JP2010066773A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus having a function of preventing fraudulent use of consumables using an RFID tag, disabling a dishonest distributor in particular from reusing consumables such as a toner cartridge and enabling a honest distributor to perform toner filling and resale of a toner cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: This printing apparatus includes: a toner set C2 fitted with the RFID tag 40 to which information inherent to each toner set C2 is written; and a printer 1 containing an EEPROM 48 recording use information of the toner set C2. The use information of the toner set C2 stored in the EEPROM 48 is written from the EEPROM 48 to the RFID tag 40 in a predetermined timing to thereby always record an accurate printing frequency on the RFID tag 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having an unauthorized use preventing function for consumables using an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag.

  In recent years, the importance of recycling consumables has also increased in printer apparatuses (printing apparatuses) from the viewpoint of environmental protection. For example, the toner cartridge is one of consumables that can be reused by refilling the toner. There are also companies that collect, refill, and resell used cartridges.

However, regenerated toner cartridges manufactured by refill companies often use inferior toner, which causes image quality degradation and printer apparatus main body failure.
Therefore, when a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM is attached to a conventional consumable such as a toner cartridge and the filling is insufficient, a record indicating this deficiency is written, and as long as the record exists, the printer device cannot be printed. An apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of consumables has been proposed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when a predetermined amount or more of toner in a cartridge mounted on a printer apparatus is consumed, the cartridge is sent to a recycling factory as used, and the cartridge is subjected to a recycling process and the cartridge is recycled. Records the processing history and the device number of the installed printer. On the other hand, when the user who has received the regenerated cartridge attaches the regenerated cartridge to the printer apparatus, the user confirms the recording and prohibits the use of the regenerated toner cartridge.

JP 2002-318511 A

In the conventional method, the stored content cannot be rewritten after writing so that the stored content cannot be illegally rewritten. However, in this case, it is impossible to perform regular toner filling and toner cartridge re-sale performed by a regular manufacturer.
The present invention has been proposed to solve such a problem, and it is impossible to reuse consumables such as a toner cartridge by an unauthorized trader. The present invention provides a printing apparatus having a function that enables sales.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus including a consumable item attached with an RFID tag in which unique information is written, and a non-volatile storage unit that records usage information of the consumable item. This can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus having storage means for storing information, and writing means for writing consumable usage information stored in the storage means from the storage means to the RFID tag at a predetermined timing.

With this configuration, even when the number of printed sheets cannot be written to the RFID tag due to, for example, a power failure during the printing process, the number of printed sheets can be automatically written to the RFID tag when the power is turned on or when the cover is closed. it can.
In addition, in a printing apparatus including a consumable item attached with an RFID tag in which the unique information is written and a nonvolatile storage unit that records use information of the consumable item, usage information of the consumable item by the writing unit Is stored when the unique information stored in the RFID tag matches.

With this configuration, it is possible to reliably record usage information for a corresponding consumable item.
Further, the storage of consumable usage information by the storage means is performed by a server via a network. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the memory capacity of the printing apparatus and reduce the burden of arithmetic processing and the like.

By configuring the present invention in this way,
Even if a power supply abnormality or the like occurs during printing, it is possible to record information such as the correct number of prints on the RFID tag.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an RFID tag attached to a toner set, a CPU built in a printer apparatus main body, and an RFID communication unit. 1 is a diagram illustrating a tandem printer device (printing device) used for describing an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an appearance of a printer device. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where a toner set is removed from a printer device. It is a figure which shows the memory structure of an RFID tag chip. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration in which a toner set with an RFID tag attached is disposed in the printer device, and information on the RFID tag is transmitted and received. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the first embodiment. It is a figure explaining the recording content of EEPROM. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a RFID tag and a printer apparatus. It is a figure explaining the recording data in a RFID tag. It is a figure explaining the recording data in EEPROM. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing according to the second embodiment. 1 is a configuration diagram of a computer system connected to a network such as a LAN. It is a figure explaining the support system by electronic mail. It is a figure which shows a part of memory content of a totaling server. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing according to the third embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 2 is an example of a tandem printer device (printing device) used to describe the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, the printer apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 2, a duplex printing conveyance unit 3, and a paper feeding unit 4. Here, the image forming unit 2 has a configuration in which four image forming units 5 to 8 are arranged side by side, and magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), They are arranged in the order of black (K). Among these, magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y) image forming units 5 to 7 are used for color printing by subtractive color mixing, and black (K) image forming unit 8. Is used at the time of color printing and is used for monochrome printing when used alone.

  Here, each of the image forming units 5 to 8 includes a drum set C1 and a toner set C2, and has the same configuration except for the developer (color) stored in the developing container. Therefore, for example, the configuration will be described using the image forming unit 7 for yellow (Y) as an example. The drum set C1 contains a photosensitive drum, a charger, and a cleaner, and the toner set C2 contains a developing roll and toner. The toner set C2 is attached with an RFID tag to be described later.

The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9 is made of, for example, an organic photoconductive material. In the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9, a charger 10a, a print head 10b, a developing roll 10c, a transfer device 10d, and a cleaner 10e are provided. They are arranged sequentially.
The photosensitive drum 9 rotates in the direction of the arrow. First, the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9 is uniformly charged by applying a charge from the charger 10a. Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9 by optical writing based on print information from the print head 10b, and a toner image is formed by development processing by the developing roll 10c. At this time, the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9 is made of yellow (Y) toner stored in the developing container 10c. The toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9 in this way reaches the position of the transfer unit 10d as the photosensitive drum 9 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and directly below the photosensitive drum 9 in the direction of the arrow. Transferred to moving paper.

  On the other hand, the paper is transported by the paper feed cassette 11, the standby roll 12, the transport belt 13, the drive roll 14, etc. constituting the paper feed unit 4. The unloaded paper is sent to the standby roll 12 and further sent onto the conveying belt 13 at a timing coincident with the toner image, and reaches the transfer device 10d. Then, the toner image is transferred by the transfer device 10d, and the sheet on which the toner image is transferred moves on the conveyor belt 13 in the direction of the arrow as the conveyor belt 13 moves, and the fixing unit 15 performs heat fixing processing.

In addition to the yellow (Y) toner image, not only the yellow (Y) toner image but also magenta (M) and cyan (C) toner images transferred by the drum set C1 and toner set C2 of other colors are transferred to the upper surface of the paper. Then, color printing according to the subtractive color mixture described above is performed.
The above-mentioned paper includes not only the paper carried out from the paper feed cassette 11 but also the paper supplied from the MPF tray 16. In this case, the paper is carried in by the paper feed roller 16a and printed by the above-mentioned route. Processing is performed.

  The fixing unit 15 is composed of heat rolls 15a and 15b and a cleaner 15c. While the paper P is nipped and conveyed between the heat rolls 15a and 15b, for example, a plurality of color toner images transferred onto the paper are transferred. It is melted and thermally fixed on the paper P. The cleaner 15c has a function of removing toner remaining on the heat roll 15a. The paper on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 15 is conveyed upward or leftward on the paper surface via the switching plate 17.

  On the other hand, the transport unit 3 for duplex printing is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, and is a unit to be mounted when duplex printing is performed by the printer apparatus 1 of the present example, and a plurality of transport rolls 18a to 18e are disposed therein. Has been. In the case of double-sided printing, the paper is once sent upward by the switching plate 17, and when the trailing edge of the paper reaches the transport roll 19, for example, the transport of the paper is stopped and the paper is further transported in the reverse direction. By this control, the sheet is conveyed downward on the left side of the switching unit 17 set at the position indicated by the dotted line, is carried into the sheet conveyance path of the duplex printing conveyance unit 3, and is conveyed by the conveyance rolls 18a to 18e. It reaches the standby roll 12 and is sent to the transfer device at the same timing as the toner image as described above, and the toner image is transferred to the back side of the paper.

  Next, an outline of the appearance of the printer apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. A discharge roller 20 is provided on the upper portion of the printer apparatus 1, and printed matter is output from the discharge roller 20, and the printed matter is accumulated in the discharge stacker 21. In addition, the front cover 22, the MPF tray 16, the side cover 23, and the paper feed tray 4 are included. An operation panel 24 is provided above the printer, and the operation panel 24 includes an operation unit 24a composed of a plurality of keys and a display unit 24b for displaying an operation menu.

FIG. 4 shows how the toner set C2 is removed from the printer apparatus 1. In this figure, the front cover 22 is opened and the toner set C2 is removed.
On the other hand, FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the RFID tag 40 attached to the toner set C2, and the CPU 42 and the RFID communication unit 42 built in the printer apparatus 1 main body. An RFID tag chip is built in the RFID tag 40 attached to the toner set C2, and the memory configuration of the RFID tag chip is as shown in FIG.

  For example, as shown in the figure, it is composed of “unique identifier”, “used flag 1” to “used flag 3”, and “used flag selection data”. Here, the “unique identifier” is a completely unique value for each RFID tag, and cannot be rewritten or deleted. In addition, “used flag 1” to “used flag 3” are flags indicating the used state in which the toner filled in the toner cartridge is deficient, and three flags are prepared. In addition, a flag “0” or “1” is set in “used flag 1” to “used flag 3”. For example, when the set flag is “0”, an available state is indicated. 1 ”indicates an unusable state.

  In the “used flag selection data”, data for selecting which used flag can be used is described. In this “used flag selection data”, the updated content of the used flag is written at the time of factory shipment of the toner set C2 or after toner refilling.

  On the other hand, the printer device 1 is provided with a CPU 41 and an RFID communication unit 42 for communicating with the RFID tag. The CPU 41 performs printing control of the main body of the printer apparatus 1 and performs data writing and reading control in the RFID tag 40 via the RFID communication unit 42.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration in which the toner set C2 with the RFID tag 40 attached is provided in the printer apparatus 1 and the information of the RFID tag 40 is transmitted and received. In the figure, the CPU 41 and the RFID communication unit 42 described above are disposed in an interface (I / F) controller 50, and an antenna 52 that receives radio waves from the RFID tag 40 is disposed in the image forming unit 2, for example. Has been. Data to be described later is exchanged with the RFID tag 40 via the RFID communication unit 42. Reference numeral 51 denotes an engine controller, and reference numeral 53 denotes a network such as a LAN.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of this example. This process is started when the printer apparatus 1 is powered on or when the front cover 22 is closed.
First, data of “unique identifier” is read from the RFID tag 40 (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1). That is, the CPU 41 controls the RFID communication unit 42 to read “unique identifier” data from the RFID tag 40. As described above, the data of the “unique identifier” is a unique value for each RFID tag, for example, a code using a multi-digit numerical value or alphabet.

  Next, the CPU 41 inputs the value of the read “unique identifier” into X of the function f1 (X) prepared in advance, and performs arithmetic processing (S2). Then, it is determined whether the calculation result matches the data recorded in the “used flag selection data” (S3). For example, the data of the “unique identifier” is “12345678”, and the result of the calculation described later using the data of the “unique identifier” matches the data recorded in the “used flag selection data”. If so (S3 is YES), the flag information of “used flag 1” is read (S4).

If the “used flag 1” flag is “0”, it is in the usable state as described above, and the printing process of the printer apparatus 1 is permitted (S5).
On the other hand, if the calculation result does not match the data recorded in the “used flag selection data” in the above-described determination (S3) (S3 is NO), the other function f2 (X) prepared in advance is determined. The value of “unique identifier” is input to X, and calculation processing is performed in the same manner (S6). Then, it is determined whether or not the calculation result matches the “used flag selection data” data (S7). If the calculation result matches the data recorded in the “used flag selection data” (S7 is YES), the flag information of “used flag 2” is read (S8), and the read flag is It is determined whether or not it matches the used flag “0” (S5). If the flag is “0”, it is determined that it can be used as described above, and the printing process of the printer 1 is permitted (S5).

  Further, in the above-described determination (S7), if the calculation result does not match the “used flag selection data” (S7 is NO), the “unique identifier” is added to X of the function f3 (X) prepared in advance. The same calculation process is performed (S9). Similarly, it is determined whether the calculation result matches the “used flag selection data” (S10). If the calculation result matches the “used flag selection data” (S10 is YES), “use” is determined. Read flag 3 "is read (S11), and it is determined whether the read flag matches the used flag" 0 "(S5).

  Therefore, by performing the above processing, if toner filling is performed by a regular contractor, one toner set C2 repeats a plurality of times in the order of no toner → toner refill → usable → no toner → Can be used. On the other hand, in cases other than regular toner charging, “1” is set in the selected “used flag”, and the use of the printer apparatus 1 is prohibited.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the “unique identifier” is “12345678”, and the results calculated by the functions f1 (X) to f3 (X) are “39573763”, “15793342”, and “48366523”, respectively. When “used flag 2” is valid, “15793342” is written in “used flag selection data”. Therefore, when the “used flag 2” flag is determined, “1” is set as shown in FIG.

Note that even if the judgments (S3), (S7), and (S10) are all NO, the calculation result does not match the data recorded in the “used flag selection data”, so that the use is judged to be illegal and prohibited. To do.
In the description of the above embodiment, the example of the toner set C2 has been described as the consumable to be used. However, the present invention is not limited to the toner set C2 and can be applied to other consumables such as the drum set C1.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.
In this example as well, the RFID tag attached to the toner set C2 is used, and the relationship between the RFID tag and the printer apparatus 1 is as shown in FIG. The configuration different from that in FIG. 1 used in the first embodiment is that the data in the RFID tag 45 is “unique identifier”, “serial number”, and “printed number count” as data in the RFID tag 45 as shown in FIG. , “Unique identifier”, “serial number”, and “print number counter”.

In addition, an RFID communication unit 46, a CPU 47, and an EEPROM 48 are constructed in the printer apparatus 1 main body, and the EEPROM 48 includes a “serial number” and a “print number counter” shown in FIG.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of this example, which starts when the printer apparatus 1 is turned on or the front cover 22 of the printer apparatus 1 is closed.

First, the CPU 47 reads the information of “serial number” from the EEPROM 48 built in the main body of the printer apparatus 1 (step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 1). Next, using the RFID communication unit 46, the information of the “serial number” in the RFID tag 45 is read (ST2).
And it is judged whether both data correspond (ST3). If the two data match (YES in ST3), it is determined that the toner set C2 is definitely the toner set C2 attached to the printer apparatus 1, and the “number of sheets” in the EEPROM 48 in the printer apparatus 1 main body is determined. The data of “counter” is written in the storage area of “number counter” of the RFID tag (ST4).

  In this case, the “serial number” is a number unique to the RFID tag and matches the “serial number” recorded in the EEPROM 48, so that it is determined that the toner set C <b> 2 that has been installed is correct and is recorded in the EEPROM 48. In addition, the “number counter” data is recorded in the corresponding area of the RFID tag.

  The following processing can solve the following problems. For example, if the count value of the “number counter” in the EEPROM 48 during printing has been updated, but the “number counter” in the RFID tag 45 has not been updated, when the power is turned off, Data before the printing process remains in the “number counter”. In such a case, the data of the “number counter” of the RFID tag 45 can be updated by the above processing.

  On the other hand, if the serial numbers do not match (NO in ST3), it can be determined that the toner set C2 is different from that before the power is turned on or the toner set C2 has been changed, and that a different toner set C2 has been attached. Therefore, in this case, the data of the “number counter” of the RFID tag is written into the “number counter” of the EEPROM 48 in the printer 1 (ST5), the “number counter” data recorded in the EEPROM 48 and the “number of sheets” of the RFID tag The data of “counter” is matched.

Thereafter, the “serial number” data in the printer apparatus 1 is written in the “serial number” of the RFID tag (ST6), and the “serial number” is made to coincide.
As described above, according to this example, even when a power supply abnormality occurs during printing processing for some reason, accurate “print counter” data can be input to the RFID tag when the power is restored.

In this example, the example of the toner set C2 has been described as the consumable to be used. However, the present invention is not limited to the toner set C2 and can be applied to other consumables such as the drum set C1.
(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this example, the printer device 1 is supported using a network, and further, confirmation support for a regular filling product and the like for consumables such as the toner set C2 is performed using the network.
FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a computer system connected to the network 53 such as the LAN shown in FIG. 6, and the printer apparatus 1 of this example receives print data from the personal computers 54a, 54b, etc., and performs print processing. It is carried out. Further, the printer device 1 has a function of transmitting the usage state and the content of the trouble as support information by e-mail periodically or when trouble occurs.

The electronic mail is sent via the mail server 55 via the Internet 56, and is delivered to, for example, the mail server 57 of the manufacturer of the printing apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 15 shows a part of the contents of the e-mail. The toner counter (TS counter) shown in the figure is a counter indicating the usage state of the toner set C2, and the TS serial number is a unique number of each toner set C2. Therefore, the summary server 58 grasps the serial number of the toner set C2 used by the user as support information.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the processing of this example, and shows refilling work by the normal route of the printer apparatus 1. First, the used toner set C2 sent from the user 60 is filled with regular toner by the manufacturer 61 of the printer apparatus 1, and the parts that are heavily consumed are replaced. The toner set C2a reproduced in this manner is sent to the user 60 and set in the printer apparatus 1.

  On the other hand, the manufacturer 61 writes the refill completion information to the toner set C2 of the corresponding serial number in the totaling server 58. With this configuration, when the toner set C2 is set and the toner set C2 is used again, the information in the totaling server 58 is referred to and can be used as a regular refill product.

  Further, by recording the information shown in FIG. 8 described in the first embodiment as information of the aggregation server 58 shown in FIG. 15, it is possible to confirm the genuine product via the Internet. Further, by recording the information shown in FIG. 11 described in the second embodiment, accurate print number data can be written via the Internet.

In this example, the example of the toner set C2 has been described as the consumable to be used. However, the present invention is not limited to the toner set C2 and can be applied to other consumables such as the drum set C1.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer apparatus 2 ... Image formation part 3 ... Duplex printing conveyance unit 4 ... Paper feed part 5-8 ... Image formation unit 9 ... Photosensitive drum 10a ... Charging Device 10b: Print head 10c: Developing roll 10d: Transfer device 11 ... Paper feed cassette 12 ... Standby roll 13 ... Conveying belt 14 ... Drive roll 15 ... Fixing unit 16 ... MPF trays 18a to 18e ... conveying roll 19 ... conveying roll 20 ... discharge roller 21 ... discharge stacker 22 ... front cover 23 ... side cover 24 ... Operation panel 40, 45 ... RFID tag 41, 47 ... CPU
42, 46 ... RFID communication unit 50 ... Interface (I / F) controller 51 ... Engine controller 52 ... Antenna 53 ... Network 54a, 54b ... Personal computer 55 ... Mail server 56 ... Internet 57 ... Mail server 58 ... Aggregation server 60 ... User 61 ... Manufacturer

Claims (3)

In a printing apparatus including a consumable item attached with an RFID tag in which unique information is written and a non-volatile storage means for recording use information of the consumable item,
Storage means for storing usage information of the consumables;
Writing means for writing consumable use information stored in the storage means at a predetermined timing from the storage means to the RFID tag;
A printing apparatus comprising: In a printing apparatus including a consumable item attached with an RFID tag in which the unique information is written and a non-volatile storage unit that records use information of the consumable item,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable use information is stored by the writing unit when the unique information stored in the RFID tag matches.   3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein storage of consumable use information by the storage unit is performed by a server via a network.

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