JP2007160903A - Image forming apparatus performing internal printer controlling code setting by storage instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out setting of a printer controlling code of an image forming apparatus without performing the operation from an operation panel or a management terminal. <P>SOLUTION: An RFID 13 as a storage instrument in which information necessary for setting of the printer controlling code is stored is attached to a member device such as a paper feeding cassette 15 mounted on the image forming apparatus 1. Its reading instrument 11 is attached to an image forming apparatus body. When the image forming apparatus starts, the information from the RFID 13 is read by the reading instrument 11. Setting of the printer controlling code of the image forming apparatus 1 is carried out on the basis of the information. By this method, a process of printer controlling code setting through menu operation from the operation panel is made unnecessary simply by preparing the paper feeding cassette 15 with the attached RFID 13 in which information conformed to a model and a shipping destination of the image forming apparatus is written. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine of these, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that sets an internal printer control code by a storage device.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine of these, other than a method of describing a page in a printer language such as Prescribe (registered trademark) when outputting an image, it is transmitted from a management terminal device. There is a method of outputting an image by a printer control code such as ESC / P (registered trademark). A printer driver that interprets the printer control code is installed in the image forming apparatus, and the printer driver issues a control command to the printing mechanism unit to output an image.

  The printer control code includes a plurality of control codes such as ESC / P (registered trademark), PC-PR system (registered trademark), NEC NM system, and the like. Each printer control code has a printer control code corresponding to the printer control code. A driver is required, and a plurality of printer drivers are usually mounted on the image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus, which printer control code is used and which printer control code is set as an initial setting vary depending on the printer model, shipping region, and the like. In the past, in order to make this setting, it was necessary to unpack the device before shipment, connect the power supply, start the device, and when the device started up, set the printer control code using the menu on the operation panel. It was.

  Also, in an apparatus that does not have an operation panel, a personal computer that is a management terminal device is prepared to perform these settings, the image forming apparatus is started, and the printer control code setting is changed by connecting to the management terminal device. The process was necessary.

  As a measure to solve these problems, a storage tool is attached to the replaceable consumable unit of the image forming apparatus, the information of the storage tool is read by the image forming apparatus main body, and the use temperature condition according to the shipping region of the image forming apparatus, There has been a method of setting the paper thickness and display language (see Patent Document 1).

  Also, when operating the multifunction device, the multifunction device main body reads the information of the memory card carried by the operator, and the set output format is selected based on the user's identification information specified by the memory card, There has been a method of changing the display on the operation panel (see Patent Document 2).

  In the method of Patent Document 1, the operating temperature condition, the paper thickness, and the display language can be set. However, in order to set the printer control code, the setting is still made from the operation panel or by connecting the management terminal device. Had to do.

  In the method of Patent Document 2, only the output format and the language display of the operation panel can be changed, and the user has to set the printer control code of the multifunction peripheral.

JP 2004-347940 A JP 2005-244489 A

  The problem to be solved is that in the image forming apparatus, the printer control code of the apparatus main body must be set by an operation from an operation panel, a management terminal device or the like.

  In the image forming apparatus, in order to be able to set the internal settings of the apparatus such as the printer control code setting without performing an operation from the operation panel or the management terminal apparatus, a storage device for storing information necessary for setting the printer control code in the member And a reading tool capable of reading the storage tool is mounted on the apparatus main body, and when the member is mounted on the apparatus main body, the reading tool can read the information of the storage tool. The main feature is that the printer control code setting of the apparatus main body is performed.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is equipped with a storage tool for storing information necessary for setting the printer control code on the member, and a reading tool capable of reading the storage tool is mounted on the apparatus body, and the member is mounted on the apparatus body. When the image forming apparatus is mounted, the reading tool can read information stored in the storage tool, and the printer control code setting of the apparatus main body is performed using the read information. There is an advantage that the printer control code can be set without any operation from the operation panel or the management terminal device.

  The object of enabling the printer control code setting in the apparatus main body to be set without performing an operation from the operation panel or the management terminal device is realized by using a member, a storage device, and a reading device.

[Device configuration]
As a first embodiment, a case where an RFID is mounted on a paper feed cassette as a detachable member will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an apparatus configuration of Embodiment 1 according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a printing mechanism unit 3 that performs printing surrounded by a dotted line on the upper side in the housing 2. A paper discharge tray 5 that receives printed paper is attached to a side surface of the housing 2. The paper supply side of the printing mechanism unit 3 includes a paper feeding mechanism unit 7 that feeds paper to the printing mechanism unit 3.

  A cassette housing portion 8 is formed at the lower portion of the housing 2. The cassette housing portion 8 houses a paper feed cassette 15 that is a member that can be arbitrarily attached and detached. The paper feed cassette 15 has a role of holding the paper 9 and is equipped with an RFID 13a as a storage tool for storing information necessary for setting the printer control code. The paper feed cassette 15 can be taken in and out of the cassette accommodating portion 8 from the right direction in FIG. An RFID reader 11 a serving as a reading tool is attached to the back wall 16 in the cassette housing portion 8 of the housing 2. The RFID reader 11 a faces the RFID 13 a in a state where the paper feed cassette 15 is inserted into the cassette housing portion 8.

  When printing is performed by the apparatus, the sheet 9 is printed from the sheet feeding cassette 15 through the sheet feeding mechanism unit 7, along the sheet conveyance path 21, and through the printing mechanism unit 3. The printed paper is discharged.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the sheet cassette 15 taken out from the apparatus. The RFID 13a is mounted on the sheet feeding cassette by sticking it using an adhesive surface. When the sheet feeding cassette 15 is inserted into the image forming apparatus 1, the RFID reader 11a mounted in the image forming apparatus main body is mounted. Can read information necessary for setting the printer control code stored in the RFID 13a.

  FIG. 3 illustrates an RFID that is a storage tool used in this embodiment. The RFID 13 includes a label 33 having an adhesive surface, a loop antenna 35, and an IC memory 37 to which the antenna 35 is connected. The IC memory 37 is a nonvolatile ROM or a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM. And a tuning circuit, a detection rectification circuit, a control circuit, and the like that are supplied with electric power by being tuned to an electromagnetic wave generated by the RFID reader 13 via an antenna 35 to exchange data. Some RFIDs 13 have various dimensions such as several mm to several tens mm on one side, but can be selected according to the situation. The effective distance for reading and writing also ranges from several millimeters to several tens of centimeters, but may be selected according to the positional relationship between the RFID 13a and the RFID reader 11a. In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the RFID 13a and the RFID reader 11a are provided close to each other. However, the RFID reader 11a may be provided at least in the image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram of components related to RFID reading of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Functional blocks such as the printing mechanism are omitted. The image forming apparatus includes a CPU 51 that performs information processing, a display unit 53 for displaying an error message, a paper feed cassette attaching / detaching sensor 55 for detecting whether the paper feed cassette 15 is mounted, and information processing necessary. A main storage unit 57 including a hard disk and a semiconductor memory for storing information, an RFID reader 11a and its antenna 61, an RFID 13a, an IC memory 37 which is an internal component thereof, and an RFID antenna 35 are provided.

  The RFID stores data indicating which printer control code is used (FIG. 6; details will be described later).

  When the paper feed cassette 15 is accommodated in the paper feed cassette accommodating portion 8 of the main body, the RFID 13a is located between the RFID reader 11a provided on the image forming apparatus main body side and the RFID reader 11a via its antenna 61. Communicate wirelessly with In the RFID 13a, the tuning circuit of the RFID IC memory 37 is tuned to the frequency used by the RFID reader 11a, and power necessary for reading and writing data is supplied from the RFID reader 11a via the antennas 61 and 35. Therefore, there is an advantage that a connector and wiring for connecting the two are not necessary.

[Internal printer control code setting flow]
The flow of the internal printer control code setting operation according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the power of the image forming apparatus is turned on, it is detected by the paper feed cassette attaching / detaching sensor 55 whether or not a paper feed cassette is mounted on the image forming apparatus, and step S1 is executed when the result is judged.

  If the determination result is NO, it is determined that the paper cassette is not inserted and the RFID information cannot be read, and the printer control code setting of the internal data is set to a default setting (for example, ESC / In the stage where the message “There is no paper cassette” is displayed on the display unit 53, step S3 is executed and the setting is completed.

  If the determination (S1) as to whether or not the paper feed cassette is mounted is YES, step S5 is executed when the RFID reader 11a reads the contents of the RFID 13.

  Next, a step of determining whether the content of the RFID 13 has been read normally, step S7 is executed.

  If the determination result is NO, it is determined that the RFID information cannot be read, and the printer control code setting of the internal data remains at the default setting preset in the main memory (for example, only ESC / P (registered trademark) is used) In step S9, the message “RFID cannot be read” is displayed on the display unit 53, and step S9 is executed to complete the setting.

  Normally, such a case should not occur, but this stage is provided in case the RFID reader 11a breaks down or the RFID 13 is peeled off from the paper feed cassette.

  Next, a stage where the contents of the RFID 13 can be normally read will be described. When the content of the RFID 13 (FIG. 6) has been read normally (Yes in S7), the printer control code setting data in the content is stored in the printer control code setting table of internal data in the main storage unit S11 is executed and the setting is completed.

  The contents actually set in S11 will be described using specific values.

  First, the contents shown in FIG. 6 are stored in the RFID 13. RFID individual number for identifying the RFID. Next, a setting table for printer control codes, ESC / P (registered trademark) is used in the first row, and the language used as an initial setting is ESC / P (registered trademark). In the second line, PC-PR (registered trademark) is used. The third line shows an example of setting for three printer control codes that do not use NEC NM. In addition, a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) code used for determining whether or not the above-described RFID data has been normally read and written is written.

  FIG. 7 shows an internal printer control code setting table recorded in the main storage unit 57 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 and how it is updated. As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus sets only ESC / P (registered trademark) as a printer control code to be used at the time of shipment, and the printer control code in the initial state is ESC / P (registered). Trademark). In the step S11 described above, the setting of the internal printer control code in the main storage unit is updated in accordance with the RFID printer control code setting shown in FIG. As a result, PC-PR (registered trademark) is updated to a usable setting. Also, two drivers, ESC / P (registered trademark) printer driver and PC-PR (registered trademark) printer driver, which are corresponding printer drivers, are set in a usable state (FIG. 7). As the default printer control code, ESC / P (registered trademark) is set as before reading RFID data.

[Effect of Example 1]
According to the first exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus simply attaches an RFID in which a printer control code setting suitable for a model of the image forming apparatus and a shipping destination is pasted to a paper feeding cassette in advance. There is no need to make settings for each destination, and the image forming apparatus is started up by setting the printer control code stored in the RFID.

8 and 9 relate to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a diagram of an image forming apparatus in which the RFID reader 11b is mounted on the side surface of the power cable insertion port 17. FIG. 9 is a diagram of an image forming apparatus in which the RFID 13b is mounted on the side surface of the power cable 19 as a storage device of the present invention.
[Device configuration]
As a second embodiment, a case where the RFID 13b is mounted on the power cable 17 as a detachable member will be described.

  Also in the second embodiment, the printing mechanism unit 3, the paper discharge tray 5, the paper feed mechanism unit 7 and the like of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  In Example 2, as shown in FIG. 9, the RFID 13b is mounted on the side surface portion of the connector 19 of the power cable, which is a detachable component, by bonding or the like. The RFID reader 11b for reading the RFID 13b is mounted on the inner side surface of the power cable insertion port 17 by bonding or the like (FIGS. 8 and 9). Therefore, when the connector 19 is inserted into the power cable insertion slot 17, the RFID 13b faces the RFID reader 11b and reading is possible.

[Operation Flow of Apparatus of Embodiment 2]
The operation flow of the apparatus and the setting of the printer control code for internal data in the second embodiment are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

[Effect of Example 2]
According to the second embodiment, the image forming apparatus can be obtained by simply adhering the RFID 13b in which the printer control code setting suitable for the model and the shipping destination is previously stored in the power cable to the connector side surface of the power cable 19. The same effect is obtained, and there is an advantage that the printer control code setting inside the apparatus main body can be set without performing an operation from the operation panel or the management terminal device.
[Others]
A consumable item such as a toner cartridge can also be applied as an arbitrarily detachable member.

  Although the RFID is used for the storage device, the same invention effect can be obtained by using a barcode or a two-dimensional barcode.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus in which an RFID is mounted on a paper feed cassette as a storage tool of the present invention. (Example 1). FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an attachment position where the RFID of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is mounted on a paper feed cassette in a state where the paper feed cassette is attached and detached (first embodiment). It is a figure explaining RFID (Example 1 and 2). It is a block block diagram of this invention (Example 1 and 2). 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present invention (Example 1). Data stored in the RFID (Examples 1 and 2). It is an explanation of updating the printer control code setting table of internal data (Examples 1 and 2). 1 is a diagram of an image forming apparatus in which an RFID reader is mounted on a side surface of a power cable insertion port. (Example 2). (Example 2) which is a figure of the image forming apparatus which mounted | wore the RFID with the power cable.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming apparatus 11a RFID reader (reading tool) mounted on a paper feed cassette
11b RFID reader (reader) attached to the power cable connector
13 RFID
13a RFID (memory device) mounted on the paper cassette
13b RFID (memory device) attached to the power cable connector
15 Paper cassette 17 Power cable slot 19 Power cable

Claims (3)

A device main body capable of outputting the printer control code corresponding to the printer control code of internal data, and a member that can be arbitrarily attached to and detached from the device main body, and the member is attached to the device main body. In an image forming apparatus capable of image formation output,
A storage device for storing information necessary for setting the printer control code is mounted on the member,
The device body is equipped with a reading tool that can read the memory tool,
An internal printer control by a storage device, wherein when the member is mounted on the apparatus main body, the reading device can read the information of the storage device, and the printer control code is set using the read information. An image forming apparatus that performs code setting. An image forming apparatus for setting an internal printer control code by the storage device according to claim 1,
The internal printer control code is
Is it ESC / P (registered trademark) or
Or
PC or PR (registered trademark)
Or
An image forming apparatus for setting an internal printer control code by a storage device, wherein the image forming apparatus is an NEC NM. An image forming apparatus for setting an internal printer control code by the storage device according to claim 1,
The storage device is
An image forming apparatus for setting an internal printer control code by a storage device, which is an RFID (RFID).

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