JP2008116623A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device separate type printer, enabling a user to know how many more sheets can be printed, and also enabling the user to know that toner cartridge has become empty. <P>SOLUTION: The developing device separate type printer (printer of a type where a toner cartridge that does not incorporate a developing device is set to be used, and a developing device is replenished with toner in the toner cartridge) has a function of printing a status sheet (Fig.5), showing the toner residual amount in the developing device and toner residual amount in the toner cartridge, and a function of notifying a host device about the toner residual amount in the developing device and the toner residual amount in the toner cartridge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

  In recent years, among printing devices that are commercially available, a printing device using a printing engine in which toner in a toner cartridge is replenished into a developing device (a toner cartridge that does not incorporate a developing device is set and used) In other words, there is a printing apparatus capable of printing if there is toner in the developing device even if there is no toner in the toner cartridge.

  Such a printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a separate developer type printing apparatus) is similar to a printing apparatus in which a toner cartridge in which a developing unit is incorporated is set, on a status sheet or a display of a host device. The apparatus is capable of outputting information on the remaining amount of toner. However, in each of the existing developer unit type printing apparatuses, only the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge or the remaining amount of toner in the print engine (= the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge + The apparatus is configured to output only the remaining amount of toner in the developing device. For this reason, the existing developer-unit-type printing apparatus has a drawback that it does not know how many sheets can be printed later, or does not know that the toner cartridge is empty.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that does not have the above-described drawbacks (the user can grasp how many sheets can be printed later, and the user can grasp that the toner cartridge is empty). It is in.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a printing apparatus according to the present invention sets and uses a toner cartridge in which a developing device is not incorporated, and a printing engine in which toner in the toner cartridge is replenished into the developing device, and the printing engine. Management means for managing the remaining amount of toner in the developing device, which is the remaining amount of toner in the developing device, and the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge in the toner cartridge set in the print engine, and the received print data Print control means for performing print control processing for causing the print engine to print a printed matter having a corresponding content, and a toner remaining amount output means for outputting the developer toner remaining amount and the cartridge toner remaining amount managed by the management means; Is provided.

  That is, the printing apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus that outputs the remaining amount of toner in the developing device and the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge. For this reason, if the printing apparatus of the present invention is used, the user prints the number of sheets later from the developing device toner remaining amount and cartridge toner remaining amount output by the printing apparatus (toner remaining amount output means). It is possible to grasp whether the toner cartridge is ready and whether the toner cartridge is empty.

  The toner remaining amount output means of the printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a means for outputting the developer toner remaining amount and the cartridge toner remaining amount managed by the management means as elements of so-called status information, and a management means. It is possible to use means for outputting the managed developer toner remaining amount and cartridge toner remaining amount as information on a so-called status sheet, or means having such functions as both means.

  Also, as a “print engine that uses a toner cartridge that does not have a built-in developer unit set and uses the toner in the toner cartridge”, it detects and controls the amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge. In the case of using an engine having a function for notifying the control unit and a function for notifying the control unit of the start and end of replenishment processing for replenishing toner in the toner cartridge into the developing device, When the start of the replenishment process is notified from, the time until the end is notified is measured, and the toner replenishment amount obtained from the measured time is added to the developer toner remaining amount, and the toner replenishment amount Is subtracted from the remaining amount of toner in the cartridge, and the print control means causes the print engine to perform printing, the amount of toner consumed for the printing is determined by the developer toner. It can be kept as a means for subtracting from the remaining amount.

  Further, when realizing the printing apparatus of the present invention, when the toner cartridge is replaced as the toner remaining amount output means, the developing device toner remaining amount at that time, and the toner remaining amount in the toner cartridge obtained from the print engine Are respectively stored as the notification developer toner remaining amount and the notification cartridge toner remaining amount, and after the toner cartridge is replaced until a predetermined condition is satisfied (for example, the status sheet It is possible to employ means for outputting the notification developer toner remaining amount and the notification cartridge toner remaining amount until printing is performed once or until the specified time elapses. If such toner remaining amount output means is employed, the information output by the toner remaining amount output means as the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge immediately after the replacement of the toner cartridge is the specification of the toner cartridge (new toner cartridge). Thus, a printing device that matches the amount of toner filled in the toner is obtained.

  In addition, when the print data is received as the print control means, the toner amount necessary for causing the print engine to print the printed matter with the content corresponding to the print data is specified, and the specified toner amount is managed by the management means. If the sum of the remaining amount of toner in the developing device and the remaining amount of toner in the cartridge is exceeded, information indicating that is transmitted to the transmission source device of the print data, and information for instructing execution of printing from the transmission source device Is transmitted, the printing control process is started, and when the information for instructing the cancellation of printing is transmitted from the transmission source device, the print data is discarded. An apparatus may be realized.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, an outline of a printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in the figure, a printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus including a control unit 11, a control panel 12, and a print engine 13. The printing apparatus 10 is an apparatus that is used by being connected to a plurality of host apparatuses 30 in which a printer driver 20 and a monitor program 25 are installed.

  The control panel 12 included in the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is a unit provided on the casing of the printing apparatus 10 as an interface unit between the user and the printing apparatus 10 (control unit 11). The control panel 12 is a unit composed of an LCD, a plurality of buttons (push button switches), and the like.

  The print engine 13 is an engine that can be used with a toner cartridge (K toner cartridge) mounted therein and can accommodate a considerable amount of toner (amount capable of printing about 120 sheets of 5% duty A4 printed matter) in the developing device. is there. The print engine 13 is an engine having a function of responding to an output request for the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge from the control unit 11 (a function for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge and outputting a detection result). ing.

  The printing engine 13 is an engine that automatically replenishes toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device when the toner in the developing device is insufficient. Furthermore, the print engine 13 is an engine that notifies the control unit 11 of the start and end of processing for supplying toner to the developing device (hereinafter referred to as supply processing) by an interrupt signal, and the time required for the supply processing. Therefore, the engine can calculate the amount of toner replenished to the developing device.

  The control unit 11 is a unit that causes the printing apparatus 10 to function as a so-called network printer. The control unit 11 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, HDD, ASIC, RTC (real time clock), various interface circuits, and the like.

  The printer driver 20 installed in each host device 30 connected to the printing apparatus 10 is a program that generates print data for the printing apparatus 10. The printer driver 20 includes the computer name and user name (information managed by the OS of the host device 30), the total number of pages (information indicating the total number of printed sheets represented by the own data), etc. The print data included in is generated.

  In addition, when the printer 10 receives a toner shortage notification information (details will be described later) from the printing apparatus 10, the printer driver 20 displays a toner shortage warning dialog box having a print button and a cancel button. Is displayed on the display), and when the print button or cancel button on the toner shortage warning dialog box is operated, In this program, printing / cancellation instruction information representing the selected button is transmitted to the printing apparatus 10.

  The monitor program 25 is a program for monitoring the state of the printing apparatus 10. The monitor program 25 can monitor the state of the printing apparatus 10 only when the printer driver 20 in the same host device 30 is functioning, and can always monitor the state of the printing apparatus 10. It has become.

  Based on the above, the configuration and operation of the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described more specifically below.

  The control unit 11 of the printing apparatus 10 is a unit that starts processing of the procedure illustrated in FIG. 2 when the printing apparatus 10 is activated. Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 11 requests a status information (monitor program 25) during execution of the processing of FIG. 2 (during execution of the processing of step S101, the printing control processing of step S106, etc.). Is a unit that performs status information transmission processing (FIG. 6: details will be described later).

  That is, when the printing apparatus 10 is activated, the control unit 11 first determines the remaining number of printable sheets and the expected completion from the print history information stored in the unit, the developer toner remaining amount, the cartridge toner remaining amount, and the like. An information calculation process (step S100) for calculating and storing the day, various average toner consumption rates, and the average number of printed pages is performed.

  The print history information used at the time of the information calculation process is the print date, computer name, and user stored in the HDD in the own unit when the print control process is completed (see step S211 in FIG. 3). Information including name, number of printed pages (number of sheets on which printing has been performed), total toner consumption (total amount of toner used for processing print data), and the like.

  The developer toner remaining amount and the cartridge toner remaining amount are information managed by the control unit 11 as information indicating the toner remaining amount in the developing device and information indicating the toner remaining amount in the toner cartridge, respectively (details will be described later) ).

  Then, the information calculation process uses the average toner consumption rate (toner consumption / page) for each user in the specified period from the information, the maximum toner storage amount (maximum toner amount that can be stored in the developing device), and the current date and time. The average toner consumption rate of all users during the specified period, the average number of printed pages (number of printed pages / day) of all users during the specified period, and “developer toner remaining amount + cartridge toner remaining amount” are zero. Is the number of pages that can be printed, and the date when the remaining amount of cartridge toner is expected to be zero ("developer toner remaining amount + cartridge toner remaining amount" is the maximum toner storage amount). This is a process for obtaining and storing a certain scheduled end date. The designated period is defined as the period defining information managed by the control unit 11 as an operation parameter (how many days in the past the print history information used for calculating the average toner consumption rate and the like). , Information whose value can be changed by operating the control panel 12, etc.). The information calculation process is a process of calculating the average toner consumption rate for each user in the process designation period by handling the print history information having the same computer name and user name as the print history information for the same user.

  After completing the information calculation processing, the control unit 11 receives print data, replaces the toner cartridge, starts replenishment processing, inputs a status sheet print instruction (inputs a status sheet print instruction from the control panel 12, and status) In this state, the occurrence of various events such as reception of information instructing sheet printing is monitored (step S101).

  When receiving the print data (step S101; print data reception), the control unit 11 starts the print control process (step S106; FIG. 3). First, as shown in FIG. From the average toner consumption rate (calculated and stored in the process of step S100) for the data sender and the total number of pages in the print data, the estimated amount of toner required for printing the received print data (= A process of calculating (average toner consumption rate × total pages; hereinafter referred to as toner required amount for each job) (step S200) is performed. It should be noted that the process of step S200 is determined in advance as an average toner consumption rate when there is no print history information regarding the print data sender (when the average toner consumption rate regarding the print data sender has not been calculated). (In this embodiment, the amount of toner necessary for A4 printed matter with 5% duty) is used, and the total remaining toner amount (developer toner remaining amount and cartridge toner remaining amount at that time) is used. Sum) is stored as the remaining amount of toner at the start of print data processing.

  After completing the processing in step S200, the control unit 11 calculates that the calculated toner unit required toner amount is equal to or less than the total toner remaining amount, which is the sum of the developing device toner remaining amount and the cartridge toner remaining amount managed by the control unit 11. Whether or not (step S201).

  If the amount of toner required for each job is not less than or equal to the total remaining toner amount (step S201; NO), the control unit 11 acquires an instruction on whether or not to perform printing from the print data sender in step S202. Instruction acquisition processing (processing for transmitting the above-described toner shortage notification information to the print data transmission source host device 30 and waiting for reception of the print / cancel instruction information).

  Then, when an instruction to cancel printing is received (when printing / cancellation instruction information indicating that the cancel button has been operated is received: Step S203; Cancel), the control unit 11 receives the received print data this time. After discarding (not shown), this print control process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when printing is instructed (when print / cancel instruction information indicating that the print button has been operated is received: step S203; printing), the control unit 11 starts the processing from step S204. In addition, when the amount of toner required for each job is equal to or less than the total toner remaining amount (step S201; YES), the control unit 11 starts the processes after step S204 without performing the processes of steps S202 and S203. .

  In step S204, the control unit 11 interprets the print data to generate one page of data to be supplied to the print engine 13 (hereinafter referred to as supply data) and print the supply data. Processing to specify the amount of toner required for printing (hereinafter referred to as the amount of toner required per page) (processing for generating supply data while calculating the total amount of toner required for each pixel drawn on the paper) I do.

  Thereafter, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the amount of toner required for each page specified in the process of step S204 is equal to or less than the total remaining toner amount (the sum of the developing device toner remaining amount and the cartridge toner remaining amount at that time). Is determined (step S205). Then, when the amount of toner required for each page is not less than the total toner remaining amount (step S205; NO), the controller 11 replaces the toner cartridge (a new toner cartridge is set in the print engine 13). ).

  On the other hand, when the amount of toner required for each page is equal to or less than the total toner remaining amount (step S205; YES), the control unit 11 supplies the generated supply data to the print engine 13 (step S206), and the developing device. A process of subtracting the page unit toner remaining amount from the toner remaining amount (step S207).

  Thereafter, the control unit 11 determines whether the toner supply process by the print engine 13 has been started (step S208). If the replenishment process is not started (step S208; NO), the control unit 11 determines whether or not the processing of all data in the print data is completed (step S210), and unprocessed data is stored. If it remains (step S210; YES), the processing after step S204 is started. Further, when the replenishment process is started (step S208; YES), the control unit 11 measures the replenishment time (the time before the end of the replenishment process is notified), and the toner replenishment amount obtained from the replenishment time. Is added to the developing device toner remaining amount, and the processing of subtracting the toner supply amount from the cartridge toner remaining amount (step S209) is performed, and then the processing (judgment) of step S210 is performed.

  Then, when the processing of all the data in the print data is completed (step S210; NO), the control unit 11 includes the computer name, the user name and the number of print pages, the print date and time, and the total toner consumption included in the print data. A process of storing print history information including the amount (the difference between the remaining amount of toner at the start of print data processing stored in step S200 and the total remaining toner amount at that time) in the HDD in the unit (step S211) ), The print control process is terminated.

  After completing the print control process (FIG. 2; step S106), the control unit 11 returns to the state where the occurrence of various events is monitored (step S101).

  When the toner cartridge has been replaced (step S102; cartridge replacement), the control unit 11 obtains the remaining amount of toner in the newly set toner cartridge from the print engine 13, and the remaining amount of cartridge toner Is stored (step S102). Then, the control unit 11 stores the values of the remaining amount of cartridge toner and the remaining amount of developer toner at that time as the remaining amount of toner for notification and the remaining amount of toner for notification, respectively, and the current date and time as the replacement date and time. A state in which the occurrence of various events is monitored after the process of storing and setting the status sheet printed flag (SS flag in the figure) to “OFF” (step S103: use of each information will be described later) Return to step S101).

  In addition, when the toner cartridge is replaced, the control unit 11 measures the replenishment time and obtains it from the replenishment time when toner replenishment processing by the print engine 13 is started (step S101; replenishment processing start). The state in which the occurrence of various events is monitored (step S101) after the process of adding the toner supply amount to the developer toner remaining amount and subtracting the toner supply amount from the cartridge toner remaining amount (step S104). Return to).

  Further, when a status sheet print instruction is input (step S101; SS print instruction input), the control unit 11 executes a status sheet print process (step S) of the procedure shown in FIG.

  That is, when a status sheet print instruction is input, the control unit 11 first sets the status sheet printed flag to “OFF” and the elapsed time since the toner cartridge was replaced (= current date and time). -It is determined whether or not the condition that the replacement date and time is equal to or less than the specified time is satisfied (step S301).

  When the above condition is satisfied (step S301; YES), the control unit 11 determines the remaining amount of toner for the notification developer and the remaining amount of toner for the notification cartridge as the remaining amount of toner in the developer, The process for causing the print engine 13 to print the status sheet indicated as the remaining amount of toner is performed (step S303). This process causes the print engine 13 to print a status sheet having a portion as shown in FIG. That is, the process of step S303 is a status sheet illustrated as a printable number of prints (A4) with a notification cartridge toner remaining amount and a notification cartridge toner remaining amount of 5% duty, and the mounted toner. The print engine 13 is made to print a status sheet on which the specifications of the cartridge, the remaining number of printable sheets, the scheduled end date (value calculated and stored in the process of step S100), and the like are printed.

  Then, the control unit 11 that has finished the processing of step S303 sets “ON” for the status sheet printed flag (step S304), and then ends this status sheet printing processing.

  On the other hand, if the above condition is not satisfied (step S301; NO), the control unit 11 determines that the developing device toner remaining amount and the cartridge toner remaining amount are the developer remaining toner amount and the cartridge remaining amount in step S302. After the processing for causing the print engine 13 to print the status sheet indicated as the remaining amount of toner is performed, this status sheet printing processing is terminated.

  Further, when receiving the status information request, the control unit 11 is a unit that executes the status information transmission process of the procedure shown in FIG.

  That is, when the status information request is received, the control unit 11 firstly sets the status sheet printed flag to “OFF” and the elapsed time since the replacement of the toner cartridge (= current date / time−replacement date / time). ) Is less than the specified time or not is determined (step S401).

  When the above condition is satisfied (step S401; YES), the control unit 11 includes information indicating the toner remaining amount in the developing device (hereinafter referred to as toner remaining amount information in the developing device), cartridge Status information including the notification developer toner remaining amount and the notification cartridge toner remaining amount as information indicating the toner remaining amount (hereinafter referred to as cartridge toner remaining amount information), and sending a status information request After returning to the original (step S303), the status information transmission process is terminated. The status information transmitted by the control unit 11 includes information indicating the specifications of the mounted toner cartridge, information indicating the remaining number of printable sheets and a scheduled end date (value calculated and stored in the process of step S100), Information indicating the remaining amount of paper in the paper device is also included.

  On the other hand, when the above conditions are not satisfied (step S401; NO), the control unit 11 uses the developer toner remaining amount and the cartridge toner remaining as the developer remaining toner information and the cartridge toner remaining information, respectively. The status information including the amount is returned to the transmission source of the status information request (step S303), and the status information transmission process is terminated.

  Then, the monitor program 25 (the monitor program 25 for the printing apparatus 10) installed in each host apparatus 30 in the printing system periodically transmits status information from the printing apparatus 10 by transmitting a status information request. When the remaining toner amount indicated by the remaining toner amount information in the cartridge in the status information is “0”, the program is a program that pops up a status display window configured as shown in FIG. ing.

  The monitor program 25 is a program that can display the status display window even when the printing apparatus 10 is in a normal state, and the consumables detail button on the status display window is operated. In this case, the displayed status display window is similar to the window having the configuration shown in FIG. 7, that is, the status sheet (see FIG. 5), and the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit and the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge. It is a program that changes to a window shown separately. The window shown in FIG. 8 is displayed when the consumables detail button on the status display window that is displayed when the status of the printing apparatus 10 is normal is operated.

  As described above, the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has a function of outputting status information including the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit and the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge, and the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit. The apparatus has a function of printing a status sheet indicating the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge. For this reason, if the printing apparatus 10 is used, the remaining amount of developer toner, the remaining amount of cartridge toner shown on the status sheet, the remaining amount of developer toner, the cartridge toner shown on the status display window (FIG. 8). From the remaining amount, it is possible to realize an environment in which the user can grasp how many sheets the printing apparatus 10 can print later and whether or not the toner cartridge is empty.

  In addition, the printing apparatus 10 determines the actual toner remaining amount as the toner remaining amount in the developing device and in the cartridge until a certain time elapses after the toner cartridge is replaced or until the status sheet is printed. Instead, the apparatus presents the remaining amount of toner immediately after replacement of the toner cartridge to the user. For this reason, if this printing apparatus 10 is used, the information presented to the user as the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge immediately after the replacement of the toner cartridge is the information of the toner cartridge (the toner filled in the new toner cartridge). (Environment in which the toner filling amount of the replaced toner cartridge can be confirmed even when the toner in the toner cartridge is replenished into the developing device when the toner cartridge is replaced).

  Further, when the amount of toner that can print all the received print data does not remain in the print engine 13, the printing apparatus 10 inquires whether or not to perform printing to the print data sender and cancels printing. When instructed, the apparatus does not print the print data. Therefore, if this printing apparatus 10 is used, it can be prevented that the printing density of the first half portion and the second half portion of the printed matter is different due to the printing being interrupted in the middle.

<Deformation>
The above-described printing apparatus 10 can perform various modifications. For example, the printing apparatus 10 can be transformed into an apparatus that does not calculate an average toner consumption rate (an apparatus that uses a predetermined value as the average toner consumption rate). In addition, the host device 30 (printer driver 20) may calculate the toner amount required for each job and each page.

  Of course, the printer driver 20 may be provided with a function as the monitor program 25, or a printer capable of color printing may be manufactured based on the above-described technology. It is.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration and a usage pattern of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a control unit in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. 5 is a flowchart of print control processing executed by a control unit. The flowchart of the status sheet printing process which a control part performs. Explanatory drawing of the status sheet printed by status sheet printing processing. The flowchart of the status information transmission process which a control part performs. Explanatory drawing of the status display window which the monitor program for printing apparatuses which concerns on embodiment displays. Explanatory drawing of the status display window which the monitor program for printing apparatuses which concerns on embodiment displays.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printing apparatus, 11 Control part, 12 Control panel 13 Print engine, 20 Printer driver, 25 Monitor program

Claims (5)

A print engine in which a toner cartridge in which a developing device is not incorporated is set and used, and toner in the toner cartridge is replenished in the developing device;
A managing unit that manages a developer toner remaining amount that is a toner remaining amount in a developer of the print engine and a cartridge toner remaining amount that is a toner remaining amount in a toner cartridge set in the print engine;
Print control means for performing a print control process for causing the print engine to print a printed matter having contents corresponding to the received print data;
A printing apparatus comprising: a toner remaining amount output unit that outputs a developer toner remaining amount and a cartridge toner remaining amount managed by the managing unit. The print engine is
A function of detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge and notifying the controller; and a function of notifying the controller of the start and end of replenishment processing for replenishing the toner in the toner cartridge into the developing device. Engine,
The management means is
When the start of the replenishment process is notified from the print engine, the time until the end is notified is measured, and the toner replenishment amount obtained from the measured time is added to the remaining toner amount of the developer. If the toner supply amount is subtracted from the remaining toner amount of the cartridge and the print control unit causes the print engine to perform printing, the toner amount consumed for the printing is calculated as the remaining toner amount of the developer. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus subtracts from the printing apparatus. The toner remaining amount output means;
When the toner cartridge has been replaced, the remaining amount of toner in the developing device and the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge acquired from the print engine are respectively shown in FIG. And a means for outputting the notification developer toner remaining amount and the notification cartridge toner remaining amount after the toner cartridge is replaced and until a predetermined condition is satisfied. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The toner remaining amount output means;
The information on the status sheet is a means having a function of outputting the developer toner remaining amount and the cartridge toner remaining amount, or the notification developer toner remaining amount and the notification cartridge toner remaining amount, and a toner. A means for outputting the notification developer toner remaining amount and the notification cartridge toner remaining amount after the cartridge is replaced until the status sheet is printed once or until a specified time elapses; The printing apparatus according to claim 3. The printing control means is
When the print data is received, a toner amount necessary for causing the print engine to print a printed matter having contents corresponding to the print data is specified, and the specified toner amount is managed by the management unit When the sum of the remaining amount of toner and the remaining amount of toner in the cartridge is exceeded, information indicating the fact is transmitted to the transmission source device of the print data, and information indicating the execution of printing is transmitted from the transmission source device. The printing control process is started when the printing is performed, and the printing data is discarded when the information for instructing the printing cancellation is transmitted from the transmission source device. The printing apparatus according to claim 4.