JP2012083450A - Display method of device status - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide excellent usability in a color laser printer of a rotary development system by the method in which: when out-of-toner status is detected, determination is made whether to notify a user of out-of-toner status based on the status obtained from a device, and when it is determined not to notify the user, the out-of-toner status is masked by another appropriate status until the toner is ready to be replaced.SOLUTION: When a controller unit detects out-of-toner status from an engine, the controller unit determines whether to notify a user of the out-of-toner status based on the status obtained from a device. When determining not to notify, the controller unit masks the out-of-toner status by another appropriate status until the toner is ready to be replaced.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing by rotating a plurality of toner cartridges.

  In a printing apparatus that performs printing by rotating a plurality of toner cartridges, when there is no toner in a certain toner cartridge, the toner cartridge is moved to a replaceable position so that the user can replace the toner cartridge. (For example, Patent Document 1).

  This can be done by moving the toner of the user's desired color to the replacement position by specifying it from the user's operation unit or opening / closing the cover, or automatically detecting the detected toner at the replacement position when toner out is detected during or immediately after printing. It is known that performs control to move by.

  The one-drum color printing apparatus displays it to the user when the toner out status is detected.

JP 2003-323027 A JP 2008-15947 A

  Normally, in a 4-drum printer, the toner is replaceable when the controller detects the toner out status from the engine, so the controller displays it to the user when it detects the toner out status and replaces the toner. Prompt.

  However, a 1-drum printer cannot be replaced unless the toner is rotated to a replaceable position after toner out is detected.

  Therefore, the toner is not always replaceable when the controller detects the toner out status from the engine.

  If the controller detects that the toner out status is displayed to the user, the user is likely to perform a useless operation such as opening the cover during rotation, which impairs usability.

  As a method of not notifying the user of unnecessary messages, a method of determining whether or not to display a warning based on the job status (for example, Patent Document 2) is known. However, this can only determine whether or not to display a message, and an appropriate message cannot be selected and displayed instead, which is insufficient for improving usability.

In a printing apparatus that is formed of a printer engine and a controller unit and performs printing by rotating a plurality of toner cartridges,
An exchangeable position where the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) can be removed; and (401),
A developer unit (726) rotatable to move the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) to the replaceable position (401);
Status acquisition means (S1001) for acquiring the status of the printer engine;
State determination means (S1002, S1004, S1006, S1007, S1009, S1011) for determining the state of the printer engine;
Notification means (S1003, S1005, S1008, S1010, S1012, S1013) for the controller unit to notify the UI application of the status of the printer engine according to the determination result of the state determination means;
A display unit (210) for displaying a status of the printer engine notified by the notification means by the UI application;
Toner state determining means (S1006) for determining that the toner out of the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) has occurred;
When it is detected that the toner related to the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) has run out, the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) is determined according to the determination of the state determination means (S1007). To determine whether or not to indicate that the toner has run out related to the
Means for notifying other appropriate display state when it is determined that it should not be displayed (S1008, S1012)
An image forming apparatus comprising:

  Until the toner can be replaced after the toner out is detected, another appropriate status is displayed instead of displaying the toner out. As a result, it is possible to reduce unnecessary operations such as opening the cover while the user moves the toner to the replaceable position, and high usability can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of PC. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of a controller unit. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the color laser printer of the rotation phenomenon rotary system which can apply this invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a mechanism for replacing a toner cartridge in a rotary development rotary type color laser printer. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of UI application. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of an exchange dialog. It is a figure which shows the status bit assignment which a controller unit acquires from a device. It is a figure which shows the status which a controller unit notifies to UI application in order with a high notification priority. It is a figure which shows the judgment flow which controller unit notifies which status to UI application by this invention. It is a figure which shows the status which a controller unit acquires from a device, and the status which a controller unit notifies to UI application by this invention.

[Example 1]
An image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing main use cases of the present invention. The device (103) is connected to the PC (102) by USB or NETWORK. The user (101) can make arbitrary settings and instructions to the device (103) by operating a UI application (501) operating on the PC (102). The UI application (501) running on the PC (102) displays the status of the device (103).

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the PC (102) according to the embodiment of this invention. A CPU (201) is a processor that controls the entire system. A RAM (202) is a system work memory for the CPU (201) to operate, and is used as a program memory for recording a program. The HDD (203) is a data storage area. The operation unit I / F (204) is an interface unit with the operation unit (206) and receives an input signal from the operation unit (206). Also, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the user from the operation unit (206) to the CPU (201). The display unit I / F (209) is an interface unit with the display unit (210), and outputs an output signal to the display unit (210) according to the control of the CPU (201). The USB interface (208) is a functional unit for connecting to a USB device, and is used to acquire the status of another device or return the status via the USB. The LAN interface (207) is a functional unit for connecting to the LAN, and is used for obtaining the status of other devices and returning the status via the LAN. The above devices are arranged on the system bus (205). FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the controller unit (313) of the device (103) according to the embodiment of the present invention. The controller unit (313) inputs and outputs image data and device information by connecting to a device (314) that functions as an image output device. A CPU (301) is a processor that controls the entire system. A RAM (303) is a system work memory for the CPU (301) to operate, and is also a program memory for recording a program and an image memory for temporarily recording image data. The NVMEM (304) is a non-volatile memory and records setting information and the like. The FLASHROM (302) is a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and various control programs for controlling the system are recorded. The USB interface (306) enables USB connection with the PC (102). The LAN interface (311) enables a LAN connection with the PC (102). The above devices are arranged on the system bus (305). An image bus (IMAGE BUS) I / F (307) is a bus bridge that connects a system bus (305) and an image bus (312) for transferring image data at high speed and converts a data structure. The image bus (312) is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394. The following devices are arranged on the image bus (IMAGE BUS) (312). A raster image processor (RIP) (308) develops vector data such as PDL code into a bitmap image. A printer I / F (310) connects a printer unit (314) and a controller unit (313), and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data and data exchange. An image processing unit (309) corrects, processes, and edits input image data, and performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. In addition to this, rotation of image data and compression / decompression processing such as JBIG, MMR, and MH are performed on multi-valued image data and JPEG and binary image data. The printer unit (314) converts the raster image data into an image on paper. The method includes an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, an ink jet method in which ink is ejected from a micro nozzle array and an image is directly printed on a sheet, and any method may be used. The start of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the CPU (301).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional view of the device (103) of the embodiment of the present invention. The scanner (711) includes a laser output unit (not shown) that converts an image signal into an optical signal, a polygon mirror (712) of a polyhedron (for example, octahedron), a motor (not shown) that rotates the mirror (712), and It has an f / θ lens (imaging lens, 713), etc. Laser light emitted from the laser output section is reflected on one side of the polygon mirror (712), and passes through the f / θ lens (713) and the reflection mirror (714). The surface of the photosensitive drum (715) rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow is linearly scanned (raster scan), whereby an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum (715). Around the photosensitive drum (715), there are a primary charger (717), an entire exposure lamp (718), and a cleaner (723) for collecting residual toner that has not been transferred. ), A pre-transfer charger (724), and a developing unit (726) is a unit that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum (715) by laser exposure. The developing sleeves (731Y, 731M, 731C, and 731Bk) are in direct contact with the photosensitive drum 715 to perform direct development, and the toner cartridges (730Y, 730M, 730C, and 730Bk) hold spare toner. ) Transports the developer, the sleeve (731Y, 731M, 731C, 731Bk), the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) and the screw (732) around the central axis P of the developer unit (726). In addition, the symbols Y, M, C, and Bk of the components described above indicate colors. That is, “Y” is yellow, “M” is magenta, “C” is cyan, and “Bk” is black, and the user (101) can open and close the door (701). The user can remove only one of the toner cartridges (730Y, 730M, 730C, and 730Bk) located directly below the main body cover (701), which is referred to as the replacement position. The toner color at the replacement position can be changed by rotating the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) about the axis P in the drawing. In (103), a black toner cartridge (730Bk) must be present at the replacement position when printing is performed. The developer unit position sensor (742) detects the rotational position of the developer unit (726). When forming a yellow toner image, yellow toner development processing is performed at the position shown in FIG. When a magenta toner image is formed, the developing unit (726) is rotated about the axis P in the drawing so that the developing sleeve (731M) in the magenta developing unit is in contact with the photosensitive drum (715). To. Cyan and black development work in the same way. The transfer drum (716) transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum (715) to a sheet. The actuator plate (719) detects the moving position of the transfer drum (716). The position sensor (720) detects that the transfer drum (716) has moved to the home position by approaching the actuator plate (719).
An actuator plate (719), a position sensor (720), a transfer drum cleaner (725), a paper pressing roller (727), and a static eliminator (729) are transfer chargers and are arranged around the transfer roller (716). Yes. On the other hand, the paper feed cassettes (735, 736) store paper (paper sheets, 791). In the embodiment, it is assumed that, for example, A4 size paper is stored in the paper feed cassette (735), and A3 size paper is stored in the paper feed cassette (736). When the paper is fed and conveyed, the paper is fed from the cassette (735, 736) by the paper feed rollers (737, 738). The timing of feeding and conveying is taken by the timing rollers (739, 740, 741). Through these, the paper guide (490) is guided to the paper guide (490) and the leading end is wound around the transfer drum (716) while being held by the gripper (728), and the process proceeds to the image forming process. With the above configuration, full-color printing with four colors of YMCK is realized.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a screen example of a UI application (501) for performing an operation related to a device (103) having no operation panel. The UI application (501) is executed by the CPU (201) of the PC. The UI application (501) is connected to the device (103) by the USB interface (208) or the LAN interface (207). When the user (101) installs the UI application (501), the UI application (501) is associated with the device (103).

  The UI application (501) displays information related to the device (103) connected to the UI application (501) in accordance with the notification from the controller unit (313).

  The UI application (501) has a device status display unit (505). The device status display unit (505) displays a screen corresponding to the status of the device (103) connected to the UI application (501). In FIG. 5, since the device is executing printing, a screen indicating that printing is being performed is displayed.

  The UI application (501) has a device state explanation unit (506). The device state explanation unit (506) displays text corresponding to the state of the device connected to the UI application (501). In FIG. 5, since the device is executing printing, text indicating that printing is being performed is displayed.

  The UI application (501) has a job execution status display section (503). A job execution status display unit (503) indicates a print status of a job executed by a device connected to the UI application (501). FIG. 6 shows that a user named User1 has printed a job with a document name test1.doc, and that printing has been completed up to 3 out of 6 pages. If the device is not printing, nothing is displayed in the job execution status display section (503).

  The UI application (501) has an exchange button (502). When the user (101) selects the exchange button (502) using the operation unit (206), an exchange dialog (601) is displayed on the display unit (210). The exchange dialog (601) will be described with reference to FIG.

  The UI application (501) has a job cancel button (504). The user (101) operates the job cancel button (504) using the operation unit (206), so that the job being executed on the device can be canceled.

  FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a mechanism for exchanging the toner cartridge in the rotary developing rotary type color laser printer of FIG. When the user replaces the toner cartridge, the user opens the door (701). The position directly below the door (701) is the replaceable position (401) where the toner cartridge can be replaced, and the user can replace the toner cartridge at that position. The replaceable position of the toner cartridge is not limited to the example of FIG. 5 and may be different depending on the structure of the printing apparatus.

  The toner cartridge 730C is a Cyan toner cartridge. The toner cartridge 730M is a Magenta toner cartridge. The toner cartridge 730Y is a yellow cartridge. The toner cartridge 730Bk is a Black toner cartridge. In the example of FIG. 5, the toner cartridge 730Bk is replaceable.

  Each of the toner cartridges 730C, 730M, 730Y, and 730Bk is mounted on a phenomenon unit (726) that rotates about the central axis P. Upon receiving an exchange position movement instruction from the controller unit (313), the device (103) rotates the phenomenon unit (726) to move any cartridge to the exchangeable position.

  FIG. 7 is a screen example of an exchange dialog (601) displayed by pressing the exchange button (502) of the UI application (501) of FIG. The exchange dialog (601) is executed by the CPU (201) of the PC.

  This dialog is used when the user (101) moves any color of the toner cartridges (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) of the device (103) to the replaceable position (401). The exchange dialog (601) has a color selection button yellow (602), a color selection button magenta (603), a color selection button cyan (604), and a color selection button black (605).

  For example, the user (101) selects the color selection button yellow (602) using the operation unit (206). When selected, the UI application (501) issues an exchange position movement instruction to the device (103) through the USB interface (208) or the LAN interface (207).

  Receiving the replacement position movement instruction, the device (103) moves the yellow toner cartridge (730Y) to the replaceable position (401).

  FIG. 8 shows the status bit assignment acquired from the device (103).

  When the first bit (801) is set, this means that the status acquired from the device (103) includes the toner rotating (901) status.

  When the second bit (802) is set, it indicates that the status obtained from the device (103) includes the toner replaceable (902) status.

  When the third bit (803) is set, it indicates that the status acquired from the device (103) includes the toner out (903) status.

  When the fourth bit (804) is set, it indicates that the status being printed (904) is included in the status acquired from the device (103).

  When the fifth bit (805) is set, it indicates that the status acquired from the device (103) includes the status of being prepared (905).

  In FIG. 8, since the first bit and the third bit are set, it indicates that the status acquired from the device (103) includes the toner rotating (901) status and the toner out (903) status. ing.

  FIG. 9 shows the statuses notified by the controller unit (313) to the UI application (501) in descending order of notification priority.

  Hereinafter, each status will be described.

  During toner rotation (901) indicates a state in which the device (103) is operating to move any of the toner cartridges (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) to the replaceable position.

  Toner replaceable (902) indicates a state in which any of the toner cartridges (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) having received the replacement position movement instruction from the controller unit (313) is in the replaceable position.

  Out of toner (903) indicates a state in which there is no remaining amount of any of the toner cartridges (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk).

Printing (904) indicates a state in which the device (103) is performing a printing operation.
Preparing (905) indicates that the device (103) is in a state where preparation for shifting to a printable state or completion of the printing operation is being performed.

  Ready (906) indicates a state where printing is possible.

  Conventionally, the controller unit notifies the UI application (501) of the status acquired from the device (103) having the highest priority through the USB interface (305) or the LAN interface (311). It was.

  The status is displayed on the device status display section (505) and the device status explanation section (506).

  FIG. 10 shows the status (901 to 906) proposed by the present invention in which the controller unit (313) acquires the status bits (801 to 805) from the device (103) and then notifies the UI application (501). It is a figure which shows a flow.

  The controller unit (313) periodically makes the following determination to determine the status notified to the UI application (501).

  This process is executed by the CPU (301).

  The controller unit (313) acquires the current status bits (801 to 805) from the printer unit (314) via the printer I / F (310) (S1001).

  First, it is determined whether or not the first bit (801) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set (S1002).

  If the first bit (801) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set, the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) that the toner is rotating (901) (S1003).

  If the first bit (801) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is not set, it is next determined whether or not the second bit (802) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set. Judgment is made (S1004).

  If the second bit (802) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set, the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) that the toner can be replaced (902) (S1005).

  If the second bit (802) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is not set, it is next determined whether or not the third bit (803) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set. Judgment is made (S1006).

  If the third bit (803) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set, whether or not the fifth bit (805) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set next is determined. Is determined (S1007).

If the fifth bit (805) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set,
Conventionally, the UI application (501) is notified of toner outage (903) having a higher priority than that in preparation (905), but the controller unit (313) determines that this should not be done according to the present invention, and preparation is in progress. (905) is notified (S1012).

  If the fifth bit (805) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is not set, the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) of toner out (903) (S1008).

  If the third bit (803) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is not set, then it is determined whether or not the fourth bit (804) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set. Judgment is made (S1009).

  If the fourth bit (804) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set, the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) of printing (904) (S1010).

  If the fourth bit (804) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is not set, it is next determined whether or not the fifth bit (805) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set. Judgment is made (S1011).

  If the fifth bit (805) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is set, the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) of preparation (905) (S1012).

  If the fifth bit (805) in the acquired status bits (801 to 805) is not set, the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) of ready (906) (S1013).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between status bits (801 to 805) acquired by the controller unit (313) from the printer unit (314) and statuses (901 to 906) notified to the UI application (501) by the controller unit. is there.

  Hereinafter, FIG. 11 will be described in time series.

  When the status bit acquired from the device is 00000, since no bit is set, the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) of ready (1116).

  When the status bit acquired from the device is 01000, since the fourth bit (804) is set, the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) that printing is in progress (1114).

  When the status bit acquired from the device is 10100, the third bit (803) and the fifth bit (805) are set. At this time, conventionally, the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) of toner outage (1103) having a higher priority than that in preparation (1105). In preparation (1115) is notified.

  When the status bit acquired from the device is 00101, the first bit (801) and the third bit (803) are set, so the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) that the toner is rotating (1111). To do.

  When the status bit acquired from the device is 00110, since the second bit (802) and the third bit (803) are set, the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) that the toner can be replaced (1112). To do.

  When the status bit acquired from the device is 00000, since no bit is set, the controller unit (313) notifies the UI application (501) of ready (1126).

101: User 102: PC
103: Device

Claims (1)

In a printing apparatus that is formed of a printer engine and a controller unit and performs printing by rotating a plurality of toner cartridges,
An exchangeable position where the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) can be removed; and (401),
A printer engine including a developer unit (726) rotatable to move the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) to the replaceable position (401);
Status acquisition means (S1001) for acquiring the status of the printer engine;
State determination means (S1002, S1004, S1006, S1007, S1009, S1011) for determining the state of the printer engine;
A controller unit including notifying means (S1003, S1005, S1008, S1010, S1012, S1013) for notifying the UI application of the status of the printer engine to the UI application according to the determination result of the state determining means;
A UI application for displaying the status of the printer engine notified by the notification means;
Toner state determining means (S1006) for determining that the toner out of the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) has occurred;
When it is detected that the toner related to the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) has run out, the toner cartridge (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) is determined according to the determination of the state determination means (S1007). To determine whether or not to indicate that the toner has run out related to the
Means for notifying other appropriate display state when it is determined that it should not be displayed (S1008, S1012)
An image forming apparatus comprising: