JP2011025427A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a printing apparatus that allows a user to always be aware of the use of such products when using consumables or replacement parts to which greenhouse gas emission rights have been granted. .
A printing apparatus in which a consumable item or replacement part such as a toner cartridge is mounted, and a storage unit that detects that a consumable part or replacement part with a CO2 emission right is mounted and stores the mounting information Print data print processing, and when the print data print processing, the storage means stores mounting information of the consumables or replacement parts, along with the print result of the print data, the ecology mark And a printing control means for performing printing.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus using consumables or replacement parts to which greenhouse gas emission rights are given.

  Today, the preservation of the global environment is screamed worldwide, and emission regulations for greenhouse gases such as CO2 (carbon dioxide) are being realized, centered on the Global Warming Prevention Conference. Under such circumstances, efforts to reduce CO2 have been made in printing apparatuses, and related patent applications have been filed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 sets a target value when using resources such as paper in an information processing apparatus including a printing apparatus, predicts the amount of future resource usage from the current resource usage state, and achieves the target. If this is not possible, discontinue use and disclose a report to achieve the goal.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 converts CO2 consumption of consumables consumed by the image forming apparatus for the same period as the amount of power consumed by using the image forming apparatus for a certain period of time to reduce CO2 emissions. An invention that proposes a recommended mode and predicts improvement of CO2 emissions is disclosed.
On the other hand, each company sells consumables such as toner cartridges and replacement parts for the purpose of promoting environmental protection, and expects the user's awareness of greenhouse gas reduction to increase.

JP 2007-249563 A JP 2002-006696 A

  However, although users are aware that consumables and replacement parts such as toner cartridges for the purpose of promoting environmental protection are ecological products at the time of purchase, they recognize the use of ecological products during subsequent use. Is usually faded. In order to promote environmental protection, it is important that each user who uses a printing apparatus is always aware of reducing greenhouse gases.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a printing apparatus that allows a user to always be aware that such a product is used when using consumables or replacement parts to which greenhouse gas emission rights are granted.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, according to the first invention, it is detected that a consumable item or replacement part with a CO2 emission right is mounted, a storage unit for storing the mounting information, print processing of print data, A printing apparatus having printing control means for printing an ecology mark together with a print result of the print data when the storage information is stored in the storage means during printing processing of print data Can be achieved by providing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, the print control means prints an ecology notification character string for notifying the mounting of a consumable item with a CO2 emission right or a replacement part, instead of printing the ecology mark. This can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus that performs the above.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first storage means for storing ecology printing information, and detecting that a consumable or replacement part with a CO2 emission right is mounted, and the mounting information is obtained. When performing ecology printing stored in the second storage means and the first storage means, the first ecology mark is printed, and the consumable or replacement part is mounted on the second storage means This can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus further comprising a printing control means for printing the second ecology mark when the information is stored.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage process for detecting that a consumable or replacement part with a CO2 emission right is mounted and storing the mounting information in a storage means, and a print data printing process. And printing control processing for printing ecology marks together with the printing result of the print data when the storage information is stored in the storage means during the printing processing of the print data This can be achieved by providing a printing control method that performs the following.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first process for storing ecology printing information in the first storage means, and detecting that a consumable or replacement part with a CO2 emission right is attached. When performing the second processing for storing the mounting information in the second storage means and the ecology printing stored in the first storage means, the first ecology mark is printed and the second storage is performed. This can be achieved by providing a print control method for performing print control processing for printing the second ecology mark when the consumable or replacement part mounting information is stored in the means.

  According to the present invention, when a printing device such as a printer device is used, environmental protection relating to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2 due to mounting of consumables or replacement parts by printing ecology marks or ecology notification character strings. Recall awareness and promote environmental protection.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printer apparatus as a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the data structure of an eco level printing information part. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a cartridge identification information part. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the first embodiment, and is a flowchart for explaining processing of a data drawing unit. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the first embodiment, and is a flowchart for explaining processing of an eco-level print control unit. FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a printer apparatus as a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a processing operation of the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a system configuration diagram of a printer apparatus as a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the additional character string registered into the additional character string memory | storage part. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a processing operation of the third embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printer apparatus as a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a printer apparatus 1 is connected to a personal computer (PC) that is a host device. The printer apparatus 1 includes a print data reception / analysis unit 2, a data drawing unit 3, a data transfer unit 4, an eco level print control unit 5, an eco level print information unit 6, an image memory 7, a cartridge identification information unit 8, and a cartridge identification unit. 9 and the printer engine 10.

  The printer device 1 receives print data from a personal computer (PC) supplied to the print data reception / analysis unit 2, performs command analysis, and converts it into drawing data. The data drawing unit 3 develops the drawing data analyzed by the print data reception / analysis unit 2 in the image memory 7. The data transfer unit 4 transmits drawing data developed in the image memory 7 to the printer engine 10 in accordance with an instruction from the data drawing unit 3, and drives the printer engine 10 to perform printing processing on paper (recording medium).

  The eco-level print control unit 5 performs print control representing the degree of contribution to the ecology of the document to be printed, and instructs and controls eco-level printing based on information registered in the eco-level print information unit 6.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the eco level print information unit 6. As shown in the figure, the eco-level print information section 6 stores information on the presence / absence of each ecology item, as well as items related to ecology printing such as “double-sided printing”, “multi-page”, and “toner save”. ing. The eco level print control unit 5 performs eco level printing based on the information registered in the eco level print information unit 6. “Double-sided printing” is a process for reducing the consumption of paper by printing on the front and back surfaces of the paper (recording medium) by the printer engine 10. “Multi-page” is for 2 pages and 4 pages on one paper. ,... Is a process that reduces the toner consumption and paper consumption, and “toner save” is a process that controls the voltage applied to the developing device and the like to suppress toner consumption and power consumption.

  FIG. 3 shows the data structure of the cartridge identification information section 8. In the cartridge identification information section 8, information on “carbon offset cartridge” or “non-carbon offset cartridge” is registered. Further, the cartridge identification information unit 8 acquires the information from the cartridge identification unit 9.

  The cartridge identification unit 9 acquires the identification information based on information from the toner cartridge mounted on the printer engine 10.

Next, the processing operation of this example will be described.
4 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining the processing operation of this example. FIG. 4 shows the processing of the data drawing unit 3 and FIG. 5 shows the processing of the eco level printing control unit 5.

  First, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the print data receiving / analyzing unit 2 of the printing apparatus 1 receives print data supplied from a personal computer (PC) as described above, performs print data analysis processing, and prints. It is determined whether or not the print data is transferred by the data receiving / analyzing unit 2 (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1). The transfer of print data by the print data receiving / analyzing unit 2 is executed at a timing when a predetermined amount of print data analysis processing by the print data receiving / analyzing unit 2 is completed.

  Here, if there is a transfer of print data from the print data receiving / analyzing unit 2 (S1 is YES), the data drawing unit 3 performs a drawing process (S2). This drawing process is a process for developing the data transferred from the print data receiving / analyzing unit 2 in the image memory 7. For example, when this process is completed for one page (S3 is YES), the eco level print information section 6 is notified of the execution of eco level printing (S4).

  When the eco level printing control unit 5 receives a notification of execution of eco level printing from the data drawing unit 3 (YES in S5 (the flowchart shown in FIG. 5)), the eco level printing control unit 5 refers to the cartridge identification information unit 8 (S6). At this time, the identification information of the toner cartridge mounted on the printer engine 10 by the cartridge identification unit 9 is input to the cartridge identification information unit 8 and if “carbon offset cartridge” is registered in the cartridge identification information (S7). Is YES), eco level printing is executed according to the information of the eco level printing information section 6 (S8), and the data drawing section 3 is notified of completion of eco level printing (S9).

  Here, as described above, the eco-level print information section 6 determines whether or not to perform each ecology print together with each ecology item of “double-sided printing”, “multi-page”, and “toner save” (none / yes). The eco level print control unit 5 performs a drawing process on the image memory 7 in accordance with the information registered in the eco level print information unit 6.

  When “non-carbon offset cartridge” is registered in the cartridge identification information section 8 (S7 is NO), the end of the determination process is immediately notified (S9).

  On the other hand, when the data drawing unit 3 receives the eco-level print end notification from the eco-level print control unit 5 (YES in S10), the data drawing unit 3 instructs the data drawing unit 3 to start printing (S11). The drawing data developed in the image memory 7 is transferred to the printer engine 10. The data transferred to the printer engine 10 in this way is printed on a sheet (recording medium) by driving the printer engine 10 and is discharged to a paper discharge tray of the printing apparatus 1.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether drawing processing has been completed for all the data transferred from the print data receiving / analyzing unit 2 (S12), and the above processing is performed until drawing processing has been completed for all the transferred data. Is repeated (S1 to S12).

By performing the processing as described above, the printer engine 10 performs print output based on the drawing data developed in the image memory 7, and printing of the ecology mark based on the fact that the toner cartridge with the CO2 emission right is mounted. Done. The ecology mark is printed, for example, outside the margin (margin area) of the printed material.
Therefore, the user can recognize the ecology mark by looking at the print result, evoke an awareness of environmental protection regarding the reduction of CO2 emission, and promote environmental protection.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a printer apparatus as a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a printer apparatus 1 is connected to a personal computer (PC) that is a host device. The basic configuration of the printer apparatus of this example is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and the print data reception / analysis unit 2, the data drawing unit 3, the data transfer unit 4, the eco level print control unit 5, the eco level printing. The information unit 6, the image memory 7, the cartridge identification information unit 8, the cartridge identification unit 9, and the printer engine 10 are configured.

  The printer device 1 of this example prints an ecology mark based on information on ecology items stored in the eco-level print control unit 5, and further displays the ecology mark when a toner cartridge with a CO2 emission right is used. It is the structure which prints by adding.

Next, the processing operation of this example will be described.
Also in this example, the processing described in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is first executed, and the print data reception / analysis unit 2 receives the print data supplied from the personal computer (PC) as described above, and analyzes the print data. Processing is performed, and the data drawing unit 3 performs drawing processing on the image memory 7. For example, when the drawing process for one page is completed (S3 is YES), the eco level printing information unit 6 is notified of the execution of eco level printing (S4).

  On the other hand, the eco-level print control unit 5 performs processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, and first, when the data drawing unit 3 receives an eco-level print execution notification (step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 1 is YES), the initial value Point 0 is set as (ST2). This point is set, for example, in a counter 5 a built in the eco level print control unit 5.

  Next, the eco-level print control unit 5 determines whether the “double-sided printing” ecology item registered in the eco-level print information unit 6 is set to “present” (ST3). Here, if the “double-sided printing” ecology item registered in the eco-level print information section 6 is set to “present” (YES in ST3), point 1 is added (ST4). Specifically, the count value of the counter 5a is set to “1”. If the ecology item of “double-sided printing” registered in the eco-level print information section 6 is set to “none” (NO in ST3), the process proceeds to the next process without adding points.

  Next, the eco-level print control unit 5 determines whether the “multipage” ecology item registered in the eco-level print information unit 6 is set to “present” (ST5). If the “multi-page” ecology item is set to “present” (YES in ST3), point 1 is further added (ST6). Specifically, the count value of the counter 5a is incremented by one. If the “multi-page” ecology item registered in the eco-level print information section 6 is set to “none” (NO in ST5), the process proceeds to the next process without adding points.

  Similarly, the eco-level print control unit 5 next determines whether the “toner save” ecology item registered in the eco-level print information unit 6 is set to “present” (ST7). Here, if the “toner save” ecology item is set to “present” (YES in ST7), point 1 is further added (ST8). Specifically, the count value of the counter 5a is incremented by one. If the “toner save” ecology item registered in the eco level print information section 6 is set to “none” (NO in ST7), the process proceeds to the next process without adding points.

  Next, the eco-level printing control unit 5 refers to the cartridge identification information unit 8 (ST9) and determines whether a toner cartridge with a CO2 emission right is installed. This determination is information registered in the cartridge identification unit 9 when the cartridge identification unit 9 reads information on the toner cartridge mounted on the printer engine 10 as described in the first embodiment. When “carbon offset cartridge” is registered (YES in ST10), point 1 is added (ST11). Specifically, the count value of the counter 5a is incremented by one. On the other hand, when “non-carbon offset cartridge” is registered (NO in ST10), the process proceeds to the next process without adding points.

  As a result of the above processing, points are added to the counter 5a every time the ecology item print processing increases, and points are further added when a toner cartridge with a CO2 emission right is attached.

  Next, the eco-level print information unit 6 determines whether the count value counted by the counter 5a is “1” or more (ST12). If the count value counted by the counter 5a is “1” or more (YES in ST12), an ecology mark is drawn in the image memory 7 according to the number of points (ST13), and the eco-level printing is completed in the data drawing unit 3 (ST14).

  On the other hand, when the data drawing unit 3 receives the eco level printing end notification from the eco level print control unit 5, the data drawing unit 3 instructs the data drawing unit 3 to start printing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. The drawing data developed in the image memory 7 is transferred to the printer engine 10. The data transferred to the printer engine 10 in this way is printed on a sheet (recording medium) by driving the printer engine 10 and is discharged to a paper discharge tray of the printing apparatus 1.

  After that, it is determined whether the drawing process has been completed for all the data transferred from the print data receiving / analyzing unit 2, and the above process is repeated until the drawing process is completed for all the transferred data.

  By performing the processing as described above, the print output depends on the number of ecology printing processes of “double-sided printing”, “multi-page”, and “toner save”, and whether or not a toner cartridge with a CO2 emission right is installed. A number of ecology marks can be printed. The ecology mark is printed, for example, outside the margin (margin area) of the printed material.

  Therefore, the user can recognize the ecology mark by looking at the print result, and can recognize the level contributing to the reduction of the CO2 emission amount by the number of the ecology mark.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 is a system configuration diagram of a printer apparatus as a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a printer apparatus 1 is connected to a personal computer (PC) which is a host device, and the basic configuration is the same as that shown in FIGS. However, the printer device 11 of this example includes a print data reception / analysis unit 2, a data drawing unit 3, a data transfer unit 4, an eco level print control unit 5, an image memory 7, a cartridge identification information unit 8, a cartridge identification unit 9, The printer engine 10 and an additional character string storage unit 12 are provided, and an additional character string storage unit 12 is provided in place of the eco-level print information unit 6 described above.

  FIG. 9 is an example of an additional character string registered in the additional character string storage unit 12. The character string registered in the additional character string storage unit 12 is a content that recalls recognition regarding the reduction of the CO2 emission amount when the toner cartridge with the CO2 emission right is mounted by being printed out. In this example, a character string “use carbon offset cartridge” is registered.

  The printer device 1 of this example is configured to print out the information on the additional character string registered in the additional character string storage unit 12 when a toner cartridge with a CO2 emission right is attached to the device. The processing operation of this example will be described below.

  Also in this example, the processing described in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is first executed, and the print data reception / analysis unit 2 receives the print data supplied from the personal computer (PC) as described above, and analyzes the print data. Processing is performed, and the data drawing unit 3 performs drawing processing on the image memory 7. For example, when the drawing process for one page is completed (S3 is YES), the eco level printing information unit 6 is notified of the execution of eco level printing (S4).

  The eco level printing control unit 5 performs processing in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, and when there is a notification of eco level printing execution from the data drawing unit 3 (step (hereinafter referred to as STP) 1 is YES), cartridge identification information. Reference is made to part 8 (STP2). Also in this example, if the cartridge identification information section 8 is input with the identification information of the toner cartridge attached to the printer engine 10 by the cartridge identification section 9, and “carbon offset cartridge” is registered in the cartridge identification information, (YES in STP3), the character string information in the additional character string storage unit 12 is drawn in the image memory 7 (STP4). Then, the eco level printing control unit 5 notifies the data drawing unit 3 of the completion of eco level printing (STP5).

  If “non-carbon offset cartridge” is registered in the cartridge identification information section 8, the data drawing section 3 is immediately notified of the end of the determination process (NO in STP4, STP5).

  When the data drawing unit 3 receives the eco level print end notification from the eco level print control unit 5, the data drawing unit 3 instructs the data drawing unit 3 to start printing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is transferred to the printer engine 10. The data transferred to the printer engine 10 in this way is printed on a sheet (recording medium) by driving the printer engine 10 and is discharged to a paper discharge tray of the printing apparatus 1.

  After that, it is determined whether the drawing process has been completed for all the data transferred from the print data receiving / analyzing unit 2, and the above process is repeated until the drawing process is completed for all the transferred data.

  By performing the processing as described above, the printer engine 10 performs print output based on the drawing data developed in the image memory 7, and when the toner cartridge with the CO2 emission right is mounted, the above-mentioned “carbon offset cartridge” The “Use” string is printed. The character string is printed, for example, outside the margin (margin area) of the printed material.

  Therefore, by reading the printing result, the user informs that the toner cartridge attached to the printer apparatus 11 has the CO2 emission right, and recognizes that he / she contributes to environmental protection related to the reduction of the CO2 emission amount. Can be made.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer apparatus 2 ... Print data reception / analysis part 3 ... Data drawing part 4 ... Data transfer part 5 ... Eco level print control part 6 ... Eco level print information part 7 .. Image memory 8... Cartridge identification information section 9... Cartridge identification section 10 .. Printer engine 11 .. Printer device 12 .. Additional character string storage section

Claims (5)

Storage means for detecting that a consumable or replacement part with a CO2 emission right is mounted, and storing the mounting information;
Printing processing of print data and printing of ecology marks together with the print result of the print data when the storage information is stored in the storage means during the print processing of the print data Printing control means for performing
A printing apparatus comprising:   The printing control means performs printing control of an ecology notification character string for notifying the mounting of a consumable item with a CO2 emission right or a replacement part, instead of printing the ecology mark. Printing device. First storage means for storing information on ecology printing;
Second storage means for detecting that a consumable or replacement part with a CO2 emission right is mounted, and storing the mounting information;
When ecology printing stored in the first storage means is performed, the first ecology mark is printed, and when the mounting information of the consumables or replacement parts is stored in the second storage means, Print control means for printing the second ecology mark;
A printing apparatus comprising: A storage process for detecting that a consumable or replacement part with a CO2 emission right is mounted, and storing the mounting information in a storage unit;
Printing processing of print data and printing of ecology marks together with the print result of the print data when the storage information is stored in the storage means during the print processing of the print data Print control processing to perform
And a printing control method. A first process for storing ecology printing information in a first storage means;
A second process of detecting that a consumable or replacement part with a CO2 emission right is mounted and storing the mounting information in a second storage means;
When ecology printing stored in the first storage means is performed, when printing of the first ecology mark is performed and mounting information of the consumables or replacement parts is stored in the second storage means, A print control process for printing the second ecology mark;
And a printing control method.

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