JP2004077988A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability in operation for resetting a toner counter in replacing a toner cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: In a printer 10 for performing printing by using toner supplied from the toner cartridge 110, when the opening and closing of a toner cover is detected in a state that the residual amount of toner in the toner cartridge 110 is reduced, a user is urged to input instruction whether to perform the resetting of the toner counter 102a or not. The toner counter 102a is reset when the resetting of the toner counter 102 is instructed by the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus without a toner cartridge replacement detection mechanism.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A laser printer employing a laser system, which is a typical printing apparatus, forms a print image based on print data transmitted from a host computer on a photosensitive drum by a laser beam, and supplies a charged print image from a toner cartridge. The printing process is performed by attaching toner to the printing paper and transferring it to printing paper.
[0003]
Since the toner used in the printing process in the laser printer is consumed by the printing process, the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge decreases as printing is repeated. When the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge becomes zero, printing processing cannot be performed. Therefore, when the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge becomes small, it is necessary to replace the toner cartridge with a new one.
[0004]
Conventionally, a laser printer counts the number of times of printing with a toner counter to detect that the remaining amount of toner in a toner cartridge is low. It is determined that the amount has decreased, and a notification is issued to prompt the user to replace the toner cartridge.
[0005]
Since the number of times of printing needs to be counted for each toner cartridge, when the toner cartridge is replaced, the toner counter must be reset.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If the printer has a mechanism for detecting that the toner cartridge has been replaced, the toner counter can be automatically reset when the user replaces the toner cartridge.
[0007]
However, in recent years, due to demands for cost reduction, models without such functions have been increasing. In a printer in which a mechanism for detecting that a toner cartridge has been replaced is omitted, when the toner cartridge is replaced, the user performs a predetermined operation to reset the toner counter.
[0008]
In general, an operation for resetting the toner counter requires a special operation, for example, a complicated operation such as turning on the power while pressing a specific operation button so as not to be performed carelessly. For this reason, when replacing the toner cartridge, an excessive burden is imposed on the user.
[0009]
On the other hand, since the operation for resetting the counter is not usually required, when replacing the toner cartridge, for example, it is necessary to confirm the operation method for resetting the counter with reference to a manual. Or the user may forget to reset the counter.
[0010]
If the user does not reset the toner counter even though the toner cartridge has been replaced, the notification urging the replacement of the toner cartridge is continued, and the remaining toner amount of the replaced toner cartridge cannot be grasped. Therefore, it is desirable that the operation itself for resetting the toner counter can be easily performed.
[0011]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve operability of an operation for resetting a toner counter when replacing a toner cartridge.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To solve the above problems, according to the present invention,
In a printing apparatus that performs printing using toner supplied from a toner cartridge,
A toner counter for counting the number of prints,
A cover for covering the toner cartridge,
Detecting means for detecting that the cover is opened and closed,
A toner cartridge management unit that determines that the toner cartridge needs to be replaced when the number of times of printing exceeds a predetermined number, and notifies the user of replacement of the toner cartridge;
When the toner cartridge management unit determines that the toner cartridge needs to be replaced, and when the detection unit detects that the cover has been opened and closed,
There is provided a printing apparatus characterized by prompting input of an instruction as to whether or not to reset a toner counter, and resetting the toner counter when an instruction to reset the toner counter is input.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a printing apparatus to which the present invention has been applied. In the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 is a laser printer that employs a laser method as a printing method, and performs printing on a printing medium such as printing paper using toner as an image forming medium. The printing apparatus 10 can be realized with the same hardware configuration as a normal laser printer including a CPU, a RAM, a font ROM, a program ROM, an interface, a print engine, and the like.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 10 includes a print processing unit 101, a toner cartridge management unit 102, a display panel 103, operation buttons 104, a cover open / close sensor 105, and a communication unit 106. You.
[0016]
The print processing unit 101 performs a process for performing printing based on print data sent from the printer host. Specifically, a process is performed in which a print image based on print data transmitted from the host computer is formed on the photosensitive drum by a laser beam, toner is attached to the charged print image, and the image is transferred to printing paper.
[0017]
The toner used for the printing process is supplied from a toner cartridge 110 which is detachably mounted in the housing of the printing apparatus 10. The toner cartridge 110 is covered with a cover (not shown) in a normal use state (print standby state and during printing processing).
[0018]
When replacing the toner cartridge 110, the user opens the cover to expose the toner cartridge 110, and then removes the attached toner cartridge 110. Then, by mounting a new toner cartridge 110 and closing the cover, it is possible to return to a normal use state.
[0019]
The toner cartridge management unit 102 manages the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 110 mounted on the printing apparatus 10 and determines whether the toner cartridge 110 needs to be replaced. When it is determined that the toner cartridge 110 needs to be replaced, the user is prompted to replace the toner cartridge 110.
[0020]
In the present embodiment, the toner cartridge management unit 102 does not physically measure the remaining amount of toner, but estimates based on the degree of use of the printing apparatus 10, for example, the number of times of printing. To this end, the toner cartridge management unit 102 includes a toner consumption counter 102a for estimating the remaining amount of toner. For example, the toner consumption counter 102a counts the number of times of printing performed by the printing apparatus 10, and when the number of times exceeds a predetermined reference number, determines that the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge is low and determines that the toner cartridge needs to be replaced. I do.
[0021]
The toner consumption counter 102a counts the number of times of printing using the toner cartridge 110 attached to the printing apparatus 10 and estimates the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 110. Need to be reset.
[0022]
In the present embodiment, the reset of the toner consumption counter is performed based on a user's instruction as described later.
[0023]
The display panel 103 displays the status of the printing apparatus 10 and displays a menu for an operation accepted from the user. The display panel 103 can be configured using, for example, a liquid crystal display panel.
[0024]
The operation button 104 includes a plurality of buttons, and receives an operation from a user.
[0025]
The cover opening / closing sensor 105 detects, for example, a state in which the cover of the printing apparatus 10 is opened, thereby detecting that the user has opened / closed the cover.
[0026]
Communication unit 106 performs processing for communicating with the host computer.
[0027]
Next, the processing operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0028]
This processing operation starts when the cover of the printer is opened and closed in a state where the toner cartridge 110 needs to be replaced (S101). Note that this processing operation is controlled by the toner cartridge management unit 102.
[0029]
Here, the state in which the toner cartridge 110 needs to be replaced is determined based on whether or not the value of the toner consumption counter 102a has exceeded a predetermined reference number as described above. When the value of the toner consumption counter 102a exceeds the reference number, it is determined that the toner cartridge 110 needs to be replaced, and the display panel 103 displays the toner cartridge 110 as shown in FIG. A message prompting replacement is displayed.
[0030]
In this state, when the cover opening / closing sensor 105 detects that the cover has been opened / closed, the toner cartridge management unit 102 issues an instruction as to whether or not to reset the toner consumption counter 102a as shown in FIG. The prompting information is displayed on the display panel 103 (S102).
[0031]
As shown in the figure, on the display panel 103, "high" and "no" are displayed as options of the user in addition to the display as to whether or not to reset the toner counter.
[0032]
When the user replaces the toner cartridge 110 when opening and closing the cover of the printer, the user can instruct the reset of the toner consumption counter 102a by pressing the operation button 104a. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the user can reset the toner consumption counter by a simple operation.
[0033]
Further, when the toner cartridge 110 needs to be replaced, an indication as to whether or not to reset the toner counter is displayed only when the cover is opened and closed. Absent. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to reset the toner counter.
[0034]
When receiving a reset instruction by operating the operation button 104a by the user (S103: Y), the toner cartridge management unit 102 resets the toner consumption counter 102a (S104), and enters a print standby state (S105).
[0035]
Further, the reset of the toner consumption counter 102a removes the state in which the replacement of the toner cartridge is required, so that the display urging the replacement of the toner cartridge as shown in FIG. 3A is not performed.
[0036]
Thereafter, the number of times of printing on the new toner cartridge 110 is counted.
[0037]
On the other hand, if the user does not replace the toner cartridge when opening and closing the cover of the printer, the user can instruct not to reset the toner consumption counter 102a by pressing the operation button 104b.
[0038]
When the toner cartridge management unit 102 receives an instruction not to reset by operating the operation button 104b by the user (S103: N), the toner cartridge management unit 102 enters a print standby state without resetting the toner consumption counter 102a (S105).
[0039]
In this case, since the printing apparatus 10 is still in a state where the toner cartridge needs to be replaced, the toner cartridge management unit 102 displays a message urging the replacement of the toner cartridge as shown in FIG. To continue.
[0040]
Note that, in order to cope with a case in which the user has not exchanged the toner cartridge 110 and erroneously instructed the reset of the toner consumption counter 102a, the toner cartridge management unit 102 includes, for example, a toner consumption counter. When resetting the toner consumption counter 102a, the value of the toner consumption counter 102a immediately before is temporarily stored, and a predetermined operation of the operation button 104 is received, so that the value of the reset toner consumption counter 102a is reset to the value before resetting. It may be possible to return to the value of.
[0041]
Conversely, if the user does not instruct to reset the toner consumption counter 102a by mistake after replacing the toner cartridge 110, open and close the cover of the printer again, and return to FIG. It suffices if the display as shown is made and the operation of the operation button 104a is instructed to reset the toner consumption counter 102a.
[0042]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 corresponds to a plurality of types of toner cartridges 110. In such a case, the reference number of times for determining that the remaining amount of toner is low differs depending on the type of the toner cartridge. Therefore, when replacing the toner cartridge, it is necessary to set the type of the installed toner cartridge.
[0044]
The functional configuration of the printing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment can be the same as the block diagram shown in FIG.
[0045]
The processing operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0046]
This processing operation starts when the cover of the printer is opened and closed in a state where the toner cartridge 110 needs to be replaced (S201). Note that this processing operation is controlled by the toner cartridge management unit 102.
[0047]
When the cover open / close sensor 105 detects that the cover has been opened / closed in a state where the toner cartridge 110 needs to be replaced, the toner cartridge management unit 102 sets the toner consumption counter 102a as shown in FIG. Information that prompts an instruction as to whether or not to reset is displayed on the display panel 103 (S202).
[0048]
As shown in the figure, on the display panel 103, "high" and "no" are displayed as options of the user in addition to the display as to whether or not to reset the toner counter.
[0049]
When the user replaces the toner cartridge when opening and closing the cover of the printer, the user can instruct the reset of the toner consumption counter 102a by pressing the operation button 104a. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the user can reset the toner consumption counter by a simple operation.
[0050]
When receiving a reset instruction by the user operating the operation button 104a (S203: Y), the toner cartridge management unit 102 resets the toner consumption counter 102a (S204).
[0051]
Then, information for setting the type of the toner cartridge as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display panel 103 to urge the user to set (S205).
[0052]
As shown in the drawing, “OK” is displayed on the display panel 103 in addition to the display of the type (model number) of the toner cartridge.
[0053]
The user can change the model number of the displayed toner cartridge by operating the operation buttons 104c and 104d. When the model number indicating the type of the attached toner cartridge 110 is displayed, the type of the toner cartridge can be set by pressing the operation button 104b.
[0054]
The toner cartridge management unit 102 performs processing corresponding to the type of the set toner cartridge, for example, sets a reference value of the number of times of printing used for determining the remaining amount of toner, and enters a print standby state (S206).
[0055]
Further, the reset of the toner consumption counter 102a removes the state in which the replacement of the toner cartridge is required, so that the display urging the replacement of the toner cartridge as shown in FIG. 3A is not performed.
[0056]
Thereafter, the number of times of printing on the new toner cartridge 110 is counted.
[0057]
On the other hand, if the user does not replace the toner cartridge when opening and closing the cover of the printer, the user can instruct not to reset the toner consumption counter 102a by pressing the operation button 104b.
[0058]
When the toner cartridge management unit 102 receives an instruction not to reset by operating the operation button 104b by the user (S203: N), the toner cartridge management unit 102 enters the print standby state without resetting the toner consumption counter 102a (S206).
[0059]
In this case, since the printing apparatus 10 is still in a state where the toner cartridge needs to be replaced, the toner cartridge management unit 102 displays a message urging the replacement of the toner cartridge as shown in FIG. To continue.
[0060]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the reset instruction of the toner consumption counter 102a is received through the display panel 103 and the operation buttons 104 of the printing apparatus 10, but may be received through the host computer. In this case, for example, the printer driver is provided with a function of generating a display screen for receiving a reset instruction of the toner consumption counter 102a, and the instruction is received by operating an input device of the host computer, for example, a mouse. Can be realized.
[0061]
In the above-described embodiment, when the toner cartridge is replaced, the counter is reset, and the counter is counted each time printing is performed. When the counter reaches the reference number, it is determined that the toner cartridge needs to be replaced. However, when the toner cartridge is replaced, the counter may be set to the reference number, and the counter may be decreased each time printing is performed. When the counter becomes 0, it may be determined that the toner cartridge needs to be replaced.
[0062]
In this case, in the second embodiment, when the type of the toner cartridge is set, the value of the toner consumption counter 102a is set according to the type of the toner cartridge.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the operability of the operation for resetting the toner counter when replacing the toner cartridge can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a printing apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a processing operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a display panel and operation buttons.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a display panel and operation buttons.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 printing device 101 print processing unit 102 toner cartridge management unit 102a toner consumption counter 103 display panel 104 operation button 105 cover open / close sensor 106 communication unit 110 toner cartridge

Claims (2)

In a printing apparatus that performs printing using toner supplied from a toner cartridge,
A toner counter for counting the number of prints,
A cover for covering the toner cartridge,
Detecting means for detecting that the cover is opened and closed,
A toner cartridge management unit that determines that the toner cartridge needs to be replaced when the number of times of printing exceeds a predetermined number, and notifies the user of replacement of the toner cartridge;
When the toner cartridge management unit determines that the toner cartridge needs to be replaced, and when the detection unit detects that the cover has been opened and closed,
A printing apparatus characterized by prompting input of an instruction as to whether or not to reset a toner counter, and resetting the toner counter when an instruction to reset the toner counter is input. The printing device according to claim 1,
It supports multiple types of toner cartridges,
When an instruction to reset the toner counter is input, the toner cartridge management unit further prompts input of an instruction for setting the type of the toner cartridge, and receives an instruction for setting the type of the toner cartridge. Then, the predetermined number of times corresponds to the set type of the toner cartridge.

Images