CN114043808A

CN114043808A - Printing control method, image forming apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN114043808A
Application number: CN202111325757.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 吴卫鑫
Original assignee: Zhuhai Pantum Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Zhuhai Pantum Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-11-10
Filing date: 2021-11-10
Publication date: 2022-02-15

Abstract

The application relates to a printing control method, an image forming apparatus and a computer readable storage medium, wherein the method comprises the following steps: acquiring the residual amount of carbon powder in the image forming device; when the residual amount of the carbon powder is lower than a preset threshold value, acquiring an image density value of a test image of the image forming device; and when the image density value is lower than a preset image density value, stopping printing the file to be printed received by the image forming device. The printing control method provided by the embodiment of the application can maximally improve the utilization rate of the carbon powder and avoid poor printing effect.

Description

Printing control method, image forming apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of printing technologies, and in particular, to a printing control method, an image forming apparatus, and a computer-readable storage medium.

Background

Currently, there are image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, facsimile machines, etc. that function to print images or characters on a medium such as paper. Image forming apparatuses, which typically form images using toner in a toner cartridge, require printing using a media material.

Since the toner in the toner cartridge is consumed as the printing operation proceeds, the toner needs to be replenished in time. In the prior art, generally, the remaining amount of the toner in the current toner cartridge is detected, and when the remaining amount is lower than a set value, a relevant person is reminded to replace the toner cartridge. At this moment, relevant personnel may still continue to print, when the amount of carbon powder is not enough, the printing effect is not good, paper and carbon powder are wasted, if the relevant personnel receive the reminding, the powder box is immediately replaced, the residual carbon powder in the powder box is wasted too much, and the utilization rate of the carbon powder cannot be maximized.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the invention provides a printing control method, an image forming device and a computer readable storage medium, which can maximally improve the utilization rate of carbon powder and avoid poor printing effect.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a print control method applied to an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

acquiring the residual amount of carbon powder in the image forming device;

when the residual amount of the carbon powder is lower than a preset threshold value, acquiring an image density value of a test image of the image forming device;

and when the image density value is lower than a preset image density value, stopping printing the file to be printed received by the image forming device.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: and when the residual amount of the carbon powder is not lower than the preset threshold value, printing the file to be printed after the image forming device receives the file to be printed.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: and when the image density value is not lower than the preset image density value, executing a preset amount of printing operation on the file to be printed, and then acquiring the image density value of the test image of the image forming device again.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible embodiment, the predetermined amount includes a predetermined paper size and the number of sheets thereof.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion of at least one color, and the image forming apparatus includes at least one toner of a corresponding color;

the method comprises the following steps: when the residual amount of the carbon powder of any one color is lower than a preset threshold value, acquiring an image density value of a test image of the corresponding color;

and when the image density value of the test image of the corresponding color is lower than the preset image density value, stopping the printing job of the image forming part of the corresponding color.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the step of acquiring an image density value of a test image of the image forming apparatus includes:

acquiring a plurality of test sub-images of the image forming device, and acquiring image density values of the test sub-images;

calculating an image concentration average value according to the image concentration values of the plurality of test sub-images;

and taking the image density average value as an image density value of the test image.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the step of acquiring a plurality of test sub-images of the image forming apparatus and acquiring image density values of the plurality of test sub-images includes:

sequentially detecting a plurality of test sub-images of corresponding colors extending in a scanning direction by using a concentration detection sensor, and acquiring an image concentration value at the gravity center position of the test sub-images of the corresponding colors, wherein the test sub-images of the corresponding colors are arranged at preset intervals in a sub-scanning direction, and the sub-scanning direction is perpendicular to the scanning direction.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes image forming portions of four colors of CMYK, the image forming apparatus employing a black-and-white print job for a received document to be printed;

and when the image density value of the test image of the K color is lower than the preset image density value, stopping the black-and-white printing job.

In a second aspect, the present application provides an image forming apparatus comprising:

a first acquisition unit for acquiring the remaining amount of carbon powder in the image forming apparatus;

the second acquisition unit is used for acquiring an image density value of a test image of the image forming device when the residual amount of the carbon powder is lower than a preset threshold value;

a print control unit configured to stop printing of a document to be printed received by the image forming apparatus when the image density value is lower than a preset image density value.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the printing control unit is configured to control the image forming apparatus to print a file to be printed after receiving the file to be printed when the remaining amount of the carbon powder obtained by the first obtaining unit is not lower than the preset threshold.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, when the image density value acquired by the second acquiring unit is not lower than the preset image density value, the print control unit is configured to execute a predetermined amount of print job for the file to be printed, so that the second acquiring unit acquires the image density value of the test image of the image forming apparatus again.

In a possible embodiment, in combination with the second aspect, the predetermined amount includes a predetermined paper size and the number of sheets thereof.

With reference to the second aspect, in one possible embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion of at least one color, the image forming apparatus including at least one toner of a corresponding color;

the first acquiring unit is used for acquiring the residual amount of the carbon powder of the at least one color;

the second obtaining unit is used for obtaining the image density value of the test image of the corresponding color when the residual quantity of the carbon powder of any one color is lower than a preset threshold value;

the printing control unit is used for stopping the printing operation of the image forming part of the corresponding color when the image density value of the test image of the corresponding color is lower than the preset image density value.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the second obtaining unit is configured to obtain a plurality of test sub-images of the image forming apparatus, and obtain image density values of the plurality of test sub-images; calculating an image concentration average value according to the image concentration values of the plurality of test sub-images; and taking the image density average value as an image density value of the test image.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the second obtaining unit is configured to sequentially detect, by using the density detection sensor, a plurality of test sub-images of the corresponding colors extending in a scanning direction, and obtain an image density value at a position of a center of gravity of the plurality of test sub-images of the corresponding colors, where the plurality of test sub-images of the corresponding colors are arranged at a preset interval in a sub-scanning direction, and the sub-scanning direction is perpendicular to the scanning direction.

With reference to the second aspect, in one possible embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes image forming portions of four colors of CMYK, and the print control unit is configured to stop the black-and-white print job when an image density value of a test image of K color is lower than the preset image density value when the image forming apparatus employs the black-and-white print job for a received document to be printed.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, where the storage medium includes a stored program, and when the program runs, the storage medium controls a device in which the storage medium is located to execute the print control method according to the first aspect.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, where the processor implements the print control method according to the first aspect when executing the computer program.

According to the printing control method and the image forming device, the current carbon powder residual amount in the image forming device is obtained, when the carbon powder residual amount is lower than the preset threshold value, the image concentration value of the test image of the image forming device is further obtained, and when the image concentration value is lower than the preset image concentration value, the image forming device is stopped to print the file to be printed, so that the utilization rate of the carbon powder can be maximally improved, and poor printing effect is avoided.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art to obtain other drawings based on these drawings without inventive labor.

FIG. 1a is a schematic structural diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1b is a schematic structural diagram of another image forming apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2a is a schematic flow chart of a printing control method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2b is a schematic flow chart illustrating a further printing control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3a is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of obtaining an image density value of a test chart of one color;

fig. 3b is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of acquiring image density values of test charts of four colors according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a functional block diagram of a computer device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

For better understanding of the technical solutions of the present invention, the following detailed descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are provided with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be understood that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

The terminology used in the embodiments of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the examples of the present invention and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" as used herein is merely one type of association that describes an associated object, meaning that three relationships may exist, e.g., a and/or B may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the former and latter related objects are in an "or" relationship.

It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe the terminals in the embodiments of the present invention, the terminals should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one terminal from another. For example, a first terminal may also be referred to as a second terminal, and similarly, a second terminal may also be referred to as a first terminal, without departing from the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

The word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "at … …" or "when … …" or "in response to a determination" or "in response to a detection", depending on the context. Similarly, the phrases "if determined" or "if detected (a stated condition or event)" may be interpreted as "when determined" or "in response to a determination" or "when detected (a stated condition or event)" or "in response to a detection (a stated condition or event)", depending on the context.

The image forming apparatus provided by the embodiment of the present application includes, but is not limited to, a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, a scanner, or a multifunction device that integrates printing, copying, faxing, scanning, and the like functions, and the image forming apparatus prints images or characters on an image forming medium. The image forming apparatus in the embodiment of the present application may be an apparatus capable of performing monochrome printing or an apparatus capable of performing color printing.

Fig. 1a is a schematic structural view of an image forming apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 1a, the image forming apparatus 100 includes four

image forming portions

101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K, a laser scanner 200, an intermediate transfer belt 106, a fixing device 108, and a sheet feeding mechanism. The image forming portion 101Y is an image forming portion for forming a toner image of yellow (Y). The image forming portion 101M is an image forming portion for forming a toner image of magenta (M). The image forming portion 101C is an image forming portion for forming a toner image of cyan (C). The image forming portion 101K is an image forming portion for forming a toner image of black (K). The sheet feeding mechanism feeds the sheets from the storage portion 109 for storing the sheets to the discharge portion 110. An image is formed on the sheet during conveyance. The laser scanners 200 are disposed between the

image forming portions

101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K and the storage portion 109 in the vertical direction.

The

image forming portions

101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K are provided with

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K as photosensitive bodies, respectively. The

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction along the intermediate transfer belt 106. The

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K rotate in the clockwise direction in fig. 1 a.

Transfer rollers

105Y, 105M, 105C, and 105K are provided at positions opposite to the

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K with the intermediate transfer belt 106 interposed therebetween. The transfer portions Ty, Tm, Tc, and Tk are formed between the

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K and the

transfer rollers

105Y, 105M, 105C, and 105K.

Chargers

103Y, 103M, 103C, and 103K, developing

devices

104Y, 104M, 104C, and 104K, and drum cleaners 111Y, 111M, 111C, and 111K are disposed around the

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K in the rotational direction. The

chargers

103Y, 103M, 103C, and 103K uniformly charge the surfaces of the corresponding

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K. When the charged

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K are exposed by the laser scanner 200, electrostatic latent images are formed on the surfaces. The laser scanner 200 emits light beams (laser beams) LY, LM, LC, and LK. The laser scanner 200 scans the

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K with laser beams LY, LM, LC, and LK to form electrostatic latent images.

The developing

devices

104Y, 104M, 104C, and 104K develop the electrostatic latent images formed on the

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K with a developer (such as toner of a corresponding color). Accordingly, toner images of the corresponding colors are formed on the

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K. The toner images formed on the respective

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 106 by

transfer rollers

105Y, 105M, 105C, and 105K in transfer portions Ty, Tm, Tc, and Tk. The intermediate transfer belt 106 is an image carrier that rotates counterclockwise in fig. 1 a. The toner images of the respective colors are transferred in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction. When toner images corresponding to respective color components formed in the

image forming portions

101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 106, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 106. The intermediate transfer belt 106 carries a full-color toner image in this manner. The drum cleaners 111Y, 111M, 111C, and 111K remove toner remaining on the

photosensitive drums

102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K after transfer. By the rotation, the intermediate transfer belt 106 conveys the toner image to the transfer portion T2. The transfer portion T2 corresponds to a position at which the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 106 to the sheet, and is provided on a conveying path that conveys the sheet.

The sheet is fed from the storage portion 109 to the conveying path. The conveying path is provided with a sheet feeding roller 120, a registration roller 121, a transfer roller 107 constituting a transfer portion T2, and a fixing device 108 in this order from the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction. The sheet feed roller 120 feeds sheets one by one from the storage portion 109 to the conveying path. The sheet feed roller 120 conveys the sheet to the registration roller 121. The registration roller 121 performs skew correction on the sheet, and conveys the sheet to the transfer portion T2 in accordance with the timing at which the intermediate transfer belt 106 conveys the toner image to the transfer portion T2.

When the toner image and the sheet on the intermediate transfer belt 106 enter the transfer portion T2, the transfer roller 107 is applied with a transfer voltage. Thereby, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 106 is transferred onto the sheet. The sheet to which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 108. The fixing device 108 fixes the toner image on the sheet by conveying the sheet while heating. This completes the image formation on the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged to the discharge portion 110. It should be noted that transfer member cleaner 112 is disposed in the vicinity of intermediate transfer belt 106. The transfer member cleaner 112 has a blade that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 106. The transfer member cleaner 112 cleans the intermediate transfer belt 106 by scraping toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 106 after transfer with a blade.

The

image forming portions

101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K, the intermediate transfer belt 106, and the transfer roller 107 as described above function as image forming portions, which are disposed between the storage portion 109 and the discharge portion 110 in the vertical direction.

Shown in fig. 1b is an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus may be equipped with a photosensitive drum 201, a charging device 202, a laser scanning device 203, a developing device 204, a transfer device 205, and a fixing device 208. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 201. The charging device 202 can charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 at a uniform potential. The charging device 202 may be implemented in the form of a corona charger, a charging roller, a charging brush, and the like. The image forming apparatus may be a black-and-white image forming apparatus.

The laser scanning device 203 forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 by changing the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 201 according to pre-printed image information. As an example, the laser scanning device 203 may form an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the photosensitive drum 201 with light modulated according to pre-printed image information. The laser scanning device 203 may be referred to as an optical scanner, and an LED may be used as a light source.

The developing device 204 contains developer therein, and develops the electrostatic latent image into a visible image by supplying the developer to the electrostatic latent image. The developing device 204 may include a developing roller that supplies developer to the electrostatic latent image. For example, the developer may be supplied from the developing roller 207 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 201 by a developing electric field formed between the developing roller 207 and the photosensitive drum 201. In an example, an alternative embodiment of the developing device 204 is referred to as an ink cartridge.

The visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 201 is transferred to the recording medium P by the transfer device 205. For example, the transfer device 205 may transfer the visible image onto a recording medium using an electrostatic transfer method. The visible image adheres to the recording medium P by electrostatic attraction. The fixing device 208 fixes the visible image on the recording medium P by applying heat and/or pressure to the visible image on the recording medium P. Through the above-described series of processes, the print job is completed. The recording medium P may be paper or the like.

Fig. 2a is a schematic flowchart of a printing control method according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 2a, the embodiment of the present application provides a printing control method, where the method includes:

s10, obtaining the residual amount of carbon powder in the image forming device;

s20, when the residual amount of carbon powder is lower than the preset threshold value, acquiring the image density value of the test image of the image forming device;

s30, when the image density value is lower than the preset image density value, stopping printing of the document to be printed received by the image forming apparatus.

In the scheme, the current carbon powder residual amount in the image forming device is obtained, when the carbon powder residual amount is lower than a preset threshold value, the image density value of a test image of the image forming device is further obtained, and when the image density value is lower than the preset image density value, the image forming device is stopped from printing a file to be printed, so that the utilization rate of the carbon powder can be maximally improved, and poor printing effect is avoided.

The following describes in detail a specific technical solution of the print control method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

S10, the carbon powder residual quantity in the image forming device is obtained.

In an embodiment, the toner in the image forming device may be stored in a toner cartridge, but not limited to, as shown in fig. 1a, 104Y, 104M, 104C, and 104K, and as shown in fig. 1b, the toner may be stored in the developing device 204. As the printing operation of the image forming apparatus continues, the toner in the toner cartridge is gradually reduced.

Further, the image forming apparatus obtains the current remaining amount of the toner, and may detect the current remaining amount of the toner by using a sensor in the toner cartridge or detect the current remaining amount of the toner in the toner cartridge according to a chip count value in the toner cartridge.

And S20, when the carbon powder residual quantity is lower than the preset threshold value, acquiring the image density value of the test image of the image forming device.

In a specific embodiment, the preset threshold may be a percentage of the total amount of toner in the toner cartridge when not consumed, and may be set to 10%, for example. That is, when the remaining toner in the toner cartridge is less than 10% of the total amount of toner that has not been consumed, it is determined that the remaining amount of toner is less than the preset threshold.

Further, in the embodiment of the application, if the current remaining amount of the carbon powder is not lower than the preset threshold, it is determined that the remaining amount of the carbon powder in the current image forming apparatus is sufficient, when the image forming apparatus receives a file to be printed, a printing operation is directly performed without performing subsequent processing such as obtaining an image density value, and the like, so that direct printing can be performed, the determination time is saved, and the working efficiency of the image forming apparatus under the condition that the carbon powder is sufficient is improved.

In step S20, an image density value of a test image of the image forming apparatus is acquired, which can be detected by a density sensor at a position such as a transfer belt, a photosensitive drum, or the like in the image forming apparatus.

In a specific embodiment, the preset image density value may be stored in a memory of the image forming apparatus. In general, the preset image density value may be set to a certain proportion of the optimal image density value of the image forming apparatus, and may be, for example, but not limited to, 50%. The optimal image density value preset by the image forming device is the printing density which is obtained by multiple tests and can ensure that the printing portrait achieves the optimal effect, the understanding is easy, when the image density reaches the preset image density value, the situation that partial images cannot be printed or the printed image density does not meet the requirements can occur, and the printing effect is poor at the moment.

In other embodiments, the preset image density value may also be automatically set by the user through a setting panel of the image forming apparatus and stored in the memory of the printer, and may be operated accordingly through a setting key on a control panel of the printer, for example.

In step S30, when the image density value is not lower than the preset image density value, the image forming apparatus may continue to perform the print job after receiving the document to be printed, so as to maximize the utilization rate of toner.

Further, the method also comprises the following steps: when the image density value is not lower than the preset image density value, executing a preset amount of printing operation on the file to be printed, and then acquiring the image density value of the test image of the image forming device again until all the printing operations of the file to be printed are completed or until the acquired image density value of the test image is lower than the preset image density value.

The predetermined amount of print jobs may be, for example, a specific number of pages for which the paper size is set, and may be set, for example, to print one page from a4 paper.

The density detection can be performed once by printing the test image after each print job of the preset amount is executed, the density detection can be performed once after each page is printed by the preset amount, the next job can be printed only when the density of the test image meets the requirement (namely, the density is not lower than the preset image density value), and otherwise, the current carbon powder is judged to be insufficient to be printed. At this time, the display panel of the image forming apparatus or a computer device such as a server or the like connected to the image forming apparatus may remind the user to replace the powder container by a message pop-up window or a prompt message.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a detailed scheme of a printing control method on the basis of the embodiment of fig. 2a, as shown in fig. 2 b.

Specifically, the print control method in fig. 2b includes:

and S11, acquiring the residual quantity of the carbon powder in the image forming device.

And S21, judging whether the residual amount of the carbon powder is lower than a preset threshold value.

S22, if not, the image forming device receives the file to be printed and executes printing.

In the embodiment, the subsequent processing step is performed when the current toner remaining amount is judged to be lower than the preset threshold, otherwise, the printing is performed directly, so that the judgment processing flow of the image forming device is omitted, and the printing can be performed directly when the current toner remaining amount is not lower than the preset threshold, without performing the subsequent step of judging the toner remaining amount.

And S31, when the residual amount of the carbon powder is lower than the preset threshold value, acquiring the image density value of the test image of the image forming device.

S41, comparing the obtained image density value of the test image with a preset image density value, and determining whether the obtained image density value of the test image is lower than the preset image density value.

And S42, if the image density value of the test image is lower than the preset image density value, stopping the printing job of the file to be printed.

In this embodiment, if the detected image density value of the test image is lower than the preset image density value, it is determined that the remaining amount of toner is insufficient, and printing is stopped.

And S43, if the image density value of the test image is not lower than the preset image density value, continuing printing one page, and then acquiring the image density value of the test image until the file to be printed is printed (S44) or the acquired image density value is lower than the preset image density value.

In the embodiment, after a preset number of jobs are printed, the image density is detected again, the detection accuracy can be improved through multiple detections, and the printing job is continuously kept when the image density is not lower than a preset density, so that the utilization rate of carbon powder is improved to the maximum extent, and the waste of the carbon powder and paper is reduced. When the detected image density value is lower than the preset image density value, the printing operation is stopped, and the problem that the printing effect is poor possibly in the printing process is avoided.

As described above, the image forming apparatus in the embodiment of the present application may be a black-and-white image printing apparatus including only one color (black) image forming portion, or may be a color image printing apparatus including four colors (yellow, cyan, magenta, black) image forming portions, for example.

The step of acquiring the remaining amount of carbon powder in the image forming apparatus in the embodiment of the present application may specifically be: and acquiring the residual amount of the carbon powder of each color. When the residual amount of the carbon powder of any one color is lower than a preset threshold value, acquiring an image density value of a test image of the corresponding color; when the image density value of the test image of the corresponding color is lower than a preset image density value, the print job of the image forming portion of the corresponding color is stopped.

For example, the image forming apparatus has image forming portions of four colors of CMYK, and when the remaining amount of toner of magenta (M) is lower than a preset threshold value, it is necessary to further acquire an image density value of a test image of M color, and when the image density value of M color is lower than the preset image density value, printing of the image of M color is stopped. In the embodiment of the present application, the preset threshold values of the remaining amounts of carbon powder of different colors may be set to the same value (e.g., 10% of the maximum amount), or may be set independently, and the preset image density values of the images of different colors may be set to be the same or different, and are preset and stored in the memory of the image forming apparatus in advance. Thus, it is easily understood that, in the CMYK color image forming apparatus, when the printing mode is the black-and-white printing mode, regardless of the remaining amount of C, M, Y colors or the image density value, if and only if the image density value of the test image of the K (black) color is lower than the preset image density value, the black-and-white printing job of the color image forming apparatus is stopped.

The principle of obtaining the image density value of the test image is described in further detail below. An image density value of a test image is acquired, and the image density value of the test image on a transfer belt in an image forming apparatus can be detected by an IDC sensor (image density control sensor).

Specifically, referring to fig. 1a, the color-print image forming apparatus 100 includes a density detection sensor 400 for detecting a test image for detecting the density of an image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 106. A test image including a full-color pattern (toner image) of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is formed. The density detection sensor 400 is arranged to detect the test images at positions where the test images of all four colors can be detected and the shapes of the test images are not deformed by the roll pressure of the transfer roller 107 of the transfer portion T2. Whereas in fig. 1b, the black-and-white printing image forming apparatus includes a density detection sensor 206 for detecting a test image for detecting the density of an image formed on the photosensitive drum 201. A test image of a pattern (toner image) of black was formed. The density detection sensor 206 is arranged to detect a test image at a position where the developer has adhered to the photosensitive drum 201 and has not passed through the transfer device 205.

Fig. 3a is an explanatory diagram of black density detection. The density detection method for other colors is the same. The test images for detecting color density may be a yellow pattern 201Y, a cyan pattern 201C, a magenta pattern 201M, and a black pattern 201K. The pattern 201K shown in fig. 3a is four line-shaped images extending in the main scanning direction, and there may be several images, and four are exemplified in fig. 3 a. The black pattern 201K is formed in parallel in the main scanning direction and at predetermined intervals in the sub-scanning direction on the intermediate transfer belt 106 or on the photosensitive drum 201. The four color patterns 201Y, 201C, 201M, and 201K become four sets of test images for detecting color density, and the four sets of images may be combined and arranged into a plurality of sets of test images, i.e., one test image may include 2 to 4 colors, at least 1 color image. When the powder amount of the corresponding color powder box is lower than the threshold value, the test image of the corresponding color is selected.

When detecting the test image density of the toner image of K (black) color, the density values K1, K2, K3, and K4 (where the density levels of K1, K2, K3, and K4 are the same, collectively set to the same density level, for example, 50%, without limitation) of the gravity center position of the corresponding pattern 201K may be detected based on the detection result of the density detection sensor 400 or the density detection sensor 206. Assuming that the preset printing density value is L, if (K1+ K2+ K3+ K4) ÷ 4< L, it is interpreted that the amount of powder of the black powder cartridge is insufficient to print a portrait, printing is cancelled, and the user is notified.

Fig. 3b is an illustration of a test image for detecting the densities of the respective colors simultaneously. The illustration is only one of the test images and may be only one of the test images in one of the colors. In fig. 3b, the CMYK four colors are respectively grouped into 8 test images for detecting color density, and may be grouped into several test images (the density levels of the several test images are required to be the same). The combined images are formed at both ends of the intermediate transfer belt 106 in the main scanning direction. It should be noted that the number of test images corresponding to four colors of CMYK and the order of forming the images are not limited to this. In addition, the shape of each pattern is not limited to the shape shown in the drawings. The shape may be a vertical line, a cross line, a triangle, etc.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an image forming apparatus, as shown in fig. 4, the image forming apparatus 500 including:

a first acquiring unit 10 for acquiring a remaining amount of toner in the image forming apparatus;

a second obtaining unit 20, configured to obtain an image density value of a test image of the image forming apparatus when the remaining amount of carbon powder is lower than a preset threshold;

a print control unit 30 for stopping printing of a document to be printed received by the image forming apparatus when the image density value is lower than a preset image density value.

In the image forming apparatus in the above scheme, the first obtaining unit 10 obtains the current toner remaining amount in the image forming apparatus, when the toner remaining amount is lower than the preset threshold, the second obtaining unit 20 further obtains an image density value of a test image of the image forming apparatus, and when the image density value is lower than the preset image density value, the printing control unit 30 stops the printing operation of the image forming apparatus on a file to be printed, so that the utilization rate of toner can be maximally improved, and poor printing effect is avoided.

The image forming apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present application will be described in more detail below.

Specifically, in the embodiment of the present application, the toner in the image forming apparatus may be stored in, but not limited to, a toner cartridge, as shown in fig. 1a, 104Y, 104M, 104C, and 104K, and as shown in fig. 1b, the toner may be stored in the developing device 204. As the printing operation of the printing image forming device continues, the toner in the toner box is gradually reduced.

Further, the image forming apparatus acquires the current toner remaining amount by the first acquiring unit 10, which may be a sensor in the toner cartridge or a chip provided in the toner cartridge. That is, the first obtaining unit 10 may detect the current remaining amount of toner by using a sensor in the toner cartridge or detect the current remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge according to a chip count value in the toner cartridge.

And a second obtaining unit 20, configured to obtain an image density value of a test image of the image forming apparatus when the remaining amount of toner is lower than a preset threshold.

Further, in the embodiment of the present application, if the remaining amount of the current toner is not less than the preset threshold, it is determined that the remaining amount of the toner in the current image forming apparatus is sufficient, and when the image forming apparatus receives a file to be printed, the printing operation is directly performed under the control of the printing control unit 30, and subsequent processes such as obtaining an image density value are not required, so as to save the determination time, and thus improve the working efficiency of the image forming apparatus under the condition that the toner is sufficient.

In the embodiment of the present application, the second acquisition unit 20 may be a concentration sensor. More specifically, the density sensor may be provided at a position such as a transfer belt or a photosensitive drum in the image forming apparatus. The second acquiring unit 20 acquires an image density value of a test image of the image forming apparatus, that is, detects the image density value of the test image using a density sensor at a position such as a transfer belt, a photosensitive drum, or the like in the image forming apparatus.

In a specific embodiment, the preset image density value may be stored in a memory of the image forming apparatus. Generally, the image density value may be set to a certain proportion of the optimal image density value of the image forming apparatus, for example, but not limited to, 50%. The optimal image density value preset by the image forming device is the printing density which can ensure that the printing portrait achieves the optimal effect and is obtained through multiple tests, the understanding is easy, when the image density reaches the image density value, the situation that partial images cannot be printed or the printed image density does not meet the requirements can occur, and the printing effect is poor at the moment.

In other embodiments, the preset image density value may also be set by the user through the panel from the main setting and stored in the memory of the printer, for example, the corresponding operation may be performed through a setting key on the control panel of the printer.

When the image density value is not lower than the preset image density value, the image forming device can continue to perform printing operation after receiving the file to be printed, so that the utilization rate of carbon powder is provided to the maximum extent.

Further, when the image density value acquired by the second acquiring unit 20 is not lower than the preset image density value, the second acquiring unit 20 acquires the image density value of the test image of the image forming apparatus again after the print control unit 30 executes a predetermined amount of print job for the file to be printed until all print jobs for the file to be printed are completed or until the acquired image density value of the test image is lower than the preset image density value.

The predetermined amount of print jobs may be, for example, a specific number of pages for which the paper size is set, and may be set, for example, to print one page from a4 paper. The density detection can be performed once by printing the test image after each print job of the preset amount is executed, the density detection can be performed once after each page is printed by the preset amount, the next job can be printed only when the density of the test image meets the requirement every time, and otherwise, the current carbon powder is judged to be insufficient for printing. At this time, the display panel of the image forming apparatus or the server may remind the user to replace the powder container by a message pop-up window or a prompt message.

The image forming apparatus in the embodiment of the present application may be a black-and-white image printing apparatus including only an image forming portion of one color (black), or may be a color image printing apparatus including, for example, image forming portions of four colors (yellow, cyan, magenta, black).

The first acquiring unit 10 in the embodiment of the present application may be respectively disposed in the image forming portions of the respective colors of the image forming apparatus, and similarly, the second acquiring unit 20 may also be respectively disposed in the image forming portions of the respective colors of the image forming apparatus. The first acquiring unit 10 may then be specifically used to acquire the remaining amounts of toner for the respective colors. The second obtaining unit 20 is specifically configured to obtain an image density value of a test image of a corresponding color when the remaining amount of carbon powder of any one of the colors is lower than a preset threshold; the print control unit 30 is configured to stop the print job of the image forming part of the corresponding color when the image density value of the test image of the corresponding color is lower than a preset image density value.

For example, the image forming apparatus has image forming portions of four colors of CMYK, and when the remaining amount of toner of magenta (M) acquired by the first acquiring unit 10 is lower than a preset threshold value, it is necessary to further acquire an image density value of a test image of M color by the second acquiring unit 20, and when the image density value of M color is lower than a preset image density value, printing of the image of M color is stopped by the print control unit 30. In the embodiment of the present application, the preset threshold values of the remaining amounts of carbon powder of different colors may be set to the same value (e.g., 10% of the maximum amount), or may be set independently, and the preset image density values of the images of different colors may be set to be the same or different, and are preset and stored in the memory of the image forming apparatus in advance. Thus, it is easily understood that, in the CMYK color image forming apparatus, when the printing mode is the black-and-white printing mode, regardless of the remaining amount of C, M, Y colors or the image density value, if and only if the image density value of the test image of the K (black) color is lower than the preset image density value, the black-and-white printing job of the color image forming apparatus is stopped.

The second acquisition unit 20 may be an IDC (image density control sensor) that acquires an image density value of the test image on the principle of:

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, where the storage medium includes a stored program, and where the program, when executed, controls an apparatus in which the storage medium is located to execute the above-mentioned print control method.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer device, and fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a computer device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 5, the computer device 300 of this embodiment includes: the processor 301, the memory 302, and the computer program 303 stored in the memory and capable of running on the processor 301, and the processor 301 implements the printing control method in the embodiment when executing the computer program 303, which is not described herein for avoiding repetition. Alternatively, the computer program is executed by the processor 301 to implement the functions of each model/unit in the image forming apparatus in the embodiments, which are not described herein for avoiding redundancy.

The computer device 300 may be a desktop computer, a notebook, a palm computer, a cloud server, an image forming apparatus, or other computing devices. The computer device may include, but is not limited to, a processor 301, a memory 302. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that fig. 5 is merely an example of a computer device 300 and is not intended to limit the computer device 300 and that it may include more or less components than those shown, or some of the components may be combined, or different components, e.g., the computer device may also include input output devices, network access devices, buses, etc.

The Processor 301 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), other general purpose Processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other Programmable logic device, discrete Gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, or the like. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

The storage 302 may be an internal storage unit of the computer device 300, such as a hard disk or a memory of the computer device 300. The memory 302 may also be an external storage device of the computer device 300, such as a plug-in hard disk, a Smart Media Card (SMC), a Secure Digital (SD) Card, a Flash memory Card (Flash Card), etc., provided on the computer device 300. Further, the memory 302 may also include both internal and external storage units of the computer device 300. The memory 302 is used for storing computer programs and other programs and data required by the computer device. The memory 302 may also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or is to be output.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the embodiments provided in the present invention, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the above-described division of units is merely one type of division of logical functions, and there may be other divisions when actually implemented, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The integrated unit implemented in the form of a software functional unit may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. The software functional unit is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) or a Processor (Processor) to execute some steps of the above methods according to various embodiments of the present invention. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a usb disk, a removable hard disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The above description is only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention, and any modifications, equivalents, improvements and the like made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A print control method applied to an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

acquiring the residual amount of carbon powder in the image forming device;

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: and when the residual amount of the carbon powder is not lower than the preset threshold value, printing the file to be printed after the image forming device receives the file to be printed.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: and when the image density value is not lower than the preset image density value, executing a preset amount of printing operation on the file to be printed, and then acquiring the image density value of the test image of the image forming device again.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined amount includes a predetermined paper size and the number of sheets thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion of at least one color, the image forming apparatus containing at least one toner of a corresponding color;

the method comprises the following steps: when the residual amount of the carbon powder of any one color is lower than a preset threshold value, acquiring an image density value of a test image of the corresponding color of the image forming device;

6. The method according to claim 1 or 5, wherein the step of acquiring an image density value of a test image of the image forming apparatus includes:

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of acquiring a plurality of test sub-images of the image forming apparatus and acquiring image density values of the plurality of test sub-images comprises:

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus includes image forming portions of four colors of CMYK, the image forming apparatus employing a black-and-white print job for a received document to be printed;

9. An image forming apparatus, characterized by comprising:

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the print control unit is configured to control the image forming apparatus to print the file to be printed after receiving the file to be printed when the remaining amount of the toner acquired by the first acquiring unit is not lower than the preset threshold.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the image density value acquired by the second acquisition unit is not lower than the preset image density value, the print control unit is configured to execute a predetermined amount of print job for the file to be printed, for the second acquisition unit to acquire the image density value of the test image of the image forming apparatus again.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined amount includes a predetermined paper size and the number of sheets thereof.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion of at least one color, the image forming apparatus including at least one toner of a corresponding color;

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 or 13, wherein the second acquiring unit is configured to acquire a plurality of test sub-images of the image forming apparatus and acquire image density values of the plurality of test sub-images; calculating an image concentration average value according to the image concentration values of the plurality of test sub-images; and taking the image density average value as an image density value of the test image.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second acquiring unit is configured to sequentially detect a plurality of test sub-images of the respective colors extending in a scanning direction by the density detection sensor and acquire an image density value at a position of a center of gravity of the plurality of test sub-images of the respective colors, the plurality of test sub-images of the respective colors being arranged at a preset interval in a sub-scanning direction, the sub-scanning direction being perpendicular to the scanning direction.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image forming apparatus includes image forming portions of four colors of CMYK, and the print control unit is configured to stop the black-and-white print job when an image density value of a test image of K color is lower than the preset image density value when the image forming apparatus employs the black-and-white print job for a received document to be printed.

17. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the storage medium includes a stored program which, when executed, controls an apparatus in which the storage medium is located to execute the print control method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

18. A computer device comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the processor implementing the print control method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 when executing the computer program.