JP2006350067A - Coloring-agent-cartridge-using apparatus, coloring-agent-cartridge management unit, control method and control program of them, and coloring-agent-cartridge management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To aid in properly recycling a coloring agent cartridge by making it possible to determine whether or not the coloring-agent cartridge has been manufactured or recycled by a particular authorized collection agency. <P>SOLUTION: In a pre-recovery information processing routine, a determination is made whether user identification information stored in the IC memory of a toner cartridge IC is in an initial state or not (S116). When it is in the initial state, an intervening person presence flag F2 is reset to zero and stored in an IC memory (S118). In this case, a company A can set the user identification information to an initial state but the other collection agencies cannot. Accordingly, if the intervening person presence flag F2 stored in the IC memory is zero when the toner cartridge is recovered, the company A can presume that collection agencies other than the company A have not intervened in the possession of the toner cartridge after its disposal by a user. As a result, the company A is allowed to perform a proper recycling process such that the toner cartridge 40 recovered by the company A is authorized to manufacture/recycle it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a colorant cartridge using device, a colorant cartridge management device, a control method thereof, a control program thereof, and a colorant cartridge management system.

Conventionally, a colorant cartridge having a storage element is known. For example, in Patent Document 1, collection guidance information is stored in a storage element attached to a toner cartridge, and the collection guidance information is read from the storage element when the remaining amount of toner reaches a predetermined small amount range. A printing apparatus for printing is disclosed. This collection guide information includes the address and telephone number of the collection company collecting the toner cartridge.
JP2004-206053

  However, since the above-described printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses the collection guide information originally stored in the storage element, the following problem may occur. That is, when a user uses a toner (made by B company) having a composition different from that of the original toner (made by A company), the user should normally request B company to collect the toner. The information on the company A remains included in the collection guide information of the storage element attached to the toner cartridge. For this reason, if the user inadvertently asks A company to collect it instead of B company, A company cannot determine whether the toner used is in-house or other company's product. There is a risk of performing a reprocessing process that may not be appropriate.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve this problem, and provides a colorant cartridge using apparatus, a control method thereof, and a control program for assisting appropriate regeneration processing of a used colorant cartridge. One of the purposes is to do. Also provided is a colorant cartridge management device capable of determining whether or not a used colorant cartridge is manufactured or regenerated at the responsibility of a predetermined recovery company determined in advance, a control method thereof, and a control program. Is one of the purposes.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

That is, the colorant cartridge using device of the present invention is
A colorant cartridge having a storage element for storing specific person changeable information that can be changed by a predetermined collection company predetermined as a colorant cartridge collection company but cannot be changed by a collection company other than the predetermined collection company. A mounting means that can be mounted;
Read control means for reading the specific person changeable information from the storage element of the colorant cartridge attached to the attachment means;
Based on the specific person changeable information read by the read control means, it is indicated whether or not a collection company other than the predetermined collection company has intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge. Write control means for creating vendor intervening information and writing to the storage element;
It is equipped with.

  In this colorant cartridge using apparatus, after the user abandons the occupation of the colorant cartridge, another supplier intervening information indicating whether or not a collector other than a predetermined collector has intervened is written in the storage element of the colorant cartridge. For this reason, when a predetermined recovery agent reads out the different supplier intervention information from the storage element of the colorant cartridge, the recovery agent other than the predetermined recovery agent after the user gives up the occupation of the colorant cartridge. Is the information indicating that the colorant cartridge is not present, the predetermined recovery company presumes that the colorant cartridge has been manufactured or regenerated at its own risk and performs regular regeneration processing. As a result, according to the colorant cartridge using apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to assist the collected colorant cartridge to be appropriately subjected to the regeneration process.

  In the colorant cartridge using apparatus according to the present invention, the specific person changeable information includes predetermined contents predetermined by the predetermined recovery contractor when or after the predetermined recovery contractor performs regular regeneration processing. The write control means determines whether or not the specific person changeable information has the predetermined content, and when the specific person changeable information has the predetermined content, The colorant cartridge is created after writing the other-vendor intervening information indicating that no collecting trader other than a predetermined collecting trader is present, and writing the information into the storage element. The identification information of the authorized user of the colorant cartridge using apparatus may be written into the storage element as the specific person changeable information before the colorant cartridge is used. When the specific person changeable information has a predetermined content, after the user renounces the occupation of the colorant cartridge, information indicating that no collection company other than the predetermined collection company is present is used as the colorant intervening information. Write to the storage element of the cartridge. Further, a collection company other than the predetermined collection company cannot change the specific person changeable information to a predetermined content. Therefore, when the specified collectable person changeable information has a predetermined content when the specified collectable person reads the specified person changeable information from the storage element of the colorant cartridge, the predetermined collectable trader does not occupy the colorant cartridge. After the user abandoned, it can be estimated that no other person is present. Here, the predetermined content is, for example, information that can be used to determine whether or not a predetermined collection company has performed regular regeneration processing, and specifically includes predetermined characters, symbols, and marks. It may be a null state, which is a state where nothing is shown as information.

  In this way, in the colorant cartridge using device of the present invention that determines whether or not the specific person changeable information has predetermined contents, the predetermined contents may mean an initial state. When the specific person changeable information is in the initial state, after the user abandons the occupation of the colorant cartridge, information indicating that no other person is present is written in the storage element of the colorant cartridge as separate vendor intervention information. Further, a collection company other than the predetermined collection company cannot change the specific person changeable information to the initial state. Therefore, when the specific collectible changeable information is in the initial state when the predetermined collectable person reads the specific person changeable information from the storage element of the colorant cartridge, the predetermined collectable trader indicates that the user occupies the colorant cartridge. After abandonment, it can be estimated that no other person is present. Further, the writing control means may use device identification information assigned to each colorant cartridge using device as the identification information of the authorized user. This eliminates the need for the user to input user identification information.

  In the colorant cartridge using apparatus according to the present invention, the specific person changeable information is information that is updated only by the predetermined recovery company, and information on the number of regular processes that the predetermined recovery company has performed a regular regeneration process. And the write control means updates information related to the number of times the colorant cartridge is regenerated and writes it to the storage element only once before the colorant cartridge is used, and the read control. It is determined whether or not the information related to the regular processing number that is the specific person changeable information read out by the means is content corresponding to the information related to the reproduction number, and the information related to the regular processing number relates to the reproduction number When the content is appropriate for the information, the other-vendor intervening information indicating that no collecting company other than the predetermined collecting company is present. It may be written to form the memory element. When a predetermined recovery company performs regular regeneration processing, information indicating that the regular processing count has been updated is written in the storage element of the colorant cartridge as information regarding the regular processing count. A collection company other than the predetermined collection company cannot change the number of regular processes, which is the specific person changeable information. Further, the information regarding the number of times of reproduction is updated only once when the colorant cartridge is reproduced. In other words, if the regular regeneration process is performed every time the used colorant cartridge is collected, the information regarding the regular process count is appropriate for the information regarding the regeneration count. Accordingly, when the specified collectible changer information is read out from the storage element of the colorant cartridge and the specified changeable information matches the information regarding the number of times of reproduction, It can be assumed that no other person is present after the user abandons the occupation of the cartridge.

The colorant cartridge management device of the present invention is
It is stored in the storage device of the colorant cartridge, and after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge, there is an intervening recovery company other than a predetermined recovery company predetermined as the colorant cartridge recovery company. Reading control means for reading from the storage element intervening information indicating whether or not,
On the basis of the separate supplier intervention information read by the reading control means, whether or not a recovery company other than the predetermined recovery company has intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge An informing means for informing the contractor;
Change control means for changing specific person changeable information that is stored in a storage element of the colorant cartridge and that can be changed by the predetermined collection company but cannot be changed by a collection company other than the predetermined collection company When,
It is equipped with.

  In this colorant cartridge management device, when a predetermined collection company collects the colorant cartridge, the specific person changeable information stored in the storage element of the colorant cartridge is changed. In addition, based on the different supplier intervening information stored in the storage element of the colorant cartridge, it is notified whether or not a recovery company other than a predetermined recovery company has intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge. Therefore, according to the colorant cartridge management apparatus of the present invention, the predetermined recovery company determines whether or not the colorant cartridge recovered by himself / herself is manufactured or recycled at his / her own risk based on the notified contents. be able to.

  In the colorant cartridge management device of the present invention, the change control means may change the specific person changeable information to a predetermined content. In this way, in the above-described colorant cartridge using device, when the specific person changeable information has a predetermined content when the predetermined recovery company reads the specific person changeable information from the storage element of the colorant cartridge, A given collector can estimate that no other person is present after the user abandons occupation of the colorant cartridge.

  In the colorant cartridge management device of the present invention, the predetermined content may mean an initial state. In this case, when the specific person changeable information is in the initial state when the predetermined recovery company reads the specific person changeable information from the storage element of the colorant cartridge in the above-described colorant cartridge using apparatus, the colorant It can be assumed that no other person is present after the user abandons the occupation of the cartridge.

  In the colorant cartridge management device of the present invention, the change control means is information that is input only by the predetermined collector as the specific person changeable information, and the predetermined collector has performed a regular regeneration process. Information on the number of regular processes may be updated when or after the predetermined collection company performs regular regeneration processing. In this way, in the above-described colorant cartridge using apparatus, when the specified recovery company reads the specific person changeable information from the storage element of the colorant cartridge, the specific person changeable information matches the information regarding the number of times of reproduction. In the case of content, a predetermined collector can estimate that no other person is present after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge.

  The colorant cartridge management system according to the present invention is a colorant cartridge use device having a basic configuration (that is, a predetermined recovery agent predetermined as a recovery agent of the colorant cartridge can be changed, but recovery by other than the predetermined recovery agent is possible. A supplier can attach a colorant cartridge having a storage element that stores information that can be changed by a specific person, and the specific person can be changed from the storage element of the colorant cartridge attached to the mounting means. Based on the read control means for reading out information and the specific person changeable information read out by the read control means, after the user abandons the occupation of the colorant cartridge, a collection company other than the predetermined collection company Coloring provided with write control means for creating and writing to the storage element the other vendor intervening information indicating whether or not intervened Cartridge use apparatus) and a colorant cartridge management apparatus having a basic configuration (that is, the colorant cartridge stored in the storage element of the colorant cartridge and after the user abandons the occupation of the colorant cartridge) Read control means for reading from the storage element the other trader intervening information indicating whether or not a collection trader other than a predetermined collection trader predetermined as a collection trader is interposed, and the separate trader read by the read control means Informing means for informing the predetermined recovery company whether a recovery company other than the predetermined recovery company has intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge based on the intervention information, and the colorant It is stored in the storage element of the cartridge, and the predetermined collection company can be changed, but collection companies other than the predetermined collection company can be changed. Those having a colorant cartridge management apparatus) and that includes a change control means for changing the particular user changeable information that can not be.

  According to this colorant cartridge management system, since the above-described colorant cartridge using device and the colorant cartridge management device are provided, these devices function and function as described above. In other words, in the colorant cartridge using device, after the user abandons the occupation of the colorant cartridge, the other company intervening information indicating whether another person has intervened is written in the storage element of the colorant cartridge. On the other hand, in the colorant cartridge management device, based on the separate supplier intervening information, after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge, it notifies whether or not a recovery company other than a predetermined recovery company has intervened. Therefore, the predetermined recovery company can determine whether the colorant cartridge recovered by himself / herself is manufactured or regenerated at his / her own risk based on the notified contents.

In the control method of the colorant cartridge using apparatus of the present invention, a specified recovery agent predetermined as a recovery agent of the colorant cartridge can be changed, but a specified person change other than the predetermined recovery vendor cannot be changed. A control method for a colorant cartridge using apparatus provided with a mounting means capable of mounting a colorant cartridge having a storage element for storing possible information,
(A) reading the specific person changeable information from a storage element of the colorant cartridge mounted on the mounting means;
(B) Whether or not a collection company other than the predetermined collection company intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge based on the specific person changeable information read in step (a). Creating another trader intervening information indicating or to write to the storage element;
Is included.

  In this control method of the colorant cartridge using device, after the user abandons the occupation of the colorant cartridge, another supplier intervening information indicating whether or not a recovery company other than a predetermined recovery company intervenes is stored in the storage element of the colorant cartridge. Write to. For this reason, when a predetermined recovery agent reads out the different supplier intervention information from the storage element of the colorant cartridge, the recovery agent other than the predetermined recovery agent after the user gives up the occupation of the colorant cartridge. Is the information indicating that the colorant cartridge is not present, the predetermined recovery company presumes that the colorant cartridge has been manufactured or regenerated at its own risk and performs regular regeneration processing. As a result, according to the colorant cartridge using apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to assist the collected colorant cartridge to be appropriately subjected to the regeneration process. In addition, you may add the step which implement | achieves the effect | action and function of the coloring agent cartridge use apparatus of this invention mentioned above to the control method of this invention.

The colorant cartridge management device control method of the present invention includes:
(A) A collecting agent other than a predetermined collecting agent that is stored in the storage element of the coloring agent cartridge and is predetermined as a collecting agent of the coloring agent cartridge after the user abandons the occupation of the coloring agent cartridge. Reading from the storage element intervendor intervention information indicating whether or not intervening,
(B) Based on the separate supplier intervention information read in the step (a), whether or not a collection company other than the predetermined collection company has intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge. Informing the predetermined collection company;
(C) Before or after the step (a) or (b), or at the same time, the specified collection company can be changed, but a collection company other than the predetermined collection company cannot be changed Changing the possible information into regular reproduction information indicating that the predetermined collection company has performed regular reproduction processing;
Is included.

  In the control method of the colorant cartridge management apparatus, when a predetermined collection company collects the colorant cartridge, the specific person changeable information stored in the storage element of the colorant cartridge is changed. In addition, based on the different supplier intervening information stored in the storage element of the colorant cartridge, it is notified whether or not a recovery company other than a predetermined recovery company has intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge. Therefore, according to the colorant cartridge management apparatus of the present invention, the predetermined recovery company determines whether or not the colorant cartridge recovered by himself / herself is manufactured or recycled at his / her own risk based on the notified contents. be able to. In addition, you may add the step which implement | achieves the effect | action and function of the coloring agent cartridge management apparatus of this invention mentioned above to the control method of this invention.

  The control program of the present invention is a program for causing one or a plurality of computers to execute the steps of the control method of the colorant cartridge using apparatus of the present invention described above or the control method of the colorant cartridge management apparatus of the present invention described above. It is. This program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (for example, hard disk, ROM, FD, CD, DVD, etc.), or from a computer via a transmission medium (communication network such as the Internet or LAN). It may be distributed to another computer, or may be exchanged in any other form. If this program is executed by one computer or if each computer is assigned to each step and executed, the same effect as the control method of the colorant cartridge using apparatus or the control method of the colorant cartridge management apparatus described above can be obtained. can get.

  1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color laser printer 10 which is an embodiment of a colorant cartridge using apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a printer mechanism 31 of the color laser printer 10, and FIG. 4 is an external view of the toner cartridge 40, FIG. 4 is a block diagram mainly showing a schematic configuration of the IC memory 50, and FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration of the toner cartridge management device 100 which is an embodiment of the colorant cartridge management device of the present invention. FIG.

  First, the configuration of the color laser printer 10 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the color laser printer 10 includes a system power supply 12 that switches supply / cutoff of power to the entire printer system, a controller 20 that controls the entire apparatus, and a network (such as a local area network). A network board 27 that controls input / output of data to / from computers 71 to 73 connected to a network), a printer unit 30 that includes an electrophotographic printer mechanism 31 and a printer ASIC 32 that controls the printer mechanism 31. An operation panel 44 for inputting instructions and displaying various information by the user, and toner cartridges of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) mounted on the developing device 61. IC memory 50C, 50 attached to 40C, 40M, 40Y, 40K Includes 50Y, and 50K, respective color toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, remaining toner sensor 51C attached to 40K, 51M, 51Y, and 51K, and a movable connecting part 69. Note that “ASIC” is an abbreviation for Application Specific Integrated Circuit.

The controller 20 is configured as a microprocessor centered on the CPU 21, and stores various processing programs, a ROM 22 that stores a unique serial number of the color laser printer 10, and temporarily stores data and data. A RAM 23 that stores data, a flash memory 24 that is electrically rewritable and retains data even when the power is turned off, a job memory 25 that stores a print job, and a timer 26 that measures time are provided. The controller 20 is electrically connected to the printer ASIC 32 and the operation panel 44 via the bus 29, outputs a print command signal to the printer ASIC 32 and a display command signal to the operation panel 44, and print operation signals from the printer ASIC 32. And various command signals from the operation panel 44 are received. Further, the controller 20 exchanges signals with a plurality of computers 71 to 73 connected to the network via the network board 27. That is, the controller 20 inputs a print job from each of the computers 71 to 73 and outputs status information of the print job being processed to the computers 71 to 73 that are the transmission source of the print job. Further, the controller 20 connects the movable connection portion 69 to the IC memories 50C, 50M, 50Y, and 50K and the remaining toner amount sensors 51C, 51M, 51Y, and 51K, and connects the connected IC memory and the remaining toner amount sensor. Exchange data.

  The printer unit 30 includes a printer mechanism 31 and a printer ASIC 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer mechanism 31 is configured as a full-color electrophotographic printer mechanism that employs a single photoreceptor system and an intermediate transfer system, and has C, M, Y, K on the charged surface. The photosensitive member 63 in which an electrostatic latent image of each color image separated into four colors is formed by the exposure device 62 and the toner of each color supplied from the toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K for each color is exposed. A developing device 61 that develops a toner image by attaching it to an electrostatic latent image formed on the body 63, a transfer belt 64 as an intermediate transfer body that performs primary transfer so that the developed toner images of the respective colors overlap, and a paper cassette 65 A secondary transfer unit 67 for secondary transfer of the four color toner images formed on the transfer belt 64 to the paper P conveyed by the conveyance unit 66, and the four color toner transferred on the paper P. And a fixing unit 68 for melting the over image to the sheet P fixing. Among these, the developing device 61 is rotated so that the mounted toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K face the photoconductor 63, respectively. The exposure device 62 exposes the photoconductor 63 with a laser beam scanned by a polygon mirror that is rotationally driven by a motor to form an electrostatic latent image. On the other hand, the printer ASIC 32 is an IC chip having a function of controlling the printer mechanism 31, and development data obtained by developing a print job in the job memory 25 into a bitmap image for each page is printed on the paper P. The printer mechanism 31 is controlled.

  The operation panel 44 displays various operation buttons 46 such as a numeric keypad and a cursor key capable of inputting an instruction from the user, characters and numbers associated with the key operation, and processing statuses in the controller 20 and the printer unit 30. Liquid crystal display 48.

  The IC memories 50C, 50M, 50Y, and 50K are attached to the toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K together with the remaining toner sensors 51C, 51M, 51Y, and 51K, respectively. The toner remaining amount sensor 51 and the toner cartridge 40 may be collectively referred to. As shown in FIG. 3, the IC memory 50 is provided inside a storage portion 42 provided at the end of the toner cartridge 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the IC memory 50 includes a memory cell 52 in which a read-only area where only reading is performed with the controller 20 and a read / write area where reading / writing is performed between the controller 20 are set, The read / write control unit 54 that controls reading or writing of data in the memory cell 52, and the controller 20 and the memory via the read / write control unit 54 based on the clock signal CLK output from the controller 20 to the CLK terminal. The EEPROM is provided with an address counter 56 that counts up when data is read from or written to the cell 52. The IC memory 50 is enabled by sending an enable signal CS from the controller 20 to the CS terminal. When the read / write signal W / R is output to the W / R terminal in synchronization with the clock signal CLK output from the controller 20 to the CLK terminal, the read / write signal W / R is read via the input / output terminal (I / O terminal). Data is exchanged with the write control unit 54.

  The toner remaining amount sensor 51 is provided in the toner storage portion of each toner cartridge 40. In this embodiment, the toner remaining amount sensor 51 employs a unimorph-type vibrator in which piezoelectric ceramic is bonded to a thin metal plate. When the toner comes into contact with the vibrating surface of the unimorph, the amount of toner stops the oscillation or phase. A piezoelectric vibration type sensor that detects the presence of toner by utilizing the change in characteristics is employed. That is, while the toner is sufficiently present, the oscillation continues or the phase characteristics do not change, but when the amount of toner is small, the oscillation stops or the phase characteristics change. Therefore, the time when the oscillation stops or the time when the phase characteristic changes can be regarded as the time when the remaining amount of toner is in the small amount region. However, a remaining toner sensor using other principles may be used, for example, measuring the thickness of the remaining toner by the amount of light transmission or measuring the weight of the remaining toner. Also good.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K mounted on the developing device 61 are positioned on the lower right side in the drawing, the movable connecting portion 69 is connected to the IC memory 50 and the toner of the toner cartridge 40. The remaining amount sensor 51 can be electrically connected. When the arm is extended, it is electrically connected to the remaining amount sensor 51. When the arm is contracted, the electrical connection with the remaining amount sensor 51 is released. When the movable connecting portion 69 is connected to the IC memory 50 and the toner remaining amount sensor 51, the controller 20 can access the IC memory 50 and the toner remaining amount sensor 51. The controller 20 obtains information on the remaining amount of toner of each toner cartridge 40 from each remaining toner sensor 51 via the movable connection portion 69 and writes the information to each IC memory 50. At this time, information relating to the collection company inputted in response to the user's operation is written in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 that is about to run out of toner.

  Next, the configuration of the toner cartridge management device 100 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 5, the toner cartridge management apparatus 100 is a known personal computer mainly composed of a CPU 101, a ROM 102, and a RAM 103, and includes a hard disk drive (HDD) 104 that stores data and a display 105 that displays various data. The CPU 101, the ROM 102, the RAM 103, the HDD 104, and the external interface 106 are electrically connected to each other via a bus (not shown). The toner cartridge management apparatus 100 is connected to a connection unit 120 for connecting the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 via the external interface 106. Similar to the movable connecting portion 69 described above, the connecting portion 120 can be electrically connected to the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40. When the IC memory 50 and the connecting portion 124 are connected, the connecting portion 120 can be electrically connected. Data is exchanged with the toner cartridge management apparatus 100 via the data reading driver 110. Data exchange between the two is performed when the predetermined password stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 and the password input to the CPU 101 of the toner cartridge management apparatus 100 coincide with each other. Is set to be able to do. This predetermined password is set by a predetermined collection company. For this reason, data stored in the memory cell 52 can be read and written by a predetermined recovery company, but cannot be read or written by a recovery company other than the predetermined recovery company. In the present embodiment, the predetermined collection supplier is referred to as company A. Further, a mouse 107 and a keyboard 108 for inputting information from a user are connected to the toner cartridge management apparatus 100 via an external interface 106. For this reason, the user can input data to the toner cartridge management apparatus 100 by clicking a button or option on the screen displayed on the display 105 with the mouse 107 or inputting characters with the keyboard 108. . Examples of the external interface 106 include a USB interface, an RS-232C interface, and a Centronics interface.

  In the HDD 104 of the toner cartridge management apparatus 100, a post-collection information processing program 112 for processing data read by the data reading apparatus 120 is installed in addition to the data reading driver 110 as a device driver of the data reading apparatus 120. Has been. Processing related to the post-collection information processing program 112 will be described later.

  Next, functions of the color laser printer 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, particularly a pre-collection information processing routine will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the pre-collection information processing routine. This routine is stored in the ROM 22 of the controller 20, and is executed by the CPU 21 each time the movable connecting portion 69 is connected to each of the IC memories 50C, 50M, 50Y, 50K of the toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, 40K. The

  When the pre-collection information processing routine is started, the CPU 21 of the controller 20 first determines whether or not the toner shortage upcoming flag F1 is 1 or zero (step S100). Here, the near toner exhaustion flag F1 is a flag that is set to a value of 1 when it is determined that the toner is about to run out in this routine up to the previous time, and is reset to zero at other times. If the near toner out flag F1 is zero in step S100, it is determined whether or not the toner cartridge 40 is about to run out of toner (step S102). Here, whether the toner is about to run out is determined by a detection signal from the toner remaining amount sensor 51. That is, since the toner remaining amount sensor 51 is a piezoelectric vibration type sensor as described above, the time when the oscillation from the toner remaining amount sensor 51 stops or the phase characteristic changes is a small amount region where the toner remaining amount is determined in advance. This can be regarded as the time when the toner is almost exhausted.

  If it is determined in step S102 that the toner is not nearly exhausted, this routine is terminated. On the other hand, if the toner nearing out is near in step S102, the near toner out flag F1 is set to a value 1 (step S104), indicating that the toner cartridge 40 currently connected to the movable connecting portion 69 is almost out of toner. Along with the message, a collection supplier information input column for allowing the user to select whether or not to designate Company A as a collection supplier is displayed on the liquid crystal display 48 of the operation panel 44 (step S106). For example, when the remaining amount of toner in the cyan toner cartridge 40C is nearly out of toner, as shown in FIG. “Please prepare the toner cartridge.” And a message “Specify the collection supplier of this toner cartridge. If the toner you are currently using is the toner of company A,“ company A ”. If it is a toner other than Company A, select “Other than Company A”. ”And radio buttons 48c and 48d for selecting either“ Company A ”or“ other than Company A ”and an OK button 48e that the user clicks after confirming the display contents.

  When the collection supplier information input field 48b is displayed on the liquid crystal display 48 in step S106, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the OK button 48e is clicked by operating the operation button 46 (step S108), and the OK button 48e is clicked. Sometimes it is determined whether one of the radio buttons 48c, 48d is selected (step S110). If the OK button 48e has not been clicked or if the OK button 48e has been clicked but the radio buttons 48c and 48d have not been selected, the process returns to step S106 again to display the message field 48a and the collection company information input field 48b. On the other hand, when one of the radio buttons 48c and 48d is selected when the OK button 48e is clicked, the collection company information corresponding to the selected radio button is stored in the memory cell 52 of the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40. The data is stored in the provided read / write area (step S112). Specifically, for example, when the radio button 48c of “Company A” is selected, information related to Company A (here, the company name of Company A) is stored as the collection company information, and the radio button 48d of “other than Company A” is stored. Is selected, information related to companies other than the company A (here, the company name is unknown) is stored as the collection company information.

  Subsequently, the CPU 21 reads the user identification information stored in the read / write area of the memory cell 52 from the IC memory 50 (step S114), and determines whether or not the read user identification information is in an initial state (step S116). ). In this embodiment, the user identification information is a unique serial number assigned to each color laser printer 10 and is stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 by executing a post-collection information processing routine described later. The stored user identification information is initialized. In the present embodiment, the initial state is a null state in which no information exists. When it is determined in step S116 that the user identification information is in the initial state, the mediator presence flag F2 is reset to zero and stored in the IC memory 50 (step S118). Here, the intermediate person presence flag F2 is set to a value of 1 when the user identification information stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 is not in the initial state, and is reset to zero when the user identification information is in the initial state. Flag. That is, in order to read / write information in the IC memory 50, it is necessary to input a predetermined password set by the company A. Therefore, the user identification information stored in the IC memory 50 is set in the initial state by the company A. However, collection companies other than Company A cannot be in the initial state. In addition, with respect to the intermediary presence flag F2 stored in the IC memory 50, a collection company other than the company A cannot rewrite. Then, when the user abandons the occupation of the toner cartridge 40 and the intermediary presence flag F2 stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 is zero, the toner cartridge 40 is new or the company A It is presumed that the product has been subjected to regular regeneration processing and distributed in the market (that is, no collection company other than Company A is present). Thus, by storing the intermediary presence flag F2 in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40, the company A that has collected the toner cartridge 40 has the intermediary presence flag F2 stored in the IC memory 50 zero. If it is, it can be estimated that the toner cartridge 40 is manufactured or regenerated at its own responsibility.

  In step S118, when the mediator presence flag F2 is reset to zero and saved in the IC memory 50, the CPU 21 reads the unique serial number of the color laser printer 10 stored in the ROM 22 of the controller 20 and saves it as user identification information. (Step S120), this routine is finished. On the other hand, if the serial number of another color laser printer 10 is input as the user identification information in step S116 and it is determined that the user identification information is not in the initial state, the mediator presence flag F2 is set to 1 and stored in the IC memory 50. (Step S122), and this routine is finished. Accordingly, when the user abandons occupation of the toner cartridge 40 and the intermediary presence flag F2 stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 has a value of 1, the toner cartridge 40 is a collection company other than the company A. Can be presumed to have been recycled and distributed in the market (that is, a collection company other than Company A intervened).

  In this routine, once it is determined in step S102 that the toner is almost exhausted, the toner close-up flag F is 1 in step S100 of the pre-collection information processing routine for the same color toner cartridge 40 from the next time. A message 48f (see FIG. 8B) indicating that the toner cartridge 40 currently connected to the movable connecting portion 69 is almost out of toner is displayed on the liquid crystal display 48 of the operation panel 44 for a few seconds (step). (S124) After several seconds, the display of the message field 48f is erased (step S126), and this routine is terminated.

  Next, functions of the toner cartridge management apparatus 100, particularly an information processing routine after collecting the colorant cartridge will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a post-collection information processing routine. This routine is performed after the IC memory 50 of the used toner cartridge 40 for which the above-described pre-collection information processing routine has been executed is connected to the connection unit 120, and when a reading command is output from the toner cartridge management device 100. To be executed. This post-recovery information processing routine is started in response to an ON operation of the “data reading start” button by the recovery company. That is, as shown in FIG. 9A, the collection company moves the mouse 107 while the data reading screen 130 is displayed on the display 105 to move the mouse in the toolbar 130a at the top of the data reading screen 130. A “data reading start” button 130b is selected from predetermined tools, the cursor is moved onto the “data reading start” button 130b, and the mouse 107 is clicked. As a result, the CPU 101 of the toner cartridge management apparatus 100 starts a post-collection information processing routine that is a post-collection information processing program 112 installed in the HDD 104.

  When the post-collection information processing routine is started, the CPU 101 of the toner cartridge management apparatus 100 first confirms the password input field 130c for allowing the collection company to input the password and the display contents, and then clicks an OK button 130d (FIG. 9). (B) is displayed on the display 105 (step S200). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the OK button 130d has been clicked (step S202). When the OK button 130d has not been clicked, the process returns to step S200 again, but when the OK button 130d has been clicked, it is input by the collection company. It is determined whether or not the password stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 matches the password (step S204). When the password input by the collection company and the password stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 do not match, it is determined that the collection company is a collection company other than the company A, and this routine is ended as it is. On the other hand, when the password input by the recovery company matches the password stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40, information related to the recovery company stored in the IC memory 50 is read from the IC memory 50 (step S206). . Here, the information regarding the collection company is information indicating the collection company designated by the user as the collection company for collecting the used toner cartridge 40, and is stored in the memory cell 52 of the IC memory 50 in the above-described pre-collection information processing routine. It has been done.

  Subsequently, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the read information regarding the collection company designates the company A as the collection company (step S208). If the information regarding the collection company does not designate the company A, the toner is determined. A message 130e indicating that a collection company other than the company A is designated as the collection company for the cartridge 40 and an OK button 130f (see FIG. 10A) to be clicked after confirming the display contents are displayed on the display 105 (see FIG. 10A). Step S220). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the OK button 130f has been clicked (step S222). When the OK button 130f has not been clicked, the process returns to step S220 again, but when the OK button 130f has been clicked, the message field 130e is displayed. Erasing is performed (step S228), and this routine is terminated. In this way, by notifying that a collection company other than the company A is designated as the toner cartridge 40 collection company, the company A can determine whether the toner cartridge 40 collected by itself is based on the notified contents. It can be determined that the product has not been manufactured or regenerated by responsibility. At this time, Company A performs a reclaim process on the collected toner cartridge 40 as much as possible. Recycling within the possible range means that, for example, parts manufactured by company A that can be recycled are reused as usable parts, and a recovery company other than company A, such as toner, takes care of it. Parts that are estimated to have been added, consumable parts, etc., can be partially recycled, such as being disposed of.

  On the other hand, when the information regarding the collection company designates the company A, the CPU 101 reads out the intermediate person presence flag F2 stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 from the read / write area of the IC memory 50 (step S210). It is determined whether the presence flag F2 has a value of 1 or zero (step S212), and it is determined whether or not a collected trader other than the company A has intervened since the user abandoned the occupation of the collected toner cartridge 40. When the intervening person presence flag F2 is zero in step S206, the CPU 101 indicates that the company A is designated as the toner cartridge 40 collection company and the user abandons the occupation of the toner cartridge 40. A message 130g that it is estimated that there is no intervening recovery company and an OK button 130h (see FIG. 10B) that is clicked after confirming the display content is displayed on the display 105 (step S214). . Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the OK button 130h has been clicked (step S216). If the OK button 130h has not been clicked, the process returns to step S214, but if the OK button 130h has been clicked, the IC memory of the toner cartridge 40 is restored. The serial number of the color laser printer 10 as the user identification information stored in 50 is deleted and initialized (step S218), the display of the message field 130g is deleted (step S228), and this routine is terminated. As described above, it is estimated that the company A is designated as the toner cartridge 40 collection company, and it is estimated that no collection company other than the company A exists after the user abandons the occupation of the toner cartridge 40. The company A can determine that the colorant cartridge recovered by itself based on the notified content is manufactured or regenerated at its own responsibility. At this time, Company A can perform regular regeneration processing suitable for the toner cartridge 40.

  On the other hand, when the presence person flag F2 is 1 in step S212, the CPU 101 indicates that the company A is designated as the toner cartridge 40 collection company and that the user has abandoned the occupation of the toner cartridge 40. A message 130i indicating that there is an intervening collection company and an OK button 130j (see FIG. 10C) to be clicked after confirming the display contents are displayed on the display 105 (step S224). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the OK button 130j has been clicked (step S226). If the OK button 130j has not been clicked, the process returns to step S224, but when the OK button 130j has been clicked, the message field 130i is displayed. Erasing is performed (step S228), and this routine is terminated. In this way, it is presumed that, although the company A is designated as the toner cartridge 40 collection company, a collection company other than the company A intervenes after the user abandons the occupation of the toner cartridge 40. Sometimes, by notifying that effect, Company A can determine that the toner cartridge 40 that it has collected based on the notified content is not manufactured or recycled at its own risk. At this time, Company A performs a reclaim process on the collected toner cartridge 40 as much as possible.

  Next, a colorant cartridge management system using the above-described color laser printer 10 and the above-described toner cartridge management apparatus 100 will be described. First, consider a case where a new toner cartridge 40 is attached to the color laser printer 10 and the user is using it, and a message indicating that toner is about to run out is displayed. In this case, since the toner cartridge 40 is new, the user identification information stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 is in a null state. Accordingly, the presence person flag F2 is reset to zero and stored in the IC memory 50, and the serial number of the color laser printer 10 is input to the IC memory 50 as user identification information. For this reason, when the user abandons the occupation of the toner cartridge 40 because it has been used, the data in the IC memory 50 is that the mediator presence flag F2 is zero and the serial number is input as the user identification information. It is in a state. Next, let us consider a case where the used toner cartridge 40 leaves the user and is collected by a collection company other than the company A. Since the data stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 is protected by a predetermined password set by the company A, a collection company other than the company A rewrites the information stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40. I can't. For this reason, even if the recovered toner cartridge 40 is subjected to a regeneration process, the data in the IC memory 50 is such that the intermediate person presence flag F2 remains zero and the serial number is input as the user identification information. Considering when the regenerated toner cartridge 40 has passed to a new user, when the new user is using the regenerated toner cartridge 40, the replay process In the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40, the serial number of the color laser printer 10 used by the previous user is stored as user identification information. Accordingly, it is assumed that the user identification information is not in the null state, and the intermediary presence flag F2 is set to the value 1 and stored in the IC memory 50. Next, let us consider a case where the used toner cartridge 40 leaves the user and is collected by the company A. At this time, since the intervening person presence flag F2 stored in the IC memory 50 of the collected toner cartridge 40 is 1, the CPU 101 of the toner cartridge management apparatus 100 waits for the user to give up the occupation of the toner cartridge 40. The display 105 displays the content that the collection company other than the company A intervenes. Therefore, the company A can determine that the toner cartridge 40 collected by itself is not manufactured or recycled at its own responsibility based on the notified contents. In this way, by using the above-described color laser printer 10 and the above-described toner cartridge management device 100, Company A determines whether or not the toner cartridge 40 that it has collected is manufactured or recycled at its own risk. can do. Further, Company A can perform an appropriate regeneration process on the collected toner cartridge 40.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The color laser printer 10 of this embodiment corresponds to the colorant cartridge using apparatus of the present invention, the IC memory 50 corresponds to the storage element, the toner cartridge 40 corresponds to the colorant cartridge, and the developing device 61 corresponds to the mounting means. The serial number of the color laser printer 10 as the user identification information corresponds to the specific person changeable information and the apparatus identification information, the intermediary presence flag F2 corresponds to the different trader intervening information, and the CPU 21 of the controller 20 reads the reading control means. It corresponds to the writing control means. Further, the toner cartridge management device 100 of the present embodiment corresponds to the colorant cartridge management device of the present invention, and the CPU 101 corresponds to the reading control unit, the notification unit, and the change control unit. In this embodiment, the operation of the color laser printer 10 and the toner cartridge management device 100 will be described to clarify an example of the control method of the colorant cartridge using device and the control method of the colorant cartridge management device of the present invention. Yes.

  According to the color laser printer 10 of the present embodiment described in detail above, when the user identification information stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40 is the null state which is the initial state, the user abandons the occupation of the toner cartridge 40. After that, an intervening person presence flag F2 as other trader intervening information indicating whether or not another person has intervened is reset to zero and stored in the IC memory 50, and when another serial number is stored as user identification information Since the intermediate person presence flag F2 is set to the value 1 and stored in the IC memory 50, when this value is zero when the company A reads the intermediate person presence flag F2 from the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40, the A The company presumes that the toner cartridge 40 has been manufactured or regenerated at its own risk and performs a regular regenerating process.As a result, it is possible to assist the collected toner cartridge 40 to be appropriately recycled. Further, since the serial number assigned to each color laser printer 10 is used as the user identification information, the user does not need to input the user identification information by himself.

  Further, according to the toner cartridge management device 100 of the present embodiment, when the company A collects the used toner cartridge 40, user identification information as specific person changeable information stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40. To the initial null state. Further, based on the intermediary presence flag F2 stored in the IC memory 50 of the toner cartridge 40, it is notified whether or not a collection company other than the company A has intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the toner cartridge 40. Therefore, Company A can determine whether or not the toner cartridge 40 collected by itself is manufactured or recycled at its own responsibility based on the notified content.

  Note that the colorant cartridge using device and the colorant cartridge management device of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Nor.

  For example, the color laser printer 10 according to the above-described embodiment executes the pre-collection information processing routine of FIG. 6, and the toner cartridge management apparatus 100 executes the post-collection information processing routine of FIG. The information processing routine and the post-collection information processing routine of FIG. 12 may be executed. In other words, the serial number of the color laser printer 10 that is user identification information is used as the specific person changeable information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the information is updated only by the company A. Information relating to the number n of regular processes in which regular reproduction processing has been performed may be used as specific person changeable information. Specifically, in the pre-collection information processing routine of FIG. 11, after executing the processing of steps S100 to S112 of the pre-collection information processing routine of FIG. Reading from the IC memory 50 of the cartridge 40 (step S130), it is determined whether or not the information related to the normal processing number n matches the information related to the reproduction number m (step S132). Here, the information regarding the number of times of reproduction m is a counter value that is counted up only once before the toner cartridge 40 is used because the initial state is zero. The information regarding the normal processing count n is a counter value that is counted up only once when the initial state is zero and the company A performs normal playback processing. In step S132, if the information regarding the normal processing count n matches the information regarding the playback count m, that is, if the normal processing count n and the playback processing count m have the same value, the mediator presence flag F2 is reset to zero. The data is saved in the IC memory 50 (step S134). Here, since the data in the IC memory 50 is protected by a password set by the company A, the company A can be updated, but a collection company other than the company A cannot update. For this reason, if the regular processing count n and the regeneration count m are the same, it is estimated that the toner cartridge 40 is new or has been collected and recycled by the company A. Therefore, when the intermediary presence flag F2 stored in the IC memory 50 in step S132 is zero, Company A assumes that the toner cartridge 40 is manufactured or regenerated at its own responsibility when the toner cartridge 40 is collected. Can be estimated. After the mediator presence flag F2 is reset to zero, the information about the number of reproductions m is updated so that the information about the number of reproductions m becomes information obtained by counting the number of reproductions m by 1 (step S136), and this routine is finished. To do. As a result, the information about the number of times of reproduction m is updated only once after the toner is almost exhausted and before being used. Further, in the post-collection information processing routine of FIG. 12, the processes of steps S200 to S212 of the post-collection information processing routine of FIG. 8 are executed, and when it is determined in step S212 that the intermediary presence flag F2 is zero, step S214 and After executing the process of S216, the information related to the normal processing count n is updated so that the information related to the normal processing count n becomes the information obtained by counting up the normal processing count n by 1 (step S230), and the message field is deleted. (Step S232), this routine is finished. Also at this time, since it is informed that the collection company other than the company A does not intervene since the user abandoned the occupation of the toner cartridge 40, the company A collects itself based on the notified contents. It can be determined that the prepared colorant cartridge is manufactured or regenerated at his / her own risk.

  In the pre-collection information processing routine of FIG. 6 in the above-described embodiment, this routine is terminated as it is when the intermediary presence flag F2 is set to a value of 1 in step S122, but the serial number of the color laser printer 10 in step S120. This routine may be terminated after overwriting and saving.

  Furthermore, in the post-collection information processing routine of FIG. 8 in the above-described embodiment, the user identification information is set to the null state as the initial state in step S218, but it is possible to determine whether or not the company A has performed regular reproduction processing. If it is information, it will not be limited to this. For example, characters, symbols, and marks may be input as user identification information. At this time, in step S116 of the information processing routine before collection in FIG. 6 described above, whether characters, symbols, or marks are input as the user identification information instead of determining whether the user identification information is in the initial state. Determine whether.

  Furthermore, in the pre-collection information processing routine of FIG. 6 of the above-described embodiment, the collection contractor is designated in steps S106 to S110, but the toner shortage flag F1 is not performed in steps S106 to S110 but in steps S104. After the value is set to 1, the process after step S114 may be executed. At this time, the processing of steps S204, S208, S220, and S222 is not executed in the post-recovery information processing routine of FIG.

  In the color laser printer 10 of the above-described embodiment, the unique serial number stored in the ROM 21 of the controller 20 of the color laser printer 10 is automatically input as user identification information. May be manually input by the user as arbitrarily defined characters, figures, symbols, or the like.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, by using the password set by the company A, the collection company other than the company A is prevented from reading and writing data in the IC memory 50, but the data in the IC memory 50 is stored in the company A. Can be read and written, but is not limited to a password as long as a collection company other than Company A cannot read and write. For example, the data stored in the IC memory 50 may be encrypted so that a collection company other than the company A cannot read or write the data in the IC memory 50.

  In the toner cartridge management apparatus 100 according to the above-described embodiment, the user identification information is initialized after notifying whether or not a collection company other than the company A has intervened. The user identification information may be initialized before notifying whether or not, or the user identification information may be initialized at the same time as notifying whether or not a collection company other than the company A is present. Further, the user identification information is initialized when the company A performs the regular reproduction process. However, the user identification information may be initialized after the company A performs the regular reproduction process.

  Further, in the toner cartridge management apparatus 100 of the above-described embodiment, the user has been given up the occupation of the toner cartridge 40 and then notified whether or not a collection company other than the company A has intervened. It may be informed whether or not is a product subject to regular reproduction processing. If the toner cartridge 40 is a toner cartridge 40 in which a user other than the company A does not intervene after the user has abandoned the occupation of the toner cartridge 40, the toner cartridge 40 may be a new toner cartridge 40 used or This is because it is presumed that the regular reproduction process was performed by Company A and then distributed to the market.

  In the above-described embodiment, the electrophotographic system is adopted as the printer mechanism 31. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. For example, an inkjet system or a thermal transfer system may be employed. May be. In addition to a printer, the present invention may be applied to an electronic device having a printing function such as a facsimile machine, a copier, or a multifunction machine.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color laser printer 10. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer mechanism 31 of the color laser printer 10. 2 is an external view of the toner cartridge 40. FIG. 1 is a block diagram mainly showing a schematic configuration of an IC memory 50. FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a toner cartridge management device 100. The flowchart of the information processing routine before collection | recovery. Explanatory drawing of the screen displayed when toner is almost exhausted. The flowchart of information processing routine after collection. Explanatory drawing of the screen for data reading. Explanatory drawing of the screen displayed on the screen for data reading. The flowchart of other pre-collection information processing routines. The flowchart of other post-collection information processing routines.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Color Laser Printer, 12 System Power Supply, 20 Controller, 21 CPU, 22 ROM, 23 RAM, 24 Flash Memory, 25 Job Memory, 26 Timer, 27 Network Board, 29 Bus, 30 Printer Unit, 31 Printer Mechanism, 32 Printer ASIC , 40C, 40M, 40Y, 40K Toner cartridge, 42 storage section, 44 operation panel, 46 input button, 48 liquid crystal display, 48a message field, 48b collection supplier information input field, 48c, 48d radio button, 48e OK button, 48f message Column, 50C, 50M, 50Y, 50K IC memory, 51C, 51M, 51Y, 51K toner remaining amount sensor, 52 memory cells, 54 read / write control unit, 56 address counter, 61 current Imager, 62 Exposure unit, 63 Photoconductor, 64 Transfer belt, 65 Paper cassette, 66 Transport unit, 67 Secondary transfer unit, 68 Fixing unit, 69 Movable connection, 71, 72, 73 Computer, 100 Computer, 101 CPU , 102 ROM, 103 RAM, 104 Hard disk drive, 105 Display, 106 External interface, 107 Mouse, 108 Keyboard, 110 Data reading driver, 112 Information processing program after collection, 120 Connection unit, 130 Data reading screen, 130a Toolbar, 130b Data reading start button, 130c Password input field, 130e, 130g, 130i Message field, 130d, 130f, 130h, 130j OK button.

Claims (14)

A colorant cartridge having a storage element for storing specific person changeable information that can be changed by a predetermined collection company predetermined as a colorant cartridge collection company but cannot be changed by a collection company other than the predetermined collection company. A mounting means that can be mounted;
Read control means for reading the specific person changeable information from the storage element of the colorant cartridge attached to the attachment means;
Based on the specific person changeable information read by the read control means, it is indicated whether or not a collection company other than the predetermined collection company has intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge. Write control means for creating vendor intervening information and writing to the storage element;
A colorant cartridge using device comprising: The specific person changeable information is information that is changed to have a predetermined content that is predetermined by the predetermined collection company when or after the predetermined collection company performs regular regeneration processing,
The writing control means determines whether or not the specific person changeable information has the predetermined contents, and when the specific person changeable information has the predetermined contents, a collection company other than the predetermined collection company intervenes. The colorant is created and written to the storage element indicating that the other company's intervention information has not been written, and after the other company's intervention information has been created and before the colorant cartridge has been used. Write the identification information of the authorized user of the cartridge using device to the storage element as the specific person changeable information,
The colorant cartridge using apparatus according to claim 1. The predetermined content means an initial state,
The apparatus for using a colorant cartridge according to claim 2. The writing control means uses device identification information assigned to each colorant cartridge using device as identification information of the regular user.
The apparatus for using a colorant cartridge according to claim 2 or 3. The specific person changeable information is information that is updated only by the predetermined collection company and is information related to the number of regular processes that the predetermined collection company has performed a regular regeneration process,
The write control means updates the information relating to the number of times the colorant cartridge has been regenerated and writes it to the storage element once before the colorant cartridge is used, and the read control means reads the information. It is determined whether or not the information related to the regular processing count that is the specified person changeable information is content that matches the information related to the playback count, and the information related to the regular processing count matches the information related to the playback count When the contents are, the other trader intervening information indicating that no collection company other than the predetermined collection company intervenes is created and written to the storage element,
The colorant cartridge using apparatus according to claim 1. It is stored in the storage device of the colorant cartridge, and after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge, there is an intervening recovery company other than a predetermined recovery company predetermined as the colorant cartridge recovery company. Reading control means for reading from the storage element intervening information indicating whether or not,
On the basis of the separate supplier intervention information read by the reading control means, whether or not a recovery company other than the predetermined recovery company has intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge An informing means for informing the contractor;
Change control means for changing specific person changeable information that is stored in a storage element of the colorant cartridge and that can be changed by the predetermined collection company but cannot be changed by a collection company other than the predetermined collection company When,
A colorant cartridge management device comprising: The change control means changes the specific person changeable information to a predetermined content.
The colorant cartridge management device according to claim 6. The predetermined content means an initial state,
The colorant cartridge management device according to claim 7. The change control means is information input only by the predetermined recovery company as the specific person changeable information, and information regarding the number of regular processing times that the predetermined recovery company has performed a regular regeneration process. Update when or after the supplier performs regular playback processing,
The colorant cartridge management device according to claim 6.   A colorant cartridge management system comprising the colorant cartridge using device according to claim 1 and the colorant cartridge management device according to claim 6. A colorant cartridge having a storage element for storing specific person changeable information that can be changed by a predetermined collection company predetermined as a colorant cartridge collection company but cannot be changed by a collection company other than the predetermined collection company. A method for controlling a colorant cartridge using apparatus equipped with a mounting means that can be mounted,
(A) reading the specific person changeable information from a storage element of the colorant cartridge mounted on the mounting means;
(B) Whether or not a collection company other than the predetermined collection company intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge based on the specific person changeable information read in step (a). Creating another trader intervening information indicating or to write to the storage element;
A control method for an apparatus using a colorant cartridge. (A) A collecting agent other than a predetermined collecting agent that is stored in the storage element of the coloring agent cartridge and is predetermined as a collecting agent of the coloring agent cartridge after the user abandons the occupation of the coloring agent cartridge. Reading from the storage element intervendor intervention information indicating whether or not intervening,
(B) Based on the separate supplier intervention information read in the step (a), whether or not a collection company other than the predetermined collection company has intervened after the user abandoned the occupation of the colorant cartridge. Informing the predetermined collection company;
(C) Before or after the step (a) or (b), or at the same time, the specified collection company can be changed, but a collection company other than the predetermined collection company cannot be changed Changing the possible information into regular reproduction information indicating that the predetermined collection company has performed regular reproduction processing;
Control method for colorant cartridge management device including   A control program for causing one or more computers to execute each step of the control method of the colorant cartridge using device according to claim 11.   A control program for causing one or more computers to execute each step of the control method of the colorant cartridge management device according to claim 12.

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