CN112965351A - Image forming cartridge and toner remaining amount detecting method - Google Patents

Image forming cartridge and toner remaining amount detecting method Download PDF

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Publication number
CN112965351A
CN112965351A CN202110137196.9A CN202110137196A CN112965351A CN 112965351 A CN112965351 A CN 112965351A CN 202110137196 A CN202110137196 A CN 202110137196A CN 112965351 A CN112965351 A CN 112965351A
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China
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address
sensor
toner
information
sensors
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CN202110137196.9A
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Chinese (zh)
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CN112965351B (en
Inventor
刘卫臣
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Jihai Microelectronics Co ltd
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Apex Microelectronics Co Ltd
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/17Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17566Ink level or ink residue control
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/17Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17513Inner structure

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Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides an imaging box and a toner allowance detection method, wherein the detection method comprises the following steps: acquiring an address table in a memory, wherein address information of each sensor is stored in the address table; according to the address information of each sensor in the address table, accessing each sensor and obtaining a detection result obtained by detecting the residual quantity of the toner in the imaging box by each sensor; toner remaining amount information in the image forming cartridge is determined based on detection results of the sensors. The residual information of the toner in the imaging box can be accurately determined, and the printing head of the printer is prevented from being damaged due to idle printing.

Description

Image forming cartridge and toner remaining amount detecting method
The present application claims priority from chinese patent application filed on 14/7/2020, having application number 202010673763.8 and entitled "imaging cartridge," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Technical Field
The application relates to the technical field of printing consumables, in particular to an imaging box and a toner allowance detection method.
Background
The printing system has replaceable components that provide printing material to the system, such as an imaging cartridge that contains toner, and an electrical storage device mounted on the imaging cartridge.
In the prior art, a toner remaining amount detection device, such as a sensor, is arranged in an imaging box, and the sensor is used for detecting the toner remaining amount, so that when toner is consumed, printing is stopped in time, and the problem of damaging a printing head is prevented.
However, in the actual use process, the sensor may malfunction, which results in inaccurate detection result, and further, the toner remaining information in the imaging cartridge cannot be accurately determined, and when the actual toner is exhausted but the sensor feeds back the remaining toner, the printer continues to perform the printing operation, which causes idle printing of the printing head, and the risk of damaging the printing head occurs.
Disclosure of Invention
The embodiment of the application provides an imaging box and a toner allowance detection method, and aims to solve the technical problems that in the prior art, toner allowance information in the imaging box cannot be accurately determined, a printer head is likely to be in idle printing, and the risk of damaging the printer head is possibly caused.
In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an imaging cartridge, including:
an accommodating chamber for storing toner;
a plurality of sensors for detecting a remaining amount of toner in the accommodating chamber;
the storage stores an address table, the address table comprises a plurality of address information, and the plurality of address information are used for indicating the addresses of the plurality of sensors.
Alternatively, the image forming cartridge may be detachably mounted to a printer, and the printer may control at least one of the plurality of sensors to perform the detection of the presence or absence of toner by reading address table information of the memory.
Optionally, an arrangement order of the address information in the address table is stored according to an arrangement order of physical positions of the plurality of sensors in the accommodating cavity.
Optionally, the address table information further includes an invalid data value or a damaged data value, where the invalid data value indicates that the sensor corresponding to the address detects no toner, and the damaged data value indicates that the sensor corresponding to the address is damaged.
Optionally, each sensor is provided with an address circuit, and the address circuit corresponds to address information in the address table.
Optionally, the number of address information in the address table information is greater than the number of sensors disposed on the imaging cartridge.
In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a toner remaining amount detection method, including:
reading an address table in a memory, wherein the address table comprises a plurality of address information, and acquiring the address information of a plurality of sensors according to the plurality of address information;
controlling each sensor to detect the presence or absence of toner according to the address information;
toner remaining amount information is obtained based on a detection result of each of the sensors.
Optionally, when any of the sensors cannot be accessed according to the address table, an imaging box is prompted to be abnormal.
Optionally, when the sensor is detected to be damaged, modifying the corresponding sensor address information in the address table to a damaged address value indicating that the sensor is damaged; or detecting a sensor feedback toner-free signal, and modifying corresponding sensor address information in the address table into an invalid address value;
optionally, in the process of reading the address information in the address table to control the sensor to perform detection, if the damaged address value or the invalid address value is read, the sensor corresponding to the address is not accessed.
Alternatively, when the sensor detects that the toner has been exhausted, the address table stored in the memory is erased.
In a third aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a method of producing an imaging cartridge for producing the imaging cartridge of the first aspect; the imaging box comprises a plurality of sensors and a memory which are arranged in the imaging box;
wherein the production method comprises the following steps:
generating the address information of each sensor randomly according to the number of the sensors;
generating an address table according to the address information and the physical distribution condition of each sensor;
storing the address table in the memory.
The embodiment of the application provides an imaging box and a toner allowance detection method, wherein the imaging box comprises an accommodating cavity for storing toner, a plurality of sensors for detecting the toner allowance in the accommodating cavity, and an address table memory; wherein, since the address table includes a plurality of address information indicating addresses of the plurality of sensors, the address table in the memory can be read when detecting the toner remaining amount in the image forming cartridge, and the address information of the plurality of sensors is acquired based on the plurality of address information; controlling each sensor to detect the presence or absence of toner according to the address information; according to the detection result of each sensor, toner residual amount information is obtained, so that accurate detection of the toner residual amount is realized, and idle printing of a printing head of the printer is avoided, and the printing head is prevented from being damaged.
Drawings
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the application.
FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an imaging cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a toner remaining amount detection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a detecting apparatus of an imaging cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
fig. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for generating an imaging cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
With the above figures, there are shown specific embodiments of the present application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and written description are not intended to limit the scope of the inventive concepts in any manner, but rather to illustrate the inventive concepts to those skilled in the art by reference to specific embodiments.
Detailed Description
Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, like numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present application. Rather, they are merely examples of systems and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present application, as detailed in the appended claims.
The printing system has replaceable components that provide printing material to the system, such as an imaging cartridge that contains toner, and an electrical storage device mounted on the imaging cartridge. In the prior art, a toner remaining amount detection device, such as a sensor, is arranged in an imaging box, and the sensor is used for detecting the toner remaining amount, so that when toner is consumed, printing is stopped in time, and the problem of damaging a printing head is prevented. However, during actual use, the sensor may malfunction, resulting in inaccurate detection results and thus inaccurate determination of toner remaining amount information in the image forming cartridge. In addition, manufacturers have added a dummy sensor to remove the electrical storage device on the imaging cartridge for secondary use and to remove the sensor in the replaceable component to use the dummy sensor to feed back a signal to the printer indicating that the toner is in a full toner state, thereby masking the function of the printer to actually detect the remaining toner amount in order to save costs.
In both cases, the toner remaining information in the imaging cartridge cannot be accurately determined, and the situation that the actual toner is exhausted but the sensor feeds back the remaining toner occurs, so that the printer continues to perform the printing operation to cause the idle printing of the printing head, and the risk of damaging the printing head is caused.
In order to solve the above problems, in the embodiment of the present application, address information of each sensor is set, and the sensor is accessed according to the address information, so as to obtain a detection result obtained by detecting the toner remaining in the imaging box by the sensor, and then determine the toner remaining information in the imaging box according to the detection result, so that the toner remaining information in the imaging box can be accurately determined, and the situation that the printer head is idle-run and the printer head is damaged due to the fact that the actual toner is exhausted but the sensor feeds back the remaining toner is avoided.
To better describe the solution provided by the present application, first, the present application will explain the structure of the imaging cartridge:
fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an imaging cartridge provided in an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 1, the imaging cartridge 1 includes: an accommodating chamber 11 for accommodating toner, which may be ink or carbon powder;
a plurality of sensors 13 provided in the accommodating chamber 11, i.e., a sensor 131, a sensor 132, a sensor 133, a sensor 134, and a sensor 135 shown in fig. 1, each of which is operable to detect a remaining amount of toner in the accommodating chamber;
a memory 12, wherein the memory 12 stores therein an address table including a plurality of address information indicating addresses of the plurality of sensors 13.
The sensor 13 may be various types of sensors, such as a capacitor, a detection electrode, a temperature sensor, and the like.
Further, the image forming cartridge provided by the present application is detachably mounted to a printer which controls at least one of the plurality of sensors 13 to perform detection of the presence or absence of toner by reading address table information of the memory 12.
The principle of detection of toner in the cartridge will be explained below: when the image forming cartridge is mounted to a printer and is normally used, the toner moves toward the bottom of the accommodating chamber 11 by gravity, and whether the toner exists in different positions of the accommodating chamber 11 can be detected by using the first to fifth sensors 131 to 135 which are uniformly distributed in the gravity direction. In actual use, as the toner is consumed, the sensor 131 disposed at the upper portion of the accommodating chamber 11 does not detect the toner, and then the second sensor 132, the third sensor 133, the fourth sensor 134, and the fifth sensor 135 are sequentially performed. When all the sensors 13 detect the absence of toner, it indicates that the accommodating chamber 11 has no toner; when all the sensors 13 detect that toner is present, it indicates that the accommodating chamber 11 is full of toner; further, when the sensor 131 does not detect the toner, and the second to fifth sensors 132 to 135 can detect the toner, it indicates that the remaining amount of the toner is 80% or the consumed amount of the toner is 20%.
In this embodiment, the toner may be ink or toner, and is not limited herein. In addition, the sensor may be a capacitor, a detection electrode, a temperature sensor, etc., and is not particularly limited herein.
After the imaging box 1 is installed in the printer, the printer firstly accesses the memory 12, reads the address table in the memory 12, analyzes and knows the address of each sensor in the accommodating cavity according to the address table, then accesses the corresponding sensor according to the address obtained in the address table, and further obtains the toner residual quantity information by detecting the signals fed back by a plurality of sensors. Through the scheme, the address table indicating the address information of the sensor is stored in the memory, when the printer accesses the sensor through the address table, whether the entity sensor is arranged on the ink box can be detected according to the result of whether the corresponding sensor can be accessed, because the virtual sensor cannot be matched with the address in the address table, if the printer cannot access the corresponding sensor, the imaging box is rejected if the sensor is not arranged on the imaging box or the virtual sensor is arranged, the phenomenon that the entity sensor is replaced by the virtual sensor for certain merchants can be effectively avoided, the printing quality is prevented from being reduced, and the risk of damaging the printing head is reduced.
Based on the above-mentioned structure of the image forming cartridge, fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a toner remaining amount detection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 2, the method in the embodiment of the present application, for detecting a remaining toner amount of an image forming cartridge, includes:
step 201, reading an address table in a memory, where the address table includes a plurality of address information, and acquiring address information of a plurality of sensors according to the plurality of address information to acquire the address table in the memory, where the address information of each sensor is stored in the address table.
In this embodiment, the address information stored in the address table corresponds to each sensor one to one, that is, one address information only corresponds to one sensor, and one sensor also only corresponds to one address information, and the address information may include numbers, letters, and the like, which is not limited herein. The sensors may be capacitors, detection electrodes, temperature sensors, etc., and are not limited herein, and the sensors are connected by a common bus.
Specifically, the address information in the address table is corresponding to address circuits in the sensors, each of which is provided with an address circuit corresponding to the address information in the address table. Since the sensors are connected by a common bus, the sensors can respond to the access of the corresponding address signals of the printer through the address circuit. Based on this, the address table is a data table for storing address information corresponding to each address circuit.
Step 202, controlling each sensor to detect whether the toner exists or not according to the address information.
In order to control each sensor to perform the detection of the presence or absence of toner and to acquire the result of the detection of the presence or absence of toner performed by each sensor, the printer needs to initiate access to each sensor based on the address information to perform the control of the detection of the presence or absence of toner performed by each sensor and the acquisition of the result.
The printer can know the toner remaining amount in the accommodating chamber by the feedback result of different sensors, and the plurality of sensors 13 are connected by a common bus, so that the printer needs to know the address of each sensor 13 to acquire the feedback result of the sensor 13.
In other words, according to the address information of any sensor, only the corresponding sensor can be accessed, and only the sensor can be accessed according to the address information, but the address information of the sensor cannot be known through accessing the sensor.
In particular, the sensor includes address circuitry that is accessible only in response to corresponding address signals from the printer. For example, the address circuits of the first to fifth sensors can only respond to the address signals of 05, 09, 04, 10 and 01 in sequence, and the sensors can only feed back the detection result when the address signals sent by the printer to access the sensors are matched with the address circuits of the sensors. The address circuit of the sensor cannot be known by being read, that is, the address circuit of the current sensor cannot be known by accessing the sensor, which means that the address of the sensor can be known only through the address table.
If the printer cannot access any sensor according to the information of the address table, the fact that the imaging box is not provided with the physical sensor indicates that the printer refuses to use the imaging box in order to reduce the risk of damaging the printing head. That is, when any of the sensors cannot be accessed according to the address table, an abnormality of the imaging cartridge is prompted.
Step 203, obtaining the toner remaining amount information according to the detection result of each sensor.
In this embodiment, the toner remaining amount information in the image forming cartridge is determined according to the detection results of the sensors and the positions of the sensors in the image forming cartridge, and the toner remaining amount information is displayed by the display device, so that a user can timely learn the toner remaining amount in the image forming cartridge.
For example, taking the configuration shown in fig. 1 as an example, if the detection result of the first sensor 131 is no toner and the detection results of the second to fifth sensors 132 to 135 are toner, it may be determined that 80% of toner remains in the image forming cartridge, that is, the remaining toner amount information of toner in the image forming cartridge is 80%, and the remaining toner amount information of 80% is displayed through the display device; further, still be equipped with the consumptive material chip on the formation of image box, the consumptive material chip still is used for storing the toner surplus information that the sensor detected and obtains.
The detection method provided by the embodiment of the application can accurately determine the toner residual amount information in the imaging box by acquiring the address information in the address table in the memory and accessing each sensor according to the address information to acquire the detection result obtained by detecting the toner residual amount in the imaging box by each sensor and then determining the toner residual amount information in the imaging box according to the detection result, and the printer can detect whether the entity sensor is arranged on the ink box according to the result of whether the corresponding sensor can be accessed or not while accessing the sensor through the address table, because the virtual sensor cannot be matched with the address in the address table, if the printer cannot access the corresponding sensor, the imaging box is refused to be used if the sensor is not arranged on the imaging box or the virtual sensor is arranged, and the replacement of the entity sensor by some commercial and household virtual sensors can be effectively avoided, thereby avoiding causing the printer to print the head idle and damaging the printing head.
Optionally, when the printer detects that the toner in the accommodating chamber is exhausted, an erasing command is executed on the address table in the memory, so that a third party is prevented from reading the address table data of the memory out of counterfeit use. Specifically, the host side of the printer may also be provided with a nonvolatile memory. When the imaging box is installed in the printer host for the first time, the host acquires the address table from the memory of the imaging box, then stores the address table into the nonvolatile memory of the host, and erases the address information in the address table in the memory of the imaging box, namely when the sensors need to be accessed subsequently, the host does not acquire the address table in the memory of the imaging box any more, but directly accesses the sensors according to the address table in the nonvolatile memory on the host side. The detection method provided by the embodiment of the application can prevent a third party manufacturer from acquiring the address table in the memory of the imaging box, and further refilling the empty imaging box with the exhausted toner with the toner and selling the empty imaging box for the second time.
Meanwhile, in order to save the detection time and energy consumption of the printer, optionally, when the corresponding sensor is accessed according to the address table, the sensor feeds back a toner-free signal and sets the corresponding address information in the address table as an invalid address value, or the sensor feeds back no signal and sets the corresponding address information in the address table as a damaged address value;
further, it may also be determined whether the address information is set to an invalid address value/a damaged address value, that is, the address table information further includes an invalid data value indicating that the sensor corresponding to the address detects no toner or a damaged data value indicating that the sensor corresponding to the address is damaged. Correspondingly, the detection method may include, in the process of reading the address information of the address table to control the sensor to perform detection, not accessing the sensor corresponding to the address if the damaged address value or the invalid address value is read.
Specifically, the target sensor to be accessed is a sensor to be accessed. If the address information of the target sensor to be accessed is not set as the invalid address value/the damaged address value, the target sensor is normal, namely the target sensor is not in fault and is not a virtual sensor, the detection result obtained by detecting the residual toner in the imaging box by the target sensor is obtained, the next sensor of the target sensor is selected as the target sensor to be accessed until the judgment of all the address information is completed, and then the access to all the sensors is completed. If the address information of the target sensor to be accessed is set to be an invalid address value/a damaged address value, the target sensor is indicated to be abnormal, the target sensor is not accessed at the moment, the next sensor of the target sensor is directly selected as the target sensor to be accessed until the judgment on all the address information is completed, and then the access on all the sensors is completed.
Of course, further, when the damaged address value in the address table is too large, the number of sensors indicating the damage is too large, and it is necessary to notify the user that the imaging cartridge is damaged. By such a method, the access time to the sensor can be reduced, and the access efficiency can be improved.
Optionally, an arrangement order of the address information in the address table is stored according to an arrangement order of physical positions of the plurality of sensors in the accommodating cavity. Illustratively, the address table is composed of 5 sets of data 05, 09, 04, 10, 01, which respectively correspond to the first sensor 131 to the fifth sensor 135, i.e. the data arrangement order of the address table corresponds to the arrangement order of the plurality of sensors in the gravity direction; alternatively, the memory address table may be composed of 5 sets of data 01, 10, 04, 09, and 05, and the data arrangement order of the address table corresponds to the arrangement order of the sensors 13 in the direction opposite to the gravity direction, which corresponds to the fifth to first sensors, respectively.
In order to ensure the complexity of the address table and avoid the address information in the address table in the memory from being cracked, optionally, the address table further includes sorting indication information, and the sorting indication information is used for indicating the physical distribution condition of each sensor. Specifically, the sequence indication information may be sequence indication information and reverse sequence indication information, which may be configured to include numbers, letters, and the like, and is not limited herein. The sequence indicating information indicates that the sequence of the address information in the address table corresponds to the sensors distributed in the gravity direction, that is, the physical position distribution sequence of the sensors corresponds to the distribution in the gravity direction, and the reverse sequence indicating information indicates that the reverse sequence of the address information in the address table corresponds to the sensors distributed in the gravity direction, that is, the reverse sequence of the physical position distribution of the sensors corresponds to the distribution in the gravity direction.
For example, the sequential indication information may be set to 0, the reverse sequential indication information may be set to 1, the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor, the fourth sensor and the fifth sensor are continuously and uniformly distributed in the imaging box along the gravity direction, and if the information in the address table is 0, 05, 09, 04, 10, 01, it indicates that the address information 05, 09, 04, 10, 01 corresponds to the first sensor to the fifth sensor, respectively; if the information in the address table is 1, 05, 09, 04, 10 and 01, the address information 05, 09, 04, 10 and 01 is respectively corresponding to the fifth sensor to the first sensor; if the information in the address table is 0, 05, 09, 1, 04, 10, 01, it indicates that the address information 05, 09, 04, 10, 01 corresponds to the first sensor, the second sensor, the fifth sensor, the fourth sensor, and the third sensor, respectively.
Further, in order to save the detection time and energy consumption of the printer and avoid refilling toner into an empty image forming cartridge with depleted toner and selling the empty image forming cartridge for a second time by a third party manufacturer, optionally, an invalid sensor may be determined based on a detection result obtained by detecting the toner remaining amount in the image forming cartridge by each sensor, specifically, address information of each sensor in an address table in the memory is modified according to a detection result obtained by detecting the toner remaining amount in the image forming cartridge by each sensor, so that the address information of the sensor with a detection result of no toner is set as an invalid address value.
Specifically, during the use of the image forming cartridge, the toner remaining amount gradually decreases, and when the toner consumption exceeds a certain value, access is still performed to all the sensors each time the address table in the memory is acquired, and the detection time and the energy consumption of the printer increase.
Further, when the sensor detects that the toner has been exhausted, the address table stored in the memory is erased. Alternatively, when the toner is exhausted, all the address information in the address table is set to the invalid address value. By obtaining the address table, the fact that the toner in the current imaging box is exhausted can be known, namely when the printer reads that the address information in the address table is all invalid address values, the toner in the imaging box is exhausted, and meanwhile, the fact that a third party manufacturer refills the empty imaging box with the exhausted toner and sells the empty imaging box for a second time is avoided, because even if the toner is refilled, the address information in the memory of the imaging box is all invalid address values, and the printer reads the address table, the imaging box is known to be illegal.
For example, the invalid data value may be set to 00, and if the detection result obtained by detecting the toner remaining amount in the image forming cartridge by the first sensor is no toner, the address information of the first sensor is set to the invalid data value 00, that is, the address information in the address table is modified to 00, 09, 04, 10, 01.
Meanwhile, in order to further determine whether the toner of the imaging box is exhausted, optionally, the value of the number of invalid sensors may be determined, and specifically, after the address table in the memory is acquired, the detection method may further include: determining the number of invalid sensors with address information set as invalid address values according to the address information of each sensor in the address table; and if the number of the invalid sensors is consistent with the total number of the sensors, sending alarm information of the exhaustion of the imaging box to a user.
Specifically, if the number of the invalid sensors is consistent with the total number of the sensors, the fact that the toner in the imaging box is exhausted at the moment is indicated, the toner allowance is 0, or a third-party manufacturer refills the empty imaging box with the exhausted toner for secondary sales, so that address information in an address table in a memory is set to be an invalid address value, the two situations indicate that the imaging box is abnormal, an alarm prompt is given at the moment, alarm information of the abnormal imaging box is sent to a user, and the user can replace the imaging box in time.
Further, the alarm device is controlled to alarm the imaging box, specifically, the alarm device may include an indicator light, a buzzer, and the like, and is not limited specifically herein. For example, when the number of the invalid sensors is consistent with the total number of the sensors, the indicator lamp is controlled to emit yellow light, and the buzzer is controlled to emit buzzing sound. In addition, the imaging box abnormality can be displayed through the display device.
The detection method provided by the embodiment of the application can be used for judging the invalid sensor in time, avoiding accessing the invalid sensor and saving the detection time and energy consumption of the printer; the abnormal alarm prompt of the imaging box can be timely carried out when the number of the invalid sensors is consistent with the total number of the sensors, namely, when toner of the imaging box is exhausted, so that a user can timely find the abnormality of the imaging box and timely replace the imaging box.
In order to further save the detection time and energy consumption of the printer and avoid the third party manufacturer from setting a virtual sensor in the imaging box, optionally, the method may further determine whether the damaged sensor is accessed based on the address information, specifically, the method may further include the following steps: and if any sensor cannot be accessed according to the address information of any sensor in the address table, modifying the address information of any sensor in the address table in the memory to set the address information of any sensor as a damaged address value.
Specifically, if the sensor cannot be accessed according to the address information of any sensor in the address table, it is indicated that the sensor is damaged, that is, the sensor fails, or a virtual sensor is arranged in the imaging box and cannot be matched with the address information in the address table, the address information of the sensor is set to a damaged address value, so that when the address table of the memory is acquired next time, it is determined that the address information of the sensor is set to the damaged address value, the sensor is not accessed any more, and the detection time and energy consumption of the printer are further shortened.
For example, the damaged data value may be set to FF, and if the second sensor cannot be accessed according to the address information 09 of the second sensor, the address information of the second sensor is set to the damaged data value FF, that is, the address information in the address table is modified to 05, FF, 04, 10, 01.
Meanwhile, in order to prevent the result of toner remaining amount detection from being inaccurate due to excessive damaged sensors in the image forming cartridge, optionally, the method may further include determining a value of the number of damaged sensors, and specifically, after acquiring the address table in the memory, the method may further include: determining the number of damaged sensors set as damaged address values in each address information according to the address information of each sensor in the address table; and sending alarm information that the imaging box is damaged to a user according to the condition that the ratio of the number of the damaged sensors to the total number of the sensors is greater than a preset threshold value.
Specifically, if the ratio of the number of damaged sensors to the total number of sensors is greater than a preset threshold, it is indicated that the number of sensors with faults in the imaging box is large and the toner remaining amount cannot be accurately detected, or a virtual sensor is arranged in the imaging box, both of the two conditions indicate that the imaging box is damaged, and at this time, an alarm prompt is given to send an alarm message that the imaging box is damaged to a user, so that the user can replace the imaging box in time. The preset threshold may be set according to performance parameters of the printer.
The detection method provided by the embodiment of the application can be used for timely judging the damaged sensor, avoiding accessing the damaged sensor and saving the detection time and energy consumption of the printer; when the ratio of the number of the damaged sensors to the total number of the sensors is larger than a preset threshold value, namely the imaging box is damaged, the imaging box can be timely warned that the imaging box is damaged, so that a user can timely find that the imaging box is damaged and timely replace the imaging box.
Alternatively, to ensure that the toner remaining amount can be accurately detected, the number of sensors provided in the image forming cartridge may be determined according to the size of the capacity of the image forming cartridge, i.e., the larger the capacity of the image forming cartridge is, the larger the number of sensors provided is, and accordingly, the larger the number of address information of the sensors in the address table is.
In order to facilitate the memory for storing the address information of each sensor to be commonly used on each imaging box, the address table can store more address information besides the address information of each sensor, namely, the number of the address information in the address table information is larger than the number of the sensors arranged on the imaging box, the extra part of the address information can be set as invalid address values, namely, the number of the address information can be set as a value larger than the number of the sensors, so that when the number of the sensors in the imaging box needs to be newly increased, only the address information set as the invalid address values in the address table needs to be modified into the address information of the newly increased sensors, and the format and the architecture of the whole address table do not need to be modified.
The method provided by the embodiment of the application can determine the number of the sensors according to the capacity of the imaging box so as to accurately detect the toner residual quantity; moreover, the number of the address information in the memory can be set to be a value larger than the number of the sensors, so that the format and the architecture of the whole address table are prevented from being modified when the sensors are added, and the memory storing the address information of each sensor can be commonly used on each imaging box.
In an alternative embodiment, the access abnormality detection processing may also be performed using a nonvolatile memory on the printer host side. After the address table in the memory is acquired for the first time, the address table is stored in the nonvolatile memory, or when the printer host is produced, the address table is directly stored in the nonvolatile memory according to the address table rule set together with the imaging box, so that the address tables are set in both the nonvolatile memory on the host side and the memory of the imaging box.
After the address table in the memory is acquired, if the address information of the sensor is an invalid address value and does not conform to the detection result of the sensor distributed along the gravity direction, it can be determined that the address information in the memory is incorrect. And starting access abnormity detection processing, acquiring toner residual amount information stored in the consumable chip, and correcting abnormal address information in the address table according to the toner residual amount information. Since the toner remaining amount information stored in the consumable chip corresponds to the detection result of the sensor, the address information of the abnormality in the address table can be corrected based on the toner remaining amount information stored in the consumable chip.
Illustratively, if the address information in the address table in the acquisition memory is 05, 00, 04, 10, 01, it indicates that the detection result of the first sensor is toner, the detection result of the second sensor is no toner, and the detection results of the third to fifth sensors are toner, however, if the detection result of the second sensor is no toner, the detection result of the first sensor should be no toner, depending on the toner moving under the action of gravity and the sensors sorted based on the direction of gravity. According to the rule, the detection result of the first sensor is that the toner exists when the residual quantity of the toner is 100% -81%, the detection result of the second sensor is that the toner exists when the residual quantity of the toner is 80% -61%, if the residual quantity information of the toner stored in the consumable chip is about 50%, the address information corresponding to the first sensor in the address table can be determined to be abnormal, and the address information of the first sensor in the memory is set to be an invalid address value 00; if the toner remaining amount information stored in the consumable chip is acquired by about 90%, it can be determined that the address information corresponding to the second sensor in the address table is abnormal, and the address information of the second sensor in the host-side nonvolatile memory is rewritten into the address table of the memory.
The detection method provided by the embodiment of the application can find whether the address information in the memory is abnormal or not in time and correct the abnormal address information in time, so that the printer can normally access the sensor.
The memory in the above embodiment may be a separate memory disposed on the imaging cartridge for storing sensor-related information; or by integrating with the sensor; it is also possible to integrate the consumable chip for storing toner information, i.e., in the memory of the consumable chip, a part of the storage space stores information related to the sensor such as the address table in the above-described embodiment, and a part of the storage space stores information related to the image forming cartridge such as toner remaining amount, model of the image forming cartridge, production manufacturer, production date, and the like. The consumable chip also comprises a substrate, wherein an electrical interface is arranged on the substrate, and the memory can only be arranged on the outer surface of the imaging box at the moment and is in contact with the contact pin on the printer side to complete communication; or the memory communicates with the printer through wireless communication, and the memory can be arranged on the outer surface of the imaging box or the inner wall of the accommodating cavity.
Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection device of an imaging cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 3, the detecting apparatus of the imaging cartridge provided in the embodiment of the present application may include: a reading module 31 and a processing module 32.
The reading module 31 is configured to read an address table in a memory, where the address table includes a plurality of address information, and obtain address information of a plurality of sensors according to the plurality of address information;
and a processing module 32, configured to respectively control each of the sensors to perform toner presence/absence detection according to the address information, and obtain toner remaining amount information according to a detection result of each of the sensors.
In an alternative implementation, the processing module 32 is specifically configured to:
and when any sensor cannot be accessed according to the address table, prompting that the imaging box is abnormal.
In an alternative implementation, the processing module 32 is specifically configured to: when the sensor is detected to be damaged, modifying corresponding sensor address information in the address table into a damaged address value representing that the sensor is damaged; or detecting that the sensor feeds back no-toner signals, and modifying corresponding sensor address information in the address table into invalid address values.
In an alternative implementation, the processing module 32 is specifically configured to:
and in the process of reading the address information of the address table to control the sensor to execute detection, if the damaged address value or the invalid address value is read, the sensor corresponding to the address is not accessed.
In an alternative implementation, the processing module 32 erases the address table stored in the memory when the sensor detects that the toner has been depleted.
The detection device of the imaging box provided by the embodiment of the application can execute the technical scheme of the method embodiment, the implementation principle and the technical effect are similar, and the description is omitted here.
Fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of a method for producing an imaging cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 4, the method in the embodiment of the present application, in which an image forming cartridge includes a plurality of sensors and a memory provided in the image forming cartridge, includes:
step 401, randomly generating address information of each sensor according to the number of the sensors.
In this embodiment, address information is generated according to the number of the sensors, and the generated address information is different, so as to ensure that the address information can correspond to the sensors one by one, that is, one address information only corresponds to one sensor, and one sensor also only corresponds to one address information. And randomly generating address information of each sensor to ensure that address tables generated according to the address information are different.
And step 402, generating an address table according to the address information and the physical distribution situation of each sensor.
In this embodiment, the physical distribution of each sensor is also randomly generated, and an address table is generated according to the address information and the physical distribution of each sensor, so that the address table in each imaging box can be ensured to be different, and further, the address table can be signed by a digital signature to be used as anti-counterfeiting data, thereby preventing a third-party manufacturer from refilling toner into an empty imaging box with toner which is exhausted and selling the empty imaging box for a second time.
Step 403, store the address table in the memory.
According to the production method of the imaging box, the address information of each sensor is generated randomly according to the number of the sensors, the address table is generated according to the address information and the physical distribution condition of each sensor, and then the address table is stored in the memory, so that the address tables in the memory in each imaging box are different.
Modules described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as modules may or may not be physical modules, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network modules. Some or all of the modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the present embodiment.
In addition, functional modules in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing module, or each of the modules may exist alone physically, or two or more modules are integrated into one module. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware form, and can also be realized in a form of hardware and a software functional module.
Program code for implementing the methods of the present application may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable warning device such that the program codes, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks to be performed. The program code may execute entirely on the machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.
In the context of this application, a machine-readable medium may be a tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, or device. The machine-readable medium may be a machine-readable signal medium or a machine-readable storage medium. A machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of a machine-readable storage medium would include an electrical connection based on one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.
Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Under certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation details are included in the above discussion, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the disclosure. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims (11)

1. An imaging cartridge, comprising:
an accommodating chamber for storing toner;
a plurality of sensors for detecting a remaining amount of toner in the accommodating chamber;
the storage stores an address table, the address table comprises a plurality of address information, and the plurality of address information are used for indicating the addresses of the plurality of sensors.
2. An image forming cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said image forming cartridge is detachably mountable to a printer, said printer controlling at least one of said plurality of sensors to perform the detection of the presence or absence of toner by reading address table information of said memory.
3. The imaging cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an arrangement order of the address information in the address table is stored according to a physical position arrangement order of the plurality of sensors in the accommodating chamber.
4. An imaging cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said address table information further includes an invalid data value indicating that the sensor corresponding to the address detects no toner or a damaged data value indicating that the sensor corresponding to the address is damaged.
5. The imaging cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an address circuit is provided in each of the sensors, the address circuit corresponding to address information in the address table.
6. The imaging cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the number of address information in the address table information is larger than the number of sensors provided on the imaging cartridge.
7. A toner remaining amount detecting method is characterized by comprising:
reading an address table in a memory, wherein the address table comprises a plurality of address information, and acquiring the address information of a plurality of sensors according to the plurality of address information;
controlling each sensor to detect the presence or absence of toner according to the address information;
toner remaining amount information is obtained based on a detection result of each of the sensors.
8. The inspection method of claim 7, wherein an imaging cartridge is declared abnormal when any of the sensors is not accessible according to the address table.
9. The detection method according to claim 7, wherein when the sensor damage is detected, the corresponding sensor address information in the address table is modified to a damaged address value indicating that the sensor is damaged; or detecting that the sensor feeds back no-toner signals, and modifying corresponding sensor address information in the address table into invalid address values.
10. The detection method according to claim 9, wherein in a process of reading the address information in the address table to control the sensor to perform detection, if the damaged address value or the invalid address value is read, the sensor corresponding to the address is not accessed.
11. The detection method according to claim 7, wherein when the sensor detects that the toner has run out, the address table stored in the memory is erased.
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