Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, control method, and program

Abstract

The present invention provides an information processing device, an image forming apparatus, a control method, and a program that can calculate carbon dioxide emissions with high accuracy based on all the work information necessary to obtain a printed product using an image forming apparatus. [Solution] An information processing device that receives a history of jobs performed by an image forming apparatus that performs jobs to form images on a recording medium not only calculates the carbon dioxide emissions when performing successfully completed print jobs included in the received history, but also calculates the carbon dioxide emissions when performing related jobs associated with those successfully completed print jobs included in the received history, and stores the sum of the carbon dioxide emissions as the total carbon dioxide emissions for those successfully completed print jobs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a control method, and a program, and particularly to an information processing apparatus, a control method, and a program for calculating an environmental load amount when creating a printed matter.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in order to visualize the environmental load situation, efforts have been made to calculate the emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. In the printing machines in the field of image forming apparatuses, since power is consumed and printed matter is generated using raw materials such as ink and toner, there is a technology for calculating the amount of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide emitted. For example, in Patent Document 1, based on job information that defines manuscript data and a manuscript formation mode when performing image formation, the usage amounts of color materials and sheets and the amount of electric power are obtained, and a technology for calculating an environmental load value in an image forming process for performing printing from that information is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the calculation of the environmental load value in Patent Document 1, adjustments using the paper of the image formation target before image formation, which are performed in the field of commercial and industrial printing, are not considered. Further, in the field of commercial and industrial printing, inspection is performed on the image formation result, and when there is a problem with the image formation result, it is not treated as a product and is discarded. However, such inspection and disposal are not considered in the calculation of the environmental load value in Patent Document 1.

[0005] In other words, in Patent Document 1, the amount of colorants and sheets used during the adjustment process and the amount of electricity used in image formation that were to be discarded are not included in the calculation of the environmental load value related to the creation of the deliverables, and a highly accurate environmental load value cannot be calculated.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide an information processing device, an image forming apparatus, a control method, and a program that can calculate carbon dioxide emissions with high accuracy based on all the work information necessary to obtain a printed product using an image forming apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the information processing device according to claim 1 of the present invention is an information processing device that receives a history of jobs executed by an image forming apparatus that performs jobs to form an image on a recording medium, wherein the history includes not only information on successfully completed print jobs but also information on related jobs associated with the successfully completed print jobs, and comprises a first calculation means for calculating the amount of carbon dioxide emissions when the successfully completed print jobs are executed, a second calculation means for calculating the amount of carbon dioxide emissions when the related jobs are executed, an aggregation means for summing the carbon dioxide emissions calculated by the first and second calculation means, and a storage means for storing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions summed by the aggregation means as the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions related to the successfully completed print jobs.

[0008] To solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus according to claim 11 of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that executes a job to form an image on a recording medium and records the history of the job, wherein the history includes not only information on a successfully completed print job but also information on related jobs associated with the successfully completed print job, and comprises a first calculation means for calculating the amount of carbon dioxide emissions when the successfully completed print job is executed, a second calculation means for calculating the amount of carbon dioxide emissions when the related jobs are executed, an aggregation means for summing the carbon dioxide emissions calculated by the first and second calculation means, and a storage means for storing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions summed by the aggregation means as the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions related to the successfully completed print job. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, carbon dioxide emissions can be calculated with high accuracy based on all the work information necessary to obtain the print output using an image forming apparatus. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a network diagram showing the entire printing environmental load calculation system, including an environmental load calculation server as an information processing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a mechanical cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] This block diagram shows the hardware configuration of each device in the printing environment load calculation system. [Figure 4A] This figure shows an example of a job history screen that displays the history of jobs included in the calculation of the environmental impact of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 4B] This figure shows an example of a detailed calculation results screen according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, which calculates the carbon dioxide emissions of a selected job and displays the detailed calculation results. [Figure 4C] This figure shows an example of a calculation results list screen that displays a list of the results of the calculation of carbon dioxide emissions. [Figure 5]It is a diagram showing the configuration of job history information to be sent to the environmental load calculation server. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing the software configuration of an environmental load calculation processing application operating on an environmental load calculation server. [Figure 7] It is a flowchart of the job history information acquisition process. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart of the calculation target job selection process. [Figure 9] It is a flowchart of the carbon dioxide emission amount calculation process. [Figure 10A] It is a diagram showing an example of a detailed calculation result screen according to Example 2 of the present invention. [Figure 10B] It is a diagram showing an example of a calculation result split screen.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of the features described in each embodiment are essential for the solution means of the present invention.

[0012] (Example 1) FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram showing an entire printing environment load amount calculation system 1 including an environmental load calculation server 102 as an information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[0013] The printing environment load amount calculation system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 101 and an environmental load calculation server 102 connected via a network 100.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 101 receives a print instruction from the outside via the network 100, feeds paper (recording medium) based on the received print data and print settings, forms an image on the paper to generate it as a product, and discharges it to realize printing.

[0015] The environmental load calculation server 102 is a device that calculates the amount of environmental load imposed on the output products generated when the image forming apparatus 101 operates. The environmental load calculation server 102 receives, via the network 100, the job history when the image forming apparatus 101 performs processing in response to a print instruction, and calculates the amount of environmental load based on the job history information.

[0016] Note that in FIG. 1, only the image forming apparatus 101 is shown as the device that realizes printing on the printing environmental load calculation system 1, but it is not limited thereto. That is, there may be a plurality of image forming apparatuses having the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 101 and connected to the environmental load calculation server 102 via the network 100, and the amount of environmental load imposed on the output products is calculated by the environmental load calculation server 102. Hereinafter, when there are such a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the image forming apparatus 101 is used as a general term for these, and each image forming apparatus is described with an alphabetical symbol (for example, image forming apparatus 101a) appended to the end.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a mechanical cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 101. A plurality of devices having different functions are connected to the image forming apparatus 101, and it is configured to enable complex printing processing.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 101 includes a printing device 105, an inserter 106, an inspection device 107, a high-capacity stacker 108, and a finisher 109.

[0019] The printing device 105 is a device that forms an image to be printed on paper.

[0020] The printing device 105 includes a scanner 200, paper feed decks 201, 202, paper conveyance paths 203, 212, 214, 215, developing stations 204 to 207, a liquid crystal panel 208, intermediate transfer belts 209, and a secondary transfer roller 210. The printing device 105 also includes a fixing unit 211, a second fixing unit 213, a paper reversing path 216, and a duplex conveyance path 217.

[0021] In the printing device 105, an image is formed on the paper transported from the paper feed decks 201 and 202 located at the bottom, using toner. While this explanation uses paper as the object on which the image is formed, other printing media besides paper may also be used.

[0022] The scanner 200 has an internal document exposure unit 309 (Figure 3) which includes a document placement unit, an exposure lamp, and a CCD camera, and reads document data from the original document.

[0023] The paper feed decks 201 and 202 can accommodate various types of paper. The paper information (paper size, paper type) stored in each of the paper feed decks 201 and 202 can be set from the LCD panel 208 of the printer 105. Each of the paper feed decks 201 and 202 can separate only the top sheet of paper stored inside and transport it to the paper transport path 203.

[0024] Developing stations 204-207 each form a toner image using colored toners Y, M, C, and K, respectively, to create a color image. Each developing station 204-207 has a laser exposure unit 310 equipped with a photosensitive drum, laser driver, and polygon mirror, and an image-forming unit 311 equipped with a developing unit, transfer unit, toner supply unit, etc. The toner image formed here is first transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 209, which rotates clockwise, and the toner image is transferred to the paper transported from the paper transport path 203 by a secondary transfer roller 210.

[0025] The liquid crystal panel 208 consists of an operation unit 307 and a display 308, which will be described later. It displays information for the printing status and settings of the image forming apparatus 101, and also accepts various operations from the user.

[0026] The fuser unit 211 has a fuser section 312 inside, which consists of a pressure roller and a heating roller. As the paper passes between these rollers, the toner on the paper is melted and pressed, fixing the toner image to the paper. After leaving the fuser unit 211, the paper is transported through the paper transport path 212 to the paper transport path 215.

[0027] If further melting and pressing are required for fixing depending on the type of paper, the paper, after passing through the fixing unit 211, is transported through paper transport paths 212 and 214 to the second fixing unit 213. The second fixing unit 213 has the same configuration as the fixing unit 211 and performs additional melting and pressing of the toner on the transported paper. After that, the paper that has left the second fixing unit 213 is transported through paper transport path 214 to paper transport path 215.

[0028] When the image formation mode is double-sided, the paper passes through the fuser unit 211, then is transported from the paper transport path 212 to the paper inversion path 216, where it is inverted. After that, it is transported to the double-sided transport path 217, where the second image is transferred by the secondary transfer roller 210.

[0029] The inserter 106 is a device for inserting paper (a second recording medium), and can insert paper at any position into a group of papers printed and transported by the printing device 105.

[0030] The inserter 106 includes an inserter tray 221 and a paper transport path 222. Paper fed into the inserter tray 221 is transported through the paper transport path 222 to join the paper transport path 215. This allows the inserter 106 to insert paper at any position into a series of sheets of paper transported from the printing device 105 and transport them to subsequent devices. Paper that has passed through the inserter 106 is transported to the inspection device 107.

[0031] The inspection device 107 is a device that reads the image of the printed and transported paper (printed material / final product), compares the read image with the image to be printed, and checks whether the printing was done without any problems.

[0032] Inside the inspection device 107, a paper transport path 233 and cameras 231 and 232 are arranged facing each other, with the paper transport path 233 in between.

[0033] Camera 231 is a camera for reading the top surface of the paper being transported on the paper transport path 233, and camera 232 is a camera for reading the bottom surface of the paper being transported on the paper transport path 233.

[0034] The inspection device 107 can read an image of the paper using cameras 231 and 232 when the paper transported on the paper transport path 233 reaches a predetermined position, and inspect whether the image printed by the printing device 105 has been printed correctly. Printed materials that are determined to have problems (inspection failed) are separated from normal printed materials and discharged.

[0035] The high-capacity stacker 108 is a device capable of stacking large amounts of paper.

[0036] The high-capacity stacker 108 includes a stack tray 241, paper transport paths 244, 245, 247, 248, an escape tray 246, and a reversing unit 249.

[0037] The stack tray 241 is a tray for stacking paper that has been determined to be normal paper (printed material) as a result of inspection by the inspection device 107. Paper that has passed through the inspection device 107 is input to the large-capacity stacker 108 via the paper transport path 244. The paper is then loaded into the stack tray 241 via the paper transport path 245 from the paper transport path 244.

[0038] The escape tray 246 is used to eject printed materials that the inspection device 107 has determined to have problems. When outputting to the escape tray 246, the paper is transported from the paper transport path 244 to the escape tray 246 via the paper transport path 247.

[0039] When post-processing is performed on normal paper (printed material), the paper that has passed through the inspection device 107 is transported from the paper transport path 244 to the paper transport path 248 and then to the finisher 109.

[0040] The reversing unit 249 is a device that reverses the paper. When stacking double-sided printed paper into the stack tray 241, the reversing unit 249 reverses the paper once so that the orientation of the paper when it is loaded is the same as the orientation of the paper when it is fed from either the paper feed deck 201 or 202. When transporting to the escape tray 246 or to a subsequent post-processing device, and the paper is discharged without being flipped during loading, the reversing operation by the reversing unit 249 is not performed.

[0041] The finisher 109 is an inline finisher that applies finishing processes specified by the user to the transported paper. Specifically, the finisher 109 has finishing functions such as a processing unit 255 that performs stapling (single-point or double-point stapling) and punching (two-hole or triple-hole), and a saddle-stitch processing unit 256 that performs saddle-stitch binding. Furthermore, the finisher 109 is equipped with output trays 251, 252, paper transport paths 253, 254, 257, and a saddle-stitch binding tray 258.

[0042] The paper transport path 253 is a transport path that outputs paper transported from the high-capacity stacker 108 to the output tray 251. However, finishing processes such as stapling cannot be performed on the paper transport path 253.

[0043] The paper transport path 254 is a path that transports paper to the processing unit 255 when finishing processing such as stapling is to be performed on paper transported from the large-capacity stacker 108.

[0044] The processing unit 255 performs the finishing process specified by the user on the paper, and then outputs the finished paper to the output tray 252.

[0045] The output trays 251 and 252 can be raised and lowered, and the user can also lower the output tray 251 and operate the finisher 109 to load the paper that has been finished in the processing unit 255 into the output tray 251.

[0046] The saddle-stitching processing unit 256 is the processing unit that receives paper when saddle-stitching is specified for paper transported from the high-capacity stacker 108. The saddle-stitching processing unit 256 staples the center of the transported paper, then folds the paper in half to create a saddle-stitched bundle.

[0047] The paper transport path 257 is a transport path that outputs the paper folded in half by the saddle-stitching processing unit 256 to the saddle-stitching tray 258.

[0048] The saddle-stitch binding tray 258 is configured as a belt conveyor, and the bundles of saddle-stitched books stacked on the tray 258 are transported to the left side.

[0049] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of each device (image forming apparatus 101 and environmental load calculation server 102) on the printing environmental load calculation system 1.

[0050] Figure 3(A) is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 101.

[0051] First, I will explain the configuration of the printing apparatus 105 of the image forming apparatus 101.

[0052] The printing device 105 includes a communication I / F 301, a LAN I / F 302, a video I / F 303, an HDD 304, a CPU 305, a memory 306, an operation unit 307, and a display 308. Furthermore, the printing device 105 includes a document exposure unit 309, a laser exposure unit 310, an image formation unit 311, a fixing unit 312, and a paper feeding unit 313. These components of the printing device 105 are connected to each other via a system bus 314 so that they can communicate with one another.

[0053] The communication interface 301 is connected to the inserter 106, inspection device 107, high-capacity stacker 108, and finisher 109 via the communication cable 300, and communication is performed for the control of each device.

[0054] LANI / F302 connects to a print server and information processing device (not shown) via network 100 (Figure 1) to receive print instructions, and also connects to an environmental load calculation server 102 to communicate job history information and other data. The job ID used to identify the job history information communicated here may be assigned within the image forming apparatus 101, specified by the print server or information processing device, or set by user input. When receiving jobs from a print server or information processing device, the job identifiers of each process related to the deliverable may be associated and recorded, or the same job ID may be used to instruct the job.

[0055] The Video I / F303 connects via a video cable to a PC or external controller (not shown) that generates printable images, and communicates rasterized image data and other information.

[0056] HDD304 is a storage device where programs and data are stored. The CPU305 comprehensively controls image processing and printing based on the programs and other data stored in HDD304. Memory306 stores programs and image data necessary for the CPU305 to perform various processes and operates as a work area.

[0057] The control unit 307 accepts various operations from the user. The display 308 shows various setting information of the image forming apparatus 101 and the processing status of jobs.

[0058] The document exposure unit 309 reads the document when the user uses the copy or scan function of the printer 105. When the user places paper in the document placement area of ​​the scanner 200 and then issues a scanner command on the LCD panel 208, the document exposure unit 309 reads the document data by illuminating the paper in the document placement area with an exposure lamp and capturing an image with a CCD camera.

[0059] The laser exposure unit 310 is a device that performs primary charging and laser exposure for irradiating a photosensitive drum with laser light to transfer the toner image. In the laser exposure unit 310, primary charging is first performed to charge the surface of the photosensitive drum to a uniform negative potential. Next, a laser driver irradiates the photosensitive drum with laser light, adjusting the reflection angle with a polygon mirror. This neutralizes the negative charge in the irradiated area, forming an electrostatic latent image. The image formation unit 311 is a device for transferring toner to paper and consists of a developing unit, a transfer unit, a toner supply unit, etc., and transfers the toner on the photosensitive drum to the paper. In the developing unit, negatively charged toner from the developing cylinder is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, making it a visible image. In the transfer unit, primary transfer is performed by applying a positive potential to the intermediate transfer belt 209 to transfer the toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum to the transfer belt, and secondary transfer is performed by applying a positive potential to the secondary transfer roller 210 to transfer the toner on the transfer belt to the paper.

[0060] The fixing unit 312 is a device for dissolving and fixing toner on the paper using heat and pressure, and is composed of a pressure roller, a heating roller, and the like.

[0061] The paper feeding unit 313 has a paper transport path 203 for feeding paper from the paper decks 201 and 202, rollers installed on the paper transport path 203, and various sensors (not shown in Figure 2). The paper feeding unit 313 controls the paper feeding and transport operations using these various sensors.

[0062] Next, the configuration of the inserter 106 of the image forming apparatus 101 will be described.

[0063] The inserter 106 consists of a communication interface 321, a CPU 322, a memory 323, and a paper feed control unit 324, and each component is connected to the others via a system bus 320 so that they can communicate with each other.

[0064] The communication interface 321 is connected to the printing device 105 via the communication cable 300, and communication necessary for control is performed.

[0065] The CPU 322 performs various controls necessary for paper feeding according to the control program stored in the memory 323. The memory 323 is a storage device that stores the control program for the CPU 322. The paper feed control unit 324 controls the rollers and sensors (not shown) in the paper transport path 222 of the inserter 106 (Figure 2) based on instructions from the CPU 321, and controls the feeding and transport of paper transported from the inserter tray 221 of the inserter 106 and the printing device 105.

[0066] Next, the configuration of the inspection device 107 will be described.

[0067] The inspection device 107 consists of a communication interface 331, a CPU 332, a memory 333, and an imaging unit 334, and each component is connected to the others via a system bus 330 so that they can communicate with each other.

[0068] The communication interface 331 is connected to the printing device 105 via the communication cable 300, and communication necessary for control is performed. The CPU 332 performs various controls necessary for inspection according to the control program stored in the memory 333.

[0069] Memory 333 is a storage device that stores the control program for CPU 332. However, the information stored in memory 333 is not limited to the control program. For example, if the inspection device 107 also has a LAN interface, and receives inspection control information transmitted from a server or PC connected to the inspection device 107 via the LAN interface, the received inspection setting information may be stored in memory 333.

[0070] The imaging unit 334 photographs the transported paper (printed material) based on instructions from the CPU 332. The CPU 332 analyzes the image captured by the imaging unit 334 to inspect the printed material. The memory 333 stores the history of the inspection results and setting information, and when displaying these on the operation screen, it may also be configured to read a reference image from the memory 333 and display it along with the operation screen.

[0071] Next, the configuration of the large-capacity stacker 108 of the image forming apparatus 101 will be described.

[0072] The high-capacity stacker 108 consists of a communication interface 341, a CPU 342, a memory 343, and a paper output control unit 344, and each component is connected to the others via a system bus 340 so that they can communicate with each other.

[0073] The communication interface 341 is connected to the printing device 105 via the communication cable 300, and communication necessary for control is performed. The CPU 342 performs various controls necessary for paper ejection according to the control program stored in the memory 343.

[0074] Memory 343 is a storage device that stores the control program for CPU 342.

[0075] The paper output control unit 344 controls the transport of the conveyed paper to the stack tray 241, the escape tray 246, or the subsequent finisher 109, based on instructions from the CPU 342.

[0076] Next, the configuration of the finisher 109 of the image forming apparatus 101 will be described.

[0077] The finisher 109 consists of a communication interface 351, a CPU 352, a memory 353, a paper output control unit 354, and a finishing processing unit 355. Each component is connected to the others via a system bus 350 so that they can communicate with each other.

[0078] The communication interface 351 is connected to the printing device 105 via the communication cable 300, and communication necessary for control is performed. The CPU 352 performs various controls necessary for finishing and paper ejection according to the control program stored in the memory 353.

[0079] Memory 353 is a storage device that stores the control program for CPU 352.

[0080] The paper output control unit 354 controls paper transport and paper output based on instructions from the CPU 352.

[0081] The finishing processing unit 355 consists of the processing unit 255 and the saddle-stitching processing unit 256, and controls finishing processes such as stapling, punching, and saddle-stitching on paper (printed materials) transported from the large-capacity stacker 108 based on instructions from the CPU 352.

[0082] Figure 3(B) is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the environmental load calculation server 102.

[0083] The environmental load calculation server 102 consists of a CPU 361, memory 362, HDD 363, LAN interface 364, operation unit 365, and display unit 366, and is connected to each other via a system bus 367 so that they can communicate with one another.

[0084] The CPU 361 comprehensively performs processes such as receiving job history information from the image forming apparatus 101 and calculating environmental load based on programs and data stored in the HDD 363. The memory 362 stores programs and data necessary for the CPU 361 to perform various processes and operates as a work area.

[0085] HDD363 stores programs and data necessary for operations such as printing. The operation unit 365 is a device that receives operation input from the user.

[0086] The display unit 366 displays video signals, such as still images or videos, when information such as the execution application of the environmental load calculation server 102 is transmitted from the CPU 361. The LANI / F364 is connected to the image forming apparatus 101 via the network 100 and performs communication such as job history.

[0087] In the above description, the image forming apparatus 101 transmits and receives data necessary for printing with an information processing device such as a PC (not shown). Furthermore, the memories 306, 323, 333, 343, 353, and 362 can each be any storage device for holding data or programs. For example, a configuration using volatile RAM, non-volatile ROM, an internal HDD, an external HDD, or a USB memory stick is also acceptable.

[0088] Figures 4A to 4C show examples of screens related to environmental load calculation in this embodiment, and are displayed on the display unit 366 of the environmental load calculation server 102. These screens may also be displayed on the liquid crystal panel 208 of the printing device 105. The settings selected by the user using these screens are stored in the HDD 363 of the environmental load calculation server 102.

[0089] Figure 4A shows an example of a job history screen 400 that displays a list of jobs subject to environmental load calculation for the image forming apparatus 101.

[0090] The job history screen 400 consists of a job history list, a calculation settings button 403, a calculation results list button 404, a CO2 emission calculation button 405, and a related job batch selection button 406.

[0091] In this embodiment, only the image forming apparatus 101 is the device that performs printing on the printing environment load calculation system 1; therefore, Figure 4A only shows the job history of the image forming apparatus 101 (printing apparatus A). However, there may be two image forming apparatuses, 101a and 101b, that perform printing on the printing environment load calculation system 1. In this case, the job history list will show the job histories of both the image forming apparatus 101a (printing apparatus A) and the image forming apparatus 101b (printing apparatus B).

[0092] The job history screen 400 displays a list of jobs that are included in the calculation of environmental impact. The history of each job displayed in the job history list includes the job number, equipment information, job type, job name, execution completion date and time, paper size, number of copies, number of pages printed, execution result, and CO2 emissions during printing. Here, the job number is a number used to uniquely identify the job, the equipment information is information that identifies the equipment that executed the job, and the job name is the name set for the job. The job history list also includes a selection button 402 for selecting jobs to be included in the calculation of carbon dioxide emissions, and a job details button 401 for viewing more detailed job information for each displayed job.

[0093] The calculation setting button 403 is a button for displaying the carbon dioxide emission calculation setting screen. When the calculation setting button 403 is selected, the display on the display unit 366 transitions from the job history screen 400 to the calculation setting screen (not shown).

[0094] The calculation results list button 404 is a button for displaying the carbon dioxide emission calculation results list screen 420 (Figure 4C). When the calculation results list button 404 is selected, the display on the display unit 366 transitions from the job history screen 400 to the calculation list screen 420.

[0095] The CO2 emission calculation button 405 is used to perform the calculation of carbon dioxide emissions. When the CO2 emission calculation button 405 is selected, the CPU 361 performs the calculation of CO2 emissions for the jobs selected by the selection button 402. Details of the calculation results for each job are shown on the detailed calculation results screen 410 (Figure 4B), which is displayed when the calculation result confirmation button 422, described later, is pressed on the calculation result list screen 420 (Figure 4C).

[0096] Figure 4B shows an example of a detailed calculation results screen 410 that displays the detailed calculation results of carbon dioxide emissions for the job selected by the selection button 402, depending on the selection of the CO2 emission calculation button 405. The detailed calculation results screen 410 consists of the job name to be calculated 411, the total CO2 emission display field 412, the detailed calculation result display 413, the print button 414, the output button 415, and the close button 416.

[0097] The job name 411 to be calculated displays the job name of the job corresponding to the calculation result confirmation button 422 selected on the calculation result list screen 420 described later.

[0098] The total CO2 emissions display section 412 shows the total emissions calculated by summing up the carbon dioxide emissions of the selected job. The detailed calculation results display 413 shows the total CO2 emissions, number of copies, and CO2 emissions per copy, based on the job information of the selected job, for each calculation item, depending on the stage of the printing process and lifecycle. For example, if a value is displayed in the total CO2 emissions 413a shown in Figure 4B, the pre-printing performed in the process of creating the deliverable after the deliverable has been finalized is added to the total CO2 emissions as the CO2 emissions necessary to obtain the deliverable. Note that the printing process refers to which job execution process (i.e., printing process, error process, or adjustment process) among the print job and its related jobs described later.

[0099] The print button 414 is a button used to instruct the system to print the calculation results regarding carbon dioxide emissions displayed on the detailed calculation results screen 410. When the print button 414 is pressed by the user, the CPU 361 creates a print page of the detailed calculation results and submits it to the image forming apparatus 101 as a print job.

[0100] The output button 415 is used to instruct the system to output and save the calculation results regarding carbon dioxide emissions displayed on the detailed calculation results screen 410 as data. When the output button 415 is pressed by the user, the CPU 361 generates a file in which the detailed calculation results have been converted into a data format and saves it as a file on the memory 362 of the environmental load calculation server 102.

[0101] The close button 416 is a button used to instruct the user to close the detailed calculation results screen 410. When the close button 416 is pressed by the user, the display on the display unit 366 transitions from the detailed calculation results screen 410 to the job history screen 400.

[0102] Figure 4C shows an example of a calculation results list screen 420 that displays a calculation history list 421 showing the calculation results of carbon dioxide emissions. The calculation results list screen 420 consists of the calculation history list 421 and a close button 423.

[0103] The calculation history list 421 displays a list of output results for carbon dioxide emissions for each job calculated in response to the press of the CO2 emission calculation button 404 (Figure 4A). The calculation history list 421 includes information for each job's calculation result, such as the management number, job name, number of copies, calculation date, printing process, total CO2 emissions as a calculation result, and whether or not output was performed. In addition, the calculation history list 421 also includes a calculation result confirmation button 422 for each displayed job to check the details of the calculation result. When the user presses the calculation result confirmation button 422 (here, button 422a) for one of the jobs displayed in the calculation history list 421, the display on the display unit 366 transitions to the detailed calculation result screen 410 for the job corresponding to button 422a.

[0104] The close button 423 is used to instruct the system to close the calculation results list screen 420. When the close button 423 is selected, the display unit 366 transitions from the calculation results list screen 420 to the job history screen 400.

[0105] Figure 5 shows the data items included in the job history information received by the environmental load calculation server 102 from the image forming apparatus 101. The environmental load calculation server 102 stores the received job history information and uses it to display the job history screen 400 and to calculate carbon dioxide emissions displayed on the detailed calculation results screen 410. There are three types of jobs for which job history information is stored: print jobs, error jobs, and adjustment jobs, as described below. The job history information for all three of these jobs includes basic information, print settings, output information, operation information, disposal information, and media information, which are included as common history information 500 for calculating carbon dioxide emissions.

[0106] Basic information consists of items common to all aspects of the printing process, including job ID, machine number, job type, print start time, and print end time.

[0107] Print settings consist of the color mode (specifying monochrome, color, or single color), the page layout (specifying page arrangement), the number of print sides (specifying single-sided or double-sided printing), and the number of copies to print.

[0108] The output information consists of the total number of pages actually printed, the number of sheets for each type of media used, and the amount of toner consumed. The number of sheets for each type of media is recorded in association with the media ID, which is recorded as media information, to indicate how many sheets of each media ID were printed. If the image forming apparatus 101 has multiple colorants (toners), the amount of toner consumed is recorded by calculating the dot count when printing with each colorant.

[0109] The operational information monitors the power consumption from the start time to the end time of printing for this job and records the power consumption. Power consumption can be measured at actual operating time, or it can be calculated from the state of the image forming apparatus 101 from the start to the end of printing and the power consumption for each predetermined state. Here, the power consumption is recorded as the sum of the power consumption of all devices connected to the image forming apparatus 101. However, instead of summing them up, the power consumption of each device connected to the image forming apparatus 101 may be included as one of the operational information items.

[0110] The waste information records the number of outputs that did not become the final job deliverables and the amount of toner consumed. Outputs that do not become job deliverables include, for example, paper that the inspection device 107 judged to be NG, paper that got stuck in the image forming apparatus 101 due to a paper jam and had to be removed and discarded, and paper that was needed to adjust the image forming apparatus 101. Non-deliverable colorants refer to the colorants printed on pages that were discarded after printing.

[0111] Media information records the media ID, media name, type, paper size, and basis weight of the media used for printing. The media ID is a unique ID assigned to the registered media, and the media name is the name that represents the target media. The type represents the characteristics of the paper, such as surface finish, and records types such as high-quality paper, coated paper, and recycled paper. The paper size records the classification of the standard size, the length in the width direction, and the length in the transport direction. If the length in the width direction or the length in the transport direction is specified but is not included in the standard size classification, it is recorded as user-defined. Basis weight is a value that represents the weight of the media, and records the weight of the media per square meter. If multiple media are used in a single job, information for multiple media is recorded.

[0112] Figure 5(A) shows the job history information 510 for a job (hereinafter referred to as a print job) that was determined to be a successful print job and completed normally by the image forming apparatus 101.

[0113] The job history information 510 contains the information necessary to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions of a print job. In addition to the common history information 500 mentioned above, the job history information 510 also includes post-processing information.

[0114] Post-processing information records the insertion settings, cutting settings, and material consumption for the post-processing steps of the job.

[0115] The insertion settings record device information indicating whether the source device for inserting the paper is the image forming apparatus 101a or 101b, and setting information for inserting the paper with the inserter 106 (such as the media to be inserted, insertion position, and number of sheets to be inserted). Note that the device information may be obtained through user input.

[0116] The cutting settings are used when a cutting device (not shown in the diagram) is connected and cutting is performed. The cutting settings record the cutting direction and the cutting amounts for the edges and top and bottom.

[0117] The processing material consumption record the amount of processing materials, such as wire, used for binding when binding books using the finishing function of Finisher 109. For example, in the case of saddle stitching, the process of binding with wire is performed in two places per book, so the use of wire for two places is recorded.

[0118] Figure 5(B) shows the job history information 520 for a job that was determined to be a printing failure and terminated by the image forming apparatus 101 (hereinafter referred to as an error job).

[0119] The job history information 520 contains the information necessary to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions of error jobs. For example, if a paper jam occurs during printing and the job is stopped and terminated, that job is recorded as an error job in the job history information 520. In both cases, whether the CPU 305 determines that printing cannot be continued and stops the job, or the user stops the job by issuing a stop command instead of issuing a restart command, the stopped job is recorded as an error job in the job history information 520. On the other hand, if the paper jam occurs, the paper that has accumulated in the image forming apparatus 101 is removed and printing is resumed and completed, the completed job is recorded in the job history information 520 as a print job that includes disposal information regarding the accumulated paper.

[0120] The job history information 520 includes error information in addition to the information contained in the job history information 510 shown in Figure 5(A).

[0121] Error information records the cause of the error. For example, if a user instructs a running job to be stopped for any reason, the error information will record "User instruction". Also, if the number of items judged as NG by the inspection device 107 during job execution exceeds a predetermined number, and the CPU 305 determines that there are too many NG items and stops the running job, the error information will record "Device cause".

[0122] Figure 5(C) shows the job history information 530 for a job (hereinafter referred to as an adjustment job) used to adjust the image formation conditions of a print job in the image forming apparatus 101.

[0123] The job history information 530 contains the information necessary to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions of the adjustment job. The adjustment job is set by the CPU 305 according to the image formation conditions to be adjusted, and then the adjustment print is executed.

[0124] The job history information 530 includes adjustment information in addition to the common history information 500 mentioned above.

[0125] The adjustment information records the type of adjustment performed in the adjustment job. These adjustment types include print position adjustment performed by the image forming apparatus 101, media-specific density adjustment performed for each media, and density correction performed to suppress image fluctuations during printing. In the adjustment job, the image forming apparatus 101 performs printing, reads the print results, and adjusts the image formation conditions of the print job. Therefore, information related to printing within the adjustment job is recorded as common history information 500 in the job history information 530, and the adjustment information also records information indicating which image formation conditions of the print job were adjusted as the adjustment type.

[0126] The environmental load calculation server 102 records these job history information items 510-530, allowing it to calculate the environmental load at the time of each job execution.

[0127] Figure 6 shows the software configuration of the environmental load calculation processing application 600 that runs on the environmental load calculation server 102. The environmental load calculation processing application 600 is software for controlling the environmental load calculation process that calculates the amount of carbon dioxide emissions when each job, such as print jobs, error jobs, and adjustment jobs, is executed, and is stored in the HDD 363. The CPU 361 reads the environmental load calculation processing application 600 from the HDD 363 into memory 362 and executes it.

[0128] The environmental load calculation processing application 600 comprises a job history information management unit 610, a printing process calculation unit 601, a carbon dioxide emission recording unit 611, an emission conversion factor management unit 612, and a calculation setting management unit 613.

[0129] The printing process calculation unit 601 consists of an activity-specific emission calculation unit 601a that calculates various emissions for detailed activities, and a stage-specific emission calculation unit 601b that calculates carbon dioxide emissions according to the stage. Although not shown in Figure 6, the activity-specific emission calculation unit 601a and the stage-specific emission calculation unit 601b can access the carbon dioxide emission recording unit 611, the emission conversion factor management unit 612, and the calculation setting management unit 613, respectively.

[0130] The job history information management unit 610 can search for and retrieve selected job history information from the job history recorded in the HDD 363, and records the retrieved job history in memory 362. When the CO2 emission calculation button 405 is pressed on the job history screen 400, the job ID of the job selected by the selection button 402 is notified, and the original job history information management unit 610 retrieves the job history information using that job ID. Regardless of whether the retrieved job is a print job, error job, or adjustment job, the retrieved job history information is used to call the print process calculation unit 601.

[0131] The printing process calculation unit 601 performs a process to calculate carbon dioxide emissions from the job history of the printing type.

[0132] In the printing process calculation unit 601, the information in memory 362 obtained from the job history is first transmitted to different processing units of the activity-specific emission calculation unit 601a for each relevant activity. The activity-specific emission calculation unit 601a includes a paper emission calculation unit 602, a colorant emission calculation unit 603, a power emission calculation unit 604, and a paper waste emission calculation unit 605.

[0133] The paper discharge calculation unit 602 reads the number of output sheets for each media from the job history information, associates the media ID with the number of output sheets, and records it in memory 362 as the paper discharge amount. If the job history information has settings for inserting post-processing information, the paper discharge calculation unit 602 adds up the media and their usage according to the insertion settings as the paper discharge amount and records it in memory 362.

[0134] The colorant discharge calculation unit 603 reads the colorant consumption amount from the job history information and records it in the memory 362 as the discharge amount for each colorant. If the information recorded as colorant consumption is the number of print dots for each color, the colorant discharge amount is calculated by multiplying the number of dots for each color by the colorant consumption per dot used for printing by the printing device 105.

[0135] The power emission calculation unit 604 reads the power consumption information from the operation information of the job history information and records it as power emission in the memory 362.

[0136] The paper waste calculation unit 605 reads the number of non-production outputs from the discard information in the job history information, associates the media ID with the number of discarded items, and records it in memory 362. If the cutting setting is configured, the paper waste calculation unit 605 also records the area of ​​paper that will be cut and discarded according to the cutting setting.

[0137] Next, the printing process calculation unit 601 transmits the calculation results calculated by the activity-specific emission calculation unit 601a to different processing units of the stage-specific emission calculation unit 601b for each relevant stage. The stage-specific emission calculation unit 601b includes a printing raw material emission calculation unit 606, a printing production emission calculation unit 607, and a printing waste emission calculation unit 608.

[0138] The stage-by-stage emission calculation unit 601b performs the process of calculating the carbon dioxide emissions for each stage from the calculation results obtained by the paper emission calculation unit 602, the colorant emission calculation unit 603, the electricity emission calculation unit 604, and the paper waste emission calculation unit 605. Here, the carbon dioxide emissions are calculated by multiplying by a predetermined unit-by-unit carbon dioxide emission rate and then calculating the total.

[0139] The printing raw material emission calculation unit 606 calculates the carbon dioxide emissions at the raw material stage from the paper emission amount calculated by the paper emission calculation unit 602 and the colorant emission amount calculated by the colorant emission calculation unit 603. Specifically, it reads the carbon dioxide emission conversion coefficient for each media corresponding to the output media ID recorded on memory 362 from the carbon dioxide emission conversion coefficients recorded on HDD 363 and multiplies it by the number of output sheets. This calculates the carbon dioxide emissions and records it on memory 362 as raw material emissions. Next, it reads the amount of colorant used recorded on memory 362, reads the carbon dioxide emission conversion coefficient recorded on HDD 363, and multiplies it to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions. Here, the carbon dioxide emission conversion coefficient for each colorant differs depending on the printing device 105 and the colorants used in that printing device 105. For this reason, the printing device 105 is identified from the machine number in the job history information, the coefficient of the colorants used in that device is obtained, and the calculation is performed using the coefficient of the colorant for each color corresponding to the amount used. If the processing material consumption is recorded in the job history, the processing material consumption is read, the carbon dioxide emissions are calculated from the amount of processing material used, and then added together as the carbon dioxide emissions at the raw material stage.

[0140] The printing production emissions calculation unit 607 calculates carbon dioxide emissions at the production stage from the power consumption. The carbon dioxide emission conversion factor used for power consumption is read from the information recorded on the HDD 363, multiplied by the power consumption recorded on the memory 362, and recorded on the memory 362 as the carbon dioxide emissions at the production stage. The carbon dioxide emission conversion factor used for power consumption here may be a default factor, a power consumption conversion factor set from the calculation setting button 403, or a power consumption conversion factor for each power company that has been disclosed.

[0141] The print waste emission calculation unit 608 calculates the carbon dioxide emissions at the disposal stage from the number of media to be discarded. Specifically, it reads the carbon dioxide emission conversion factor for disposal of each media corresponding to the output media ID recorded on memory 362 from the carbon dioxide emission conversion factors recorded on HDD 363 and multiplies it by the number of media to be discarded. This calculates the carbon dioxide emissions and records it as waste emissions on memory 362. When calculating the carbon dioxide emissions at the disposal stage, it is also possible to set a recycling rate for the waste and calculate the carbon dioxide emissions for recycling. For example, if the recycling rate is set to 30% using the calculation setting button 403, the carbon dioxide emissions at the disposal stage can be calculated by using the recycling conversion factor for 30% of the number of discarded media and the disposal conversion factor for the remaining 70%.

[0142] The carbon dioxide emission recording unit 611 receives calculation results from the printing raw material emission calculation unit 606, the printing production emission calculation unit 607, and the printing waste emission calculation unit 608, and records them on the HDD 363. The calculation results are recorded for each process and stage, and if records for the same process or stage are received, the information is recorded multiple times in list format, and the sum of the values ​​for each process and stage is also saved. The entire result is recorded as the emissions of the deliverables created from the selected job, and a calculation ID corresponding to the deliverable is issued and recorded in association with it.

[0143] The emissions conversion factor management unit 612 manages the conversion factors used when calculating carbon dioxide emissions from activity levels. It stores information that associates the items to be converted with the corresponding coefficients, and this information is recorded on the HDD 363 and read from the memory 362 during processing. The emissions conversion factors managed internally may be recorded in a database, and this information may be updated on the environmental load calculation server 102, or it may be updated based on a database provided externally. The emissions conversion factors may be recorded as separate information for each media used as a raw material, or for each colorant. In addition, coefficients for disposal and recycling may be recorded and managed separately for each item.

[0144] The calculation setting management unit 613 is a processing unit that manages the setting values ​​used when calculating carbon dioxide emissions. The calculation setting management unit 613 also manages emission calculation rules that describe whether or not to record the total carbon dioxide emissions by summing up the emissions selected from each stage and item in the error process and adjustment process, in addition to the emissions from the printing process. For example, the calculation setting management unit 613 may accept settings from the setting screen displayed by pressing the calculation setting button 403 on the job history screen 400 and record them as calculation settings in the HDD 363. Alternatively, the calculation setting management unit 613 may accept the reading of setting values ​​from each processing unit of the environmental load calculation processing application 600 and pass the values ​​to the HDD 363. Furthermore, the emission calculation rules may be edited and updated on the environmental load calculation server 102, or they may be updated based on a database provided from an external source.

[0145] Figure 7 is a flowchart of the information transmission process to the environmental load calculation server 102, which is executed in the image forming apparatus 101 when a print job is completed. This series of processes is executed by the CPU 305 of the printing apparatus 105, which reads the control program from the HDD 304 and loads it into the memory 306.

[0146] In step S701, the CPU 305 receives a print job completion notification from either the paper feed deck 201 or 202 within the printer 105, or from the large-capacity stacker 108 or finisher 109 connected to the communication I / F 301, and determines that the print job is complete. The process then proceeds to step S702.

[0147] In step S702, the CPU 305 retrieves basic information of completed jobs from memory 306 and HDD 304 and stores it in memory 306 as basic information for job history information. Once the storage of basic information is complete, the process proceeds to step S703.

[0148] In step S703, the CPU 305 retrieves the print settings of the completed job from memory 306 and HDD 304, and stores them in memory 306 as print settings for the job history information. The print settings record the actual color mode, page layout, number of pages, and number of copies. Once the saving of the print settings is complete, the process proceeds to step S704.

[0149] In step S704, the CPU 305 retrieves the output information of the completed job from memory 306 and HDD 304 and stores it in memory 306 as job history information. The job history information output reads and stores the total number of pages actually printed, the number of pages for each media used, and the toner consumption. For example, if multiple media are used in a job, the total number of pages printed is the sum of the number of pages printed for all media, and the number of pages printed for each media is stored separately. The toner consumption is obtained and stored as a value corresponding to the consumption of each colorant (toner) used by the printing device 105. For example, in the case of four-color printing, the consumption is recorded as the number of dots that make up the image for each corresponding color. Once the storage of the output information is complete, the process proceeds to step S704.

[0150] In step S704, the CPU 305 obtains operational information of completed jobs from memory 306 and HDD 304 and stores it in memory 306 as operational information for job history. The information stored as operational information is power consumption. If a power meter is connected to the image forming apparatus 101, the power consumption recorded is the sum of the power consumption measured by the power meter from the start to the completion of the job. On the other hand, if a power meter is not connected to the image forming apparatus 101, the power consumption to be recorded may be calculated based on the state transitions of the image forming apparatus 101 from the start to the end of printing and the standard power consumption in each state. Once the storage of operational information is complete, the process proceeds to step S706.

[0151] In step S706, the CPU 305 obtains discard information for completed jobs from memory 306 and HDD 304 and stores it in memory 306 as discard information for job history. The discard information stores output items that did not become deliverables. Examples of output items that did not become deliverables include output items that the inspection device 107 judged to be NG, paper that could not be printed correctly due to paper jams, etc., and paper printed for image adjustment during job execution. The number of outputs that failed inspection can be obtained from the inspection device 107. The number of outputs in the case of paper jams, etc., can be calculated from the location of the paper jam, the count of paper fed by paper decks 201 and 202, and the count of paper ejected by paper transport paths 245 of the large-capacity stacker 108 and 253 and 254 of the finisher 109. The number of papers printed for image adjustment can be calculated from whether or not image adjustment was performed and the predetermined number of sheets of paper used for adjustment. Once the storage of the discard information for these non-deliverable outputs is complete, proceed to step S707.

[0152] In step S707, the CPU 305 retrieves media information for the media used in the completed job from memory 306 and HDD 304, and stores it in memory 306 as media information for the job history. Specifically, it identifies the media used from the job's output information, retrieves the media ID, media name, type, paper size, and basis weight of the target media, and records them as media information. If there are multiple media used as recorded in the output information, all media information is retrieved and recorded as media information. Once the storage of media information is complete, the process proceeds to step S709.

[0153] In step S708, the CPU 305 retrieves the post-processing information used in the completed job from memory 306 and HDD 304, and stores it in memory 306 as post-processing information in the job history. The settings to be recorded as post-processing information are obtained and recorded from the insertion settings, cutting settings, and binding settings specified for the print job. Once the storage of the post-processing information is complete, the process proceeds to step S709.

[0154] In step S709, the CPU 305 records the job history information acquired and recorded in steps S702 to S707 as unsent information in the HDD 304, and then proceeds to step S710.

[0155] In step S710, the CPU 305 sends all unsent job history information recorded in the HDD 304 to the environmental load calculation server 102 via LANI / F 302. Once the transmission is complete, proceed to step S711.

[0156] In step S711, the CPU 305 checks whether the transmission of the job history information performed in step S710 was successful. If successful (YES in step S711), proceed to step S712; if transmission failed (NO in step S711), proceed to step S713. In step S712, the CPU 305 records the successfully transmitted job history information as transmitted information in HDD 304 and terminates this process. In step S713, the CPU 305 determines that the transmission was not completed, records the unsent job history information as unsent information in HDD 304, and terminates this process.

[0157] According to the above process, when a print job is completed, the image forming apparatus 101 acquires job history information 510 (= common history information 500 + post-processing information), which is then sent to the environmental load calculation server 102.

[0158] Similarly, although details are omitted, the image forming apparatus 101 acquires job history information 520 (= common history information 500 + post-processing information + error information) when an error job is completed, and then transmits it to the environmental load calculation server 102. Also, the image forming apparatus 101 acquires job history information 530 (= common history information 500 + adjustment information) when an adjustment job is completed, and then transmits it to the environmental load calculation server 102.

[0159] When the environmental load calculation server 102 receives the above-mentioned job history information 510 to 530 from the image forming apparatus 101, it stores it in the job history information on the HDD 363.

[0160] Furthermore, when the image forming apparatuses 101a and 101b are connected to the environmental load calculation server 102, job history information (510-530) is transmitted from each of the image forming apparatuses 101a and 101b upon completion of a print job, completion of an error job, and completion of an adjustment job. When the environmental load calculation server 102 receives the job history information from each of the image forming apparatuses 101a and 101b, it stores it in the job history information section of the HDD 363.

[0161] Figure 8 is a flowchart of the carbon dioxide emission calculation process performed on the environmental load calculation server 102. This series of processes is executed by the CPU 361 on the environmental load calculation server 102, which reads the control program from the HDD 363 and loads it into memory 362.

[0162] In step S801, the CPU 361 reads the job history information received from the image forming apparatus 101a and 101b from the HDD 363, generates a job history screen 400, displays it on the display unit 366, and proceeds to step S802.

[0163] In step S802, the CPU 361 waits for the user to operate the selection button 402 and the CO2 emission calculation button 405 on the job history screen 400 displayed on the display unit 366. When the CPU 361 detects that the user has selected the selection button 402 and then pressed the CO2 emission calculation button 405, it records the job ID of the job history information selected by the selection button 402 as the job ID to be calculated in memory 362. Then, the process proceeds to step S803. Here, the user can select the job history information of the image forming apparatus 101a and 101b that were used while creating the deliverables, and the user can determine whether or not a job is related to the deliverables based on the information displayed on the job history screen 400. In addition, if each job is submitted from a print server or information processing device (not shown in Figure 1), a corresponding job ID and job name are assigned, so it is acceptable to automatically select jobs with the same job ID and job name.

[0164] In step S803, the CPU 361 reads the calculation settings and the unit values ​​and calculation coefficients used for the calculation stored in the HDD 363 and expands them into memory 362. The calculation settings are the values ​​set by pressing the calculation settings button 403 on the job history screen 400, and the set contents are recorded in the HDD 363 and used when calculating carbon dioxide emissions. The unit values ​​used in the printing process are read from the emission unit value database stored in the HDD 363. After the expansion of the calculation settings, unit values ​​and calculation coefficients into memory 362 is complete, the process proceeds to step S804.

[0165] In step S804, the CPU 361 selects one of the uncalculated job IDs recorded in memory 362 in step S802, reads the job history information associated with that job ID into memory 362, and proceeds to step S805.

[0166] In step S805, the CPU 361 determines whether the job history information read into memory 362 is the job history information of the target process. If it is the job history information of the target process (YES in step S805), the process proceeds to step S806. If it is not the job history information of the target process (NO in step S805), the process proceeds to step S807.

[0167] In step S806, the CPU 361 calls the printing process calculation unit 601 of the environmental load calculation processing application 600 from the job history information of the selected job to be calculated. The called printing process calculation unit 601 (first calculation means, second calculation means) executes the process of calculating the carbon dioxide emissions of the printing process. After that, the CPU 361 records the items selected in step S804 as calculated in memory 362 and then proceeds to step S807.

[0168] In step S807, CPU361 determines whether there are any uncalculated items among the IDs to be calculated. If there are uncalculated items (YES in step S807), proceed to step S804; if there are no uncalculated items (NO in step S807), proceed to step S808.

[0169] In step S808, the CPU 361 (aggregation means) calls the carbon dioxide emission recording unit 611 of the environmental load calculation processing application 600. Here, it first obtains the emission calculation rule that specifies which emissions to aggregate, managed by the calculation setting management unit 613. Next, it reads all the carbon dioxide emission values ​​of the target job recorded in the HDD 363 based on the emission calculation rule, and aggregates the carbon dioxide emissions selected from each process, stage, and item. This calculates the total carbon dioxide emission of the target job. After recording the calculated result in memory 362, the process proceeds to step S809.

[0170] In step S809, the CPU 361 records the total carbon dioxide emissions recorded in memory 362 in step S808 as a carbon dioxide emission calculation history in HDD 363 (storage device). The information recorded here is output as a detailed result on the detailed calculation result screen 410 when one of the calculation result confirmation buttons 422 on the carbon dioxide emission calculation result list screen 420 is pressed. After recording the carbon dioxide emission calculation history, the process proceeds to step S810.

[0171] In step S810, the CPU 361 generates a detailed calculation results screen 410 that displays the total carbon dioxide emissions stored in memory 362 recorded in step S808, and displays it on the display unit 366. Once the carbon dioxide emission calculation results list screen 420 is displayed on the display unit 366, this process is terminated.

[0172] Next, the related job selection process will be explained. Here, related jobs refer to jobs that were executed before or after the printing of a print job, such as adjustment jobs that perform adjustment prints for the image forming apparatus 101 when the print job is executed, or error jobs that were executed with the same print settings as the print job but ended in failure.

[0173] Figure 9 is a flowchart of the related job selection process executed on the environmental load calculation server 102. This process is executed by the CPU 361 on the environmental load calculation server 102, which reads the control program from the HDD 363 and loads it into memory 362. This process starts in step S802 when a job history is selected by the selection button 402 on the job history screen 400 on the environmental load calculation server 102.

[0174] In step S901, the CPU 361 reads the job history information selected by the selection button 402 from the HDD 363, saves it to memory 362, and proceeds to step S902.

[0175] In step S902, the CPU 361 reads the machine number and print completion time from the job history information read in step S901 and generates a job history list. Then, from the generated job history list, job histories within a predetermined period from the print completion time that have the same machine number as the read job are recorded (extracted) as a candidate list in memory 362, and the process proceeds to step S903.

[0176] In step S903, CPU 361 checks if there are any unchecked items in the candidate list recorded in memory 362 in step S902. If there are unchecked items (YES in step S903), the process proceeds to step S904. If there are no unchecked job history items (NO in step S903), the process terminates.

[0177] In step S904, the CPU 361 selects an unchecked job history from the candidate list stored in memory 362 as a job to be checked, reads the job history information of the selected job from HDD 363 and saves it in memory 362. Then, it records the selected job as checked in the candidate list and proceeds to step S905.

[0178] In step S905, CPU 361 checks whether the carbon dioxide emissions for the job history information to be checked, which was read into memory 362 in step S904, have been calculated. If the carbon dioxide emissions have been calculated (NO in step S905), the process proceeds to step S903; if they have not been calculated (YES in step S905), the process proceeds to step S906.

[0179] In step S906, the CPU 361 checks whether the job name of the job history information to be checked, which was read into memory 362 in step S904, is the same as the job name of the selected job history information read in step S901. If the job names are the same (YES in step S906), the process proceeds to step S909; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S907.

[0180] In step S907, CPU 361 checks whether the print settings of the job history information to be checked, which were read into memory 362 in step S904, are the same as the print settings of the selected job history information read in step S901. If the print settings are the same (YES in step S907), the process proceeds to step S909; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S908. Here, the determination of whether the print settings are identical is made by checking whether all items of the print settings—color mode, page layout, number of pages, and number of copies—are the same. However, it is also acceptable to determine that they are the same by comparing only some of the settings.

[0181] In step S908, the CPU 361 first determines whether the job type of the job history information to be checked, which was read into memory 362 in step S904, is an adjustment job. If it is an adjustment job, it further checks whether the read media settings are the same as the media settings of the selected job history information read in step S901. If the media settings are the same (YES in step S908), it proceeds to step S909. On the other hand, if the job type of the job history information to be checked is not an adjustment job, or if it is an adjustment job but the media settings are not the same (NO in step S908), it proceeds to step S903. Here, when adjusting the image forming apparatus 101, there are adjustment items that are performed using the same media as the media that will become the output, so it is determined whether the media settings are the same. The determination of whether the media settings are the same can be made by checking whether the media IDs are the same, or by checking whether all items of the media settings are the same.

[0182] In step S909, CPU 361 selects (extracts) the job history selected in step S904 as the calculation target, sets the select button 402 to the pressed state, and proceeds to step S903.

[0183] In this process, we select jobs that have been determined to be included in the calculation. However, it is also acceptable to display the jobs that have been determined to be included as candidates for calculation and allow the user to make a selection. Furthermore, it is also acceptable to determine which jobs are candidates for calculation based on information other than the job history information used in this process.

[0184] (Example 2) This embodiment describes an example of dividing the calculation results regarding the calculation of environmental load in Example 1.

[0185] In this embodiment, the detailed calculation result screen 1000 (Figure 10A) is displayed on the display unit 496 of the environmental load calculation server 102 instead of the detailed calculation result screen 410 (Figure 4B). When the split button 1001 in Figure 10A is pressed, the calculation result split screen in Figure 10B is displayed. Regarding other points, this embodiment has the same hardware and software configuration as Embodiment 1, so the same numbering is used for the same components, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0186] Figures 10A and 10B show examples of display screens when dividing the calculation results for environmental load calculation in Example 1, and are displayed on the display unit 496 of the environmental load calculation server 102. This environmental load calculation screen may also be displayed on the LCD panel 208 of the printing device 104. The settings selected on the display screen for environmental load calculation are stored in the HDD 363 of the environmental load calculation server 102.

[0187] Figure 10A shows the detailed calculation result screen 1000 according to this embodiment. The detailed calculation result screen 1000 is configured in addition to the screen configuration of Figure 4B by adding a split button 1001. The split button 1001 (splitting means) is a button for instructing the process of splitting the calculation results displayed on the detailed calculation result screen 1000, and when the split button 1001 is pressed, the screen transitions to the calculation result split screen illustrated in Figure 10B.

[0188] In the calculation result splitting screen shown in Figure 10B, settings are made to split the job displayed in Figure 10A into two calculation results. The calculation result splitting screen 1010 includes pre-splitting information, post-splitting settings, a split execution button 1020, and a cancel button 1021.

[0189] The pre-splitting information consists of the pre-splitting job name (1011), the pre-splitting number of copies (1012), and the pre-splitting total CO2 emissions (1013).

[0190] The post-splitting settings consist of post-splitting job names 1014 and 1015, job quantities 1016 and 1017, and total job CO2 emissions 1018 and 1019.

[0191] The pre-split job name 1011 in the pre-split information displays the name of the job that was displayed before transitioning to the calculation result splitting screen 1010, the number of copies before splitting 1012 displays the number of copies, and the total CO2 emissions before splitting 1013 displays the total CO2 emissions.

[0192] In the post-split job name settings, the post-split job name 1014 displays the name of one of the jobs after splitting. The post-split job name 1015 displays the name of the other job after splitting. You can enter any string by selecting the job name area. At the time of screen display, it is acceptable for the same job name that was displayed in pre-split job name 1011 to be set.

[0193] The job quantities 1016 and 1017 can be set to the number of copies (print copies) for each job after division. Here, the values ​​of job quantities 1016 and 1017 are their sum (Σ(Nb n The user can only set the number of copies before splitting (n=1~N) within the range where the number of copies before splitting is 1012 or less (printing quantity Na or less). Also, if a value is entered for either job quantity 1016 or job quantity 1017, the remaining value obtained by subtracting the entered value from the value of the number of copies before splitting (1012) will be automatically entered as the input for the other job quantity. For example, if the number of copies before splitting is 280 and 160 copies are entered for job quantity 1016, the system will calculate the number of copies to put in job quantity 1017 (120 copies) and automatically enter it into job quantity 1017. Alternatively, the value of the number of copies before splitting (1012) may be displayed next to job quantity 1016 and 1017 to make it easier to compare with the pre-split state. Job total CO2 emissions 1018 and 1019 display the total CO2 emissions for each job after splitting. These values ​​are calculated and entered based on the total CO2 emissions before splitting (1013), the number of copies before splitting (1012), and the number of jobs (1016, 1017), with each corresponding to a specific job being 160 copies (printed copies Nb). For example, if the number of copies before splitting is 280 and the total CO2 emissions are 140 kg-CO2eq, then the number of jobs for Job 1, one of the jobs after splitting, is 1016, and the number of jobs after splitting is 160 copies (printed copies Nb). m Let's assume it's set to ). In this case, the calculation is 140 × (160 ÷ 280) = 80, and the calculation result is displayed as 1018 for the total job CO2 emissions.

[0194] The Split Execution button 1020 is used to execute a split based on the user's splitting settings. When the Split Execution button 1020 is pressed, the split jobs are recorded as the calculation results after splitting, based on the split job names 1014, 1015, the number of jobs 1016, 1017, and the total CO2 emissions for the jobs 1018, 1019, and the original jobs are deleted. After that, the system transitions to the calculation results list screen 420. If, when the instruction for Split Execution button 1020 is received, no value is entered for any of the split job names 1014, 1015 or the number of jobs 1016, 1017, the splitting process may not be executed, and a warning may be displayed prompting the user to enter the missing items. If the Cancel button 1021 is pressed, the entered items are discarded, and the system transitions to the detailed calculation results screen 1000 before the transition.

[0195] In this explanation, we have described the case where the job shown in Figure 10A is divided into two calculation results, but it is also possible to divide it into three or more calculation results. In this case, the default number of divisions is set to 2, and a + button (not shown) is provided in Figure 10B to add more divisions. When the + button is selected, in the calculation result division screen in Figure 10B, the job name after division, the number of jobs, and the total CO2 emissions for the job 3, which is the third (m-th) division, can be set, just like jobs 1 and 2.

[0196] In the above embodiment, carbon dioxide emissions can be calculated by selecting the jobs necessary for processing the deliverables from the job history information recorded in the environmental load calculation server 102. Here, even if jobs and processes from multiple devices (image forming apparatuses 101a, 101b) connected to the environmental load calculation server 102 affect the deliverables, the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions can be calculated all at once.

[0197] In this embodiment, the control program for calculating carbon dioxide emissions is executed on the CPU 361 of the environmental load calculation server 102, but this is not the only option. For example, the image forming apparatus 101 can record the job history, and the image forming apparatus 101 itself can execute the control program.

[0198] (Other examples) Furthermore, the object of the present invention can also be achieved by performing the following process: supplying a storage medium containing program code for software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device, and having the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device read the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code read from the storage medium itself realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code and the storage medium containing the program code constitute the present invention.

[0199] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, claims are attached to disclose the scope of the invention.

[0200] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its gist.

[0201] This embodiment includes the following configurations, methods, and programs. (Configuration 1) An information processing device that receives a history of jobs executed by an image forming apparatus that performs jobs to form images on a recording medium, wherein the history includes not only information on successfully completed print jobs but also information on related jobs associated with the successfully completed print jobs, and comprises: a first calculation means for calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the successfully completed print jobs are executed; a second calculation means for calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the related jobs are executed; an aggregation means for summing the carbon dioxide emissions calculated by the first and second calculation means; and a storage means for storing the carbon dioxide emissions summed by the aggregation means as the total carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print jobs. (Configuration 2) The information processing apparatus according to Configuration 1, characterized in that the related jobs include adjustment jobs that perform adjustment prints for the image forming apparatus when executing the print jobs that have completed successfully, and error jobs that were performed with the same print settings as the print jobs that have completed successfully, but were determined to have failed and were terminated. (Configuration 3) The information processing device according to Configuration 1 or 2, wherein the information processing device is communicably connected to a plurality of image forming devices, including the image forming device, and the information processing device acquires the related job from the history received from the same device among the plurality of image forming devices that received the successfully completed print job. (Configuration 4) An information processing device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that it extracts related jobs from the history of jobs that are within a predetermined period from the printing completion time of the successfully completed print job. (Configuration 5) The information processing device according to Configuration 4, characterized in that it extracts jobs from the history that have the same print settings as the successfully completed print jobs as the related jobs. (Configuration 6) The information processing device according to Configuration 4 or 5, characterized in that it extracts from the adjustment jobs included in the history jobs that have the same media settings as the print jobs that have been successfully completed as related jobs. (Configuration 7) The image forming apparatus further comprises a finisher that performs at least one of stapling, binding, and cutting on the recording medium on which the image is formed, wherein information regarding the post-processing is included in the information of the successfully completed print job, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions when the post-processing is performed is calculated, and the calculated amount of carbon dioxide emissions is added to the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print job, as described in any one of Configurations 1 to 6. (Configuration 8) The information processing apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 7, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises an inserter that performs post-processing by inserting a second recording medium on which another image is formed into the recording medium on which the image is formed, and device information indicating whether the device that formed the other image on the second recording medium is the image forming apparatus or another device, and setting information for performing the post-processing are included in the information of the successfully completed print job as information related to the post-processing, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions when the post-processing is performed is also calculated, and the calculated amount of carbon dioxide emissions is added to the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print job. (Configuration 9) The information processing device according to Configuration 8, characterized in that the device information is input by a user. (Configuration 10) An information processing device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 9, comprising a splitting means for dividing a normally completed print job into a plurality of print jobs, wherein the splitting means divides the normally completed print job according to the user-set number of prints for each of the plurality of print jobs, within a range where the sum of the number of prints of the plurality of print jobs, Σ(Nbn) (n=1 to N), is less than or equal to the number of prints Na of the normally completed print job, and the total carbon dioxide emissions of the print job to which the plurality of print jobs are divided into the mth (1≦m≦N) are calculated based on the total carbon dioxide emissions of the normally completed print job, the number of prints Na, and the number of prints Nbm. (Configuration 11) An image forming apparatus that performs a job to form an image on a recording medium and records the history of the job, wherein the history includes not only information on a successfully completed print job but also information on related jobs associated with the successfully completed print job, and comprises a first calculation means for calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the successfully completed print job is performed, a second calculation means for calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the related jobs are performed, an aggregation means for summing the carbon dioxide emissions calculated by the first and second calculation means, and a storage means for storing the carbon dioxide emissions summed by the aggregation means as the total carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print job. (Method 1) A control method for an information processing device that receives a history of jobs executed by an image forming apparatus that performs jobs to form an image on a recording medium, wherein the history includes not only information on successfully completed print jobs but also information on related jobs associated with the successfully completed print jobs, and the control method comprises: a first calculation step of calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the successfully completed print jobs were executed; a second calculation step of calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the related jobs were executed; an aggregation step of summing the carbon dioxide emissions calculated in the first and second calculation steps; and a storage step of storing the carbon dioxide emissions summed in the aggregation step as the total carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print jobs. (Method 2) A control method for an image forming apparatus that performs a job to form an image on a recording medium and records the history of the job, wherein the history includes not only information on a successfully completed print job but also information on related jobs associated with the successfully completed print job, and the control method is characterized by comprising: a first calculation step of calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the successfully completed print job is performed; a second calculation step of calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the related jobs are performed; an aggregation step of summing the carbon dioxide emissions calculated in the first and second calculation steps; and a storage step of saving the carbon dioxide emissions summed in the aggregation step as the total carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print job. (Program 1) A program for causing a computer to function as one of the means of an information processing device described in any one of Configurations 1 to 10. (Program 2) A program for causing the computer to function as each of the means of the image forming apparatus described in Configuration 11. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0202] 1. Printing Environment Load Calculation System 100 Networks 101 Image forming apparatus 102 Environmental Load Calculation Server 105 Printing device 106 Inserter 107 Inspection device 108 Large Capacity Stacker 109 Finisher 361 CPU 362 memory 363 HDD

Claims

1. An information processing device that receives the history of jobs performed by an image forming apparatus that performs a job of forming an image on a recording medium, The history includes not only information on successfully completed print jobs, but also information on related jobs associated with those successfully completed print jobs. A first calculation means for calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when executing the print job that completed successfully, A second calculation means for calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the aforementioned related job is executed, A summing means for summing the carbon dioxide emissions calculated by the first and second calculation means, A storage means for storing the carbon dioxide emissions totaled by the summing means as the total carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print job, An information processing device characterized by comprising:

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the related jobs include adjustment jobs that perform adjustment prints for the image forming apparatus when executing the successfully completed print job, and error jobs that were performed with the same print settings as the successfully completed print job but were determined to have failed and terminated.

3. The information processing device is connected to a plurality of image forming devices, including the image forming device, in a manner that enables communication. The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that it acquires the related job from the history received from the same device among the plurality of image forming devices that received the successfully completed print job.

4. The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that it extracts related jobs from the history, from jobs within a predetermined period from the printing completion time of the successfully completed print job.

5. The information processing device according to claim 4, characterized in that, from the history, jobs whose print settings are the same as the successfully completed print jobs are extracted as related jobs.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it extracts, among the adjustment jobs included in the history, jobs with the same media settings as the successfully completed print jobs as the related jobs.

7. The image forming apparatus further comprises a finisher that performs at least one of the following post-processing steps on the recording medium on which the image has been formed: stapling, binding, and cutting. The post-processing information is included in the information of the successfully completed print job. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the carbon dioxide emissions when the post-processing described above is performed are also calculated and added to the total carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print job.

8. The image forming apparatus further includes an inserter that performs post-processing by inserting a second recording medium on which another image has been formed into the recording medium on which the image has been formed. Device information indicating whether the device that formed the other image on the second recording medium is the image forming apparatus or another device, and setting information for performing the post-processing are included in the information of the successfully completed print job as information related to the post-processing. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the carbon dioxide emissions when the post-processing described above is performed are also calculated and added to the total carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print job.

9. The information processing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the device information is input by a user.

10. The aforementioned successfully completed print job is provided with a means for dividing it into multiple print jobs, The division means divides the successfully completed print job according to the user-defined number of copies of each of the multiple print jobs, such that the sum of the number of copies of the multiple print jobs, Σ(Nbn) (n=1 to N), is less than or equal to the number of copies of the successfully completed print job, Na. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the total carbon dioxide emissions of the m-th (1 ≤ m ≤ N) print job among the plurality of print jobs are calculated based on the total carbon dioxide emissions of the print jobs that were completed successfully, the number of copies Na, and the number of copies Nbm.

11. An image forming apparatus that performs a job to form an image on a recording medium and records the history of the job, The history includes not only information on successfully completed print jobs, but also information on related jobs associated with those successfully completed print jobs. A first calculation means for calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when executing the print job that completed successfully, A second calculation means for calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the aforementioned related job is executed, A summing means for summing the carbon dioxide emissions calculated by the first and second calculation means, A storage means for storing the carbon dioxide emissions totaled by the summing means as the total carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print job, An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising:

12. A control method for an information processing device that receives the history of jobs performed by an image forming apparatus that performs a job of forming an image on a recording medium, The history includes not only information on successfully completed print jobs, but also information on related jobs associated with those successfully completed print jobs. A first calculation step for calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when executing the print job that completed successfully, A second calculation step involves calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the aforementioned related job is executed, A summing step in which the carbon dioxide emissions calculated in the first and second calculation steps are added together, A storage step in which the carbon dioxide emissions aggregated in the aggregation step are stored as the total carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print jobs, A control method characterized by having the following features.

13. A control method for an image forming apparatus that performs a job to form an image on a recording medium and records the history of the job, The history includes not only information on successfully completed print jobs, but also information on related jobs associated with those successfully completed print jobs. A first calculation step for calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when executing the print job that completed successfully, A second calculation step involves calculating the carbon dioxide emissions when the aforementioned related job is executed, A summing step in which the carbon dioxide emissions calculated in the first and second calculation steps are added together, A storage step in which the carbon dioxide emissions aggregated in the aggregation step are stored as the total carbon dioxide emissions for the successfully completed print jobs, A control method characterized by having the following features.

14. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the information processing apparatus described in claim 1.

15. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the image forming apparatus described in claim 11.

Images