CN111845088A

CN111845088A - Printing device and consumable

Info

Publication number: CN111845088A
Application number: CN202010303753.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 伏见隆弘
Original assignee: Riso Kagaku Corp
Current assignee: Riso Kagaku Corp
Priority date: 2019-04-25
Filing date: 2020-04-17
Publication date: 2020-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-17
Also published as: CN111845088B; JP7213131B2; JP2020179592A

Abstract

The invention provides a printing apparatus and a consumable. The printing device is provided with: a first collation unit that collates the first collation information with the second collation information; a second comparison unit which compares the third comparison information with the fourth comparison information; a storage unit; an extraction unit that extracts, from the plurality of random codes, a random code that satisfies an extraction condition as a first random code; a third collation unit that collates the fifth collation information with the sixth collation information; an update determination unit that, when the third matching unit determines that the comparison result matches the comparison result, changes the extraction condition, extracts, from the storage unit, a random code that satisfies the changed extraction condition as a second random code, and determines whether or not the sixth matching information is updated based on the extracted second random code, the second matching information, and the fourth matching information; and an authentication unit that authenticates the consumable as a license when the first and second comparison units determine that they match and the update determination unit determines that the update is performed.

Description

Printing device and consumable

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a consumable that prevent a decrease in print quality and an apparatus failure by authenticating only an appropriate consumable as a license.

Background

In the printing apparatus, various consumables such as an ink cartridge (ink cartridge) and stencil sheet are detachably provided according to a printing system of the printing apparatus.

For example, an ink jet printing apparatus is provided with an ink cartridge that stores ink for each color as a consumable, supplies ink from the ink cartridge to an ink jet head, and ejects ink from a nozzle of the ink jet head toward printing paper to print images, characters, and the like.

In this case, when an inappropriate ink cartridge is mounted on an ink jet printing apparatus and used, for example, the ink aggregates, and the aggregated ink blocks the nozzles to cause ejection failure, or the ink landed on the paper spreads to cause edge failure of the image. These problems cause a reduction in the quality of a printed image. In addition, there are also cases where: when the ink aggregates, an excessive load is applied to each device in the apparatus, which causes a failure of the apparatus.

Therefore, patent document 1 discloses a technique relating to an image recording apparatus in which information is transmitted between a mounted consumable and a main apparatus, and characteristics are compared based on consumable information (for example, suitable type information, setting information of matching parameters, manufacturing date and year) provided in the consumable.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2001-18507

Disclosure of Invention

In the image recording apparatus described in patent document 1, the characteristics are collated based on the transmitted consumable information, and therefore the collation accuracy is low.

If the accuracy of the matching is low, an inappropriate consumable may be attached, which may cause a reduction in the quality of the printed image or a malfunction of the printing apparatus.

The invention aims to provide a printing device and a consumable product, which can prevent the reduction of printing quality and the device failure by only authenticating the proper consumable product as the permission.

The printing apparatus according to the present invention mounts a consumable part having a memory, and performs printing using the mounted consumable part. The printing device includes: a first collation unit that collates first collation information that is static information generated by the printing apparatus based on the consumable part storage information stored in the memory with second collation information that is information generated based on the consumable part storage information and stored in the memory; a second collation unit that collates third collation information, which is information generated by the printing apparatus based on acquisition information of the printing apparatus, with fourth collation information, which is information generated based on acquisition information of the consumable and stored in the memory; a storage unit that stores a plurality of random codes; an extraction unit that extracts a random code satisfying an extraction condition as a first random code from the plurality of random codes stored in the storage unit; a third collation unit that collates fifth collation information generated by the printing apparatus based on the second collation information, the fourth collation information, and the first random code extracted by the extraction unit with sixth collation information generated based on the second collation information, the fourth collation information, and the random code satisfying the extraction condition and stored in the memory; an update determination unit configured to change the extraction condition when the third matching unit determines that the fifth matching information matches the sixth matching information, to extract a random code satisfying the changed extraction condition from the storage unit as a second random code, and to determine whether or not the sixth matching information is updated based on the extracted second random code, the second matching information, and the fourth matching information; and an authentication unit that authenticates the consumable as a license when the first comparison unit determines that the first comparison information matches the second comparison information, the second comparison unit determines that the third comparison information matches the fourth comparison information, and the update determination unit determines that the sixth comparison information is updated.

Here, the consumable storage information is information stored in the consumable, and for example, it refers to position information, an ID, or a combination of the position information and the ID.

The acquisition information of the printer is information that is input to the printer from the outside or information that is acquired by being generated inside the printer, and may be acquired at the time of manufacture, during distribution, or at the start of use, and the acquisition timing is not limited. For example, the acquired information of the printer corresponds to an ID, destination information (position information), remaining ink amount information, time information, or a combination thereof input from the outside of a connected consumable, clock, other input device, or the like, time information acquired inside the printer by a clock or the like built in the printer, position information acquired inside the printer by a GPS (Global Positioning System) function or the like built in the printer, or the like.

The acquisition information of the consumable part is information input to the consumable part from the outside or information acquired by being generated inside the consumable part, and may be acquired at the time of manufacture, during distribution, or at the start of use, and the acquisition timing is not limited. For example, the acquisition information corresponds to an ID, destination information (position information), remaining ink amount information, time information, or a combination thereof input from the outside of the connected printing apparatus, clock, other input apparatus, or the like, time information acquired inside the consumable by a clock or the like built in the consumable, position information acquired inside the consumable by a GPS (global positioning System) function or the like built in the consumable, or the like.

According to the printing apparatus and the consumable part of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a reduction in print quality and an apparatus failure by authenticating only an appropriate consumable part as a license.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining functions of a printing apparatus and an ink cartridge provided in an image forming apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of random codes stored in a memory provided in the image forming apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the image forming apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the image forming apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of random codes stored in a memory provided in the image forming apparatus according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent parts and components are denoted by the same or equivalent reference numerals. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings are schematic and differ from actual ones. It is needless to say that the drawings also include portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios.

The embodiments described below are illustrative of apparatuses and the like for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention is not to specify the material, shape, structure, arrangement, and the like of each component as the material, shape, structure, arrangement, and the like described below. The technical idea of the present invention can be variously modified in the claims.

An embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

< example 1>

In example 1 of the present invention, an ink jet type image forming apparatus including a printing apparatus and an ink cartridge for each color, which is a consumable product detachably attached to the printing apparatus, will be described.

< construction of image Forming apparatus >

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

An image forming apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention includes an ink cartridge and a printing apparatus having a configuration other than the ink cartridge, and is described with reference to fig. 1, which illustrates the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the ink cartridge is mounted in the printing apparatus.

As shown in fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes

inkjet heads

110C, 110M, 110Y, and 110K corresponding to inks of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), and the printing paper is conveyed by an endless conveyor belt (not shown) provided on the facing surfaces of the

inkjet heads

110C, 110M, 110Y, and 110K at a speed determined according to the printing conditions and is printed with the inks ejected from the

inkjet heads

110C, 110M, 110Y, and 110K in units of lines.

Each ink is supplied from an ink bottle provided in a detachable ink cartridge, and includes an ink bottle 151C for supplying C (cyan) ink, an ink bottle 151M for supplying M (magenta) ink, an ink bottle 151Y for supplying Y (yellow) ink, and an ink bottle 151K for supplying K (black) ink. Note that, in the following, the description will be given by taking the ink bottle 151 as a representative example without limiting the ink color. The same applies to other functional units.

The ink supplied from the ink bottle 151 is temporarily stored in a downstream tank provided on the downstream side of the inkjet head 110 via an ink circulation path formed of a tube of resin, metal, or the like. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a downstream tank 120C storing C (cyan) ink, a downstream tank 120M storing M (magenta) ink, a downstream tank 120Y storing Y (yellow) ink, and a downstream tank 120K storing K (black) ink.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a pump 170C, a pump 170M, a pump 170Y, a pump 170K, an upstream tank 130C, an upstream tank 130M, an upstream tank 130Y, and an upstream tank 130K. The ink stored in the downstream tank 120 is delivered to an upstream tank provided on the upstream side of the inkjet head 110 by a pump. The ink delivered to the upstream tank 130 is delivered to the inkjet head 110 provided with many nozzles that eject the ink.

The upstream tank 130 is connected to a common air chamber 172. The common air chamber 172 is provided with a pump 173 and an atmosphere opening valve, not shown, and the pressure of air in the upstream tank 130 is adjusted by completely closing the atmosphere opening valve and sending air to the upstream tank 130 by the pump 173 or by completely opening the atmosphere opening valve to reach atmospheric pressure.

The ink not ejected by the inkjet head 110 returns to the downstream tank 120. The return of ink from the upstream tank 130 to the downstream tank 120 via the inkjet head 110 utilizes the head difference between the upstream tank 130 and the downstream tank 120.

The ink has been determined to be in a temperature range capable of ensuring printing quality, and when the ambient temperature is low and the ink temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature capable of printing, the ink needs to be heated. On the other hand, the actuator and the piezoelectric element provided in the inkjet head 110 generate heat by their operation, and the influence of the rise in the ink temperature at high temperatures needs to be suppressed by the joule heat generated by the heat and ink vibration. Therefore, a temperature regulator 161 is provided on the ink circulation path, and the ink is heated or cooled by the temperature regulator 161.

When an inappropriate ink cartridge is mounted to the ink jet printing apparatus having such a configuration, for example, the ink aggregates, the aggregated ink blocks the nozzles of the ink jet head 110, and ejection failure occurs, or the ink that has landed on the printing paper being transported spreads, and edge failure of the image occurs. Further, there are also cases where: if the ink aggregates in the ink circulation path, an excessive load is applied to the ink feeding unit such as the pump 170, which causes a failure of the apparatus.

Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention performs authentication as to whether or not the mounted ink cartridge can be used, thereby preventing deterioration in print quality and malfunction of the printing apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining functions of the printing apparatus 2 and the

ink cartridges

150K, 150C, 150M, and 150Y included in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 2, an image forming apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention includes a printing apparatus 2 and

ink cartridges

150K, 150C, 150M, and 150Y attached to the printing apparatus 2, and performs authentication as to whether or not the

respective ink cartridges

150K, 150C, 150M, and 150Y are usable. Here, the ink cartridge 150K is taken as an example for explanation, and the

ink cartridges

150C, 150M, and 150Y have the same configuration.

The ink cartridges 150K corresponding to K (black) ink are provided with ink bottles 151K and non-contact ICs (reference numeral 152K), respectively.

The non-contact IC (reference numeral 152K) includes a memory 153K and a CPU 154K, and performs data communication with the printing apparatus 2 by a wireless method.

The memory 153K stores an ID for uniquely determining the ink cartridge 150K, a first password generated and stored using a first algorithm based on the ID, attribute data of ink stored in the ink bottle 151K, a second password generated and stored using a second algorithm based on destination information indicating a region where the ink cartridge 150K is used, random code designation information which is one of extraction conditions for extracting a random code described later, and a third password generated and stored using a third algorithm based on the first password, the second password, and a random code satisfying the random code designation information. The attribute data of the ink includes ink color information, ink solvent type information, and ink remaining amount information.

The CPU 154K has an arithmetic processing function of calculating the remaining amounts of ink in the

ink bottles

151C, 151M, 151Y, and 151K for each ink color based on the ejection amounts of the ink ejected from the inkjet heads 110C, 110M, 110Y, and 110K, for example, and storing the calculated remaining amounts of ink in the memory 153K as remaining amount information of ink. The CPU 154K may be provided with a first collating means 12, a second collating means 13, a password generating means 14, a position information acquiring means 15, an authenticating means 16, an extracting means 19, a third collating means 20, an update determining means 21, and a password generating means 22, which will be described later.

Similarly, the

ink cartridges

150C, 150M, and 150Y corresponding to C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) inks are provided with

ink bottles

151C, 151M, and 151Y, respectively, and a non-contact IC (not shown), and wirelessly communicate data with the printing apparatus 2.

The printing apparatus 2 includes a wireless communication unit 11, a display unit 17, a memory 18, and a CPU having an arithmetic processing function. The CPU of the printing apparatus 2 is equipped with a first collation unit 12, a second collation unit 13, a password generation unit 14, a position information acquisition unit 15, an authentication unit 16, an extraction unit 19, a third collation unit 20, an update determination unit 21, and a password generation unit 22. These units 12 to 16, 19 to 22 are hereinafter referred to as units of the printing apparatus 2.

The wireless communication unit 11 establishes wireless communication with the non-contact IC (reference numeral 152), reads various information from the non-contact IC (reference numeral 152), and supplies the read information to the first and

second registration units

12 and 13, the password generation unit 14, and the like. When the wireless communication unit 11 performs wireless communication with a non-contact IC (reference numeral 152), the transmitting side adds a random number to transmit, and the receiving side deletes the added random number to extract information. This can prevent interception of information to be communicated.

The first collating unit 12 collates the password (first collation information) of the static information generated by the password generating unit 14 of the printing apparatus 2 based on the ID (consumable storage information) stored in the ink cartridge 150K as the consumable and the first password (second collation information) generated based on the ID (consumable storage information) and stored in the memory 153K. Here, the static information is fixed information that does not change every time the comparison and authentication are performed.

The second collating unit 13 collates the password (third collation information) generated by the password generating unit 14 of the printing apparatus 2 based on the position information (acquisition information) of the printing apparatus 2 with the second password (fourth collation information) generated based on the position information (acquisition information) of the ink cartridge 150 and stored in the memory 153K.

The password generation unit 14 generates a password (first registration information) using a first algorithm stored in the memory 18 based on the ID read by the wireless communication unit 11. Further, the password generation unit 14 generates a password (third collation information) based on the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 15 using the second algorithm stored in the memory 18.

The password generation unit 22 generates a password (fifth collation information) based on the first password (second collation information), the second password (fourth collation information), and the first random code extracted by the extraction unit 19, and using the third algorithm stored in the memory 18.

The position information acquiring unit 15 reads the destination information stored in the memory 18 as the position information of the printing apparatus 2.

The extraction unit 19 extracts, as the first random code, a random code that satisfies the random code specifying information stored in the memory 153K from among the plurality of random codes stored in the memory 18.

The third collation unit 20 collates a password (fifth collation information) generated by the password generation unit 22 based on the first password (second collation information), the second password (fourth collation information), and the first random code extracted by the extraction unit 19, with a third password (sixth collation information) generated based on the first password (second collation information), the second password (fourth collation information), and a random code satisfying the random code specification information and stored in the memory 153K.

When the third collation unit 20 determines that the collation matches, the update determination unit 21 updates the random code designation information. Further, the update determination unit 21 extracts a random code satisfying the updated random code designation information as a second random code from the memory 18. The update determination unit 21 determines whether or not the third password (sixth collation information) is updated based on the extracted second random code, first password (second collation information), and second password (fourth collation information).

The authentication unit 16 authenticates the ink cartridge 150 as being permitted when the first collation unit 12, the second collation unit 13, and the third collation unit determine that the collation results are all identical and the renewal determination unit 21 determines that the renewal has been performed. By this permission authentication, the mounted ink cartridge 150 can be used.

When the authentication unit 16 authenticates that the cartridge is not permitted, the display unit 17 displays a warning message indicating that the mounted ink cartridge 150 cannot be used.

The memory 18 stores destination information indicating an area where the image forming apparatus 1 is used, a first algorithm as a program for generating a password (first collation information), a second algorithm as a program for generating a password (third collation information), a third algorithm as a program for generating a password (fifth collation information), and a random code.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the random code stored in the memory 18.

As shown in fig. 3, a plurality of random codes are stored in association with the random code numbers.

For example, in the case where the random code number is "RC 2", the random code is "987654321". That is, by designating the random code number as the random code designation information, it is possible to extract one random code whose storage position has been designated by the random code number from among the plurality of random codes stored in the memory 18.

< operation of ink jet printing apparatus >

Next, an operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.

Fig. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing a processing procedure in the image forming apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 4, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, when the printing apparatus 2 detects that the ink cartridge 150 is mounted on the printing apparatus 2 (step S101; yes), the wireless communication unit 11 of the printing apparatus 2 establishes wireless communication with the non-contact IC (reference numeral 152K) and reads the ID and the first password from the non-contact IC (reference numeral 152K) (step S103), based on the detection result of the sensor (not shown).

Next, the password generation unit 14 generates a password (first registration information) using the first algorithm stored in the memory 18 based on the ID read by the wireless communication unit 11 (step S105).

Then, the first collating means 12 collates whether or not the first password (second collation information) read by the wireless communication unit 11 matches the password (first collation information) generated in step S105 (step S107). Here, the first password is generated and stored in advance using the first algorithm based on the ID, and therefore, in the case where the ink cartridge 150K is a product suitable for the image forming apparatus 1, the first password coincides with the password generated in step S105.

If the first password does not match the password generated in step S105 (step S107; no), the ink cartridge 150K is not a product suitable for the image forming apparatus 1, and therefore the authentication unit 16 causes the display 17 to display a warning message to the effect that the mounted ink cartridge cannot be used (step S109).

On the other hand, in the case where the first password coincides with the password generated in step S105 (step S107; YES), the mounted ink cartridge may be appropriate.

Therefore, the wireless communication unit 11 of the printing apparatus 2 establishes wireless communication with the non-contact IC (reference numeral 152K), and reads the second password from the non-contact IC (reference numeral 152K) (step S111).

Then, the position information acquiring unit 15 acquires the destination information stored in the memory 18 as the position information of the printing apparatus 2 (step S113).

The password generation unit 14 generates a password (third collation information) using the second algorithm stored in the memory 18 based on the ID read in step S103 and the position information acquired in step S113 (step S115).

Then, the second collating means 13 collates whether or not the second password (fourth collation information) read by the wireless communication unit 11 matches the password (third collation information) generated in step S115 (step S117). Here, the second password is generated and stored using a second algorithm based on the destination information of the ink cartridge. Since it is a precondition that the ink cartridge 150K is used in the same region as the image forming apparatus 1, in the case where the ink cartridge 150K is a product suitable for the image forming apparatus 1, the second password coincides with the password generated in step S115.

If the second password does not match the password generated in step S115 (step S117; no), the ink cartridge 150K is not a product suitable for the image forming apparatus 1, and therefore the authentication unit 16 causes the display 17 to display a warning message to the effect that the mounted ink cartridge cannot be used (step S109).

On the other hand, in the case where the second password coincides with the password generated in step S115 (step S117; YES), the mounted ink cartridge may be appropriate.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 5, the wireless communication unit 11 of the printing apparatus 2 establishes wireless communication with the non-contact IC (reference numeral 152K), and reads the third password from the non-contact IC (reference numeral 152K) (step S119).

The extraction unit 19 extracts, as the first random code, a random code that satisfies the random code specification information (here, the random code number) stored in the memory 153K from among the plurality of random codes stored in the memory 18 (step S121).

Next, the password generation unit 22 generates a password using the third algorithm stored in the memory 18 based on the first password, the second password, and the first random code extracted in step S121 (step S123).

The third collating means 20 collates whether or not the third password (sixth collation information) read by the wireless communication unit 11 matches the password (fifth password) generated in step S123 (step S125). If it is determined that the third password (sixth matching information) does not match the password (fifth password) generated in step S123 (step S125; no), the ink cartridge 150K is not a product suitable for the image forming apparatus 1, and therefore the authentication unit 16 causes the display unit 17 to display a warning message indicating that the mounted ink cartridge cannot be used (step S109).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the third password (sixth collation information) matches the password (fifth password) generated in step S123 (step S125; yes), the update determination unit 21 sets new random code designation information, and extracts a new random code satisfying the set new random code designation information from the memory 18 as the second random code (step S127).

The password generation unit 22 generates a password using the third algorithm stored in the memory 18 based on the first password, the second password, and the second random code extracted in step S127 (step S129).

Then, the authentication unit 16 determines whether the update determination unit 21 has updated the third password stored in the memory 153K with the password generated in step S129 (step S131).

Specifically, for example, when the memory 153K is Read-only (Read-only) or when the memory 153K is set to be write-inhibited, the authentication unit 16 determines that the third password is not updated because the update is not possible.

Even if the memory 153K is writable, the authentication unit 16 determines that the third password is not updated when the update determination unit does not perform the update operation of the third password for a predetermined time period, and when the update determination unit does not perform the update operation of the third password at a predetermined location in the memory 153K and performs the update operation at another location.

The case where the authentication unit 16 determines that the third password is updated by the update determination unit 21 is, for example, a case where it is determined that the third password stored in the memory 153K can be updated, and the update determination unit 21 updates the third password stored in the memory 153K at a predetermined location with the password generated in step S129 and updates the random code designation information stored in the memory 153K at a predetermined location with the random code designation information set in step S127.

When the third password and the random code designation information are updated, the authentication unit 16 determines that the mounted ink cartridge is an appropriate ink cartridge, and authenticates the use of the mounted ink cartridge as a permission (step S135).

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, when the results of the collation by the first collation unit 12, the second collation unit 13, and the third collation unit 20 are all matched and the renewal determination unit 21 determines that the renewal has been performed, the use of the ink cartridge is authenticated as the permission.

In this way, if the multi-stage collation by the first collation unit 12, the second collation unit 13, and the third collation unit 20 are all inconsistent, the authentication is not permitted, and therefore the accuracy of the authentication can be improved. In addition, if the update determination unit 21 does not determine that the third password and the random code designation information are updated after the comparison by the third comparison unit 20 is matched, the authentication is not permitted, and therefore, the accuracy of the authentication can be further improved. Further, the third password and the random code specifying information are updated each time the collation by the third collation unit 20 is identical. That is, since the third password and the random code specifying information are managed as dynamic information, the accuracy of authentication can be further improved.

In this way, since the accuracy of authentication can be improved, it is possible to reliably recognize the ink cartridge and avoid the use of an inappropriate ink cartridge, and thus it is possible to prevent the degradation of the printing quality and the device failure.

Further, in embodiment 1 of the present invention, in step S115, the password generation unit 14 generates the password (third collation information) using the second algorithm stored in the memory 18 based on the ID read in step S103 and the position information acquired in step S113, but is not limited thereto. For example, a password (third collation information) may be generated using the second algorithm stored in the memory 18 based only on the position information acquired in step S113. At this time, as a matter of course, the second password (fourth collation information) is generated based on only the position information and is stored in the memory 153K in advance.

Further, the password generation unit 14 may generate a password (third collation information) based on the ID read in step S103 and using the second algorithm stored in the memory 18. At this time, as a matter of course, the second password (fourth collation information) is generated based on the ID and is stored in the memory 153K in advance.

Specifically, the first collating unit 12 collates the password (first collation information) of the static information generated by the password generating unit 14 of the printing apparatus 2 based on the ID stored in the ink cartridge 150K as the consumable part and using the first algorithm, with the first password (second collation information) generated based on the ID and using the first algorithm and stored in the memory 153K. Then, the second collating unit 13 collates the password (third collation information) generated by the password generating unit 14 of the printing apparatus 2 based on the ID stored in the ink cartridge 150K as the consumable part and using the second algorithm, with the second password (fourth collation information) generated based on the ID and using the second algorithm and stored in the memory 153K.

In step S111, the wireless communication unit 11 may read the second password and the remaining ink amount information of the attribute data from the non-contact IC (reference numeral 152K), and the password generation unit 14 may generate the password (third matching information) using the second algorithm stored in the memory 18 based on the ID read in step S103 and the remaining ink amount information read in step S111. At this time, as a matter of course, the second password (fourth collation information) is generated based on the ID and the remaining ink amount information and stored in the memory 153K.

The printing apparatus 2 may include a clock therein, and the password generation unit 14 may generate the password (third collation information) using the second algorithm stored in the memory 18 based on the time counted by the clock. At this time, the time counted by the clock provided in the printing apparatus 2 is transmitted to the ink cartridge 150 via the wireless communication unit 11, and the CPU 154K generates the second password (fourth matching information) based on the transmitted time and stores the second password in the memory 153K.

In embodiment 1 of the present invention, the first collating means 12 collates the password (first collation information) of the static information generated by the password generating means 14 of the printing apparatus 2 based on the ID stored in the ink cartridge 150K as the consumable part with the first password (second collation information) generated based on the ID and stored in the memory 153K, and when they match, the second collating means 13 collates the password (third collation information) generated by the password generating means 14 of the printing apparatus 2 based on the position information of the printing apparatus 2 with the second password (fourth collation information) generated based on the position information and stored in the memory 153K, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the second collating means 13 may collate them, and when they match, the first collating means 12 collates them. That is, which of the collation by the first collation unit 12 and the collation by the second collation unit 13 is preceded may be performed. Similarly, when the comparison by the first comparison means 12 and the comparison by the second comparison means 13 match, the comparison is performed by the third comparison means 20, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any one of the comparison by the first comparison means 12, the comparison by the second comparison means 13, and the comparison by the third comparison means 20 may be performed before.

The first collating means 12 may collate the password (first collation information) of the static information generated by the password generating means 14 of the printing apparatus 2 based on the ID stored in the ink cartridge 150K as the consumable part and the positional information of the printing apparatus 2 with the first password (second collation information) generated based on the ID and the positional information of the printing apparatus 2 and stored in the memory 153K, and the second collating means 13 may collate the password (third collation information) generated by the password generating means 14 of the printing apparatus 2 based on the ID stored in the ink cartridge 150K as the consumable part and the remaining ink amount information with the second password (fourth collation information) generated based on the ID and the remaining ink amount information and stored in the memory 153K.

The first collating means 12 may collate the password (first collation information) of the static information generated by the password generating means 14 of the printing apparatus 2 based on the ID stored in the cartridge 150K as the consumable part and the positional information of the printing apparatus 2 with the first password (second collation information) generated based on the ID and the positional information of the printing apparatus 2 and stored in the memory 153K, and the second collating means 13 may collate the password (third collation information) generated by the password generating means 14 of the printing apparatus 2 based on the ID stored in the cartridge 150K as the consumable part and the time counted by the clock with the second password (fourth collation information) generated based on the ID and the time counted and stored in the memory 153K.

In embodiment 1 of the present invention, the CPU of the printing apparatus 2 is provided with the first collating means 12, the second collating means 13, the password generating means 14, the position information acquiring means 15, the authenticating means 16, the extracting means 19, the third collating means 20, the update determining means 21, and the password generating means 22, and the printing apparatus 2 executes each process, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be provided with the CPU 154 and execute each process.

For example, the printing apparatus 2 may include the wireless communication unit 11 and the display unit 17, the CPU of the printing apparatus 2 may include the first matching unit 12, the password generation unit 14, the position information acquisition unit 15, the authentication unit 16, and the update determination unit 21, and the CPU 154 may include the second matching unit 13, the extraction unit 19, the third matching unit 20, and the password generation unit 22.

The first collating unit 12 of the printing apparatus 2 collates the password (first collation information) of the static information generated by the password generating unit 14 based on the ID stored in the ink cartridge 150K as the consumable and the first password (second collation information) generated based on the ID and stored in the memory 153K.

The second collating unit 13 of the CPU 154 collates the password (third collation information) generated by the password generating unit 14 based on the position information of the printing apparatus 2 with the second password (fourth collation information) generated based on the position information and stored in the memory 153K, and transmits the collation result to the authenticating unit 16 of the printing apparatus 2.

The third collating means 20 of the CPU 154 collates the password (fifth collating information) generated by the password generating means 22 based on the first password (second collating information), the second password (fourth collating information), and the first random code extracted by the extracting means 19, with the third password (sixth collating information) generated based on the first password (second collating information), the second password (fourth collating information), and the random code satisfying the random code specifying information and stored in the memory 153K, and transmits the collation result to the update determining means 21 of the printing apparatus 2.

In this way, when the CPU 154 performs the collation, the memory 153K includes an area where information can be read from the outside of the ink cartridge 150K, that is, an area where information can be read and an area where information cannot be read from the outside of the ink cartridge 150K, that is, an area where information cannot be read, and by storing information (here, the second password and the third password) used for the collation in the area where information cannot be read, the collation accuracy can be further improved.

For example, the second collating unit 13 of the CPU 154 collates the password (third collating information) acquired from the printing apparatus 2 and generated by the password generating unit 14 based on the acquired position information of the printing apparatus 2 with the second password (fourth collating information) generated based on the position information of the ink cartridge and stored in the unreadable area of the memory 153K, and transmits the collation result to the authentication unit 16 of the printing apparatus 2.

Thus, when the verification results of the first verification unit 12 and the second verification unit 13 are both determined to match each other, the authentication unit 16 can authenticate the ink cartridge 150 as being permitted, and the second password (fourth verification information) stored in the unreadable area of the memory 153K cannot be read from the outside of the ink cartridge, so that the unusable ink cartridge can be more reliably identified. This can prevent a reduction in print quality and device failure.

The first collating means 12 may collate the password of the static information (first collation information) generated by the password generating means 14 of the printing apparatus 2 using the first algorithm based on the ID stored in the cartridge 150K as the consumable part and the positional information of the printing apparatus 2 with the first password (second collation information) generated by the password generating means 14 of the printing apparatus 2 using the first algorithm based on the ID and the positional information and stored in the memory 153K, and the second collating means 13 may collate the password of the static information (third collation information) generated by the password generating means 14 of the printing apparatus 2 using the second algorithm based on the ID stored in the cartridge 150K as the consumable part and the positional information of the printing apparatus 2 with the second password (fourth collation information) generated by the password generating means 14 of the printing apparatus 2 using the second algorithm based on the ID and the positional information and stored in the memory 153K.

In embodiment 1 of the present invention, the ink cartridge 150 is configured to include the CPU 154, but the CPU 154 is not essential.

For example, the wireless communication unit 11 may directly access the memory 153 to read various data such as an ID and a first password, or may include a data transmission function in the contactless IC (reference numeral 152) and transmit the requested data from the memory 153 to the wireless communication unit 11 when receiving a data transmission request from the wireless communication unit 11.

Further, in embodiment 1 of the present invention, the location information acquiring unit 15 acquires the destination information stored in the memory 18 as the location information, but is not limited thereto. For example, the position information acquiring unit 15 may have a GPS (Global Positioning System) function and acquire, as the destination information, a region including the position coordinates acquired by the GPS function.

In embodiment 1 of the present invention, the first collating means 12 collates the password (first collation information) generated by the password generating means 14 of the printing apparatus 2 based on the ID (consumable storage information) stored in the ink cartridge 150K with the first password (second collation information) generated based on the ID (consumable storage information) and stored in the memory 153K, but the first password used for the collation may be used only once. For example, when the first collation unit 12 determines that the collation matches, the first password used for the collation is stored in the memory 18, and the first password stored in the memory 18 is set as unusable. This can prevent, for example, a reduction in print quality and device failure due to the use of an ink cartridge in which a low-quality ink is refilled into a used ink cartridge.

In addition, for the collation performed by each of the first collation unit 12, the second collation unit 13, and the third collation unit 20, a limit can be set on the time and the number of times until the collation is completed. Specifically, the number of times the collation has been performed and the elapsed time from the first collation are stored in the memory 18 for each of the first collation unit 12, the second collation unit 13, and the third collation unit 20. The authentication unit 16 may be configured to authenticate the license when the number of times of collation performed in any one of the first collation unit 12, the second collation unit 13, and the third collation unit 20 exceeds the upper limit number of times, or when the elapsed time from the first collation exceeds the upper limit time. Thus, it is possible to prevent a decrease in print quality and a device failure due to an improper collation caused by a repeated password input with respect to each collation.

In embodiment 1 of the present invention, the authentication unit 16 authenticates the ink cartridge 150 as being permitted when the first, second, and

third collating units

12, 13, and 20 determine that the collation results all match and the update determining unit 21 determines that the update is performed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the authentication unit 16 may authenticate the ink cartridge 150 as being permitted when the first, second, and

third collating units

12, 13, and 20 determine that the collation results all match.

For example, a function of accepting a setting to omit the update determination process by the update determination unit 21 may be provided, and the update determination process by the update determination unit 21 may be omitted when a user who desires to start the printing operation as soon as possible performs a setting operation to omit the update determination process. In addition, when the results of the collation are all determined to be identical by the first collation unit 12, the second collation unit 13, and the third collation unit 20 and the update determination unit 21 is determined to be updated for each user in the most recent plural times, it can be estimated that the user has no problem, and therefore the update determination process by the update determination unit 21 may be omitted.

Further, the authentication unit 16 may authenticate the ink cartridge 150 as being permitted when it is determined that the results of the collation by the third collation unit 20 match and the renewal determination unit 21 determines that the renewal is performed.

For example, since it can be estimated that the user is a problem-free user that has been determined by the first collating unit 12, the second collating unit 13, and the third collating unit 20 that the collation results are all identical and that has been updated by the update determining unit 21 in the most recent plural times, such as a manager or a professional who is in charge of a certain specific service, the authentication unit 16 authenticates the ink cartridge 150 as being permitted when it is determined that the collation results by the third collating unit 20 are identical and that the update determining unit 21 has determined that the update has been performed.

< example 2>

In embodiment 1 of the present invention, in the memory 18, a plurality of random codes are stored in association with random code numbers, and one random code is extracted by specifying random code specifying information (random code number) as an extraction condition.

In embodiment 2 of the present invention, a combination of random code start point information, direction information, and character number information is set as an extraction condition for extracting a random code.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the random code stored in the memory 18 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 6, the characters are arranged and stored in the memory 18 so that one character is determined by the X-Y coordinates. Numbers are also included in the characters.

The random code start point information refers to coordinates of the top character of the random code. The direction information is information indicating any one of 8 directions, i.e., upward, downward, leftward, rightward, and oblique directions, from the position of the coordinates of the top character specified by the random code start point information. The character number information is information indicating the length of a character string of the random code.

For example, assume that the random code start point information is (x5, y4), the direction information is "lower right", and the number of characters information is "4" characters.

In this case, in the example shown in fig. 6, the character indicated by the random code start point information is "n", and the characters "4" starting with the character "n" and extending from the coordinate position in the "lower right" direction correspond to "n", "7", "6", and "s". Therefore, the extracting unit 19 extracts "n 76 s" obtained by concatenating these characters as a random code.

As described above, in embodiment 2 of the present invention, the plurality of random codes stored in the memory 18 are configured by the character arrangement, and the extracting unit 19 can extract the random codes based on the extraction condition for specifying the position in the character arrangement stored in the memory 18. By storing characters in the memory 18 in advance based on the X-Y coordinates, it is possible to extract character strings of various combinations as random codes by changing the random code start point information, direction information, and character number information.

This makes it possible to generate a highly secure password with a small storage capacity, and thus to further improve the accuracy of authentication.

In examples 1 and 2 of the present invention, an inkjet printing apparatus including an ink cartridge as a consumable part was described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any printing apparatus including a consumable part, such as a stencil printing apparatus including a stencil ink cartridge and a stencil master as a consumable part, or an electrophotographic apparatus including a toner bottle as a consumable part, may be applied to the printing apparatus of any printing system.

The present invention has, for example, the following structure.

(attached note 1)

The printing apparatus mounts a consumable having a memory, and performs printing using the mounted consumable. The printing device includes: a first collation unit that collates first collation information that is static information generated by the printing apparatus based on the consumable part storage information stored in the memory with second collation information that is information generated based on the consumable part storage information and stored in the memory; a second collation unit that collates third collation information, which is information generated by the printing apparatus based on acquisition information of the printing apparatus, with fourth collation information, which is information generated based on acquisition information of the consumable and stored in the memory; a storage unit that stores a plurality of random codes; an extraction unit that extracts a random code satisfying an extraction condition as a first random code from the plurality of random codes stored in the storage unit; a third collation unit that collates fifth collation information generated by the printing apparatus based on the second collation information, the fourth collation information, and the first random code extracted by the extraction unit with sixth collation information generated based on the second collation information, the fourth collation information, and the random code satisfying the extraction condition and stored in the memory; an update determination unit configured to, when the third matching unit determines that the fifth matching information matches the sixth matching information, change the extraction condition, extract, from the storage unit, a random code that satisfies the changed extraction condition as a second random code, and determine whether or not the sixth matching information is updated based on the extracted second random code, the second matching information, and the fourth matching information; and an authentication unit that authenticates the consumable as a license when the first comparison unit determines that the first comparison information matches the second comparison information, the second comparison unit determines that the third comparison information matches the fourth comparison information, and the update determination unit determines that the sixth comparison information is updated.

Thus, if the multi-stage collation by the first collation unit, the second collation unit, and the third collation unit are all inconsistent, the authentication is not permitted, and therefore, the accuracy of the authentication can be improved. Further, if the update of the third password and the extraction condition is not completed by the update determination means after the comparison by the third comparison means is made to be identical, the authentication is not permitted, and therefore the accuracy of the authentication can be further improved. Further, the third password and the extraction condition are updated each time the collation by the third collation unit is identical. That is, since the third password and the extraction condition are managed as dynamic information, the accuracy of authentication can be further improved.

(attached note 2)

In the printing apparatus described in supplementary note 1, the extraction condition is stored in the memory, and the update determination unit further determines whether or not the extraction condition stored in the memory has been updated to the extraction condition after the change.

Therefore, when it is determined that the extraction condition itself, which is the condition for extracting the random code, has been updated, the authentication unit authenticates the random code as a permission, and thus a random code with higher security can be set.

(attached note 3)

In the printing apparatus described in

supplementary note

1 or 2, the plurality of random codes stored in the storage unit are configured by a character array, and the extraction condition is a condition for extracting one random code from the plurality of random codes stored in the storage unit by specifying a position in the character array stored in the storage unit.

Therefore, by storing character arrangements in the storage unit in advance and updating the extraction conditions, character strings of various combinations can be extracted as random codes. This makes it possible to generate a highly secure password with a small storage capacity, and thus to further improve the accuracy of authentication.

(attached note 4)

The consumable is attached to the printing apparatus and has a memory. The printing device is provided with: a first collation unit that collates first collation information that is static information generated by the printing apparatus based on the consumable part storage information stored in the memory with second collation information that is information generated based on the consumable part storage information and stored in the memory; a second collation unit that collates third collation information, which is information generated by the printing apparatus based on acquisition information of the printing apparatus, with fourth collation information, which is information generated based on acquisition information of the consumable and stored in the memory; a storage unit that stores a plurality of random codes; an extraction unit that extracts a random code satisfying an extraction condition as a first random code from the plurality of random codes stored in the storage unit; a third collation unit that collates fifth collation information generated by the printing apparatus based on the second collation information, the fourth collation information, and the first random code extracted by the extraction unit with sixth collation information generated based on the second collation information, the fourth collation information, and the random code satisfying the extraction condition and stored in the memory; an update determination unit configured to, when the third matching unit determines that the fifth matching information matches the sixth matching information, change the extraction condition, extract, from the storage unit, a random code that satisfies the changed extraction condition as a second random code, and determine whether or not the sixth matching information is updated based on the extracted second random code, the second matching information, and the fourth matching information; and an authentication unit that authenticates the consumable as a license when the first comparison unit determines that the first comparison information matches the second comparison information, the second comparison unit determines that the third comparison information matches the fourth comparison information, and the update determination unit determines that the sixth comparison information is updated. The memory of the consumable stores the second collation information for use in collation by the first collation unit, the fourth collation information for use in collation by the second collation unit, and the sixth collation information for use in collation by the third collation unit. The sixth comparison information is updated based on the second random code, the second comparison information, and the fourth comparison information.

(attached note 5)

In the consumable part described in supplementary note 4, the memory stores the extraction condition used when the first random code is extracted from the plurality of random codes, and the extraction condition is updated each time the update determination unit changes the extraction condition when the third collation unit determines that the fifth collation information matches the sixth collation information.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus that mounts a consumable having a memory and performs printing using the mounted consumable, the printing apparatus comprising:

a first collation unit that collates first collation information that is static information generated by the printing apparatus based on the consumable part storage information stored in the memory with second collation information that is information generated based on the consumable part storage information and stored in the memory;

a second collation unit that collates third collation information, which is information generated by the printing apparatus based on acquisition information of the printing apparatus, with fourth collation information, which is information generated based on acquisition information of the consumable and stored in the memory;

A storage unit that stores a plurality of random codes;

an extraction unit that extracts a random code satisfying an extraction condition as a first random code from the plurality of random codes stored in the storage unit;

a third collation unit that collates fifth collation information generated by the printing apparatus based on the second collation information, the fourth collation information, and the first random code extracted by the extraction unit with sixth collation information generated based on the second collation information, the fourth collation information, and the random code satisfying the extraction condition and stored in the memory;

an update determination unit configured to, when the third matching unit determines that the fifth matching information matches the sixth matching information, change the extraction condition, extract, from the storage unit, a random code that satisfies the changed extraction condition as a second random code, and determine whether or not the sixth matching information is updated based on the extracted second random code, the second matching information, and the fourth matching information; and

And an authentication unit that authenticates the consumable as a license when the first comparison unit determines that the first comparison information matches the second comparison information, the second comparison unit determines that the third comparison information matches the fourth comparison information, and the update determination unit determines that the sixth comparison information is updated.

2. The printing device of claim 1,

the fetch conditions are stored in the memory,

the update determination unit further determines whether or not the extraction condition stored in the memory has been updated to the changed extraction condition.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

the plurality of random codes stored in the storage unit are constituted by character arrangement,

the extraction condition is a condition for extracting one random code from the plurality of random codes stored in the storage unit by specifying a position in the character arrangement stored in the storage unit.

4. A consumable product, which is mounted on a printing apparatus, has a memory,

the printing device is provided with:

a storage unit that stores a plurality of random codes;

An authentication unit that authenticates the consumable as being permitted when the first collation unit determines that the first collation information matches the second collation information, the second collation unit determines that the third collation information matches the fourth collation information, and the update determination unit determines that the sixth collation information is updated,

wherein the memory of the consumable stores the second collation information for use in collation by the first collation unit, the fourth collation information for use in collation by the second collation unit, and the sixth collation information for use in collation by the third collation unit,

the sixth comparison information is updated based on the second random code, the second comparison information, and the fourth comparison information.

5. The consumable of claim 4, wherein,

the memory stores the extraction condition used in a case where the first random code is extracted from the plurality of random codes,

the extraction condition is updated each time the update determining means changes the extraction condition when the third collating means determines that the fifth collating information matches the sixth collating information.