JP2018092029A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience for a user who wants to suppress lowering of printing quality.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: an accommodation unit that accommodates color material; a printing unit that prints using the color material; an odor detection unit that changes an output value according to an odor of the color material; a storage unit that stores as a reference range a range of output values which are output from the odor detection unit when the color material is a genuine product; and a control unit that detects an output value of the odor detection unit as an object value which is used in determination processing to determine whether or not the color material is the genuine product, that performs as the determination processing the processing to determine that the color material is the genuine product when the object value is a value within the reference range, and the processing to determine that the color material is not the genuine product when the object value is the value outside of the reference range, and that performs a notification processing to notify a determination result.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of executing printing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses that execute printing using color materials are known. For example, in a laser type image forming apparatus, toner is used as a color material. In the laser image forming apparatus, a toner image is formed based on image data of an image to be printed, and the toner image is printed on a sheet.

  A laser type image forming apparatus is equipped with a container for storing toner. When executing printing, the toner contained in the container is used. The toner in the container is consumed by the execution of printing, and eventually the toner in the container disappears. For this reason, the container can be replaced. When the toner in the container runs out, the container is replaced from an empty container to a container filled with toner.

  By the way, a non-genuine product container (a container containing non-genuine toner) may be attached to the image forming apparatus when the container is replaced. For this reason, a technique for discriminating whether a container mounted on the image forming apparatus is a genuine product or a non-genuine product has been proposed.

  For example, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 communicates with an RFID tag of a container attached to the image forming apparatus when a container is attached to the image forming apparatus, and is based on a signal transmitted from the RFID tag. Then, it is determined whether the container mounted on the image forming apparatus is a genuine product or a non-genuine product. The image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 issues a warning when a container mounted on the image forming apparatus is a non-genuine product.

JP 2011-28017 A

  Normally, the image forming apparatus is configured to operate under conditions suitable for the specifications of genuine toner. In other words, regardless of whether the toner used for printing is a genuine product or a non-genuine product, the image forming apparatus operates under conditions suitable for the specifications of the genuine toner. Therefore, in printing using non-genuine toner, it is easy to cause a disadvantage that print quality is deteriorated. For this reason, it is preferable to use genuine toner in order to suppress a decrease in print quality.

  Here, in Patent Document 1, a warning is notified when a non-genuine product container (a container containing non-genuine toner) is attached to the image forming apparatus. In other words, when a non-genuine container is mounted on the image forming apparatus, it is possible to notify the user that the print quality will deteriorate if printing is performed as it is.

  However, in Patent Document 1, if the container attached to the image forming apparatus is a genuine product, a warning is not notified even if non-genuine toner is contained in the container. Therefore, non-genuine toner is contained in the container. The user cannot know that Therefore, it is not convenient for a user who wants to suppress a decrease in print quality (a user who wants to use genuine toner).

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of improving the convenience of a user who wants to suppress a decrease in print quality.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a color material, a printing unit that performs printing using the color material, and an odor that changes an output value according to the odor of the color material. A detection unit, a storage unit that stores in advance the range of output values output from the odor detection unit when the color material is a genuine product, and a determination process for determining whether the color material is a genuine product The output value of the odor detection unit is detected as the target value used for the color, and if the target value is within the reference range, the color material is determined to be genuine, while if the target value is outside the reference range, the color A control unit that performs a process of determining that the material is a non-genuine product as a determination process and performs a notification process of notifying a determination result obtained by the determination process.

  In the configuration of the present invention, since the determination process for determining whether or not the color material is a genuine product is performed based on the output value of the odor detection unit (that is, the odor of the color material), whether or not the storage unit is a genuine product. Regardless of this, if a non-genuine color material is stored in the storage unit, it can be determined that the color material stored in the storage unit is a non-genuine product, and the color material stored in the storage unit can be determined. Can be notified to the user that the product is a non-genuine product. This improves the convenience of a user who wants to suppress a decrease in print quality (a user who wants to print using genuine color materials).

  With the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user who wants to suppress a decrease in print quality.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the alerting | reporting screen displayed on the image forming apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the alerting | reporting screen displayed on the image forming apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of determination processing and notification processing performed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

<Overall configuration of image forming apparatus>
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment includes a printing unit 10. The printing unit 10 uses a toner as a color material to execute a job that accompanies printing such as a copy job or a printer job (hereinafter may be referred to as a print job). The printing unit 10 conveys the paper P along the paper conveyance path 10P when executing a print job, forms a toner image based on the image data of the image to be printed, and prints the toner image on the paper P being conveyed. To do.

  The printing unit 10 includes a paper feeding unit 11, a paper transport unit 12, an image forming unit 13, and a fixing unit 14. The paper feed unit 11 includes a pickup roller and a pair of paper feed rollers, and feeds the paper P to the paper transport path 10P. The paper transport unit 12 includes a plurality of transport roller pairs provided in the paper transport path 10P, and transports the paper P along the paper transport path 10P.

  The image forming unit 13 includes a photosensitive drum 131, a charging device 132, an exposure device 133, a developing device 134, and a transfer roller 135. When the print job is executed, the charging device 132 charges the photosensitive drum 131. The exposure device 133 exposes the photosensitive drum 131 and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 131 based on image data of an image to be printed. The developing device 134 supplies toner toward the photosensitive drum 131 and develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The transfer roller 135 forms a transfer nip with the photosensitive drum 131 and transfers the toner image onto the paper P passing through the transfer nip.

  The developing device 134 of the image forming unit 13 stores toner, but the toner in the developing device 134 is consumed by executing a print job. Therefore, it is necessary to supply toner to the developing device 134. For this reason, the image forming apparatus 100 is equipped with a container 130 that stores toner for supply. When the remaining amount of toner in the developing device 134 falls below a predetermined reference amount, toner supply from the container 130 to the developing device 134 is performed. The container 130 corresponds to the “accommodating unit”.

  The container 130 is detachable (replaceable) with respect to the image forming apparatus 100. For example, a part of the exterior cover of the image forming apparatus 100 is an open / close cover (not shown), and the mounting space for mounting the container 130 is exposed by opening the open / close cover. When the toner in the container 130 attached to the image forming apparatus 100 runs out, the opening / closing cover is opened and the container 130 is replaced.

  When the container 130 is mounted in the mounting space, the container 130 and the developing device 134 are connected via the supply pipe 136. Then, toner is supplied from the container 130 to the developing device 134 through a supply pipe 136. That is, the toner falls inside the supply pipe 136.

  The fixing unit 14 includes a fixing roller pair including a heating roller 141 and a pressure roller 142. The heating roller 141 incorporates a heater 143. The pressure roller 142 is in pressure contact with the heating roller 141 and forms a fixing nip with the heating roller 141. The fixing unit 14 fixes the toner image on the paper P by heating and pressurizing the paper P passing through the fixing nip.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image reading unit 20. The image reading unit 20 optically reads the document D and generates image data of the document D. For example, when executing a copy job, the image reading unit 20 reads the document D. Then, the printing unit 10 prints an image on the paper P based on the image data of the document D read by the image reading unit 20.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation panel 30. The operation panel 30 displays a screen and receives an operation (instruction) from the user. In addition, the operation panel 30 notifies the user (for example, displays a screen for performing notification). The operation panel 30 corresponds to an “operation display unit”.

  The operation panel 30 is provided with a touch panel display 31 and hardware keys 32. The touch panel display 31 displays a screen on which software keys are arranged, and accepts various setting instructions (touch operations on the software keys) such as setting instructions related to a print job from the user. A plurality of hardware keys 32 are provided on the operation panel 30. As an example of the hardware key 32, there is a start key for receiving a print job execution instruction from a user.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 40 that controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 100. The control unit 40 includes a CPU 41 and a memory 42. The CPU 41 operates based on a control program and data, and executes processing for controlling each unit of the image forming apparatus 100. The memory 42 stores a control program and data.

  The control unit 40 is connected to the printing unit 10 and the image reading unit 20 and controls the printing operation of the printing unit 10 and the reading operation of the image reading unit 20. The control unit 40 is connected to the operation panel 30. The control unit 40 controls the display operation of the touch panel display 31 and detects a touch operation on the touch panel display 31 (software key) and a press operation on the hardware key 32.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a temperature detection unit 50 including a thermistor. The temperature detection unit 50 is installed at a predetermined location inside the image forming apparatus 100 and changes the output value according to the temperature at the predetermined location. For example, an area where the constituent members of the printing unit 10 are installed (for example, the vicinity of the container 130) is an installation location of the temperature detection unit 50. Further, the temperature detection unit 50 is connected to the control unit 40. Then, the control unit 40 detects the temperature inside the image forming apparatus 100 (predetermined location) based on the output value of the temperature detection unit 50.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a storage unit 60. The storage unit 60 includes a nonvolatile storage device such as a ROM (EEPROM or the like) or an HDD. The storage unit 60 is connected to the control unit 40. Then, the control unit 40 reads information from the storage unit 60 and writes information to the storage unit 60. For example, determination information 61 used for determination processing described later is stored in the storage unit 60 in advance.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 70. The communication unit 70 is an interface for connecting the image forming apparatus 100 to a network 100N such as a LAN. For example, a user terminal 200 (for example, the user terminal 200 is a personal computer) used by a user of the image forming apparatus 100 is connected to the network 100N.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 is connected to the network 100N, information (such as image data) can be transmitted and received between the image forming apparatus 100 and the user terminal 200. Further, by connecting the image forming apparatus 100 to the network 100N, the image forming apparatus 100 can access a wide area network such as the Internet.

  The communication unit 70 includes a communication circuit, a memory, a connector, and the like, and is connected to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 communicates with the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 70. In addition, the control unit 40 accesses a wide area network (such as the Internet) via the communication unit 70, and the external device 300 (for example, the external device 300 is owned and managed by the manufacturer, distributor, maintenance company, etc.) of the image forming apparatus 100. Server).

<Determination of genuine / non-genuine products>
The control unit 40 performs determination processing for determining whether the toner stored in the container 130 is a genuine product or a non-genuine product. In the determination process by the control unit 40, the determination target toner is a genuine toner (genuine toner) or a non-genuine toner (non-genuine toner) based on an odor emitted from the determination target toner to be a determination process target. A determination is made whether there is any.

  In order to cause the control unit 40 to perform the determination process, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with an odor detection unit 80. The odor detection unit 80 includes an odor sensor that changes an output value according to the intensity of the odor emitted from the determination target toner. For example, an oxide semiconductor type odor sensor or a quartz vibration type odor sensor is used as the odor detection unit 80.

  For example, genuine toner can be obtained by blending multiple types of components (binder resin, magnetic powder, carbon black, dye, release agent, external additive, etc.), but the odor of any of these multiple types of components can be obtained. You may comprise the odor detection part 80 so that it may be detected selectively. In the case of such a configuration, the odor detection unit 80 may be provided with a filter or the like for extracting the odor of a specific component. Although not particularly limited, the binder resin among the plural types of components blended in the genuine toner is likely to generate odor, and the odor of the binder resin may be detected. Alternatively, the odor of a component having a weaker odor than the other components may be dared to be detected.

  Alternatively, the odor detecting unit 80 may be configured such that a fragrance that is not originally required as a toner component is intentionally blended with the genuine toner and the odor of the fragrance is selectively detected. For example, a water-soluble fragrance or an oil-based fragrance obtained by extracting a flavor component from a plant or the like may be blended with a pure toner.

  The odor detection unit 80 is disposed in the vicinity of the container 130. For example, the odor detection unit 80 may be arranged in the mounting space of the container 130. Further, the odor detector 80 may be disposed inside the supply pipe 136 that connects the container 130 and the developing device 134.

  Alternatively, the odor detection unit 80 may be arranged in the vicinity of the fixing unit 14 (for example, inside the paper conveyance path 10P). In this case, the odor of the determination target toner is detected by the odor detection unit 80 in a state where the determination target toner is printed (transferred) on the paper P. Here, when the toner is heated, it emits a stronger odor. Therefore, by arranging the odor detection unit 80 in the vicinity of the fixing unit 14 (detecting the odor of the determination target toner while the determination target toner is printed on the paper P), the odor of the determination target toner is well detected. can do.

  The determination process by the control unit 40 is performed at a determination time preset by the user. Settings regarding the determination time can be made via the operation panel 30. Alternatively, the setting related to the determination time can also be performed from the user terminal 200. For example, the determination time point can be set so that the determination process is performed before the execution of the print job. In addition, it is possible to set a determination time point so that the determination process is performed when the container 130 is mounted (replaced). The determination time point set by the user is stored in the storage unit 60.

  Here, the control part 40 performs the odor detection which detects the output value of the odor detection part 80 as a target value used for a determination process. And the control part 40 memorize | stores the target value obtained by the odor detection in the memory | storage part 60. FIG.

  After the target value detected by the odor detection is stored in the storage unit 60, at the determination time set by the user, the control unit 40 obtains the target value of the determination target toner (target value detected most recently) from the storage unit 60. get. Further, the control unit 40 reads the determination information 61 stored in the storage unit 60. The determination information 61 is a range of output values output from the odor detection unit 80 when the toner whose odor is detected by the odor detection unit 80 is a genuine product (from the upper limit value to the lower limit value of the output value). Range) as a reference range.

  Then, if the target value of the determination target toner is a value within the reference range, the control unit 40 determines that the determination target toner is a genuine product. On the other hand, if the target value of the determination target toner is outside the reference range, the control unit 40 determines that the determination target toner is a non-genuine product.

  The determination information 61 (reference range) is stored in the storage unit 60 when the image forming apparatus 100 is shipped from the factory. However, the genuine toner component may be changed after the image forming apparatus 100 is shipped from the factory. In this case, the reference range indicated by the determination information 61 is updated.

  Here, the detection time point of the odor detection (detection of the target value used for the determination process) can be arbitrarily set. The setting may be performed via the operation panel 30 or may be performed from the user terminal 200. For example, the detection time point can be set such that odor detection is performed when the image forming apparatus 100 is powered on or when the image forming apparatus 100 returns from the power saving mode (sleep mode). Moreover, a detection time point can be set so that odor detection is performed periodically.

  Furthermore, the detection time point can be set so that odor detection is performed at the same time point as the determination time point at which the determination process is performed. In this case, when the determination time comes, odor detection for detecting the target value used for the determination process is performed prior to the determination process.

<Notification of judgment result>
The control unit 40 performs notification processing for notifying the user of the determination result obtained by the determination processing. The notification process by the control unit 40 is performed only when the control unit 40 determines that the determination target toner is a non-genuine product.

  For example, the control unit 40 performs a process for notifying the determination result via the operation panel 30 as a notification process. In this case, the control unit 40 causes the operation panel 30 to display a notification screen 310 as shown in FIG. The notification screen 310 is a screen for notifying the user of a warning that the determination target toner is a non-genuine product as a determination result. Although not particularly limited, a message M1 such as “Non-genuine toner has been detected” is displayed on the notification screen 310. In addition, a message M2 such as “There is a possibility of a decrease in print quality or an increase in failure rate” is provided on the notification screen 310.

  Or the control part 40 performs the process which alert | reports a determination result via the user terminal 200 as an alerting | reporting process. In this case, the control unit 40 communicates with the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 70, and transmits a display command for causing the user terminal 200 to display a screen similar to the notification screen 310 illustrated in FIG. To do. That is, when receiving the display command, the user terminal 200 displays a screen similar to the notification screen 310 illustrated in FIG. 3 and notifies the user of a warning that the determination target toner is a non-genuine product as a determination result.

  The notification process by the control unit 40 is performed at a notification time preset by the user. Settings relating to the notification time can be made via the operation panel 30. The setting related to the notification time can also be performed from the user terminal 200. For example, the notification time point can be set so that the notification process is performed before the execution of the print job. Furthermore, when a print job using non-genuine toner is executed, a notification time point can be set so that notification processing is performed every time the count value of the number of printed sheets increases by a predetermined value.

  The determination time point and the notification time point can be set to be the same. That is, in this case, when the control unit 40 determines that the determination target toner is a non-genuine product in the determination process, the control unit 40 determines a warning that the determination target toner is a non-genuine product by performing a notification process at that time. As a result, the user is notified.

  Here, it is assumed that a notification time point is set so that notification processing is performed before execution of a print job. In this case, if the determination target toner is a non-genuine product, the control unit 40 performs a notification process before executing the print job. At this time, the control unit 40 performs processing for receiving an instruction from the user as to whether or not to cancel the print job.

  For example, when the print job that has received an execution instruction from the user is a copy job, the control unit 40 causes the operation panel 30 to display a notification screen 320 as shown in FIG. As with the notification screen 310 (see FIG. 3), messages M1 and M2 are arranged on the notification screen 320. In addition, the notification screen 320 includes an acceptance key AK1 (software key) for accepting an instruction to continue the print job from the user and an acceptance key AK2 (accepting an instruction to cancel the print job from the user). Software key).

  When the control unit 40 detects a touch operation on the acceptance key AK1, the control unit 40 executes the print job on the printing unit 10 even if the toner used in the print job is a non-genuine product. On the other hand, when the control unit 40 detects a touch operation on the acceptance key AK2, the control unit 40 cancels the print job. That is, in this case, the print job is not executed.

<Flow of determination processing and notification processing>
The flow of determination processing and notification processing performed by the control unit 40 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, as an example, it is assumed that determination processing and notification processing are set to be performed before execution of a print job. In this case, when a print job execution instruction is received from the user, the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 starts.

  When the control unit 40 detects a pressing operation on the start key (hardware key 32) of the operation panel 30 in a state where the document D is set in the image reading unit 20, the control unit 40 issues an instruction to execute a print job (copy job). Judge that received from the user. When the control unit 40 detects that the communication unit 70 has received job data (data including a print job execution instruction, a print job execution condition, and image data of an image to be printed) from the external device 300, It is determined that a print job (printer job) execution instruction has been received from the user.

  In step S <b> 1, the control unit 40 acquires the target value of the determination target toner (a value indicating the odor of the toner contained in the container 130 currently attached to the image forming apparatus 100) from the storage unit 60. Note that the target value used for the determination process may be detected when a print job execution instruction is received.

  In step S2, the control unit 40 performs a determination process for determining whether the determination target toner is a genuine product or a non-genuine product. In this determination process, the control unit 40 determines whether the target value is a value within the reference range. As a result, when the control unit 40 determines that the target value is within the reference range, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, the control unit 40 causes the printing unit 10 to execute a print job.

  When the control unit 40 determines in step S2 that the target value is not a value within the reference range (a value outside the reference range), the process proceeds to step S4. That is, when the target value exceeds the upper limit value of the reference range and when the target value falls below the lower limit value of the reference range, the process proceeds to step S4. The fact that the target value is not within the reference range means that there is a high possibility that the toner contained in the container 130 currently mounted on the image forming apparatus 100 is a non-genuine product. At this time, the control unit 40 causes the storage unit 60 to store the determination result obtained by the determination process.

  If transfering it to step S4, the control part 40 will suspend execution of a print job, and performs the alerting | reporting process which alert | reports the determination result of the determination process performed most recently. At this time, if the print job that has received the execution instruction is a copy job, the control unit 40 causes the operation panel 30 to display the notification screen 320 shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the print job that has received the execution instruction is a printer job, the control unit 40 causes the user terminal 200 to display a screen similar to the notification screen 320 illustrated in FIG. 4 (the user terminal via the communication unit 70). 200 transmits a display command).

  Thereafter, in step S5, the control unit 40 determines whether an instruction to continue the print job has been received from the user. As a result, when the control unit 40 determines that an instruction to continue the print job has been received from the user, the process proceeds to step S3, and the user instructs the user not to continue the print job (to cancel the print job). If the control unit 40 determines that it has been received from step S6, the process proceeds to step S6.

  When the process proceeds to step S3, the control unit 40 causes the printing unit 10 to execute a print job. In this case, printing using non-genuine toner is performed. On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step S6, the control unit 40 cancels the print job.

  Here, after performing the determination process, the control unit 40 communicates with the external device 300 via the communication unit 70, and the determination result obtained by the determination process (for example, the odor when the odor of the determination target toner is detected). Determination result information including information indicating the output value of the detection unit 80 or the like is notified to the external device 300. For example, determination result information may be notified to the external device 300 each time determination processing is performed. Further, the determination result information may be notified to the external device 300 regardless of the content of the determination result (regardless of whether the determination target toner is a genuine product or a non-genuine product). Information included in the determination result information is not particularly limited, and user information indicating the user of the image forming apparatus 100 may be included in the determination result information. However, from the viewpoint of security, the user may be able to select whether or not to include user information in the determination result information.

  In addition, an instruction as to whether or not notification of determination result information to the external device 300 is permitted may be received from a user (for example, an administrator of the image forming apparatus 100). In addition, every time the determination process is performed, an instruction may be received from the user as to whether to notify the external device 300 of the determination result information.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes the container 130 (container) that stores toner (coloring material), the printing unit 10 that performs printing using the toner stored in the container 130, and the toner. An odor detection unit 80 that changes an output value according to the odor of the toner, a storage unit 60 that stores in advance a range of an output value output from the odor detection unit 80 when the toner is a genuine product, and a toner While the output value of the odor detector 80 is detected as a target value used in the determination process for determining whether or not it is a genuine product, and if the target value is a value within the reference range, it is determined that the toner is a genuine product. A control unit 40 that performs a process of determining that the toner is a non-genuine product if the target value is outside the reference range as a determination process, and performs a notification process that notifies the determination result obtained by the determination process; Prepare.

  In the configuration of the present embodiment, the determination process for determining whether or not the toner is a genuine product is performed based on the output value of the odor detection unit 80 (that is, the odor of the toner), so whether or not the container 130 is a genuine product. However, if non-genuine toner is contained in the container 130, it can be determined that the toner contained in the container 130 is a non-genuine product, and the toner contained in the container 130 is a non-genuine product. The user can be notified of this. This improves the convenience of a user who wants to suppress a decrease in print quality (a user who wants to print using genuine toner).

  In addition, the user is notified that the toner contained in the container 130 is a non-genuine product, and as a result, the container 130 currently installed in the image forming apparatus 100 (the container 130 containing non-genuine toner) is notified. When the genuine toner is replaced with the container 130, since the genuine toner is used in a print job executed thereafter, the non-genuine toner is used when executing the print job. The occurrence of an inconvenience that the failure rate of 100 increases can be suppressed. Note that when notifying the user that the toner contained in the container 130 is a non-genuine product, a message that prompts the user to use genuine toner may be displayed.

  In the configuration in which the determination process for determining whether the toner is a genuine product is performed based on the output value of the odor detection unit 80 (that is, the odor of the toner), only the odor detection unit 80 is installed in the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, an increase in cost can be suppressed. Further, in this configuration, since it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for performing the determination process in the container 130, it is possible to make it difficult for a third party to know the method of the determination process.

  Here, when the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 is high due to the execution of the print job (when the fixing unit 14 is warmed), and when the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 is low (the fixing unit 14). When the toner is the same, the odor emitted from the toner is different even if the toner is the same. That is, a difference occurs in the output value of the odor detection unit 80. For example, when the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 is high, the odor emitted from the toner becomes stronger when the toner is warmed than when the internal temperature is low. Therefore, depending on the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 at the time when the target value used for the determination process is detected, the target value is out of the reference range even though the toner is a genuine product, or the toner is a non-genuine product. Despite this, the target value may fall within the reference range. That is, an erroneous determination may occur in the determination process. For this reason, in order to suppress erroneous determination in the determination process, it is preferable to consider the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 100.

  For example, in order to suppress erroneous determination in the determination process, the toner contained in the container 130 attached to the image forming apparatus 100 is a genuine product, and the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 is a temperature within a predetermined temperature range. In this case, the range of the output value of the odor detection unit 80 may be stored in the storage unit 60 as a reference range.

  In this case, the control unit 40 detects the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 based on the output value of the temperature detection unit 50. In addition, the control unit 40 causes the storage unit 60 to store the output value of the odor detection unit 80 detected during the period in which the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 is within the predetermined temperature range as the target value. Then, the control unit 40 detects within a period during which the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 is within a predetermined temperature range at the determination time (when it is determined whether or not the toner is a genuine product). Whether the toner is a genuine product based on whether the target value is acquired from the storage unit 60 and the acquired target value is a value within a reference range (a reference range considering the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 100). Determine whether or not. Thereby, it can suppress that a misjudgment generate | occur | produces in a determination process.

  In addition, a component for determination processing that emits odor when the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 rises to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range (for example, a component that is not originally required as a toner blending component) is added to the genuine toner. Only the toner that is blended and blended with the component for determination processing may be determined to be a genuine product in the determination processing. In this case, it is possible to prevent the toner determined as a genuine product in the determination process from being created by a third party. In other words, it is possible to suppress the determination that the toner created by the third party (the toner whose print quality decreases when used for printing) is determined as a genuine product in the determination process. In addition, if a component with a weak odor is additionally blended with the genuine toner as a component for determination processing, it becomes difficult for a third party to notice that the component for determination processing is additionally blended with the genuine toner. It is possible to further prevent the toner determined as a genuine product in the determination process from being created by a third party.

  In the configuration of the present embodiment, when the control unit 40 determines that the toner is a non-genuine product in the determination process, the control unit 40 displays a determination result including a warning that the toner stored in the container 130 is a non-genuine product. A process of notifying the user is performed as a notification process (messages M1 and M2 are displayed on the operation panel 30). Thereby, when the non-genuine toner is stored in the container 130, the user can be surely recognized to that effect.

  In the configuration of the present embodiment, the control unit 40 performs a determination process when an instruction to execute a print job is received from a user. When the control unit 40 determines that the toner is a non-genuine product in the determination process, the control unit 40 performs a notification process before executing the print job. As a result, a user who wants to print using genuine toner, before the execution of a print job using non-genuine toner, the container 130 (the non-genuine toner is stored in the image forming apparatus 100). The container 130) can be replaced with a container 130 containing genuine toner, which is convenient.

  In the configuration of the present embodiment, the control unit 40 performs determination processing when the determination time set by the user is reached, and performs notification processing when the notification time set by the user is reached. In this configuration, the user can arbitrarily set the time point at which the determination process is performed and the time point at which the notification process is performed. This improves user convenience. For example, if the notification time point is set so that the number of times the notification process is performed is reduced, it is possible to suppress frequent notification of the determination result. In order to suppress frequent change of the determination time point and the notification time point, the authority to set the determination time point and the notification time point may be given only to a specific user (for example, an administrator of the image forming apparatus 100).

  In the configuration of the present embodiment, the control unit 40 communicates with the external device 300 via the communication unit 70, and controls the external device 300 owned and managed by the manufacturer, distributor, maintenance company, and the like of the image forming apparatus 100. The determination result obtained by the determination process is notified. As a result, the state (such as what toner is used) of the image forming apparatus 100 can be confirmed by manufacturers, distributors, maintenance contractors, and the like of the image forming apparatus 100. For example, when performing maintenance of the image forming apparatus 100, if the state of the image forming apparatus 100 is confirmed in advance, the maintenance work can be performed efficiently.

  It should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the description of the above-described embodiment but by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes meanings equivalent to the scope of claims for patent and all modifications within the scope.

  For example, in the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a laser type image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus other than a laser type image forming apparatus (for example, an ink jet type image forming apparatus). Is possible. In other words, the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus that uses ink as a “coloring material”.

10 Printing section 30 Operation panel (operation display section)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 Control part 50 Temperature detection part 60 Memory | storage part 70 Communication part 80 Odor detection part 100 Image forming apparatus 130 Container (accommodating part)
200 User terminal 300 External device

Claims (6)

A housing for housing the color material;
A printing unit that performs printing using the color material;
An odor detector that changes an output value according to the odor of the colorant;
A storage unit that pre-stores a range of an output value output from the odor detection unit when the color material is a genuine product as a reference range;
An output value of the odor detection unit is detected as a target value used in a determination process for determining whether or not the color material is the genuine product. If the target value is a value within the reference range, the color material is While determining as the genuine product, if the target value is a value outside the reference range, a process for determining that the color material is a non-genuine product is performed as the determination process, and is obtained by the determination process. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs a notification process that notifies the determination result. It has a temperature detector that changes the output value according to the temperature of the image forming apparatus,
The reference range is a range of output values of the odor detector when the temperature of the image forming apparatus is a temperature within a predetermined temperature range,
The control unit detects the temperature of the image forming apparatus based on an output value of the temperature detection unit, and detects the target value within a period during which the temperature of the image forming apparatus is within the predetermined temperature range. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   When the control unit determines that the color material is the non-genuine product, the control unit performs a process for notifying a user of the determination result including a warning that the color material is the non-genuine product. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. An operation display unit that displays a screen and receives instructions from the user;
A communication unit that is communicably connected to a user terminal used by a user and receives an instruction from the user by communicating with the user terminal;
The control unit performs the determination process when an instruction to execute a job involving printing is received from a user, and determines that the color material is the non-genuine product, the determination result is displayed on the operation display unit. The process to be displayed is performed as the notification process before the execution of the job, or the process of communicating with the user terminal through the communication unit and notifying the determination result through the user terminal is performed as the notification process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is performed before execution of a job. The storage unit stores a determination time point preset by the user as a time point for performing the determination process and a notification time point preset by the user as a time point for performing the notification process,
When the determination time comes, the control unit performs the determination process, and stores the determination result obtained by the determination process performed in the storage unit,
The said control part performs the process which alert | reports the said determination result obtained by the said determination process performed most recently as said alerting | reporting process when it becomes the said alerting | reporting time. 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. A communication unit that is communicably connected to an external device,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit communicates with the external device via the communication unit and notifies the determination result to the external device.

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