JP2009223808A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system for displaying an operation procedure by a moving image when processing, such as a paper jam and toner supply, is needed. <P>SOLUTION: In the printing system in which a printer, a host device for outputting print data to the printer and a server storing information of a trouble processing procedure of the printer are connected through a network, the printer includes: a state acquiring means for acquiring a state of the printer; and a display screen information generating means for displaying the state of the printer acquired by the state acquiring means. The host device has a processing procedure information acquiring means for acquiring the information of the trouble processing procedure from the server when trouble processing of the printer is needed on the basis of the state of the printer. When a trouble such as no paper occurs, a user views the trouble processing procedure acquired by the processing procedure information acquiring means and can easily perform trouble processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system including a printing device such as a printer device connected to a network, and particularly to a printing system and a host device for displaying an operation procedure as a moving image when processing such as paper jam or toner supply is required.

  A printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer or an electrophotographic printer apparatus conveys a recording medium along a conveying path, ejects ink to the recording medium, or transfers toner via a photosensitive drum or belt, and the recording medium Record an image on In such a printing apparatus, operations such as replenishment of the recording medium, replenishment of ink or toner, and maintenance when the recording medium is jammed on the conveyance path are indispensable.

Therefore, it is effective to display the maintenance procedure on the operation panel of the printing apparatus and display the processing procedure. However, the operation panel of the printing apparatus has a display unit of about 16 characters and 2 lines, for example, and is not a sufficient configuration as a display environment.
On the other hand, a computer system in which a terminal device equipped with a web browser and a printing device are connected via a communication line is used today, and the status of the printing device is changed via a web server (HTTP server) to a terminal device such as a personal computer (PC). To display the status of the printing apparatus and various settings of the printing apparatus.

For example, in the invention according to Patent Document 1, the setting of the network setting, the paper feed setting, the print setting, etc. of the printing apparatus is performed by the Web browser of the terminal apparatus.
JP-A-10-136142

However, the amount of data that can be handled on the printing apparatus side is limited by the capacity of the ROM or RAM of the printing apparatus main body, and for example, the remaining amount of toner is displayed as a bar graph. For this reason, it has been impossible to provide guidance on the processing procedure of maintenance work by moving images or voices.
Therefore, the present invention provides a printing system capable of displaying a moving image of trouble processing of a printing apparatus, replacement work of consumables, and the like without requiring a large capacity memory in the printing apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus, a host device that outputs print data to the printing apparatus, and a server that stores information on a troubleshooting procedure of the printing apparatus connected via a network. In the printing system, the printing apparatus includes: a state acquisition unit that acquires a state of the printing apparatus; and a display screen information generation unit that displays the state of the printing apparatus acquired by the state acquisition unit. When the device needs trouble processing of the printing device based on the state of the printing device, the device includes processing procedure information acquisition means for acquiring information of the trouble processing procedure from the server, and display screen information generation means. Display means for acquiring display screen information to display the status of the printing apparatus and displaying the trouble processing procedure acquired by the processing procedure information acquiring means. It can be achieved by providing a that printing system.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the processing procedure information acquisition means can be achieved by providing a printing system that acquires information on the trouble processing procedure from the server.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the host device has a selection means for selecting a specific trouble processing procedure from the information of the trouble processing procedure, and the trouble processing procedure selected from the server according to the selection. This can be achieved by providing a printing system in which the information is transferred.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device for displaying a status of the printing apparatus, which is a host device connected via a network to a server that stores information on a printing apparatus and a trouble processing procedure of the printing apparatus. Status display information acquisition means for acquiring screen information from the printing device, and processing for acquiring information of the trouble processing procedure from the server when trouble processing of the printing device is necessary based on the status of the printing device This can be achieved by providing a host device having procedure information acquisition means and display means for displaying the trouble processing procedure acquired by the process procedure information acquisition means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a selection means for selecting a specific trouble processing procedure from the information of the trouble processing procedure, and information on the trouble processing procedure selected from the server according to the selection is transferred. This can be achieved by providing a host device.

  According to the present invention, when maintenance of the printing apparatus or replacement work of consumables is necessary, even when moving image data for displaying the operation procedure on the printing apparatus is not stored, the web server connected via the network can be used. The host device acquires moving image data indicating an operation processing procedure, and visually displays the processing procedure on the host device, so that replacement work of consumables and the like can be easily performed.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is an overall system diagram in which a printing apparatus used in the present embodiment is connected to a personal computer (PC) as a host device via a network. In FIG. 1, a printer 1 which is a printing device connected to a local area network (LAN) is connected to personal computers (PC1, PC2) via a hub (HAB) 2. The printer device 1 is connected to a mobile terminal 4 such as a mobile phone via a hub (HAB) 2 and a wireless LAN access point 3.

  The LAN including the printer device 1 is connected to the Internet via the router 5 and is also connected to a server 6 of the manufacturer of the printer device 1 having a Web page, for example. In the printer apparatus 1, for example, a simple Web server 10 a operates in the I / F controller 10. For example, the printer apparatus 1 is displayed on the address bar of a personal computer (PC 1, PC 2) or a Web browser of the mobile terminal 4. It is possible to access the Web server 10a in the printer apparatus 1 by acquiring the IP address assigned to and acquire display screen information created by the Web server 10a and display it on the Web browser.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the printer 1 in detail, and partially shows the configuration of the LAN. The printer apparatus 1 includes an interface controller (hereinafter referred to as an I / F controller) 10, an engine controller 11, and a head controller 12. Print data is supplied to the I / F controller 10 from a personal computer (for example, PC1). The

  The I / F controller 10 creates drawing data, for example, based on print data supplied by a RIP (Raster Image Processor) provided therein, and outputs the drawing data to the engine controller 11. An operation panel 13 is connected to the I / F controller 10, and an operation signal from the user is supplied to the I / F controller 10 and necessary information is displayed on the operation panel 13.

  The engine controller 11 transfers the drawing data supplied from the I / F controller 10 to the head controller 12, and performs printing processing on a sheet by the LED head 14. Various detection signals are input to the engine controller 11 from many sensors. For example, a detection signal for detecting opening / closing of the front door of the printer apparatus 1 is input from the front door sensor 16, and an opening / closing of the right side door of the printer apparatus 1 is detected from the light door sensor 17, but a detection signal is input from the standby sensor 18. A detection signal for paper fed from a paper cassette (not shown) is input, a detection signal for paper that has passed through a fixing device (not shown) is input from the paper discharge sensor 19, and the paper in the paper cassette is supplied from the paper presence sensor 20 A detection signal for detecting the presence or absence of toner is input, and a detection signal for detecting the presence or absence of toner in a developing device (not shown) is further input from the toner sensor 21. Detection signals obtained from these sensors are input to the I / F controller 10 as information indicating the state in the printer apparatus 1.

Further, a drive signal is supplied from the engine controller 11 to the motor 22, and a high voltage control signal is supplied to the high voltage unit 23.
FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the I / F controller 10. The I / F controller 10 includes a CPU 25, an SDRAM (synchronous DRAM) 26, a flash memory 27, a hard disk (HDD) 28, and an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) 29. The SDRAM 26, the flash memory 27, A hard disk (HDD) 28 is connected, and an ASIC 29 is connected via a PCI bus.

  Further, the personal computers (PC1, PC2) described above are connected through a LAN interface 30 such as a LAN board, and other personal computers (PC) are connected through a USB interface 31.

Here, the above-described simple Web server program is installed in the flash memory 27 and operates on the SDRAM 26. Further, the capacity of the flash memory 27 is about 8 MB, the capacity of the SDRAM 26 is 128 MB, and the frequency of the CPU 25 is about 400 MHz. This Web server program creates HTML document data for status display based on the status information in the printer engine sent from the engine controller 11 described above, and designates the IP address assigned to the printer device 1. In this case, it has a function of transmitting as display screen information indicating the state in the printer apparatus 1 to the client that accesses the printer, that is, the personal computer (PC1, PC2) or the portable terminal 4 described above.
On the other hand, the personal computer (PC1) obtains display screen information indicating the printer status sent from the above-described printer apparatus 1 by the control unit 8 that obtains processing procedure information, which will be described later, and displays it as a web monitor screen. It has the display part 9 which performs.

In the above configuration, the processing operation of this example will be described below.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of this example. In the figure, first, the user operates the operation panel 13 of the printer apparatus 1 to turn on the printer apparatus 1 (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1). With this process, the state of the printer 1 is acquired by the Web server 10a (S2).

  On the other hand, on the personal computer (PC1) side, when the power is turned on, the Web browser is activated (S3, S4). Similarly, in the portable terminal 4, when the user turns on the power, the web browser for the portable terminal 4 is activated.

  Next, the keyboard of the personal computer (PC1) is operated to input the IP address of the printer apparatus 1 into the address bar of the web browser. By this processing, the printer device 1 with the IP address is accessed (S5). In the printer apparatus 1, the status of the printer apparatus 1 is reacquired by the Web server 10 a, and then the Web server creates the status information of the printer apparatus 1 in the HTML format on the personal computer (PC 1) or the portable terminal 4 that accessed the printer apparatus 1. Is transmitted as the web monitor screen information thus made (S6).

  On the personal computer (PC 1) side, a web monitor screen sent from the web server 10a of the printer apparatus 1 is displayed on the display unit 9 by a web browser activated in response to a user operation (S7), an example of which is shown in FIG. Show. As shown in the figure, the panel display of the Web monitor at this time displays, for example, “In-Saturation”, indicating that the printing apparatus 1 is currently capable of printing. The web monitor screen also displays information on the paper feed port, information on the remaining amount of toner, remaining amount of paper, and the like. For these pieces of information, the status information acquired by the paper presence sensor 20 and the toner sensor 21 is transmitted to the Web server 10a, and Web monitor screen information is created based on the information, and displayed based on this information. The

  For example, if the “go to printer operation page” button on the Web monitor screen displayed by the display unit 9 shown in FIG. 5 is designated, the screen shifts to the screen shown in FIG. This screen is a network setting screen, from which various setting processes such as basic network settings, management information settings, and the like can be performed. 7 is displayed, the screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, and print processing displayed on the screen, for example, status sheet printing, and confirmation of the network status are performed. be able to.

  On the other hand, if any trouble occurs in the printer apparatus 1, a buzzer sounds. For example, when a trouble requiring maintenance such as a paper jam, no toner, no paper, etc. occurs, a buzzer sounds (S8), and the operator knows that a trouble requiring maintenance has occurred in the printer apparatus 1 by the buzzer. On the other hand, on the client side such as a personal computer, when the “display update” button on the Web monitor screen is designated (S9), the display changes to that shown in FIG.

At this time, the web monitor screen information including the trouble information is sent to the personal computer (PC1) or the like via the network, and necessary information is displayed on the web monitor screen displayed on the display unit 9 of the personal computer (PC1). It is displayed (S10). That is, the trouble content “Kami-mari” is displayed on the panel display, and the message on the panel lamp turns red.
The trouble requiring maintenance is not limited to the paper jam, but there is no toner, no paper, etc., and a corresponding display is performed.

  Here, when the operator wants to know the troubleshooting procedure, the “error handling procedure introduction” button on the Web monitor screen displayed on the display unit 9 is designated (S11). This button is linked to a web page in the server 6 facility prepared by the manufacturer of the printer device 1, which is different from the web server 10 a of the printer device 1 that sends out the web monitor screen information described above. The server 6 is accessed via the network (Internet) (S12, S13).

  The server 6 prepares an introduction image of the trouble processing procedure of the printer apparatus 1, and this guidance screen is displayed on the display unit 9 by a Web browser operated by a personal computer (PC 1). FIG. 9 shows a screen for introducing this processing procedure, together with the appearance of the printer apparatus 1, trouble processing items (“toner replacement”, “replace drum”, “process paper jam”, “replenish paper”. ]) Is displayed.

  Here, for example, it is assumed that the operator designates a button for “processing a paper jam” which is the current trouble content (S14). In response to this instruction, the server 6 transmits the moving image data of the processing procedure for processing a paper jam to the personal computer (PC1) (S15).

  Software for reproducing the transmitted moving image data is installed in the personal computer (PC1). In the case of the paper jam processing, first, an image shown in FIG. 10 is displayed (S16). Character information such as “take out jammed paper” is also displayed in this image, and it is confirmed that the data is moving image data of the paper jam handling procedure.

  FIGS. 11-14 shows an example of the moving image data displayed on the display part 9 as a guidance screen after that. For example, FIG. 11 shows that the front cover of the printer apparatus 1 is first opened, and FIG. 12 shows that the front cover is further opened to the open position. 13 shows that the next jammed paper is taken out, and FIG. 14 also shows that the paper is taken out (S16). Therefore, the user can easily know the trouble processing procedure by viewing the video displayed on the guidance screen.

  Although the above processing procedure is a moving image corresponding to a paper jam, trouble processing procedures such as toner replacement and drum replacement can be similarly performed by acquiring moving image data of the corresponding processing procedure from the server. it can.

  In the description of this example, the error handling procedure introduction screen is first displayed on the Web monitor, and then the user is made to select a trouble processing item. In the Web monitor shown in FIG. , “Replace drum”, “Process paper jam”, and “Replenish paper” are prepared, and moving image data of the corresponding troubleshooting procedure can be acquired by one designation. Good. By processing in this way, trouble processing can be performed easily and efficiently.

  As described above, according to this example, the link to the server 6 is attached to the Web monitor display program of the Web browser installed in the personal computer (PC 1), so that the memory capacity of the printer device 1 is not increased. A moving image of the trouble processing procedure can be viewed, and the trouble processing can be easily performed by knowing the trouble processing procedure visually.

  In the description of this example, the personal computer (PC 1) connected to the network has been described. However, the above processing may be performed using the mobile terminal 4 such as a mobile phone via the wireless LAN access point 3. .

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which a printer device is connected to a personal computer via a hub (HAB). FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram in which a printing apparatus used in the present embodiment is connected to a personal computer as a host device via a network. It is a circuit block of an I / F controller. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation of this example. It is a figure which shows an example of the web monitor screen displayed on a display part by a web browser. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of a network. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which performs printing processing, such as status sheet printing, and confirmation of a network state. It is a figure which shows an example of the Web monitor screen containing trouble information. It is a figure which shows the introduction screen of a trouble processing procedure. It is an initial screen of moving image data of a paper jam handling procedure. It is a figure which shows an example of the moving image data displayed on a guidance screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the moving image data displayed on a guidance screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the moving image data displayed on a guidance screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the moving image data displayed on a guidance screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer apparatus 2 ... Hub (HAB)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Wireless LAN access point 4 ... Mobile terminal 5 ... Router 6 ... Printer manufacturer server 8 ... Control part 9 ... Display part 10 ... I / F controller 10a ... Web server 11, engine controller 12, head controller 13, operation panel 14, LED head 16, front door sensor 17, light door sensor 18, standby sensor 19, paper discharge sensor 20, paper presence sensor 21・ ・ Toner sensor 22 ・ ・ Motor 23 ・ ・ High pressure unit 25 ・ ・ CPU
26 ・ ・ SDRAM
27. Flash memory 28 Hard disk (HDD)
29. ・ ASIC
30..LAN interface 31..USB interface PC1, PC2..Personal computer

Claims (5)

A printing system in which a printing device, a host device that outputs print data to the printing device, and a server that stores information on a troubleshooting procedure of the printing device are connected via a network,
The printing apparatus includes a state acquisition unit that acquires a state of the printing apparatus;
Display screen information generation means for displaying the status of the printing apparatus acquired by the status acquisition means,
The host device, based on the state of the printing device, when the trouble processing of the printing device is necessary, processing procedure information acquisition means for acquiring information of the trouble processing procedure from the server;
Display means for obtaining display screen information from the display screen information generating means to display the status of the printing apparatus, and displaying trouble processing procedures obtained by the processing procedure information obtaining means;
A printing system comprising:   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the processing procedure information acquisition unit acquires information on the trouble processing procedure from the server.   The host device has selection means for selecting a specific trouble processing procedure from the information of the trouble processing procedure, and acquires information on the trouble processing procedure selected from the server according to the selection. Item 3. The printing system according to Item 1 or 2. A host device connected via a network to a server that stores information on a printing apparatus and trouble handling procedures of the printing apparatus,
Status display information acquisition means for acquiring display screen information for displaying the status of the printing device from the printing device;
Based on the state of the printing device, when trouble processing of the printing device is necessary, processing procedure information acquisition means for acquiring information of the trouble processing procedure from the server;
Display means for displaying the trouble processing procedure acquired by the processing procedure information acquiring means;
A host device characterized by comprising:   5. The host according to claim 4, further comprising selection means for selecting a specific trouble processing procedure from the information on the trouble processing procedure, and acquiring information on the trouble processing procedure selected from the server according to the selection. machine.