JP2010096868A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To bring consumption of color materials close to equal in an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus is provided with: a printing engine 1 for printing by using black color material 21 and a plurality of other color materials 22; a residual amount specifying section 2 for specifying the residual amount of the black color material 21 and the residual amounts of respective color materials 22 for the plurality of other colors; and a control section 3 for having a printing engine 1 print by switching designation of black in printing data to designation of an alternative color using at least one of the other colors for which the residual amount is specified when the residual amount for black is determined to be less than a prescribed amount or prescribed ratio compared to the residual amount for the other colors based on the residual amount for black and the residual amount for the other colors which are specified by the residual amount specifying section 2 when the printing engine 1 is made to perform the printing based on the printing data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In an image forming apparatus capable of color printing and monochrome printing, for example, a black color material used for monochrome printing and a color color material (for example, cyan, magenta, and yellow) used for color printing are used.

  In an image forming apparatus, for example, when the black color material falls below a predetermined amount, black in the print data is converted into three colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow, and printing is performed with the three colors (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2006-106473 A

  When the image forming apparatus uses a plurality of color materials, the amount of consumption differs for each color of the color material. For this reason, in the case where a plurality of color materials are stored in one cartridge, when the color material of a certain color is exhausted, the cartridge must be replaced, and the remaining color material of other colors is replaced. There is a problem that it is discarded without being consumed. In the above-described image forming apparatus, since three colors are substituted, the color material unevenness cannot be resolved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an image forming apparatus that can make the color material consumption closer to each other.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a print engine that performs printing using a black color material and a plurality of other color materials, a remaining amount of the black color material, and a plurality of other colors. A remaining amount identifying unit that identifies a remaining amount of material, and a black remaining amount identified by the remaining amount identifying unit and at least one predetermined other color when causing the print engine to execute printing based on print data. Based on the remaining amount, if it is determined that the remaining amount of black is a predetermined amount or a predetermined percentage smaller than the remaining amount of other predetermined colors, the designation of black in the print data is changed to that of the other color whose remaining amount is specified. A control unit that switches to designation of an alternative color using at least one and causes the print engine to print.

  Thus, by specifying a color with a small consumption amount as an alternative color, the consumption amount of the black color material and the consumption amount of the color color material approach each other equally, and the consumption of the plurality of color color materials approaches equally. In addition, when there is a large amount of print data for monochrome printing, the frequency of use of alternative colors increases, so that the consumption of a plurality of color materials can be made closer to each other.

  In addition to the image forming apparatus described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the image forming apparatus includes a data storage unit that stores designation data for designating an alternative color for switching designation of black. The remaining amount identifying unit identifies the remaining amount of the black color material and the remaining amount of the color material used for the alternative color designated by the designated data. The control unit switches the designation of black in the print data to the designation of the alternative color designated by the designation data and causes the print engine to print.

  As a result, by designating a color with a small amount of consumption as the substitute color in the designated data, the consumption amount of the black material and the consumption amount of the color color material approach each other equally, and the consumption of the specific color color material can be accelerated. Therefore, the consumption of a plurality of color materials approaches evenly.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the control unit stores the switching start data in the data storage unit when printing is performed by switching the black designation to the alternative color designation, and if the switching start data is stored in the data storage unit, the remaining data is stored. Regardless of the remaining amount by the quantity specifying unit, the designation of black is continuously switched to the designation of the alternative color and printing is executed. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the switching start data is deleted from the data storage unit.

  As a result, the use of the alternative color and the use of black are not frequently switched.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, when the print job in which the designation of black is switched to the designation of the alternative color is completed, the control unit deletes the switching start data from the data storage unit.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, when the difference or ratio between the remaining amount of black and the remaining amount of other colors used for the substitute color becomes larger than the first threshold value, the control unit switches the designation of black to the designation of the substitute color, When it becomes smaller than the threshold value, the switching start data is deleted from the data storage unit. At this time, the second threshold is smaller than the first threshold.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the alternative color is a single color among a plurality of other colors.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the alternative color is a color obtained by mixing two of a plurality of other colors.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the alternative color is a color obtained by mixing black and a single color among a plurality of other colors by increasing the single color over black. For example, the single color at this time is yellow.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the remaining amount is a ratio of the remaining amount at that time to the remaining amount at the start of cartridge use.

  Thereby, even when the amount of the color material contained in the cartridge differs depending on the color, the color material can be consumed evenly.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the color material is ink or toner.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the print engine performs printing using a plurality of other color materials stored in one integrated cartridge.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to make the color material consumption in the image forming apparatus closer to each other.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a print engine 1 is a device that performs printing using a black color material 21 included in a black cartridge 11 and a plurality of other color materials 22 included in a color cartridge 12. In the case of an inkjet printer, the print engine 1 performs monochrome printing using black ink as a color material, and performs color printing using color ink (or color ink and black ink) as a color material. An ink jet printer forms an image on a recording medium (for example, printing paper) by ejecting ink from an ink head. In the case of a laser printer, the print engine 1 performs black and white printing using black toner as a color material, and performs color printing using color toner (or color toner and black toner) as a color material. The laser printer performs toner development, transfers it onto a recording medium, and fixes it to form an image on the recording medium.

  The remaining amount specifying unit 2 is a processing unit that specifies the remaining amount of the black color material and the remaining amount of each of the other color materials. For example, the remaining amount specifying unit 2 receives an electrical signal corresponding to the remaining amount of the color material from a sensor installed in the cartridges 11 and 12, and determines the remaining amount of each of the color materials 21 and 22 based on the electrical signal. It may be specified. Alternatively, the remaining amount specifying unit 2 may acquire the usage amount of the color materials 21 and 22 in the print engine 1 and calculate the remaining amount of the color materials 21 and 22.

  At this time, for example, the remaining amount specifying unit 2 calculates the ratio of the remaining amount (value by the sensor) at that time to the remaining amount at the start of cartridge use, and sets it as the remaining amount of the color material. Alternatively, the remaining amount specifying unit 2 may use a value indicating an absolute amount based on a value obtained by the sensor as the remaining amount of the color material.

  The control unit 3 is a processing unit that controls the print engine 1. When the control unit 3 causes the print engine 1 to execute printing based on the print data, the control unit 3 determines whether the black remaining amount is based on the remaining black amount specified by the remaining amount specifying unit 2 and at least one remaining amount of another color. If it is determined that the amount is less than the remaining amount of at least one predetermined other color, the designation of black in the print data is changed to the designation of an alternative color that uses at least one of the other colors whose remaining amount is specified. Switch to have the print engine print.

  The remaining amount specifying unit 2 and the control unit 3 are realized by, for example, a program being executed by a computer.

  The communication unit 4 is a communication device that receives print data from a user terminal device such as a personal computer. For example, print data is transmitted as a print job from a printer driver in a personal computer. As the communication unit 4, a peripheral device interface, a network interface, or the like is used.

  The data storage unit 5 is a device that stores various data. As the data storage unit 5, a nonvolatile rewritable memory, a hard disk drive, or the like is used. The data storage unit 5 stores designated data 31, for example. The designation data 31 is data for designating an alternative color for switching the designation of black.

  This alternative color is specified based on a user operation obtained from a printer driver in the operation panel 6 or a personal computer (not shown), and is included in the designation data 31 by the control unit 3. Alternatively, the control unit 3 may automatically select an alternative color according to the remaining amount of the plurality of color color materials 22.

  The alternative color is, for example, a single color among a plurality of other colors. For example, when the color of the color material 22 is cyan, magenta, or yellow, the alternative color is any one of cyan, magenta, and yellow.

  The alternative color is, for example, a color obtained by mixing two of a plurality of other colors. For example, when the color of the color material 22 is cyan, magenta and yellow, the alternative color is a color generated by mixing any two of cyan, magenta and yellow. At this time, the mixing ratio of the two colors may be designated as the alternative color information.

  In addition, the alternative color is, for example, a color obtained by mixing black and a single color (for example, yellow) among a plurality of other colors by increasing the single color over black. For colors that are difficult to see when printed in a single color, it can be made easier to see by mixing a trace amount of black (for example, about 5 to 20 percent of the mixed single color).

  The operation panel 6 is installed on the apparatus housing and includes a display device and an input device. As the display device of the operation panel 6, for example, a liquid crystal display is used. As an input device of the operation panel 6, a touch panel, a key switch, or the like disposed on a liquid crystal display is used.

  The cartridges 11 and 12 contain color materials 21 and 22 such as toner and ink, and are detachable from the image forming apparatus. The cartridge 21 is an integrated cartridge that contains a plurality of color materials 22. These cartridges 11 and 12 are replaced when the stored color materials 21 and 22 run out.

  Next, the operation of the above apparatus will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  When print data is received by the communication unit 4 (step S1), the control unit 3 determines whether or not the requested print is monochrome printing based on the print data (step S2).

  When determining that the requested printing is monochrome printing, the control unit 3 causes the remaining amount specifying unit 2 to specify the remaining amounts of the color materials 21 and 22. At this time, the remaining amount specifying unit 2 specifies the remaining amount of the black material 21 of the black cartridge 11 and the remaining amount of the color color material 22 of the color cartridge 12, and sends data indicating these remaining amounts to the control unit 3. Supply (step S3).

  Then, based on the remaining amount data supplied from the remaining amount specifying unit 2, the control unit 3 determines whether the remaining amount of the black material 21 is smaller by a predetermined amount or a predetermined ratio than the remaining amount of at least one color color material 21. Is determined (step S4).

  When it is determined that the remaining amount of the black material 21 is small, the control unit 3 specifies an alternative color (step S5). In the first embodiment, the control unit 31 specifies an alternative color based on the designation data 31.

  Then, the control unit 3 switches the designation of black in the print data to the designation of the alternative color and causes the print engine 1 to execute printing (step S6).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the remaining amount of the black material 21 is not small, the control unit 3 performs printing based on the received print data without switching the designation of black in the print data to the designation of the alternative color. The engine 1 is caused to execute printing (step S7).

  In step S2, if color printing is requested by the received print data, the control unit 3 causes the print engine 1 to perform printing based on the received print data (step S8).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the remaining amount specifying unit 2 specifies the remaining amount of the black color material 21 and the remaining amounts of the color materials 22 of a plurality of other colors. Based on the black remaining amount specified by the remaining amount specifying unit 2 and the remaining amount of other predetermined color, the control unit 3 determines that the remaining amount of black is a predetermined amount or a predetermined ratio compared to the remaining amount of other predetermined color. If it is determined that the amount is small, the designation of black in the print data is switched to designation of an alternative color that uses at least one of the other colors whose remaining amount is specified, and the print engine 1 is caused to print.

  Thus, by specifying a color with a small consumption amount as an alternative color, the consumption amount of the black color material and the consumption amount of the color color material approach each other equally, and the consumption of the plurality of color color materials approaches equally. In addition, when there is a large amount of print data for monochrome printing, the frequency of use of alternative colors increases, so that the consumption of a plurality of color materials can be made closer to each other.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, once switching to the alternative color occurs, the black designation in the print data is continuously switched to the designation of the alternative color until the switching end condition is satisfied.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, the control unit 3 operates as follows.

  Here, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, when monochrome print data is received (steps S1 and S2), the control unit 3 determines whether or not switching start data is stored in the data storage unit 5 (step S11). ). The switching start data is data indicating that the operation state of the control unit 3 is in a mode for switching the designation of black to the designation of an alternative color regardless of the remaining amount of the color materials 21 and 22.

  When the switching start data is not stored, the control unit 3 executes the processes shown in steps S3 to S7 as in the case of the first embodiment. Thereafter, when the printing is executed using the alternative color, the control unit 3 stores the switching start data in the data storage unit 5 (step S12).

  On the other hand, when switching start data is stored in the data storage unit 5 when monochrome print data is received, the control unit 3 determines whether a switching end condition is satisfied (step S13). ).

As the switching end condition, for example,
(A) the print job when the black designation is switched to the alternative color designation is completed;
(B) The difference or ratio between the remaining amount of the black material 21 and the remaining amount of the other color material 22 used for the alternative color is smaller than a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value at the start of switching;
One of these is used.

  When it is determined that the switching end condition is satisfied, the control unit 3 deletes the switching start data from the data storage unit 5 (step S14). And the control part 3 performs the process after step S3.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the switching end condition is not satisfied, the control unit 3 performs printing by switching the black designation to the alternative color designation without performing the remaining amount detection and the switching judgment (steps S3 and S4). (Step S15).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the control unit 3 stores the switching start data in the data storage unit 5 when printing is performed by switching the black designation to the alternative color designation. When the switching start data is stored in the data storage unit 5, the control unit 3 continuously switches the black designation to the alternative color designation regardless of the remaining amount of the color materials 21 and 22, and performs printing. Execute. On the other hand, the control unit 3 deletes the switching start data from the data storage unit 5 when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

  As a result, the use of the alternative color and the use of black are not frequently switched.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, a substitute color is designated by the user each time through the user interface.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the first or second embodiment. However, the control unit 3 operates as follows.

  Here, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described. Processes other than the alternative color specification (step S5) in FIGS. 2 and 3 are the same as those in the first or second embodiment. Therefore, here, the alternative color identification (step S5) in the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining alternative color specification (step S5) in the third embodiment.

  First, the control unit 3 displays the remaining amounts of the color materials 21 and 22 on the operation panel 6 or the display device of the user terminal device based on the remaining amount data from the remaining amount specifying unit 2. At this time, a text prompting selection of an alternative color is also displayed.

  When displaying the remaining amounts of the color materials 21 and 22 on the display device of the user terminal device, the control unit 3 causes the remaining amount data to be transmitted to the user terminal device via the communication unit 4. Then, the printer driver or application of the user terminal device displays the remaining amount of each of the color materials 21 and 22 on the display device based on the remaining amount data.

  When the operation panel 6 or the input device of the user terminal device detects a user operation for selecting an alternative color, it supplies information on the user operation to the control unit 3.

  Information on user operations to the input device of the user terminal device is transmitted to the image forming apparatus by a printer driver or an application of the user terminal device, received by the communication unit 4, and supplied to the control unit 3.

  The control unit 3 selects a substitute color based on the supplied user operation information, and generates preview image data in which the designation of black in the received print data is replaced with the designation of the substitute color (step S23).

  The control unit 3 displays a preview image based on the preview image data on the operation panel 6 or the display device of the user terminal device (step S24). At this time, an OK button for confirming the alternative color, a cancel button for canceling, and the like are also displayed.

  When displaying the preview image on the display device of the user terminal device, the control unit 3 causes the preview image data to be transmitted to the user terminal device via the communication unit 4. Then, the printer driver or application of the user terminal device displays the preview image on the display device based on the preview image data.

  When the input device of the operation panel 6 or the user terminal device detects a user operation for determining the alternative color (for example, pressing the OK button) or a user operation for refusing (for example, pressing the cancel button), the user operation is performed. Information is supplied to the control unit 3.

  Based on the user operation information, the control unit 3 determines whether or not to confirm the selected alternative color (step S25).

  When the selected alternative color is confirmed, the control unit 3 executes the processes after step S6 in FIG. On the other hand, the control part 3 returns to step S21, when the alternative color currently selected is not decided. This makes it possible to select another color as an alternative color.

  Note that the designation data 31 including the alternative color selected in this process may be stored in the data storage unit 5. Then, this process may be executed only when the designated data 31 is not stored in the data storage unit 5.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the remaining amount of each of the color materials 21 and 22 is displayed to the user, and the user can specify an alternative color according to the remaining amount. Further, the print result can be known in advance as a preview image.

  Each embodiment described above is a preferred example of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, the cartridges 11 and 12 may be a single integrated cartridge.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the switching stop mode in which the process of switching the black designation to the alternative color designation is not performed may be designated by the mode designation data. In this case, the mode designation data designates either the switching stop mode or the normal mode of operation described above.

  In each of the above embodiments, the remaining amount specifying unit 2 refers to the designation data 31 and specifies the remaining amount for only the black color material 21 and one or more color materials 22 used for the alternative color. It may be.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the control unit 3 controls the operation panel 6 or the user terminal device when the remaining amount of the at least one color material 22 in the cartridge 12 becomes a predetermined amount (or a predetermined ratio) or less. You may make it display the text or image which prompts replacement | exchange of the cartridge 12 on a display apparatus. In each of the above embodiments, since the plurality of color materials 22 in the cartridge 12 are easily consumed, the color material 22 remaining when the cartridge 12 is replaced can be reduced. In each of the above embodiments, the cartridge 12 may be separated for each color material 22. Even in that case, the replacement times of the plurality of cartridges are close, so the number of replacement operations can be reduced.

  The present invention is applicable to, for example, a color printer.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for describing identification of an alternative color in the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print engine 2 Remaining quantity specific | specification part 3 Control part 5 Data storage part 21,22 Color material 31 Specification data

Claims (12)

A print engine that prints using a black color material as well as a plurality of other color materials;
A remaining amount identifying unit for identifying the remaining amount of the black color material and the remaining amount of each of the plurality of other color materials;
When the print engine executes printing based on print data, the remaining black amount is determined based on the remaining black amount specified by the remaining amount specifying unit and the remaining amount of at least one other predetermined color. When it is determined that the predetermined amount or the predetermined ratio is smaller than the remaining amount of the predetermined other color, the designation of black in the print data is performed using at least one of the other colors that specify the remaining amount. A control unit that switches to designation of an alternative color and causes the print engine to print;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A data storage unit for storing designation data for designating the alternative color for switching the designation of black;
The remaining amount specifying unit specifies the remaining amount of the black color material, and the remaining amount of the color material used for the alternative color specified by the specified data,
The control unit switches the designation of black in the print data to designation of the alternative color designated by the designation data, and causes the print engine to print;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The control unit stores switching start data in a data storage unit when printing is performed by switching the black designation to the alternative color designation, and when the switching start data is stored in the data storage unit, Regardless of the remaining amount by the remaining amount specifying unit, the black designation is continuously switched to the alternative color designation to execute printing, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the switching start data is changed to the data The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is deleted from the storage unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit deletes the switching start data from the data storage unit when a print job in which the black designation is switched to the alternative color designation is completed. The control unit switches the black designation to the substitution color designation when a difference or ratio between the remaining black quantity and the remaining quantity of other colors used for the substitution color becomes larger than a first threshold value. When the threshold value is smaller than 2, the switching start data is deleted from the data storage unit,
The second threshold is less than the first threshold;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alternative color is a single color of the plurality of other colors.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alternative color is a color obtained by mixing two of the plurality of other colors.   6. The substitute color according to claim 1, wherein the alternative color is a color obtained by mixing black and a single color among the plurality of other colors by increasing the single color over black. 2. An image forming apparatus according to item 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the single color is yellow.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remaining amount is a ratio of a remaining amount at that time to a remaining amount at the start of cartridge use.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color material is ink or toner.   12. The print engine according to claim 1, wherein the print engine performs printing using the color materials of the other colors stored in one integrated cartridge. The image forming apparatus described.

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