JP2006027199A - Printer, management server, consumable cartridge, and system, method and program for outputting image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep photograph-outputting image quality constant by grasping characteristics per manufacturing lot of a variety of consumables to be used, and by making a predetermined corrective processing on the basis of the grasped characteristics. <P>SOLUTION: A cartridge 220 is provided with a wireless tag 221 in which a manufacturing lot number of a consumable is stored therein. The manufacturing lot number of the consumption article is sent from the wireless tag 221, and read by a reader 208. The manufacturing lot number read by the reader 208 is sent to a corrective value calculating section 212. The corrective value calculating section 212 reads quality information corresponding to the acquired manufacturing lot number from a storage 2/3, and calculates a corrective value to make a printing operation in a constant quality on the basis of the quality information. Then, a control section 211 corrects a printer job according to the corrective value and makes the corrected printer job carried out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer, a management server, a consumable cartridge, an image output system, an image output method, a printer that avoids fluctuations in image quality caused by quality differences peculiar to manufacturing lots of consumables such as printing paper and ink using a wireless tag, The present invention relates to a program for causing a computer to execute the method.

  In a printing apparatus or the like, in order to perform good printing processing, it is indispensable to manage the state (remaining amount and the like) of consumables such as ink, roll, and recording paper to be used. In view of this, several techniques that can grasp the state of various consumables used in the printing apparatus have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-321751 A JP 2003-326741 A

  Even if the ink of the printing apparatus is the same type, the quality is slightly different for each production lot. For this reason, there is a problem in that the quality of the printed image differs when inks of different production lots are used even in the printing process of the same design. In order to solve such a problem, the difference in the quality of the ink generated for each production lot is grasped, and the correction processing of the printing apparatus (for example, adjustment of the amount of ink discharged) based on the grasped quality information It is good to be able to.

  However, in the conventional techniques disclosed in the above patent documents and the like, although the state of various consumables such as ink can be grasped, the correction process of the printing apparatus that adjusts the amount of ink discharged based on the grasped state is performed. I couldn't do it.

  In order to solve the above-described problems caused by the conventional technology, the present invention grasps the characteristics of each consumable used for each production lot and performs a predetermined correction process based on the grasped characteristics to obtain an image (for example, a photograph). It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer, a management server, a consumable cartridge, an image output system, an image output method, and an image output program that can keep the output image quality constant.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a printer according to the present invention includes a printer engine that outputs an image and a manufacture of consumables used in the printer engine provided in a detachable consumable cartridge. Reading means for reading information for determining the manufacturing lot of the consumables, which is information transmitted from a wireless tag that transmits information for determining the lot, and a storage for storing quality information for each manufacturing lot of the consumable to be used And the quality information of the manufacturing lot of the consumables corresponding to the information for determining the manufacturing lot of the consumables read by the reading means from the storage means, and the printer engine outputs an image output having a predetermined quality. Correction value calculation means for calculating a correction value for execution, and the printer using the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation means Characterized in that and a control means for executing an image output having a predetermined quality engine.

  According to the present invention, a correction value is calculated from quality information for each production lot of consumables to be used, and an image is output by correcting a quality difference that occurs for each production lot of consumables using this correction value. It becomes possible to keep the image quality constant.

  In the printer according to the present invention, the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation means is transmitted to a management server connected via a network.

  According to the present invention, it becomes possible to collectively manage the correction value for correcting the quality of each consumable used for each production lot by the management server.

  In the printer according to the present invention, the control unit executes the quality information of the consumable product manufacturing lot acquired from the storage unit and the information for determining the consumable product manufacturing lot read by the reading unit, and has been executed. The remaining amount of consumables in the production lot is calculated in consideration of the printer job, and information on the calculated remaining amount is transmitted to a management server connected via a network.

  According to the present invention, the management server can easily grasp the remaining amount of consumables in the production lot.

  In the management server of the present invention, the correction value or the information related to the remaining amount is received via the network.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to collectively manage correction values for correcting the quality of consumables to be used for each production lot. Further, it becomes possible to grasp the remaining amount of consumables in the production lot, and it becomes possible to easily know the timing of replacement or replenishment of consumables.

  The consumable cartridge according to the present invention is a consumable cartridge that is detachably attached to a printer having a printer engine that outputs an image, and is information for determining a production lot of the consumable used in the printer engine. A wireless tag for transmitting is provided.

  According to this invention, the quality information for each production lot of the consumables to be used can be easily informed to the printer.

  The image output system of the present invention is an image output system comprising a printer and a management server connected via a network, wherein the printer includes a printer engine for outputting an image and a removable consumable. Reading means for reading information that is transmitted from a wireless tag that transmits information for determining a manufacturing lot of consumables used in the printer engine provided in the cartridge and that determines the manufacturing lot of the consumables And storage means for storing quality information for each production lot of consumables to be used, and information for identifying the production lot of the consumables read by the reading means and the quality information of the production lot of the consumables corresponding to the storage lot And a correction value for causing the printer engine to output an image having a predetermined quality is calculated. A correction value calculating means, characterized in that it is composed comprises, and control means for executing an image output having a predetermined quality to the printer engine by using the correction value, wherein the correction value calculation means has calculated.

  According to the present invention, a correction value is calculated from quality information for each production lot of consumables to be used, and an image is output by correcting a quality difference that occurs for each production lot of consumables using this correction value. It becomes possible to keep the image quality constant.

  In the image output system according to the present invention, the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation means is transmitted to the management server via the network.

  According to the present invention, it becomes possible to collectively manage the correction value for correcting the quality of each consumable used for each production lot by the management server.

  Further, in the image output system according to the present invention, the control means includes information for determining the consumable production lot read by the reading means and quality information of the consumable production lot obtained from the storage means. In consideration of the already executed printer job, the remaining amount of consumables in the production lot is grasped and transmitted to the management server via the network.

  According to the present invention, the management server can easily grasp the remaining amount of consumables in the production lot.

  An image output system according to the present invention is an image output system including a printer, a management server, and a print server connected via a network. The printer includes a printer engine that outputs an image, and a detachable printer engine. Information transmitted from a wireless tag that transmits information for determining a manufacturing lot of a consumable used in the printer engine provided in a possible consumable cartridge, and information for determining a manufacturing lot of the consumable The management server or the print server includes storage means for storing quality information for each production lot of consumables to be used, and a production lot of the consumables read by the reading means. Obtaining the quality information of the manufacturing lot of the consumables corresponding to the information for discriminating from the storage means, A correction value calculating means for calculating a correction value for causing the printer engine to execute image output having a predetermined quality, and an image having a predetermined quality for the printer engine using the correction value calculated by the correction value calculating means. And a control means for executing the output.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load on the correction process of the printer.

  In the image output system according to the present invention, the management server manages the entire image output system and also controls the print server, and the print server manages the control of the printer. To do.

  According to the present invention, the entire image output system can be managed efficiently.

  The image output method according to the present invention includes a quality information acquisition step for acquiring quality information for each manufacturing lot of consumables to be used, and a manufacturing lot determination information acquisition step for acquiring information for determining the manufacturing lot of the consumables. And the quality information of the manufacturing lot of the consumable item acquired in the quality information acquisition step corresponding to the information for determining the manufacturing lot of the consumable item acquired in the manufacturing lot determination information acquisition step, A correction value calculating step for calculating a correction value for executing image output of a predetermined quality from information, and an output step for executing image output of a predetermined quality using the correction value calculated in the correction value calculating step It is characterized by including these.

  According to the present invention, a correction value is calculated from quality information for each production lot of consumables to be used, and an image is output by correcting a quality difference that occurs for each production lot of consumables using this correction value. It becomes possible to keep the image quality constant.

  An image output program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute the image output method.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to cause a computer to execute the image output method.

  Exemplary embodiments of a printer, a management server, a consumable cartridge, an image output system, an image output method, and an image output program according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, photo output will be described as an example of image output. However, the present invention is not limited to photographic output.

(Schematic configuration of photo output system)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a photographic output system according to the present invention. This photo output system is configured by connecting a printer 110, a management server 120, and a print server 130 via a network 100. The printer 110 operates according to a drive control command from the management server 120 or the print server 130.

  In addition, the management server 120 may manage the entire image output system, manage the control of a plurality of print servers 130, and each print server 130 may manage the control of the printer 110. With this configuration, the entire image output system can be efficiently managed. About these system configurations, it can change suitably according to the characteristic and scale of a system. A general personal computer or the like can be used for the management server 120 and the print server.

(Functional configuration of printer)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer 110. The printer 110 includes a network I / F (interface) 201, a control panel 202, a control panel I / F 203, a printer control unit 204, a printer I / F 205, a printer engine 206, an antenna 207, and a reader (reading unit) 208. Is done. The printer control unit 204 includes a control unit 211, a correction value calculation unit 212, a storage unit 213, and a development unit 214.

  A network I / F 201 performs interface control between the printer 110 and the network 100. The control panel 202 inputs drive commands and various information for the printer 110. A control panel I / F 203 performs interface control between the control panel 202 and the printer control unit 204.

  The control unit 211 of the printer control unit 204 analyzes print job processing and control commands from the management server 120 or the print server 130 acquired via the network I / F 201, drive commands from the control panel 202, and the like. Run the result.

  The storage unit 213 stores a print job from the management server 120 or the print server 130.

  The development unit 214 interprets the printer control language and develops an image. A printer I / F 205 performs interface control between the printer control unit 204 and the printer engine 206.

  Based on the developed image sent from the printer control unit 204, the printer engine 206 forms an image mainly on a recording sheet by a predetermined image forming process (for example, an electrophotographic process, an ink jet, or the like).

  Consumables such as printing paper and ink used in the printer 110 are stored in the cartridge 220 and set in the printer engine 206. The cartridge 220 is attached with a wireless tag 221 in which the manufacturing lot number of the consumables housed therein is stored.

  The consumable manufacturing lot number transmitted from the wireless tag 221 is read by the reader 208 via the antenna 207. The production lot number read by the reader 208 is sent to the correction value calculation unit 212 of the printer control unit 204.

  The storage unit 213 stores various quality information for each production lot of consumables used in the printer 110 (for example, ink color, density, capacity, etc. for ink, and paper quality and thickness for paper). , Etc.) are stored. Therefore, the correction value calculation unit 212 reads quality information corresponding to the acquired production lot number from the storage unit 213, and calculates a correction value for performing printing processing with a certain quality based on the information.

  Thereafter, the control unit 211 corrects the printer job based on the correction value, and executes the corrected printer job. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent variations in the image quality of the photographic output that occurs when inks of different production lots are used.

  The correction value for each consumable production lot calculated by the correction value calculation unit 212 is transmitted from the network I / F 201 to the management server 120 or the print server 130 via the network 100. Therefore, correction value information for each production lot can be collectively managed on the management server 120 or the print server 130 side.

  Further, the control unit 211 can grasp the remaining amount of consumables by referring to the information for each production lot of consumables stored in the storage unit 213 and taking into account the executed printer job. It is also possible to determine the type of consumables.

  Further, when the consumable information corresponding to the acquired production lot number is not stored in the storage unit 213, the control unit 211 detects that a use-prohibited consumable is set in the printer engine 206. This will prevent the use of counterfeit ink or paper.

  In addition, if the information on the remaining amount of consumables grasped by the control unit 211 is transmitted from the network I / F 201 to the management server 120 or the print server 130 via the network 100, the production lot on the management server 120 or the print server 130 side. It becomes possible to manage the remaining amount of consumables for each.

  In the above description, the printer 110 alone has all the correction functions. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the correction function is realized by using both the printer 110 and the print server 130. Also good. In this case, for example, the function to be provided to the printer 110 may be only a function for reading the manufacturing lot number of consumables. The remaining amount management of consumables may be performed by both the print server 130 or the management server 120. At this time, the sharing of processing between the print server 130 and the management server 120 may be set as appropriate.

  As described above, the printer 110 transmits a printer engine 206 that outputs an image and a wireless tag that is provided in a detachable consumable cartridge and transmits information for determining a manufacturing lot of consumables used in the printer engine 206. A reader 208 that reads the transmitted information and information for determining the manufacturing lot of consumables, while the management server 120 or the print server 130 stores quality information for each manufacturing lot of consumables to be used. The storage unit 213 acquires the quality information of the consumable production lot read from the storage unit 213 and the information for identifying the consumable production lot read by the reader 208 from the storage unit 213, and outputs an image output having a predetermined quality to the printer engine 206. A correction value calculation unit 212 for calculating a correction value for execution, and a correction value calculated by the correction value calculation unit 212. Because and a control unit 211 to execute an image output having a predetermined quality to the printer engine 206 using the value, it is possible to reduce the load of the printer 110 when executing the correction process.

(Hardware configuration of printer controller)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printer control unit 204 that executes a program for controlling the printer 110. The printer control unit 204 includes a CPU 301, ROM 302, RAM 303, HDD (hard disk drive) 304, HD (hard disk) 305, FDD (flexible disk drive) 306, and FD (flexible disk) 307 as an example of a removable recording medium. It has. The components are connected by a bus 300.

  The CPU 301 controls the entire printer 110. The ROM 302 stores a basic input / output program. The RAM 303 is used as a work area for the CPU 301. The HDD 304 controls reading / writing of data with respect to the HD 305 according to the control of the CPU 301. The HD 305 stores data written under the control of the HDD 304.

  The FDD 306 controls reading / writing of data with respect to the FD 307 according to the control of the CPU 301. The FD 307 stores data written under the control of the FDD 306 or causes the information processing apparatus to read data recorded in the FD 307. In addition to the FD 307, the removable recording medium may be a CD-ROM (CD-R, CD-RW), MO, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), memory card, or the like.

  The printer control unit 204 illustrated in FIG. 2 has the functions illustrated in FIG. 3, and the CPU 301 executes programs recorded in the ROM 302, the RAM 303, the HD 305, and the like provided in the printer control unit 204. Thus, the function of the printer 110 is realized. The CPU 301 realizes the functions of the control unit 211 and the correction value calculation unit 212 illustrated in FIG. The ROM 302, HDD 304, HD 305, FDD 306, and FD 307 realize the function of the storage unit 213 illustrated in FIG. The RAM 303 implements the function of the expansion unit 214 shown in FIG.

  Next, a photographic output method according to the present invention will be described using a flowchart based on the configuration of the photographic output system.

(Photo output processing procedure)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the photographic output executed by the photographic output system according to the present invention.

  First, the control unit 211 acquires various types of information such as the quality of consumables for each production lot used in the printer 110, and stores this in the storage unit 213 (step S401). The various information on the consumables for each production lot stored in the storage unit 213 is, for example, ink color, density, capacity, etc. in the case of ink, and paper quality, thickness, number of sheets, etc. in the case of paper. In addition, various kinds of consumable information are taken into the printer 110 via the network 100 from the management server 120 and the print server 130, for example.

  At the same time, the reader 208 reads the manufacturing lot number of the consumable to be used from the wireless tag 221 attached to the cartridge 220 in which consumables such as printing paper and ink are stored. The number is sent to the correction value calculation unit 212. Thereby, the production lot number of the consumable to be used is acquired (step S402).

  The acquisition of consumable quality information for each manufacturing lot in step S401 and the acquisition of the manufacturing lot number of the consumable used in step S402 may be performed in this order, or may be performed in the reverse order. . That is, when the lot number of consumables that have been attached or detached is stored, that is, when the lot number is different from the lot number of the quality information acquired in advance from the management server 120 or the print server 130 (that is, when it is a new lot), First, the manufacturing lot number of the consumable to be used may be acquired (step S402), and quality information corresponding to the acquired manufacturing lot number may be acquired from the management server 120 or the print server 130.

  Thus, since the latest information can be acquired each time by performing steps S401 and S402 in the reverse order, it is not necessary to store unrelated quality information in the storage unit 213 in advance. The storage capacity is small.

  Next, the quality information corresponding to the production lot number acquired by the correction value calculation unit 212 is read from the storage unit 213, and a correction value for performing printing processing with a certain quality is calculated based on the information (step S403). .

  If the correction value calculated in this step is transmitted to the management server 120 or the print server 130 via the network 100, the correction value calculated for each consumable production lot is transmitted to the management server 120 or the print server 130 side. It becomes possible to manage with. Thereafter, the control unit 211 corrects the printer job based on the correction value, and executes the corrected printer job (step S404).

(Consumables remaining amount management)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for managing the remaining amount of consumables. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, first, the control unit 211 acquires various types of information such as the quality of consumables for each manufacturing lot used in the printer 110, and stores the acquired information in the storage unit 213 (step S501). At the same time, the reader 208 reads the manufacturing lot number of the consumable to be used from the wireless tag 221 attached to the cartridge 220 in which consumables such as printing paper and ink are stored. The number is sent to the control unit 211. Thereby, the production lot number of the consumable to be used is acquired (step S502).

  Similar to FIG. 4 described above, the acquisition of the quality information of the consumables for each manufacturing lot in step S501 and the acquisition of the manufacturing lot number of the consumables used in step S502 may be performed in this order. Moreover, you may perform in reverse order.

  The control unit 211 refers to the information for each manufacturing lot on the consumables stored in the storage unit 213, and calculates the remaining amount of consumables by taking into account the executed printer job (step S503). The control unit 211 sends information regarding the calculated remaining amount of consumables to the management server 120 or the print server 130 via the network 100 (step S504).

  As described above, according to the photo output system and the photo output method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the correction value is calculated from the quality information for each production lot of the consumable to be used, and the consumption value is consumed using the correction value. By correcting the quality difference generated for each product production lot, it is possible to maintain a constant image quality for photo output. It is also easy to grasp the remaining amount of consumables for each production lot.

  The photo output method described in the above embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the photograph output system by this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a printer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printer control unit. The flowchart which shows the procedure of a photograph output. The flowchart which shows the procedure for performing the remaining amount management of consumables.

Explanation of symbols

100 Network, 110 Printer, 120 Management Server, 201 Network I / F, 202 Control Panel, 203 Control Panel I / F, 204 Printer Control Unit, 205 Printer I / F, 206 Printer Engine, 207 Antenna, 208 Reader, 211 Control Unit, 212 correction value calculation unit, 213 storage unit, 214 expansion unit, 220 cartridge, 221 wireless tag, 300 bus, 301 CPU, 302 ROM, 303 RAM, 304 HDD, 305 HD, 306 FDD, 307 FD

Claims (12)

A printer engine for image output;
Information transmitted from a wireless tag that transmits information for identifying a production lot of a consumable used for the printer engine provided in a detachable consumable cartridge, and that identifies the production lot of the consumable Reading means for reading information;
Storage means for storing quality information for each production lot of consumables to be used;
To acquire the quality information of the consumable manufacturing lot corresponding to the information for determining the consumable manufacturing lot read by the reading means from the storage means, and to cause the printer engine to execute image output having a predetermined quality. Correction value calculating means for calculating the correction value of
Control means for causing the printer engine to execute image output having a predetermined quality using the correction value calculated by the correction value calculating means;
A printer comprising:   The printer according to claim 1, wherein the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation unit is transmitted to a management server connected via a network.   The control means considers the quality information of the consumable production lot acquired from the storage means corresponding to the information for determining the consumable production lot read by the reading means, and the executed printer job, 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the remaining amount of consumables in the manufacturing lot is calculated, and information regarding the calculated remaining amount is transmitted to a management server connected via a network.   The management server which receives the correction value of Claim 2, or the information regarding the residual amount of Claim 3 via the said network. A consumable cartridge provided detachably in a printer having a printer engine for performing image output,
A consumable cartridge comprising a wireless tag for transmitting information for determining a production lot of consumables used in the printer engine. An image output system comprising a printer and a management server connected via a network,
The printer is
A printer engine for image output;
Information transmitted from a wireless tag that transmits information for identifying a production lot of a consumable used for the printer engine provided in a detachable consumable cartridge, and that identifies the production lot of the consumable Reading means for reading information;
Storage means for storing quality information for each production lot of consumables to be used;
To acquire the quality information of the consumable manufacturing lot corresponding to the information for determining the consumable manufacturing lot read by the reading means from the storage means, and to cause the printer engine to execute image output having a predetermined quality. Correction value calculating means for calculating the correction value of
Control means for causing the printer engine to execute image output having a predetermined quality using the correction value calculated by the correction value calculating means;
An image output system comprising:   The image output system according to claim 6, wherein the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation unit is transmitted to the management server via the network.   The control means considers the quality information of the consumable production lot acquired from the storage means corresponding to the information for determining the consumable production lot read by the reading means, and the executed printer job, 8. The image output system according to claim 6, wherein the remaining amount of consumables in the manufacturing lot is grasped and transmitted to the management server via the network. An image output system comprising a printer, a management server, and a print server connected via a network,
The printer is
A printer engine for image output;
Information transmitted from a wireless tag that transmits information for identifying a production lot of a consumable used for the printer engine provided in a detachable consumable cartridge, and that identifies the production lot of the consumable Reading means for reading information;
Comprising
The management server or the print server is
Storage means for storing quality information for each production lot of consumables to be used;
To acquire the quality information of the consumable manufacturing lot corresponding to the information for determining the consumable manufacturing lot read by the reading means from the storage means, and to cause the printer engine to execute image output having a predetermined quality. Correction value calculating means for calculating the correction value of
Control means for causing the printer engine to execute image output having a predetermined quality using the correction value calculated by the correction value calculating means;
An image output system comprising:   The image output system according to claim 9, wherein the management server manages the entire image output system and manages control of the print server, and the print server manages control of the printer. A quality information acquisition process for acquiring quality information for each production lot of consumables used;
A production lot determination information acquisition step for acquiring information for determining a manufacturing lot of the consumables;
The quality information of the manufacturing lot of the consumables acquired in the quality information acquisition step corresponding to the information for determining the manufacturing lot of the consumables acquired in the manufacturing lot determination information acquisition step is acquired, and from this quality information A correction value calculating step for calculating a correction value for executing image output of a predetermined quality;
An output step of executing image output of a predetermined quality using the correction value calculated in the correction value calculation step;
An image output method comprising: An image output program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 11.

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