JP2006021414A - Information processor, program ad recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To grasp and notify a load on the environment occurring at the time of image formation. <P>SOLUTION: When document data and job information are transmitted from a PC 20 to an image forming apparatus 10, the image forming apparatus 10 determines the quantity of color material being used for forming a document represented by the document data in a formation mode represented by the job information, the type of sheet and the quantity of sheets being used, and electric energy. A value representing an environmental load produced by consuming the quantity of color material being used, the type of sheet and the quantity of sheets being used, and the electric energy thus determined are calculated and outputted. When the image forming apparatus 10 transmits the environmental load value to the PC 20, the PC 20 displays the received environmental load value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for informing a user of a product of an environmental load caused by the use of the product.

As the global environment deteriorates, companies that manufacture products and users of products are increasingly interested in the impact of products on the global environment. In recent years, in response to the growing interest in environmental problems, the load of products on the environment is quantified (hereinafter, this quantified value is referred to as the environmental load value) to inform the user and address the environmental problem. For example, in Patent Document 1, the environmental load value of an electrical product is calculated from the power consumption of the electrical product in use, and the environmental load value is shown to the consumer. There is a disclosure about a technology that promotes power consumption reduction.
JP 2000-152500 A

The power consumption is generally used to represent the load on the environment from the viewpoint of energy saving, but there are many products having elements that give a load to the environment in addition to the power. For example, in a copying machine, a printer device, a facsimile device, or a multifunction device having the functions of these devices, not only power but also consumption materials (for example, toner and printing paper) related to image formation are consumed. Regarding the consumption of materials, an environmental load may occur separately from the consumption of electric power.
In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a load value given to the environment is calculated using only power consumption, and the load on the environment due to consumption of the consumption material is not considered. Indicates a load value that is smaller than the load value actually applied to the environment. It is not preferable to show a load value that is smaller than the load value that is actually given to the environment from the viewpoint of prompting an environmental problem. For this reason, there has been a demand for a technique for more accurately indicating the load on the environment to the user.

  The present invention has been made under the background described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique that makes it possible to grasp the environmental load generated during image formation and notify the load amount.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a method in which the job information represents a document represented by the document data from document data and job information that defines a formation mode when the document represented by the document data is formed. A usage amount of the color material consumed by forming in a mode, a type and usage amount of a sheet, and a formation mode determination unit for determining an electric power amount, and a usage amount of a color material determined by the formation mode determination unit The environmental load value calculating means for calculating the environmental load value representing the environmental load caused by consuming the seat type and consumption amount and the electric energy, and the environmental load value calculated by the environmental load value calculating means are output. There is provided an information processing apparatus having an output means.
According to another aspect of the invention, the computer device forms the document represented by the document data in the formation mode represented by the job information from the document data and the job information defining the formation mode when the document represented by the document data is formed. Forming mode determining means for determining the amount of color material consumed, the type and amount of sheet used, and the amount of power; the amount of color material determined by the forming mode determining means; Environmental load value calculating means for calculating the environmental load value representing the environmental load caused by consuming the type, amount of use, and electric energy, and output means for outputting the environmental load value calculated by the environmental load value calculating means And a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded are provided.
According to the information processing apparatus or the computer that executes the program, the color material usage amount, the sheet type, and the usage amount consumed by forming the original represented by the original data in the formation mode represented by the job information. And the amount of power. Then, an environmental load value representing an environmental load caused by consuming the obtained color material usage amount, sheet type and usage amount, and electric power amount is calculated and output. Thereby, a person using the computer apparatus can know the load amount of the environmental load that occurs when the document represented by the document data is formed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to grasp the environmental load that occurs during image formation and inform the load amount.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[A. First Embodiment]
[A-1. Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
A LAN (Local Area Network) 30 is a communication network installed in a company, for example, and is connected to a PC (Personal Computer) 20 used by employees belonging to the company and the image forming apparatus 10. In this system, a large number of PCs are connected to the LAN 10, but only the PC 20 is shown in FIG. 1 to prevent the drawing from becoming complicated.

  The PC 20 includes a control unit configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores data permanently, and the like. A communication unit having a function such as a communication interface for performing communication via the LAN 10, a display unit having a liquid crystal display device, and an operation unit having a keyboard and a mouse. In addition, the storage unit of the PC 20 is created using a print program for causing the image forming apparatus 10 to perform printing, a program such as a word processor program for realizing functions such as document creation / editing, and the like. Various programs and files such as a document file representing a document are stored. When the PC 20 starts a program stored in the storage unit, various functions are realized.

  The image forming apparatus 10 has a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a printing function, and a scanner function. As illustrated in FIG. 1, each unit of the image forming apparatus 10 is connected to a bus 101, and communication is performed between the units via the bus 101.

  The display unit 106 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display, for example, and displays various menus for operating the image forming apparatus 10 and various data such as environmental load values under the control of the CPU 102.

  The operation unit 107 includes various keys for operating the image forming apparatus 10 such as numeric keys and direction keys. When a key provided is pressed, the operation unit 107 supplies a signal indicating the pressed key to the CPU 102.

  The scanner unit 108 receives a platen glass on which a document is placed, an optical mechanism that irradiates light on the placed document, light that is emitted from the optical mechanism and reflected by the document, and converts the received light into an electrical signal. A photoelectric conversion element that outputs the image data, and a conversion unit that generates image data representing a document placed on the platen glass from a signal output from the photoelectric conversion element. The scanner unit 108 reads a document placed on the platen glass under the control of the CPU 102 and generates image data representing the read document.

  The printer unit 109 is stored in a printing mechanism that performs color or monochrome printing on a recording medium such as paper or an OHP (Over Head Projector) sheet by an electrophotographic method, a cassette that stores a recording medium such as paper or an OHP sheet, and the cassette. A transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium to the printing mechanism. The printer unit 109 performs printing on a recording medium under the control of the CPU 102, and discharges the recording medium on which printing has been performed. Note that the printing mechanism in the printer unit 109 is not limited to an electrophotographic type, and may be another type of printing mechanism such as an inkjet as long as printing can be performed on the above-described recording medium. .

  The communication unit 110 functions as a communication interface for communicating with other devices via a network, and is connected to the network 20 via the network 20 to which the communication unit 110 is connected under the control of the CPU 102. It communicates with a PC (Personal Computer) 30.

  The storage unit 105 includes, for example, an HDD, and stores various data such as data for controlling the image forming apparatus 10 and an LCA table TB1 storing various coefficients and constants used for obtaining environmental load values. Remember. FIG. 2 shows a part of the LCA table TB1.

  A ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 stores a control program for controlling each unit of the image forming apparatus 10. When power is supplied from a power supply (not shown) to each unit of the image forming apparatus 10, the CPU 102 reads a control program from the ROM 103 and starts the read program using a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 as a work area. The process shown in FIG. 9 is executed. It can be said that the image forming apparatus 10 has the same configuration as that of a general computer apparatus in that various functions are realized by the CPU 102 operating according to a program and various processes and controls are performed.

[A-2. Operation]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When the user operates the operation unit of the PC 20 and, for example, a word processor program activation instruction is input, the PC 20 reads the corresponding program from the storage unit and activates the program. When the PC 20 implemented by the word processor receives a print instruction for the document represented by the document file after the document file is opened, the PC 20 reads and starts the print program. When the PC 20 starts the printing program, as shown in FIG. 10, a menu for performing various settings related to printing, such as the printing mode, the type of printing paper, the use of the backing paper, the paper size, layout, single-sided / double-sided, etc. A screen is displayed (FIG. 3: Step SA1).

  In the PC 20, the operation unit is operated by the user, and various settings are performed using the menu screen. When an operation for changing the mode to either color or black and white is performed in the “print mode” item of the menu screen (step SA2: YES), the CPU 102 prints indicating whether to print in color or black and white. The content of the mode information is changed to “color” or “black and white” according to the operation content (step SA3).

  When an operation for changing the type of paper used for printing is performed in the item “printing paper” on the menu screen (step SA4), the CPU 102 changes the content of the printing paper information representing the type of printing paper to the operation content. Accordingly, it is changed to one of “plain paper”, “recycled paper”, and “OHP sheet” (step SA5).

  When an operation for changing the setting is performed in the “use back paper” item on the menu screen (step SA6), the CPU 102 changes the content of the back paper information indicating whether to use the back paper to the operation content. Accordingly, it is changed to “Yes” or “No” (Step SA7). Here, instead of setting the back paper in the “printing paper” item, an item “use of back paper” is provided separately. This is because if the back paper is included in the type of printing paper, the environmental load value generated at the time of manufacturing the paper is included when calculating the environmental load value. Since the backing paper is paper that has been used once, it is not necessary to include the environmental load value generated at the time of manufacturing the paper like the new paper when calculating the environmental load value. For this reason, with respect to the backing paper, the type “backing paper” is not provided in the item “printing paper”.

  When an operation for changing the paper size used for printing is performed in the item “paper size” on the menu screen (step SA8), the CPU 102 changes the content of the paper size information indicating the paper size to “A4” according to the operation content. ”,“ A3 ”,“ B5 ”, or“ B4 ”(step SA9).

  When an operation for changing the number of pages printed on one sheet is performed in the “layout” item of the menu screen (step SA10), the CPU 102 represents the number of pages printed on one sheet. The content of the layout information is changed to any of “none”, “2 up”, “4 up”, and “8 up” according to the operation content (step SA11). “None” means that one page is printed on one sheet, “2 up” means that two pages of the document are printed on one side of one sheet, and “4 up” means that one sheet is printed. Four pages of the document are printed on one side, and “8 up” indicates that eight pages of the document are printed on one side of one sheet.

  When an operation for changing the setting is performed in the “single / double-sided” item of the menu screen (step SA12), the CPU 102 changes the content of double-sided printing information indicating whether or not to print on both sides of the paper to the operation content. Depending on the situation, it is changed to “single side” or “double side” (step SA13).

  After various settings have been made on the PC 20 using the menu screen, when an operation for clicking the “environmental load calculation” button shown in FIG. 10 is performed (step SA14), the PC 20 first represents a document to be printed. Document data is generated (step SA17). After the document data is generated, the PC 20 displays print job information including information on each item on the menu screen, the generated document data, and an environmental load value calculation instruction that instructs to calculate an environmental load value. 10 (step SA18).

  When the print job information and document data are received by the communication unit 106 of the image forming apparatus 10, first, the CPU 102 stores the received print job information and document data in the RAM 104 (FIG. 5: Step SC1). Then, an image of the document represented by the document data is generated (step SC2).

  Next, the CPU 102 calculates the amount of toner used in the printer unit 109 when the document represented by the document data is printed using the document image and the print job information (step SC3). Specifically, the CPU 102 first sets an LCA table for each color of Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan), and K (black) as a toner usage amount coefficient that is a value unique to the image forming apparatus 10. Read from TB1 (FIG. 6: step SD1). In the present embodiment, the toner use amount coefficient is based on the average weight of toner used per dot of an image during printing, but the average weight of toner used per unit area is used. Also good.

  Next, the CPU 102 reads out a layout coefficient corresponding to the layout information included in the print job information from the LCA table TB1 (step SD2). The layout coefficient is stored in the LCA table TB1 in association with the layout information. In the present embodiment, “1” is displayed when the layout information is “None”, and “0.5” when the layout information is “2 in 1”. The layout coefficient is read out as “0.25” when the layout information is “4 in 1” and “0.125” when the layout information is “8 in 1”.

  Next, the CPU 102 obtains the number Py, Pm, Pc, Pk of pixels of each color Y, M, C, K in the document image generated in step SC2 (step SD3). When the print mode information included in the print job information indicates “monochrome”, the number of pixels of Py, Pm, and Pc is set to 0, and only the number of pixels of K is obtained. When determining the number of pixels of each color, the CPU 102 multiplies the toner usage coefficient by the layout coefficient and the number of pixels to calculate the toner usage Ty, Tm, Yc, Tk for each color (step SD4), and calculates the calculated toner usage. Is stored in the RAM 104 (step SD5).

  When the calculation of the toner usage amount is completed, the CPU 102 calculates a paper variable related to the paper used for printing (step SC4). Specifically, the CPU 102 first obtains the number of document pages from the document image represented by the document data (FIG. 7: step SE1).

  Next, the CPU 102 reads out a layout coefficient corresponding to the layout information included in the print job information from the LCA table TB1, and multiplies the number of pages obtained in step SE1 by the layout coefficient (step SE2). The CPU 102 rounds up the value after the decimal point when the value after the decimal point is generated by the multiplication.

  Next, the CPU 102 multiplies the value obtained in step SE2 by the double-sided printing coefficient based on the double-sided printing information included in the print job information (step SE3). Here, the CPU 102 multiplies 1 when the double-sided printing information is “single-sided”, and multiplies “0.5” when the double-sided printing information is “double-sided”. Then, when the value after the decimal point is generated by the multiplication, the CPU 102 rounds up the value after the decimal point. In this manner, the amount of paper used for image formation is determined by the calculation from step SE1 to step SE3.

  Next, the CPU 102 reads a paper size coefficient corresponding to the paper size information included in the print job information from the LCA table TB1, and multiplies the read paper size coefficient by the value calculated in step SE3 (step SE4). The paper size coefficient is stored in the LCA table TB1 in association with the paper size information, and is “1” for the A4 size. The other paper size coefficient is an area ratio with the A4 size paper, for example, “2” in the case of the A3 size.

  Next, the CPU 102 reads out the print sheet coefficient corresponding to the print sheet information included in the print job information from the LCA table TB1, and multiplies the read print sheet coefficient by the value calculated in step SE4 (step SE5). The printing paper coefficient is stored in the LCA table TB1 in association with the printing paper information, and is “1” for plain paper. The other printing paper coefficients are relative to the environmental load that occurs when plain paper is used. For example, in the case of recycled paper, since there is no logging of trees for producing paper, the printing paper coefficient is smaller than that of plain paper. Further, in the case of an OHP sheet, the environmental load in manufacturing and disposal becomes large, so the printing paper coefficient is larger than that of plain paper.

  Next, the CPU 102 multiplies the value obtained in step SE5 by the backing paper coefficient based on the backing paper information included in the print job information (step SE6). Here, the CPU 102 multiplies by 1 when the back paper information is “not” indicating that the back paper is not used, and “Yes” when the back paper information indicates that the back paper is used. Multiply by a value smaller than “1”. Then, the CPU 102 stores the calculated value as a paper coefficient in the RAM 104 (step SE7). Here, when the back paper information is “Yes”, a value smaller than “1” is multiplied by a value that is used once because the back paper is paper that has been used once. This is because the load is small.

  When the calculation of the paper coefficient is completed, the CPU 102 calculates the power consumed for printing (step SC5). Specifically, the CPU 102 first reads a reference power amount (for example, power amount consumed when monochrome printing is performed on one A4 size page) stored in the LCA table TB1 in advance (FIG. 8: Step SF1). . The reference power amount is a value unique to the image forming apparatus 10 and is obtained by measuring power consumption in advance. The reference power amount may be calculated by providing the image forming apparatus 10 with a wattmeter and calculating power consumption measured by the wattmeter.

  Next, the CPU 102 reads the print mode coefficient corresponding to the print mode information included in the print job information from the LCA table TB1, and multiplies the read print mode coefficient by the reference power amount read in step SF1 (step SF2). Here, in the LCA table TB1, “1” is stored as the print mode coefficient when the print mode information is “monochrome”, and when the print mode information is “color”, it is compared with the black and white print. Since power consumption increases, a value larger than “1” is stored as the print mode coefficient.

  Next, the CPU 102 reads a layout coefficient corresponding to the layout information included in the print job information from the LCA table TB1, and multiplies the power consumption obtained in step SF2 by the layout coefficient (step SF3). Then, the CPU 102 stores the value calculated in step SF3 in the RAM 104 as the power consumption amount (step SF4).

  CPU102 calculates an environmental load value, when calculation of power consumption is complete | finished (step SC6). Specifically, the CPU 102 first calculates an environmental load value representing the environmental load caused by the use of toner. The CPU 102 stores the carbon dioxide emission amount Cy per unit weight of the Y (Yellow) toner stored in the LCA table TB1, and the carbon dioxide emission amounts Cm and C (Cyan) per unit weight of the M (Magenta) toner. The carbon dioxide emission amount Cc per unit weight of the toner and the carbon dioxide emission amount Ck per unit weight of the toner of K (black) are read (FIG. 9: Step SG1). Since the raw material used and the production process differ depending on the color of the toner, the carbon dioxide emission is read out for each of the colors Y, M, C, and K. Then, the amount of toner used for each color is multiplied by Cy, Cm, Cc, and Ck, and the values obtained for each toner color are added together to calculate the carbon dioxide emission amount CT that accompanies toner use (step SG2).

  Next, the CPU 102 stores the nitrogen oxide discharge amount Ny per unit weight of the Y (Yellow) toner stored in the LCA table TB1, and the nitrogen oxide discharge amount Nm, C per unit weight of the M (Magenta) toner. The nitrogen oxide discharge amount Nc per unit weight of the (Cyan) toner and the nitrogen oxide discharge amount Nk per unit weight of the K (black) toner are read (step SG3). Then, the amount of toner used for each color is multiplied by Ny, Nm, Nc, Nk, and the values obtained for each toner are added together to calculate the nitrogen oxide emission amount NT accompanying toner use (step SG4).

  Next, the CPU 102 stores the sulfur oxide discharge amount Sy per unit weight of the Y (Yellow) toner stored in the LCA table TB1, and the sulfur oxide discharge amount Sm, C per unit weight of the M (Magenta) toner. The sulfur oxide discharge amount Sc per unit weight of the (Cyan) toner and the sulfur oxide discharge amount Sk per unit weight of the K (black) toner are read (step SG5). Then, the toner usage amount for each color is multiplied by Sy, Sm, Sc, Sk, and the values obtained for each toner are added together to calculate the sulfur oxide emission amount ST accompanying the toner usage (step SG6).

Next, the CPU 102 calculates an environmental load value representing the environmental load caused by the use of the paper. Specifically, the CPU 102 reads out the carbon dioxide emission amount per unit amount of paper (for example, carbon dioxide emission amount per A4 plain paper) stored in the LCA table TB1, and reads out the read carbon dioxide emission. The amount is multiplied by the paper coefficient calculated in step SC4 to obtain the carbon dioxide emission amount CP generated by using the paper (step SG7).
Further, the CPU 102 reads out the nitrogen oxide discharge amount per unit amount of paper (for example, nitrogen oxide discharge amount per A4 plain paper) stored in the LCA table TB1, and reads out the read nitrogen oxide discharge. The amount is multiplied by the paper coefficient calculated in step SC4 to obtain a nitrogen oxide emission amount NP generated by using the paper (step SG8).
Further, the CPU 102 reads out the sulfur oxide discharge amount per unit amount of paper (for example, sulfur oxide discharge amount per A4 plain paper) stored in the LCA table TB1, and reads out the read sulfur oxide discharge. The amount is multiplied by the paper coefficient calculated in step SC4 to obtain the sulfur oxide emission amount SP generated by using the paper (step SG9).

Next, the CPU 102 calculates an environmental load value representing an environmental load caused by power consumption. Specifically, the CPU 102 reads the carbon dioxide emission amount per unit power consumption stored in the LCA table TB1, and multiplies the read carbon dioxide emission amount by the power consumption amount calculated in step SC5 to obtain the power. A carbon dioxide emission amount CE generated by consumption is obtained (step SG10).
Further, the CPU 102 reads the nitrogen oxide emission amount per unit power consumption stored in the LCA table TB1, and multiplies the read nitrogen oxide emission amount by the power consumption amount calculated in step SC5 to obtain the power consumption. The nitrogen oxide emission amount CN generated by the above is obtained (step SG11).
Further, the CPU 102 reads the sulfur oxide emission amount per unit power consumption stored in the LCA table TB1, and multiplies the read sulfur oxide emission amount by the power consumption amount calculated in step SC5 to The sulfur oxide emission CS produced by the above is obtained (step SG12).

Next, the CPU 102 adds the carbon dioxide emission amounts CT, CP, and CE to calculate the carbon dioxide emission amount C when the document represented by the document data is printed according to the information of the print job information (step SG13). ).
Further, the CPU 102 adds the nitrogen oxide emission amounts NT, NP, NE to calculate the nitrogen oxide emission amount N when the document represented by the document data is printed according to the information of the print job information ( Step SG14).
Further, the CPU 102 calculates the sulfur oxide emission amount S when the document represented by the original data is printed according to the information of the print job information by adding the sulfur oxide emission amounts ST, SP, SE ( Step SG15).

  Next, the CPU 102 transmits environmental load value information including the calculated carbon dioxide emission amount C, nitrogen oxide emission amount N, sulfur oxide emission amount S, power consumption amount, and toner usage amount to the PC 20 (step SC7). When the environmental load value information is received by the PC 20, the PC 20 displays various information included in the environmental load information as shown in FIG. 11, for example (FIG. 4: Step SB1).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the user of the image forming apparatus 10 tries to print using the image forming apparatus 10, the environmental load value is notified, so that the environmental load caused by the image formation is grasped. It becomes possible to do. In the present embodiment, not only the amount of carbon dioxide emitted, but also the amount of nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide emitted is displayed. It will be possible to promote environmental issues. Further, when determining the environmental load value when using the back paper, the environmental load value is calculated in consideration of the use of the back paper, so that a more accurate environmental load value can be obtained.

[B. Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows the configuration of the PC 20 in detail. As illustrated in FIG. 12, each unit of the PC 20 is connected to the bus 201, and communication is performed between the units via the bus 201. The PC 20 includes a CPU 202, a ROM 203, a RAM 204, a storage unit 205, a communication unit 210 having a function such as a communication interface for performing communication via the LAN 10, a display unit 206 having a liquid crystal display device, a keyboard, And an operation unit 207 provided with a mouse or the like.
The storage unit 205 stores a print program, a program such as a word processor program, a document file, and an LCA table TB1. Since a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses 10 can be connected to the LAN 30, the storage unit 205 stores a plurality of LCA tables storing coefficients and constants corresponding to the models.

In the present embodiment, not the image forming apparatus 10 but the PC 20 calculates the environmental load value.
When the printing program is started, the PC 20 displays a menu screen having a text box for inputting the model name of the image forming apparatus 10 in addition to the items shown in FIG. When the user of the PC 20 performs an operation of setting each item on the menu screen and inputting a model name of the image forming apparatus 10 and then clicking an “environmental load calculation” button on the menu screen, the CPU 202 First, referring to the LCA table corresponding to the input model name, the environmental load value is calculated in the same manner as the image forming apparatus 10 of the first embodiment. When the calculation of the environmental load value is completed, the CPU 202 causes the display unit 206 to display the calculated environmental load value.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to notify the environmental load caused by printing even if the image forming apparatus 10 does not have a function of calculating the environmental load value.

[C. Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
The print server 40 receives a print request from another computer device, and prints a document using a printer connected to the print server 40. As illustrated in FIG. 13, each unit of the print server 40 is connected to the bus 401, and communication is performed between the units via the bus 401. The print server 40 includes a CPU 402, a ROM 403, a RAM 404, a storage unit 405, a communication unit 410 having a function of communicating via the LAN 10 and a communication interface function of communicating with the image forming apparatus, a liquid crystal display device, and the like. A display unit 406 provided, and an operation unit 407 provided with a keyboard, a mouse, and the like are provided.
The storage unit 405 stores an LCA table TB1, and the ROM 402 stores a control program for controlling each unit of the print server 40. Since a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses 10 can be connected to the LAN 30, the storage unit 405 stores a plurality of LCA tables storing coefficients and constants corresponding to the models.

  In the present embodiment, the print server 40 calculates the environmental load value instead of the image forming apparatus 10. When the print server 40 receives the print job information including the model name of the image forming apparatus 10 and the document data, the print server 40 calculates the environmental load value and the calculation result to the PC 20 as in the image forming apparatus 10 of the second embodiment. Send. Upon receiving this calculation result, the PC 20 displays the environmental load value as in the first embodiment.

  According to the present embodiment, since the LCA table can be managed in one place, the information stored in the LCA table can be easily updated.

[D. Modified example]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, for example, you may implement this invention, changing embodiment mentioned above as follows.

  In the embodiment described above, the items displayed on the menu screen for performing various settings related to image formation may be changed as appropriate. For example, in a menu screen for performing various settings related to printing, the density of a document at the time of printing may be set, and the amount of toner used may be calculated in consideration of the density to obtain the environmental load value. Further, the use / non-use of the sorter can be set, and the environmental load value may be calculated in consideration of the power consumption accompanying the use of the sorter. Further, the number of copies to be printed can be set, and the environmental load value may be calculated in consideration of the amount of paper to be used. Also, items such as “use of backing paper” may be appropriately deleted. Further, when the printing mechanism of the printer unit 109 is, for example, an inkjet system, the environmental load value may be calculated based on the amount of ink used.

  Various constants / coefficients stored in the LCA table change in accordance with changes in production / disposal / regeneration processes, so that the values can be changed by operating the operation unit 107, or by the communication unit 110 from the outside. The value may be received and changed. Further, the LCA table TB1 may be stored in an external device, and may be referred to by communicating with the external device when calculating the environmental load value.

  The CPU 102 calculates a carbon dioxide emission amount, a nitrogen oxide emission amount, and a sulfur oxide emission amount using information different from the print job information, and among the calculation results, the value is smaller than the environmental load value calculated based on the print job information. The print job information of the environmental load value that has been obtained may be transmitted to the PC 20, and this print job information may be displayed on the PC 20. According to such an aspect, a printing method that reduces the environmental load can be proposed to the user of the image forming apparatus 10.

  When copying in the image forming apparatus 10, the document is read by the scanner unit to generate image data, and then the menu screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed to allow the user of the image forming apparatus 10 to perform various printing operations. After the setting is performed, an environmental load value when copying is performed under the set condition may be calculated and displayed on the display unit 106.

  In the third embodiment described above, the print server 40 calculates the environmental load value, but the WWW server has a function of calculating the environmental load value, and the PC 20 communicates with the WWW server to perform the environmental load value. The value may be received to notify the environmental load value.

In the embodiment described above, when the environmental load value is ranked by a predetermined threshold and the environmental load is displayed, this rank may be displayed instead of the calculated environmental load value.
When displaying the environmental load value, the environmental load value calculated from the color material usage amount, the environmental load value calculated from the sheet type and usage amount, and the environmental load value calculated from power consumption, You may make it display.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which illustrated the format of the LCA table which concerns on the same embodiment. It is the flowchart which illustrated the flow of the process which PC20 performs. It is the flowchart which illustrated the flow of the process which PC20 performs. It is the flowchart which illustrated the flow of the process which CPU102 performs. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing performed when the CPU calculates a used toner amount. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed when CPU102 calculates a paper variable. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed when CPU102 calculates power consumption. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed when CPU102 calculates an environmental load value. It is the figure which illustrated the menu screen for performing various settings concerning printing. It is the figure which illustrated the display screen of the environmental load value. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus, 20 ... PC (Personal Computer), 30 ... LAN, 40 ... Print server, 101 ... Bus, 102 ... CPU, 103 ... ROM, 104 ... RAM, 105 ... storage unit, 106 ... display unit, 107 ... operation unit, 108 ... scanner unit, 109 ... printer unit, 110 ... communication unit.

Claims (10)

Color material consumed by forming the document represented by the document data in the formation mode represented by the job information from the document data and the job information defining the formation mode when the document represented by the document data is formed. Forming mode determining means for determining the amount of use, the type and amount of use of the sheet, and the amount of power,
Environmental load value calculating means for calculating an environmental load value representing an environmental load caused by consuming the color material usage amount, the sheet type and usage amount, and the power amount determined by the formation mode determining means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: output means for outputting an environmental load value calculated by the environmental load value calculation means. Receiving means for receiving the job information and the document data;
2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs the environmental load value obtained by the environmental load value calculation unit to a transmission source of document data and job information received by the reception unit. Processing equipment. Image reading means for optically reading an image of a document and generating document data representing the read image;
The forming mode determining unit includes a color material usage amount, a sheet type and a usage amount consumed by forming a document represented by the document data generated by the image reading unit in a forming mode represented by the job information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an amount of electric power is obtained. The environmental load value calculating means includes:
First calculation means for calculating a first environmental load value representing an environmental load caused by consuming the used amount of the coloring material determined by the formation mode determination means;
Second calculating means for calculating a second environmental load value representing an environmental load caused by consuming the sheet of the type and amount used determined by the formation mode determining means;
A third calculating means for calculating a third environmental load value representing an environmental load caused by consuming the amount of electric power determined by the formation mode determining means,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environmental load value is calculated from the first environmental load value, the second environmental load value, and the third environmental load value. The job information has backing paper information indicating whether or not to use a used sheet,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second calculation unit determines a sheet type based on the backing paper information and calculates a second environmental load value.   The first environmental load value, the second environmental load value, and the third environmental load value include any one of carbon dioxide emissions, nitrogen oxide emissions, and sulfur oxide emissions. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the environmental load value includes any one of carbon dioxide emissions, nitrogen oxide emissions, and sulfur oxide emissions. Computer equipment,
Color material consumed by forming the document represented by the document data in the formation mode represented by the job information from the document data and the job information defining the formation mode when the document represented by the document data is formed. Forming mode determining means for determining the amount of use, the type and amount of use of the sheet, and the amount of power,
Environmental load value calculating means for calculating an environmental load value representing an environmental load caused by consuming the color material usage amount, the sheet type and usage amount, and the power amount determined by the formation mode determining means;
A program that functions as an output unit that outputs an environmental load value calculated by the environmental load value calculation unit. Computer equipment,
Color material consumed by forming the document represented by the document data in the formation mode represented by the job information from the document data and the job information defining the formation mode when the document represented by the document data is formed. Forming mode determining means for determining the amount of use, the type and amount of use of the sheet, and the amount of power,
A table in which an environmental load value representing an environmental load caused by consuming the color material usage amount, the sheet type and usage amount, and the power amount obtained by the formation mode determining means is stored in an external device. Environmental load value calculating means for calculating based on
A program that functions as an output unit that outputs an environmental load value calculated by the environmental load value calculation unit.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 8 or 9 is recorded.

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