JP2013094962A - Image forming apparatus, method for warning lack of consumables, and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of warning a lack of consumables caused in the course of printing, a method for warning the lack of consumables, and a server device.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 20 includes: a residual number determination means 46 which compares a print number print-requested by a user with a residual number predicted to be printable until consumables are ended, and determines that the consumables are ended during printing when the print number is the residual number or more; and a main control means 31 which displays, when the consumables are determined to be ended during printing, a lack-of-consumables warning screen warning that the consumables are likely to be ended during printing on a display means.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a consumable-out warning method, and a server apparatus.

  For example, consumables such as paper and toner are used in image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, and multifunction machines. Therefore, when the consumable item is consumed and no longer used, the image forming apparatus cannot perform image forming processing. Therefore, in order to prevent so-called “out of consumables”, when the consumables become near-end (consumables are almost out), a notification (supply call notification) is sent from the image forming apparatus to the management center until the consumables are exhausted (end). A delivery system for delivering a consumable item to a customer during this period is conventionally known.

  In the near-end detection as described above, for example, although the consumables set in the image forming apparatus can be used sufficiently, the near-end is detected. Sometimes.

  Therefore, techniques for delivering consumables at a more appropriate timing in the near-end detection as described above have been conventionally studied (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2005-321546 A JP 2010-49200 A

  Conventionally, near-end detection is performed based on usage prediction based on normal data such as toner consumption, toner consumption detection period, and the number of used sheets within the period, thereby improving accuracy. Therefore, when printing a number exceeding the normal time, consumables may pass through the near end during printing and end up. Note that when the consumable item reaches the end, the image forming apparatus cannot perform the image forming process.

  Therefore, when printing is performed by designating the number of sheets significantly exceeding normal times at once, the image forming apparatus performs image forming processing in the middle of printing of the designated number of sheets when the consumable item is in the middle of printing of the designated number of sheets. I couldn't do it and it was inconvenient.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus, a consumable-out warning method, and a server device that can warn of out-of-consumables occurring during printing.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the image forming apparatus compares the number of prints requested by the user with the remaining number of prints that are expected to be printed before the consumable reaches the end. If the number of copies is greater than or equal to the number of copies, the remaining number determination means for determining that the consumables will end during printing, and if it is determined that the consumables will end during printing, warn of the possibility that the consumables will end during printing And a main control means for displaying a consumable item out-of-consumer warning screen on the display means.

  In addition, what applied the component, expression, or arbitrary combination of the component of this invention to a method, an apparatus, a system, a computer program, a recording medium, a data structure, etc. is also effective as an aspect of this invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus, a consumables out-of-consumer warning method, and a server device that can warn of consumables running out during printing.

1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is an image diagram illustrating an example of a toner out warning screen. It is a flowchart of an example of the process which calculates the remaining number of sheets and the number of remaining days. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of an image forming apparatus that has received a print request. It is an image figure of an example of the process of near end detection. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is an image figure of an example of the web screen displayed with PC. It is a hardware block diagram of an example of a server.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In this embodiment, the toner end is described as an example of running out of consumables, but the end of consumables other than toner may be used. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the consumable item is out of service life.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 20 includes a main control unit 21 for image forming processing, a set toner consumption management unit 22 for each toner color, and a toner bottle 23. In the configuration diagram of FIG. 1, portions unnecessary for the description of this embodiment are omitted as appropriate.

  The main control unit 21 includes an image forming apparatus main control unit 31, a print number management unit 32, and an operation day management unit 33. The set toner consumption management unit 22 includes a toner consumption detection / management unit 41, a near-end detection remaining days setting unit 42, a toner information detection unit 43, a toner information management unit 44, and a toner consumption advance notification determination unit 45. A remaining number determination unit 46 and a toner consumption prior notification unit 47 are provided.

  The image forming apparatus main control unit 31 of the main control unit 21 controls processing for forming an image on a medium on a sheet or the like. Further, the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 detects that the toner bottle is set when, for example, the toner bottle 23 as a toner container is set at the toner bottle setting position of the image forming apparatus 20.

  The print number management unit 32 manages the total number of prints that is the total number of prints from the replacement of toner to the current time. The print number management unit 32 counts the total number of prints from the number of times of image formation (total counter information). The print number management unit 32 is notified of the toner replacement timing from the image forming apparatus main control unit 31. The print number management unit 32 updates the total number of prints after the printing is completed.

  The working day management unit 33 manages the cumulative number of working days, which is the number of working days of the image forming apparatus 20 from the time after toner replacement to the present time. The working day management unit 33 is notified of toner replacement timing from the image forming apparatus main control unit 31. The working day management unit 33 updates the cumulative number of working days after printing.

  The toner information detection unit 43 of the set toner consumption management unit 22 is notified of toner information such as the total amount of toner in the toner bottle 23 set at the toner bottle setting position of the image forming apparatus 20 from the image forming apparatus main control unit 31. The The toner consumption detection / management unit 41 includes a flow meter in a toner transfer relay mechanism (not shown) as a transfer mechanism. With this flow meter, the toner consumption detection / management unit 41 detects the toner consumption. The toner consumption amount detection / management unit 41 is notified of the end of printing from the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 and detects the toner consumption amount after the end of printing.

  The toner filled in the toner bottle 23 is transferred to the developing unit of the printing mechanism via the toner transfer relay mechanism. The flow meter is for measuring the toner flow rate, and measures the toner flow rate transferred from the toner bottle 23 to the developing unit via the toner transfer relay mechanism. In the present embodiment, the flow meter measures the transferred toner flow rate, and measures the weight integrated value of the measured toner flow rate as the toner consumption amount. The toner flow rate may be measured directly by weight.

  The toner information management unit 44 manages toner information including information related to toner consumption of the toner bottle 23. For example, the toner information includes the total amount of toner, the amount of toner consumed from the replacement of the toner to the current time, the remaining amount of toner at the current time, and the remaining number of sheets to be described later.

  The total amount of toner is the remaining amount of toner at the time of toner replacement. In the case of a new toner bottle 23, the total amount of toner is the content of the toner bottle 23. Further, the toner information management unit 44 is notified of the toner consumption amount from the toner consumption detection / management unit 41 after the toner replacement to the present time. The current remaining amount of toner is calculated, for example, by subtracting the toner consumption from the total amount of toner. The remaining number of sheets represents the number of sheets that can be printed before the end of the toner. The remaining number is notified from the remaining number determination unit 46.

  The near-end detection remaining days setting unit 42 sets the number of remaining days of near-end detection set by the user. For example, the user sets the number of remaining days for near-end detection from an operation panel (not shown). The number of remaining days of near-end detection may be set remotely, for example, from the management center when the image forming apparatus 20 is installed, in accordance with the contract contents with the user (customer). The remaining number of days of near-end detection set by the user is notified from the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 to the near-end detection remaining days setting unit.

  The remaining number determination unit 46 calculates the remaining number by the following equation (1). The remaining number determination unit 46 acquires the total number of printed sheets from the printed number management unit 32. In addition, the remaining number determination unit 46 acquires from the toner information management unit 44 the toner consumption amount from the time of toner replacement to the present time and the current remaining toner amount. The toner information management unit 44 acquires and manages the remaining number calculated by the remaining number determination unit 46.

Remaining number of sheets = remaining amount of toner / (toner consumption / total number of printed sheets) (1)
The toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 calculates the average number of printed sheets by dividing the total number of printed sheets by the total number of working days. The toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 acquires the cumulative number of printed sheets and the cumulative number of working days updated after the printing is completed from the printed number management unit 32 and the number of working days management unit 33. The average number of printed sheets is an average value of the number of printed sheets per day.

  Further, the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 calculates the remaining days by dividing the remaining number by the average number of printed sheets. The toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 acquires the remaining number from the toner information management unit 44. The toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 compares the number of remaining days of near-end detection set in the near-end detection remaining days setting unit 42 with the calculated remaining number of days, and determines whether or not prior notification of toner consumption is necessary. To do.

  If the calculated remaining number of days is equal to or less than the number of remaining days of near-end detection, the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 determines that prior notification of toner consumption is necessary. If the calculated remaining number of days is not less than or equal to the number of remaining days for near-end detection, the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 determines that prior notification of toner consumption is unnecessary.

  When it is determined that the prior notification of the toner consumption is necessary, the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 requests the toner consumption prior notification unit 47 for a supply call notification. Based on a request from the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45, the toner consumption prior notification unit 47 notifies a supply call to a toner supply management server, for example.

  The image forming apparatus main control unit 31 of the main control unit 21 requests the remaining number determination unit 46 of the set toner consumption management unit 22 before starting printing when the user sets the number of prints from the operation panel and requests printing. The toner out prediction process during printing is performed.

  The remaining number determination unit 46 compares the remaining number managed by the toner information management unit 44 with the number of printed sheets set on the operation panel, and determines that the toner is ended during printing if the number of printed sheets is equal to or larger than the remaining number. The remaining number determination unit 46 notifies the determination result to the image forming apparatus main control unit 31. The image forming apparatus main control unit 31 displays a toner out warning screen on the operation panel when notified from the remaining number determination unit 46 that the toner will be exhausted during printing.

  FIG. 2 is an image diagram of an example of a toner out warning screen. The toner-out warning screen 50 in FIG. 2 includes text for warning that toner may end during printing, a toner delivery request button 51, a print continue button 52, and a cancel button 53. When the user selects the toner delivery request button 51, the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 requests the toner consumption prior notification unit 47 to supply a supply call notification, and then starts printing.

  When the user selects the print continuation button 52, the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 starts printing. When the user selects the cancel button 53, the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 cancels a print request made by the user from the operation panel, for example.

  The image forming apparatus 20 configured as shown in FIG. 1 performs processing in the procedure shown in the following flowchart, for example. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example of a process for calculating the remaining number of sheets and the remaining number of days. The process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is executed at the end of printing, for example.

  In step S <b> 1, the print number management unit 32 calculates the total number of prints that is the total number of prints from the replacement of toner to the current time. The working day management unit 33 calculates the cumulative number of working days that is the working days of the image forming apparatus 20 from the time after toner replacement to the present time. In step S2, the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 calculates the average number of printed sheets by dividing the cumulative number of printed sheets calculated in step S1 by the total number of working days.

  In step S3, the remaining number determination unit 46 obtains the toner consumption amount per sheet obtained by dividing the toner consumption amount by the cumulative number of printed sheets calculated in step S1. Then, the remaining number determination unit 46 calculates the number of sheets (remaining number of sheets) predicted to be printable before the end of the toner by dividing the remaining amount of toner by the amount of toner consumed per sheet.

  In step S4, the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 calculates the number of days until the end of the toner (the number of remaining days) by dividing the remaining number calculated in step S3 by the average number of printed sheets calculated in step S2.

  Further, when the user sets the number of prints from the operation panel and requests printing, for example, the image forming apparatus 20 in FIG. 1 performs processing according to the procedure shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the image forming apparatus that has received a print request.

  In step S11, when the user sets the number of prints from the operation panel, for example, the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 makes a print request to the remaining number determination unit 46 of the set toner consumption management unit 22 before starting printing. Requests toner out prediction processing.

  The remaining number determination unit 46 compares the remaining number managed by the toner information management unit 44 with the number of printed sheets set on the operation panel, and determines whether or not the number of printed sheets is equal to or larger than the remaining number. If the number of prints is equal to or greater than the remaining number, the remaining number determination unit 46 determines that the toner is ended during printing. If the number of printed sheets is not equal to or greater than the remaining number, the remaining number determining unit 46 determines that the toner does not end during printing. The remaining number determination unit 46 notifies the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 of the result of the determination as to whether or not the toner is exhausted during printing.

  When the remaining number determination unit 46 notifies the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 that the toner will end during printing, in step S12, for example, the toner out warning screen 50 of FIG. 2 is displayed on the operation panel. Note that when the remaining number determination unit 46 notifies that the toner does not end during printing, the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 starts printing in step S15 described later.

  After the toner out warning screen 50 of FIG. 2 is displayed on the operation panel, the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 determines the button selected by the user in step S13. If it is determined that the user has selected the toner delivery request button 51, the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 requests the toner consumption prior notification unit 47 to notify the supply call in step S14. The toner consumption prior notification unit 47 makes a supply call notification based on a request from the image forming apparatus main control unit 31, and then starts printing in step S15.

  If it is determined that the user has selected the print continuation button 52, the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 starts printing in step S15. If it is determined that the user has selected the cancel button 53, the image forming apparatus main control unit 31 cancels the print request made by the user from, for example, the operation panel, and ends the processing of the flowchart of FIG.

  After the printing is completed, the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 compares the number of remaining days of near end detection set in the near end detection remaining number of days setting unit 42 with the number of remaining days calculated as described above in step S16. It is determined whether the calculated remaining number of days is less than or equal to the number of remaining days for near-end detection.

  If it is determined that the calculated remaining number of days is equal to or less than the number of remaining days for near-end detection, the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 determines that prior notification of toner consumption is necessary. If it is determined that the calculated remaining number of days is not less than or equal to the number of remaining days for near-end detection, the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 determines that prior notification of toner consumption is unnecessary and ends the processing of the flowchart of FIG. If it is determined that the prior notification of toner consumption is necessary, the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45 proceeds to step S17 and requests the toner consumption prior notification unit 47 for a supply call notification. The toner consumption prior notification unit 47 makes a supply call notification based on the request from the toner consumption prior notification determination unit 45, and then ends the processing of the flowchart of FIG. The toner consumption prior notification unit 47 does not perform the supply call notification in step S17 if the supply call notification has been completed in step S14.

  In step S16, for example, the processing shown by the image in FIG. FIG. 5 is an image diagram of an example of the near-end detection process. FIG. 5A shows an example in which near-end detection is performed based on the remaining amount of toner. FIG. 5B shows an example in which near-end detection is performed based on the number of remaining days.

  FIG. 5A shows a near-end detection method based on the remaining amount of toner. FIG. 5A shows a case where the toner remaining amount for near-end detection is set to 10%. When the near-end detection is performed based on the remaining amount of toner, there is a variation in the period from the near end to the end between the devices A and B that use different amounts of toner per day. For this reason, if the toner arrives after the toner end or if the toner arrives one month before the toner end, the toner arrival may be at an inappropriate timing different from the user's desire.

  FIG. 5B shows a near-end detection method based on the remaining days. FIG. 5B shows a case where the number of remaining days for near-end detection is set to 3 days. When the near end is detected based on the number of remaining days, there is no variation in the period from the near end to the end even if the device A and the device B use different amounts of toner per day.

  As described above, in the near-end detection method based on the number of remaining days in this embodiment, it is possible to specify how many days before the toner reaches the end by using the period itself from the near end to the end itself for the determination. Therefore, the near-end detection method based on the number of remaining days in the present embodiment does not cause variations in toner arrival, and toner arrival is at an appropriate timing desired by the user.

  FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an example of a system including the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. A system 60 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a PC 61, a server 62, a hub 63, and image forming apparatuses 20A to 20E. The number of image forming apparatuses 20A to 20E is an example.

  The PC 61 is a device operated by the user. The PC 61 is connected to the server 62 via a network such as a LAN so that data communication is possible. The PC 61 receives the web screen data from the server 62 and displays the web screen on a display device such as a display. The user can check the status (remaining number of sheets, number of remaining days, etc.) of each of the image forming apparatuses 20A to 20E from the web screen displayed on the display device of the PC 61.

  Further, the user can cause the selected image forming apparatuses 20A to 20E (multiple designation is possible) to perform printing. The server 62 is connected to the image forming apparatuses 20A to 20E via the hub 63 so that data communication is possible. The server 62 collects information such as the remaining number, supply call notification status, remaining days, and printing status from the image forming apparatuses 20A to 20E at regular intervals. For example, the server 62 may acquire real-time information from the image forming apparatuses 20A to 20E when the update button on the web screen displayed on the PC 61 is pressed.

  Since the image forming apparatuses 20A to 20E are configured to transmit information such as the remaining number, the supply call notification status, the remaining number of days, and the printing status to the server 62 in the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 of the first embodiment. Description is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is an image diagram of an example of a web screen displayed on the PC. The web screen 70 shown in FIG. 7 includes an update button 71, a print button 72, a print check box 73, and various information 74.

  When the user presses the update button, the PC 61 acquires real-time information from the image forming apparatuses 20A to 20E. When the user selects the print check box 73, the PC 61 displays a check mark in the selected print check box 73. In the example of FIG. 7, an example in which the image forming apparatus 20 </ b> B whose printer name is printer B is selected is shown. When the user presses the print button 72, the PC 61 displays a check mark in the print check box 73. In other words, the PC 61 requests the image forming apparatus 20B selected by the user to perform printing.

  Various types of information 74 in FIG. 7 represent examples of the printer name, the number of printable sheets as the toner status, the toner delivery request status, the IP address and installation location as the device details, and the status (print status). For example, the user refers to the printable number of sheets (remaining number of sheets) included in the various information 74 in FIG. Can be requested.

  The server 62 is realized by a configuration as shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of a server. The server 62 includes an input device 81, an output device 82, a recording medium reading device 83, an auxiliary storage device 84, a main storage device 85, an arithmetic processing device 86, and an interface device 87 that are connected to each other via a bus 88.

  The input device 81 is a keyboard or a mouse. The input device 81 is used for inputting various signals. The output device 82 is a display device such as a display device. The output device 82 is used to display various windows and data.

  The interface device 87 is a modem, a LAN card, or the like. The interface device 87 is used to connect to a network such as a LAN or the Internet. The program for realizing the server 62 is provided by, for example, distribution of the recording medium 89 or downloading from a network or the like. The program is at least a part of a program executed on the server 62.

  The recording medium 89 is a recording medium that records information optically, electrically, or magnetically, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, or a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor that electrically records information, such as a ROM or flash memory. Various types of recording media such as a memory can be used.

  When the recording medium 89 on which the program is recorded is set in the recording medium reading device 83, the program is installed from the recording medium 89 to the auxiliary storage device 84 via the recording medium reading device 83. A program downloaded from a network or the like is installed in the auxiliary storage device 84 via the interface device 87.

  The auxiliary storage device 84 stores programs, necessary files, data, and the like. The main storage device 85 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 84 and stores it when the program is started. The arithmetic processing unit 86 realizes various functions according to programs stored in the main storage device 85.

  The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, in the present embodiment, the case of toner is described as an example of the consumable, but consumables other than toner may be used. For example, in the case of consumables other than toner, the remaining amount of toner and the amount of toner consumed in equation (1) may be replaced with, for example, the remaining number of consumables and the number of consumed consumables.

20, 20A to 20E Image forming apparatus 21 Main control section 22 Set toner consumption management section for each toner color 23 Toner bottle 31 Image forming apparatus main control section 32 Print number management section 33 Working days management section 41 Toner consumption detection / management Unit 42 Near-end detection remaining days setting unit 43 Toner information detection unit 44 Toner information management unit 45 Toner consumption prior notification determination unit 46 Remaining number of sheets determination unit 47 Toner consumption prior notification unit 50 Toner out warning screen 51 Toner delivery request button 52 Print Continue button 53 Cancel button 60 System 61 PC (personal computer)
62 Server 63 Hub 70 Web screen 71 Update button 72 Print button 73 Print check box 74 Various information 81 Input device 82 Output device 83 Recording medium reader 84 Auxiliary storage device 85 Main storage device 86 Arithmetic processing device 87 Interface device 88 Bus 89 Recording Medium

Claims (6)

The number of prints requested by the user is compared with the remaining number of sheets that can be printed before the end of the consumables. If the number of prints exceeds the remaining number, the consumables end during printing. A remaining number determining means for determining;
And a main control unit that displays a consumables out-of-consumer warning screen on the display unit to warn of the possibility that the consumables will end during printing. An image forming apparatus. The main control means includes a button for accepting a consumable delivery delivery request from a user, a button for accepting a print continuation from a user, and a button for accepting a print request cancellation from a user on the consumable out-of-consumer warning screen. When a button for accepting a delivery request is selected, a request for a supply call is requested to the reporting means, and when a button for accepting continuation of printing is selected from the user, printing is started and a button for accepting cancellation of a print request from the user is selected. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print request is canceled when is selected. The remaining number determination means is a consumable item per sheet based on the average number of printed sheets calculated from the replacement of consumables up to the present time and the average number of prints calculated from the cumulative number of operating days and the number of consumables consumed up to the present time after the replacement of consumables. The number of consumptions is calculated, and the remaining number of sheets that is predicted to be printable before the end of the consumables is calculated based on the number of remaining consumables and the number of consumables consumed per sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The number of remaining days until the end of the consumables is calculated based on the remaining number of sheets that can be printed before the end of the consumables and the average number of printed sheets. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a notification determination unit that requests the notification unit to notify a supply call when the number of remaining days of near-end detection set by the user is less than or equal to. An out-of-consumables warning method executed by an image forming apparatus,
The number of prints requested by the user is compared with the remaining number of sheets that can be printed before the end of the consumables. If the number of prints exceeds the remaining number, the consumables end during printing. A determination step for determining;
A display step of displaying on a display means a consumables out-of-consumer warning screen that warns of the possibility that the consumables will end during printing. To run out of consumables The number of prints requested by the user is compared with the remaining number of sheets that can be printed before the end of the consumables. If the number of prints exceeds the remaining number, the consumables end during printing. A remaining number determining means for determining;
And a main control unit that displays a consumables out-of-consumer warning screen on the display unit to warn of the possibility that the consumables will end during printing. One or more image forming apparatuses are notified of the remaining number of prints that are expected to be printable before the consumable is exhausted,
Screen data including information on the remaining number of prints predicted to be printable before the consumables notified from the one or more image forming apparatuses is sent to the client apparatus, and the screen is displayed on the client apparatus. The server apparatus characterized by displaying on the display means.

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