Abstract:
An image forming apparatus such as a copier and an air conditioner communicate with one another in a network. The air conditioner provides information regarding ambient temperature and/or humidity to the image forming apparatus. Based upon this information, the image forming apparatus selectively activates systems within the apparatus that regulate its internal temperature and humidity levels, to thereby achieve power savings. The image forming apparatus provides information regarding its operation state to the air conditioner. The air conditioner uses this information to adjust its heating or cooling operations to compensate for the heat generated by the image forming apparatus when it is operating.

Description:
[0001]    This disclosure is based upon Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-382196, filed Dec. 14, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a digital copying machine or a printer, that is capable of working in coordination with an air conditioner that adjusts the ambient temperature and/or humidity of a room.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    As the use of air conditioners and other environmental control devices becomes commonplace, image forming apparatuses such as copying machines or printers are increasingly being installed in air-conditioned rooms in offices and homes.  
           [0004]    However, in the past, the image forming apparatus and the air conditioner did not operate in a linked fashion, and worked independently from each other. Consequently, the problem arises that, due to the internal heat generated when the image forming apparatus operates, if the image forming apparatus is used over a long period of time, the generated heat can affect the ambient temperature and humidity in the room, because the air conditioner does not adjust the temperature and humidity in the room in accordance with the operation status of the image forming apparatus. The air conditioner is only capable of adjusting the ambient temperature and humidity by detecting such parameters using its own sensors. Therefore, optimal adjustment of the ambient temperature and humidity in the room in accordance with the operation status of the image forming apparatus has not been achieved previously.  
           [0005]    In addition, an image forming apparatus generally has a moisture eliminating function to eliminate the moisture contained in the transfer medium (paper) in the paper supply trays, a condensation preventing function to prevent the formation of condensation on the lenses and mirrors of the systems that read or write image information, and a cooling function to cool down the heat-generating components such as motors and lamps as well as the interior of the apparatus, in order to adjust the temperature and moisture content inside the apparatus. For example, with regard to the cooling function, the image forming apparatus generally uses feed forward control to drive a cooling fan at all times during image formation.  
           [0006]    However, the operation mode for each of these functions of a conventional image forming apparatus is fixed at all times, regardless of the temperature or humidity in the room. For example, with regard to the cooling function, the cooling capacity is set such that the temperature of the components of the image forming apparatus is maintained at or below a level that does not pose a problem in regard to safety standards or mechanical functions even when the ambient temperature is at the highest end of the range within which the image forming apparatus can be used, and the operation mode is set such that the cooling function is in operation at all times during the operation of the image forming apparatus. Consequently, where the ambient temperature is around 25° C., which is a common room temperature, the cooling means continues to provide excessive cooling, resulting in the problems of increased power consumption and noise. These problems are not limited to the cooling function, but also occur with regard to the moisture eliminating and condensation preventing functions.  
           [0007]    The present invention was created in view of these problems, and seeks to provide optimal adjustment of the ambient temperature and/or humidity using an air conditioner by having the image forming apparatus operate in coordination with the air conditioner when the image forming apparatus will have a negative impact on the ambient temperature and humidity, and conversely, to achieve power conservation and less noise by adjusting the temperature and moisture content inside the image forming apparatus in accordance with the ambient temperature and humidity detected by the air conditioner, as well as to provide an image forming apparatus that realizes this object.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a reading means reads information regarding the operation of the image forming apparatus. The information regarding the operation of the image forming apparatus read by the reading means is transmitted to the air conditioner, to enable the air conditioner to adjust the ambient temperature and/or humidity in the room in which the image forming apparatus is installed, in accordance with the heat generated by the image forming apparatus.  
           [0009]    Using this construction, the image forming apparatus reads the operation information comprising the number of print jobs or the like being processed by the apparatus, for example, and transmits the operation information to the air conditioner. The air conditioner then adjusts the ambient temperature and/or humidity in the room in which the image forming apparatus is installed in accordance with the amount of heat that will be generated through the operation of the image forming apparatus, which is anticipated from the operation information thus received. Because the operations of the image forming apparatus and the air conditioner are coordinated in this way, the ambient temperature and humidity can be optimally adjusted by the air conditioner in accordance with the operation of the image forming apparatus.  
           [0010]    In order to attain the objectives described above, this invention also includes adjusting means that adjusts the temperature and/or moisture content inside the image forming apparatus, and receiving means that receives information regarding the ambient temperature and/or humidity in the room in which the image forming apparatus is installed. Such information is preferably detected by the temperature sensor and/or humidity sensor of the air conditioner. Control means in the image-forming apparatus controls the adjusting means based on the information regarding the ambient temperature and/or humidity received by the receiving means.  
           [0011]    Using this construction, the image forming apparatus receives information regarding the ambient temperature and/or humidity from the air conditioner, and controls, based on the ambient temperature and/or humidity information received, the adjusting means such as the exhaust fan, the condensation prevention heater and the moisture elimination heaters to adjust the temperature and/or moisture content inside the image forming apparatus. Since the operations of the image forming apparatus and the air conditioner can be coordinated in this way, such that the temperature and moisture content inside the image forming apparatus are adjustable in accordance with the ambient temperature and humidity detected by the air conditioner, power conservation and less noise can be achieved when utilizing the cooling function, the moisture eliminating function or the condensation preventing function of the image forming apparatus.  
           [0012]    Moreover, since the temperature and/or humidity readings detected by the sensors included in the air conditioner are used, it is not necessary to separately equip the image forming apparatus with sensors to detect the ambient temperature and/or humidity, enabling the image forming apparatus to have a simpler construction and a lower cost.  
           [0013]    Furthermore, it is preferred that the control means control the adjusting means based on the information regarding the ambient temperature and/or humidity received by the receiving means even when the main switch of the image forming apparatus is OFF.  
           [0014]    Using this construction, since the temperature and moisture content inside the apparatus are adjusted in accordance with the ambient temperature and humidity even when the main switch is OFF, power conservation can be achieved for the image forming apparatus while at the same time providing the proper moisture content of the paper immediately after the power is turned ON and preventing the formation of condensation on the mirrors and the lenses, for example. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the overall construction of a home automation system in which the digital copying machine pertaining to the present invention is applied;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the logical format of the home automation system shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing the construction of the digital copying machine;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the digital copying machine;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the air conditioner;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the digital copying machine;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the air conditioner; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the server in an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the overall construction of a home automation system that includes a digital copying machine, which comprises the image forming apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]    This home automation system includes a refrigerator  1 , an air conditioner  2 , a home heater  3 , a fluorescent lamp  4 , a microwave oven  5 , a washing machine  6 , a television receiver  7 , a clock  8 , a telephone  9 , a digital copying machine  10  and a home server  11  that performs overall control of each of these apparatuses.  
         [0025]    The refrigerator  1 , the air conditioner  2 , the home heater  3 , the fluorescent lamp  4 , the microwave oven  5  and the washing machine  6  are connected to the home server  11  using an electrical cable  12  and comprise a sub-network. The television receiver  7  and the clock  8  are connected to the home server  11  using infrared lines and comprise a sub-network. The telephone  9  is wirelessly connected to the home server  11  and comprises a sub-network. The digital copying machine  10  is connected to the home server  11  using an electrical cable  13  and comprises a sub-network. The construction of the network is not limited to that described above, however, and other means such as ultrasound or a plurality of means may be used for the connection of the apparatuses.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 shows the logical format of the network connection (i.e., the so-called home automation system) via the home server  11  of the digital copying machine  10  as well as the other electronic appliances and the air conditioner  2  that performs air conditioning of the room in which the digital copying machine  10  is installed. In this home automation system, the various electronic appliances can be controlled in a unified fashion by the home server  11 .  
         [0027]    Therefore, the air conditioner  2  detects the ambient temperature and humidity in the room in which the digital copying machine  10  is installed using an internal temperature sensor  21  and a humidity sensor  22  (see FIG. 5). The air conditioner  2  transmits ambient atmosphere information including the information regarding the ambient temperature and humidity, which constitute the detection results, and transmits information regarding the target temperature and target humidity to be attained by air conditioning to the digital copying machine  10  via the home server  11 . The digital copying machine  10  controls the driving of an internal exhaust fan  130 , condensation prevention heater  140  and moisture elimination heaters  150  (see FIG. 3) based on the received ambient atmosphere information.  
         [0028]    The digital copying machine  10  also transmits information regarding the number of print jobs, which comprises operation information that it has read, to the air conditioner  2  via the home server  11 . The air conditioner  2  increases the cooling power or reduces the heating power based on the information thus received regarding the number of print jobs.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing the construction of the digital copying machine  10 .  
         [0030]    This digital copying machine  10  has a reading optical system  110  that reads the original image placed on the platen glass and a writing optical system  120  that writes image information onto the photoreceptor drum  125  that serves as an image carrier.  
         [0031]    The reading optical system  110  includes an light source  111  to illuminate the original document, a mirror unit  112  to lead the reflected light from the original document to a condenser lens  115 , a reading element  113  to read the condensed reflected light and a fan  114  to release the heat generated from the light source  111  into the room. An operation panel  116  including a start key (not shown) is located on the top surface of the digital copying machine  10 .  
         [0032]    The writing optical system  120 , which has a polygon mirror  121 , a lens unit  122  and a mirror  123 , reflects the light from an illumination source not shown using the polygon mirror  121  in a manner that ensures timing, condenses the reflected light using the lens unit  122 , and reflects the condensed light using the mirror  123  toward a prescribed direction in order to direct the light to the surface of the photoreceptor drum  125 , which has been charged by a charger  124 . Consequently, an electrostatic latent image that corresponds to the original image (the read image) is formed on the photoreceptor drum  125 . This electrostatic latent image is developed using toner that is carried by a developing roller  126 . After the toner image is transferred to a transfer medium (a sheet of paper), the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor drum  125  is removed by a cleaning unit  127  in order for the photoreceptor drum  125  to prepare for the next electrostatic latent image.  
         [0033]    The member referenced as  130  in the drawing is an exhaust fan, and the heat of the copying machine in general is expelled by this exhaust fan  130 .  
         [0034]    The reading optical system  110  includes a condensation prevention heater  140 , and the formation of condensation on the lenses and mirrors of the reading optical system  110  and the writing optical system  120  is prevented by this condensation prevention heater  140 .  
         [0035]    Moisture elimination heaters  150  such as sheathed heaters comprising heating wires are located in the paper supply trays  128 . Specifically, a moisture elimination heater  150   a  is located in the paper supply tray  128   a  while a moisture elimination heater  150   b  is located in the paper supply tray  128   b.  Each of these moisture elimination heaters  150  is located at the bottom of a paper supply tray  128 , such that by heating the bottom of the paper supply tray  128 , it disperses the heat throughout the entire tray, which in turn warms the transfer medium and eliminates moisture therefrom. This embodiment includes two paper supply trays  128 , but the number of paper supply trays is not limited to two.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the circuits related to control of the driving of the exhaust fan  130 , the condensation prevention heater  140  and the moisture elimination heaters  150  in the digital copying machine  10 .  
         [0037]    With reference to FIG. 4, 130 is the exhaust fan shown in FIG. 3, and  140  and  150  are the condensation prevention heater and the moisture elimination heaters shown in FIG. 3, respectively  45  is a power supply and  47  is a first direct current (DC) power supply. The power supply  45  and the first DC power supply  47  are connected via a main switch  46 . The exhaust fan  130  as well as driving devices that are not shown but drive the reading system, the conveyance system, the image formation system and other components of the copying machine  10  are connected to the first DC power supply  47 . Therefore, when the main switch  46  is turned ON, power is supplied from the power supply  45  to the first DC power supply  47 , from which power is supplied to the various driving devices for the reading system, the conveyance system, the image formation system, etc., as well as to the exhaust fan, whereupon the copying machine  10  enters a state in which the operation thereof is enabled as a practical matter.  
         [0038]    A second DC power supply  52  is also directly connected to the power supply  45 , and a control unit  48  is connected to this second DC power supply  52 . The control unit  48  has a timer  49 , a central processing unit (hereinafter ‘CPU’)  50 , a communication unit  55  and a memory  56 . The second DC power supply  52  receives power supply from the power supply  45  at all times, and therefore, the timer  49 , the CPU  50 , the communication unit  55  and other components of the control unit  48  also receive power supply at all times, such that even when the main switch  46  of the copying machine  10  is OFF, the CPU  50 , etc. are capable of operating.  
         [0039]    The moisture elimination heaters  150  are connected to the power supply  45  via a first relay  53 , and the condensation prevention heater  140  is connected to the power supply  45  via a second relay  54 .  
         [0040]    The CPU  50  performs overall control of the various components of the copying machine  10 , and in this embodiment, controls the operations of the first relay  53 , the second relay  54  and the exhaust fan  130  in accordance with the ambient atmosphere information received from the home server  11  and the ON/OFF state of the main switch  46 .  
         [0041]    To describe the construction more specifically, when the main switch  46  is OFF, the temperature and moisture content inside the digital copying machine  10  are close to those of the ambient environment, and the transfer medium in the paper supply trays  128  may include an elevated degree of moisture content depending on the ambient environment. Therefore, if image formation is carried out using such transfer medium when the main switch  46  is turned ON, the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum  125  may not be successfully transferred, or the transfer medium, which receives pressure through sudden heating by the fusing device, may become creased. In addition, other problems may occur such as paper jam due to transfer medium conveyance failure and an inability to perform normal image reading and writing due to the presence of condensation on the mirrors and lenses.  
         [0042]    In order to address this situation, moisture elimination and condensation prevention are achieved by supplying power to the condensation prevention heater  140  and the moisture elimination heaters  150  while the main switch  46  is OFF. However, it is not necessary to supply power to the condensation prevention heater  140  and the moisture elimination heaters  150  at all times while the main switch  46  is OFF. Accordingly, in this embodiment, ambient atmosphere information is received from the air conditioner  2  via the home server  11 , and power is supplied to the condensation prevention heater  140  and the moisture elimination heaters  150  via the first relay  51  and the second relay  52 , respectively, only when the ambient humidity equals or exceeds a preset level. Because the temperature inside the copying machine increases due to the heat sources (such as the fusing roller, the light source and the heat source used to prevent condensation on the photoreceptor drum) within the digital copying machine  10  after the main switch  46  is turned ON, moisture absorbed by the transfer medium in the paper supply trays  128  is automatically eliminated and the transfer medium no longer poses a problem when used.  
         [0043]    Conversely, where the temperature inside the copying machine increases excessively due to the heat sources within the digital copying machine  10 , because safety standards or quality standards can no longer be met by the temperature of the electric components in a high ambient temperature environment, the temperature inside the copying machine performing image formation must be reduced using the exhaust fan  130  in order to maintain the components in a trouble-free state. However, because fan operation is not necessary where the ambient temperature is low, ambient atmosphere information is received from the air conditioner  2  via the home server  11 , and where the ambient temperature is lower than a preset level, the exhaust fan  130  is not driven.  
         [0044]    The communication unit  55  functions as a transmitter/receiver that carries out transmission and reception to and from the air conditioner  2  via the home server  11 . Preset values for ambient temperature and humidity, which serve as triggers for the operation of the condensation prevention heater  140  and the moisture elimination heaters  150 , are stored in advance in the memory  56 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the air conditioner  2 .  
         [0046]    The air conditioner  2  includes a temperature sensor  21  that detects the ambient temperature, a humidity sensor  22  that detects the ambient humidity, and a well-known air conditioning mechanism  23  for cooling or heating of the room, as well as a control unit  24 . Furthermore, the control unit  24  includes a CPU  25 , a communication unit  26  and a memory  27 .  
         [0047]    The CPU  25  performs overall control of the air conditioner  2 , and after receiving copying machine information, such as the number of print jobs from the digital copying machine  10  in particular, via the home server  11 , the CPU  25  determines whether or not the digital copying machine  10  is ON based on the copying machine information, and where it is determined that the digital copying machine  10  is ON, the CPU  25  performs prescribed control. That is, the CPU  25  determines whether or not the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor  21  exceeds the preset level, and when the ambient temperature exceeds the preset level, the ambient temperature will further increase as a result of the heat generated by the digital copying machine  10  due to the execution of print jobs, the CPU  25  increases the cooling power in accordance with the number of print jobs, information regarding which is included in the copying machine information. On the other hand, when the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the preset level, the CPU  25  reduces the heating power in accordance with the number of print jobs, the information regarding which is included in the copying machine information, taking into consideration the heat generated by the digital copying machine  10  due to the execution of the print jobs. Where the CPU  25  of the air conditioner determines that the digital copying machine is OFF, it performs normal air conditioning control.  
         [0048]    The communication unit  26  functions as a transmitter/receiver that performs transmission and reception of information to and from the digital copying machine  10  via the home server  11 . A preset value for the ambient temperature based on which it is determined whether to increase the cooling power or to reduce the heating power in accordance with the number of print jobs of the digital copying machine  10 , and a table that shows the relationship between the number of print jobs and the amount by which to increase the cooling power or to reduce the heating power, are stored in advance in the memory  27 .  
         [0049]    The operation of the digital copying machine  10  in the home automation system described above will now be explained with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 6. In the description below and the drawing, ‘step’ is abbreviated as ‘S’.  
         [0050]    First, in S 1 , the CPU  50  determines whether or not the main switch  46  is ON, and where it is determined that the main switch  46  is ON (YES in S 1 ), the CPU  50  advances to S 2 . Where it is determined that the main switch  46  is not ON (NO in S 1 ) on the other hand, the CPU  50  advances to S 10 .  
         [0051]    The CPU  50  determines whether or not the main switch  46  is ON in this way in order to selectively switch to the control routine regarding the exhaust fan  130  when the main switch  46  is ON, and to selectively switch to the control routine regarding the condensation prevention heater  140  and the moisture elimination heaters  150  when the main switch  46  is not ON (i.e., when it is OFF).  
         [0052]    In S 2 , the CPU  50  determines whether or not the condensation prevention heater  140  and the moisture elimination heaters  150  are operating, and where it is determined that at least either the heater  140  or the heaters  150  are operating (YES in S 2 ), the CPU  50  advances to S 3 , whereupon the CPU  50  turns OFF the operating heater(s) and advances to S 4 . On the other hand, where it is determined that neither of the heater  140  nor the heaters  150  is operating (NO in S 2 ), the CPU  50  moves on to S 4 .  
         [0053]    The operating heaters are turned OFF in this way if either the heater  140  or the heaters  150  are operating because after the main switch  46  is turned ON, the temperature inside the copying machine increases due to the heat sources (such as the fusing roller, the light source and the heat source that prevents the formation of condensation on the photoreceptor drum) within the digital copying machine  10 , the moisture of the transfer medium in the paper supply trays  128  is automatically eliminated and condensation on the mirrors and the lenses is prevented, making the copying machine trouble-free during use.  
         [0054]    In S 4 , the CPU  50  determines whether or not the print start key on the operation panel  116  is ON, to detect whether a print operation is currently being performed. If it is determined that the print start key is ON (YES in S 4 ), the CPU  50  advances to S 5 . On the other hand, where it is determined that the print start key is not ON (NO in S 4 ), the CPU  50  advances to S 13 .  
         [0055]    The control routine regarding the exhaust fan  130  described below is not performed when the print start key is not ON, as described above, because where the print start key is not ON and thus printing is not underway, the temperature inside the copying machine does not increase unnecessarily.  
         [0056]    In S 5 , the CPU  50  receives information regarding the ambient temperature from the air conditioner  2  via the home server  11 , and then advances to S 6 .  
         [0057]    In S 6 , the CPU  50  determines from the received ambient temperature information whether or not the ambient temperature exceeds the preset temperature th 2 , and where it is determined that the ambient temperature exceeds the preset temperature th 2  (YES in S 6 ), the CPU  50  advances to S 7  and drives the exhaust fan  130 , whereupon it advances to S 8 . On the other hand, where it is determined that the preset temperature th 2  is not exceeded (NO in S 6 ), the CPU  50  advances directly to S 8 .  
         [0058]    As described above, by driving the exhaust fan  130  when the ambient temperature exceeds the preset temperature th 2 , the temperature inside the copying machine that is performing image formation can be reduced so that the copying machine may be maintained in a trouble-free state. In addition, when the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the preset temperature th 2 , making it unnecessary to reduce the temperature inside the copying machine, the exhaust fan  130  is not driven, and consequently power conservation and less noise can be achieved in connection with the exhaust fan  130 .  
         [0059]    In S 8 , the information regarding the number of print jobs is read by the CPU  50 . The CPU  50  then advances to S 9  and sends the information thus read to the air conditioner  2  via the home server  11 , whereupon the CPU  50  advances to S 13 . The transmitted information regarding the number of print jobs is used for the control of the air conditioner  2 .  
         [0060]    In S 10 , on the other hand, the CPU  50  receives information regarding the ambient humidity from the air conditioner  2  via the home server, and advances to S 11 .  
         [0061]    In S 11 , the CPU  50  determines based on the information regarding the ambient humidity whether or not the ambient humidity exceeds the preset humidity th 1 , and where it is determined that the ambient humidity exceeds the preset humidity th 1  (YES in S 11 ), the CPU  50  advances to S 12  and operates the condensation prevention heater  140  and the moisture elimination heaters  150 , whereupon the CPU  50  advances to S 13 . Where it is determined that the preset humidity th 1  is not exceeded (NO in S 11 ) on the other hand, the CPU  50  advances directly to S 13 .  
         [0062]    As described above, by operating the condensation prevention heater  140  and the moisture elimination heaters  150  when the ambient humidity exceeds the preset humidity th 1 , the formation of condensation on the mirrors and the lenses immediately after power is turned ON can be prevented, and the moisture content of the transfer medium in the paper supply trays  128  can be maintained at a low level while the main switch  46  is OFF. In addition, because the condensation prevention heater  140  and/or the moisture elimination heaters  150  are not operated when the ambient humidity is equal to or lower than the preset humidity th 1 , making it unnecessary to reduce the moisture content inside the copying machine, power conservation can be achieved in connection with the condensation prevention heater  140  and the moisture elimination heaters  150  via non-operation thereof.  
         [0063]    In S 13 , the CPU  50  performs other types of control and then returns to S 1 .  
         [0064]    The operation of the air conditioner  2  in the home automation system will now be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 7.  
         [0065]    First in S 21 , the CPU  25  receives copying machine information from the digital copying machine  10  via the home server  11  and advances to S 22 .  
         [0066]    In S 22 , the CPU  25  determines, based on the received copying machine information, whether or not the print start key on the operation panel  116  of the digital copying machine  10  has been turned ON, and where it is determined that the print start key has been turned ON (YES in S 22 ), the CPU  25  advances to S 23 . Where it is determined that the print start key has not been turned ON (NO in S 22 ) on the other hand, the CPU  25  moves on to S 28 .  
         [0067]    It is determined in this way whether or not the print start key has been turned ON in order to trigger the CPU  25  to selectively switch to the cooling power or heating power setting routine in accordance with the number of print jobs, i.e., the amount of heat that will be generated from the copying machine, when the print start key has been turned ON, and to selectively switch to the regular air conditioning routine when the print start key has not been turned ON.  
         [0068]    In S 23 , the CPU  25  determines based on the received copying machine information whether or not information regarding the number of print jobs has been received, and where it is determined that such information has been received (YES in S 23 ), the CPU  25  advances to S 24 . On the other hand, where it is determined that information regarding the number of print jobs has not been received (NO in S 23 ), the CPU  25  repeats this determination routine.  
         [0069]    In S 24 , the CPU  25  determines whether or not the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor  21  exceeds the preset temperature th 3 , and where it is determined that the ambient temperature exceeds the preset temperature th 3  (YES in S 24 ), it becomes necessary to cool the air in the room because the heat generated from the copying machine  10  will further increase the ambient temperature, and the CPU  25  advances to S 25 . Where it is determined that the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the preset temperature th 3  (NO in S 24 ) on the other hand, it is necessary to turn down the heating of the room as heat will be generated by the copying machine, and the CPU  25  advances to S 26 .  
         [0070]    In S 25 , the CPU  25  increases the cooling power in accordance with the received information regarding the number of print jobs, and advances to S 27 . In S 26 , the CPU  25  reduces the heating power in accordance with the received information regarding the number of print jobs.  
         [0071]    Because the number of print jobs and the heat that will be generated due to the operation of the digital copying machine  10  correspond to each other, when the cooling power is increased or the heating power is reduced in accordance with the number of print jobs, the ambient temperature can be adjusted in accordance with the heat that will be generated due to the operation of the digital copying machine  10 .  
         [0072]    In S 27 , the CPU  25  determines based on the received copying machine information whether or not printing by the digital copying machine  10  has been completed, and where it is determined that printing has been completed (YES in S 27 ), the CPU  25  advances to S 28 . Where it is determined that printing has not been completed (NO in S 27 ) on the other hand, the CPU  25  returns to S 23  and performs ambient temperature adjustment once more.  
         [0073]    Determination is made in this manner in regard to printing by the digital copying machine  10  because if the printing is finished, the digital copying machine  10  no longer generates heat, and it is accordingly no longer necessary to adjust the ambient temperature in accordance with the temperature in the digital copying machine  10 .  
         [0074]    In S 28 , after the printing by the digital copying machine  10  is completed, the CPU  25  performs regular air conditioning control and returns to S 21 .  
         [0075]    Through such air conditioning control, the cooling power is increased or the heating power is reduced by the amount set in S 25  or S 26 , such that an optimal ambient temperature corresponding to the amount of heat released from the digital copying machine  10  is achieved.  
         [0076]    In this embodiment, the digital copying machine  10  adjusts the adjustment means, i.e., the exhaust fan  130 , the condensation prevention heater  140  and the moisture elimination heaters  150 , based on the ambient temperature and humidity, but it is also acceptable if at least one of-the adjustment means is adjusted based on the ambient temperature or humidity.  
         [0077]    In addition, in this embodiment, the air conditioner  2  and the digital copying machine  10  transmit and receive information via the home server  11 . In essence, the home server  11  functions as a gateway that passively transmits data between the air conditioner  2  and the copying machine  10 . In another embodiment of the invention, the air conditioner  2  and the digital copying machine  10  can transmit and receive information directly to and from each other. In such an embodiment, a gateway or the like is not used to pass the information between these two devices.  
         [0078]    In the previously described embodiment, the analysis of the copy machine operation and determination whether to increase cooling power or reduce heating power, as represented in the flow chart of FIG. 7, is performed within the air conditioner  2 . In some cases, the air conditioner may not have the capability to perform these operations. For instance, it may be desirable to employ an existing conventional air conditioner that has not been retrofitted with a CPU  25  and/or software to perform these functions. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the server  11  can be employed to implement this functionality. In this case, the server does not merely function as a passive gateway, but rather operates as an active control mechanism within the automation system.  
         [0079]    [0079]FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the server  11  in accordance with the alternate embodiment of the invention. At S 31 , the server receives copying machine information from the digital copying machine  10 . After receiving this information, at S 32  the server detects whether the print start key on the operation panel  116  of the digital copying machine has been turned ON, based on the received information. If the print start key has been turned ON, the server advances to S 33 . On the other hand, if the print start key has not been turned ON, the server jumps to S 39 .  
         [0080]    At S 33 , the server determines whether information regarding the number of print jobs has been received from the digital copier  10 . If not, the server remains at S 33  until the information is received. Once the information regarding the number of print jobs is received, the server advances to S 34 , where it obtains ambient temperature information from the air conditioner  2 . Then, at S 35 , the server determines whether the ambient temperature exceeds the preset temperature limit th 3 . If the ambient temperature exceeds the temperature limit, at S 36  the server sends a signal to the air conditioner  2  to increase cooling power, in accordance with the received information regarding the number of print jobs. If the ambient temperature does not exceed the temperature limit th 3 , at S 37  the server sends a signal to the air conditioner  2  to decrease heating power, to account for the heat that will be generated by the copier  10  during the printing of the copies.  
         [0081]    At S 38 , the server determines whether printing by the digital copier  10  has been completed, based on the latest information received from the copier. If it has not, the server returns to S 33  and performs ambient temperature adjustment again. Once the printing operation has been determined to be complete at S 38 , the server advances to S 39  where it returns the air conditioner to its normal mode of operation, e.g., it cancels the signals sent at S 36  or S 37 . Thereafter, the server returns to S 31 .  
         [0082]    In the preceding description, the air conditioner  2  performs air conditioning in accordance with the ambient temperature, but such air conditioning may be performed based on the moisture content instead of or in addition to the temperature.  
         [0083]    Furthermore, the home automation system described above includes a refrigerator  1 , a home heater  3 , a fluorescent lamp  4 , a microwave oven  5 , a washing machine  6 , a television receiver  7 , a clock  8  and a telephone  9 , but the home automation system may include only one or more or none of these electronic appliances.  
         [0084]    According to one aspect of the invention, the image forming apparatus reads the operation information regarding the number of print jobs in process therein, for example, and transmits such operation information to the air conditioner. The air conditioner adjusts the ambient temperature and/or humidity in the room in which the image forming apparatus is installed in accordance with the heat expected to be generated due to the operation of the image forming apparatus, based on the received information regarding the operation of the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, the burden on the cooling function, the moisture eliminating function or the condensation preventing function of the image forming apparatus can be reduced, and power conservation and less noise can be achieved in connection with the image forming apparatus.  
         [0085]    According to another aspect of the invention, the image forming apparatus receives information regarding the ambient temperature and/or humidity from the detecting means included in the air conditioner or the like, and controls, based on such received information regarding the ambient temperature and/or humidity, adjustment means such as the exhaust fan, the condensation prevention heater and the moisture elimination heaters to adjust the temperature and/or moisture content inside the image forming apparatus. Therefore, since the temperature and/or moisture content inside the image forming apparatus are adjusted in accordance with the ambient state in the room in which the image forming apparatus is installed, power conservation and less noise can be achieved for the image forming apparatus in connection with the cooling, moisture eliminating and condensation preventing functions thereof.  
         [0086]    Moreover, because information regarding the temperature and/or humidity is detected by the detecting means included in the air conditioner the image forming apparatus does not need to separately include detecting means that detects the temperature and/or humidity, resulting in a simpler construction, reduced cost and increased power conservation for the image forming apparatus.  
         [0087]    According to a further aspect of the invention, because the temperature and/or moisture content inside the apparatus are adjusted in accordance with the ambient state in the room in which the image forming apparatus is installed even when the power is OFF, power conservation is achieved for the image forming apparatus while the paper is prevented from having a high moisture content and the mirrors and the lenses are prevented from having condensation immediately after the power is turned ON.