JP2007283719A - Image forming apparatus and stencil printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and stencil printer capable of reliably informing use of environmentally friendly consumable supplies to an operator. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is provided for performing printing on a print sheet using consumable supplies such as ink and master, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises IC tags 3a, 20a provided with a consumable supply and having data indicating whether or not the consumable supply is an environmentally friendly consumable supply written thereon, and IC tag reader/writer 40 for reading data written on the IC tags 3a, 20a when the consumable supply is mounted, and when the IC tag reader/writer detects the consumable supply to be an environmentally friendly consumable supply, a logo mark indicating use of an environmentally friendly consumable supply is printed on a print sheet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a stencil printing apparatus and other image forming apparatuses, and more particularly, to a technique for displaying a logo mark indicating this on a printed matter when an environmentally friendly consumable is used.

  For example, in image forming apparatuses such as stencil printing apparatuses, copiers, and multifunctional machines, it has been promoted to use environmentally friendly materials as inks used for printing. Is being adopted for printing. Since such soybean ink (also referred to as SOY ink) is made from plants, even if paper printed using this ink is discarded, it does not adversely affect the environment, and is an environmentally friendly ink. Attention has been paid.

  As a technique for notifying the operator of the use of such environment-friendly consumables, for example, a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-288195 (Patent Document 1) is known. In Patent Document 1, when recycled paper is used in a printing apparatus or the like, a technique for detecting this by a recycled paper detection sensor and printing a display such as “I am using recycled paper” on the recycled paper. Is disclosed, the operator can be informed that environmentally friendly recycled paper is used, and the awareness of environmental measures can be improved.

  However, the one described in Patent Document 1 displays a mark for indicating whether or not recycled paper is used, and consumables used for printing on printing paper such as ink are environmentally friendly. It is not informed whether or not. Therefore, the user who sees the printed matter cannot know whether or not the printed matter is printed with soybean ink, which is an environmentally-friendly ink, and cannot improve awareness about environmental measures.

Also, in the stencil printing apparatus, an image to be printed is made on a master (stencil stencil paper), wound around a drum and then stenciled, and the stencil master and the printing paper are in contact with each other inside the drum. The ink is exuded from the ink, and the image made on the master is printed on the printing paper. In such a stencil printing apparatus, an environmentally responsive product may be used as a master mounted on the drum. However, it is impossible to notify the user whether or not the currently used master is an environmentally friendly product. Therefore, the user who sees the printed matter printed by the stencil printing machine cannot know whether or not the printed matter is printed by using the environmentally-friendly product master.
JP 11-288195 A

  As described above, in conventional image forming apparatuses and stencil printing apparatuses, whether or not environmentally friendly consumables other than printing paper such as ink and master used for printing are used is checked. There was a drawback that it was not possible to inform people.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably informing a user that an environmentally-friendly consumable is used. The object is to provide a stencil printing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present application is an image forming apparatus that prints on printing paper, and whether or not the consumable used for printing on the printing paper is an environmentally friendly consumable. When it is detected that the item is an environmentally friendly consumable, a modification indicating that the environmentally friendly consumable is used is added to the printing paper.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for printing image data to be printed on a printing paper using a consumable, a printing unit for printing desired image data on the printing paper, and the consumable. And the identification means in which the environmentally friendly product data indicating whether or not the consumable is an environmentally friendly consumable is written, and the environmentally friendly consumable data written in the identification means is read, Detection means for detecting whether or not the environment-use consumable is used; symbol data storage means for storing symbol data indicating that the environment-compatible consumable is used; and And a symbol data writing means for writing the symbol data stored in the symbol data storage means to a predetermined position of the image data to be printed. It is characterized in.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided selection means for selecting whether or not to write the symbol data to the image data when the detection means detects that the consumable is an environmentally friendly product. The symbol data writing means writes the symbol data into the image data when the selection means selects to write the symbol data.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the consumable is ink used for printing, the identification means is an IC tag mounted on a container of the ink, and the detection means is between the IC tag. In this case, environment-compliant product data indicating whether or not the ink is an environment-friendly consumable is detected by performing communication.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that prints image data to be printed on printing paper using a consumable, whether the consumable is an environmentally friendly consumable. An identification unit in which environmentally friendly product data indicating whether or not an environmentally friendly consumable is used by reading the environmentally friendly product data written in the identification unit, and an information display When the display means and the detection means detect that the consumable is an environment-friendly consumable, the display means displays symbol data indicating that the environment-compatible consumable is used. And a display control means.

  The stencil printing apparatus according to claim 6 is a stencil printing apparatus that prints image data to be printed on a printing paper using a consumable, and the consumable is an environmentally friendly consumable. An identification unit in which environmentally friendly product data indicating whether or not there is written, a detection unit that reads the environmentally friendly product data written in the identification unit and detects whether or not an environmentally compatible consumable is used, Symbol data storage means for storing symbol data indicating that the environmentally compatible consumable is used, and the symbol data when the detecting means detects that the consumable is an environmentally friendly consumable. Pattern data writing means for writing the symbol data stored in the storage means at a predetermined position of the image data to be printed, and a plate making hand for making the image data to be printed on the stencil sheet And printing means for winding the stencil sheet thus made on a drum, bringing the wound stencil sheet and the supplied printing paper into contact with each other to print on the printing paper, and printing on the printing paper by the printing means And a printing control means for controlling.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided selection means for selecting whether or not to write the symbol data to the image data when the detection means detects that the consumable is an environmentally friendly product. The symbol data writing means writes the symbol data into the image data when the selection means selects to write the symbol data.

  In the invention according to claim 8, the consumable is at least one of ink used for printing or stencil paper, and the identification means is an IC tag mounted on the ink container or stencil paper, The detecting means detects environmental consumable data indicating whether or not the ink or stencil paper is an environmental consumable by communicating with the IC tag.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the print control means detects the stencil sheet when the stencil sheet to which the design data indicating that the environmentally consumable is used is attached to the drum. When it is determined by the means that the consumable used for printing is not an environment-friendly consumable, printing by the printing means is stopped.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, when the printing control unit stops printing by the printing unit, notification information for prompting an operator to replace the stencil sheet, or the consumable is used as an environment. It is characterized by presenting notification information for prompting the user to change to a compatible consumable.

  The invention described in claim 11 is such that the printing means can perform multicolor printing capable of printing using a plurality of colors of ink, and the printing control means uses one of the plurality of colors of ink. Then, control is performed to print pattern data indicating that an environmentally-friendly consumable is used for the printing paper.

  In the first and second aspects of the present invention, when an environmentally friendly consumable is used as a consumable used for printing on the printing paper, this is automatically detected, and a logo mark for notifying the user. Since the design data (modification) is entered in the printed matter, the user can be informed that the environment-compatible consumable is used for printing the printed matter. Thereby, the consciousness about an environmental measure can be improved with respect to a user.

  In the invention of claim 3, since it can be selected by the selecting means whether or not the symbol data is written on the printing paper, it is possible to select whether or not the symbol data is added according to the preference of the operator. Become.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, environmentally friendly product data indicating whether or not the ink is environmentally friendly is written in an IC tag mounted on the ink container, and the detecting means communicates with the IC tag. Since the environmentally friendly product data is acquired by performing the above, it is possible to identify whether or not the environmentally friendly consumable is used with a simple configuration.

  In the invention of claim 5, when environmentally friendly consumables are used as consumables used for printing on printing paper, symbol data indicating this is displayed on the display means for information display. It is possible to easily recognize that printing is currently being performed using environmentally friendly consumables.

  In the invention of claim 6, when an environmentally-friendly consumable is used as a consumable used for printing on the printing paper, this is automatically detected, and symbol data such as a logo mark for notifying the user (Modification) is added to the image data, plate making on the stencil sheet is performed, and printing on the printing sheet is performed using the stencil sheet. Accordingly, it is possible to inform the user that the environment-compatible consumable is used for printing this printed matter, and to improve the user's awareness of environmental measures.

  In the invention of claim 7, since it can be selected by the selecting means whether or not the symbol data is added to the image data, it is possible to select whether or not the symbol data is entered according to the preference of the operator. Become.

  In the invention of claim 8, the environmentally friendly product data indicating whether or not the ink is environmentally friendly is written in the IC tag mounted on the ink container and the IC tag mounted on the stencil paper, and the detecting means Since the environment-compatible product data is acquired by communicating with the IC tag, it is possible to identify whether or not the environment-compatible consumable is used for ink or stencil paper with a simple configuration.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, printing is stopped when design data indicating environmental consumables is added to the stencil paper used for stencil printing, even though environmental consumables are not used. Thus, it is possible to prevent erroneous symbol data from being written on the printing paper.

  In the invention of claim 10, when printing is stopped by the process of claim 9, notice information for prompting replacement of the stencil sheet or notice information for prompting to change the consumable to the environment-friendly consumable is presented. Therefore, the operator can quickly respond to the subsequent response.

  In the eleventh aspect of the invention, printing means capable of multicolor printing using a plurality of drums is provided, and symbol data indicating the environmental consumables is printed using one of these colors. It is possible to easily switch between printing and non-printing of symbol data indicating use.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a configuration of a stencil printing apparatus as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the stencil printing apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 2 that reads an image of a document, and plate making that makes a master (stencil sheet) 3 based on image data read by the image reading unit 2. A printing section (printing means) 6 that prints on the printing paper 5 using the master 3 made by the plate making section 4, and a paper feeding section 7 that supplies the printing paper 5 to the printing section 6. The paper discharge unit 8 discharges the printed printing paper 5 and the plate discharge unit 9 discards the used master 3.

  The image reading unit 2 includes a scanner 10 and reads image data of a document sent from the document placing unit 11.

  The plate making unit 4 includes a thermal print head (hereinafter referred to as TPH) 12 and a platen roller 13, and makes the master 3 sent from the master roll 14. Further, a loading roller 15 for feeding out the master 3 that has been subjected to plate making and a master cutter 16 for cutting the master 3 at a desired position are provided.

  The printing unit 6 includes a drum 17, a press roller 18 that conveys the printing paper 5 between the drum 17, an ink supply roller 19 provided inside the drum 17, and an ink bottle 20 filled with ink. have.

  A clamp plate 21 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 17 to hold the front end of the master 3 that has been made, and after the master 3 is made by the plate making unit 4, the front end of the master 3 is clamped by the clamp plate 21. It is held and wound around the outer peripheral surface of the drum 17 as the drum 17 rotates.

  A press roller 18 is provided below the drum 17 in parallel with the drum 17. The press roller 18 can move up and down within a predetermined range, and moves up and down in synchronization with the rotation of the drum 17, and presses the supplied printing paper 5 sandwiched between the drum 17. At this time, the ink filled in the ink bottle 20 oozes out from the ink supply roller 19 and is pressed while the master 3 wound around the drum 17 and the printing paper 5 supplied from the paper supply unit 7 are in contact with each other. Therefore, the image made on the master 3 is printed on the printing paper 5.

  In the paper feeding unit 7, the printing paper 5 is placed on the paper feeding table 22, and the printing paper 5 is taken out one by one and supplied between the drum 17 and the press roller 18.

  The paper discharge unit 8 includes a paper separation claw 23 that separates the print paper 5 from the drum 17, and sends the printed print paper 5 that has been separated and taken out onto the paper discharge tray 24.

  The plate removal unit 9 includes a base paper separation claw 25 that peels the used master 3 from the drum 17, and stores the separated master 3 in a plate ejection box 26. Thus, the stencil printing operation is performed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the system control unit 31 that controls the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 and its peripheral devices. As shown in the figure, the system control unit 31 includes a scanner 10 that reads an image of a document, a personal computer 32 that is used for creating image data, a mechanism that controls mechanical driving of the drum 17 and the press roller 18, and the like. A control unit 33, a touch panel sensor (selection unit) that performs various operations by the operator, an operation panel 34 that includes a display unit (display unit) that displays various types of information notified to the operator, and a TPH (thermal print head) ) 12 and an IC tag reader / writer (detection means) 40 that performs communication with the IC tags 3a and 20a, which will be described later, and reads and writes data.

  The system control unit 31 includes a scanner signal processing unit 35 that reads image data read by the scanner 10, a binarization processing unit 36 that binarizes the image data read by the scanner signal processing unit 35, and a personal computer 32. The personal computer signal processing unit 37 that processes the image data supplied from the computer to generate plate-making image data, and the binary plate-making image data supplied from the binarization processing unit 36 or the plate-making image data supplied from the personal computer signal processing unit 37 An image data processing unit 38 that processes and converts the image data into image data that can be handled by the CPU 41 described later is provided.

  The image data processing unit 38 has a function of converting image data processed by the processing of the CPU 41 into plate-making image data and outputting it, and outputs the plate-making image data to the TPH 12 via the TPH signal output processing unit 39. To do.

  Furthermore, the system control unit 31 includes a CPU (design data writing unit, print control unit, display control unit) 41 that performs overall control including image processing control, print control, image display control on the operation panel 34, and the like. The image data captured from the scanner 10 or the personal computer 32 is expanded, and a RAM 42 serving as a storage area when a logo mark described later is combined with the image data, a ROM 43 that stores a system program, and an environmentally friendly consumable A large-capacity nonvolatile memory (design data storage means) 44 for storing image data of a logo mark (modification, design data) indicating that the

  The IC tag reader / writer 40 is provided between an antenna 51 that performs wireless communication with an IC tag (identification means) 3 a attached to the master 3 and an IC tag (identification means) 20 a attached to the ink bottle 20. And an antenna 52 for wireless communication.

  When the ink bottle 20 is attached to a predetermined position of the stencil printing apparatus 1, the IC tag reader / writer 40 reads ID data relating to the ink bottle 20 stored in the IC tag 20a, for example, the color of ink, Ink type data (environment-compatible product data) such as viscosity and soy ink is read by wireless communication, and this data is transmitted to the CPU 41. On the other hand, when data is written, various data can be written to the IC tag 3a by transmitting data to be written from the antenna 52 side.

  As in the case of the ink bottle 20, when the master 3 is attached to a predetermined position of the stencil printing apparatus 1, the IC tag reader / writer 40 is stored in the IC tag 3 a attached to the master 3. The ID related to the master 3 can be read, and various data can be written to the IC tag 3a by transmitting the data to be written from the antenna 51 side at the time of data writing.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory view schematically showing how the ink bottle 20 is inserted into the ink bottle insertion opening in the center of the stencil printing apparatus 1 and how the master 3 is attached at a predetermined position. The ink bottle has a cylindrical shape. 20, data communication is performed between the IC tag 20 a provided at the tip of 20 and the antenna 52 provided at an appropriate position of the ink bottle insertion port of the stencil printing apparatus 1, and reading of ID data regarding the ink bottle 20 is performed. Alternatively, writing is performed and communication is performed between the antenna 51 and the IC tag 3a provided at the tip of the master 3 having a cylindrical shape, and ID data related to the master 3 is read or written. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 41 is connected to the drum 17, and outputs a command signal relating to the driving of the drum 17 given from the mechanical control unit 33 to the drum 17 to control the driving of the drum 17. The drum 17 is equipped with a non-volatile memory 17a. The memory 17a stores a flag indicating whether or not a logo mark indicating an environmentally compatible product is used according to a command from the CPU 41. That is, a flag indicating whether or not a logo mark indicating that an environmentally compatible consumable is used is written in the master 3 currently mounted on the drum 17 is stored in the memory 17a.

  Furthermore, the CPU 41 reads data from the IC tag 20a attached to the ink bottle 20, determines whether the ink bottle 20 is filled with environment-friendly ink (for example, soybean ink), When the determination is made, a process of adding a logo mark indicating the use of environment-friendly ink to the plate-making image data in accordance with an operation input by the operator is performed. Similarly, when data is read from the IC tag 3a attached to the master 3 and the master is an environmentally friendly product, a logo mark indicating the use of the environmentally friendly master is displayed in accordance with the operation input of the operator. Process to write to.

  Next, the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  First, with the start of plate making, the power is turned on in step ST1.

  In step ST2, various data stored in the RAM 42 are initialized.

  In step ST3, the IC tag reader / writer 40 communicates with the IC tags 3a and 20a, thereby confirming consumable information (environment-compatible product data) currently used.

  In step ST4, it is determined whether or not the ink or the master as a consumable is an environmentally compatible product. If it is determined that the ink is an environmentally compatible product ("environmental compatible" determination), the process proceeds to step ST5. If it is determined that the product is not an environmentally compliant product, the processing of steps ST5 and ST6 is omitted (“environmental non-compliant” determination), and the process proceeds to step ST7.

  In step ST5, an image indicating that the environment-compatible consumable is currently used as a consumable is displayed on the screen of the display unit provided in the operation panel 34. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation panel 34. For example, an image (symbol data) indicating that soybean ink is used is displayed on the display screen of the operation panel 34, as indicated by reference numeral P1 in FIG. Is done.

  In step ST6, the logo mark image data stored in the large-capacity nonvolatile memory 44 shown in FIG.

  In step ST7, an instruction as to whether the operation instruction is a plate making operation or a printing operation is awaited. This instruction input is performed by the operator through the operation panel 34.

  If a plate making operation is input as the operation mode in step ST8 ("plate making operation" determination), the process proceeds to step ST9, and if a printing operation is input ("print operation" determination), FIG. The process proceeds to step ST14 of step 5.

  In step ST9, the image data output from the image data processing unit 38 is expanded in the RAM 42.

  In step ST10, as in the above-described step ST4, it is determined whether or not the ink or master as a consumable is an environment-compatible product. The process proceeds to step ST11, and if it is determined that the product is not an environmentally compatible product (determination of “environment non-compliant”), the process of steps ST11 and ST12 is omitted and the process proceeds to step ST13.

  In step ST <b> 11, the CPU 41 generates an image obtained by combining the image data given from the image data processing unit 38 and the logo mark image, and writes the image in the RAM 42.

  At this time, it is possible to set the operator to select whether or not to synthesize the logo mark with the image data. For example, an image prompting the user to select whether or not to display the logo mark is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 34, and when the logo mark display input operation is performed from the touch panel sensor (selection means), the logo mark is converted into image data. Set to synthesize.

  In step ST12, the CPU 41 writes a flag indicating that the logo mark is used in the memory 17a provided in the drum 17. That is, a flag indicating that the logo mark indicating the use of the environment-compatible consumable is used is written in the memory 17a in the master 3 currently mounted on the drum 17.

  In step ST13, the image data with the logo mark synthesized in the RAM 42 or the image data with no logo mark synthesized is converted into plate-making data by the image data processing unit 38 and output to the TPH 12 via the TPH signal output processing unit 39. Is done. Then, the TPH 12 performs a plate making operation to generate the master 3 that has been made. Thus, the plate making process is performed.

  Next, an operation performed when it is determined in step ST8 that the printing operation is being performed will be described.

  In step ST14 of FIG. 5, the CPU 41 checks whether or not a flag indicating that the logo mark is used is stored in the memory 17a of the drum 17.

  In step ST15, it is determined whether a logo mark use flag is written in the memory 17a. If the logo mark use flag is written ("logo mark use" determination), the process proceeds to step ST16. If the logo mark use flag is not written ("logo mark non-use" determination) ), The process proceeds to step ST18.

  In step ST16, the CPU 41 confirms the environmentally friendly product data obtained by the IC tag reader / writer 40, and if it is confirmed in step ST17 that the product is an environmentally friendly consumable product ("environmentally friendly" determination). Then, the process proceeds to step ST18, and if it is not confirmed that the product is an environmentally compliant product ("environment non-compliant" determination), the process proceeds to step ST19.

  In step ST18, a printing operation is executed. That is, if the master 3 attached to the drum 17 is not filled with a logo mark indicating that an environmentally friendly consumable is used, or that the master 3 is using an environmentally friendly consumable. When it is confirmed that the logo mark shown is entered and the environmentally compatible consumables corresponding to the logo mark are actually used, the printing operation by the printing unit 6 is executed.

  As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a logo mark indicating that the ink (soybean ink in this example) that is an environmentally friendly consumable is used at a proper position on the printing paper is printed as indicated by reference numeral P2. Thus, a person who sees the printing paper can easily recognize that soybean ink, which is environmentally friendly ink, is used.

  On the other hand, in step 19, the CPU 41 displays a warning and guidance such as “Cannot print because a logo mark is written” or “Do you want to change ink” on the display screen of the operation panel 34. That is, in step ST19, a logo mark indicating that an environmentally-friendly consumable is used is written on the master 3 mounted on the drum 17, and the consumable actually used is an environmentally-friendly consumable. If the printing operation is performed as it is, the logo mark indicating the environmental consumable is printed on the printing paper even though the environmental consumable is not used. Therefore, the printing operation cannot be performed as it is.

  Therefore, warnings and guidance (notification information) such as “Cannot print because the logo is written” or “Do you want to change ink” are displayed on the display part of the operation panel 34 to the operator. Then, the subsequent response will be described. Note that the warning and guidance described above can be presented to the operator not only by screen display but also by voice, lighting of a lamp, or the like.

  In step ST20, the operation instruction is determined, and if the operator performs an operation to change the consumable (“consumable change” determination), the process returns to step ST16. On the other hand, when it is instructed to perform the re-making (“re-making operation”), the process proceeds to step ST21.

  That is, when the operator sees the above warning and guidance and replaces the consumable item with the environmentally-friendly consumable item, the process from step ST16 is performed again. In this case, the environmentally-friendly consumable item is selected as the consumable item. Since it is confirmed that it is used, a printing operation can be performed in step ST18.

  In step ST21, the image data stored in the RAM 42 is output to the TPH 12, and the master 3 is re-made. Thereby, the master 3 in which a logo mark is not written can be newly created.

  In step ST22, the flag indicating the use of the logo mark, which is stored in the memory 17a of the drum 17, is deleted in accordance with the above-described re-making process. Thereafter, a printing operation is performed in step ST18. From the next time onward, since the flag indicating that the logo mark is used is erased in the memory 17a, it is determined that the logo mark is not used in step ST15, and the printing operation can be performed in step ST18.

  As described above, in the stencil printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, when an environmentally friendly consumable is used as a consumable used for printing on a printing paper, a logo mark (modification) that informs the operator of this is used. , Symbol data) is written on the printed matter, the operator can know that the environment-compatible consumable is used for printing the printed matter. Accordingly, it is possible to improve awareness of environmental measures for the user who sees the printed matter.

  Further, since the operator can select whether or not to print the logo mark, it is possible to print the logo mark according to the preference of the operator.

  Further, data indicating whether or not the ink bottle 20 is an environmentally friendly consumable and the IC tag 20a, 3a mounted on the master 3 is an environmentally friendly consumable (data for the environmentally friendly product) is written in the IC tag. By using the reader / writer 40 to determine whether or not the environment-compatible consumable is used, it is possible to identify the environment-compatible consumable by a very simple method.

  In addition, a flag indicating whether or not a logo mark indicating the use of an environmentally-friendly consumable is used in the master 3 currently mounted on the drum 17 is written in the nonvolatile memory 17a. If it is detected that the logo mark is used on the master 3 mounted on the drum 17, but no environmentally-friendly consumables are actually used, Despite the fact that the logo mark “use soy ink” is entered, if the soy ink is not used in the stencil printing apparatus 1, the printing operation is actually stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an erroneous logo mark from being displayed.

  Further, in the above case, notification information for prompting the operator to replace the master 3 (re-making) or notification information for prompting to replace the ink with soybean ink is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 34. Since the information is displayed, the operator can quickly respond to the subsequent processing by viewing the displayed content.

  The stencil printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) of the present invention has been described based on the illustrated embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration of each unit is an arbitrary configuration having the same function. Can be replaced.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the stencil printing apparatus 1 that mounts one ink bottle 20 and prints in a single color has been described as an example. However, multi-color stencil printing with two or more ink bottles 20 mounted thereon is described. The present invention can also be applied to a device. When using a multi-color stencil printing device, one of a plurality of colors is used for logo mark printing, and environmentally friendly ink such as soybean ink is used or not used. Thus, it is possible to switch between displaying and hiding the logo mark by switching whether or not to perform printing with the logo mark printing ink.

  In the above-described embodiment, the stencil printing apparatus 1 has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a multifunction machine, and the like. Can also be applied. For example, when a toner using soybean raw material is used in a copying machine, this may be detected and a logo mark indicating that the soybean raw material is used is printed at an appropriate position on the printing paper.

  In the above-described embodiment, when an environmentally friendly consumable is used, the operator is informed that the environmentally friendly consumable is being used by printing a logo mark (design data) on printing paper. Although an example of notification has been described, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which modifications other than printing, for example, modifications such as making holes or forming protrusions are added to the printing paper.

  This is extremely useful for notifying the user that environmentally friendly products are being used.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a stencil printing apparatus as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system control part of a stencil printing apparatus, and its peripheral device. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the mode of communication with each IC tag and each antenna mounted in the master and the ink bottle. It is the 1st partial view of the flowchart which shows the processing operation of the stencil printing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the 2nd partial drawing of the flowchart which shows the processing operation of the stencil printing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example in which the logo mark of the environment corresponding product was displayed on the operation panel. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the printed matter on which the logo mark was printed.

Explanation of symbols

1 Stencil printing device (image forming device)
2 Image reader 3 Master (stencil paper)
3a IC tag (identification means)
4 Plate making section (plate making means)
5 Printing paper 6 Printing section (printing means)
7 Feeder 8 Discharger 9 Plate Ejector 10 Scanner 11 Document Placer 12 Thermal Print Head (TPH)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Platen roller 14 Master roll 15 Loading roller 16 Master cutter 17 Drum 17a Memory 18 Press roller 19 Ink supply roller 20 Ink bottle 20a IC tag (identification means)
21 Clamping Plate 22 Paper Supply Stand 23 Paper Separation Claw 24 Paper Discharge Stand 25 Base Paper Separation Claw 26 Plate Release Box 31 System Control Unit 32 Personal Computer 33 Mechanical Control Unit 34 Operation Panel 35 Scanner Signal Processing Unit 36 Binarization Processing Unit 37 Personal Computer Signal Processing 37 Unit 38 image data processing unit 39 TPH signal output processing unit 40 IC tag reader / writer 41 CPU
42 RAM
43 ROM
44 Large-capacity nonvolatile memory 51, 52 Antenna

Claims (11)

In an image forming apparatus that prints on printing paper,
It is detected whether the consumable used for printing on the printing paper is an environmentally friendly consumable, and when it is detected that the consumable is an environmentally friendly consumable, the environmentally friendly consumable is used for the printing paper. An image forming apparatus characterized by adding a modification to indicate that the image forming apparatus is in use. In an image forming apparatus that prints image data to be printed on printing paper using consumables,
Printing means for printing desired image data on the printing paper;
An identification unit provided in the consumable, and written with environmentally-friendly product data indicating whether or not the consumable is an environmentally-consumable;
Detection means for reading the environmentally friendly product data written in the identification means and detecting whether or not an environmentally friendly consumable is used;
Symbol data storage means for storing symbol data indicating that the environment-compatible consumable is used;
When the detecting unit detects that the consumable is an environmentally-friendly consumable, the symbol data stored in the symbol data storage unit is written in a predetermined position of the image data to be printed. Design data writing means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   When the detection means detects that the consumable is an environmentally-friendly product, the detection means comprises a selection means for selecting whether or not to write the symbol data to the image data, the symbol data writing means, 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the selection unit selects to write the symbol data, the symbol data is written into the image data.   The consumable item is ink used for printing, the identification unit is an IC tag mounted on the ink container, and the detection unit communicates with the IC tag to perform the ink 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein environmentally-compliant product data indicating whether or not is an environmentally-friendly consumable is detected. 5. In an image forming apparatus that prints image data to be printed on printing paper using consumables,
An identification unit provided in the consumable, and written with environmentally-friendly product data indicating whether or not the consumable is an environmentally-consumable;
Detection means for reading the environmentally friendly product data written in the identification means and detecting whether or not an environmentally friendly consumable is used;
Display means for displaying information;
When the detecting means detects that the consumable is an environmental consumable, a display control means for displaying symbol data indicating that the environmental consumable is used on the display means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: In a stencil printing apparatus that prints image data to be printed on printing paper using consumables,
An identification unit provided in the consumable, and written with environmentally-friendly product data indicating whether or not the consumable is an environmentally-consumable;
Detection means for reading the environmentally friendly product data written in the identification means and detecting whether or not an environmentally friendly consumable is used;
Symbol data storage means for storing symbol data indicating that the environment-compatible consumable is used;
When the detecting unit detects that the consumable is an environmentally-friendly consumable, the symbol data stored in the symbol data storage unit is written in a predetermined position of the image data to be printed. Design data writing means;
Plate making means for making image data to be printed on stencil paper;
A printing means for winding the stencil sheet thus made on a drum, and printing the printed stencil sheet by contacting the wound stencil sheet and the supplied printing sheet;
Print control means for controlling printing on the printing paper by the printing means;
A stencil printing apparatus comprising:   When the detection means detects that the consumable is an environmentally-friendly product, the detection means comprises a selection means for selecting whether or not to write the symbol data to the image data, the symbol data writing means, The stencil printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the design data is written into the image data when the selection means selects to write the design data.   The consumable is at least one of ink used for printing or stencil paper, the identification means is an IC tag mounted on the ink container or stencil paper, and the detection means includes the IC tag and The environmentally friendly consumable data indicating whether or not the ink or the stencil paper is an environmentally friendly consumable is detected by performing communication between the ink and the stencil. The stencil printing apparatus as described. The print control means includes
When the stencil sheet to which the design data indicating that the environment-compatible consumable is used is attached to the drum, the consumable used for printing by the detecting means is not the environment-consumable 9. The stencil printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the determination is made, the printing by the printing unit is stopped.   The printing control means prompts an operator to change the consumable to environmentally friendly consumable when the printing by the printing means is stopped. The stencil printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein notification information is provided.   The printing unit is capable of multicolor printing that can be printed using a plurality of colors of ink, and the printing control unit uses one color of the plurality of colors of ink to consume environmentally friendly printing paper. The stencil printing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein control is performed to print design data indicating that the product is being used.

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