JP2006190073A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an environmentally-friendly and convenient-to-use printing system. <P>SOLUTION: When "TONER LOW" is detected in a printer body 110, a printer controller 112 suspends the printing action in a printer engine 116. A communication controller 152 notifies a server 300 of information that the estimated quantity of the residual toner has been reduced to a threshold value. A server controller 312 of the server 300 decides whether or not the printing action should be continued based on the printer controlling information, and if the server decides that the printing action should be continued, instructs a printer 100 accordingly. When the communication controller 152 receives the instruction to continue the printing action from the server 300, it instructs the printer controller 112 to continue the printing action. The printer controller 112 continues the printing action in the printer engine 116. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for continuing a printing operation when a printing device such as a printer detects that a value related to the remaining amount of toner, ink, or the like has reached a predetermined threshold and stops the printing operation. It is about.

  In a conventional printer using toner, the amount of remaining toner is reduced to a level at which a decrease in print quality (such as fading or partial density difference) can be expected, that is, when a TONER LOW is detected. “TONER LOW” is displayed on the panel, and the printing operation is temporarily stopped. This intent is to warn the user that the TONER END is near, inform the user of the possibility of a decrease in print quality, and confirm the print result. As a result of the confirmation, if the user determines that there is still no problem in printing and presses the Continue button on the operation panel, the printer continues the printing operation. Thereafter, when the number of printed sheets exceeds, for example, 100 sheets, the printer again displays “TONER LOW” and temporarily stops the printing operation. When the user presses the Continue button, the printing operation is continued. The above operation is repeated until the toner runs out, that is, until the toner end is reached.

  The detection of TONER END is performed for the actual toner by a mechanical sensor. However, the detection of TONER LOW is calculated by accumulating from the number of prints made so far and the dot count of the printing surface to predict the remaining amount of toner. This is performed by detecting that the estimated remaining toner amount has decreased to a predetermined level. Therefore, after detecting TONER LOW, the user does not know how many times the continuation button is pressed and the display of “TONER LOW” is repeated. In addition, in the case of a color printer that requires strict color adjustment, the manufacturer guarantees the print quality for the printing results until the detection of TONER LOW, but after the detection of TONER LOW, The printing results are not guaranteed.

  As this type of device, a related one is, for example, a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228561 in which the operation unit display is turned off when it is detected that the remaining amount of toner is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. It has been known.

JP 2000-287014 A

The above-described conventional printer has the following problems.
1) For example, when the user instructs the printer to perform a large amount of printing from a remote computer, and when the printing is completed, the printer goes to the printer, and TONER LOW is detected during printing. If this is the case, printing is stopped in the middle. Therefore, the user presses the Continue button to continue printing, and has to wait again until the remaining printing is completed, which is very troublesome for the user.

  2) When “TONER LOW” is displayed for the first time after the toner cartridge is replaced with a new one, the print quality is not guaranteed, but the actual toner remains, and printing is often possible. Therefore, at this time, if the user immediately replaces the toner cartridge with a new one, the toner will be discarded even though the toner remains sufficiently. In addition, although toner cartridges that store toner are also recycled, there is a limit to the number of times they can be recycled. The period will be shortened. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not friendly to the global environment in a comprehensive manner.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and to provide a printing system that is user-friendly and friendly to the global environment.

In order to achieve at least a part of the above object, a printing system of the present invention is a printing apparatus that performs printing on a printing paper using a printing material such as toner or ink, and the remaining printing material. A printing apparatus capable of stopping a printing operation when it is detected that a value related to the amount has reached a predetermined threshold and continuing the printing operation when the user receives an instruction to continue the printing operation And a server connected to the printing apparatus via a network,
When the printing apparatus detects that the related value has reached a predetermined threshold, it notifies the server to that effect,
When the server receives the notification, the server instructs the printing apparatus to continue the printing operation,
The gist of the printing apparatus is to continue the printing operation when receiving an instruction to continue the printing operation from the server.

  Thus, in the printing system of the present invention, when the printing apparatus stops the printing operation by detecting that the value related to the remaining amount of the printing material has reached the predetermined threshold, for example, from the user Even if the instruction to continue the printing operation is not received, when the server instructs to continue the printing operation and the printing apparatus receives the instruction, the printing apparatus continues the printing operation.

  Therefore, according to the printing system of the present invention, since the printing operation is automatically continued even if the user does not instruct the continuation of the printing operation, the user-friendliness can be improved. In addition, since the printing material can be prevented from being replaced even though the printing material remains sufficiently, it is friendly to the global environment.

  The value related to the remaining amount of the printing material includes the number of printed sheets, the number of dots on the printing surface, the printing duty, the remaining amount itself, and the like.

  In the printing system of the present invention, when the server receives the notification, the server refers to predetermined information to determine whether or not to continue the printing operation, and determines to continue the printing operation In addition, it is preferable to instruct the printing apparatus to continue the printing operation.

  As described above, the server refers to predetermined information and determines to continue the printing operation, so that the printing operation can be automatically continued only when necessary.

  In the printing system of the present invention, it is preferable that the predetermined information includes at least one of information related to a contract content with a user of the printing apparatus and information related to a printing history in the printing apparatus.

  When the predetermined information includes information related to the contents of the contract with the user, it can be determined whether or not the printing operation is automatically continued according to the user's desire. When the predetermined information includes information related to the printing history in the printing apparatus, it can be determined whether or not to continue the printing operation automatically according to the printing operation state in the printing apparatus.

  The present invention is not limited to being realized as the above-described printing system apparatus, but can also be realized as a printing apparatus or a printing apparatus communication apparatus. Further, the present invention is not limited to such an aspect of the apparatus invention, and can be realized in an aspect as a method invention such as a printing operation continuation method. Further, aspects as a computer program for constructing those methods and apparatuses, aspects as a recording medium recording such a computer program, data signals embodied in a carrier wave including the computer program, etc. It can also be realized in various ways.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. Example configuration:
B. Example operation:
C. Effects of the embodiment:
D. Variations:

A. Example configuration:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system as an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system includes a printer 100 and a server 300 for managing the printer, and both are connected to each other via a network 200. In FIG. 1, only one printer is shown for easy understanding of the drawing, but a plurality of printers are connected to the server 300 via the network 200, and the server 300 manages these printers. May be.

  In this embodiment, a management contract is made in advance between the administrator of the server 300 and the user of the printer, and the server 300 manages the printer based on the contract. In addition, the management of the printer performed by the server 300 includes monitoring the operation state of the printer and charging the user of the printer according to the number of prints in the printer.

  In FIG. 1, the printer 100 includes a printer main body 110 and a network board 150 attached to the printer main body 110. The printer main body 110 includes a printer controller 112 for performing various processing and control related to printing operations and the like in accordance with a computer program such as firmware, a memory 114 for storing the computer program and various data, and actual printing. A printer engine 116 which is a mechanism portion to be performed, a sensor 118 for detecting TONER END for a toner cartridge (not shown) in the printer engine 116, a Continue button (not shown), and the like are provided, and an instruction from the user is provided. An operation panel 122 for inputting and a display panel 124 for displaying “TONER LOW” or the like and notifying the user are mainly provided, and these components are connected to each other by a bus or the like. Further, the network board 150 includes a communication controller 152 for performing various processes and control related to communication operations and the like according to a computer program such as firmware, a memory 154 for storing the computer program and various data, and the network 200. And a network interface unit 156 for exchanging data and the like with other devices on the network.

  On the other hand, the server 300 is connected to a server controller 312 for performing various processes and controls according to a computer program such as a management program, a memory 314 for storing the computer program and various data, and a network 200. A network interface unit 316 for exchanging data and the like with other devices on the network is mainly provided. In addition to the computer program described above, the memory 314 stores printer management information 314a for managing the printer. The communication controller 152 is connected to the printer controller 112 of the printer main body 110, and exchanges information between them.

  In FIG. 1, the printer 100 is the printer described in the claims, the server 300 is the server, the printer main body 110 is the printer main body, the network board 150 is the printer communication device, the printer controller 112, and the communication controller. Reference numeral 152 denotes a control unit, the printer engine 116 corresponds to a printing unit, the operation panel 122 corresponds to an operation unit, the network interface unit 156 corresponds to a communication unit, and management information corresponds to predetermined information.

B. Example operation:
FIG. 2 is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the operation state of the printer main body 110 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer main body 110 can take the following four states as operation states.

State A: Not a TONER LOW state but an operating state (ONLINE state)
State B: The state is stopped in the TONER LOW state. State C: The state is operating in the TONER LOW state (ONLINE state).
State D: The state is stopped in the TONER END state

  3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the network board 150 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the server 300 in FIG.

  In the printer main body 110, when the toner cartridge is replaced with a new one, the operation state of the printer main body 110 becomes the state A. Thereafter, each time printing is executed by the printer engine 116, the printer controller 112 accumulates and calculates the number of printed sheets and the dot count of the printing surface to predict the remaining amount of toner. On the other hand, a level at which a decrease in print quality can be predicted, for example, 5% is set in advance as the remaining amount threshold. Accordingly, the printer controller 112 compares the calculated predicted toner remaining amount with a set threshold value, and determines whether the predicted toner remaining amount has decreased to the threshold value (5%). As a result of the determination, when the estimated remaining toner amount falls below the threshold value (that is, when TONER LOW is detected), the operation state of the printer main body 110 transitions from the state A to the state B. As a result, the printer controller 112 displays “TONER LOW” on the display panel 124 and temporarily stops the printing operation in the printer engine 116.

  On the other hand, in the network board 150, when the communication controller 152 detects from the information from the printer controller 112 that the operation state of the printer main body 110 has transitioned from state other than state B to state B (step S102 in FIG. 3), the network interface Via the unit 156, the server 300 is notified that the estimated toner remaining amount has decreased to the threshold value (5%) in the printer main body 110 and has shifted to the state B (step S104).

  On the other hand, in the server 300, when the server controller 312 receives this notification via the network interface unit 316 (step S302), the server controller 312 selects from the printer management information stored in the memory 314. Management information relating to the printer 100 is read out, and based on the management information, it is first determined whether or not the printer 100 is a printer to be charged (step S304).

  As a result of the determination, if the printer 100 is not a charging target printer, the server controller 312 instructs the printer 100 not to continue the printing operation via the network interface unit 316 (step S310). On the other hand, when the printer 100 is a printer to be charged, the server controller 312 then has a management contract with the user for the printer 100 as a contract guaranteeing print quality based on the management information. It is determined whether or not there is (step S306).

  As a result of the determination, if the contract guarantees the print quality, the server controller 312 instructs the printer 100 not to continue the print operation via the network interface unit 316 (step S310). On the other hand, if the contract does not guarantee the print quality, the server controller 312 instructs the printer 100 to continue the print operation via the network interface unit 316 (step S308).

  On the other hand, in the printer 100, the communication controller 152 waits until receiving an instruction from the server 300 after notifying the server 300 in step S104 of FIG. 3 (step S108). The process of step S106 will be described later.

  When receiving an instruction from the server 300 via the network interface unit 156 (step S108), the communication controller 152 instructs the printer controller 112 of the printer main body 110 to continue the printing operation (step S112). Then, the communication controller 152 waits until the operation state of the printer main body 110 transitions from the state B to another state (step S114).

  In contrast, when the printer main body 110 receives an instruction to continue the printing operation from the network board 150, the operation state transitions from the state B to the state C. As a result, the printer controller 112 turns off the display of “TONER LOW” from the display panel 124 and continues the printing operation in the printer engine 116.

  As a result, the communication controller 152 returns the process to step S102 and waits until the operation state of the printer main body 110 transitions from a state other than the state B to the state B.

  By the way, in the network board 150, after notifying the server 300 (step S104), the communication controller 152 keeps operating until the instruction from the server 300 is received (step S108). Is determined from state B to another state (step S106). If the result of determination is that there is no transition to another state, the process waits as it is, but if it has transitioned to another state, the process returns to step S102. The transition to another state is, for example, a case where “TONER LOW” is displayed and the user immediately presses the Continue button on the operation panel 122 after the printing operation is stopped. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation state of the printer main body 110 transitions from the state B to the state C. As a result, the printer controller 112 turns off the display of “TONER LOW” from the display panel 124 and continues the printing operation in the printer engine 116. As described above, when the user presses the Continue button between the time when the server 300 is notified and the time when the user receives an instruction from the server 300, and the printing operation is continued, the user no longer waits for the instruction from the server 300. Since there is no need, the communication controller 152 returns the process to step S102.

  When the printing operation is continued in the printer 100, the printer controller 112 thereafter accumulates and calculates the number of prints every time printing is executed in the printer engine 116, and the number of prints is, for example, 100. Determine if it exceeds. As a result of the determination, if the number exceeds 100, the operating state of the printer main body 110 transitions from the state C to the state B as shown in FIG. As a result, the printer controller 112 displays “TONER LOW” on the display panel 124 again and temporarily stops the printing operation in the printer engine 116. Further, when the communication controller 152 detects that the operation state of the printer main body 110 has changed from the state other than the state B to the state B based on the information from the printer controller 112 (step S102 in FIG. 3), the same as described above. Repeat the operation.

  Thus, every time the number of printed sheets exceeds 100, when the printing operation is stopped and the printing operation is repeated, the toner in the toner cartridge is finally exhausted, and the sensor 118 detects TONER END. Then, the operating state of the printer main body 110 transitions from the state C to the state D. As a result, the printer controller 112 stops the printing operation in the printer engine 116. In this state D, the toner cartridge is stopped and does not transit to state A until the toner cartridge is replaced with a new one.

  If the toner cartridge is replaced with a new one before the sensor 118 detects TONER END, the operation state of the printer main body 110 changes from the state C or B to the state A.

C. Effects of the embodiment:
As described above, in this embodiment, in the printer main body 110, the estimated remaining toner amount falls below the threshold value (that is, when TONER LOW is detected), and the printer controller 112 temporarily performs the printing operation in the printer engine 116. When stopped, the communication controller 152 notifies the server 300 that the estimated remaining toner amount has decreased to the threshold value. As a result, the server controller 312 of the server 300 determines whether to continue the printing operation based on the printer management information, and instructs the printer 100 to that effect. When the communication controller 152 receives an instruction to continue the printing operation from the server 300, the communication controller 152 instructs the printer controller 112 to continue the printing operation, and the printer controller 112 continues the printing operation in the printer engine 116.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the printing operation is stopped due to detection of TONER LOW, even if the user does not press the Continue button on the operation panel 122, the printing operation is automatically continued. Can be improved. Further, even when the estimated remaining toner amount falls below the threshold value, the printing operation is automatically executed, so that the toner cartridge is rarely replaced with a new one even though sufficient toner remains in the toner cartridge. Become. Therefore, it is possible to suppress wasteful disposal of toner and shorten the total use time of the toner cartridge, which is friendly to the global environment.

  In the server 300, the server controller 312 determines whether to continue the printing operation according to whether the printer 100 is a chargeable printer or a contract guaranteeing print quality based on the printer management information 314a. Since it is determined whether or not, the printing operation can be automatically continued only when necessary.

D. Variations:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention.

  In the above embodiment, when the operation state of the printer main body 110 transitions from the state B to the state C due to the continuation of the printing operation, the printer controller 112 turns off the display of “TONER LOW” from the display panel 124. However, instead, a message indicating that the printing operation has been continued may be displayed. Furthermore, the number of times of continuing the printing operation may be counted and the number of times may be displayed together.

  In the embodiment described above, the server controller 312 continues the printing operation based on the printer management information 314a based on whether the printer 100 is a chargeable printer or a contract that guarantees print quality. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the server 300 monitors the operation state of the printer and holds the print history information of the printer as a part of the printer management information 314a, the server controller 312 is based on the print history information. Thus, it may be determined whether or not to continue the printing operation. For example, if it is predicted that the TONER END will soon be reached based on the number of prints, the number of times the printing operation is continued, etc., it is determined that the printing operation will not be continued, and the user of the printer 100 is asked to continue the printing operation (ie , Press the Continue button) or replace the toner cartridge with a new one.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the network board 150 detects that the estimated remaining toner amount has decreased to the threshold value in the printer main body 110, the network board 150 notifies the server 300 to that effect, whereby the server 300 performs the printing operation. It was determined whether or not to continue, and the result was notified to the printer 100. When the network board 150 receives a notification from the server 300 to continue the printing operation, the network board 150 instructs the printer main body 110 to continue the printing operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the network board 150 itself may have the same function as the server 300. In this case, the server 300 is unnecessary. Specifically, when the network board 150 detects that the estimated remaining toner amount has decreased to the threshold value in the printer main body 110, the network board 150 determines whether to continue the printing operation, and determines to continue the printing operation. In addition, the printer main body 110 is instructed to continue the printing operation. In this case, the network board 150 may be configured to instruct the printer main body 110 to continue the printing operation as soon as it detects that the estimated remaining toner amount has decreased to the threshold value in the printer main body 110.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer 100 is configured to continue the printing operation when the user presses the Continue button on the operation panel. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, A computer or the like is connected to the printer 100, and the user may instruct the printer 100 to continue the printing operation using the computer.

  In the above-described embodiments, the case where the printing material is toner has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be ink provided by, for example, an ink cartridge or an ink ribbon. .

  In the above-described embodiments, the printer is the printer, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a copier, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, or the like.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a state transition diagram illustrating a transition of an operation state of the printer main body 110 in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the network board 150 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the server 300 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Printer 110 ... Printer main body 112 ... Printer controller 114 ... Memory 116 ... Printer engine 118 ... Sensor 122 ... Operation panel 124 ... Display panel 150 ... Network Board 152 ... Communication controller 154 ... Memory 156 ... Network interface unit 200 ... Network 300 ... Server 312 ... Server controller 314 ... Memory 314a ... Printer management information 316 .. Network interface section

Claims (9)

A printing apparatus that performs printing on printing paper using printing materials such as toner and ink, and prints when it is detected that a value related to the remaining amount of printing material has reached a predetermined threshold. Printing comprising: a printing apparatus capable of continuing the printing operation when the operation is stopped and receiving an instruction to continue the printing operation by a user; and a server connected to the printing apparatus via a network A system,
When the printing apparatus detects that the related value has reached a predetermined threshold, it notifies the server to that effect,
When the server receives the notification, the server instructs the printing apparatus to continue the printing operation,
The printing system is configured to continue the printing operation when receiving an instruction to continue the printing operation from the server. The printing system according to claim 1,
When the server receives the notification, the server refers to predetermined information to determine whether or not to continue the printing operation, and when the server determines to continue the printing operation, And a printing system instructing to continue the printing operation. The printing system according to claim 2,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information includes at least one of information on a contract content with a user of the printing apparatus and information on a printing history in the printing apparatus. A printing apparatus that performs printing on printing paper using printing materials such as toner and ink, and prints when it is detected that a value related to the remaining amount of printing material has reached a predetermined threshold. The printing operation is stopped by a server connected to the printing apparatus via a network for the printing apparatus capable of continuing the printing operation when the operation is stopped and the user receives an instruction to continue the printing operation. To continue
(A) in the printing apparatus, detecting that the related value has reached a predetermined threshold;
(B) the printing apparatus notifying the server that the related value has reached a predetermined threshold;
(C) when the server receives the notification, the step of instructing the printing apparatus to continue the printing operation;
(D) a step of continuing the printing operation when the printing apparatus receives an instruction to continue the printing operation from the server;
A printing operation continuing method comprising: In the printing operation continuation method according to claim 4,
The step (c)
(C-1) a step of determining whether or not to continue the printing operation with reference to predetermined information when the server receives the notification;
(C-2) when the server determines to continue the printing operation, the server instructs the printing apparatus to continue the printing operation;
A printing operation continuation method. In the printing operation continuation method according to claim 5,
The printing operation continuation method, wherein the predetermined information includes at least one of information on a contract content with a user of the printing apparatus and information on a printing history in the printing apparatus. A control unit, a printing unit, and a communication unit, wherein the printing unit performs printing on a printing paper using a printing material such as toner and ink, and the control unit is configured to print the printing material. When it is detected that the value related to the remaining amount has reached a predetermined threshold, the printing operation in the printing unit is stopped, and the printing operation is continued when the user receives an instruction to continue the printing operation. A device,
When the control unit detects that the related value has reached a predetermined threshold, the control unit notifies the outside via the communication unit, and
The printing apparatus is configured to continue the printing operation when an instruction to continue the printing operation is received from the outside via the communication unit. A printing apparatus main body that performs printing on printing paper using a printing material such as toner and ink, and when detecting that a value related to the remaining amount of the printing material has reached a predetermined threshold value, When the printing operation is stopped and the user receives an instruction to continue the printing operation, the printing apparatus main body capable of continuing the printing operation,
A communication device for a printing apparatus, which is connected and includes a control unit and a communication unit,
When the control unit detects that the related value has reached a predetermined threshold, the control unit notifies the outside via the communication unit, and
A printing apparatus communication apparatus, wherein when a printing operation continuation instruction is received from the outside via the communication unit, the printing operation in the printing apparatus main body is continued. A printing apparatus main body that performs printing on printing paper using a printing material such as toner and ink, and when detecting that a value related to the remaining amount of the printing material has reached a predetermined threshold value, When the printing operation is stopped and the user receives an instruction to continue the printing operation, the printing apparatus main body capable of continuing the printing operation,
A communication device for a printing device to be connected,
A printing apparatus communication apparatus, wherein when the related value is detected to reach a predetermined threshold, the printing operation in the printing apparatus main body is continued.

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