JP2006133494A - Image informing apparatus and consumables information notification method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image informing apparatus and a consumables information notification method capable of displaying names of consumables as replacement objects on a user operating screen, similarly in the case that the consumable is single even in the case that the consumables as replacement object is one or more. <P>SOLUTION: A consumables state detection part 11 detects the state of each consumables respectively and a consumables state confirmation part 12 confirms usage circumstances of each consumables based on the detected state. Further, based on the usage circumstances of each consumables, a replacement time judging part 13 specifies the consumables which requires replacement, and a display control part 14 causes a display/input part 30 to perform a display which differs between the case that the specified consumable is single and the case that the consumables is one or more, whereby the replacement of the consumables is facilitated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a consumable information notification method thereof, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus and a consumable information notification method thereof characterized by an operation when replacement of consumables is required.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, or a copier, when a consumable item needs to be replaced, a message to that effect is displayed on the user operation screen to notify the user. In the conventional image forming apparatus, when there is only one consumable that needs replacement, the name of the target consumable is displayed on the user operation screen, and when there are multiple consumables that need replacement, the user operation screen is displayed. Is displayed to confirm the confirmation screen, and all consumable names that need replacement are displayed on the confirmation screen.

In addition, as a technology related to display of consumables information, etc., it is used in a public line network or a device that acquires consumables information via a network (see, for example, Patent Document 1) or a stand-alone that is not connected to a network. Some devices display consumables information on a display device of the device for notification (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In addition, there is a display that displays the usage status of consumables (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP-A-7-239825 JP-A-61-88279 JP-A-6-102737

  By the way, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when a plurality of consumables are to be replaced, in order to confirm the consumables to be replaced, the user can change the user operation screen from the normal work screen to the machine management screen. It is necessary to change to. However, some users neglect to change the machine management screen, and may place an order for consumables or request a replacement operation with only the consumables displayed when the replacement target is single. In such a case, the replacement work is performed a plurality of times, generating extra time and a period during which the image forming apparatus cannot be used.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of displaying a consumable name of a consumable item to be replaced on the user operation screen even when there are a plurality of consumable items to be replaced, as in the case of a single consumable item. It is an object to provide a consumable information notification method.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention of claim 1 is an image forming apparatus that operates using a plurality of consumables, the consumables state detecting means for detecting the state of each consumable, and the consumables. Based on the state detected by the consumable item detection unit, the consumable item confirmation unit for confirming the use state of each consumable item, and the consumable item requiring replacement based on the use state of each consumable item confirmed by the consumable item confirmation unit A consumable replacement time determining means for identifying the consumables, and a display for prompting the replacement of the consumables by causing the display means to display differently depending on whether the consumables specified by the consumable replacement time determining means are one or more And a control means.

  Further, in the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, the display control means is a list showing a list of the plurality of consumables when there are a plurality of consumables specified by the consumable replacement time determining means. The display is displayed on the display means.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the display control means displays the list display in preference to other displays displayed on the display means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the display content displayed by the display means is changed, the display control means indicates that the non-operation state by the user has continued for a certain period of time. According to the condition, a display prompting replacement of the consumables is redisplayed on the display means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a consumable information notification method for an image forming apparatus for notifying consumable information in an image forming apparatus that operates using a plurality of consumables, and the status of each consumable is indicated. And detecting the use status of each consumable item based on the detected state, and specifying the consumable item that needs to be replaced based on the confirmed use status of each consumable item. It is characterized by prompting the replacement of the consumables by causing the display means to display differently depending on the case and the plurality of cases.

  The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 5, when there are a plurality of consumables to be replaced, a list display showing a list of the plurality of consumables is displayed on the display means. .

  The invention of claim 7 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 6, the list display is displayed with priority over other displays displayed on the display means.

  Further, the invention of claim 8 is the invention of claim 5, in which, when the display content displayed by the display means is changed, the no-operation state by the user continues for a certain period of time. A display for prompting replacement is redisplayed on the display means.

  According to the present invention, when a consumable replacement period occurs simultaneously for a plurality of consumables, the user is provided with a list of necessary members without any user operation, so that an inquiry from a replacement operator or the like can be made. Therefore, necessary information can be easily provided, and omission of orders for consumables can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus and a consumable information notification method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a part of a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, an image forming unit 20, and a display / input unit 30. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 has an image reading unit that reads a document and generates image data when it has a copy function, and has an image function when it has a facsimile function. Other functional units such as a communication unit that transmits and receives data are included.

  The control unit 10 controls the image forming unit 20 and performs processing such as displaying information on the display / input unit 30 and receiving input operation instructions. The control unit 10 also performs processing related to consumables described later.

  The image forming unit 20 forms an image on a sheet according to control by the control unit 10. Each unit of the image forming unit 20 is provided with various sensors for detecting the state of the consumable item.

  The display / input unit 30 is configured by a touch panel or the like, and displays information such as a user operation screen to the user according to control by the control unit 10, and receives an operation instruction from the user and notifies the control unit 10 of the information. To do.

  Next, processing related to consumables executed by the control unit 10 will be described. The control unit 10 detects the state of the consumables from the outputs of the various sensors provided in the image forming unit 10, and displays a screen prompting the replacement of the consumables on the display / input unit 30 according to the result. For this reason, the control unit 10 is provided with a consumable state detection unit 11, a consumable state check unit 12, a replacement time determination unit 13, and a display control unit 14.

  The consumable item state detection unit 11 acquires outputs from various sensors provided in the image forming unit 11. The consumable item status confirmation unit 12 converts the outputs of the various sensors acquired by the consumable item state detection unit 11 into a consumable item state based on data registered in advance. The replacement time determination unit 13 determines whether or not each consumable item needs to be replaced based on the consumable item state converted by the consumable item state confirmation unit 12. This determination result is managed as shown in FIG. 2, for example, as a flag setting. The display control unit 13 displays a screen for prompting the user to replace the consumables on the display / input unit 30 based on the necessity of replacement of the consumables determined by the replacement time determination unit 13.

  Here, the screen display processing by the display control unit 14 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of screen display processing by the display control unit 14.

  When the process is started, if the process is a process immediately after the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on (YES in step 101), the display control unit 14 sets the values of a plurality of flags managed by the display control unit 14 itself. “None” is set (step 102). If the process is not a process immediately after the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on (NO in step 101), the values of the plurality of flags are not changed.

  Subsequently, the display control unit 14 confirms information on whether or not the consumable item needs to be replaced (see FIG. 2), which is a determination result by the replacement time determination unit 13 (step 103). As a result of the confirmation, if there are consumables determined as replacement targets (YES in step 104) and there are a plurality of replacement targets (YES in step 105), the display control unit 14 sets the value of the plurality of flags to “multiple”. (Step 106), a plurality of exchange displays are performed on the display / input unit 30 (step 107), and the screen display process is terminated.

  In the multiple replacement display, for example, a consumable information area 202 is provided in the message display area 201 of the basic screen 200 of the user operation screen as shown in FIG. Display the product.

  Further, in the multiple replacement display, a notification screen 210 as shown in FIG. 5 may be displayed on the display / input unit 30 instead of the basic screen of the user operation screen, and the message display area 201 of the basic screen 200 is displayed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the consumable name of the consumable to be replaced may be displayed.

  On the other hand, as a result of checking the state of the consumables by the display control unit 14, there is a consumable that has been determined to be replaced (YES in step 104), and if the replacement target is singular (NO in step 105), display control is performed. If the value of the plurality of flags is “plural” (YES in step 108), unit 14 deletes the plurality of replacement displays currently displayed on display / input unit 30 (step 109).

  If the multiple replacement display is deleted or the value of the multiple flag is other than “multiple” (NO in step 108), the display control unit 14 sets the value of the multiple flag to “single” (step 110). ), A single replacement display is performed on the display / input unit 30 (step 111), and the screen display process is terminated.

  The single replacement display is, for example, a display for displaying the consumable name of the consumable to be replaced in the message display area 201 of the basic screen 200 as shown in FIG.

  Further, as a result of confirming the state of the consumables by the display control unit 14, if there is no consumables determined to be replaced (NO in step 104), the display control unit 14 confirms the values of the plurality of flags and Is "multiple" (YES in step 112), the multiple replacement display currently displayed on the display / input unit 30 is deleted (step 113), and the value of the multiple flag is set to "none" (step 114), the screen display process is terminated.

  On the other hand, as a result of checking the values of the plurality of flags, if the value is “single” (YES in step 115), the display control unit 14 erases the single replacement display that is currently displayed on the display / input unit 30. (Step 116), the value of the plurality of flags is set to “none” (step 114), and the screen display process is terminated.

  The screen display control process by the display control unit 14 is performed at regular time intervals or whenever the determination by the replacement time determination unit 13 is performed (the replacement time determination unit 13 changes the output of the consumables state confirmation unit 12 at regular time intervals. Every time it is done).

  The multiple replacement display described in the first embodiment may hinder the user's work. In particular, when a screen 210 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display / input unit 30 as a multiple replacement display, another operation cannot be performed unless the screen is closed. For this reason, in the second embodiment, an example will be described in which it is possible to set whether or not to perform multiple replacement display.

  For setting whether or not to perform multiple replacement display, the display control unit 14 displays a screen 300 as shown in FIG. 8 on the display / input unit 30, and the user gives “priority” or “priority” to the screen 300. This is done by setting “No”.

  In the second embodiment, the screen display process by the display control unit 14 is a process in which the process in step 107 is replaced with the process shown in FIG. 9 among the processes described in the first embodiment.

  In the screen display process according to the second embodiment, the display control unit 14 is set in advance on the screen 300 when there are a plurality of consumables determined to be replaced (YES in step 104 and YES in step 105). The priority display setting is confirmed (step 171). If the setting is “priority” (YES in step 172), the same multiple replacement display as in the first embodiment is performed (step 173). If the priority display setting is “not prioritized” (NO in step 172), a single exchange display indicating a plurality of exchanges is performed (step 174).

  In the single replacement display indicating that a plurality of replacements are made, for example, there are a plurality of consumables to be replaced as shown in FIG. 10 in the message display area 201 of the basic screen 200, and the consumables are confirmed on another screen. This is a display that indicates that it is possible.

  The multiple replacement display described in the first embodiment may hinder the user's work. In particular, when a screen 210 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display / input unit 30 as a multiple replacement display, another operation cannot be performed unless the screen is closed. For this reason, the multiple exchange display and the single exchange display may be interrupted by an operation such as closing the screen 210 by the user.

  In this case, since there is a possibility that the consumables will not be replaced, it is necessary to perform multiple replacement display or single replacement display again. In the third embodiment, processing in the case of performing multiple exchange display or single exchange display again will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when performing multiple exchange display or single exchange display again.

  When the display control unit 14 detects that the non-operation state by the user has continued for a certain period of time (YES in step 401), if the value of the plurality of flags is “none” (YES in step 402), the display control unit 14 performs the processing as it is. Exit.

  On the other hand, when the value of the plurality of flags is “single” (NO in step 402 and YES in step 403), the display control unit 14 performs single replacement display (step 404) and ends the process.

  If the value of the plurality of flags is “plural” (NO in step 402 and NO in step 403), the display control unit 14 performs a single replacement display (step 405) and ends the process.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a part of a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is the figure which showed the example of management of the state of each consumable. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of screen display processing by the display control unit 14. It is the figure which showed the example of the multiple exchange display. It is the figure which showed the example of the multiple exchange display. It is the figure which showed the example of the multiple exchange display. It is the figure which showed the example of the single exchange display. It is the figure which showed the example of the screen which sets the priority setting of multiple replacement | exchange display. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of screen display processing according to the second embodiment. It is the figure which showed the example of the single exchange display which shows that it is multiple exchange. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the case of performing multiple exchange display or single exchange display again.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Control part 11 Consumables state detection part 12 Consumables state confirmation part 13 Replacement time determination part 14 Display control part 20 Image formation part 30 Display / input part 200 Basic screen 201 Message display area 202 Consumables information area 210 Notification screen 300 screen

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus that operates using a plurality of consumables,
Consumables status detection means for detecting the status of each consumable,
Based on the state detected by the consumables state detection means, consumables confirmation means for confirming the usage status of each consumable,
A consumable item replacement time determination unit that identifies a consumable item that needs to be replaced based on the usage status of each consumable item checked by the consumable item checking unit;
And display control means for prompting replacement of the consumables by causing the display means to display different indications depending on whether the consumable replacement time determining means specifies one or more consumables. Image forming apparatus. The display control means includes
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when there are a plurality of consumables specified by the consumable replacement time determination unit, a list display indicating a list of the plurality of consumables is displayed on the display unit. The display control means includes
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the list display is displayed with priority over other displays displayed on the display means. The display control means includes
When the display content displayed by the display means is changed, a display for prompting replacement of consumables is redisplayed on the display means on condition that the non-operation state by the user has continued for a certain period of time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A consumable information notification method for an image forming apparatus for notifying information of consumables in an image forming apparatus that operates using a plurality of consumables,
Detecting the status of each consumable, confirming the use status of each consumable based on the detected status, identifying the consumable that needs replacement based on the confirmed use status of each consumable, A consumable information information notification method for an image forming apparatus, characterized by prompting replacement of consumables by causing a display unit to display different information depending on whether the specified consumable is single or plural.   6. The consumable information notification method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when there are a plurality of consumables to be replaced, a list display indicating a list of the plurality of consumables is displayed on the display unit.   7. The consumables information notification method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the list display is displayed with priority over other displays displayed on the display means.   When the display content displayed by the display means is changed, a display for prompting replacement of consumables is redisplayed on the display means on condition that the non-operation state by the user has continued for a certain period of time. The consumable information information notification method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 5.

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