JP5316221B2 - Printing apparatus and printing apparatus control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of taking a problem to be solved into consideration, capable of collecting a result of a printing situation in every time zone of a fixed time interval, capable of reducing an electric power consumption, based on the result, and capable of feeling hardly a waiting time for warming-up. <P>SOLUTION: This printer includes a storage means for storing an average value of printing frequency executed within the fixed time interval, by dividing one day by the fixed time interval, the first threshold value calculating means for calculating a maintaining time of a printable state requiring electric power in which electric power for maintaining the printable state exceeds electric power for maintaining an electric power saving state and for the warming-up to the printing state, and for calculating the printing frequency executable within the fixed time interval in the maintaining time of the printable state, as the first threshold value, and a control means for controlling the printable state to be maintained, when the average value of the printing frequency within the fixed time interval stored in the storage means is higher than the first threshold value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing apparatus control method for reducing power consumption.

  Today, the preservation of the global environment is screamed globally, and greenhouse gas emission regulations are being realized, centering on the Global Warming Prevention Conference. Under such circumstances, a reduction in power consumption is also demanded in printing apparatuses such as printers and copiers.

Under such circumstances, the printing apparatus is provided with a sleep mode for reducing the power consumption by lowering the temperature of the fixing device, and various methods for automatically controlling the sleep mode based on the past printing history are performed. ing.
For example, in Patent Document 1, a printing instruction time and an operation time zone during a certain period are stored, a schedule corresponding to the operation status is created based on this data, and the printing apparatus is operated. Further, Patent Document 2 configures time zones according to the passage of time from power-on, and performs control of shifting to the power saving mode from the history of the number of printings in each time zone.
Further, in Patent Document 3, printing is speeded up and power is saved by setting a power saving prohibition period based on a printing history of a computer in operation.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-155859 JP 2007-30325 A JP 2006-231632 A

However, in a general office-use printing apparatus, printing is not always performed at the same time zone every day. For example, even if a printing history is checked, there is a tendency that printing is often performed at this time zone. It can only be seen.
Although it is meaningful to read such trends from the print history and generate a power saving schedule, the above-mentioned patent document method rarely prints power saving targets, and warms up every time printing is performed. In order to avoid waiting for time or waiting, there is a problem that the sleep mode is prohibited and wasteful power is consumed. The above problem is particularly serious in a printing apparatus that requires a long warm-up time.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and collects the results of printing status for each time zone at regular time intervals, reduces power consumption based on the results data, and warms up waiting time. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a control method for the printing apparatus that do not make the user feel the above.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided storage means for dividing one day at a constant time interval and storing an average value of the number of times of printing performed within the constant time interval;
The power for maintaining the printable state requires power exceeding the power to maintain the power saving state and warm up to the print state. First threshold value calculation means for calculating a value divided by time as a first threshold value of the number of times of printing within the certain time interval;
A limit value of the warm-up time is set, a ratio of the warm-up time of the apparatus to the limit value is calculated, and a value obtained by dividing the first threshold value by the ratio is the number of times of printing within the fixed time interval. Second threshold value calculation means for further performing a second threshold value calculation process for calculating as a threshold value of 2,
Control is performed to maintain the printable state when an average value of the number of printings at a predetermined time interval stored in the storage unit is greater than the first threshold, and the average value of the number of printings at the predetermined time interval is set to the first value. Control means for performing control to shift to the power saving state when the threshold value is smaller than 1,
A printing device comprising:
The control means includes
The average value of the number of printings within the certain time interval is smaller than the first threshold and smaller than the second threshold , and the state of the printing apparatus is a printable state, and the printable state And maintaining the printable state when the maintenance time is greater than the certain time interval and the average number of times of printing after the certain time interval is equal to or greater than the first threshold,
The average value of the number of printings within the predetermined time interval is smaller than the first threshold and smaller than the second threshold , and the state of the printing apparatus is not in a printable state or the printable state Printing apparatus that performs control to shift to a power-saving state when the maintenance time is equal to or less than the certain time interval, or when the average number of times of printing after the certain time interval is less than the first threshold value Can be achieved by providing.

Further, the problem according to the second invention, the time and power required for the warm-up and t2, Ps → r, the power per unit time required to maintain the printable state with Pr, the maintenance of the power-saving state When the required power per unit time is Ps, the printable state maintaining time t1 is calculated by the following calculation formula.
Pr × t ₁ ≦ Ps × (t ₁ −t ₂ ) + Ps → r

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the fixed time interval is set to a time interval approximate to the printable state maintenance time t1.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage process for dividing one day at a fixed time interval and storing an average value of the number of times of printing performed within the fixed time interval;
The power for maintaining the printable state requires power exceeding the power to maintain the power saving state and warm up to the print state. A first threshold value calculation process for calculating a value divided by time as a first threshold value of the number of prints that can be executed within the certain time interval;
A limit value of the warm-up time is set, a ratio of the warm-up time of the apparatus to the limit value is calculated, and a value obtained by dividing the first threshold value by the ratio is the number of times of printing within the fixed time interval. A second threshold value calculation process for further performing a second threshold value calculation process for calculating as a threshold value of 2,
A control process for performing control to maintain the printable state when an average value of the number of printings at a predetermined time interval stored in the storage unit is greater than the first threshold;
A method of controlling the line printing apparatus,
The control process is
The average value of the number of printings within the certain time interval is smaller than the first threshold and smaller than the second threshold , and the state of the printing apparatus is a printable state, and the printable state When the maintenance time is larger than the certain time interval and the average number of times of printing following the certain time interval is equal to or greater than the first threshold, the printable state is maintained, and the certain time interval In which the average value of the number of times of printing is smaller than the first threshold value and smaller than the second threshold value , and the state of the printing apparatus is not in a printable state or the printable state maintaining time is The printing apparatus includes: controlling to shift to a power saving state when the number of times of printing is equal to or less than the certain time interval or an average number of times of printing after the certain time interval is less than the first threshold value. How to control This can be achieved by providing a law.

  According to the present invention, based on the printing result data of the printing apparatus, the printing tendency for each time slot at a fixed time interval is grasped, a printing schedule is created, power consumption is reduced, and warm-up waiting for printing is waited for. Therefore, the present invention provides a printing apparatus that makes the user feel less.

It is a figure which shows the internal structure of a printing apparatus. It is a figure explaining printing performance data. It is a figure explaining the detail of printing performance data. It is a figure explaining the start date of a performance, and a schedule. It is a figure explaining the structure of "1 day data". It is a figure explaining the structure of a schedule table. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a processing operation of the first embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the creation process of a schedule table. It is a figure explaining the power consumption regarding a printer engine. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a printing performance collection process. It is a flowchart explaining schedule execution.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
A printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a printer apparatus) 1 in this example includes a CPU 2, a ROM 3, a RAM 4, a nonvolatile memory 5, a clock circuit 6, a print control LSI 7, a printer engine interface (hereinafter referred to as a printer engine I / F) 8, A USB / LAN interface (hereinafter referred to as USB / LAN I / F) 9 is configured. The printer apparatus 1 is supplied with print data from a host device (not shown), and print processing is performed based on the print data.

  The CPU 2 performs system control of the printer 1 according to programs and data stored in the ROM 3 and the non-volatile memory 5, schedule table creation processing, print result data acquisition processing, schedule execution control, and the like, which will be described later. The RAM 4 functions as a work area.

  The print data supplied from the host device is supplied to the printer apparatus 1 via, for example, the USB / LAN I / F 9, is subjected to drawing processing in the RAM 4 under the control of the CPU 2, and the printer engine I / F 8 using the print control LSI 7. Then, drawing data is transferred to an engine unit (not shown), and printing is performed.

Information described below is stored in the non-volatile memory 5 provided in the printer apparatus 1, and the clock circuit 6 performs time measurement processing.
2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining the contents stored in the non-volatile memory 5, FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the print record data, and FIG. 3 explains the specific data structure of the print record data. Is. Here, the print record data is a print history of the printer apparatus 1 for each fixed time period described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printing result data is composed of the printing result data for the previous month (for reference) and the printing result data for the current month (for writing) in which the result for the current month is written in the printing result data for the previous month. ing. The previous month printing result data and the current month printing result data have basically the same configuration, and as shown in FIG. 3, are composed of “header”, “day-of-week data”, and “date-by-date data”.

  In the “header”, each area of a header code, a region ID, a record start date and a waiting time limit value is provided, and corresponding data is stored. Here, for example, referring to the example shown in FIG. 4, the result collecting start date is March 10, 2009 as the result collecting start date. In the example shown in the figure, the schedule to be described later can be executed from April 10, 2009, one month after the start date of the record.

On the other hand, in “Data by day of the week”, there is an area of data for each day of the week from the first week to the sixth week, and each week area has one week of each week (Sunday to Saturday). Data is stored. The month that does not exist until the sixth week is data up to the fifth week.
In addition, in “data by date”, a storage area for data by date for one month from 1st to 31st is provided, and data is stored in the recording area for each date.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of “data for one day” of each day stored as “data by day of the week” and “data by date”. In this example, “1 day data” has 144 areas, and acquires and stores information from the printer engine every 10 minutes. Each of the 144 areas is composed of a storage area for the number of times of energization and the number of times of printing, and stores the number of times of energization and the number of times of printing of the printer 1 performed for 10 minutes.

  On the other hand, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the schedule table. This schedule table is a table generated by processing to be described later, and schedule execution permission flag area, ready state maintenance time, threshold value 1, threshold value 2, and average printing every 10 minutes from 00:00 to 24:00. Number of times data is written.

In the above configuration, the processing operation of this example will be described below.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining basic processing of this embodiment.
First, when the printer apparatus 1 is turned on, print result data confirmation processing is performed (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1). In this process, print result data stored in the nonvolatile memory 5 is read into the RAM 4 and a confirmation process is performed. Specifically, it is confirmed that printing result data is stored in the nonvolatile memory 5 and that there is no problem in the read printing result data.

Next, a schedule table is created (S2). In this process, the schedule table having the configuration shown in FIG. 6 is created using the printing result data on the work area.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for specifically explaining the schedule table creation process. The CPU 2 first reads printer engine information and identifies the printer engine (S2-1). Here, the information of the printer engine relates to the performance of the printer device 1 to be used. For example, in this example, description will be given with an example of printer engines A and B shown in FIG. Note that the power consumption of the printer engine A during printing is 480 W, the power consumption in the ready state is 75 W, and the power consumption in the sleep state is 9.5 W. In the printer engine B, the power consumption during printing is 930 W, the power consumption in the ready state is 290 W, and the power consumption in the sleep state is 20 W. Details of FIG. 9 will be described later.

  Next, threshold 1 and threshold 2 are determined (S2-2). The setting of threshold value 1 and threshold value 2 will also be described later. The threshold value 1 and the threshold value 2 are calculated by processing to be described later, and are written in the schedule table.

Next, printing result data reading processing is performed (S2-3). In the printing result data reading process, both the above-mentioned “day-specific data” and “date-specific data” are read.
Next, it is determined whether it is one month or less from the start of collecting results (S2-4). That is, the information on the record date and the start date of the record stored in the above-mentioned “header” is checked, and it is determined whether one month has passed since the start of the collection of record data. The reason is that if the schedule is performed by day of the week, a lead time of one week is required, and if it is performed by date, the lead time of one month is required. In this example, both “data by day of the week” and “data by date” are required. In order to use the data, it is necessary to collect performance information for at least one month. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 4 described above, it is possible to read the printing result data from April 10, 2009.

Here, when one month has not elapsed since the start date of the results (YES in S2-4), the schedule execution permission flag in the schedule table shown in FIG. 6 is set to execution prohibition (S2-5). On the other hand, when one month has passed since the start date of the record (NO in S2-4), the execution permission flag is set to execution permission (S2-6).
Next, the time zone of the schedule table is set to 0 (S2-7), and the average number of times of printing to be written in the average number of times of printing area is calculated. This process is performed for 144 time zones. That is, the average number of times of printing for all the average number of times of printing (00: 0 to 24:00) in the schedule table is calculated (S2-8).

  Here, in this example, since both “data by day of the week” and “data by date” are used, first, for example, the average number of times of printing (number of times of printing / number of times of energization) for each time period of “data by day of the week” is obtained. (S2-9) Next, the average number of times of printing for each time zone of “data by date” is obtained (S2-10), and the one with the larger average value (the one with the higher printing performance) is written in the table (S4-). 11-S4-13).

  The above processing may be performed based on the day of the week depending on the type of business using the printer apparatus 1 or may be performed based on the date. In either case, the average number of times of printing per time slot is large. User convenience is selected by selecting a method. Therefore, “data by day of the week” is used in a certain time zone depending on the time zone every 10 minutes, and “date data” is used in other time zones.

When the schedule table is created as described above, the process returns to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, the current time reading process is performed (S3). In this process, the current time information is read from the clock circuit 6, and it is determined whether a predetermined time interval (10 minutes) has elapsed (S4). If the time has not elapsed (NO in S4), the above process is repeated (S3 to S5). Thereafter, when the above time elapses (YES in S4), a print result collecting process is executed (S6).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart specifically illustrating the printing performance collecting process.
First, information is read from the printer engine (S6-1), and the number of times the printer engine has performed printing processing is acquired (S6-2). The number of times of printing is assumed to be counted as 1, for example, in the case of one printing process in one print job or in the case of printing five consecutive sheets.
Next, the cumulative number of energizations and printings performed during the 10-minute time zone that has passed is written in “date data” of the printing result data in the work area (S6-3). Thereafter, the “date-specific data” in the nonvolatile memory 5 is updated (S6-4).

  Here, “data by date” is a record of the printing results by date of each month and corresponds to the actual work, but “data by day of the week” records the printing results by day of the week. However, there is a problem with simple recording. For example, a large amount of printing on a specific date every month is an item to be recorded by date data, and if this is recorded by day of the week, a result different from the original purpose for each day of the week is derived.

  Accordingly, it is determined whether a large amount of printing is often performed, for example, whether it is one week after the first day of the term (S6-5). If it is within this period, the "day-of-day data" is not updated (S6-6). ), “Data by day of the week” is written in the nonvolatile memory 5 (S6-7).

  On the other hand, if it is not within the above period (NO in S6-5), the number of energizations of “data by day of the week” is incremented, the cumulative value of the number of times of printing is calculated (S6-8), and the updated “data by day of the week”. Is written in the nonvolatile memory 5 (S6-9).

Next, returning to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, in order to execute the schedule based on the updated printing result data, the execution permission of the schedule is determined (S7).
This determination is made by checking the schedule execution permission flag in the schedule table shown in FIG. 6, and if the execution permission flag is set (S7 is YES), the schedule is executed (S8).

  This schedule process is specifically performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the current status information (EngSts) is read from the printer engine (S8-1). Next, information on the average number of printings (PrintAve) in the next time zone and the average number of printing times (NextPrintAve) in the next next time zone is read from the schedule table (S8-2). For example, if the current time is 10:00, the average number of times of printing (PrintAve) in the next time zone (10:10 to 10:20) and the next next time zone (10:20 to 10:30) Reads the average print count (NextPrintAve) information.

Next, the threshold values 1 and 2 are read from the schedule table (S8-3). Here, the setting of the threshold value 1 and the threshold value 2 will be described.
As described above, in the printer device 1, in order to save power, the power saving state (Sleep state) is set by, for example, stopping the power supply to the fixing unit. For this reason, when performing printing again, electric power for warming up is required. Considering this, the power consumption when the next printing is started after maintaining the printable state (Ready state) after the printing is completed is the same as the case where the next printing is started after warming up after waiting in the power saving state. There may be a limit time (maintenance time for the printable state) that can be smaller than the power consumption.

  Therefore, this limit time (printable state maintenance time) t1 is obtained, and if printing is performed within this t1 hour, the state where the printable state (Ready state) is maintained shifts to the power saving state (Sleep state). Less power consumption is required. For this reason, when t1 approximates the above-described time interval (10 minutes) for collecting printing results, counting the number of printings within the time interval leads to a setting with less power consumption than the printing time or the number of printed sheets. It is an easy way.

  FIG. 9A is a time chart in the case where the printable state (Ready state) is maintained after the printing is completed and the next printing is started, and FIG. 9B is a power saving state (Sleep state) after the printing is completed. This is a time chart when the warm-up process is performed in a standby state. For example, in the case of Printer Engine A, the power consumption is 75 W x t1 when the printable state (Ready state) is maintained for t1 hours, while 9.5 W x (t1-30 seconds) when set to the power saving state (Sleep state) + 10W.

Accordingly, in this case, the time t1 that requires less power consumption when the printable state (Ready state) is maintained can be obtained by the following calculation.
75W × t1 ≦ 9.5W × (t1-30 seconds) + 10W t1 = 0.152 hours (9.12 minutes)
On the other hand, in the case of printer engine B, the power consumption when the printable state (Ready state) is maintained for t1 time is 290 W × t1, and when the power saving state (Sleep state) is set, 20 W × (t1-155 seconds) +52 W, which can be obtained by the following calculation.
290W × t1 ≦ 20W × (t1-155 seconds) + 52W t1 = 0.192 hours (11.52 minutes)
When the time and power required for the warm-up are t ₂ , Ps → r, the power per unit time required for maintaining the printable state is Pr, and the power per unit time required for maintaining the power saving state is Ps, The t ₁ can be calculated by the following calculation formula.
Pr × t ₁ ≦ Ps × (t ₁ −t ₂ ) + Ps → r

In this example, the threshold value 1 is set as the number of times that the value of t1 calculated by the above calculation method can be executed at the above-described time interval.
That is, in the case of the printer engine A, the above-described time interval is 10 minutes, and if the number of times of printing is 1.10 times (10 minutes ÷ 9.12 minutes) or more, the interval between the printing process and the printing process is t1 hours or more. Therefore, the printer engine A sets 1.10 as the threshold value 1.

  On the other hand, in the case of the printer engine B, the above-described time interval is 10 minutes, and if the number of times of printing is 0.87 times (10 minutes ÷ 11.52 minutes) or more, the printing interval is t1 hours or more. Therefore, the printer engine B sets 0.87 as the threshold value 1.

Next, setting of the threshold value 2 will be described.
The threshold value 2 is set in correspondence with the printer apparatus 1 that requires a long warm-up time. For example, in a model with a long warm-up time, such as the printer engine B, printing is performed only when the power consumption is reduced. Each time a warm-up process is required, printing is waited for a long time. Therefore, a threshold value 2 is provided, and the power saving state (Sleep state) is started only when the average number of times of printing in each time zone becomes equal to or less than this value.

  For this reason, for example, a waiting time limit value at which the user can wait for the printing process is set, and this time is set as described above as the “header” waiting time limit value (“Sleep → Ready time”). For example, in this example, it is set to 30 seconds. In this case, since “Sleep → Ready time” is set to 30 seconds in the printer engine A as shown in FIG. 9, it is within the waiting time limit range, and the threshold value 2 is not required (the threshold value 1 and the threshold value 2 are The same value).

However, “Sleep → Ready time” of the printer engine B is 155 seconds, which is 5.17 times the waiting time limit value. For this reason, it is limited to printing at an interval of time t3 (59.56 minutes = 11.52 minutes x 5.17) that is 5.17 times t1 time (11.52 minutes) of printer engine B, and the power saving state is not made until the printing interval is longer than this. (Sleep state). Therefore, in this example, the threshold value 2 of the printer engine B is set to 0.17 (times) (10 minutes ÷ 59.56 minutes).
Next, returning to the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, after setting the threshold value 1 and the threshold value 2, it is determined whether the average number of times of printing (PrintAve) in the next time zone is larger than the threshold value 1 (S8-). 4).

  Here, when the average number of times of printing (PrintAve) in the next time zone is larger than the threshold 1 (YES in S8-4), the print engine is in a printable state (Ready state) because the print job is highly likely to be executed. The print waiting flag is reset (S8-5). That is, in this case, the average number of times of printing (PrintAve) in the current time zone is, for example, 1.10 or more for the printer engine A and 0.87 or more for the printer engine B. Since the execution possibility is high, the printer engine is left in a printable state.

On the other hand, if the average number of times of printing (PrintAve) in the next time zone is smaller than the threshold value 1 (S8-4 is NO), it is further determined whether the average number of times of printing (PrintAve) in the next time zone is smaller than the threshold value 2. (S8-5). When the average number of times of printing (PrintAve) in the next time zone is smaller than the threshold 2 (S8-6 is YES), the printer engine A or B is further determined (S8-7).
Here, in the case of the printer engine A, the threshold value 1 and the threshold value 2 are the same value, the printing apparatus is set to the power saving state (Sleep state), the print waiting flag is reset, and the process is terminated (S8-8). .

  On the other hand, in the case of the printer engine B, the time t1 (11.52 minutes) with less power consumption is read when the printable state (Ready state) is maintained, and this value is larger than the time zone (10 minutes) and the current time When the status is the printable status (Ready status) and the average number of times of printing (NextPrintAve) in the next time zone is equal to or greater than the threshold value 1 (Yes in S8-9), the printer device 1 is ready for printing (Ready status). Status) and the print waiting flag is reset (S8-5). In this case, there is a low possibility of performing the printing process in the next time zone, and the printer apparatus 1 should be put into the power saving state (Sleep state). However, the possibility of performing the printing process in the next next time zone is high. Since the apparatus 1 is put into a printable state (Ready state), power consumption is reduced by maintaining the current printable state (Ready state), and occurrence of a long warm-up waiting time is avoided.

  On the other hand, when the average number of times of printing (NextPrintAve) is less than the threshold value 1 (NO in S8-9), it is unlikely that the printing process will be performed for the next next time zone, and the printer apparatus 1 is in a power saving state (Sleep state). To suppress power consumption (S8-10).

  Next, it is determined whether the print waiting flag is in a reset state (S8-11). The following processing is processing for the printer engine B, and this print waiting flag is a time zone in which there is a possibility of printing although it is not the number of times of printing to maintain the printable state (Ready state). In consideration of the convenience described above, the flag is set to “ready state” and waits for printing. That is, this flag is set when the above-described processing (S8-5 or S8-10) is not executed.

  Therefore, if the print waiting flag is reset (YES in S8-11), the printer apparatus 1 is set to a printable state (Ready state), and the print wait Ready flag is set (S8-12).

  On the other hand, if the print wait flag is not in the reset state (NO in S12-11), the print wait ready flag is further determined (S8-13). The ready-for-print flag is set to the ready state (ready state) for the printer apparatus 1 by the above process (S8-12) in the time zone waiting for printing in the ready state. It is a flag indicating that.

  If this flag is set (YES in S8-13), it is determined whether printing is in progress (S8-14). If printing is not in progress (S8-14 is NO), the printer device 1 is ready for printing. (Ready state) is maintained (S8-15), and the process ends. However, since this time period is not the number of times of printing so as to maintain the ready state, when the printing process is performed (YES in S8-14), the printer apparatus 1 is set to the sleep state after the printing process is completed. The print ready flag is reset (S8-16). However, since the print waiting flag is set in a time zone in which printing is possible, the time zone during which printing was performed is performed in order to avoid the warm-up time for the print request while maintaining the sleep state. The unit time (10 minutes) is divided by the average number of times of printing, and the printing time interval is calculated to set the sleep time (S8-17).

  On the other hand, if the ready-to-print flag is not set (NO in S8-13), the printer apparatus 1 is maintained in the sleep state, and the waiting time is reduced from the sleep time (S8-18). If the remaining sleep time runs out (NO in S8-19), the printer engine is returned to the ready state, and the print ready flag is reset (S8-20).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, based on the printing result data of the printing apparatus, grasping the printing tendency for each time zone at a certain time interval and reducing the power consumption by scheduling power saving, It is possible to reduce the warm-up waiting time at the time of printing and execute a quick printing process.
In the description of the present embodiment, the threshold values 1 and 2 have been described using specific numerical values, but the present invention is not limited to the above numerical values.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer apparatus 2 ... CPU
3 ... ROM
4 ... RAM
5 ... Nonvolatile memory 6 ... Clock circuit 7 ... Print control LSI
8 ... Printer engine I / F
9 ... USB / LAN I / F

Claims (4)

Storage means for dividing one day at regular time intervals and storing an average value of the number of printings performed within the regular time interval;
The power for maintaining the printable state requires power exceeding the power to maintain the power saving state and warm up to the print state. First threshold value calculation means for calculating a value divided by time as a first threshold value of the number of times of printing within the certain time interval;
A limit value of the warm-up time is set, a ratio of the warm-up time of the apparatus to the limit value is calculated, and a value obtained by dividing the first threshold value by the ratio is the number of times of printing within the certain time interval. Second threshold value calculation means for further performing a second threshold value calculation process for calculating as a threshold value of 2,
Control is performed to maintain the printable state when an average value of the number of printings at a predetermined time interval stored in the storage unit is greater than the first threshold, and the average value of the number of printings at the predetermined time interval is set to the first value. Control means for performing control to shift to the power saving state when the threshold value is smaller than 1,
A printing device comprising:
The control means includes
The average value of the number of printings within the certain time interval is smaller than the first threshold and smaller than the second threshold , and the state of the printing apparatus is a printable state, and the printable state And maintaining the printable state when the maintenance time is greater than the certain time interval and the average number of times of printing after the certain time interval is equal to or greater than the first threshold,
The average value of the number of printings within the predetermined time interval is smaller than the first threshold and smaller than the second threshold , and the state of the printing apparatus is not in a printable state or the printable state When the maintenance time is equal to or less than the certain time interval, or when the average number of times of printing in the certain time interval subsequent to the certain time interval is less than the first threshold value, control to shift to the power saving state is performed. Characteristic printing device. The maintenance time of the printable state with t _1, the time and power required for the warm-up and t _2, Ps → _r, the power per unit time required to maintain the printable state with Pr, the maintenance of the power-saving state 2. The printing apparatus according to claim ₁ , wherein the t ₁ is calculated by the following calculation formula when the required power per unit time is Ps.
Pr × t ₁ ≦ Ps × (t ₁ −t ₂ ) + Ps → r   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the certain time interval is set to a time interval that approximates the printable state maintenance time t <b> 1. A storage process for dividing one day at a fixed time interval and storing an average value of the number of printings performed within the fixed time interval;
The power for maintaining the printable state requires power exceeding the power to maintain the power saving state and warm up to the print state. A first threshold value calculation process for calculating a value divided by time as a first threshold value of the number of prints that can be executed within the certain time interval;
A limit value of the warm-up time is set, a ratio of the warm-up time of the apparatus to the limit value is calculated, and a value obtained by dividing the first threshold value by the ratio is the number of times of printing within the fixed time interval. A second threshold value calculation process for further performing a second threshold value calculation process for calculating as a threshold value of 2,
A control process for performing control to maintain the printable state when an average value of the number of printings at a predetermined time interval stored in the storage unit is greater than the first threshold;
A method of controlling the line printing apparatus,
The control process is
The average value of the number of printings within the certain time interval is smaller than the first threshold and smaller than the second threshold , and the state of the printing apparatus is a printable state, and the printable state And maintaining the printable state when the maintenance time is greater than the certain time interval and the average number of times of printing after the certain time interval is equal to or greater than the first threshold,
The average value of the number of printings within the predetermined time interval is smaller than the first threshold and smaller than the second threshold , and the state of the printing apparatus is not in a printable state or the printable state When the maintenance time is equal to or less than the certain time interval, or when the average number of times of printing in the certain time interval subsequent to the certain time interval is less than the first threshold value, control to shift to the power saving state is performed. A control method for a printing apparatus, comprising: