it is determined that the toner remaining amount of the identified image forming apparatus exceeds the predicted value of the toner consumption amount of each color, the CPU 13a shifts the process to the RIP process. As the identified first image forming apparatus, for example, the master unit 30 is caused to print an image based on the image data.
The CPU 13a functions as a control unit by executing the print control program c5.

  The RIP unit 14 converts the image data received by the network I / F unit 11 or the image data input from the image reading unit 32 into an image such as a bitmap from a page description language (PDL) format or a Tiff format. Raster image processing (RIP: Raster Image Processing) is performed. Specifically, the RIP unit 14 performs RIP processing in order from the first page among image data including a plurality of pages.

  The communication unit 15 includes a communication interface such as a network I / F, and transmits RIP-processed image data together with print setting data to the master unit 30 and the slave unit 50 via a network such as an intranet.

  The sheet feeding device 20 is called a PFU (Paper Feed Unit), and includes a sheet feeding unit including a plurality of sheet feeding trays, a sheet feeding roller, a separation roller, a sheet feeding / separating rubber, a feeding roller, and the like. Prepare. Each sheet tray stores sheets identified in advance for each sheet type (paper type, basis weight, sheet size, etc.), and the sheet transport unit of the master unit 30 is fed from the top of the sheet by sheet feeding means. The sheet is conveyed to 342.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base unit 30 includes a control unit 31, an image reading unit 32, an operation display unit 33, a printing unit 34, a recording unit 35, a communication unit 36, and the like, and each unit can communicate with each other via a bus 37. It is connected.
Specifically, base unit 30 receives RIP-processed image data and analyzed print setting data transmitted from printer controller 10, and prints an image on a sheet based on the received image data, print setting data, and the like. To form an image.

The control unit 31 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, reads various programs recorded in the ROM, executes various processes, and controls each unit of the parent device 30.
Specifically, the control unit 31 causes the printing unit 34 to print an image of the image data based on the print setting data received by the communication unit 36.

  The image reading unit 32 includes an automatic document feeding unit called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) and a reading unit, and reads images of a plurality of documents based on setting information received by the operation display unit 33. The document placed on the document tray of the automatic document feeder is conveyed to a contact glass as a reading location, and an image of one or both sides of the document is read by an optical system, and an image of the document is read by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 321. Are read as image data. Here, the image data means not only image data such as graphics and photographs but also text data such as characters and symbols.

  The operation display unit 33 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 331, a touch panel provided so as to cover the LCD 331, various switches and buttons, a numeric keypad, an operation key group, and the like. The operation display unit 33 receives an instruction from the user and outputs an operation signal to the control unit 31 described later. Further, the operation display unit 33 displays various setting screens for inputting various operation instructions and setting information, operation screens for displaying various processing results, and the like on the LCD 331 in accordance with a display signal output from the control unit 31.

The printing unit 34 includes various units related to printing output, such as the above-described paper feeding unit 341, paper transporting unit 342, image forming unit 343, and fixing unit 344. The printing unit 34 controls the operation of each unit of the printing unit 34 such as the image forming unit 343 according to an instruction from the control unit 31 and prints an image of the image data received by the communication unit 36 based on the print setting data. .
Specifically, the printing unit 34 performs electrophotographic image forming processing, and includes various units related to print output, such as a paper feeding unit 341, a paper transport unit 342, an image forming unit 343 for each color, and a fixing unit 344. It is configured with.
In the printing unit 34 of this embodiment, an example in which an electrophotographic method using toner as a color material is applied will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other printing methods such as an ink jet method and a heat sublimation method are applied. It is good as well. In these cases, other color materials such as ink may be used as the color material.

  The paper feed unit 341 includes a plurality of paper feed trays and a paper feed roller, a separation roller, a paper feed / separation rubber, a feed roller, and the like provided for each paper feed tray. Each paper feed tray stores paper that can be fed, identified in advance for each paper type (paper type, basis weight, paper size, etc.), and the paper transport unit 342 one by one from the top of the paper. It is conveyed toward.

  The sheet conveying unit 342 conveys the sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding device 20 or the sheet feeding unit 341 onto a sheet conveying path to the image forming unit 343 that passes through a plurality of intermediate rollers, registration rollers, and the like, and forms an image. The sheet is conveyed to the transfer position of the portion 343. The sheet temporarily stands by on the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 343a, and the conveyance to the downstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 343a is resumed according to the image formation timing.

  The paper transport unit 342 includes a reversing unit 342b including a transport path switching unit 342a and a reversing roller. The reversing unit 342 b includes a circulation path unit that reverses the front and back of the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 344 and re-feeds the image to the image forming unit 343. Further, the reversing unit 342b conveys the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 344 to the intermediate device 40 connected to the downstream side without reversing in accordance with the switching operation of the conveyance path switching unit 342a, a reversing roller, or the like. Then, the sheet is switched back to reverse the front and back of the paper and then conveyed to the intermediate device 40.

  The image forming unit 343 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, and the like, and forms an image on a sheet surface based on image data. Specifically, the image forming unit 343 includes image forming units 343c, 343m, 343y, and 343k for each color of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black).

  For example, the image forming unit 343y that forms a Y (yellow) image includes a toner bottle filled with yellow toner, and converts the yellow image data from the exposure device onto the surface of the photosensitive drum charged by the charging device. The corresponding light is irradiated and an electrostatic latent image is written. Then, a charged yellow toner is attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum on which the electrostatic latent image is written by the developing device, and the electrostatic latent image is developed. The toner adhering to the photosensitive drum by the developing device is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 343a at the primary transfer position where the primary transfer roller is arranged by rotating the photosensitive drum at a constant speed. After the toner is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 343a, the cleaning device removes residual charges, residual toner, and the like on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the removed toner is collected in a toner collection box.

  Similarly, the image forming units 343m, 343c, and 343k for the respective colors are charged with toner bottles filled with toners of corresponding colors M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), and charged around the photosensitive drum. The apparatus includes an apparatus, an exposure apparatus, a developing apparatus, a primary transfer roller, a registration roller, a cleaning apparatus, and the like, and forms M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) toner images, respectively.

  The toner images of the respective colors transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 343a are collectively transferred onto the sheet at the secondary transfer position where the secondary transfer roller is disposed.

  The fixing unit 344 includes a fixing heater, a fixing roller, a fixing external heating unit, and the like, and thermally fixes the toner image transferred to the paper.

  For example, the recording unit 35 records image data, print setting data, and the like received by the communication unit 36.

  The communication unit 36 includes a communication interface such as a network I / F, and transmits / receives various data such as image data and print setting data subjected to RIP processing via the printer controller 10 and a network such as an intranet. Specifically, the communication unit 36 receives RIP-processed image data and corresponding print setting data.

  The intermediate device 40 is installed on the downstream side of the master unit 30 and the upstream side of the slave unit 50 in the paper transport direction, and in accordance with an instruction from the master unit 30, the sheet transported from the master unit 30 is transferred to the slave unit 30. Transport to machine 50.

The intermediate device 40 includes a conveyance path switching unit 41a, a reversing unit 41 having a reversing roller, and the like.
Specifically, when it is necessary to reverse the front and back of the paper transported to the handset 50, the paper transported from the base unit 30 is transported to the reversing unit 41 by the switching operation of the transport path switching unit 41a. The sheet is reversed by the reversing roller of the reversing unit 41 so that the sheet is reversed and conveyed to the slave unit 50.

When it is not necessary to reverse the front and back of the paper, the paper transported from the master unit 30 is not transported to the reversing unit 41 but is transported to the slave device 50 as it is by the switching operation of the transport path switching unit 41a.
The intermediate device 40 may be configured to be included in the parent device 30 as a reverse conveyance unit.

  The subunit | mobile_unit 50 is provided with the control part 51, the printing part 54, the recording part 55, the communication part 56 grade | etc., And each part is connected by the bus | bath 57 so that communication is possible.

The control unit 51 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, reads various programs recorded in the ROM, executes various processes, and controls each unit of the slave unit 50.
Specifically, the control unit 51 causes the printing unit 54 to print an image of the image data based on the print setting data received by the communication unit 56.

  Since the printing unit 54 has the same configuration as that of the printing unit 34 of the parent device 30, description thereof is omitted.

  For example, the recording unit 55 records image data, print setting data, and the like received by the communication unit 56.

  The communication unit 56 includes a communication interface such as a network I / F, and receives image data, print setting data, and the like transmitted from the printer controller 10 via a network such as an intranet.

  The post-processing device 60 is installed on the downstream side of the slave unit 50 in the paper conveyance direction, and includes various post-processing units such as a reversing unit, a sorting unit, a stapling unit, a punching unit, and a folding unit, a paper discharge tray, and the like. In addition, various types of post-processing are performed on the paper conveyed from the slave unit 50, and the post-processed paper is discharged to a paper discharge tray.

Next, an image forming process of the image forming system 100 when performing single-sided printing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, the CPU 13a detects the toner remaining amount of the parent device 30 and the child device 50 for each toner color (step S1). Note that the timing at which the CPU 13a detects the remaining amount of toner is added to the recording unit 12 when the image forming system 100 is started up and when the printing of the job is completed. The recorded toner remaining amount may be read out.

  The CPU 13a compares the remaining amount of toner detected in step S1 for the same color between the parent device 30 and the child device 50, and determines the color having the largest difference in remaining toner amount (step S2). Specifically, the CPU 13a compares the difference in C, M, Y, and K toner remaining amounts of the parent device 30 and the child device 50. For example, C (cyan) is the color with the largest difference in toner remaining amount. It discriminate | determines (refer FIG. 3A).

  Then, the CPU 13a identifies the first image forming apparatus having a large amount of toner remaining in the color determined in step S2 (step S3). For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, when it is determined in step S2 that C (cyan) is the color having the largest difference in the remaining amount of toner, the CPU 13a determines the master image as the first image forming apparatus having the largest amount of remaining toner. 30 is specified.

On the other hand, when the user instructs printing of data created by an application installed on the client PC 70, for example, a word processor or a spreadsheet application, the client PC 70 converts the data in the application file format into data in the PDL file format ( Hereinafter, it is converted into PDL data. The client PC 70 transmits the image data converted into PDL data to the printer controller 10.
The CPU 13a of the printer controller 10 analyzes the job received by the network I / F unit 11 (step S4).

  Subsequently, based on the analyzed print setting data, the CPU 13a calculates, for each color, a predicted value of toner consumption necessary for image formation for the image data included in the PDL data (step S5). Specifically, the number of pixels for each color is counted on each page of PDL data, and the integrated value is calculated as a predicted value of toner consumption (see FIG. 3B).

  Then, the CPU 13a determines whether or not the remaining amount of toner is an amount capable of printing an image, based on the predicted value of the toner consumption amount of each color and the remaining amount of toner calculated in step S5 (step S6). ). If it is determined that printing is possible (step S6; Yes), the CPU 13a determines whether an image of the image data can be printed on the identified master device 30 (step S7). On the other hand, if it is determined that printing is not possible (step S6; No), the CPU 13a displays predetermined warning information or the like on the operation display unit 33 or the client PC 70, and ends the process.

  In step S7, specifically, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of toner of each color of the identified master device 30 exceeds the predicted value of toner consumption calculated in step S5. If it is determined that the remaining amount of toner does not exceed the predicted value of toner consumption (step S7; No), the identified first image forming apparatus is changed from the master unit 30 to the slave unit 50 (step S8). The process proceeds to step S9. On the other hand, when it is determined that the remaining amount of toner exceeds the predicted value of toner consumption (step S7; Yes), the RIP unit 14 starts RIP processing of image data (step S9).

  In step S9, the image data subjected to the RIP process is processed by the first image forming apparatus specified by the communication unit 15 as image data and print setting data as a process for causing the specified first image forming apparatus to print an image. The data is transmitted (step S10), and printing is started (step S11). Then, when the sheet printed by the identified first image forming apparatus, for example, the master device 30 is discharged (step S12), the CPU 13a determines whether or not there is a job to wait (hereinafter referred to as a standby job). Is determined (step S13). If it is determined that there is a waiting job (step S13; Yes), the process proceeds to step S1. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no standby job (step S13; No), the process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the image forming system 100 of the first embodiment, the printer controller 10 includes the two image forming apparatuses (the master unit 30 and the slave unit 50) connected in series along the sheet conveyance direction. The CPU 13a of the control unit 13 included in each detects the remaining amount of toner of each color for each of the two image forming apparatuses, and compares the same color between the two image forming apparatuses with respect to the detected remaining toner amount. The color having the largest difference in the remaining amount of toner is discriminated, the first image forming apparatus having the largest toner remaining amount of the discriminated color is identified, and an image based on the image data is displayed on the identified first image forming apparatus. Therefore, the toner of the two image forming apparatuses is consumed by preferentially using the toner having the larger amount of toner of the color having a large deviation of the remaining amount of toner between the master unit 30 and the slave unit 50. Can be made uniform.

  In addition, although the case where single-sided printing was performed was demonstrated, when performing double-sided printing, this embodiment may be applied when the main | base station 30 or the subunit | mobile_unit 50 performs double-sided printing.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, the image forming system 101 according to the second embodiment will be described below.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming system 101 according to the second embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In the description of the image forming system 101 according to the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals, and different portions will be described.

  The controller 13 of the printer controller 10 includes a CPU 13a that performs overall control of the operation of the printer controller 10, a RAM 13b that functions as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 13a executes a program, and a CPU 13a that reads out the data. And a program memory 13c in which fixed data is stored. The program memory 13c is configured by a ROM or the like, and includes a detection program c1, a first color determination program c21, a first specific program c31, a second calculation program c42, a first selection program c61, and a print control program c5.

When the input job is double-sided printing, the second calculation program c42 performs a process of calculating a predicted value of toner consumption necessary for image formation for each of a plurality of colors for each of odd and even pages in the job. This is a program to be executed.
Specifically, by executing the second calculation program c42, the CPU 13a first acquires the job received by the network I / F unit 11 from the client PC 70 and recorded in the recording unit 12, and is included in the job. Analyze print setting data. Then, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the CPU 13 a calculates, for each toner color, a predicted value of toner consumption necessary for image formation for each of odd and even pages of image data included in the job.
The CPU 13a functions as a calculation unit by executing the second calculation program c42.

The first selection program c61 selects, based on the calculated predicted toner consumption value, the CPU 13a to select either an odd page or an even page as a page with a large predicted color toner consumption value. This is a program for executing processing.
Specifically, the CPU 13a executes the first selection program c61, and as shown in FIG. 3A, for C (cyan) having the largest difference in the remaining amount of toner between the parent device 30 and the child device 50, A page having a larger predicted value of toner consumption necessary for image formation of each of odd-numbered pages and even-numbered pages included in the calculated image data is selected. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the CPU 13a selects an odd page having a large predicted value of toner consumption for the first job and the second job as a page having a large predicted value of toner consumption.
The CPU 13a functions as a first selection unit by executing the first selection program c61.

The print control program c5 causes the CPU 13a to execute a first control process that causes the identified first image forming apparatus to form an image based on the image data of the selected page, in addition to the process described in the first embodiment. It is a program.
Specifically, the CPU 13a applies the image data of the selected page and the odd page to the master unit 30 specified as the first image forming apparatus having a large amount of toner of the determined color, for example, C (cyan). Based on this, an image is formed.
The CPU 13a functions as a control unit by executing the print control program c5.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of image forming processing executed by the image forming system 101. In addition, the same code | symbol is used about the step similar to Embodiment 1. FIG.
Similar to the image forming process of the first embodiment, the CPU 13a detects the remaining toner amount of the parent device 30 and the child device 50 (step S1), and determines the color having the largest difference in the remaining toner amount (step S2). . For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, C (cyan) is determined as the color having the largest difference in the remaining amount of toner. Then, the CPU 13a identifies an image forming apparatus having a large amount of toner of the determined color as the first image forming apparatus (step S3). For example, the master unit 30 is specified as the first image forming apparatus.

  Subsequently, when the printer controller 10 receives a plurality of jobs, the CPU 13a analyzes a predetermined number of jobs (step S21). Here, the analysis of a predetermined number of jobs means that a predetermined number of jobs are analyzed at a time so as not to invert the pages to be printed by the parent device 30 and the child device 50 for each job. In the following description, as an example, it is assumed that the CPU 13a analyzes two jobs when the printer controller 10 receives a plurality of jobs.

  The CPU 13a calculates, for each color, a predicted value of toner consumption necessary for image formation for each of odd and even pages included in a predetermined number of jobs (step S22). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, when two jobs are handled, first, a predicted value of toner consumption of the first job is obtained for each odd page and even page. Next, a predicted value of the toner consumption amount of the second job is obtained for each odd page and even page, and a total of predicted values of the toner consumption amounts of the first job and the second job is obtained.

Then, the CPU 13a determines whether or not an image can be printed based on the predicted value of the toner consumption amount of each color and the remaining amount of toner calculated in step S22 (step S23). Specifically, the sum of the predicted values of the toner consumption of each of the odd-numbered pages and the even-numbered pages is compared with the remaining amount of toner of each color of the master unit 30 and the slave unit 50, and the odd-numbered page images are stored in It is determined whether or not an image can be printed by a combination of printing and printing an even page image on the slave unit 50.
When it is determined that the image cannot be printed (step S23; No), the CPU 13a displays predetermined warning information on the operation display unit 33 or the client PC 70, and ends the process.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the image can be printed (step S23; Yes), the CPU 13a selects a page having a large predicted value of the color toner consumption determined in step S2 (step S24). For example, when the color determined in step S2 is C (cyan), as shown in FIG. 6, an odd page having a large predicted value of C (cyan) consumption is selected.

  Subsequently, the CPU 13a determines whether or not the page selected in step S24 can be printed by the first image forming apparatus specified in step S3 (step S25). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the page selected in step S24, for example, an odd page, can be printed by the first image forming apparatus specified in step S3, for example, the master unit 30. If it is determined that the selected page cannot be printed by the specified image forming apparatus (step S25; No), the specified image forming apparatus is changed to another image forming apparatus, for example, the slave unit 50 (step S26). ), The process proceeds to step S9.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the selected page can be printed by the specified first image forming apparatus (step S25; Yes), the RIP unit 14 starts RIP processing of the image data (step S9). When the image data is RIP processed, the CPU 13a causes the image data of the selected page to be printed by the specified image forming apparatus, and the image data of the unselected page is printed by another image forming apparatus (step S27). As described above, the odd page image data is transmitted from the communication unit 15 to the identified master unit 30, the even page image data is transmitted to the slave unit 50, and printing is started (step S11). Then, when the master unit 30 prints an odd-numbered page image on a sheet and the corresponding even-page image is printed on the back side of the sheet by the slave unit 50 and is discharged (step S12), the CPU 13a waits. It is determined whether there is a job (step S13). If it is determined that there is a waiting job (step S13; Yes), the process proceeds to step S1. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no standby job (step S13; No), the process is terminated.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, it has been described that when a plurality of jobs are input to the image forming system 101, the image forming process is performed for each predetermined number of jobs. It can also be calculated.

  As described above, according to the image forming system 101 of the second embodiment, when the input job is double-sided printing, the CPU 13a consumes toner necessary for image formation for each of odd-numbered pages and even-numbered pages in the job. A predicted value of the amount is calculated for each color of a plurality of colors, and based on the calculated predicted value of toner consumption, any of odd-numbered pages and even-numbered pages is determined as a page having a large predicted value of toner consumption of the determined color. Since the first image forming apparatus identified as the image forming apparatus having the largest amount of remaining toner of the determined color is formed based on the image data of the selected page, the printing speed is reduced. In addition, toner consumption can be made uniform among a plurality of image forming apparatuses that perform color printing.

  Further, when image data of a plurality of jobs is input to the image forming system 101, the CPU 13a serving as a calculation unit is a toner necessary for image formation for each of odd and even pages included in the image data of the plurality of jobs. Since the predicted value of consumption is calculated for each of a plurality of colors, it is possible to suppress consumption due to inversion and a decrease in printing speed compared to the case of calculating for each job.

[Embodiment 3]
Next, the image forming system 102 according to the third exemplary embodiment will be described.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming system 102 according to the third embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In describing the image forming system 102 according to the third exemplary embodiment, the same components as those of the first and second exemplary embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The controller 13 of the printer controller 10 includes a CPU 13a that performs overall control of the operation of the printer controller 10, a RAM 13b that functions as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 13a executes a program, and a CPU 13a that reads out the data. And a program memory 13c in which fixed data is stored. The program memory 13c includes a ROM or the like, and includes a detection program c1, a remaining amount determination program c7, a first color determination program c21, a second color determination program c22, a first specification program c31, a second specification program c32, and a second calculation. A program c42, a frequency determination program c8, a second selection program c62, a third selection program c63, and a print control program c5 are provided.

The remaining amount determination program c7 is a program for executing processing for determining whether or not there is a color whose detected toner remaining amount is a predetermined amount or less.
Specifically, the CPU 13a executes the remaining amount determination program c7 to determine whether or not the detected toner remaining amount has a color equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount as shown in FIG. 9A. For example, the case shown in FIG. 9A indicates that the remaining amount of toner other than the C (cyan) toner of the master unit 30 is less than the predetermined amount where the remaining amount of toner is below the broken line (predetermined amount). On the other hand, in the case shown in FIG. 9C, since there is no toner whose toner remaining amount falls below the broken line, it indicates that there is no toner remaining below a predetermined amount. Here, the predetermined amount is a value set separately from a value set as a printable limit amount of the remaining amount of toner in a general image forming apparatus, and can be appropriately changed.
The CPU 13a functions as a remaining amount determining unit by executing the remaining amount determining program c7.

The second color discrimination program c22 is a program for causing the CPU 13a to execute processing for discriminating the color of the toner having the smallest toner remaining amount when it is determined that the detected remaining toner amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. is there.
For example, the CPU 13a executes the second color determination program c22 to determine M (magenta) having the smallest remaining amount of toner as shown in FIG. 9A.
The CPU 13a functions as a second color determination unit by executing the second color determination program c22.

When the CPU 13a determines that the CPU 13a has a color with the remaining amount of toner equal to or less than the predetermined amount, the second specific program c32 has the smallest remaining amount of toner among the colors with the remaining amount of toner less than or equal to the predetermined amount. It is a program for executing processing for specifying the second image forming apparatus.
Specifically, the CPU 13a executes the second specific program c32, and as shown in FIG. 9A, when there is a toner remaining amount equal to or less than a predetermined amount, as the image forming apparatus with the least toner, for example, , M (magenta) is specified.
The CPU 13a functions as a second specifying unit by executing the second specifying program c32.

The second selection program c62 executes a process of selecting either an odd page or an even page as a page with a small predicted toner consumption amount of the determined color material based on the calculated predicted toner consumption value. It is a program to make it.
Specifically, the CPU 13a executes the second selection program c62, and as shown in FIG. 9B, a page having a small predicted value of the determined toner color, for example, a toner consumption amount of M (magenta). Select even pages.
The CPU 13a functions as a second selection unit by executing the second selection program c62.

The number-of-times determination program c8 is a program for executing a process of determining whether or not the number of times of replacement of the determined color toner of the specified first image forming apparatus is the largest.
Specifically, the CPU 13a reads the number of toner replacements recorded in the recording unit 12 by executing the number determination program c8, and determines the determined color of the identified first image forming apparatus, for example, C ( It is determined whether or not the cyan toner is replaced most frequently.
The CPU 13a functions as a number determination unit by executing the number determination program c8.

The third selection program c63 executes a process of selecting either an odd page or an even page as a page having a small predicted value of the toner consumption amount of the determined color when it is determined that the number of times of toner replacement is the largest. It is a program to make it.
Specifically, by executing the third selection program c63, the CPU 13a selects an even page as a page with a small predicted value of the toner consumption amount of the determined color, for example, Y (yellow).
The CPU 13a functions as a third selection unit by executing the third selection program c63.

In addition to the process described in the first embodiment, the print control program c5 performs a first control process for causing the CPU 13a to form an image based on the image data of the selected page in the specified second image forming apparatus. This is a program to be executed with priority over control processing.
Specifically, when there is a color with a toner remaining amount equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the CPU 13a determines a color determined as the smallest color among the colors with a toner remaining amount equal to or less than a predetermined amount, for example, M (magenta). The second image forming apparatus having the smallest remaining amount of toner, for example, the slave device 50, performs a process of printing the image of the image data of even-numbered pages, which is a page with a small predicted value of M (magenta) toner consumption.

Further, if the CPU 13a does not determine that the number of times of replacement of the determined color toner is the largest, the print control program c5 sets the odd page to two image forming apparatuses if the number of copies set for the job is an even number. If the number of copies set for the job is odd and the number of copies set for the job is an odd number, the number of copies of the odd pages is partly larger than the number of copies of the even pages. This is a program for executing processing to be printed.
Specifically, by executing the print control program c5, the CPU 13a determines that, for example, the determined number of colors and Y (yellow) toner replacement times are the same in the parent device 30 and the child device 50. In this case, if the number of copies set for the job is an even number, both the master unit 30 and the slave unit 50 print the same number of copies, and if the number of print copies is an odd number, the slave unit 50 specified as the first image forming apparatus is used. A large number of odd pages, which are pages with a large predicted value of toner consumption, are printed.
The CPU 13a functions as a control unit by executing the print control program c5.

10A and 10B are flowcharts of image forming processing executed by the image forming system 102. In addition, the same code | symbol is used about the step similar to Embodiment 1,2.
Similar to the image forming process in the first and second embodiments, the CPU 13a detects the remaining amount of toner in the parent device 30 and the child device 50 (step S1). The CPU 13a determines whether there is a detected toner remaining amount equal to or less than a predetermined amount (step S31). If it is determined that there is no toner remaining below the predetermined amount (step S31; No), the CPU 13a determines a color having the largest difference in toner remaining (step S2). For example, as shown in FIG. 9C, Y (yellow) is determined as the color having the largest difference in the remaining amount of toner. Then, the CPU 13a identifies an image forming apparatus having a large amount of toner of the determined color as the first image forming apparatus (step S3). For example, as shown in FIG. 9C, the slave unit 50 is specified as the first image forming apparatus.

  Subsequently, the CPU 13a analyzes the job (step S4), and calculates an estimated value of toner consumption necessary for image formation for each color for each of odd and even pages included in the job (step S32; FIG. 9B). reference). Then, based on the predicted value of the toner consumption amount of each color calculated in step S32 and the remaining amount of toner, it is determined whether an image can be printed (step S33). Specifically, the predicted value of the toner consumption amount of each of odd-numbered pages and even-numbered pages is compared with the remaining amount of toner of each color of the parent device 30 and the child device 50, and the odd-numbered page image is printed on the parent device 30. Then, it is determined whether the image can be printed by a combination of causing the slave device 50 to print the image of the even page.

If it is determined that the image is not printable (step S33; No), predetermined warning information is displayed on the operation display unit 33 or the display unit of the client PC 70, and the process ends.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the image can be printed (step S33; Yes), the CPU 13a determines whether or not the number of replacements is large for the toner having a large amount of remaining toner determined in step S2 (step S33; Yes). Step S34). If it is not determined that the number of exchanges is large (step S34; No), the process proceeds to step S41. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of replacements is large (step S34; Yes), the CPU 13a selects a page with a small predicted value of the color toner consumption determined in step S2 (step S35). For example, if the determined color is Y (yellow) as shown in FIG. 9C, an even page is selected as a page with a small Y (yellow) toner consumption predicted value (see FIG. 9B). Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S39.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the toner remaining amount is equal to or less than the predetermined amount (step S31; Yes), the CPU 13a determines the color having the smallest toner remaining amount among the detected toner remaining amounts (step S36). . For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the color with the smallest remaining amount of toner is M (magenta). Then, the CPU 13a identifies the image forming apparatus having the least amount of toner of the determined color as the second image forming apparatus (step S37). For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the CPU 13a identifies the slave device 50 having the smallest remaining amount of M (magenta) toner as the second image forming apparatus.

  Subsequently, the CPU 13a analyzes the job (step S4), and calculates an estimated value of toner consumption necessary for image formation for each color for each of odd and even pages included in the job (step S32; FIG. 9B). reference). Then, based on the predicted value of the toner consumption amount of each color calculated in step S32 and the remaining amount of toner, it is determined whether an image can be printed (step S33). If it is determined that the image is not printable (step S33; No), predetermined warning information is displayed on the operation display unit 33 or the display unit of the client PC 70, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the image can be printed (step S33; Yes), the CPU 13a selects a page with a small predicted value of the color toner consumption determined in step S36 (step S38). For example, if the determined color is M (magenta) as shown in FIG. 9A, an even-numbered page is selected as a page with a small predicted value of M (magenta) toner consumption (see FIG. 9B).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the page selected in steps S35 and S38 can be printed by the image forming apparatus specified in steps S3 and S37 (step S39). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the page selected in step S35, for example, an even page, can be printed by the image forming apparatus specified in step S3, for example, the slave device 50. If it is determined that the selected page cannot be printed by the specified image forming apparatus (step S39; No), the specified image forming apparatus is changed to another image forming apparatus, for example, the master unit 30 (step S40). ), The process proceeds to step S9. On the other hand, if it is determined that the selected page can be printed by the specified image forming apparatus (step S39; Yes), the RIP unit 14 starts RIP processing of the image data (step S9). When the image data is RIP processed, the CPU 13a causes the image data of the selected page to be printed by the specified image forming apparatus, and the image data of the unselected page is printed by another image forming apparatus (step S27). For example, even page image data is transmitted to the slave unit 50, and odd page image data is transmitted to the master unit 30, and printing is started (step 50). S11).

  If it is not determined in step S34 that the toner with the remaining amount of toner of the determined color is large in the number of toner replacements (step S34; No), based on the print setting data included in the job analyzed in step S4. Then, the CPU 13a determines whether or not the number of print copies is an odd number (step S41). If it is determined that the number of print copies is an odd number (step S41; Yes), the RIP unit 14 starts RIP processing of the image data (step S9). When the image data is subjected to RIP processing, the CPU 13a causes the identified first image forming apparatus to print a part of the page that consumes a large amount of toner more than a small number of pages, and prints the same number of pages to other image forming apparatuses. The process to perform is performed (step S42). For example, the image data together with the print setting data is printed so that a page (odd page) with a large amount of toner consumption of the specified color and Y (yellow) toner (odd page) is printed more than a small page (even pages). Is transmitted, and image data is transmitted to the master unit 30 together with the print setting data so that the same number of odd pages and even pages are printed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of copies to be printed is not an odd number (step S41; No), the RIP unit 14 starts RIP processing of the image data (step S9), and proceeds to the processing of step S43. Then, the CPU 13a performs a process of causing the parent device 30 and the child device 50 to print the same number of odd pages and even pages (step S43). Specifically, the CPU 13a transmits the image data together with the print setting data so that the parent device 30 and the child device 50 can print the same number of odd pages and even pages.

  As described above, according to the image forming system 102 of the third embodiment, the CPU 13a determines whether or not there is a detected remaining amount of toner that is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, and a color whose remaining toner amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. If it is determined that there is a toner, the second image forming apparatus having the smallest amount of toner remaining among the colors having the remaining amount of toner equal to or less than a predetermined amount is identified, and the calculated toner consumption amount is set to the predicted value. Based on the selected image, the odd-numbered page or the even-numbered page is selected as a page with a small predicted value of the toner consumption amount of the determined toner, and the image based on the image data of the selected page is selected by the specified second image forming apparatus. The first image forming apparatus identified as the image forming apparatus having the largest remaining amount of toner of the determined color is prioritized over the process of forming an image based on the image data of the selected page. Since, it is possible to achieve uniform depletion of the toner can be in accordance with the remaining amount of toner in the image forming apparatus to maintain the operating efficiency by delaying the replacement timing of the toner.

  In addition, the CPU 13a determines whether or not the toner of the determined color of the identified first image forming apparatus is most frequently replaced. If the CPU 13a determines that the toner is replaced most frequently, the determined color is determined. Since either the odd page or the even page is selected as the page with the small predicted value of the toner consumption amount, the specified first image forming apparatus performs processing based on the image data of the selected page. Further, it is possible to equalize the consumption of image formation other than the remaining amount of toner.

  If the CPU 13a does not determine that the number of times of toner replacement is the largest, and if the number of print copies set for the job is an even number, the same number of odd page images and even page images are stored in two image forming apparatuses. If the number of copies to be printed is set to an odd number, the first image forming apparatus causes the odd number of pages to be printed more than the number of even pages, so that the number of copies set to the job is an even number. If there is, the same number of copies can be printed on the master unit 30 and the slave unit 50, so that the consumption can be made uniform. Even if the number of copies set for a job is an odd number, one copy is distributed to the master unit 30 or the slave unit 50 based on the predicted value of toner consumption and the remaining amount of toner, and the remaining copies are distributed equally. By printing, it is possible to prevent a bias in consumption of the parent device 30 and the child device 50 from increasing.

In the embodiment, the estimated value of the toner consumption necessary for image formation of the image data is estimated for each color by obtaining the number of pixels for the image object included in each page using PDL data. However, as an example, color conversion using a profile may be performed in the course of performing RIP processing on image data, and a predicted value of toner consumption for each color may be calculated, which can be changed as appropriate.
In the above-described embodiment, the image data and the print setting data are directly transmitted from the printer controller 10 to the parent device 30 or the child device 50. However, the image data and the print setting data are, for example, the parent device. After transmitting to 30, the image data to be printed by the slave unit 50 and the print setting data related to the image data based on the print setting data or the like may be transmitted to the slave unit 50.
Further, the configurations shown in the above-described embodiments can be combined as appropriate, and may be a configuration that is provided in one image forming system.
In addition, as a computer-readable medium for the program according to the present invention, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory and a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM can be applied.
A carrier wave is also applied to the present invention as a medium for providing the program data according to the present invention via a communication line.

100, 101, 102 Image forming system 10 Printer controller 12 Recording unit 13 Control unit 13a CPU
c1 detection program (detection means)
c21 First color discrimination program (first color discrimination means)
c22 Second color discrimination program (second color discrimination means)
c31 1st specific program (1st specific means)
c32 Second specifying program (second specifying means)
c42 Second calculation program (calculation means)
c5 Print control program (control means)
c61 First selection program (first selection means)
c62 Second selection program (second selection means)
c63 Third selection program (third selection means)
c7 Remaining amount determining program (remaining amount determining means)
c8 Number discrimination program (number discrimination means)
30 Master unit (image forming device)
50 Slave unit (image forming device)

Claims (7)

A plurality of image forming apparatuses connected in series along the sheet conveying direction are formed, and an image based on the image data of the input job is formed on a sheet by using a plurality of color materials included in the plurality of image forming apparatuses. An image forming system that
Detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of color material for each color for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
A first color determination unit that compares the same color among the plurality of image forming apparatuses with respect to the remaining amount of color material detected by the detection unit, and determines a color having the largest difference in the remaining amount of color material;
First specifying means for specifying the first image forming apparatus having the largest amount of color material remaining determined by the first color determining means;
Control means for causing the first image forming apparatus specified by the first specifying means to form an image based on the image data;
An image forming system comprising: When the input job is double-sided printing, a calculating unit that calculates a predicted value of color material consumption necessary for image formation for each of the plurality of colors for each of odd-numbered pages and even-numbered pages in the job;
Based on the predicted value of the color material consumption calculated by the calculation means, either the odd page or the even page as a page having a large predicted value of the color material consumption of the color determined by the first color determination means. First selection means for selecting
With
The control means performs a first control process for causing the first image forming apparatus specified by the first specifying means to form an image based on the image data of the page selected by the first selecting means. The image forming system according to claim 1. A remaining amount determining means for determining whether or not there is a color whose remaining amount of color material detected by the detecting means is a predetermined amount or less;
A second color discriminating unit that discriminates a color having the least amount of color material remaining when the remaining color discriminating unit determines that there is a color with a color material remaining amount of a predetermined amount or less;
Second specifying means for specifying a second image forming apparatus having the least amount of color material remaining determined by the second color determining means;
Based on the predicted value of the color material consumption calculated by the calculation means, either the odd page or the even page as the page with the low predicted color material consumption value of the color material determined by the second color determination means. A second selection means for selecting
With
The control means performs a second control process for causing the second image forming apparatus specified by the second specifying means to form an image based on the image data of the page selected by the second selecting means. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the image forming system is prioritized over processing. When image data of a plurality of jobs is input to the image forming system,
The calculation unit calculates a predicted value of color material consumption required for image formation for each of a plurality of colors for all odd pages and even pages included in image data of a plurality of jobs. The image forming system according to 2 or 3. Storage means for storing the number of replacements of each color material for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
Whether or not the color material of the color determined by the first color determination unit of the first image forming apparatus specified by the first specifying unit is most frequently replaced based on the number of replacements stored in the storage unit. Means for determining the number of times,
When it is determined by the number determination means that the number of replacements of the color material determined by the first color determination means is the largest, the color material consumption amount determined by the first color determination means is predicted. A third selection means for selecting either an odd page or an even page as a page having a small value;
With
The control means includes
5. A third control process is performed for causing the first image forming apparatus specified by the first specifying means to form an image based on image data of a page selected by the third selecting means. The image forming system according to any one of the above. The control means includes
If the number determining means does not determine that the color material of the color determined by the first color determining means is most frequently replaced, if the number of copies set for the job is an even number, two image formation Make the device print the same number of odd page images and even page images,
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein if the number of copies set for the job is an odd number, the first image forming apparatus causes the number of odd-numbered pages to be printed partially more than the number of even-numbered pages. system. A plurality of image forming apparatuses connected in series along the sheet conveying direction are formed, and an image based on the image data of the input job is formed on a sheet by using a plurality of color materials included in the plurality of image forming apparatuses. To the computer of the image forming system
A detection function for detecting the remaining amount of color material for each color for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
A first color discrimination function for comparing the same color between the plurality of image forming apparatuses with respect to the color material remaining amount detected by the detection means, and discriminating a color having the largest difference in the color material remaining amount;
A first specifying function for specifying a first image forming apparatus having the largest amount of color material remaining determined by the first color determining means;
A control function for causing the first image forming apparatus specified by the first specifying means to form an image based on the image data;
A program to realize

Images