JP2009023129A - Printing device and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device capable of eliminating inconvenience wherein every time a user inputs printing data, the user must go get a printed matter to a position of another printer. <P>SOLUTION: A printer 1 includes a remaining amount detecting part 13 for detecting the remaining amount of a consumable article, a consumable article search control part 15 for searching printers 3, 9 having the consumable articles exchangeable with a consumable article, a network control part 17 for transferring input printing data to the printer 3 searched by the consumable article search control part 15 based on the detected result of the remaining amount detecting part 13, and an operator panel 19 for, when transfer of the printing data in the network control part 17 could not be executed, notifying the user of information for specifying the printer 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing system.

  Conventionally, as a system for transferring print data to another printing apparatus when the printing apparatus cannot print the print data, there is an invention of a printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1.

JP 07-281850 A

  Specifically, this Patent Document 1 stores a list of printers that perform preset proxy printing, and when printing cannot be performed, the printing system transfers print data to another printer according to the list. Such an invention is disclosed.

  However, in the printing system described in Patent Document 1 described above, for example, after the proxy printing is started due to the occurrence of the developer running out or the like, the proxy printing is continuously performed until the developer is replenished. . In this case, each time printing is performed, there is a problem that the user has to go to a place where there is a printer different from the printer that has input the print data.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and every time a user inputs print data, the inconvenience of having to go to a certain position of another printer to get a printed matter can be solved. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing system that can be used.

  In order to solve the above problems, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a remaining amount detection unit that detects a remaining amount of consumables, and a consumable item search unit that searches for an external device having a consumable item that can be replaced with the consumable item. A data transfer unit that transfers the input print data to the external device searched by the consumables search unit based on a detection result by the remaining amount detection unit, and the data transfer unit transfers the print data. And a notification unit for notifying a user of information for specifying the external device when it cannot be performed.

  According to this configuration, when the print data cannot be transferred, the printing apparatus can notify the user of information for specifying an external apparatus having a consumable item that can be exchanged for its own consumable item. . Thus, the user can easily exchange the consumables that are insufficient in the printing apparatus and the consumables that the external apparatus has.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system comprising: a first printing device to which print data is input; and a second printing device having a consumable that can be exchanged for the consumable of the first printing device. The first printing device receives the input print data to the second printing device based on a first remaining amount detection unit that detects the remaining amount of the consumables and a detection result by the first remaining amount detection unit. A data transfer unit for transfer, a remaining amount search unit for searching for a remaining amount of consumables that can be exchanged, and a notification unit for notifying a user of information for identifying the second printing apparatus, The second printing apparatus detects a remaining amount of the replaceable consumable in response to a request from the remaining amount search unit, and a detection result in the second remaining amount detection unit as the first remaining amount detection unit. A result transmission unit that transmits to a printing apparatus, and the notification unit includes: When the printing data transfer unit cannot transfer the print data, the second printing apparatus is specified based on the detection result of the remaining amount of the replaceable consumables transmitted from the result transmission unit. It is characterized by notifying the user of information.

  According to this configuration, the printing system can transmit the detection result of the remaining amount of replaceable consumables included in the second printing apparatus from the second printing apparatus to the first printing apparatus. When the print data cannot be transferred from the first printing apparatus to the second printing apparatus, the first printing apparatus is based on the detection result of the remaining amount of consumable supplies that can be exchanged transmitted from the second printing apparatus. The user can be notified of information for specifying an external device having a consumable item that can be exchanged with the consumable item that the user has. Thus, the user can easily exchange the consumables that are lacking in the first printing apparatus and the consumables that the second printing apparatus has.

  As described above, according to the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the user can acquire information on the external device having the consumables that can be exchanged with the consumables that the printing device has, and the consumables that are insufficient in the printing device. And the consumables of the external device can be easily exchanged, so that every time the user inputs print data, the inconvenience of having to go to a position where another printer is to be taken is eliminated. Can do.

  Further, according to the printing system of the present invention, the user can acquire information on the second printing apparatus having the consumables that can be exchanged with the consumables that the first printing apparatus has, and the printing apparatus lacks the information. The consumables that are present and the consumables that the second printing apparatus has can be easily exchanged, so every time the user inputs print data, the user must go to a position where another printer is located. This inconvenience can be solved.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  A printing system according to an embodiment includes a plurality of printing apparatuses. If the printing device in which the print data is input among the plurality of printing devices determines that its consumables are insufficient, it determines whether or not proxy printing can be performed in another printing device. When the printing apparatus determines that there is no printing apparatus that can perform proxy printing, the printing apparatus searches for a consumable that can be replaced with its own consumable, and notifies the user of the printing apparatus that has the replaceable consumable. . As a result, the user can easily replace the consumable item of the printing apparatus to which the print data is input and the replaceable consumable item.

  Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system according to the first embodiment includes printers 1 and 3, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "PC") 5, and a network 7 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Connected to each other. In such a printing system, the printers 1 and 3 are shared by the PC 5 and a PC (not shown). In the following, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the printer 1 is a printer to which the user has transmitted print data using the PC 5, and the printer 3 is a printer having consumables that can be exchanged for consumables of the printer 1. Further, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that printers 9a, 9b, 9c,... Having consumables that can be replaced with consumables that the printer 1 has are connected to the network 7. In the following description, the printers 9a, 9b, 9c,.

  The printer 1 prints an image based on print data input from the PC 7 on a medium such as paper. When the printer 1 determines that its consumables are insufficient, it transfers the print data to the other printer 3 to perform proxy printing. Further, for example, in the case where some printing failure or communication failure has occurred in other printers including the printer 3 and proxy printing cannot be performed, the printer 1 has a consumable item that can be replaced with its own consumable item. The remaining amount of consumables in the printers 3 and 9 is detected. The printer 1 notifies the user of information that allows the user to specify the printers 3 and 9. Here, the consumables mainly mean consumables for the printing process by the printer 1, for example, a developer cartridge, a photosensitive drum, an ink tank, and the like. Hereinafter, the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K will be described in detail as examples of consumables.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 1 has a remaining amount detecting unit 13 for detecting the remaining amount of developer in the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K, and a printer having a replaceable developer cartridge. 3, 9, a consumables search control unit 15, a network control unit 17 that transfers print data input based on the detection result by the consumables search control unit 15, and a consumables search control unit 15. And an operator panel 19 for notifying the user of information for allowing the user to specify the printers 3 and 9 based on the search result.

  The developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K contain cyan, magenta, yellow, or black developer, respectively. The developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K are formed to be detachable from the printer 1.

  The remaining amount detection unit 13 detects the remaining amount of developer in the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K based on the dot count value and the like by the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K. Then, the result of the remaining amount of developer detected by the remaining amount detection unit 13 is read by the remaining amount determination unit 21. When a photosensitive drum is used as a consumable item, the remaining amount is detected with reference to the number of times the photosensitive drum is used.

  The remaining amount determination unit 21 determines whether printing is possible based on the remaining amount of developer by the remaining amount detection unit 13. Specifically, the remaining amount determination unit 21 determines whether or not the remaining amount of developer in the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K detected by the remaining amount detection unit 13 is below a preset reference value. Judging. If the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or greater than the reference value, the remaining amount determination unit 21 notifies the print data processing unit 23 that the image based on the input print data can be printed. On the other hand, when the remaining amount of the developer is below the reference value, the remaining amount determination unit 21 first reads out the model numbers of the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K from the consumable item model table 25. The remaining amount determination unit 21 supplies the consumables search control unit 15 with the fact that the remaining amount of the developer is below the reference value and the model numbers of the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K.

  The print data processing unit 23 performs image processing on the print data input to the network control unit 17 via the network 7. The print data processing unit 23 converts the print data into a printable data format. Such processing is executed after receiving a notification from the remaining amount determination unit 21 that the remaining amount of developer is equal to or greater than a reference value. Then, the print data processing unit 23 supplies the converted data to the printer engine unit 27.

  The consumable item model number table 25 stores the model number of each consumable item including the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K currently used. Such a consumable item model number table 25 is input and stored by the user via the operator panel 19 when exchanging consumables, for example. In addition, when the printer 1 can mount a plurality of consumables depending on the nature of the printer 1, the consumable item model table 25 stores the model numbers of all the consumables that can be mounted on the printer 1. As a result, when the consumables are insufficient, the printer 1 can recognize the consumables that can be exchanged for the consumables that are insufficient.

  The printer engine unit 27 develops an image based on the data supplied from the print data processing unit 23 using the developer stored in the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K, and transfers the image onto a sheet. An image based on print data is formed on a sheet. The printer engine unit 27 fixes the image formed on the paper on the paper. Thus, the printer engine unit 27 prints an image based on the print data and provides it to the user.

  The expendables search control unit 15 is replaced with the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K in which the remaining amount of the developer is insufficient based on the notification supplied from the remaining amount determination unit 21 and the model number of the consumables. Presence / absence of external devices such as printers 3 and 9 having possible developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K, model numbers of the replaceable consumables, the remaining amount of the consumables, and printing to the printers 3 and 9 Search for data transfer availability. Specifically, the consumables search control unit 15, in response to a notification from the remaining amount determination unit 21, develops the external device with respect to each external device connected to the network 7 via the network control unit 17. The remaining amount request command for requesting data regarding the model number of the agent cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K and the remaining amount of the consumables is transmitted. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the consumables search control unit 15 displays the returned developer cartridge model number and the remaining amount of consumables, and the locations of the printers 3 and 9 such as the name of the external device and the IP address that returned. The consumables search result table 29 associated with is generated. The expendables search result table 29 stores an error mark indicating whether or not transfer to each of the printers 3 and 9 is possible. Such an error mark is created based on the presence / absence of a response to the request to each of the printers 3 and 9, and is stored in association with the printer name of the printers 3 and 9. Then, the consumables search control unit 15 refers to the consumables search result table 29 and determines whether there is a printer capable of transferring print data. If it is determined that there is a printer capable of transferring print data, the consumables search control unit 15 supplies a command to the print data processing unit 23 to transfer the print data, and The IP address of the printer 3 to which the print data is transferred is supplied to the network control unit 17. If the print data cannot be transferred, the consumables search control unit 15 refers to the consumables search result table 29 and extracts a printer having a developer cartridge that is optimal for replacement. The consumables search control unit 15 causes the operator panel control unit 31 to display information such as the extracted printer IP address or printer name on the operator panel 19.

  The network control unit 17 mainly functions as an interface between the printer 1 and the outside. Specifically, the network control unit 17 supplies the print data transmitted from the PC 5 to the print data processing unit 23. The network control unit 17 transmits the print data supplied from the print data processing unit 23 to the printer 3 designated by the consumables search control unit 15. In addition, the network control unit 17 transmits a remaining amount request command supplied from the consumables search control unit 15 to an external device connected via the network 7. Then, the network control unit 17 supplies the data returned in response to the remaining amount request command to the consumables search control unit 15. Further, the network control unit 17 refers to the count value obtained by the timer 33 for the time elapsed since the remaining amount request command was transmitted. The network control unit 17 notifies the consumables search control unit 15 that there is no response to the remaining amount request command after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  The operator panel 19 notifies various information to the user. Various commands are input to the operator panel 19 by the user. As shown in FIG. 4, such an operator panel 19 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel 35 that notifies the user of various information, and an input button area 37 for the user to input various commands. . The LCD panel 35 displays information specified by the operator panel control unit 31. Further, the command input to the input button area 37 is supplied to the operator panel control unit 31.

  The printers 3 and 9 have the same configuration as the printer 1. When the printers 3 and 9 receive the remaining amount request command transmitted from the printer 1, the printers 3 and 9 refer to the consumable item model table held by the printers 3 and 9 to determine whether or not the developer cartridge of the model number requested by the remaining amount request command is included. Judging. When the developer cartridge of the requested model number is included, the remaining amount of the developer is detected by the remaining amount detection unit, and a response command is returned to the printer 1. Further, the response command transmitted by the printers 3 and 9 at this time includes data regarding whether or not the printers 3 and 9 can execute the printing process. On the other hand, when the developer cartridge of the requested model number is not provided, the printers 3 and 9 do not respond to the remaining request command.

  Hereinafter, a series of operations of the printing system will be described in detail.

  When the printer 1 is turned on and a series of processing is started, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the printer 1 determines the presence or absence of print data in step S1. The printer 1 repeatedly executes this process until it is determined that print data has been input. If it is determined that the print data has been input, the printer 1 executes the processing from step S2 onward in order to print an image based on the print data.

  In step S <b> 2, the printer 1 causes the operator panel 19 to display a notification that printing is being performed. As a result, the user can recognize the process being executed by the printer 1. The processing is executed by the print data processing unit 23 supplying an instruction to the operator panel control unit 31 to display a notification indicating that the printing process is being performed on the operator panel 19.

  Next, in step S3, the printer 1 executes a process for detecting the remaining amount of consumables. Although details will be described later, such processing is executed when the remaining amount detection unit 13 detects the remaining amount of developer in each developer cartridge 11C, 11M, 11Y, 11K.

  Next, in step S4, the printer 1 determines whether the remaining amount of developer is below a preset reference value or whether there is a developer cartridge 11C, 11M, 11Y, 11K. If there is a developer cartridge 11C, 11M, 11Y, or 11K in which the remaining amount of developer is below a preset reference value, the printer 1 performs print data transfer / consumables search processing in step S5. Execute. Although details will be described later, print data is transferred to the printer 3 by this process, or the user is notified that the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K should be replaced. Then, the user is notified that the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K should be replaced. After the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K are replaced by the user, the printer 1 is replaced with the replaced developer. In order to execute the printing process using the cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K, the processes after step S3 are executed again.

  On the other hand, if the remaining amount of consumables is sufficient, the printer 1 reads the state of the printer engine unit 27 in step S6. In step S <b> 7, the printer 1 determines whether an abnormality has occurred in the printer engine unit 27. The abnormality detected at this time is an abnormality other than a shortage of consumables such as a paper jam. If any abnormality has occurred, the printer 1 displays the occurrence of the abnormality on the operator panel 19 in step S8 and prompts the user to eliminate the abnormality. Thereafter, the printer 1 executes the processes after step S6 again.

  If no abnormality has occurred or if the abnormality that has occurred has been resolved, the printer 1 performs image processing on the input print data and supplies it to the printer engine unit 27 in step S9. In step S10, the printer 1 causes the operator panel 19 to display a notification that printing is in progress.

  Thereafter, in step S11, the printer 1 reads the state of the printer engine unit 27, and in step S12, determines whether printing has ended. These processes are repeatedly executed until the printing process for all input print data is completed.

  If it is determined that printing has been completed, in step S13, the printer 1 displays on the operator panel 19 that printing is possible, shifts to a standby state, and ends a series of processing.

  Next, the process for detecting the remaining amount of consumables in step S3 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  When a series of processing starts, the printer 1 transfers the detection result of the remaining amount of developer by the remaining amount detection unit 13 to the remaining amount determination unit 21 in step S21. In step S22, the printer 1 determines the remaining amount of the developer. Such processing is executed by the remaining amount determination unit 21 comparing the remaining amount of developer supplied from the remaining amount detection unit 13 with a predetermined reference value. Such processing is executed for all the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K. In step S23, the printer 1 stores the comparison result in a RAM (not shown) or the like, and ends a series of processes.

  Next, the print data transfer / consumables search process in step S5 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  When a series of processing starts, the printer 1 reads the stored comparison result in step S31. In step S32, the printer 1 refers to the comparison result and searches for the model numbers of the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K in which the remaining amount of the developer is lower than the reference value. Such processing is executed by the remaining amount determination unit 21 referring to the comparison result and the consumable item model number table 25. As a result, the model numbers of the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K in which the remaining amount of the developer is insufficient are extracted. Next, in step S <b> 33, the printer 1 supplies information regarding the extracted model number to the consumables search control unit 15.

  Next, in step S34, the printer 1 resets the consumables search result table 29. Such processing is executed by the consumables search control unit 15 accessing the consumables search result table 29.

  Next, in step S35, the printer 1 transmits a remaining amount request command. In this process, the expendables search control unit 15 refers to the model numbers of the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K whose remaining amount is insufficient, and the same model number as the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K. A remaining amount request command for requesting the presence or absence of a developer cartridge that can be mounted on the printer 1 and the remaining amount of the developer cartridge, and generating the remaining amount request command via the network control unit 17 This is executed by transmitting to the printers 3 and 9.

  Next, in step S <b> 36, the printer 1 starts counting by the timer 33. In step S37, the printer 1 refers to the time elapsed by the timer 33 and determines whether or not a preset time has elapsed.

  If it is determined that the preset time has not elapsed, the printer 1 determines in step S38 whether a response command has been transmitted in response to the remaining amount request command. If it is determined that there is no response, the process of step S37 is executed again. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a response, in step S39, the printer 1 associates the data relating to the remaining amount of developer contained in the received data with the printer name and IP address of the responding printers 3 and 9, The consumables search result table 29 is stored. At this time, the printer 1 refers to the information regarding whether or not print processing is included in the received data, and if the responding printers 3 and 9 can execute the print processing, the printer 1 The value “1” is written in the error mark column of the corresponding table. Thus, the printer 1 can determine that printing can be performed by transferring the print data to the printers 3 and 9. Then, the printer 1 executes the process of step S37 again. Further, when any printing failure or the like has occurred in the printers 3 and 9, the printer 1 writes a value “0” in the error mark column based on the response transmitted from the printers 3 and 9. .

  Then, the printer 1 repeatedly executes the processing from step S37 to step S39 until a preset time has elapsed. After a preset time has elapsed, in step S40, the printer 1 extracts the printers 3 and 9 having the largest remaining amount of consumables. As a result, the printer 1 can extract the printers 3 and 9 that are optimal for proxy printing. This process is executed by the consumables search control unit 15 by referring to the consumables search result table 29 and comparing the remaining amount of consumables for each printer. In the following, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the detailed explanation will be given assuming that the remaining amount of the developer in the printer 3 is the largest.

  Next, in step S41, the printer 1 transfers the print data to the extracted printer 3. In this process, the consumables search control unit 15 supplies the IP address of the printer 3 to the network control unit 17, and also causes the print data processing unit 23 to stop the print processing and supply a command to transfer the print data. To be executed.

  Next, in step S42, the printer 1 determines whether or not the transfer of the print data has been normally completed. Such processing is executed by the network control unit 17 referring to the result of communication with the printer 3. If it is determined that the transfer of the print data has been completed normally, in step S43, the printer 1 notifies the user that the print data has been transferred normally and the IP address of the transfer destination printer 3. In this process, the consumables search control unit 15 should display a message such as “Data transferred (IP address 10.20.30.40)” on the operator panel 19 on the operator panel control unit 31. It is executed by supplying a command. Thereafter, the printer 1 erases the print data and ends a series of print processing.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S42 that the transfer of the print data has not ended normally, the printer 1 transmits an erase request command for the transferred print data in step S44. Such processing is executed by the network control unit 17 transmitting a command including a request for deleting the previously transferred print data to the printer 3 that has attempted to transfer the print data.

  Next, in step S45, the printer 1 writes the value “0” in the error mark of the consumables search result table. Specifically, the consumables search control unit 15 writes the value “0” in the error mark column of the printer 3 that could not transfer the print data.

  Next, in step S46, the printer 1 determines whether there is a transferable printer. This process is executed by the consumables search control unit 15 by referring to the consumables search result table 29 and determining whether there is a printer having a value “1” written in the error mark. If there is a printer in which the value “1” is written in the error mark, in step S47, the printer 1 extracts the printer with the remaining remaining amount of consumables. As a result, the printer 1 can extract a printer having the remaining amount of developer next to the printer 3. Thereafter, the printer 1 executes the processes after step S41.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no transferable printer, the printer 1 extracts the printer with the largest remaining amount of consumables in step S48. At this time, the printer to be extracted is a printer in which some abnormality has occurred. Then, the consumables search control unit 15 refers to the consumables search result table 29 and extracts the printer with the largest remaining amount of consumables from among the printers in which the value “0” is written in the error mark.

  Thereafter, in step S49, the printer 1 notifies the user that the print data cannot be transferred, that the consumables should be replaced, and the IP address of the printer having the consumables to be replaced. At this time, a screen as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the operator panel 19. As a result, the user can specify the position of the developer cartridge that can be exchanged for the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K of the printer 1. Further, since the printer that is notified of some abnormality is notified to the user at this time, it is possible to prevent the developer cartridge from being removed from the normal printer.

  Next, a series of operations of the printers 3 and 9 that have received the remaining amount request command will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Since the printers 3 and 9 perform the same operation at this time, the printer 3 will be described in detail below as an example.

  When a series of processing is started upon reception of the remaining amount request command, the printer 3 supplies information regarding the model number of the consumable item to the remaining amount determination unit 21 in step S51. Such processing is executed by the network control unit 17 analyzing the remaining amount request command, extracting information on the model number of the consumables included in the remaining amount request command, and supplying the information to the remaining amount determination unit 21.

  Next, in step S52, the printer 3 searches for a consumable item having the same model number as the information regarding the model number of the supplied consumable item. Such processing is executed by the remaining amount determination unit 21 referring to the consumable item model number information. In step S53, the printer 3 determines whether there is a consumable having the model number requested by the printer 1 based on the search result. If it is determined that there is no consumable having the model number requested by the printer 1, the printer 3 does not send back a response command and ends the series of processes. On the other hand, if it is determined that the printer 1 has a consumable item having the requested model number, the printer 3 executes the processing from step S54 onward in order to detect and send back the remaining amount of the consumable item.

  In step S54, the printer 3 detects the remaining amount of consumables. At this time, the consumable to be detected for the remaining amount is the remaining amount of the consumable having the model number designated by the remaining amount request command. Such processing is executed when the remaining amount determination unit 21 requests the remaining amount of the corresponding consumable item from the remaining amount detection unit 13.

  Next, in step S55, the printer 3 detects the state of the printer engine unit 27. Such processing is executed when the print data processing unit 23 detects an abnormality such as a paper jam in the printer engine unit 27 or a lack of other consumables.

  Next, in step S56, the printer 3 generates a response command to be returned to the printer 1. Such processing is performed by the network control unit 17 based on information on the remaining amount of consumables detected by the remaining amount detection unit 13 and the detection result of the state of the printer engine unit 27 detected by the print data processing unit 23. This is executed by generating a command to be returned to 1.

  Next, in step S57, the printer 3 transmits the generated response command to the printer 1, and ends a series of processing.

  As described above, according to the printing system according to the first embodiment, when printing cannot be performed in the printer 1 to which the user has input print data, the print data is transferred, and further the print data is transferred. If it is not possible to perform the operation, the user can be notified of the position of the printer having the consumables that can be mounted on the printer. As a result, the user can easily exchange the consumables that are lacking in the printer 1 and the consumables designated by the printer 1. As a result, the printer 1 can perform printing. This eliminates the inconvenience that the user must go to a certain position of the printer 3 to pick up printed matter every time print data is input to the printer 1. be able to.

  Further, in such a printing system, since the user can acquire the consumables preferentially from the printer in which some abnormality has occurred, the user can be notified to the user preferentially. It can be prevented from being removed and the number of printers capable of printing in the printing system can be prevented from being reduced.

  Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the printing system according to the second embodiment, since there is a portion having the same configuration as the printing system described in detail in the first embodiment, detailed description of the portion is omitted. Detailed description will be given only for the differences. Specifically, in addition to the configuration of the printer 1, the printer in the printing system according to the second embodiment generates a drive command that causes the printer 3 to perform a predetermined operation so that the user can recognize the printer 3. The command generation part which performs is provided. The printer 1 transmits the drive command generated by the command generation unit to the printer 3 when notifying the user of the position of the consumable item that can be replaced. Then, after receiving the drive command, the printer 3 executes a predetermined operation designated by the drive command. Here, the predetermined operation refers to an operation for causing the user to recognize the printer 3, for example, blinking of the operator panel 19. Then, the printer 3 that has received the drive command from the printer 1 blinks the operator panel 19 in accordance with the drive command, so that the user is notified by the printer 1 of the printer 3 that the operator panel 19 is blinking. Can be recognized.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the printer 101 includes a blinking command generation unit 103 that generates a drive command.

  When the printer 3 is extracted as having the replaceable developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K, and the user desires to replace the consumables, the blinking command generation unit 103 performs an operator panel 19 of the printer 3 Generate a blinking command to blink. When such a blink command is transmitted to the printer 3, the printer 3 blinks its operator panel 19 in response to the blink command. At this time, the display on the operator panel 19 of the printer 3 is switched between states such as state A and state B in FIG. 13 every second, for example.

  Hereinafter, the print data transfer / consumables search process of the printer 101 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  When a series of processing is started, in step S61, the printer 101 reads out the stored comparison result as in the processing in step S31 described above. In step S62, the printer 101 refers to the comparison result and searches for the model numbers of the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K in which the remaining amount of the developer is below the reference value. Next, in step S <b> 63, the printer 101 supplies information regarding the extracted model number to the consumables search control unit 15.

  Next, in step S <b> 64, the printer 101 resets the consumables search result table 29. Next, in step S65, the printer 101 transmits a remaining amount request command. Next, in step S <b> 66, the printer 101 starts counting by the timer 33. In step S67, the printer 101 refers to the time elapsed by the timer 33 and determines whether or not a preset time has elapsed.

  If it is determined that the preset time has not elapsed, the printer 101 determines in step S68 whether a response command has been transmitted in response to the remaining amount request command. If it is determined that there is no response, the process of step S67 is executed again. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a response, in step S69, the printer 101 associates the data related to the remaining amount of the developer included in the received data with the printer name and IP address of the responding printers 3 and 9, The consumables search result table 29 is stored. Then, the printer 101 executes the process of step S67 again.

  The printer 101 repeatedly executes the processing from step S67 to step S69 until a preset time elapses. After a preset time has elapsed, in step S70, the printer 101 extracts the printers 3 and 9 having the largest remaining amount of consumables.

  Next, in step S71, the printer 101 causes the user to select either transfer of print data or transmission of a blink command. Such processing is executed by the consumables search control unit 15 displaying a message prompting the user to make a selection on the LCD panel 35 of the operator panel 19. In step S72, the printer determines whether print data transfer has been selected. If it is determined that print data transfer has not been selected, the printer 101 generates a blink command and transmits it to the printer 3 in step S73. Such processing is executed by the consumables search control unit 15 by analyzing a command input by the user via the operator panel 19. If the print data transfer is not selected, the consumable item search control unit 15 supplies the fact to the blinking command generation unit 103. Then, the blink command generation unit 103 generates a blink command in response to the notification and supplies it to the consumables search control unit 15. Thereafter, the blinking command is supplied to the network control unit 17 by the consumable item search control unit 15 and transmitted to the printer 3. Thereafter, the printer 101 ends a series of processing.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S72 that transfer of print data is selected, the printer 101 transfers the print data to the extracted printer 3 in step S73.

  Next, in step S75, the printer 101 determines whether or not the transfer of the print data has been normally completed. If it is determined that the transfer of the print data has been completed normally, in step S76, the printer 101 notifies the user that the print data has been transferred normally and the IP address of the transfer destination printer 3. Thereafter, the printer 101 deletes the print data and ends a series of print processing.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S75 that the transfer of the print data has not been completed normally, the processes after step S44 described above are executed.

  Next, a series of operations of the printer 3 that has received the blink command will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  When the blinking command is received and a series of processes is started, the printer 3 supplies the received blinking command to the operator panel control unit 31 in step S81. In step S82, the printer 3 analyzes the blinking command, and the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K as replaceable consumables and the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K can be replaced. A message to that effect is displayed on the LCD panel 35 of the operator panel 19. In step S83, the printer 3 causes the operator panel 19 to blink. Such processing is executed by the operator panel control unit 31 controlling the blinking of the backlight of the operator panel 19. Accordingly, the user can recognize that the printer whose operator panel 19 is blinking is the developer cartridge 11C, 11M, 11Y, or 11K desired by the user, and can easily find the printer 3. .

  In step S84, the printer 3 determines whether any button in the input button area 37 has been pressed. If any button is pressed, the printer 3 determines that the user has reached the position of the printer 3. Such processing is repeatedly executed until any button in the input button area 37 is pressed. Thereafter, in step S85, the printer 3 turns on the backlight of the operator panel 19, shifts to a standby state, and ends a series of processes.

  As described above, according to the printing system according to the second embodiment, the operator panel 19 of the printer 3 can be blinked to notify the user of the position of the printer 3, so that the user can easily replace the printer. The positions of the target developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K can be recognized.

  Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the printing system according to the third embodiment, since there is a portion having the same configuration as the printing system described in detail in the first embodiment, detailed description of the portion is omitted. Detailed description will be given only for the differences. Specifically, the printer in the printing system according to the third embodiment stores a consumables remaining amount setting value that is a threshold for executing a series of print data transfer / consumables search processing. When the remaining amount of developer in the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K falls below the stored consumable item remaining setting value, the printer executes a series of print data transfer / consumable item search processing. .

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, the printer 201 includes a consumable item remaining amount setting table 203 that stores consumable item remaining amount setting values corresponding to each consumable item. As shown in FIG. 18, the consumables remaining amount setting table 203 stores consumables remaining amount setting values in association with the consumables.

  In the figure, for the consumable item model number C300-001, the consumable item remaining amount setting value is set as 20% when not in use. For the other consumable product models C300-002, C300-003, and C300-004, the consumable remaining amount setting value is set as a default value of 10% when not used. These consumables remaining amount setting values are set and stored by the user via the operator panel 19 as shown in FIG. The consumables remaining amount setting table 203 set via the operator panel 19 is written into a predetermined storage area by the operator panel control unit 31. The consumable item remaining amount setting table 203 is read by the remaining amount determining unit 21 in the process of detecting the remaining consumable item.

  Hereinafter, a series of operations for detecting the remaining amount of consumables in the printer 201 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  When a series of processing starts, the printer 201 reads out the remaining amount of developer in the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K by the remaining amount detection unit 13 in step S91. Such processing is executed by the remaining amount determination unit 21 accessing the remaining amount detection unit 13. In step S <b> 92, the printer 201 reads the consumable item remaining amount setting value from the consumable item remaining amount setting table 203. This process is executed by the remaining amount determination unit 21 reading the consumable item remaining amount setting table 203.

  In step S93, the printer 201 determines whether there is a developer cartridge 11C, 11M, 11Y, or 11K in which the remaining amount of developer is less than or equal to the consumable item remaining set value. This process is executed by the remaining amount determination unit 21 comparing the read remaining developer amount with the consumable item remaining setting value. If it is determined that the remaining amount of developer in any of the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K is not less than the consumables remaining amount setting value, the printer 201 determines that the remaining amount of developer is sufficient. A series of processing ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that there are developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K in which the remaining amount of developer is less than or equal to the consumables remaining amount setting value, the printer 201 determines that the remaining amount of developer is the remaining amount of consumables in step S94. The developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K that are below the set value are stored. In step S94, the printer 201 executes the print data transfer / consumables search process, and then ends the series of processes.

  As described above, according to the printing system of the third embodiment, the user can store the developer remaining amount setting value set by the user in the printer 201 so that the user can use the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K. Before the internal developer runs out, the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K of other printers can be searched and replaced. As a result, user convenience can be improved. Such an effect is particularly remarkable when there is a developer that is frequently used.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the printing system according to the fourth embodiment, since there is a portion having the same configuration as the printing system described in detail in the first embodiment, detailed description of the portion is omitted. Detailed description will be given only for the differences. Specifically, in the printing system according to the fourth embodiment, the printer having the replaceable consumable supplies the detection result of the remaining amount of the consumable according to the remaining amount of the consumable. A transmission permission / inhibition determining unit that determines whether or not to reply to the printer that has transmitted the request command. The printer having such a transmission permission determination unit does not respond to the remaining amount request command when, for example, the remaining amount of the consumable item is a certain amount or more. Thus, the printing system can prevent, for example, a consumable that is in an almost unused state from being taken out from the printer as a consumable to be replaced. In the present embodiment, since there is a feature in a printer having a consumable that can be replaced with a consumable for the printer to which print data has been input, the configuration of the printer having the replaceable consumable will be described in detail below. Give a simple explanation.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the printer 301 having replaceable consumables includes a transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 303. The transmission availability determination unit 303 refers to the transmission availability table 305 that stores the status transmission available remaining amount set in advance for each consumable, and determines whether a reply to the remaining amount request command is possible. As shown in FIG. 22, the transmission permission / inhibition table 305 stores a status transmission remaining amount that is a threshold for determining whether or not to respond to the remaining amount request command in correspondence with the consumable part model number. The status transmittable remaining amount is a threshold value indicating that a response to the remaining amount request command is performed when the remaining amount of the consumable item is lower than the status transmittable remaining amount. For example, the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, The remaining amount of 11K developer is shown. In the example shown in the figure, when the remaining amount of the developer in the developer cartridge of the consumable item model number C300-001 exceeds 50% when not used, or the developer cartridge of the consumable item model number C300-001 When the remaining amount of the developer exceeds 40% when not used, the printer 301 does not respond to the remaining amount request command. Such a status transmittable remaining amount is set by the user via the operator panel 19, for example.

  When receiving the remaining amount request command, the transmission possibility determination unit 303 compares the detection result in the remaining amount detection unit 13 with the status transmission remaining amount, and the developer in the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K. If the remaining amount exceeds the remaining status transmission available amount, a command is sent to the remaining amount determination unit 21 so as not to respond to the remaining amount request command. Accordingly, the printer 301 does not transmit its status including the remaining amounts of the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K to the printer 1 that has transmitted the remaining amount request command. As a result, the printer 1 writes a value “0” in the error mark column of the printer 301 in the consumables search result table 29, assuming that a response from the printer 301 cannot be obtained within a certain time. Then, the value “0” is written in the error mark column of the consumables search result table 29 managed by the printer 1, so that the printer 301 is not extracted as a printer from which the user can acquire consumables. On the other hand, if the remaining amount of developer in the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K does not exceed the remaining status transmission possible amount, the transmission permission determination unit 303 causes the remaining amount determination unit 21 to A command to respond to the quantity request command is supplied.

  Hereinafter, a series of processing when the printer 301 receives the remaining amount request command will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  When a series of processing is started upon reception of the remaining amount request command, the printer 301 supplies information regarding the model number of the consumable item to the remaining amount determination unit 21 in step S101. Next, in step S <b> 102, the printer 301 searches for a consumable having the same model number as the information regarding the model number of the supplied consumable. In step S103, the printer 301 determines whether there is a consumable having the model number requested by the printer 1 based on the search result. If the printer 301 determines that there is no consumable having the model number requested by the printer 1, the printer 301 does not send back a response command and ends the series of processes. On the other hand, if it is determined that the printer 1 has a consumable item having the requested model number, the printer 301 executes the processing from step S104 onward in order to detect and send back the remaining amount of the consumable item.

  In step S104, the printer 301 detects the remaining amount of consumables. At this time, the consumable to be detected for the remaining amount is the remaining amount of the consumable having the model number designated by the remaining amount request command. In step S <b> 105, the printer 301 determines whether or not the model number designated by the remaining amount request command is stored in the transmission availability table 305. For example, when the status transmission available remaining amount is not set by the user, it is determined that the model number designated by the remaining amount request command is not stored in the transmission availability table 305. In such a case, the printer 301 detects the state of the printer engine unit 27 in step S106. Thereafter, in step S107, the printer 301 generates a response command to be returned to the printer 1. Thereafter, in step S108, the printer 301 transmits the generated response command to the printer 1, and ends a series of processing. Thereby, the printer 1 can receive a reply to the remaining amount request command.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S105 that the model number specified by the remaining amount request command is stored in the transmission permission / inhibition table 305, in step S109, the printer 301 develops inside the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K. It is determined whether or not the remaining amount of the medicine is below the remaining amount of status transmission. If it is determined that the remaining amount of the developer in the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K is less than the remaining amount of status transmission, the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K are replaced. As a result, the printer 301 executes the processes in and after step S106.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the remaining amount of developer in the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K is not less than the remaining amount of status transmission, the developer cartridges 11C, 11M, 11Y, and 11K are replaced. As a result, the series of processing ends. When ending the series of processing, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 303 supplies the remaining amount determination unit 21 with a message that a reply to the remaining amount request command is not performed. As a result, the printer 301 can cancel the reply to the remaining amount request command.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and each configuration can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of a printing system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printer configuring the printing system. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a consumables search result table stored in the printer. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operator panel provided in the printer. FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a series of operations of the printer. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a series of operations of the printer. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process for detecting a remaining amount of consumables in the printer. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing print data transfer / consumables search processing of the printer. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing print data transfer / consumables search processing of the printer. It is a figure which shows the operator panel of the printer, and is a figure which shows an example of the notification displayed on a user. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a series of operations of a printer constituting the printing system. It is a block diagram of the printing system concerning a 2nd embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operator panel of a printer configuring the printing system. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing print data transfer / consumables search processing of the printer. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing print data transfer / consumables search processing of the printer. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a series of operations of a printer constituting the printing system. It is a block diagram of the printing system concerning a 3rd embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a consumable item remaining amount setting table stored in a printer configuring the printing system. It is a figure which shows the operator panel of the printer, and is a figure which shows an example at the time of a user inputting a consumables residual quantity setting value. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process for detecting a remaining amount of consumables in the printer. It is a block diagram of the printing system concerning a 3rd embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission permission / inhibition table stored in a printer configuring the printing system. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a series of operations of the printer.

Explanation of symbols

1, 3, 9a, 9b, 9c Printer 11C, 11M, 11Y, 11K Developer cartridge 13 Remaining amount detection unit 15 Consumables search control unit 17 Network control unit 19 Operator panel 21 Remaining amount determination unit 23 Print data processing unit 25 Consumption Product model table 27 Printer engine unit 29 Consumables search result table 31 Operator panel control unit 33 Timer 35 LCD panel 37 Input button area 101 Printer 103 Blink command generation unit 201 Printer 203 Consumables remaining amount setting table 301 Printer 303 Transmission availability determination unit 305 Transmission availability table

Claims (8)

A remaining amount detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of consumables;
A consumables search unit for searching for an external device having consumables exchangeable with the consumables;
A data transfer unit that transfers the input print data to the external device searched by the consumables search unit based on a detection result by the remaining amount detection unit;
A printing apparatus comprising: a notification unit that notifies a user of information for specifying the external device when the data transfer unit cannot transfer the print data. The consumables search unit detects the remaining amount of consumables that can be replaced,
A consumable item extracting unit that extracts the replaceable consumable item having the largest remaining amount among a plurality of replaceable consumable items based on the detection result by the remaining amount searching unit
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies the user of information for specifying the external device having the replaceable consumable item extracted by the consumable item extraction unit. A first printing device to which print data is input;
A printing system comprising a consumable for the first printing device and a second printing device having a replaceable consumable;
The first printing apparatus includes:
A first remaining amount detecting unit for detecting a remaining amount of the consumables;
A data transfer unit that transfers the input print data to the second printing apparatus based on a detection result by the first remaining amount detection unit;
A remaining amount search unit for searching for the remaining amount of consumables that can be replaced;
A notification unit for notifying a user of information for specifying the second printing apparatus,
The second printing apparatus includes:
A second remaining amount detecting unit that detects a remaining amount of the replaceable consumable in response to a request from the remaining amount searching unit;
A result transmission unit that transmits a detection result in the second remaining amount detection unit to the first printing apparatus;
When the data transfer unit has not been able to transfer the print data, the notification unit is configured to perform the second printing apparatus based on the detection result of the remaining amount of the replaceable consumables transmitted from the result transmission unit. A printing system characterized by notifying the user of information for identifying the user. A remaining amount setting value storage unit for storing a remaining amount setting value of a consumable that serves as a threshold for the remaining amount of the consumable;
The consumable item search unit is a consumable item that can be exchanged for the consumable item when the remaining amount of the consumable item detected by the remaining amount detection unit falls below the threshold value stored in the remaining amount setting value storage unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an external apparatus having a search is searched. The second printing apparatus includes:
Based on the detection result by the second remaining amount detection unit, the result transmission unit determines whether or not to transmit the detection result in the second remaining amount detection unit to the first print transmission unit. Have
The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the result transmission unit transmits the detection result to the first printing apparatus based on a determination result in the transmission permission determination unit. The first printing apparatus includes:
A drive command generator for generating a drive command for causing the second printing apparatus to perform a predetermined operation in order to make the second printing apparatus recognized by the user;
When notifying the notification unit of information for specifying the second printing device, the drive command generated by the drive command generation unit is transmitted to the second printing device,
The second printing apparatus includes:
The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined operation is performed in order to allow a user to identify himself / herself according to the transmitted drive command. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable is a developer in a developer cartridge. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the consumable is a developer in a developer cartridge.