JP2000238393A - Print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the operability by calculating the number of copies of a desired data which can be made using the residual quantity of ink and notifying the calculation results to a user. SOLUTION: A printer 30 can transmit the information of the residual quantity of ink in an ink cartridge 3 detected by a residual quantity of ink sensor 5 to a host computer 31 through a network 100. The host computer 31 determines information of the quantity of ink required for printing a specified number of copies, and only one copy, of a print data transmitted to the printer 30 based on print condition information inputted from an input section 15. Subsequently, the host computer 31 calculate information of the number of copied printable through the printer 30 based on the information of the quantity of ink required for printing one copy, and the information of the quantity of residual ink transmitted from the printer 30 and display at a display device 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a printing system having a function of managing the remaining amount of a developing agent such as ink. The present invention relates to a print system that can notify a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a management of a residual amount of a developer in a printing apparatus or an image forming apparatus using a developer such as ink or toner, a residual amount is detected in a storage section in which the developer is stored. A method is known in which a preliminary warning is first performed on the apparatus using the sensor or the like, and then a display indicating that the developer has run out is performed. However, in this case, before instructing the printing operation, it is not possible to know in advance whether the printing can be performed without running out of the remaining amount of the developer, and for example, when a hurry, a preliminary warning is displayed. If there is, forcibly instruct the printing operation,
During the subsequent printing, the developer stops running due to lack of developer,
There has been a problem that a desired print cannot be obtained because some images are missing or the density does not appear.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 10-202902 and 08-336985 disclose calculating the remaining ink amount and the ink amount required for printing print data, and comparing the two ink amounts. Thus, a technique is disclosed that determines whether printing is possible or not and notifies the user if printing is not possible. It also describes that not only these processes are performed by the printing apparatus but also that the printing apparatus and the host are connected by bidirectional communication to send the remaining ink amount, and the remaining processing is performed by the host.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 09-187963 and 09-131897 propose to calculate the number of printable sheets from the average or estimated use amount of ink and the remaining print amount. .

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the problem is that it is not possible to calculate how many copies of specific data desired to be printed by the user with the remaining ink amount and to notify the user. There was a point.

Although the remaining ink amount is calculated from the number of dots already printed, the remaining ink amount is consumed by a print request already accepted by a printer or the like shared on a network. However, there is a problem that the calculation accuracy of the ink amount is low because the expected ink amount is not taken into account.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to accurately determine how many copies of specific data desired by a user can be printed. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system that can be calculated and that can greatly improve operability.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing unit, a printing unit for performing printing using a developer, an input unit for inputting print data, and a user. Notification means for making a notification, wherein the information processing means, the printing means, the input means, and the notification means are connected to each other via a signal transmission means and are inputted via the input means. Based on the print data and print condition information from a user, in a print system for transmitting the print data and the print condition information to the print unit and printing a predetermined number of copies, the print unit detects or calculates The developer remaining amount information can be transmitted to the information processing means, and the information processing means prints a predetermined number of copies of the print data transmitted to the printing means based on the printing condition information. The required amount of developer and the amount of developer required to print only one copy are calculated, and the calculated amount of developer required per copy is calculated from the printing means. A print system, wherein information on the number of copies that can be printed by the printing unit is calculated from the transmitted remaining amount information, and the notification is notified from the notification unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the information processing means transmits to the printing means, together with the print data, developer amount information necessary for printing a predetermined number of copies of the print data. Wherein said printing means transmits to said information processing means information obtained by subtracting said developer amount information necessary for printing a predetermined number of copies from said detected or calculated remaining amount information. 1 is a print system.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the printing unit completes printing or when the changed information about the printing condition is transmitted from the information processing unit to the printing unit,
3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printing unit transmits information obtained by subtracting developer amount information necessary for printing from the remaining amount information to the information processing unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the print data input to the information processing means, developer amount information required for printing, and whether the developer amount information is valid or invalid is determined. A storage unit for storing the determination flag information for determination in association with the determination flag information, wherein the information processing unit sets the determination flag information when the developer amount information is stored in the storage unit; On the other hand, when the print data is changed, the determination flag information is reset, and when the determination flag state is set, the developer amount information stored in the storage unit is printed. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted to a printing unit as necessary developer amount information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the printing means has a used developer amount accumulating means for obtaining a total information on the amount of the developer actually used during the printing, and the printing means has a function of: 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said total information is transmitted to said information processing means, and said information processing means sets said developer amount information stored in said storage means based on said transmitted total information. 2. The printing system according to item 1.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the information processing means stores the total information obtained by the used developer amount totaling means and the developer amount information stored in the storage means. A comparing means for comparing, based on a comparison result of the comparing means, a difference between the two is within a predetermined range and the developer amount obtained by the used developer amount accumulating means is larger. 6. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein said developer amount information stored in said storage means is updated to said cumulative information obtained by said used developer amount cumulative means. is there.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the information processing means stores the accumulated information obtained by the used developer amount accumulating means and the developer amount information stored in the storage means. A comparing means for comparing, based on a comparison result of the comparing means, a difference between the two is within a predetermined range and the developer amount obtained by the used developer amount accumulating means is larger. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the user is notified to the effect by the notification means. The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the printing means has an estimated amount estimating means for estimating the estimated use amount of the developer without actually performing printing by using the used developer amount accumulating means. Transmitting the estimated use amount of the developer to the information processing unit, and the information processing unit transmits the print data and print condition information to the printing unit to estimate the use amount. 6. The developer amount information stored in the storage unit is updated based on the returned expected use amount.
2. The printing system according to item 1.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the information processing means estimates the expected use amount for the printing apparatus by giving priority to the print data in which the associated determination flag information is in a reset state. 9. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the printing is performed.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the storage means can store the developer amount and the determination flag information for each predetermined unit of the print data, and the determination flag information is set in a set state. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein for a certain unit, the stored amounts of the respective developers are totaled and used.

According to the present invention, when the information processing means inputs printing conditions of the number of copies equal to or greater than the calculated number of copies information from the input means, the notification means runs short of developer. 2. The notification of the request is made.
2. The printing system according to item 1.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic configuration of a print system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present printing system, the printing device 3 constituting a printing unit
0, a host computer 31 constituting information processing means,
And another device such as another host computer is connected in a mutually communicable state via a network 100 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) which is a signal transmission line.

The network 100 may take any transmission form, whether wired or wireless, as long as it can transmit signals to each other. For example, a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus are provided integrally. The case includes a case where the printing apparatus and the information processing apparatus are connected one-to-one, and a case where the printing apparatus is connected to a computer such as a client or a server through network sharing.

The printing device 30 mainly represents a printable device such as an ink jet printer, a laser printer, etc., and includes an arithmetic control unit 1 comprising a microprocessor or the like, a storage means 2 comprising a semiconductor memory or a magnetic storage medium,
It comprises a two-way communication interface 4 for inputting and outputting information to and from a host computer 31 and other devices connected to a network, and an ink cartridge unit 3 for storing a developer.

Hereinafter, a case where an ink-jet printer that forms an image using ink as a developing agent is adopted as the printing apparatus 30 will be described as an example. However, the printing method is not limited to the ink-jet method. Using a developing agent, any printing method may be adopted as long as the printing method can quantitatively measure the remaining amount and the used amount of the developing agent,
For example, it goes without saying that various printing apparatuses such as a laser printer and a digital copying machine using toner as a developer are applicable.

The storage means 2 temporarily stores print data transmitted from the host computer 31 and other devices. In this embodiment, the storage means 2 stores print data together with the print data.
A necessary ink amount is stored in correspondence with the transmitted print data, and forms a storage unit. The storage unit 2 may be provided separately from the printing apparatus, or may be configured to use a storage unit in another device connected thereto.

The arithmetic control unit 1 is provided for performing various arithmetic operations and controlling each unit of the apparatus. Based on a detection result of an ink remaining amount detection sensor 5 described later, an available ink amount (hereinafter referred to as ink It also has a function as an ink usable amount calculating unit 1a for calculating usable amount) and an ink used amount accumulating unit 1b for calculating the used ink amount by accumulating the used amount of ink during printing. The values calculated by the ink usable amount calculating section 1a and the ink usable amount accumulating means 1b are transmitted to the host computer 31.

As the simplest method, the ink usable amount calculating means 1a treats the ink remaining amount detected by the ink remaining amount sensor 5 as it is as the ink usable amount (remaining amount information). However, among the print data already stored in the storage unit 2, the print data that has received a print request is output first unless there is a problem such as running out of paper. It is desirable to consider the required amount.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the required ink amount related to the print data is subtracted from the detection value of the ink remaining amount detection sensor 5 and is set as the ink usable amount.
Processing accuracy has been improved. The required ink amount stored in the storage unit 2 together with the print data is used as the ink amount necessary for printing the print data that has already been received.

Such an ink usable amount calculating unit 1a
The calculation of the usable ink amount and the transmission to the host computer 31 are performed when the print request is changed, when an error occurs during printing and printing is performed again, and when the printing is completed, the detection result of the detection sensor 5 The method can be performed when the situation changes, for example, when the ink usable amount can be accurately calculated based on the information. The ink usage totaling means 1b calculates the total amount of ink used sequentially during printing, and the total result is the used ink amount used for printing. It should be noted that the developer is consumed not only during printing but also when the ink head is clogged, for example, or in a test mode (when toner is used as a developer, during idling or in an image compensation mode). Therefore, even when the printing operation is not performed, the amount of ink consumed is accumulated each time an operation using ink is performed. Further, for example, when the amount of ink for each dot changes (when the ejection amount can be controlled) or when there is a difference in the amount of ink used other than during printing, the consumption amount is accumulated each time the operation is performed. ing.

In addition, even when the operation is accumulated, the operation is not always accumulated for each operation. For example, when an operation with a relatively small amount of use is performed, only the operation content is recorded, and the operation is collectively used for a predetermined period. It may be configured to accumulate the amounts. In this case, it goes without saying that there is an effect of reducing the amount of processing.

Further, in order to calculate the remaining amount of ink by the usable ink amount calculating means 1a, instead of using the remaining ink amount detection sensor 5 as described above, the ink cartridge unit 5 is used.
The amount of ink obtained by the ink amount accumulating means 1b may be subtracted from the initial amount of ink at any time or collectively at predetermined intervals. In this case, the remaining amount of the ink may be obtained by subtracting the usage amount obtained by the ink usage amount accumulating means 1b as needed or collectively from that time.

The ink cartridge section 3 stores and supplies ink used for printing, and is provided detachably from the printing apparatus main body. The ink cartridge unit 3 is provided with an ink remaining amount detection sensor 5 for detecting the remaining amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge unit 3.
Is sent to the usable ink amount calculation unit 1a.

As a method of detecting the remaining amount of ink in the remaining ink amount sensor 5, for example, a method of measuring the height of the liquid level by ultrasonic waves in order to constantly monitor the remaining amount may be used. An optical sensor, a weight sensor, a magnetic sensor, or the like may be configured to detect that the remaining amount has reached a predetermined value. Note that these detection methods are well-known techniques, and further description will be omitted.

On the other hand, the host computer 31 includes an arithmetic control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a bidirectional communication interface 13 for inputting and outputting information to and from a printing device 30 and other devices connected to a network, and a liquid crystal display (LCD).
display unit 1 consisting of y) or CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)
And an input unit 15 including a touch panel for inputting various settings and the like, key switches, various pointing devices, and the like. The host computer 31
, A bidirectional interface 13, a display unit 14,
Input unit 15, arithmetic processing unit 11, input unit 15, storage means 1
2 may be configured as a single device or may be configured by interconnecting separate devices.

The arithmetic and control unit 11 includes a host computer 3
1 to perform various calculations and control of each unit of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, a required ink amount calculation unit 11a and a required ink amount calculation unit 11 that calculate a required ink amount required to partially print the print data based on the print data are provided.
a printable copy number calculation unit 11d for calculating the number of printable copies from the required ink amount obtained in step a and the ink usable amount sent from the printing apparatus 30 via the network. The number of copies calculated in 11d is displayed on the display unit 14, and the required ink amount calculation unit 11a
Is transmitted to the storage unit 12 and the printing device 30 together with the print data and the required ink amount.

The required ink amount calculated by the required ink amount calculation unit 11a is the same unless the print data for printing is changed.
2 stores the required ink amount together with the print data.

That is, print data, a valid / invalid flag indicating valid / invalid of the required ink amount, and a required ink amount are recorded in each file of the storage means 12. Here, the valid / invalid flag is set when the required amount of ink is recorded, and is reset when the print data is changed.
Since the required ink amount differs depending on the density, resolution, magnification, paper size, and the like, it is preferable to store such mode information together with it so that more accurate control can be performed. .

The arithmetic processing unit 11 uses the required ink amount recorded in the file as the required ink amount of the print data only when the valid / invalid flag is set.
When the flag is reset, the required ink amount is calculated by the required ink amount calculation unit 11a.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the required amount of ink stored in the storage unit 12 is transmitted to the usage amount used for actual printing, which is the cumulative result of the cumulative unit 1b of the printing apparatus 30, this is transmitted. The value can be rewritten. Since this is a predicted value estimated by the required ink amount calculated by the required ink calculating unit 11a, it is possible to obtain a more accurate required ink amount by correcting it when the actual used ink amount is determined. This is because it can be done. Such rewriting is performed by comparing the required ink amount comparing unit 11b provided in the arithmetic control unit 11 with the allowable error 1 stored in advance.
1c.

The arithmetic processing section 11 compares the actual used ink amount transmitted from the printing apparatus 30 with the calculated required ink amount by the required ink amount comparing section 11b, and the value is determined within the allowable error 11c. Only when there is a larger amount of ink used and the used ink amount, the data in the file is rewritten with the used ink amount as the required ink amount.

The reason for setting the permissible error here is to avoid recording a used amount that cannot normally occur due to a trouble or the like as a required ink amount. Ink is ejected and used to remove clogging, such as when a nozzle of an ink head is clogged. Therefore, according to the cumulative result of the ink usage totaling means 1b, the ink is used to eliminate clogging during printing. In addition, by adding the amount of ink that is not directly related to printing to the amount of use, it is possible to accurately grasp the amount of ink actually used in normal cases.

However, when the amount of ink used other than for printing becomes extremely large due to some trouble or the like, the amount of used ink is not appropriate as the required ink, so that an allowable error is provided and is within the allowable error. By treating it as the used ink amount only in the case, it is possible to prevent the printing apparatus from being affected by such a trouble of the printing apparatus or a communication trouble.

Rewriting the file only when the actual used ink amount is larger is to estimate the used ink amount to be small, so that the ink remaining amount is determined to be large even though the ink remaining amount is small. This is to prevent a problem in the printing operation. In addition, regarding the value of the tolerance, the service cycle of the device,
Since it is conceivable that it may fluctuate depending on the use conditions and the like, it is preferable to configure so that it can be set as appropriate.

When the used ink amount transmitted from the recording device 30 is larger than the required ink amount, that is, when the usable ink amount is underestimated, the arithmetic control unit 11
Since there is a high possibility that the required number of copies previously displayed on the display unit 14 cannot be printed, the user is notified when such a situation is caused. The notification may be used as a trigger to recalculate the number of printable copies.

In such a printing system, the user sets the number of print copies from the input unit 15 based on the number of printable copies displayed on the display unit 14. At this time, if the print designation is larger than the number of printable copies,
The user is notified that the ink is insufficient.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the basic operation of the printing system. First, step S
In step 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as S1), the available ink amount calculating unit 1a of the arithmetic control unit 1 detects (or calculates) the remaining ink amount, and calculates the available ink amount based on the obtained value. Calculation, and the calculation result is stored in the host computer 31.
Send to Note that S1 is a subroutine, which will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

Next, in S2, the host computer 31
Calculates the amount of ink required for printing per part from the print data stored in the storage unit 12 by the 11a of the arithmetic control unit 11, and the process proceeds to S3.

In S3, the host computer 31 executes S2
The number of printable copies of the print data is calculated based on the required ink amount obtained in the process (1) and the available ink amount transmitted from the printing device 30 in the process of S1.

Then, in S4, the host computer 31
Displays the number of printable copies calculated in S3 on the display unit 14. At this time, the number of printable copies is not limited to an integer value, and may be a positive real number including a decimal number.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of S1 in FIG. As described above, the available ink amount calculating means 1a considers the amount of ink required to print the print data for which the print request has been accepted.

First, the available ink amount calculating section 1a obtains the remaining amount of ink by the detection value or calculation detected by the remaining ink amount detection sensor 5, and in S12, the available ink amount is calculated from the remaining ink amount obtained in S11. The process proceeds to S13 after obtaining the amount.

Next, in S13, it is determined whether there is a print request. If there is no print request, the process returns to the main routine (FIG. 2). If there is a print request, the process proceeds to S14, where the print request is sent. The required ink amount of the received print data is subtracted from the usable amount set in S12, and this is set as a new usable amount.

In S15, the print data for judging the presence or absence of the print request in S13 is read, and the process returns to S13.
Similarly, it is determined whether there is a print request for the next print data. When the processing of S14 is completed for all print data requested to be printed in S15 and S13, the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

The flowchart shown in FIG.
In a configuration in which the required ink amount and the valid / invalid flag indicating the validity / invalidity of the required ink amount are stored together with the print data in each file of No. 2,
This is an operation for judging whether to read out the required ink amount from the printer or to newly calculate the required ink amount.

First, in S31, the arithmetic control unit 11
It is determined whether or not the valid / invalid flag of the predetermined file in the storage unit 12 is set. If it is determined in S31 that the flag is set, the process proceeds to S33 and is stored in the storage unit 12. The required ink amount is determined using the file.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S31 that the flag has been reset, the flow shifts to S33, where the calculation unit 11a calculates the required amount of ink based on the print data. Then, the required ink amount calculated in S33 is stored in the file (S34), and the valid / invalid flag of the file is set (S35).

The flowchart of FIG.
Is calculated based on the required ink amount comparing unit 11b and the tolerance error 11c stored in advance.
b, the actual amount of ink used and the storage means 12
Is compared with the required ink amount stored in the file, and only when the difference is within the range of the allowable error 11c and the used ink amount is larger, the used ink amount is used as the required ink amount and the data in the file is used. This shows the rewriting operation.

First, in S51, when it is determined that the valid / invalid flag has been reset, the flow proceeds to S57, in which the actual usage amount transmitted from the printing device 30 is stored.
And a file flag is set in S58.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S31 that the flag is set, in S32, the required ink amount stored in the storage unit 12 is subtracted from the actual usage amount transmitted from the printing device 30. , Find the difference and S53
Move on to In S53, the process proceeds to S54 only when the difference obtained in S52 is larger than 0, that is, when the actual usage amount is larger, and when it is 0 or smaller than 0, the process is terminated as it is.

In S54, based on the actual amount of ink used,
The number of printable copies is calculated again, and the user is notified in S55.

Next, in S56, it is determined whether or not the difference is within the allowable range. If the difference is outside the range, the process is terminated. To the actual usage.

The above is an explanation of an embodiment of the present invention. When storing the print data in the storage means 12 in the host computer 31, the print data is divided into blocks in predetermined units, and the required ink is stored in each block. It is more desirable to store a quantity and a flag indicating its validity / invalidity. In this case, the corresponding flag is set when the required ink amount of the corresponding block is recorded, and the corresponding flag is reset when the print data of the corresponding block is changed. Only when all the flags of the blocks are set, the required ink amounts recorded in the file are totaled to obtain the required ink amount of the print data. Thus, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary recalculation when a part of large data is changed.

Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, the ink usage accumulating means 1b for accumulating the above-described ink usage in the printing apparatus 30 is provided with an estimated ink usage of print data without actually performing printing. It is configured to be able to predict (simulate), and when there is no print request, the arithmetic control unit 1 is notified to the host computer 31. On the other hand, the host computer 31 notifies that there is no print data. In response to this, the predetermined print data for which the required amount of ink is to be calculated is transmitted to the printing device 30, and the expected amount of ink used is calculated at 11b, and the value is recorded in the file of the storage means 12 as the required amount of ink. A configuration may be adopted. Thus, according to the present printing system, it is possible to measure the amount of ink used for the unprinted data by using the idle time of the printing apparatus without actually printing, so that more accurate printing can be performed. It is possible to use the required amount of ink.

In this case, the host computer 31 resets a flag indicating whether the required ink amount is valid or invalid so that the print data is recently corrected and the required ink amount can be calculated from the required one. It is desirable that the printing apparatus calculate the expected ink use amount by giving priority to the file in which the file exists.

The above is the description of the embodiment of the present invention.
It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various applications are possible without departing from the gist.

For example, in the present embodiment, the storage means 12, the display unit 14, and the input unit 15 are stored in the host computer 31.
Are described as if they are integrated, but some or all of these means may be connected to each other in a form capable of signal transmission.
May be storage means of another information processing apparatus shared by the network, or may be provided separately as the input means 15 of the information portable device connected to the network. Further, the host computer 31 may be regarded as a control unit for controlling the entire apparatus, and the printing apparatus 30 may be regarded as a printer engine or the like provided in the apparatus.

Further, predetermined data is input to the information processing apparatus when image data or character data on a connected recording medium is input, or when a telephone line, a network line, a general connection (SCSI: Small Comp
For example, a case where an input is made by an external scanner or the like via a uter system interface) or a case where an input is made to create a file with a keyboard or a pointing device are included.

Further, it is needless to say that the same effect can be obtained even if all or a part of the above-mentioned processing method is realized as software, and a new effect that facilitates copying, erasing, updating, distribution, etc. Needless to say, can be expected.

[0066]

According to the present invention, the remaining ink (developing agent)
Of the usable amount and the required amount of ink per part of the print data are calculated, and the detected or calculated remaining amount of ink is set to 1
By dividing by the amount of ink required per copy, the number of copies that can be printed can be calculated, and the problem that printing cannot be performed during printing for the user can be eliminated, and operability is greatly improved. It has a special effect.

Further, since errors in calculating the required amount of ink per copy are accumulated, for data that has been printed, the actually used amount of ink is recorded in a file so that it can be used. By using a value obtained by dividing the expected ink amount in the print request already received from the current remaining ink amount, the accuracy of the remaining amount information that can be notified to the user is used. It can be further improved.

Hereinafter, effects that can be achieved for each claim of the present invention will be described. First, the invention according to claim 1
The printing means can transmit the detected or calculated remaining amount information of the developer to the information processing means, and the information processing means determines the print data transmitted to the printing means based on the printing condition information. Calculate the developer amount information necessary for printing the number of copies and the developer amount information necessary for printing only one copy, and calculate the developer amount information necessary for one copy. The printing means calculates printable copy number information from the remaining amount information transmitted from the printing means, and notifies the notifying means from the notifying means.

Therefore, the number of copies that can be printed with the remaining ink amount (developing agent amount) does not use a value with a large error such as an average value corresponding to the size of the recording paper, but is used in actual printing. Calculated from the amount of ink required to print individual data, the number of printable copies of print data with the remaining ink can be accurately grasped, displayed accurately and notified to the user, and operability Is significantly improved.

According to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1
The information processing means transmits to the printing means, together with the print data, developer amount information necessary to print the print data by a predetermined number of copies, and the printing means sends the information to the information processing means. On the other hand, it is characterized by transmitting information obtained by subtracting the developer amount information necessary for printing a predetermined number of copies from the detected or calculated remaining amount information.

Therefore, the print data that has already been received is output first unless there is a particular problem. Therefore, the necessary ink amount used for printing is determined together with the print data from an information processing apparatus such as a host computer. The printing device side can subtract the required ink amount from the actual ink remaining amount to obtain the ink usable amount, obtain a more accurate ink usable amount, and provide the user with appropriate copy number information. Can be announced.

According to the invention described in claim 3, according to claim 2
In the above, when the printing means has completed printing or when the changed printing condition information is transmitted from the information processing means to the printing means, the printing means sends the information processing means It is characterized by transmitting information after deducting the amount of developer necessary for printing, so if the cancellation of the print data that has already been received is instructed or the number of copies has been changed, it will be already received Even when the printing of the print data has been completed, the remaining ink amount can be obtained as the actually used ink amount instead of the estimated used ink amount based on the required ink amount. By calculating the available ink amount at the time of the change, the latest available ink amount can be used even when the situation changes.

According to the invention set forth in claim 4, according to claim 1
Wherein the print data input to the information processing means, developer amount information necessary for printing, and determination flag information for determining whether the developer amount information is valid or invalid The information processing means sets the determination flag information when the developer amount information is stored in the storage means, while the print data is changed. The determination flag information is reset to a reset state, and when the determination flag state is set, the developer amount information stored in the storage unit is used as developer amount information necessary for printing. Since the required amount of ink for each print data does not change unless data is rewritten, the required amount of ink previously used is replaced with the effective amount of the required ink. By recording the data together with the print data together with the flag indicating the effect, it is possible to use the previous calculated value without calculating the required ink amount each time it is needed, and to simplify the processing while printing The effect is that the number of possible copies can be accurately grasped.

According to the invention set forth in claim 5, according to claim 4,
In the above, the printing means has a used developer amount accumulating means for obtaining the cumulative information of the developer amount actually used during printing, and transmits the cumulative information to the information processing means after printing The information processing means sets the developer amount information stored in the storage means based on the transmitted total information, so that the necessary ink recorded as a file in the storage means is provided. The amount is set and updated with the amount of ink actually used at the time of printing, so that the required amount of ink can be more accurately determined and used. Claim 6
According to the invention described in (5), in claim 5, the information processing means includes the accumulated information obtained by the used developer amount accumulating means, and the developer amount information stored in the storage means. Based on the comparison result of the comparing means, the difference between the two is within a predetermined range, and the developer amount obtained by the used developer amount accumulating means is larger. In this case, the developer amount information stored in the storage unit is updated to the cumulative information obtained by the used developer amount cumulative unit.

For example, when the nozzles of the ink head are clogged, ink is ejected and used to remove the clogging. The above-described means for accumulating the used amount of ink is used to eliminate clogging during printing. Although the amount of ink that is not related to printing is also accumulated, the difference between the amount of ink used by the accumulating unit and the required amount of ink recorded (calculated from print data) is calculated by the above configuration. By setting a predetermined allowable range and treating the actual ink amount only in the range, it is possible to prevent the printing apparatus from being affected by a trouble or the like.
By rewriting the file only when the amount is within the allowable range and the actual amount of ink used is larger, it is possible to simplify the processing and avoid the problem that the amount of used ink is reduced and the printing operation is inconvenient. it can.

According to the invention of claim 7, according to claim 5,
In the information processing means, the cumulative information obtained by the used developer amount accumulating means, and a comparing means for comparing the developer amount information stored in the storage means,
Based on the comparison result of the comparing means, if the difference between the two is within a predetermined range, and the developer amount obtained by the used developer amount accumulating means is larger, by the notification means, It is characterized by notifying the user to that effect.

Therefore, if the used ink amount obtained by the means for accumulating the used ink amount during printing is larger than the required ink amount recorded in the file, the used ink amount is estimated to be smaller and notified. In such a case, the user is informed of the possibility that an error may occur in the estimation of the number of copies, because the problem arises that the required number of copies cannot be printed. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the notification is used as a trigger to recalculate the number of printable copies.

According to the invention of claim 8, according to claim 5,
In the above, the printing means, using the used developing agent amount accumulating means, has an estimated amount estimation means for estimating the expected usage amount of the developing agent without actually performing printing, the estimated developing agent The expected use amount is transmitted to the information processing unit, and the information processing unit transmits the print data and the printing condition information to the printing unit to calculate the expected use amount, and returns the used Based on the expected amount, the developer amount information stored in the storage unit is updated, so that the printing is performed without using the time when the printing apparatus is idle, without actually printing. Can be measured by means for accumulating the ink usage of the data, and the required ink amount can be obtained and used at any time.

According to the invention of claim 9, according to claim 8,
Wherein the information processing means causes the printing apparatus to make a trial calculation of the expected use amount by giving priority to the print data in which the associated determination flag information is in a reset state. Since the correction of the print data is performed and the calculation of the required ink amount is not necessary, the calculation of the required ink amount according to claim 8 using the idle time can be more effectively performed.

According to the tenth aspect, in the fourth aspect, the storage means can store the developer amount and the determination flag information for each predetermined unit of the print data. The unit in which the determination flag information is in the set state is characterized in that the stored amounts of the respective developers are totaled and used.
For example, in the case of an original consisting of many pages, even if one of the pages is corrected, the print data must be changed, and the problem of recalculating the amount of ink required for printing has occurred. Since print data is classified into a plurality of blocks (units) and a flag is set for each block, the required ink amount only needs to be recalculated for only the data of the block for which the flag is reset, and a part of large data is changed. In such a case, unnecessary recalculation can be omitted, and the processing can be speeded up and the burden can be reduced.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, when the information processing means receives, from the input means, a printing condition of a number of copies equal to or greater than the calculated number of copies information, the information processing means sends the notification condition to the notifying means. Since the notification that the developer is insufficient is provided, it is possible to prevent a user from inadvertently requesting a print, and to reduce a decrease in the operation rate due to error recovery or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire print system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main flowchart according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of S1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: an information processing unit; a printing unit for performing printing using a developer; an input unit for inputting print data; and a notifying unit for notifying a user. The means, the printing means, the input means, and the notifying means are interconnected via a signal transmission means, and are based on the print data input via the input means and printing condition information from a user. A printing system that transmits the print data and the printing condition information to the printing unit and prints a predetermined number of copies, wherein the printing unit sends the detected or calculated developer remaining amount information to the information processing unit The information processing means is capable of transmitting the printing data transmitted to the printing means in a predetermined number of copies on the basis of the printing condition information. The printing means calculates the amount of developing agent necessary for printing, and from the calculated amount of developing agent necessary for one copy and the remaining amount information transmitted from the printing means, the printing means A print system, wherein information on the number of copies that can be printed is calculated and notified from the notification means. 2. The information processing means transmits to the printing means, together with the print data, developer amount information necessary for printing a predetermined number of copies of the print data. 2. The print system according to claim 1, wherein information is obtained by subtracting the developer amount information necessary for printing a predetermined number of copies from the detected or calculated remaining amount information to the processing unit. 3. When the printing means completes printing or when the changed printing condition information is transmitted from the information processing means to the printing means, the printing means sends the remaining information to the information processing means. 3. The print system according to claim 2, wherein information obtained by subtracting developer amount information necessary for printing from the amount information is transmitted. 4. The print data input to the information processing means, developer amount information necessary for printing, and determination flag information for determining whether the developer amount information is valid or invalid. The information processing means sets the determination flag information when the developer amount information is stored in the storage means, while changing the print data. The determination flag information is reset to a reset state, and if the determination flag state is set, the developer amount information stored in the storage means is used as the developer amount information necessary for printing. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the print data is transmitted to a printing unit. 5. The printing means has a used developer amount accumulating means for obtaining cumulative information obtained by accumulating a developer amount actually used during printing, and the information processing means calculates the accumulated information after printing. 5. The print system according to claim 4, wherein the information processing unit sets the developer amount information stored in the storage unit based on the transmitted total information. 6. 6. The information processing means includes comparing means for comparing the cumulative information obtained by the used developer amount cumulative means with the developer amount information stored in the storage means. Based on the comparison result of the comparing means, if the difference between the two is within a predetermined range, and if the developer amount obtained by the used developer amount accumulating means is larger, the storage means 6. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the stored developer amount information is updated to the cumulative information obtained by the used developer amount cumulative means. 7. The information processing means includes comparing means for comparing the cumulative information obtained by the used developer amount cumulative means with the developer amount information stored in the storage means. Based on the comparison result of the comparing means, if the difference between the two is within a predetermined range, and the developer amount obtained by the used developer amount accumulating means is larger, the notification means, The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the user is notified of the fact. 8. The printing means has expected amount estimation means for calculating the estimated use amount of the developer without actually performing printing by using the used developer amount accumulation means. Along with transmitting the expected use amount of the developer to the information processing unit, the information processing unit transmits the print data and print condition information to the print unit to calculate the expected use amount, and is returned. 6. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the developer amount information stored in the storage unit is updated based on the estimated use amount. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the information processing means causes the printing apparatus to perform a trial calculation of the expected use amount by giving priority to the print data in which the associated determination flag information is in a reset state. Item 9. A print system according to Item 8. 10. The storage means can store the developer amount and the determination flag information for each predetermined unit of the print data, and store the unit in which the determination flag information is set. 5. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the amount of each developer is counted and used. 11. The information processing means, when the printing condition of the number of copies equal to or greater than the calculated number of copies information is input from the input means, notifies the shortage of the developer from the notifying means. The print system according to claim 1, wherein