JP2009045901A - Controlling apparatus and controlling method for printing instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease to execute an unnecessary cleaning for the quality of printing while coinciding with the taste of every user to the cleaning operation in relation to a cleaning means equipped on a printing instrument. <P>SOLUTION: The controlling apparatus of a printing instrument includes a user data base 403b for storing and holding user IDs respectively discriminating a plurality of the users related with operation setting data for setting an operation condition of a cleaning means 402 on every user, a monitoring part 503 for monitoring the change in condition from the time of the last operation, a user discriminating part 505 for discriminating the user indicating a printing operation when the printing operation is performed, an operation setting acquiring part 506a for reading out the operation setting data of the user based on the user ID of the discriminated user, a judging part 502 for comparing the operation setting data with the change in condition of the printer and judging whether the cleaning operation is performed or not, and a driving controlling part 501 for controlling driving of cleaning in accordance with the result of judgement. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device and a control method for a cleaning unit provided in an inkjet printer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing apparatuses such as ink jet printers have been developed that have a mechanism for cleaning a head in order to prevent the printing quality from deteriorating. In the operation of this cleaning mechanism, it is usually uneconomical to carry out frequently because it consumes extra ink, and the operation frequency is preferably as low as possible.

  On the other hand, conventionally, there is a setting in which cleaning processing is performed at intervals of a certain period such as when the power is turned on or every time a predetermined number of characters (or pages) are printed (for example, Patent Document 1). ). In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the number of cleanings is counted, and the cleaning timing is automatically adjusted based on the value of the counter.

However, since there are users who want to prioritize the print quality over the economy, there is a means for cleaning at an arbitrary timing by an arbitrary manual operation of the user in addition to the automatic cleaning operation described above. It is normal.
JP-A-6-316062

  However, the above-described manual operation cleaning operation is performed ignoring the previous cleaning time, so that much time has not passed since the previous cleaning operation, and it is an unnecessary cleaning in terms of print quality. Even if it exists, it will be executed.

  Especially in an environment where multiple users use it, such as network printers, the importance of cleaning differs for each user, and the execution of cleaning operations by other users cannot be understood from each other. It may be running.

  Accordingly, the present invention solves the above-described problems, and relates to a cleaning unit provided in a printing apparatus, and performs unnecessary cleaning in terms of print quality while conforming to each user's preference for a cleaning operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control device and a control method for a printing device that can reduce the occurrence of the problem.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a control device for a cleaning unit provided in a printing apparatus, and an operation for setting a user identifier for identifying a plurality of users and an operation condition of the cleaning unit for each user. A storage unit that stores and holds setting data in association with each other, a monitoring unit that monitors a change in state from the previous operation, a user identification unit that identifies a user who instructed the printing operation during the printing operation, and a user identification unit Based on the user identifier of the identified user, the storage means is collated, the operation setting acquisition means for reading the user's operation setting data, the operation setting data acquired by the operation setting acquisition means, and the state acquired from the monitoring means The determination means for comparing the information on the change and determining whether the operation of the cleaning means is possible, and the determination means And a drive control means for controlling the driving of the cleaning unit in accordance with a constant result.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a control method for a cleaning unit provided in a printing apparatus, in advance, a user identifier for identifying each of a plurality of users, operation setting data for setting operating conditions of the cleaning unit for each user, Are stored in the storage means in association with each other,
(1) a monitoring step of monitoring state changes from the previous operation by a monitoring means;
(2) a user identification step for identifying a user who has instructed the printing operation by a user identification means at the time of the printing operation;
(3) Based on the user identifier of the user identified by the user identifying means, the operation setting acquisition step of collating the storage means and reading the user's operation setting data;
(4) The operation setting data acquired by the operation setting acquisition means and the information on the state change acquired from the monitoring means, and a determination step of determining whether the operation of the cleaning means is possible by the determination means;
(5) a drive control step of controlling the drive of the cleaning unit by the drive control unit according to the determination result by the determination unit.

  In the above invention, the operation setting data and the information on the state change include, for example, information on the elapsed time from the previous cleaning or the number of printed sheets, and the monitoring unit measures the elapsed time from the previous operation. Timer means that counts or counter means that counts the number of printed sheets, and the judging means prints the elapsed time setting included in the operation setting data and the elapsed time measured by the timer means, or the print number setting and the counter means measured by the counter means It is preferable to compare the number.

  According to the present invention, for each user who uses the printing apparatus, conditions for executing the cleaning operation (the number of prints from the previous cleaning execution, elapsed time, etc.) are set, and each user involved in the printing execution is set. Therefore, it is possible to realize an operation that meets the cleaning process requirement of each user.

  As described above, according to the present invention, with regard to the cleaning means provided in the printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer, unnecessary cleaning in terms of print quality is performed while matching the preference for each user with respect to the cleaning operation. The cost performance can be improved by avoiding wasteful waste of ink and the like.

(Configuration of printing equipment)
Exemplary embodiments of a control device for a printing machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a control apparatus for a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a case where the control device 403a is provided in the inkjet printer 4 will be described as an example.

  The inkjet printer 4 according to the present embodiment has a function of reading and copying a document and a function as a so-called network printer connected to a network 403d such as a LAN. Printing can be executed by an operation of reading and copying an image or transmitting job data from a user terminal on the network 403d.

  Specifically, the inkjet printer 4 includes an image reading unit 401 at the top of the apparatus main body, a printer unit 404 that performs printing inside the main body, a paper feeding unit 405 that supplies printing paper 5 to the printer unit 404, and a belt conveyance unit. 406, a paper discharge unit 409 that discharges the printed printing paper 5, a control device 403a that controls the operation of each of these units, a touch panel 410 capable of inputting a predetermined processing instruction such as a print instruction, and a network And a communication interface 403c for connecting to 403d.

  The paper supply unit 405 is a mechanism that supplies the printing paper 5 stocked on the paper supply stand to the printer unit 404 one by one by the paper supply roller 405b and the registration roller pair 411 at the time of printing. The belt conveyance unit 406 includes an annular conveyance belt that circulates and a plurality of conveyance belt rollers that circulate and drive the conveyance belt. The conveyor belt and the conveyor belt roller cooperate to constitute a belt conveyor which is a conveyance path for conveying the printing paper, and regulate the conveyance direction of the printing paper 5 when ink is ejected.

  The printer unit 404 is a mechanism for recording an image on a predetermined print sheet based on the digital image signal read by the image reading unit 401 or job data received from the user terminal, and the process output from the control device 403a. Based on the completed digital image signal, ink is ejected from the inkjet head onto the printing paper to record an image.

  Further, the printer unit 404 is provided with a cleaning unit 402. The cleaning unit 402 is a mechanism for cleaning the ink jet head portion. For example, the motor is driven to slide a wipe member on the nozzle surface of the head to remove deposits and dripping such as dust. The motor driving of the cleaning unit 402 is controlled by a drive signal from the control device 403a.

  The image reading unit 401 photoelectrically reads an image of a document by an apparatus such as a scanner and outputs the digital image signals of R, G, and B components of each pixel constituting the image. The digital image signal output from the image reading unit 401 is input to the control device 403 a and subjected to predetermined image processing, and the processed digital image signal is output from the printer unit 404. Note that the code 51 such as the above-described QR code can be added to the digital image signal during image processing in the control device 403a.

  The paper discharge unit 409 includes a paper discharge selection unit, a pair of paper discharge rollers, and a paper discharge table 409c. The conveyance selection unit and the paper discharge roller pair are driven and controlled according to a drive signal from the control device 403a. Accordingly, the printing paper 5 from the belt conveyance unit 406 is guided to the paper discharge unit 409 or is guided to the double-sided belt conveyance unit 407. The double-sided belt conveyance unit 407 is formed of an endless belt, and conveys the printing paper subjected to single-sided printing to the printer unit 404 through the upper reverse path.

  The control device 403a is a module including an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU and a storage device such as a non-volatile memory, and performs image processing on a digital image signal input from the image reading unit 401. The operation of each unit is controlled based on the signal from each sensor. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the control device 403a.

  As shown in the figure, the control device 403a includes a user operation on the touch panel 410, an operation signal acquisition unit 504 that acquires an operation signal based on job data received from the user terminal, and a user based on the acquired operation signal. A user identification unit 505 that identifies the data, a memory unit 507 that stores data obtained and calculated by the control device 403a, and a printed matter and a print mode (for example, a color mode and a paper type setting) related to print processing based on the operation signal A print type determination unit 508 for determining image setting, double-sided printing, single-sided printing, N-UP printing, continuous printing, and the like.

  The control device 403a also includes a user database 403b that stores table data for storing and holding information for each user. The table data includes user IDs (user identifiers) for identifying a plurality of users. The operation setting data for setting the operation conditions of the cleaning means and the judgment criteria for each user are stored and held in association with each other. This operating condition includes, for example, information on the passage of time from the previous cleaning and the number of printed sheets.

  The user identification unit 505 is an authentication module that identifies a user based on an operation signal generated by a user operation. The user identification unit 505 requests the user to input user identification information such as an ID and a password, and based on the input user identification information. The user database 403b is checked to determine whether the user involved in the operation is a regular user. For a user who has succeeded in authentication, a user ID for identifying the user is input to the setting management unit 506, and data unique to the user can be read from the user database 403b.

  Further, the control device 403a includes a drive control unit 501, a determination unit 502, a monitoring unit 503, an operation signal acquisition unit 504, and a setting management unit 506 regarding control of the cleaning unit.

  The monitoring unit 503 is a module that monitors a change in the state of the ink jet printer 4 based on detection signals from various sensors arranged in the ink jet printer 4, and in this embodiment, in particular, from the previous cleaning operation. A timer 503b for measuring the elapsed time and a counter 503a for counting the number of printed sheets are provided. A memory unit 507 is connected to the monitoring unit 503, and detection values (including the previous operation time 507a and the counter value 507b at the previous operation) from each sensor are stored and held as status information. The monitoring unit 503 obtains the status information and the difference between the current counter value measured by the counter 503a or the current time measured by the timer 503b, and the elapsed time from the previous cleaning operation, printing The state change such as the number of sheets is output to the determination unit 502.

  The setting management unit 506 is a module that manages input / output of data to / from the user database 403b, acquires an operation signal from the user through the operation signal acquisition unit 504, and registers a new setting in the user database 403b based on the operation signal. , You can change or delete the settings already registered. Note that operations such as registration, editing, and deletion of user settings can be performed from the touch panel 410 as shown in FIG. 3 or the operation screen 410a of the user terminal.

  The setting management unit 506 includes an operation setting acquisition unit 506a that reads settings related to the cleaning operation from the user database 403b. The operation setting acquisition unit 506a is a module that collates the user database 403b based on the user ID of the user identified by the user identification unit 505, and reads out the operation setting data of the user. Is output to the determination unit 502.

  The determination unit 502 is a module that compares the operation setting data acquired by the operation setting acquisition unit 506a with the information regarding the state change acquired from the monitoring unit 503, and determines whether the cleaning unit 402 can operate. In the present embodiment, the cleaning operation is performed by comparing the elapsed time setting included in the operation setting data and the elapsed time measured by the timer unit, or by comparing the print number setting included in the operation setting data with the print number measured by the counter unit. Determine whether or not. The determination result in the determination unit 502 is output to the drive control unit 501.

  The drive control unit 501 is a module that controls the operation of the cleaning unit according to the determination result by the determination unit 502, and includes a drive signal output unit 501a that outputs a drive signal for controlling the motor drive of the cleaning unit 402.

(Control method for printing equipment)
By operating the control device having the above-described configuration, the printing apparatus control method of the present invention can be implemented. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the control method according to the present embodiment. Here, user IDs and operation setting data of a plurality of users are stored and held in advance in the user database 403b, and state changes since the previous cleaning operation are continuously monitored by the monitoring unit 503. It shall be.

  First, the inkjet printer 4 is in a standby state by loop processing until job data is input from the user ("N" in S101). When the user performs a printing operation, printing data is input as job data to the control device 403a ("Y" in S101).

  In response to the input of the job data, the user related to the job is identified (S102). Here, authentication is performed using the user ID included in the job data, and if the user is a registered user (“Y” in S103), the registered operation setting data is read and the conditions for executing the cleaning are verified. (S104). On the other hand, if the user is not registered in step S103, the corresponding operation setting data does not exist, so the cleaning operation condition is set to a default value. At this time, the user may be prompted to register new operation settings.

  Next, the determination unit 502 compares the cleaning condition of the operation setting data with the printer state change (elapsed time or number of printed sheets) acquired from the monitoring unit 503, and determines whether the cleaning operation is possible (S106). If the state of the printer satisfies the operation condition (“Y” in S106), a drive signal is output from the drive signal output unit 501a to execute the cleaning operation (S109), and then execute printing (S109). At this time, the status information indicating the printer state is cleared (initialized) in the memory unit 507 (S108), and the cleaning determination counter is increased by the number of times related to printing. If the operation condition is not satisfied in step S106 ("N" in S106), printing is performed without performing cleaning (S109).

  Here, assuming that the count value of the number of printed sheets is 400, the elapsed time is 1 hour and 30 minutes, and FIG. 3 is described as an example, when the user A who uses the cleaning judgment standard as the number of printed sheets, the number of printed sheets satisfies the condition. Therefore, when user B is the user B, the cleaning is executed because the number of prints is satisfied. On the other hand, when the user C uses the elapsed time as the determination criterion, the elapsed time condition is satisfied. Therefore, the cleaning is executed regardless of the number of prints, and when the user D is the user D, the elapsed time condition is satisfied. There is no cleaning.

  When the cleaning is executed (S107), the printer state (status information) is initialized (S108), and the counter for cleaning determination and the elapsed time are continuously measured in the printer. Even if the user is switched after one job is completed, the status information used by the previous user is inherited for the job of the next user. For example, taking FIG. 3 as an example, when user A prints 400 sheets immediately after cleaning (immediately after initialization of status information) and then switches to user B, when switching to user B (job data from user B is displayed). At the time of receipt), the cleaning condition of user B has exceeded 300 sheets, so cleaning is executed before printing. On the other hand, when the user B switches to the user A after printing 400 sheets, the cleaning is executed when the user B prints 300 sheets, the status information is initialized, and then the counter for 100 sheets is incremented. Subsequently, when the user A prints 400 sheets, cleaning is executed.

  In the example of FIG. 3 described above, the cleaning criterion is the number of prints or the elapsed time, but both may be used together. At this time, when only one of the number of prints and the elapsed time satisfies the condition, it can be set which one has priority. Further, the print quality request of the print object determined by the print type determination unit 508 may be used as a determination criterion. This print quality request includes, for example, the print quality corresponding to the print mode such as the paper quality of the print medium, the resolution of the print data, the color mode, and the paper type setting. Depending on the printing quality, the number of prints and the elapsed time may be set.

  In addition, for example, as a print quality request, a cleaning condition when the user prioritizes image quality and the job data indicates that the user wants to print with high image quality is set separately for each user and stored in the table of FIG. It may be. Similarly, a cleaning condition is separately set for each user when the job data includes that the user does not give priority to image quality and allows low-quality printing or ink consumption is reduced. 3 may be held in the table. Based on the cleaning conditions included in the job data, for example, when the user A has set high-quality printing, the number of sheets that are normally cleaned with 500 sheets is set by default setting or the like. When cleaning is executed before printing is performed with less than the number of sheets, and user A has set low-quality printing (reduction of ink consumption), normally, when cleaning with 500 sheets Even so, cleaning is performed with 800 sheets.

(Function and effect)
According to the control device and the control method for the cleaning operation according to the present embodiment, conditions for executing the cleaning operation (the number of prints and the elapsed time since the previous cleaning execution) for each user who uses the inkjet printer 4. Etc.) is determined, and it is determined whether or not the conditions for the cleaning operation are the same for each user involved in printing, so that an operation commensurate with the cleaning processing request for each user can be realized. As a result, according to the present embodiment, unnecessary cleaning in terms of print quality is reduced while matching the preference for each user with respect to the cleaning operation, and unnecessary waste of ink or the like is avoided. Performance can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an inkjet printer has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to printing apparatuses of other types.

It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of the control apparatus of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the control apparatus 403a which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation screen which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure of the control method which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Inkjet printer 5 ... Printing paper 401 ... Image reading part 402 ... Cleaning means 403a ... Control apparatus 403b ... User database 403c ... Communication interface 403d ... Network 404 ... Printer part 405 ... Paper feed part 405b ... Paper feed roller 406 ... Belt conveyance 407: Double-sided belt transport unit 409 ... Paper discharge unit 409c ... Paper discharge table 410 ... Touch panel 410a ... Operation screen 411 ... Registration roller pair 501 ... Drive control unit 501a ... Drive signal output unit 502 ... Determination unit 503 ... Monitoring unit 503a ... Counter 503b ... Timer 504 ... Operation signal acquisition unit 505 ... User identification unit 506 ... Setting management unit 506a ... Operation setting acquisition unit 507 ... Memory unit 507a ... Previous operation time 507b ... Counter value 508 ... Print type Judgment part

Claims (6)

A control device for a cleaning means provided in a printing device,
A storage unit that associates and stores a user identifier that identifies each of a plurality of users and operation setting data that sets operation conditions of the cleaning unit for each user;
Monitoring means for monitoring state changes from the previous operation;
User identification means for identifying a user who instructed the printing operation during the printing operation;
Based on the user identifier of the user identified by the user identification means, the storage means is collated, operation setting acquisition means for reading the user operation setting data,
A determination unit that compares the operation setting data acquired by the operation setting acquisition unit with information on a state change acquired from the monitoring unit, and determines whether the operation of the cleaning unit is possible;
A control device for a printing apparatus, comprising: a drive control unit that controls driving of the cleaning unit according to a determination result by the determination unit. The operation setting data and the state change include information on the passage of time,
The monitoring means includes timer means for measuring an elapsed time from the previous operation,
2. The printing apparatus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit compares the elapsed time setting included in the operation setting data with the elapsed time measured by the timer unit. The operation setting data and the state change include information on the number of printed sheets,
The monitoring means includes counter means for counting the number of printed sheets,
The printing apparatus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit compares the number of printed sheets included in the operation setting data with the number of printed sheets measured by the counter unit. A control method of a cleaning means provided in a printing device,
In advance, a user identifier for identifying each of a plurality of users and operation setting data for setting operation conditions of the cleaning unit for each user are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit,
A monitoring step of monitoring state changes from the previous operation by a monitoring means;
A user identification step for identifying the user who has instructed the printing operation by the user identification means at the time of the printing operation;
Based on the user identifier of the user identified by the user identification means, the storage means is collated and an operation setting acquisition step of reading the user operation setting data;
A determination step of comparing the operation setting data acquired by the operation setting acquisition unit with information on a state change acquired from the monitoring unit, and determining whether the operation of the cleaning unit is possible by a determination unit;
And a drive control step of controlling the drive of the cleaning unit by a drive control unit in accordance with a determination result by the determination unit. The operation setting data and the state change include information on the passage of time,
In the monitoring step, the elapsed time from the previous operation is measured by the timer means,
5. The method of controlling a printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in the determining step, the elapsed time setting included in the operation setting data is compared with the elapsed time measured by the timer means. The operation setting data and the state change include information on the number of printed sheets,
In the monitoring step, a counter means counts the number of printed sheets,
5. The method of controlling a printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in the determination step, the setting of the number of printed sheets included in the operation setting data is compared with the number of printed sheets measured by the counter means.